bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propene epoxidation with in‐site H2O2 produced by H2/O2 non‐equilibrium plasma
Authors: Zhao Jianli , Zhou Juncheng , Su Ji , Guo Hongchen , Wang Xiangsheng , Gong Weimin
Published: October 2007

A novel in‐site H2O2 strategy is proposed for the liquid‐phase epoxidation of propene catalyzed by titanium silicalite (TS‐1). Said in‐site H2O2 strategy is based on the direct synthesis of H2O2 from H2 and O2 under atmospheric pressure via nonequilibrium plasma reactions. Methanol is used to absorb H2O2 from the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. Methanol also serves as the desired solvent for the liquid‐phase epoxidation reactor. The efficiency of the integrated process for in‐site synthesis of H2O2 reached 69% selectivity, and 62% yield with a nonexplosive H2/O2 mixture when the DBD reactor worked at an input power of 3.5 W (energy consumption 12.4 kWh/kg H2O2). The liquid‐phase epoxidation of propene using the in‐site H2O2 successfully proceeded over an 18 h time course under the conditions of 50 °C and 3.0 MPa, more than 92% H2O2 conversion and more than 93% PO selectivity were obtained. The two‐reactor integrated process worked smoothly during continuous operation, no performance decay was observed for both the DBD reactor and the epoxidation reactor. These facts mean that our in‐site H2O2 strategy for PO synthesis is promising. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Environmental and economic analysis of a water network system using LCA and LCC
Authors: Lim Seong‐Rin , Park Jong Moon
Published: October 2007

Water network synthesis has been used to conserve water resources and reduce costs. The objective of this study was to verify the higher eco‐efficiency of a water network system (WNS), and to identify principal contributors to environmental burdens and economic costs using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). The WNS was compared to the conventional water system (CWS). LCA and LCC results showed that the total environmental burdens and life cycle cost of the WNS were lower than those of the CWS. The consumptions of industrial and ionized water were principal contributors to the environmental and economic burdens. The third principal contributor to the environmental burdens was electricity consumption, but that to the economic costs was piping cost. These principal contributors can be employed to obtain the simple and practical mathematical optimization models synthesizing the most environmentally friendly, economical, or sustainable WNSs. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Ionic conductivity and morphology of semi‐interpenetrating‐type polymer electrolyte entrapping poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide)
Authors: Min Ki Hong , Kim Dae Beom , Kang Yong Ku , Suh Dong Hack
Published: October 2007

We prepared a semi‐IPN (interpenetrating network)‐type solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) using poly (ethylene glycol)dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) as a polymer matrix containing a monocomb‐type poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide) and poly(ethylene glycol)dimethylether (PEGDME) for the lithium secondary battery. The poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide)s were prepared by a hydrosilation reaction of poly (methyl hydrosiloxane) with allyl cyanide and characterized by 1H NMR and FTIR. The semi‐IPN‐type electrolyte was prepared by thermal curing, and conductivities of samples were measured by impedance spectroscopy using an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The ionic conductivity of the semi‐IPN‐polymer electrolyte was about 1.05 × 10−5 S cm−1 with 60 wt % of the poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide) and 6.96 × 10−4 S cm−1 with 50 wt % of the PEGDME and 10 wt % of the poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide) at 30°C. The SEM morphology of the cross section of the semi‐IPN‐polymer electrolyte film was changed from discontinuous network to continuous network as increasing the PEGDME content and decreasing the poly(siloxane‐g‐allyl cyanide) content. The mechanical stability was also enhanced when increasing the PEGDME content. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
A Rosen Etymology
Authors: Louie A. H.
Published: October 2007

This essay contains a few of my interpretations of Robert Rosen's conception of Nature. I shall study the four notions that form the core of his whole‐lifetime's scientific work: simple system, mechanism, complex system, and organism. Their set‐theoretic interconnections culminate in Rosen's new taxonomy of natural systems.
A Phenomenological Calculus of Wiener Description Space
Authors: Richardson I. W. , Louie A. H.
Published: October 2007

