bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Responses of Postmetamorphic Amphibians to Cattle Grazing in Wetlands
Authors: BURTON ELIZABETH C. , GRAY MATTHEW J. , SCHMUTZER A. CHANDLER , MILLER DEBRA L.
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT Global amphibian declines have been linked to various anthropogenic land uses. Recent studies have documented negative impacts of cropland agriculture and deforestation on amphibians; however, few have examined potential impacts of cattle grazing in wetlands on resident amphibians. Therefore, we measured differences in number of captures and body size of postmetamorphic amphibians, egg mass abundance, and shoreline vegetation structure and composition between 4 wetlands with direct cattle access and 4 wetlands from which cattle were excluded on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, USA. We captured amphibians at wetlands from March to August 2005 and 2006 using pitfall traps. Number of green frog (Rana clamitans) metamorphs captured at nonaccess wetlands was 2.5 times and 9.8 times greater than at wetlands with cattle access in 2005 and 2006, respectively. However, number of American toads (Bufo americanus) captured was 68 times and 76 times greater at cattle‐access wetlands in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In general, metamorph body size was negatively correlated with species‐specific capture rate. We detected no differences in egg mass abundance between cattle land‐use types. Height, percent horizontal cover, and percent vertical cover of shoreline vegetation were 74%,25%, and 84% greater, respectively, in nonaccess wetlands in 2005; vegetation trends were similar in 2006. Our results suggest that cattle impact amphibian populations but effects vary by species. Differences in postmetamorphic capture rate may be related to less emergent vegetation at cattle‐access wetlands. Although body size differed between land uses for metamorphs, these trends probably were short‐lived, because we did not detect differences in juvenile and adult body size between land uses for most species. Based on our findings, we suggest that fencing cattle from wetlands may be a prudent conservation strategy for some amphibian species (e.g., ranids), whereas other species (e.g., bufonids) may benefit from controlled grazing.
Review and Meta‐Analysis of Camera Effects on Avian Nest Success
Authors: RICHARDSON T. WILL , GARDALI THOMAS , JENKINS STEPHEN H.
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT  Identifying nest predators is critical to understanding predation pressures that birds face, and using surveillance cameras appears to be the most reliable method of nest predator identification. However, presence and methods of using camera equipment may introduce bias in predation rates. To summarize potential effects of cameras on nest success we reviewed published and unpublished studies that estimated daily nest predation for bird nests with and without surveillance cameras. We used meta‐analyses to quantitatively synthesize the direction and magnitude of these effects from independent studies. We found evidence that, on average, use of camera equipment may reduce nest predation rates, although these differences were not always significant and varied relative to geographic regions, vegetation types, and study duration. Researchers using camera surveillance to monitor nests must be aware that the equipment may be affecting rates of predation and possibly biasing data collected on predator identity. Based on our review and analysis, we provide recommendations for researchers seeking to minimize or control for potential bias when using surveillance cameras to monitor nest predation.
Retention Time of Telazol in Black Bears
Authors: RYAN CHRISTOPHER W. , VAUGHAN MICHAEL R. , MELDRUM J. BLAIR , DUNCAN ROBERT B. , EDWARDS JOHN W.
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT Telazol® (Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, IA) is an effective immobilization drug for American black bears (Ursus americanus), but concern exists regarding retention time of this drug in tissues relative to human consumption of bears. Therefore, we evaluated retention time of Telazol in captured American black bears immobilized with Telazol and held in captivity for 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. We detected Telazol in muscle and liver of one bear on day 7, in serum from 2 bears on day 7, and in urine of one bear each on day 3 and day 14. Our findings suggest Telazol is metabolized and eliminated quickly from the bear's system and should allow managers additional flexibility in mark‐recapture studies and nuisance situations.
A Ringed Non-Uniform Network: How to Raise its Efficiency
Authors: Survilo J.
Published: January 2009

A Ringed Non-Uniform Network: How to Raise its Efficiency

As distinct from radial electric power lines, in closed loops the consumers are fed from two sides. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of supply reliability, power quality and its losses; however, these are the least only when a loop is uniform, which is not always met in practice. In a non-uniform loop a circulating current flows, and the losses increase proportionally to its square. To reduce losses in such a non-uniform loop, the circulating current should be eliminated. For this purpose a booster transformer can be used. The voltage of such a transformer is known to be in quadrature to the phase voltage; the present consideration has shown that such orientation of the opposing voltage gives the best results only when all loads in the loop are active, otherwise the angle of opposing voltage should be regulated. The voltage value should also be regulated depending on the load. Another technique consists in introducing a complementary reactance into the terminal branches. Such reactance should be regulated if loads are changing in time disproportionately with respect to each other. The best results are achieved when all loop node loads have the same cosφ. If the complementary reactance calculated at one end of the loop is positive, then that calculated at the second end of the loop will be negative, and vice versa. The appropriate choice can be made, in particular, involving both loop terminals.
Applying Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-III) in Hong Kong Nursing Homes
Authors: Chou Kee-Lee , Chi Iris , Leung Joe C.B.
Published: January 2009

