bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management Effects on Relationships of Crop Yields with Topography Represented by Wetness Index and Precipitation
Authors: Huang Xuewen , Wang Li , Yang Lijian , Kravchenko Alexandra N.
Published: September 2008

Crop yields are highly variable spatially and temporally as a result of complex interactions among topography, weather conditions, and management practices. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of management practices on the relationship between crop yields and precipitation and crop yields and topography using 10 yr of yield data from a long‐term corn (Zea mays L.)‐soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]‐wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation experiment in southwest Michigan. The four agronomic treatments studied were chisel plowed with conventional chemical inputs (CT), no‐till with conventional chemical inputs (NT), chisel plowed with low chemical input and a winter leguminous cover crop (CTL), and organic‐based chisel plowed with a winter leguminous cover crop (CTO). A nonparametric (spline) regression was used to characterize the relationship between the maximal yields, as characteristics of yield potential, and a wetness index (WI), as an integrative characteristic of topographical features related to water flow, and to compare the yield differences between the treatments across a range of the WI values. Variability of yields in NT and CTO systems was better explained by precipitation in early spring and during pollination and grain fill than that in CT and CTL. No‐till and CTL tended to produce higher maximal yields than CT at the summit/steep‐sloped areas (lower WI), while at intermediate and high WI levels the differences between them were inconsistent. The CTL often produced higher maximal yields than CTO at low and intermediate WI values, while the difference between them was mostly not significant at high WI levels (depression areas). The nonparametric spline regression algorithm used in the study was robust and efficient in comparing the yield differences between treatments across a range of WI values.
Fodder Quality of Safflower across an Irrigation Gradient and with Varied Nitrogen Rates
Authors: Bar‐Tal A. , Landau S. , Li‐xin Z. , Markovitz T. , Keinan M. , Dvash L. , Brener S. , Weinberg Z. G.
Published: September 2008

The main aim was to investigate the effects of irrigation head and N fertilization on the nutritional quality of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) grown for forage. A pot experiment (Exp. I) and two field experiments (Exp. II and III) were performed. Experiment I included nine treatments, comprising three N concentrations (10, 50, and 100 mg L−1) in the irrigating water and three irrigation rates (21.8, 32.6, and 52.2 l/pot) in 10‐L pots, 12 pots m−2 with a planting density of 60 plants m−2. In the field experiments one line of sprinklers was used, creating water‐head gradients perpendicular to the line (from nil up to 345 and 185 mm in Exp. II and III, respectively), with N rates in the range of 0 to 300 kg ha−1. The dry matter (DM) content of the shoot in Exp. II and III declined steeply from 331 to 134 g kg−1 and from 368 to 291 mg g−1, respectively, as the irrigation head increased from nil to the highest value. As the N rate increased, the concentrations of N‐NO3− in the leaves increased up to 520 mg g−1– much lower than the designated toxic threshold for ruminants. Increasing the water head in the field experiments decreased the nutritional value of safflower, as indicated by falls in the contents of: neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (48.4–59.8% and 45.2–49.0% in Exp. II and III, respectively) and water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) (7.65–3.21% and 8.50–8.12% in Exp. II and III, respectively), and decreased in vitro DM digestibility (64.7–52.1% and 69.3–64.5% in Exp. II and III, respectively). Safflower can be regarded as a high‐quality forage crop for semiarid and arid regions with limited water resources.
Combining Organic and Mineral Fertilizers for Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Smallholder Farming Systems of Kenya: Explorations Using the Crop‐Soil Model FIELD
Authors: Tittonell P. , Corbeels M. , van Wijk M. T. , Vanlauwe B. , Giller K. E.
Published: September 2008

Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies for African smallholders should consider (i) within‐farm soil heterogeneity; (ii) long‐term dynamics and variability; (iii) manure quality and availability; (iv) access to fertilizers; and (v) competing uses for crop residues. We used the model FIELD (Field‐scale resource Interactions, use Efficiencies and Long term soil fertility Development) to explore allocation strategies of manure and fertilizers. Maize response to N fertilizer from 0 to 180 kg N ha−1 (±30 kg P ha−1) distinguished poorly responsive fertile (e.g., grain yields of 4.1–5.3 t ha−1 without P and of 7.5–7.5 t ha−1 with P) from responsive (1.0–4.3 t ha−1 and 2.2–6.6 t ha−1) and poorly responsive infertile fields (0.2–1.0 t ha−1 and 0.5–3.1 t ha−1). Soils receiving manure plus fertilizers for 12 yr retained 1.1 to 1.5 t C ha−1 yr−1 when 70% of the crop residue was left in the field, and 0.4 to 0.7 t C ha−1 yr−1 with 10% left. Degraded fields were not rehabilitated with manures of local quality (e.g., 23–35% C, 0.5–1.2% N, 0.1–0.3% P) applied at realistic rates (3.6 t dm ha−1 yr−1) for 12 yr without fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers are necessary to kick‐start soil rehabilitation through hysteretic restoration of biomass productivity and C inputs to the soil.
No‐Till Corn Productivity in a Southeastern United States Ultisol Amended with Poultry Litter
Authors: Endale Dinku M. , Schomberg Harry H. , Fisher Dwight S. , Jenkins Michael B. , Sharpe Ron R. , Cabrera Miguel L.
Published: September 2008