The phenomenological calculus is a categorical example of Robert Rosen's modeling relation. This paper is an alligation of the phenomenological calculus and generalized harmonic analysis, another categorical example. Our epistemological exploration continues into the realm of Wiener description space, in which constitutive parameters are extended from vectors to vector‐valued functions of a real variable. Inherent in the phenomenology are fundamental representations of time and nearness to equilibrium.
Organizational Invariance in (M,R)‐Systems
Authors: Cornish‐Bowden Athel , Cárdenas María Luz
Published: October 2007

Robert Rosen's concept of (M,R)‐systems was a fundamental advance in our understanding of the essential nature of a living organism as a self‐organizing system, one that is closed to efficient causation, synthesizing, and maintaining all of the catalysts necessary for sustained operation during the whole period of its lifetime. Although it is not difficult to construct a model metabolic system to represent an (M,R)‐system, such a model system will typically appear to lack organizational invariance, an essential property of a living (M,R)‐system. To have this property, an (M,R)‐system must not only be closed to external causation, it must also have its organization coded within itself, i.e., the knowledge of which components are needed for which functions must not be defined externally. In this paper, we discuss how organizational invariance may be achieved, and we argue that the apparent failure of previous models to be organizationally invariant is an artifact of the usual practice of treating catalytic cycles as ‘black boxes’. If all of the steps in such a cycle are written as uncatalyzed chemical reactions, then it becomes clear that the organization of the system is fully defined by the chemical properties of the molecules that compose it.
Some Reflections on Rosen's Conceptions of Semantics and Finality
Authors: Goudsmit Arno L.
Published: October 2007

The present contribution departs from Rosen's idea that the semantics of a natural language cannot be fully reduced to syntactical rules. In the first place, this surplus value can be found in the relational organization of living beings as well as in intuitive observational descriptions of them. Second, to recognize meaning and to ascribe sense and intentionality to a living being, we observers take recourse to the notion of finality, which is considered here as the upshot of a bifurcation between logical levels of processes. Finally, a particular class of geometrical constructions is proposed as a domain in which the origination of such bifurcations can be visualized.
Modeling Relations in Nature and Eco‐Informatics: A Practical Application of Rosennean Complexity
Authors: Kineman John J.
Published: October 2007

The purpose of eco‐informatics is to communicate critical information about organisms and ecosystems. To accomplish this, it must reflect the complexity of natural systems. Present information systems are designed around mechanistic concepts that do not capture complexity. Robert Rosen's relational theory offers a way of representing complexity in terms of information entailments that are part of an ontologically implicit ‘modeling relation’. This relation has corresponding epistemological components that can be captured empirically, the components being structure (associated with model encoding) and function (associated with model decoding). Relational complexity, thus, provides a long‐awaited theoretical underpinning for these concepts that ecology has found indispensable. Structural information pertains to the material organization of a system, which can be represented by data. Functional information specifies potential change, which can be inferred from experiment and represented as models or descriptions of state transformations. Contextual dependency (of structure or function) implies meaning. Biological functions imply internalized or system‐dependent laws. Complexity can be represented epistemologically by relating structure and function in two different ways. One expresses the phenomenal relation that exists in any present or past instance, and the other draws the ontology of a system into the empirical world in terms of multiple potentials subject to natural forms of selection and optimality. These act as system attractors. Implementing these components and their theoretical relations in an informatics system will provide more‐complete ecological informatics than is possible from a strictly mechanistic point of view. This approach will enable many new possibilities for supporting science and decision making.
Glycosynthase Activity of Geobacillus stearothermophilus GH52 β‐Xylosidase: Efficient Synthesis of Xylooligosaccharides from α‐D‐Xylopyranosyl Fluoride through a Conjugated Reaction
Authors: Ben‐David Alon , Bravman Tsafrir , Balazs Yael S. , Czjzek Mirjam , Schomburg Dietmar , Shoham Gil , Shoham Yuval
Published: October 2007