Le système de classification des malades Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III) est un indice de composition de la clientèle élaboré aux États-unis pour classer les pensionnaires des maisons de soins infirmiers et le financement des services de soins en établissement. À Hong Kong, RUG III est basé sur plusieurs groupes de pensionnaires. Le but de la présente étude était d'examiner la fiabilité et la validité de RUG III dans les maisons de soins infirmiers de Hong Kong. Une enquête transversale a été effectuée dans sept établissements de soins de longue durée exploités par une seule agence. Les pensionnaires (n=1 127) ont été évalués selon un ensemble minimal de données et aussi de soins, et le temps passé par le personnel auxiliaire à la dispense des soins a été consigné durant deux semaines avant ou après la fin de l'évaluation de l'ensemble minimal des données. Un évaluateur indépendant a rencontré de nouveau 45 des 1 127 résidents afin d'évaluer le coefficient d'objectivité. Le coefficient d'objectivité de l'évaluation de l'ensemble minimal des données était excellent (Kappa=0,76) et le RUG III initial a compté pour quelque 30 pour cent du temps du personnel infirmier. Les résultats apportent une preuve préliminaire permettant d'étayer que RUG III est un indice fiable et valide de la composition de la clientèle des maisons de soins infirmiers de Hong Kong, mais il faudra effectuer d'autres études afin de réduire la variance de l'utilisation des ressources expliquée par cet indice de composition de la clientèle.
A Tax on Productivity?
Authors: Donovan Stephen K.
Published: January 2009

Who wants to read your papers, and how do you make sure that other scholars do so? The offprint or reprint, either printed, photocopied, or in electronic format (PDF), is the focused way for any academic author to reach their target audience. While printed offprints may be expensive, many journals continue to provide at least some for free. The PDF has seen a revitalization of the offprint, reducing authors’ costs and making papers widely available from multiple sources on the World Wide Web.
MOLINO-II
Authors: de Palma Andre , Proost Stef , Van der Loo Saskia
Published: January 2009

Cost–benefit analysis plays a central role in planning and investment decisions related to transportation. Yet it is often difficult for an outsider to control and check this process. A new engineering–economics-based tool, MOLINO-II, is proposed here to perform cost–benefit analysis of transport projects and regulations in a network and multiperiod context. MOLINO-II performs cost–benefit analysis for different transport modes and types of freight and passenger traffic, peak and off-peak time periods, diverse market structures, and various financing schemes. Congestion levels and tolls are computed endogenously. MOLINO-II also takes into account uncertainty in demand and cost parameters.
Public–Private Partnerships
Authors: McClure Scott , Lowry Jeff , Woodland Jon
Published: January 2009

Public–private partnerships as an alternative means of delivering goods and services are receiving increased attention as state departments of transportation consider ways to maximize limited resources. In 1998 the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) (formerly New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department) entered into an innovative partnership with a private consultant to design and manage the reconstruction of a major highway, and the numerous innovations of the agreement included a first-of-its-kind long-term performance warranty. The innovations used on this project, pertaining primarily to features of the public–private partnership between the parties, make this project one of national interest and significance. This paper provides an examination of one aspect of the performance warranty: administration and management of the procedures used to ensure accurate monitoring of equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs), which is one of three factors used in determining expiration of the warranty. Accurate, reliable collection and processing of weigh-in-motion data are of paramount importance because early termination of the warranty due to accumulation of ESALs has significant financial implications for the New Mexico DOT. The paper describes a custom computer application developed specifically to calculate ESALs according to unique contractual requirements and discusses other uses of weigh-in-motion data for performing long-term research into the benefits of this public–private partnership.
On the Reconstruction of Three-dimensional Protein Structures from Contact Maps
Authors: Di Lena Pietro , Vassura Marco , Margara Luciano , Fariselli Piero , Casadio Rita
Published: January 2009

The problem of protein structure prediction is one of the long-standing goals of Computational Biology. Although we are still not able to provide first principle solutions, several shortcuts have been discovered to compute the protein three-dimensional structure when similar protein sequences are available (by means of comparative modeling and remote homology detection). Nonetheless, these approaches can assign structures only to a fraction of proteins in genomes and ab-initio methods are still needed. One relevant step of ab-initio prediction methods is the reconstruction of the protein structures starting from inter-protein residue contacts. In this paper we review the methods developed so far to accomplish the reconstruction task in order to highlight their differences and similarities. The different approaches are fully described and their reported performances, together with their computational complexity, are also discussed.
Antimutagenic Activity and Radical Scavenging Activity of Water Infusions and Phenolics from Ligustrum Plants Leaves
Authors: Nagy Milan , Križková Lívia , Mučaji Pavel , Kontšeková Zuzana , Šeršeň František , Krajčovič Juraj
Published: January 2009