Corn (Zea mays L.) producers in the southeastern United States must overcome soil and water limitations to take advantage of the expanding corn market. In this 2001 to 2005 study on a Cecil sandy loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult) near Watkinsville, GA, we compared dry land corn biomass and yield under conventional tillage (CT) vs. no‐tillage (NT) with ammonium nitrate or sulfate (based on availability) as conventional fertilizer (CF) vs. poultry litter (PL). In a randomized complete block split plot design with three replications, main plots were under tillage and subplots under fertilizer treatments. The cover crop was rye (Secale cereale L.). Over 5 yr, NT and PL increased grain yield by 11 and 18%, respectively, compared with CT and CF. Combined, NT and PL increased grain yield by 31% compared with conventionally tilled and fertilized corn. Similarly, soil water was 18% greater in NT than CT in the 0‐ to 10‐cm depth. In 2 yr of measurements, dry matter of stalks and leaves and leaf area index under PL were an average of 39 and 22% greater, respectively, than under CF during reproduction. Values were 21 and 6% greater, respectively, under NT than CT but during tasseling. Analysis of 70 yr of daily rainfall records showed that supplemental irrigation is needed to meet optimal water requirement. Our results indicate that corn growers can use rainfall more efficiently, reduce yield losses to drought, and expect increased corn yields with a combination of no‐tillage management and long‐term use of poultry litter.
Seed Priming of Winter Annual Cover Crops Improves Germination and Emergence
Authors: Snapp Sieglinde , Price Richard , Morton Maureen
Published: September 2008

Enhancing soil‐protecting living cover over the winter is an important challenge in temperate row crop production. This note reports on novel findings for cover crop seed priming, a process of controlled hydration and drying. The effects of seed priming over durations of 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 36 h were evaluated for four species that varied in seed size and germination characteristics: cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and oriental mustard (Brassica juncea L.). A logistic function modeled response was used to quantify onset of germination, time to 50% germination (t50), maximum germination rate, final germination percentage (K), seedling emergence, and establishment in laboratory germination paper and soil core assays. Rye seed germinated rapidly regardless of priming treatment. Under the optimum environmental conditions of a laboratory germination assay, the smallest seeded cover crop, perennial ryegrass, was the only species to show a final germination response that was higher in primed (86%) than untreated seed (78%). However, seed germination rates of three species were influenced by priming: 50% germination was reached 8, 6, and 9 h earlier in hairy vetch, mustard, and perennial ryegrass, respectively. Compacted soil assays showed that priming (24 h) improved seedling emergence by 36% and 57% for hairy vetch and perennial ryegrass, respectively, compared with untreated seed. These results were consistent across experiment runs. Seed priming shows promise as a new technology for improving cover crop establishment in compacted soil.
Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Lipid Peroxidation of the Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina
Authors: Owolabi Mbang A. , Jaja Smith I , Oyekanmi Oyenike O , Olatunji Opeyemi J.
Published: September 2008

This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity of water (VAWE) and ethanol (VAEE) extracts of the leaf of Vernonia amygdalina. The antioxidant activity of each extract was evaluated using various radicals or oxidation systems. The total phenolic or flavonoid contents and their correlation with total antioxidant activity were also evaluated. VAEE exhibited antioxidant scavenging potential comparable to butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), but higher than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or VAWE. The total antioxidant scavenging activity of the extracts measured as the millimolar (mM) equivalent of vitamin C gave VAEE a 10.09 ± 1.63, which is comparable to BHA with a 9.31 ± 1.17, but higher than VAWE with an 8.75 ± 1.28 or BHT with a 6.14 ± 2.01. Extracts inhibited bleaching of B-carotene, oxidation of linoleic acid and lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+/ascorbate in a rat liver microsomal preparation. The total flavonoid and phenolic contents correlated positively with total antioxidant activity. The total flavonoid content also correlated well with total phenolic. Extracts of V. amygdalina contain natural antioxidants, have the potential to act as antioxidants against aqueous radicals and reactive species ions. The total phenolic content of the extracts is related to its total flavonoid, and it may be responsible for its total antioxidant activity.
Lobbying and Contract Delegation in Public Procurement
Authors: Theilen Bernd
Published: September 2008

Interest groups exert influence on legislators' decisions about how to organize the contracting process in public procurement. Traditionally, centralized contracting structures have been favored to avoid allocative inefficiency. However, legislators have recently started to allow more and more contract delegation in public procurement projects. Different interest groups argue in favor and against this tendency. The objective of this paper is to judge from a normative perspective what socially efficient contracting structures are and from a positive perspective what contracting structure we can expect to find as equilibria of an endogenous lobby formation game. From the normative perspective, it is shown that both contracting structures can be socially efficient. Furthermore, the conditions under which a certain contracting structure is socially superior are identified. From the positive perspective the main result shows that we can have equilibria of the lobby formation game with socially efficient contracting structures and with socially inefficient contracting structures. Again, the circumstances under which the different equilibria occur are identified.
Comparative Statics and Welfare in Heterogeneous All-Pay Auctions: Bribes, Caps, and Performance Thresholds
Authors: Kirkegaard Rene
Published: September 2008

Comparative statics for all-pay auctions with two heterogeneous and privately informed bidders are analyzed. General results are provided for when one bidder becomes stochastically weaker. The comparative statics are fully characterized for truncations. Moreover, we show that expected revenue may increase when one bidder weakens. In the second part of the paper we consider a dynamic contest in which beliefs change endogenously: the first bidder may preempt the auction by paying a bribe. An all-pay auction is held if the bribe is not paid, in which case the second bidder revises his beliefs. With the option to bribe, expected payoff decreases for a set of types of at least one bidder, possibly the bidder ostensibly advantaged by the preemption option. However, the expected revenue and the ex ante payoff of both bidders may improve.
EFFECT OF FRAMING ON RISKY CHOICE: ONE CASE STUDY IN CHINA
Authors: Zhang Yin-ling , Xiao Li-jun , Ma Yu , Miao Dan-min
Published: September 2008