Glycosynthases are mutant glycosidases in which the acidic nucleophile is replaced by a small inert residue. In the presence of glycosyl fluorides of the opposite anomeric configuration (to that of their natural substrates), these enzymes can catalyze glycosidic bond formation with various acceptors. In this study we demonstrate that XynB2E335G, a nucleophile‐deficient mutant of a glycoside hydrolase family 52 β‐xylosidase from G. stearothermophilus, can function as an efficient glycosynthase, using α‐D‐xylopyranosyl fluoride as a donor and various aryl sugars as acceptors. The mutant enzyme can also catalyze the self‐condensation reaction of α‐D‐xylopyranosyl fluoride, providing mainly α‐D‐xylobiosyl fluoride. The self‐condensation kinetics exhibited apparent classical Michaelis–Menten behavior, with kinetic constants of 1.3 s−1 and 2.2 mM for kcat and KM(acceptor), respectively, and a kcat/KM(acceptor) value of 0.59 s−1 mM−1. When the β‐xylosidase E335G mutant was combined with a glycoside hydrolase family 10 glycosynthase, high‐molecular‐weight xylooligomers were readily obtained from the affordable α‐D‐xylopyranosyl fluoride as the sole substrate.
Palladium‐Catalysed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Alk‐5‐ynylidenecyclopropanes to Alkynes: A Mechanistic DFT Study
Authors: García‐Fandiño Rebeca , Gulías Moisés , Castedo Luis , Granja Juan R. , Mascareñas José L. , Cárdenas Diego J.
Published: October 2007

The mechanism of the palladium‐catalysed [3+2] intramolecular cycloaddition of alkylidenecyclopropanes to alkynes has been computationally explored at DFT level. The energies of the reaction intermediates and transition states for different possible pathways have been calculated in a model system that involves the use of PH3 as a ligand. The results obtained suggest that the most favourable reaction pathway involves the initial CC oxidative addition of the cyclopropane to a Pd0 complex to give an alkylidenepalladacyclobutane, which isomerises to a methylenepalladacyclobutane intermediate. Subsequent cyclisation by alkyne carbometallation, followed by reductive elimination affords the final product. An alternative mechanism consisting of a palladaene‐type rearrangement is less probable in terms of Gibbs energy, but cannot be fully discarded because it is competitive if one considers electronic energies. For substrates that present an ester group at the terminal position of the triple bond we have found an alternative, more favourable mechanistic route that explains why the [3+2] cycloaddition of these types of systems does not lead to the expected cycloadducts.
The value of medical interventions for lung cancer in the elderly
Authors: Woodward Rebecca M. , Brown Martin L. , Stewart Susan T. , Cronin Kathleen A. , Cutler David M.
Published: October 2007

BACKGROUND.

Lung cancer is the leading source of cancer mortality and spending. However, the value of spending on the treatment of lung cancer has not been conclusively demonstrated. The authors evaluated the value of medical care between 1983 and 1997 for nonsmall cell lung cancer in the elderly US population.

METHODS.

The authors used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to calculate life expectancy after diagnosis over the period 1983 to 1997. Direct costs for nonsmall cell lung cancer detection and treatment were determined by using Part A and Part B reimbursements from the Continuous Medicare History Sample File (CMHSF) data. The CMHSF and SEER data were linked to calculate lifetime treatment costs over the time period of interest.

RESULTS.

Life expectancy improved minimally, with an average increase of approximately 0.60 months. Total lifetime lung cancer spending rose by approximately $20,157 per patient in real, ie, adjusted for inflation, 2000 dollars from the early 1980s to the mid‐1990s, for a cost‐effectiveness ratio of $403,142 per life year (LY). The cost‐effectiveness ratio was $143,614 for localized cancer, $145,861 for regional cancer, and $1,190,322 for metastatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS.