Water infusions of Ligustrum delavayanum and Ligustrum vulgare leaves and eight phenolics isolated therefrom have been assayed in vitro on ofloxacin-induced genotoxicity in the unicellular flagellate Euglena gracilis. The tested compounds luteolin, quercetin, luteolin-7-glucoside, luteolin-7-rutinoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside, apigenin-7-rutinoside, tyrosol and esculetin inhibited the mutagenic activity of ofloxacin (43 µM) in E. gracilis. Water infusions from leaves of L. delavayanum and L. vulgare showed higher antimutagenic effect (pt < 0.001). The activity of these samples against ofloxacin (86 µM)-induced genotoxicity was lower, but statistically significant (pt < 0.05), excluding the water infusion of L. delavayanum leaves (pt < 0.01). Efficacy of quercetin, luteolin-7-rutinoside, apigenin-7-rutinoside was insignificant. The antimutagenic effect of most phenolics we studied could be clearly ascribed to their DPPH scavenging activity, substitution patterns and lipophilicity.
Chitosan Hydrogel‐Capped Porous SiO2 as a pH Responsive Nano‐Valve for Triggered Release of Insulin
Authors: Wu Jianmin , Sailor Michael J.
Published: January 2009

A pH responsive, chitosan‐based hydrogel film is used to cap the pores of a porous SiO2 layer. The porous SiO2 layer is prepared by thermal oxidation of an electrochemically etched Si wafer, and the hydrogel film is prepared by reaction of chitosan with glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Optical reflectivity spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm that the bio‐polymer only partially infiltrates the porous SiO2 film, generating a double layer structure. The optical reflectivity spectrum displays Fabry–Pérot interference fringes characteristic of a double layer, which is characterized using reflective interferometric Fourier transform spectroscopy (RIFTS). Monitoring the position of the RIFTS peak corresponding to the hydrogel layer allows direct, real‐time observation of the reversible volume phase transition of the hydrogel upon cycling of pH in the range 6.0–7.4. The swelling ratio and response time are controlled by the relative amount of GPTMS in the hydrogel. The pH‐dependent volume phase transition can be used to release insulin trapped in the porous SiO2 layer underneath the hydrogel film. At pH 7.4, the gel in the top layer effectively blocks insulin release, while at pH 6.0 insulin penetrates the swollen hydrogel layer, resulting in a steady release into solution.
A promising method for electrodeposition of aluminium on stainless steel in ionic liquid
Authors: Yue Guikuan , Zhang Suojiang , Zhu Yanli , Lu Xingmei , Li Shucai , Li Zengxi
Published: January 2009

A promising method for aluminium deposition was proposed by using AlCl3/[bmim]Cl (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride) ionic liquid as electrolyte. By using this novel method, the volatile and flammable organic solvent systems and the high corrosive inorganic molten salts with high temperature can be substituted, and the deposit microstructure can be easily adjusted by changing the current density, temperature and electrolyte composition. The study was performed by means of galvano‐static electrolysis and the optimum operating conditions were determined based on the systematic studies of the effects of current density, temperature, molar ratio of AlCl3 to [bmim]Cl, stirring speed and deposition time on the quality of deposited coatings. The electrical conductivities of electrolytes were also investigated as a function of temperature (298–358 K) and molar ratio of AlCl3 to [bmim]Cl (from 0.1:1 to 2.0:1). Dense, bright and adherent aluminium coatings were obtained over a wide range of temperature (298–348 K), current densities (8–44 mA/cm2) and molar ratio (1.6:1–2.0:1). Results from the analysis of crystal structure show that all of the electrodeposits exhibit a preferred (200) crystallographic orientation. Temperature has significant influence on the crystallographic orientation and there does not appear to be an apparent impact of current density on it. Analyses of the chronoamperograms indicate that the deposition process of aluminium on stainless steel was controlled by three‐dimension nucleation with diffusion‐controlled growth and there is a conversion from progressive nucleation to instantaneous nucleation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
An improved ultrasound‐assisted extraction process of gossypol acetic acid from cottonseed soapstock
Authors: Jia Guangfeng , Zhan Yonghua , Wu Daocheng , Meng Yang , Xu Liang
Published: January 2009

To investigate the extracted process of gossypol acetic acid (G‐AA) from cottonseed soapstock and explore the improvement of its yield and purity, a novel ultrasound‐assisted extraction and crystallization method was introduced to this process. Under the optimized conditions, preliminary G‐AA with the yield of 1300 mg and the purity of 95.9% could be obtained from 100 g of fresh soapstock by ultrasound‐assisted extraction. In addition, UV, IR, and NMR spectrum further confirmed the detailed chemical structure of G‐AA. Assay of inhibiting human prostate tumor cell line PC‐3 and human breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB‐231 revealed its biological activity, the values of IC50are 9.096 μmol/L and 14.37 μmol/L respectively. In comparison with the conventional solvent extraction, this novel process increases the content of G‐AA over 90%, reduces the time of crystallization by 75%, and retains the anticancer activity of gossypol. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Demarcation of a new circulating turbulent fluidization regime
Authors: Qi Xiaobo , Zhu Haiyan , Zhu Jesse
Published: January 2009