The effect of framing on Chinese undergraduates was explored using Tversky and Kahneman's (1981) well-known Asian Disease Problem. Participants were divided into three groups with different formats: positive, negative, and balanced format, respectively. There was a significant
difference between the Chinese sample and Tversky and Kahneman's American sample under positive format, but no difference under the negative format. Chinese students were more prone to risky options. Results of the Chinese sample showed that the type of framing effect was unidirectional,
characterized by predominant risk seeking under both framing conditions, with more risk seeking under the negative frame than the positive frame. The framing effect was evaluated using the balanced format condition as an objective measure of the existing risk preference. Results suggest that
the military participants were influenced by both positive format and negative format, and in the Chinese civil sample the negative format had an important effect. These findings expand the literature on risk decision by demonstrating the framing effect and comparing results from Chinese and
American participants.
EFFECT OF HEALTH PROMOTION EDUCATION ON PRESENCE OF POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS, LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND SELF-CONCEPT
Authors: Bektas Murat , Ozturk Candan
Published: September 2008

This experimental study was aimed at examining the effect of health promotion education on the presence of healthy behaviors, self-concept and level of anxiety in primary-school-age children. A total of 120 students were given one lesson a week for 10 weeks. Data collection tools used
in the study were the Positive Health Behaviors Scale (Hester, 1984), the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (Piers & Harris, 1969), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1973). The health promotion education given to the children was found to have a significant
effect on their healthy behaviors and state-trait anxiety level but not on their self-concept.
A TWO-FACTOR MODEL OF ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION
Authors: Story Paul , Stasson Mark F. , Mahoney John M. , Hart Jason W.
Published: September 2008

Cassidy and Lynn (1989) synthesized an achievement motivation measure based on earlier scales. Their final measure assessed seven facets of motivation: Acquisitiveness for material wealth, Dominance, Competitiveness, Status Aspiration, Pursuit of Excellence, Work Ethic, and Mastery. Others (e.g., Sansone & Harackiewicz, 2000) have found that people are driven by two general motivational forces:intrinsic motivationisperforming an activity for the pleasure inherent in the activity, whereasextrinsic motivationisdriven by external factors. We hypothesized that Cassidy and Lynn's seven measures would cluster around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Scar-driven shape-changes of virus capsids
Authors: Iorio Alfredo , Sen Siddhartha
Published: September 2008

We propose that certain patterns (scars) could be relevant to extend the classic Caspar and Klug construction for icosahedrally-shaped virus capsids. These scars are theoretically and numerically predicted to be formed by electrons arranged on a sphere to minimize the repulsive Coulomb potential (the Thomson problem) and are experimentally found in spherical crystals formed by self-assembled polystyrene beads (an instance of the generalized Thomson problem). Scars could be produced on the capsid at an intermediate stage of its evolution and the release of the bending energy present in scars into stretching energy could allow for shape-changes. The conjecture can be tested in experiments and/or in numerical simulations.
Introito-cervical sigmoid colon transpositioning procedure
Authors: Cam Cetim , Celik Cem , Sakalli Mustafa , Baykal Bahar , Karateke Ates
Published: September 2008

The reported incidence of vaginal agenesis varies from 1 in 4,000 to 1 in 80,000 and individuals with congenital absence of vagina usually are first seen by a gynecologist at ages 14 to 15 years, when the absence of menses causes concern. A colon-introitus anastomosis was performed with interrupted absorbable sutures after opening peritoneum on müllerien dimple by sharp dissection using a guide inserted through the created perineo-abdominal tunnel. A rare case of vaginal agenesis with a septate uterus and normal tubes and ovaries is reported. Sigmoid vaginoplasty seemed the most appropriate procedure for the case and the continuity of the genital tract was well established as the patient menstruated vaginally after the operation.
The correlation of apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio and lipoprotein(a) with myocardial infarction
Authors: Agoston-Coldea Lucia , Mocan Teodora , Gatfossé Marc , Dumitrascu Dan
Published: September 2008

Recent evidence shows that apolipoprotein (apo) B, apoB/apoA-I ratio and lipoprotein(a) are better indicators of coronary risk than the conventional lipid profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of apoA-I and B, and lipoprotein(a) with myocardial infarction (MI). We performed a cross-sectional study including 208 patients (100 men and 108 women), with and without previous MI evaluated by coronary angiography. The severity of coronary heart disease was scored on the basis of the number and extent of lesions in the coronary arteries. Lipid levels were measured by the enzymatic method and apolipoprotein levels were measured by the immunoturbidimetric method. The MI group had higher plasmatic levels of lipoprotein(a) (0.37±0.28 vs. 0.29±0.23 g/L, p<0.05), apoB (1.13±0.40 vs. 0.84±0.28 g/L, p<0.05) and of the apoB/apoA-I ratio (0.77±0.37 vs. 0.68±0.20, p<0.05) compared to controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) suggested a good reliability in the diagnose of coronary heart disease for the apoB/apoA-I ratio (0.756, p<0.05), apoB (0.664, p<0.05), lipoprotein(a) (0.652, p<0.05) and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (0.688, p<0.05). Multivariate analysis performed with adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors, showed that the levels of lipoprotein(a), apoB and apoB/apoA-I ratio are significant independent cardiovascular risk factors. Our results indicate that there is an important relationship among high plasma apoB concentration, lipoprotein(a) concentration, the apoB/apoA-I ratio, and MI. We showed that the apoB/apoA-I ratio has a stronger correlation with MI than the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. We therefore suggest using apoB/apoA-I ratio and lipoprotein(a) in clinical practice as a markers of MI risk.
Theoretical analysis of crosstalk between oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin in focal brain-activation measurements by near-infrared topography
Authors: Kawaguchi H. , Okui N. , Sakaguchi K. , Okada E.
Published: September 2008