The cost‐effectiveness ratio for nonsmall cell lung cancer was higher than traditional thresholds used to define cost‐effective care. The most favorable results were for persons diagnosed with early stage cancer. These results suggested caution when encouraging more intensive care for lung cancer patients without first considering the tradeoffs with the costs of this therapy and its potential effects on mortality and/or quality of life. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Emotional well‐being does not predict survival in head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Coyne James C. , Pajak Thomas F. , Harris Jonathan , Konski Andre , Movsas Benjamin , Ang Kian , Watkins Bruner Deborah
Published: October 2007

BACKGROUND.

The objective of the current study was to examine whether emotional well‐being predicted survival in a large sample of patients with head and neck cancer who were participating in multicenter clinical trials.

METHODS.

Participants were enrolled in 2 Radiation Oncology Group (RTOG) clinical trials (RTOG 9003 and RTOG 9111) and completed a baseline measure of quality of life (the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General [FACT‐G]), which included an Emotional Well‐Being subscale. The outcome measure was overall survival. Main statistical analyses included overall survival rates, which were estimated by using the Kaplan‐Meier method with univariate comparisons analyzed using the log‐rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine whether emotional well‐being had prognostic impact on survival after accounting for tumor‐related and sociodemographic variables. Additional exploratory analyses examined possible subgroup effects.

RESULTS.

No statistically significant univariate or multivariate effects were observed for emotional well‐being, and there were no effects limited to subgroups. These results stand in sharp contrast to the prognostic value of a variety of demographic and clinical variables.

CONCLUSIONS.

The current results add to the weight of the evidence that emotional functioning is not an independent predictor of survival in cancer patients. The study had the advantage of a large number of deaths to be explained in a sample with the uniformity of treatment and quality of care that is required in clinical trials. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Analysis of mechanical vibrations and forces using amalgamated decoupling method in multibody mechanical systems
Authors: Hwang Yunn‐Lin
Published: October 2007

The aim of this paper is to develop an efficient method for decoupling joint and elastic accelerations, while maintaining the nonlinear inertia coupling between rigid body motion and elastic body deformation. Almost all of the existing recursive methods for analysis of flexible open‐loop and closed‐loop multibody mechanical systems lead to dense coefficient matrices in the equations of motion, and consequently there are strong dynamic couplings between the joint and elastic coordinates. When the number of elastic degrees of freedom increases, the size of the coefficient matrix in the equations of motion becomes large and unfortunately the use of these methods for solving for the joint and elastic accelerations becomes less efficient. This paper discusses the problems associated with the inertia projection schemes used in the existing recursive methods, and it is shown that decoupling the joint and elastic accelerations using these methods requires the factorization of nonlinear matrices whose dimensions depend on the number of elastic degrees of freedom of the system. An amalgamated method that can be used to decouple the elastic and joint accelerations is then proposed. In this amalgamated decoupling formulation, the relationships between the absolute, elastic, and joint variables and the generalized Newton–Euler equations are used to develop systems of loosely coupled equations that have sparse matrix structure. Utilizing the inertia matrix structure of flexible manufacturing systems and the fact that the joint reaction forces associated with the elastic coordinates do represent independent variables, a reduced system of equations whose dimension is dependent on the number of elastic degrees of freedom is obtained. This system can be solved for the joint accelerations as well as for the joint reaction forces. The application of the procedure developed in this paper is illustrated using flexible open‐loop robotic manipulators and closed‐loop crank‐slider mechanical systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics and key findings for ‘Corticosteroids for treating dengue shock syndrome’
Authors: van Dalen Elvira , Offringa Martin , Kremer Leontien
Published: October 2007

These are the characteristics and key findings for a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Panpanich R, Sornchai P, Kanjanaratanakorn K. Corticosteroids for treating dengue shock syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003488. DOI: 10.1002/14 651 858.CD003488.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Commentary articles. Copyright © 2007 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Three commentaries on ‘Corticosteroids for treating dengue shock syndrome’, with introduction by EBCH editor
Authors: Robinson Joan L. , Wills Bridget , Halstead Scott B. , Mathew Joseph L.
Published: October 2007