Transient flow behaviors in a novel circulating‐turbulent fluidized bed (C‐TFB) were investigated by a multifunctional optical fiber probe, that is capable of simultaneously measuring instantaneous local solids‐volume concentration, velocity and flux in gas‐solid two‐phase suspensions. Microflow behavior distinctions between the gas‐solid suspensions in a turbulent fluidized bed (TFB), conventional circulating fluidized bed (CFB), the bottom region of high‐density circulating fluidized bed (HDCFB), and the newly designed C‐TFB were also intensively studied. The experimental results show that particle‐particle interactions (collisions) dominate the motion of particles in the C‐TFB and TFB, totally different from the interaction mechanism between the gas and solid phases in the conventional CFB and the HDCFB, where the movements of particles are mainly controlled by the gas‐particle interactions (drag forces). In addition, turbulence intensity and frequency in the C‐TFB are significantly greater than those in the TFB at the same superficial gas velocity. As a result, the circulating‐turbulent fluidization is identified as a new flow regime, independent of turbulent fluidization, fast fluidization and dense suspension upflow. The gas‐solid flow in the C‐TFB has its inherent hydrodynamic characteristics, different from those in TFB, CFB and HDCFB reactors. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Audiological and vestibular findings in the Kabuki syndrome
Authors: Barozzi S. , Di Berardino F. , Atzeri F. , Filipponi E. , Cerutti M. , Selicorni A. , Cesarani A.
Published: January 2009

Since the first description of Kabuki syndrome (KS) in 1981, over 350 cases from a variety of countries have been reported. Even though otolaryngological manifestations are common in KS, only a limited number of the reports provide audiological and vestibular data. The aim of the present study was to investigate the vestibular function and describe the audiological findings in KS. The present study reports no audiological and vestibular features in a group of 10 KS patients (7 males, 3 females), with chronological age ranging from 10 to 25 years (mean age = 14.5): a complete otoneurological and audiological work‐up was performed for each patient and included where possible, the measurement of vestibular evoked potentials, caloric tests and static posturography. Hearing loss was found in 65% showing a mix or a conductive impairment; moreover the vestibular function was normal in 95% of the examined ears. In conclusion, audiological and vestibular examination should be considered when evaluating KS subjects. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Further clinical delineation of the Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome in patients with PHF6 mutations
Authors: Carter Melissa T. , Picketts David J. , Hunter Alasdair G. , Graham Gail E.
Published: January 2009

Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome is an X‐linked condition caused by PHF6 mutations. The classical description of males with this disorder includes severe intellectual disability with epilepsy, microcephaly, short stature, obesity, hypogonadism, and gynecomastia. We present three males with PHF6 mutations whose features included deep‐set eyes, large ears, coarse face, tapering fingers, and truncal obesity. Unlike the original description of the syndrome; however, the males described herein had varying degrees of intellectual disability and hypogonadism, were of normal to tall stature, had normal to large head sizes, and did not have seizures. This departure from the usual clinical description of Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome is consistent with recent reports of males with mutations in PHF6. In addition, we describe the phenotype and X‐inactivation pattern in two females heterozygous for PHF6 mutations, both of whom have mild features of the syndrome. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rekonstitution von Apoenzymen als chemisches Werkzeug für die strukturelle Enzymologie und Biotechnologie
Authors: Fruk Ljiljana , Kuo Chi‐Hsien , Torres Eduardo , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: January 2009

Enzyme mit künstlichen Cofaktoren: Nicht diffusionsfähige organische Cofaktoren von Enzymen können oft gegen künstliche Analoga ausgetauscht werden, wobei man halbsynthetische Enzyme erhält (siehe Schema). Dieser Ansatz kann zur Analyse von Struktur‐Funktions‐Beziehungen in der Enzymologie und zur Herstellung neuartiger Enzyme mit verbesserten oder neuen Funktionen, die nützlich für Biosensorik, Biokatalyse und Materialwissenschaften sind, verwendet werden.

magnified image

Viele Enzyme enthalten einen nicht diffusionsfähigen organischen Cofaktor, prosthetische Gruppe genannt, der im aktiven Zentrum des Enzyms platziert und essenziell für die katalytische Aktivität ist. Ein solcher Cofaktor kann oftmals aus dem Protein entfernt werden, wobei das entsprechende Apoenzym freigesetzt wird. Dieses kann wiederum mit einem künstlichen Analogon des nativen Cofaktors rekonstituiert werden. Heutzutage steht eine große Zahl künstlicher Cofaktoren zur Verfügung, die für die Rekonstitution genutzt werden können und damit die Herstellung von neuartigen halbsynthetischen Enzymen ermöglichen. Diese Methode ist in den letzten Jahrzehnten zu einem vielseitigen Hilfsmittel für die strukturelle Enzymologie weiterentwickelt worden, um Struktur‐Funktions‐Beziehungen zu untersuchen. Darüber hinaus kann die Rekonstitution von Apoenzymen genutzt werden, um Enzyme mit verbesserten oder sogar völlig neuartigen Funktionen herzustellen. Der vorliegende Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick über die historischen Entwicklungen auf diesem Gebiet sowie über die aktuellen Methoden zur Rekonstitution von Apoenzymen.
Apoenzyme Reconstitution as a Chemical Tool for Structural Enzymology and Biotechnology
Authors: Fruk Ljiljana , Kuo Chi‐Hsien , Torres Eduardo , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: January 2009

Enzymes with artificial cofactors: Nondiffusible organic cofactors of enzymes can often be replaced by artifical analogues to generate semisynthetic enzymes (see scheme). This approach can be used to study structure–function relationships in enzymology and to produce novel enzymes with enhanced or even entirely new functions that are useful for biosensing, biocatalysis, and materials science applications.