The crosstalk between concentration changes in oxygenated haemoglobin and deoxygenated haemoglobin calculated by the modified Lambert-Beer law in near-infrared topography is theoretically investigated. The changes in intensity detected with probe pairs on the scalp caused by the concentration change in either oxygenated or deoxygenated haemoglobin induced by the focal brain activation is predicted by Monte Carlo simulation. The topographic images of the changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin are obtained from the changes in the intensity of light at two wavelengths detected by probe pairs to evaluate the crosstalk. The crosstalk slightly depends on the positional relationship between the probe arrangement and the focal brain activation and is minimised when the focal brain activation is located below a measurement point that is the midpoint between a probe pair. The 690-/830-nm wavelength pair is practically effective for reducing the crosstalk, especially the crosstalk from oxygenated haemoglobin to deoxygenated haemoglobin, in the NIR topography.
Compression evaluation of surgery video recordings retaining diagnostic credibility (compression evaluation of surgery video)
Authors: Duplaga M. , Leszczuk M. , Papir Z. , Przelaskowski A.
Published: September 2008

Wider dissemination of medical digital video libraries is affected by two correlated factors, resource effective content compression that directly influences its diagnostic credibility. It has been proved that it is possible to meet these contradictory requirements halfway for long-lasting and low motion surgery recordings at compression ratios close to 100 (bronchoscopic procedures were a case study investigated). As the main supporting assumption, it has been accepted that the content can be compressed as far as clinicians are not able to sense a loss of video diagnostic fidelity (a visually lossless compression).

Different market codecs were inspected by means of the combined subjective and objective tests toward their usability in medical video libraries. Subjective tests involved a panel of clinicians who had to classify compressed bronchoscopic video content according to its quality under the bubble sort algorithm. For objective tests, two metrics (hybrid vector measure and hosaka Plots) were calculated frame by frame and averaged over a whole sequence.
J. B. Nichols' purchasing code
Authors: Morris P. A.
Published: September 2008

The bird collector J. B. Nichols recorded the price he paid for items in his collection, using a simple code based on substituting letters for numbers. His large collection has been widely dispersed through sales. Understanding the nature of his code now enables present-day owners of Nichol's specimens to work out what he paid for them, enhancing the interest of individual items and offering a rare insight into the prices paid by an ornithological collector in the early twentieth century.
Preparation of Enantiomerically Enriched (1

S

)‐1‐Phenylpropan‐1‐Amine Hydrochloride by a Catalytic Addition of Diorganozinc Reagents to Imines
Authors: Desrosiers Jean‐Nicolas , Côté Alexandre , Boezio Alessandro A. , Charette André B.
Published: September 2008

P, P
‐Diphenylphosphinic amide

Benzaldehyde

p
‐Toluenesulfinic acid

N
‐[(4‐Methylphenyl)sulfonyl(phenyl)methyl]
P,P
‐diphenylphosphinic amide

N
‐[(Phenyl)methylene]‐
P,P
‐diphenylphosphinic amide

Methanesulfonic acid, trifluro,‐ copper(2+) salt

(
R,R)
‐BozPHOS

Diethylzinc

N
‐[(1
S)
‐1‐Phenylpropyl]‐
P,P
‐diphenylphosphinic amide

(1
S
)‐1‐Phenylpropan‐1‐amine hydrochloride
Oxidation of Nerol to Neral with Iodosobenzene and
TEMPO
Authors: Piancatelli Giovanni , Leonelli Francesca
Published: September 2008

(
Z
)‐3, 7‐Dimethyl‐2,6‐ocatadien‐1‐ol

Nerol

2, 2, 6, Tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl

Iodobenzene diacetate

(
Z
)‐3, 7‐Dimethyl‐2, 6‐ocatdien‐1‐al

Neral

TEMPO
Fragmentation‐Recombination
N
azarov Cyclization: 3,4‐Dimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one
Authors: Schwartz Keith D. , White James D.
Published: September 2008

Crotonic acid

Isopropyl (
E
)‐but‐2‐enoate

3, 4‐Dimethylcyclopent‐2‐enone
Au(
I
)‐Catalyzed Hydration of Alkynes: 2,8‐Nonanedione
Authors: Mizushima Eiichiro , Cui Dong‐Mei , Nath Dilip Chandra Deb , Hayashi Teruyuki , Tanaka Masato
Published: September 2008

Methyl(triphenylphosphine)gold

1,8‐Nonadiyne

2,8‐Nonanedione
Catalytic Asymmetric Acylation of Alcohols Using a Chiral 1,2‐Diamine Derived from (

S

)‐Proline: (1

S

,2

S

)‐

trans

‐1‐Benzoyloxy‐2‐bromocyclohexane
Authors: Terakado Dai , Oriyama Takeshi
Published: September 2008