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Panpanich R, Sornchai P, Kanjanaratanakorn K. Corticosteroids for treating dengue shock syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003488. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003488.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables articles. Copyright © 2007 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Conservation policy and the EU Habitats Directive: favourable conservation status as a measure of conservation success
Authors: Mehtälä Johanna , Vuorisalo Timo
Published: October 2007

The Habitats Directive is the key instrument for biodiversity conservation in the European Union. In the Habitats Directive, maintenance or restoration of natural habitats and populations of wild species of Community interest at a favourable conservation status (FCS) is defined as an overall objective of conservation measures. We argue that the concept could serve as a realistic and useful measure of conservation success, as for as practical problems related to its application can be solved. The problems with FCS stem primarily from difficulties in organising comprehensive species and habitat monitoring networks at both the national and European scales, lack of data on historical changes in habitat and species distributions, habitat identification problems, difficulties in the study of habitat‐specific structures and functions, and scaling problems. We present conceptual clarifications to the concept, and recommend inclusion of within‐species genetic variability and functional characteristics of ecosystems into assessment of FCS. We also present recommendations on the establishment of nationally representative species and habitat monitoring networks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Microglia induce neurotoxicity via intraneuronal Zn2+ release and a K+ current surge
Authors: Knoch Megan E. , Hartnett Karen A. , Hara Hirokazu , Kandler Karl , Aizenman Elias
Published: October 2007

Microglial cells are critical components of the injurious cascade in a large number of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which microglia mediate neuronal cell death have not been fully delineated. We report here that reactive species released from activated microglia induce the liberation of Zn2+ from intracellular stores in cultured cortical neurons, with a subsequent enhancement in neuronal voltage‐gated K+ currents, two events that have been intimately linked to apoptosis. Both the intraneuronal Zn2+ release and the K+ current surge could be prevented by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin, the free radical scavenging mixture of superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as by 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III) chloride. The enhancement of K+ currents was prevented by neuronal overexpression of metallothionein III or by expression of a dominant negative (DN) vector for the upstream mitogen‐activated protein kinase apoptosis signal regulating kinase‐1 (ASK‐1). Importantly, neurons overexpressing metallothionein‐III or transfected with DN vectors for ASK‐1 or Kv2.1‐encoded K+ channels were resistant to microglial‐induced toxicity. These results establish a direct link between microglial‐generated oxygen and nitrogen reactive products and neuronal cell death mediated by intracellular Zn2+ release and a surge in K+ currents. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pteridines. Part CXVIII
Authors: Heizmann Gerhard , Pfleiderer Wolfgang
Published: October 2007

Our approach to achieve a partial synthesis of methanopterin (1) started from 6‐acetyl‐O4‐isopropyl‐7‐methylpterin (20) which was obtained either by condensation from 6‐isopropoxypyrimidine‐2,4,5‐triamine (19) and pentane‐2,3,4‐trione (6) or from 6‐isopropoxy‐5‐nitrosopyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine (21) and pentane‐2,4‐dione (=acetylacetone; 22) (Scheme 2). NaBH4 reduction of 20 led to 6‐(1‐hydroxyethyl)‐O4‐isopropyl‐7‐methylpterin (23) which was converted into the corresponding 6‐(1‐chloroethyl) and 6‐(1‐bromoethyl) derivatives 24 and 25. A series of nucleophilic displacement reactions in the side chain and at position 4 were performed as model reactions to give 26–29, 32–35, and 39–41. Hydrolysis of the substituents at C(4) led to the corresponding pterin derivatives 30, 31, 36–38, and 42. Analogously, 25 reacted with 1‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐1‐deoxy‐2,3: 4,5‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D‐ribitol (43), prepared from N‐(4‐bromophenyl)benzamide (47) via 49 and 50 to give 1‐{4‐{{1‐[2‐amino‐7‐methyl‐4‐(1‐methylethoxy)pteridin‐6‐yl]ethyl}amino}phenyl}‐1‐deoxy‐D‐ribitol (44) in 62% yield (Scheme 3). Acid cleavage of the isopropylidene groups at room temperature led to 45 and on boiling to 1‐{4‐{[1‐(2‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐7‐methyl‐4‐oxopteridin‐6‐yl)ethyl]amino}phenyl}‐1‐deoxy‐D‐ribitol (46). The next step, however, attachment of the ribofuranosyl moiety with 55 or 56 to the terminal 1‐deoxy‐D‐ribitol OH group could not been achieved. The second component, bis(4‐nitrobenzyl) 2‐{[(2‐cyanoethoxy)(diisopropylamino)phosphino]oxy}pentanedioate (61), to built‐up methanopterin (1) was synthesized from 2‐hydroxypentanedioic acid (59) and worked well in another model reaction on phosphitylation with N6‐benzoyl‐2′,3′‐O‐isopropylideneadenosine and oxidation to give 62 (Scheme 6).
Hydrogen Bonding of Fluorinated Saccharides in Solution: F Acting as H‐Bond Acceptor in a Bifurcated H‐Bond of 4‐Fluorinated Levoglucosans
Authors: Bernet Bruno , Vasella Andrea
Published: October 2007