magnified image

Many enzymes contain a nondiffusible organic cofactor, often termed a prosthetic group, which is located in the active site and essential for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. These cofactors can often be extracted from the protein to yield the respective apoenzyme, which can subsequently be reconstituted with an artificial analogue of the native cofactor. Nowadays a large variety of synthetic cofactors can be used for the reconstitution of apoenzymes and, thus, generate novel semisynthetic enzymes. This approach has been refined over the past decades to become a versatile tool of structural enzymology to elucidate structure–function relationships of enzymes. Moreover, the reconstitution of apoenzymes can also be used to generate enzymes possessing enhanced or even entirely new functionality. This Review gives an overview on historical developments and the current state‐of‐the‐art on apoenzyme reconstitution.
Stabilization of an α Helix by β‐Sheet‐Mediated Self‐Assembly of a Macrocyclic Peptide
Authors: Lim Yong‐beom , Moon Kyung‐Soo , Lee Myongsoo
Published: January 2009

Protein roll call: Peptide‐based building blocks, in which both an α‐helix‐forming segment and a β‐sheet segment are located within a single macrocyclic structure, self‐assemble into α‐helix‐decorated artificial proteins. This approach provides a starting point for developing artificial proteins that can modulate α‐helix‐mediated interactions occurring in a multivalent fashion.

magnified image
Dynamical mechanisms controlling the vertical redistribution of dust and the thermodynamic structure of the West Saharan atmospheric boundary layer during summer
Authors: Cuesta Juan , Marsham John H. , Parker Douglas J. , Flamant Cyrille
Published: January 2009

The Saharan atmospheric boundary layer (SABL) plays a significant role in the atmospheric global circulation and directly affects the vertical redistribution of dust originated in the Sahara, the world's largest dust source. Recent measurements have revealed a variety of new dynamical mechanisms that control the structure of the SABL, which are responsible for exchange between the Saharan convective and residual boundary layers. Using new space‐borne laser remote sensing data (CALIPSO) and recently published results, we provide an overview of the following known dynamical mechanisms: diurnal vertical mixing, dynamical lifting (density currents and cold air outbreaks) and topographic effects (mountains and albedo anomalies). Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
The oxidative stress response is region specific in organogenesis stage mouse embryos exposed to 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine
Authors: Gnanabakthan Naveen , Hales Barbara F.
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND:

The exposure of mouse embryos to 5‐bromo‐2'‐deoxyuridine (BrdU), a model teratogen, generates oxidative stress, induces c‐Fos dependent activator protein–1 (AP‐1) DNA binding activity, and causes skeletal malformations (Sahambi and Hales,2006). The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the ability of BrdU to induce oxidative stress, rather than its incorporation into DNA per se, is responsible for triggering the ensuing malformations. To test this hypothesis, we examined the regional localization of BrdU incorporation, 8‐oxoguanine (8‐oxoG), a marker of oxidative stress, and c‐Fos immunoreactivity in organogenesis stage mouse embryos exposed to a teratogenic dose of BrdU.

METHODS:

Timed pregnant CD1 mice received vehicle (saline) or BrdU (600 or 1000 mg/kg body weight) on gestation day 9.N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, a glutathione precursor, was administered to GD 9 mice 2 hours before treatment with vehicle or BrdU to determine the impact of inhibiting the oxidative stress response. Embryos were excised 3 hours after BrdU treatment and processed for staining for BrdU incorporated into DNA, 8‐oxoG, and c‐Fos.

RESULTS:

BrdU incorporation, 8‐oxoG adduct formation and c‐Fos immunoreactivity were highest in the rostral and caudal developing tissues of BrdU‐exposed embryos. Although preadministration ofN‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine at a dose that decreased BrdU teratogenicity dampened the oxidative stress response, it did not affect the incorporation of BrdU into DNA.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data show that rostral and caudal neuroepithelial cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress in the organogenesis‐stage embryo. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Periconceptional folic acid and multivitamin supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital abnormalities
Authors: Czeizel Andrew E.
Published: January 2009

The pioneering studies of Smithells et al. showed the reduction of recurrent neural‐tube defects (NTD) after periconceptional folic acid‐containing multivitamin supplementation. The Hungarian Periconceptional Service was established in 1984, and this primary health care system offered a chance to organize a randomized controlled trial to check whether the supplementation of a multivitamin containing 0.8 mg of folic acid during the periconceptional period is appropriate for the reduction of a first occurrence of NTD in the family. This found a reduction of approximately 90% of primary NTD. An unexpected finding was a significant reduction in the rate of congenital abnormalities overall: 20.6 per 1000 in the ‘multivitamin’ group, and 40.6 per 1000 in the ‘trace‐element‐like’ placebo group (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35–0.70). When the 6 cases of NTD were excluded, this difference in the rates of major congenital abnormalities between the two study‐groups remained very highly significant (p< 0.0001). Cardiovascular malformations and urinary tract defects were particularly affected. These findings were confirmed in the Hungarian cohort‐controlled trial and by observational studies in other countries. Two questions remain to be answered. Is folic acid better alone or with multivitamins? What is the optimal dose of folic acid? Overall, the Hungarian experiences of periconceptional care have shown not only primary prevention of several severe congenital abnormalities but also a good cost‐benefit balance. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of anti‐apoptosis genes alters lactate metabolism of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells in culture
Authors: Dorai Haimanti , Kyung Yun Seung , Ellis Dawn , Kinney CherylAnn , Lin Chengbin , Jan David , Moore Gordon , Betenbaugh Michael J.
Published: January 2009