Di‐
tert‐
butyl dicarbonate

Tert‐
Butoxycarbonyl‐L‐proline

Isoindoline

1,3‐Dihydroisoindole

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

(
S)‐N‐(N‐tert‐
Butoxycarbonylprolyl)dihydroisoindole

Trans‐
2‐Bromocyclohexanol

(S)‐
1‐Methyl‐2‐[(dihydroisoindol‐2‐yl)methyl]pyrrolidine

(1
S,
2
S)
‐1‐Benzoyloxy‐2‐bromocyclohexane
Nickel‐Catalyzed Homoallylation of Aldehydes with 1,3‐Dienes
Authors: Tamaru Yoshinao , Kimura Masanari
Published: September 2008

Diethylzinc

Triethylborane

Nickel(II) acetylacetonate
Synthesis of (−)‐(

S

,

S

)‐ Bis(4‐isopropyloxazoline)
Authors: Evans David , Woerpel Keith A. , Nosse Bernd , Schall Andreas , Shinde Yogesh , Jezek Eva , Haque Mohammad Mahbubul , Chhor R. B. , Reiser Oliver
Published: September 2008

2,2‐Dimethyl‐propanedioyl dichloride

(
l
)‐Valinol
5‐endo‐trigCyclization of 1,1‐Difluoro‐1‐alkenes: Synthesis of 3‐Butyl‐2‐fluoro‐1‐tosylindole
Authors: Ichikawa Junji , Nadano Ryo , Mori Takashi , Wada Yukinori
Published: September 2008

o‐(1,1‐Difluorhex‐1‐en‐2‐yl)aniline

o′‐(1,1‐Difluorohex‐1‐en‐2‐yl)‐p‐toluenesulfonanilide

3‐Butyl‐2‐fluoro‐1‐tosylindole

2,2,2‐Trifluoroethylp‐toluenesulfonate

Trimethylamine oxide

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride

o‐Iodoaniline

Triphenylphosphine

Tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)‐chloroform (1/1)
(

R

,

R

)‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine and (

S

,

S

)‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine: Useful Ligands for Asymmetric Synthesis
Authors: Denmark Scott E. , Fu Jiping , Lawler Michael J.
Published: September 2008

2, 2‐Bispyrrolidine

(R,R)
‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine·(L)‐tartrate

(S,S)
‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine·(D) tartrate

(R,R)
‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine

(S,S)
‐2,2′‐Bispyrrolidine
Synthesis of (+)‐(1

R

,2

S

,9

S

)‐11‐Methyl‐7,11‐Diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0
2,7
]Tridecane, A (+)‐Sparteine Surrogate
Authors: Dixon Amanda J. , McGrath Matthew J. , O'Brien Peter
Published: September 2008

(−)‐Cytisine

(−)‐Methyl (1
R
,9
R
)‐6‐Oxo‐7,11‐diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0
2,7
]trideca‐2,4‐diene‐11‐ carboxylic acid

(+)‐(1
R
,2
S
,9
S
)‐11‐Methyl‐7,11‐diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0
2,7
]tridecane
2‐(2′,2′‐Dimethylpropoxy)‐2,3‐Dihydro‐1

H

‐Indene
Authors: Bajwa Joginder S. , Prasad Kapa , Repič Oljan
Published: September 2008

1
H
‐Indene,2‐(2,2‐dimethylpropoxy)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐indanol

Silane, [(2,3‐dihydro‐1
H
‐inden‐2‐yl)oxy](1,1‐dimethylethyl)dimethyl

Imidazole

Tert
‐Butyldimethylsilyl chloride

Bismuth bromide

Triethylsilane

Trimethylacetaldehyde
Preparation of (

S

)‐Methyl Glycidate via Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution
Authors: Stevenson Christian P. , Nielsen Lars P. C. , Jacobsen Eric N.
Published: September 2008

(
S)‐
Methyl glycidate

Methyl acrylate

(+/−)‐Methyl glycidate

(
R,R
)‐(−)‐
N,N
′‐Bis(3,5‐di‐
tert
‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediaminocobalt(II)
Trifluoromethylation at the α‐Position of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones: 4‐Phenyl‐3‐(Trifluoromethyl)Butan‐2‐One
Authors: Sato Kazuyuki , Omote Masaaki , Ando Akira , Kumadaki* Itsumaro
Published: September 2008

4‐Phenyl‐3‐buten‐2‐one

Rhodium, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)‐

Trifluoroiodomethane

Diethyl zinc

4‐Phenyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)butan‐2‐one
Trifluoromethanesulfonimide‐Catalyzed (2 + 2)‐Cycloaddition of Silyl Enol Ethers with α,β‐Unsaturated Esters: 1‐(
tert
‐Butyldimethylsiloxy)‐8‐(Methoxycarbonyl)‐6‐Methylbicyclo[4.2.0]Octane
Authors: Takasu Kiyosei , Ishii Takayuki , Inanaga Kazato
Published: September 2008

1‐
tert
‐Butyldimethylsilyloxy‐2‐methyl‐1‐cyclohexene

1‐(
tert
‐Butyldimethylsilyoxy)‐8‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐6‐methylbicyclo[4.2.0]octane

Trifluoromethanesulfonimide

Methyl acrylate
2‐Substituted‐1,3‐Cyclohexadienes by Intermolecular, Methylene‐Free Tandem Enyne Metathesis
Authors: Kulkarni Amol A. , Diver Steven T.
Published: September 2008

Propargyl alcohol

Benzoyl chloride

Triethylamine

4‐Pyridinamine,
N,N
‐dimethyl (DMAP)

Propargyl benzoate

cis
‐Polybutadiene

Ethyl vinyl ether

Ruthenium [1,3‐bis‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐2‐imidazolidinyidine]‐
Synthesis of Dithieno[3,2‐

b

:2′,3′‐

d

]Thiophene
Authors: Frey Joseph , Proemmel Steffen , Armitage Michael A. , Holmes Andrew B.
Published: September 2008

Tetrabromothiophene

N
‐Formylpiperidine

3,4‐Dibromo‐2,5‐diformylthiophene

Ethyl 2‐mercaptoacetate

Dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]thiophene‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester

Dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]thiophene‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid

Dithieno[3,2‐b:2, 3′‐d]thiophene
Iridium‐Catalyzed

N

‐Heterocyclization of Primary Amines with Diols:

N

‐Benzylpiperidine
Authors: Fujita Ken‐ichi , Enoki Youichiro , Yamaguchi Ryohei
Published: September 2008

Di‐μ‐chloro‐dichlorobis(η
5
‐pentamethylcyclopentadieneyl)diiridium

1, 5‐Pentanediol

Benzylamine

N
‐Benzylpiperidine
Gene expression and association analyses of the phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene in major depressive disorder in the Japanese population
Authors: Numata Shusuke , Iga Jun‐ichi , Nakataki Masahito , Tayoshi Shin'Ya , Taniguchi Kyoko , Sumitani Satsuki , Tomotake Masahito , Tanahashi Toshihito , Itakura Mitsuo , Kamegaya Yoko , Tatsumi Masahiko , Sano Akira , Asada Takashi , Kunugi Hiroshi , Ueno Shu‐ichi , Ohmori Tetsuro
Published: September 2008

The phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) interacts with disrupted‐in‐schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), which is a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD). PDE4B is also important in the regulation of cAMP signaling, a second messenger implicated in learning, memory, and mood. In this study, we determined mRNA expression levels of the PDE4B gene in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with MDD and control subjects (n = 33, each). Next we performed two‐stage case‐controlled association analyses (first set; case = 174, controls = 348; second set; case = 481, controls = 812) in the Japanese population to determine if the PDE4B gene is implicated in MDD. In the leukocytes, a significantly higher expression of the PDE4B mRNA was observed in the drug‐naïve MDD patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.0001) and the expression of the MDD patients significantly decreased after antidepressant treatment (P = 0.030). In the association analysis, we observed significant allelic associations of four SNPs (the most significant, rs472952; P = 0.002) and a significant haplotypic association (permutation P = 0.019) between the PDE4B gene and MDD in the first‐set samples. However, we could not confirm these significant associations in the following independent second‐set of samples. Our results suggest that the PDE4B gene itself does not link to MDD but the elevated mRNA levels of PDE4B might be implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome‐wide linkage of cotinine pharmacokinetics suggests candidate regions on chromosomes 9 and 11
Authors: He Yungang , Bergen Andrew W. , Hops Hyman , Andrews Judy A. , Tildesley Elizabeth , Lessov‐Schlaggar Christina N. , Webster Cris , Benowitz Neal , Swan Gary E.
Published: September 2008

Characterizing cotinine pharmacokinetics is a useful way to study nicotine metabolism because the same liver enzyme is primarily responsible for the metabolism of both, and the clearances of nicotine and cotinine are highly correlated. We conducted a whole‐genome linkage analysis to search for candidate regions influencing quantitative variation in cotinine pharmacokinetics in a large‐scale pharmacokinetic study with 61 families containing 224 healthy adult participants. The strongest linkage signal was identified at 135 cM of chromosome 9 with LOD = 2.81 andP = 0.0002; two other suggestive linkage peaks appear at 31.4 and 73.5 cM of chromosome 11 with LOD = 1.96 (P = 0.0013) and 1.94 (P = 0.0014). The confidence level of the linkage between the three genome regions and cotinine pharmacokinetics is statistically significant with a genome‐wide empirical probability ofP = 0.029. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enclosure environment affects the activity budgets of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Authors: Jaman M. Firoj , Huffman Michael A.
Published: September 2008

Individuals adapt to changes in their environment, such as food availability and temperature, by adjusting the amount of time spent in different behavioral activities. These adjustments in behavior should vary across age–sex class according to specific physiological and social needs. We studied the activity budgets of three social Japanese macaque groups inhabiting either vegetated or nonvegetated enclosures in order to compare the effects of access with vegetation, as both food and substrate on resting, feeding, grooming and moving activities over a 12‐month period. Daily access to natural foods for monkeys in the vegetated enclosure seems to be largely responsible for the differences in daily time budgets of these three groups. Resting time in all three groups was longer than the time devoted to other activities. Resting and moving time in the two nonvegetated enclosures was significantly longer than in the vegetated enclosure. In contrast, feeding and grooming time was significantly longer in the vegetated enclosure. Seasonal variation in time spent feeding, resting and grooming was significantly effected by enclosure type. In all three enclosures, immatures, particularly females, spent more time feeding and moving, whereas adults spent more time resting. Significant monthly variation in time spent by age–sex class was noted only for feeding and resting. Interestingly, in the vegetated enclosure, time spent feeding on natural vegetation was equal to the amount of time spent feeding on provisioned food. This suggests that factors other than energetic and nutritional needs may be important determinants of the activity budget of the species. These results have important implications for the enrichment of captive primates and our understanding of the maintenance of activity patterns by primates in the wild. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1133–1144, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermoregulated ionic liquids and their application for the hydroformylation of 1‐dodecene catalyzed by Rh/TPPTS complex
Authors: Tan Bo , Jiang Jingyang , Wang Yanhua , Wei Li , Chen Dianjun , Jin Zilin
Published: September 2008