In an effort to develop robust Chinese Hamster Ovary host cell lines, a variety of anti‐apoptotic genes were over‐expressed, either singly or in combination, followed by screening of transfectants for improved cell growth, extended longevity, reduced caspase 3/7 activity, and enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Two particular cell lines, one containing two anti‐apoptotic genes, E1B‐19K and Aven (EA167), and another containing three, E1B‐19K, Aven, and a mutant of XIAP (EAX197), exhibited a reduction in caspase 3 activity of at least 60% and a 170% enhancement in mitochondrial membrane potential compared to controls when treated with staurosporine. In batch cell growth experiments, the peak viable cell densities and viabilities were higher resulting in a 186% increase in integrated viable cell densities. Analyses of metabolite utilization and formation of waste products indicated that the apoptotic resistant cell lines depleted all the lactate when grown in commercially available CD‐CHO medium while significant levels (>1.8 g/L) accumulated in the host cell lines. When the lactate level was replenished daily in the apoptotic resistant cell lines, the cell lines consumed lactate and the culture longevity was extended up to four additional days compared to control cell lines. Furthermore, the anti‐apoptosis cell lines also accumulated lower levels of ammonia. The ability of the apoptotic resistant cell lines to consume lactate was exploited by cultivating them in a “high” glucose medium containing 15 g/L (60 mM glucose) in which apoptotic resistant cell lines exhibited lower maximum lactate (1.8 g/L) compared to control cell lines which accumulated concentrations of lactate (2.2 g/L) that appeared to be deleterious for growth. The shaker flask titer of a therapeutic antibody product expressed in an apoptotic resistant cell line in “high” glucose medium reached 690 mg/L compared to 390 mg/L for a cell line derived from a control host cell line. These results represent to our knowledge the first example in the literature in which manipulation of the apoptosis pathway has altered the nutrient consumption profile of mammalian cells in culture; findings that underscore the interdependence of the apoptotic cellular machinery and metabolism and provide greater flexibility to mammalian bioreactor process development. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 592–608. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comparative study of 3D scanning in engineering, product and transport design and fashion design education
Authors: Kus A. , Unver E. , Taylor A.
Published: January 2009

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of three‐dimensional (3D) scanning technologies for design and engineering courses. This paper will provide a comparative discussion of the current 3D scanning technologies; and then describes three experimental studies in engineering, transport design and fashion design. Using 3D scanner technology the experiments tested the transferral of a variety of different data from scanned organic 3D shapes to 3D CAD packages for learning and teaching in undergraduate education. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 263–271, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20213
Spreadsheet‐based interactive modules for control education
Authors: Aliane Nourdine
Published: January 2009

In the last few years, spreadsheets have become a popular computational tool and a powerful platform for performing engineering calculations. The simplicity of spreadsheet programming in addition to their plotting capabilities, and other provided utilities, make them a powerful didactic tool. This paper describes the development of interactive tools based on Excel spreadsheets for basic control education. The motivation for developing these tools was to give students special learning modules focused on transmitting the essence of dynamics of systems to achieve an accurate mental model as well as helping them understand how feedback works. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 166–174, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20221
Strategies for the Discovery of New Natural Products by Genome Mining
Authors: Zerikly Malek , Challis Gregory L.
Published: January 2009

New drugs from silent gene clusters: Analysis of genome sequence data has identified numerous “cryptic” gene clusters encoding novel natural product biosynthetic assembly lines; this suggests that many new bioactive metabolites remain to be discovered, even in extensively investigated organisms. Several related and complementary strategies for identifying the products of these clusters have emerged recently and revitalized the search for novel bioactive natural products.

magnified image

Natural products have a very broad spectrum of applications. Many natural products are used clinically as antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anticancer and immunosuppressive agents and are therefore of utmost importance for our society. When in the 1940s the golden age of antibiotics was ushered in, a “gold rush fever” of natural product discovery in the pharmaceutical industry ensued for many decades. However, the traditional process of discovering new bioactive natural products is generally long and laborious, and known natural products are frequently rediscovered. A mass‐withdrawal of pharmaceutical companies from new natural product discovery and natural products research has thus occurred in recent years. In this article, the concept of genome mining for novel natural product discovery, which promises to provide a myriad of new bioactive natural compounds, is summarized and discussed. Genome mining for new natural product discovery exploits the huge and constantly increasing quantity of DNA sequence data from a wide variety of organisms that is accumulating in publicly accessible databases. Genes encoding enzymes likely to be involved in natural product biosynthesis can be readily located in sequenced genomes by use of computational sequence comparison tools. This information can be exploited in a variety of ways in the search for new bioactive natural products.
Ischemic prevention for stent implantation via brachial artery in children
Authors: Matsui Hikoro , Yasukochi Satoshi , Satomi Gengi
Published: January 2009

An 11‐year‐old boy received stent implantation for peripheral pulmonary stenosis through the left modified Blalock‐Taussig shunt from the left brachial approach because of the hairpin‐shaped route from a femoral or carotid approach. A temporary bypass between the left radial and the femoral arteries was established to prevent ischemic complication of the left forearm. There was no ischemic change of the left forearm in the physiological monitoring despite the long procedure (more than 4 hr) and brachial arterial spasms. No complications occurred after the procedure. The temporary bypass will support fewer complications in various catheter interventions through a brachial arterial approach in children. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of quinidine, cimetidine, and ketoconazole on the enantioselective pharmacokinetics and metabolism of metoprolol in rats
Authors: Boralli Vanessa Bergamin , Coelho Eduardo Barbosa , Lanchote Vera Lucia
Published: January 2009

Metoprolol is a β‐blocker and its racemic mixture is used for the treatment of hypertension. In the present study we investigated the influence of CYP2D and CYP3A on the stereoselective metabolism of metoprolol in rats. Male Wistar rats (n= 6 per group) received racemic metoprolol (15 mg/kg) orally, with or without pretreatment with the CYP inhibitor ketoconazole (50 mg/kg), cimetidine (150 mg/kg), or quinidine (80 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected up to 48 h after metoprolol administration. The plasma concentrations of the stereoisomers of metoprolol,O‐demethylmetoprolol (ODM), α‐hydroxymetoprolol (OHM) (Chiralpak® AD column), and metoprolol acidic metabolite (AODM) (Chiralcel® OD‐R column) were determined by HPLC using fluorescence detection (λexc= 229 nm; λem= 298 nm). CYP3A inhibition by ketoconazole reduced the plasma concentrations of ODM and AODM and favored the formation of OHM. CYP2D and CYP3A inhibition by cimetidine reduced the plasma concentrations of OHM and AODM and favored the formation of ODM. The inhibition of CYP2D by quinidine reduced the plasma concentrations of OHM and favored the formation of ODM. In conclusion, the results suggest that CYP3A is involved in the formation of ODM and CYP2D is involved in the formation of AODM. Chirality 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Desymmetrization of cyclic anhydrides mediated by cinchona alkaloids: Synthesis and olfactory properties of new fragrances based on (R)‐ and (S)‐2‐ethylhexanol
Authors: Ćiško‐Anić Blaženka , Hameršak Zdenko
Published: January 2009

A series of enantiomerically pure new fragrances, derived from 2‐ethylhexanol, have been prepared and their olfactory properties evaluated. The key step of the synthesis is cinchona‐alkaloid‐catalyzed desymmetrization of cyclic meso‐anhydrides with (R)‐ and (S)‐2‐ethylhexanol and proceeded in good to excellent diastereoselectivities (92:8–98:2 dr). Enantiomerically pure alcohols were prepared by lipase‐catalyzed kinetic resolution of 2‐ethylhexanol using vinyl laurate as acyl donor. Chirality 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determination of the absolute configuration of aromatase and dual aromatase‐sulfatase inhibitors by vibrational and electronic circular dichroism spectra analysis
Authors: Abbate Sergio , Longhi Giovanna , Castiglioni Ettore , Lebon France , Wood Paul M. , Woo Lawrence W. L. , Potter Barry V. L.
Published: January 2009

The absolute configuration of a newly designed, letrozole‐based chiral aromatase inhibitor that could not be defined by crystallographic techniques has been determined by means of vibrational and electronic circular dichroism and by optical rotation measurements combined with density functional theory calculations on possible conformers. The same absolute configurational assignment can be applied to the individual enantiomeric sulfamate esters, which are derived from the corresponding enantiomers of the chirally separated parent phenols, based on the similarity of the ECD spectrum of the sulfamate derivative to that of its phenolic precursor. The two enantiomeric sulfamate esters studied here are the first examples of nonsteroidal dual aromatase‐sulfatase inhibitor whose activities have been evaluated on optically resolved enantiomers. Chirality 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Growing Duckweed to Recover Nutrients from Wastewaters and for Production of Fuel Ethanol and Animal Feed
Authors: Cheng Jay J. , Stomp Anne‐M.
Published: January 2009