Based on the synthesis of a new kind of room temperature ionic liquids, quaternary ammonium alkanesulfonate salts tailed with polyether chain to their alkyl group, a thermoregulated ionic liquid biphase system composed of ILPEG750, n‐heptane and toluene was developed. The system was applied in the hydroformylation of 1‐dodecene catalyzed by Rh/TPPTS complex. Under the optimum conditions, the conversion of 1‐dodecene and yield of aldehyde are 99% and 97%, respectively. In addition, the catalyst could be easily separated from products by phase separation and efficiently recovered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New antimicrobial polyurea: Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activities of polyurea‐containing thiosemicarbazide–metal complexes
Authors: Nishat Nahid , Ahamad Tansir , Zulfequar M. , Hasnain Sumaiya
Published: September 2008

A novel class of polymer–metal complexes was prepared by the condensation of a polymeric ligand with transition‐metal ions. The polymeric ligand was prepared by the addition polymerization of thiosemicarbazides with toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate in a 1 : 1 molar ratio. The polymeric ligand and its polymer–metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 13C‐NMR and 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. The geometries of the central metal ions were determined by electronic spectra (UV–visible) and magnetic moment measurement. The antibacterial activities of all of the synthesized polymers were investigated against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) and Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi (Gram negative). These compounds showed excellent antibacterial activities against these bacteria with the spread plate method on agar plates, and the number of viable bacteria were counted after 24 h of incubation period at 37°C. The antibacterial activity results revealed that the Cu(II) chelated polyurea showed a higher antibacterial activity than the other metal‐chelated polyureas. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Development of thermoplastic polyurethane vascular prostheses
Authors: Kang Yun Kyung , Park Chung Hee , Chang Hak , Minn Kyungwon , Park Chan Young
Published: September 2008

In this study, the optimum electrospinning conditions for a thermoplastic polyurethane/N,N‐dimethylformamide solution were sought. Under these conditions, polyurethane tubes for artificial blood vessels were produced via electrospinning, and various properties of the specimen were measured. The optimum electrospinning conditions were a concentration of 16 wt %, a voltage of 13.0 kV, and a tip‐to‐collector distance of 15 cm at 27°C and 80% relative humidity. The thermal behavior from a differential scanning calorimeter showed that this polyurethane web was thermally stable in the body temperature range. Enzyme hydrolysis of the web revealed that the polyurethane vascular prostheses would perform as nondegradable blood vessels in the body system. The pore size range of the electrospun polyurethane vascular prostheses was 0–3.5 μm. With a tensile stress of about 8–9 MPa and a tensile strain of about 80%, the tensile properties were expected to be superior to those of existing vascular prostheses made of polyester and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. In the last stage, heparin and collagen were treated on the surfaces of artificial vessels to reduce the probability of thrombi forming during the initial stage of grafting, and so the treated specimens exhibited a lower possibility of thrombi forming than untreated ones in a blood coagulation test. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Microporous activated carbon spheres prepared from resole‐type crosslinked phenolic beads by physical activation
Authors: Singh Arjun , Lal Darshan
Published: September 2008

Microporous activated carbon spheres (ACSs) with a high specific Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) surface area were prepared from resole‐type spherical crosslinked phenolic beads (PBs) by physical activation. The PBs used as precursors were synthesized in our laboratory through the mixing of phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline medium by suspension polymerization. The effects of the gasification time, temperature, and flow rate of the gasifying agent on the surface properties of ACSs were investigated. ACSs with a controllable pore structure derived from carbonized PBs were prepared by CO2 gasification. Surface properties of ACSs, such as the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameters, were characterized with BET and Dubinin–Reduchkevich equations based on N2 adsorption isotherms at 77 K. The results showed that ACSs with a 32–88% extent of burn‐off with CO2 gasification exhibited a BET surface area ranging from 574 to 3101 m2/g, with the pore volume significantly increased from 0.29 to 2.08 cm3/g. The pore size and its distribution could be tailored by the selection of suitable conditions, including the gasification time, temperature, and flow rate of the gasifying agents. The experimental results of this analysis revealed that ACSs obtained under different conditions were mainly microporous. The development of the surface morphology of ACSs was also studied with scanning electron microscopy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Solubility and sorption energetics of methyl salicylate in chloro‐butyl rubber
Authors: Bakken Egil
Published: September 2008

Equilibrium solubilities of methyl salicylate (MS) in chloro‐butyl rubber (CIIR) are measured at 318 and 333 K at several MS vapor pressures. The partial molar enthalpy of absorption, Habs, of MS(g) in CIIR and the partial molar enthalpy of mixing, Hmix, of MS(l) in CIIR are derived from the measured isotherms. The enthalpies are regarded as constant in the present concentration interval, and Habs and Hmix are −50.3 ± 3 kJ (mol MS(g))−1 and 4.7 ± 3 kJ (mol MS(l))−1, respectively. The Flory interaction parameter is calculated from the enthalpy of mixing, and the obtained Flory solution model agrees well with the present solubility data. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Apparent low‐field microwave absorption properties of styrene‐based copolymers containing acid groups
Authors: Lee Chang Hoon , Kim Joon‐Seop
Published: September 2008