Lemnaceae or duckweed is an aquatic plant that can be used to recover nutrients from wastewaters. The grown duckweed can be a good resource of proteins and starch, and utilized for the production of value‐added products such as animal feed and fuel ethanol. In the last eleven years we have been working on growing duckweed on anaerobically treated swine wastewater and utilizing the duckweed for fuel ethanol production. Duckweed strains that grew well on the swine wastewater were screened in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The selected duckweed strains were then tested for nutrient recovery under laboratory and field conditions. The rates of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by the duckweed growing in the laboratory and field systems were determined in the study. The mechanisms of nutrient uptake by the duckweed and the growth of duckweed in a nutrient‐limited environment have been studied. When there are nutrients (N and P) available in the wastewater, duckweed takes the nutrients from the wastewater to support its growth and to store the nutrients in its tissue. When the N and P are completely removed from the wastewater, duckweed can use its internally stored nutrients to keep its growth for a significant period of time. A modified Monod model has been developed to describe nitrogen transport in a duckweed‐covered pond for nutrient recovery from anaerobically treated swine wastewater. Nutrient reserve in the duckweed biomass has been found the key to the kinetics of duckweed growth. Utilization of duckweed for value‐added products has a good potential. Using duckweed to feed animals, poultry, and fish has been extensively studied with promising results. Duckweed is also an alternative starch source for fuel ethanol production. Spirodela polyrrhiza grown on anaerobically treated swine wastewater was found to have a starch content of 45.8% (dry weight). Enzymatic hydrolysis of the duckweed biomass with amylases yielded a hydrolysate with a reducing sugar content corresponding to 50.9% of the original dry duckweed biomass. Fermentation of the hydrolysate using yeast gave an ethanol yield of 25.8% of the original dry duckweed biomass. These results indicate that the duckweed biomass can produce significant quantities of starch that can be readily converted into ethanol.
Ti0.99Pd0.01O2−δ: A New Pt‐free Catalyst for High Rates of H2+O2 Recombination with High CO Tolerant Capacity
Authors: Sharma Sudhanshu , Hegde Manjanath S.
Published: January 2009

A platinum‐free H2/O2 recombination catalyst, Ti0.99Pd0.01O2−δ, is synthesized by a solution combustion method where Pd2+ ions adsorb protonic H2δ+ ion and oxygen on the oxide ion vacancy sites (see picture). The rate of H2+O2 recombination at 50 °C is 15 μmoles g−1 s−1, which is much higher than that of Pt‐containing catalysts.

magnified image
Field‐Effect Transistors with Mixed Ionic‐Electronic Gate
Authors: Saheb Amir , Josowicz Mira , Janata Jiří
Published: January 2009

Field‐effect transistors with mixed ionic‐electronic conductors have been prepared by varying the ratio of room temperature ionic liquid and emeraldine salt of polyaniline. Transistor with sufficiently high electronic conductivity (32 mol% ES‐PANI) and Au gate contact exhibited theoretical behavior of insulated gate field‐effect transistor. On the other hand the purely ionic gate behaved irreproducibly, indicating that a capacitive divider has been formed in the gate.
Detection of Abasic Sites in DNA by Electrochemical, Immunoelectrochemical and Acoustic Methods Using OsO4, 2,2′‐bipyridine as a Probe for Unpaired Thymine Residues
Authors: Bartošík Martin , Gajdoš Viktor , Kostečka Pavel , Fojta Miroslav , Paleček Emil , Volkov Eugeny , Oretskaya Tatiana , Hianik Tibor
Published: January 2009

We report on comparative analysis of the detection of DNA damage modeled by presence of abasic sites (AP) at defined positions using the chemical modification of the DNA by the complex of osmium tetroxide‐2,2‐bipyridine (Os, bipy) that selectively binds to unpaired thymine residues in the damaged DNA. AP were detected by electrochemical detection (EC) of the Os, bipy‐thymine adducts, by immunoelectrochemical (IE) and by thickness shear mode acoustic methods (TSM). EC method of detection can perfectly distinguish between the number of AP. IE and TSM methods were of comparable sensitivity.
Electrochemical Behavior of Nanoelectrode Ensembles in the Ionic Liquid [BMIm][BF4]
Authors: De Leo Manuela , Moretto Ligia Maria , Buriez Olivier , Ugo Paolo
Published: January 2009

The electrochemical behavior of nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs), prepared by electroless plating of Au using microporous polycarbonate membranes as template, is tested in the ionic liquid [BMIm][BF4]. The accessible potential window is significantly wider in [BMIm][BF4] than in water, extending approximately, for 3.4 V vs. 1 V, respectively. The voltammetric behavior at NEEs of two redox probes, namely butyl viologen (BV2+) and (ferrocenylmethyl) trimethylammonium (FA+) are examined at different scan rates. In both cases, at scan rates higher than 200 mV/s sigmoidally shaped voltammograms typical of a pure radial diffusion regime are observed. At lower scan rates the voltammograms are peak shaped, as expected for total overlap diffusion conditions. This is the first time that the pure radial regime is obtained with NEEs made using commercially available polycarbonate templates, since in water solution only the total overlap regime is typically observed. This is explained as a consequence of the high viscosity of [BMIm][BF4] which reflects in lowering of diffusion coefficients and smaller thickness of diffusion layers, for the same time scale, with respect to water solutions, but also the fact that the nanoelectrodes are slightly recessed helps in observing the pure radial regime. In order to make operative the pure radial condition it is indeed required that the thickness of diffusion layer at individual nanoelectrodes be smaller than the hemi‐distance between neighboring nanoelectrodes. Examining the analytical performances achievable with NEEs in [BMIm][BF4], it is shown that a limit is given by the decreased diffusion coefficients. Detection limits at NEEs in the ionic liquid are indeed higher than those obtained in water solutions. This notwithstanding, detections limits at NEEs in [BMIm][BF4] are always improved with respect to those at conventional electrodes.