The microwave absorption properties of polystyrene (PS) copolymers containing sulfonic and methacrylic acid groups were investigated using an electron magnetic resonance spectroscopy method. It was found that, unlike PS and poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymers, the acid groups containing PS copolymers showed three electromagnetic resonance signals at 3250, 3035, and 520 G; the first and last two signals were thought to be due to the presence of anion radicals and acid groups in PS, respectively. This result indicated that the PS copolymers exhibited magnetic field dependent low‐field microwave absorption behavior. This also suggested that the low‐field microwave absorption required the presence of both the aromatic and acidic groups in the materials. To explain both the low‐field absorption and magnetic field dependence, we proposed a coupled mechanism including both the magnetoplasticity associated with a plastic deformation and the rotational degree of freedom of aromatic groups containing electric dipoles with natural spin defects. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of Quetiapine in plasma
Authors: Nirogi Ramakrishna , Bhyrapuneni Gopinadh , Kandikere Vishwottam , Mudigonda Koteshwara , Ajjala Devender , Mukkanti K.
Published: September 2008

A sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of quetiapine in rat plasma. Following liquid–liquid extraction, the analyte was separated using a gradient mobile phase on a reverse‐phase column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M + H]+ ions, m/z 384 to m/z 221 for quetiapine and m/z 327 to m/z 270 for the internal standard. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.25–500 ng/mL for quetiapine in rat plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.25 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 7%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The validated method was successfully used to analyze rat plasma samples for application in pre‐clinical pharmacokinetic studies. This method in rodent plasma could be adapted for quetiapine assay in human plasma. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pop‐management literature: popular business press and management culture in Brazil
Authors: Wood Thomaz , de Paula Ana Paula Paes
Published: September 2008

As in other emerging countries, the 1990s in Brazil were characterized by profound economic changes. The business press reflected and influenced this process. Newspapers and magazines grew and assumed an important role, disseminating values associated with neoliberalism and managerialism. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the content produced by this media and how the readership reacts to this content. To accomplish these objectives, we used the method of fantasy theme analysis (Bormann, 1972) to analyze four business magazines, and we discuss how Brazilian culture mediates the assimilation of foreign ideas and managerial expertise. Our study also helps to understand how the pop‐management literature, disseminated by the business press, echoes and reinforces managerialism and management culture. Copyright © 2008 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The involvement of phospholipases C and D in the asymmetric division of subsidiary cell mother cells ofZea mays
Authors: Apostolakos Panagiotis , Panteris Emmanuel , Galatis Basil
Published: September 2008

In the present study, the involvement of phospholipase C and D (PLC and PLD) pathways in the asymmetric divisions that produce the stomatal complexes ofZea mayswas investigated. In particular, the polar organization of microtubules (MTs) and actin filaments (AFs) and the process of asymmetric division were studied in subsidiary cell mother cells (SMCs) treated with PLC and PLD modulators. In SMCs treated with butanol‐1 (but‐1), which blocks phosphatidic acid (PA) production via PLDs, AF‐patch formation laterally to the inducing guard cell mother cell (GMC) and the subsequent asymmetric division were inhibited. In these SMCs, cell division plane determination, as expressed by MT preprophase band (MT‐PPB) formation, was not disturbed. Exogenously applied PA partially relieved the but‐1 effects on SMCs. In contrast to SMCs, but‐1 did not affect the symmetric GMC division. Inhibition of the PLC catalytic activity by neomycin or U73122 resulted in inhibition of asymmetric SMC division, while AF‐patch and MT‐PPB were organized as in control SMCs. These data show that the PLC and PLD signaling pathways are involved in the transduction and/or perception of the inductive stimulus that is emitted by the GMCs and induces the polar AF organization and asymmetric SMC division. In contrast, division plane determination in SMCs, as expressed by MT‐PPB formation, does not depend on PLC and PLD signaling pathways. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phase 3, randomized, controlled trial of atrasentan in patients with nonmetastatic, hormone‐refractory prostate cancer
Authors: Nelson Joel B. , Love William , Chin Joseph L. , Saad Fred , Schulman Claude C. , Sleep Darryl J. , Qian Jiang , Steinberg Joyce , Carducci Michael ,   for the Atrasentan Phase 3 Study Group
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND.

Atrasentan is a potent, oral, selective endothelin‐A (ETA) receptor antagonist that has clinical activity in patients with hormone‐refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). In this article, the authors report the results from a phase 3, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of atrasentan in patients with nonmetastatic HRPC.

METHODS.

Of 941 patients who had adequate androgen suppression and no radiographic evidence of metastases but rising prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels, 467 patients were randomized to receive atrasentan at a dose of 10 mg, and 474 patients were randomized to receive placebo daily. The primary endpoint was the time to disease progression (TTP), which was defined as the onset of metastases. Secondary endpoints were the time to PSA progression, change in bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels, PSA doubling time, and overall survival.

RESULTS.

There was a 93‐day delay in the median TTP with atrasentan, but the difference from placebo in TTP was not statistically significant (P = .288). Large geographic differences in the median TTP were noted: in the US: The difference was 81 days longer with placebo; whereas, in non‐US sites, the difference was 180 days longer with atrasentan. Atrasentan lengthened the PSA doubling time (P = .031) and slowed the increase in BALP (P < .001). The median survival was 1477 days with atrasentan and 1403 days with placebo. The most common adverse events associated with atrasentan were peripheral edema, nasal congestion, and headache, consistent with the vasodilatory properties of ETA receptor antagonists.

CONCLUSIONS.

Although the primary endpoint was not achieved, large regional differences in TTP were noted, suggesting that trial conduct may have influenced the results. The biologic activity was consistent with findings from other clinical trials of atrasentan in HRPC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.