4‐Fluorinated levoglucosans were synthesised to test if OH⋅⋅⋅F H‐bonds are feasible even when the O⋅⋅⋅F distance is increased. The fluorinated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D‐glucopyranoses were synthesised from 1,6 : 3,4‐dianhydro‐β‐D‐galactopyranose (8). Treatment of 8 with KHF2 and KF gave 43% of 4‐deoxy‐4‐fluorolevoglucosan (9), which was transformed into the 3‐O‐protected derivatives 13 by silylation and 15 by silylation, acetylation, and desilylation. 4‐Deoxy‐4‐methyllevoglucosan (19) and 4‐deoxylevoglucosan (21) were prepared as reference compounds that can only form a bivalent H‐bond from HOC(2) to OC(5). They were synthesised from the iPr3Si‐protected derivative of 8. Intramolecular bifurcated H‐bonds from HOC(2) to FC(4) and OC(5) of the 4‐fluorinated levoglucosans in CDCl3 solution are evidenced by the 1H‐NMR scalar couplings h1J(F,OH) and 3J(H,OH). The OH⋅⋅⋅F H‐bond over an O⋅⋅⋅F distance of ca. 3.0 Å is thus formed in apolar solvents, at least when favoured by the simultaneous formation of an OH⋅⋅⋅O H‐bond.
Distribution of Platinum Particles in the Bimodal Micropore System of Activated Carbon
Authors: Onyestyák György
Published: October 2007

Platinum (Pt)/activated‐carbon catalysts were prepared and characterized by pore‐size distribution (PSD), propane‐sorption dynamics, and activity of cyclohexane dehydrogenation to benzene. The batch‐type frequency‐response (FR) spectroscopic technique was applied to determine the mass‐transport rate of propane sorption. Two parallel sorption processes of different time constants were distinguished, suggesting that adsorption proceeds in smaller and larger micropores that are not interconnected. Increasing Pt loading affected the propane mobility, but increased the dehydrogenation activity only up to ca. 1 wt‐% of Pt content. It was concluded that clusters of metallic Pt‐atoms are located preferentially at the narrowest pores. Blocking these micropores, the Pt reduces the carbon surface available for sorption; also, a significant fraction of the metal becomes inaccessible for the reactant.
Structural and Biological Properties of Vermistatin and Two New Vermistatin Derivatives Isolated from the Marine‐Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Guignardia sp. No. 4382
Authors: Xia Xue‐Kui , Huang Hua‐Rong , She Zhi‐Gang , Cai Ji‐Wen , Lan Liu , Zhang Jian‐Ye , Fu Li‐Wu , Vrijmoed L. L. P. , Lin Yong‐Cheng
Published: October 2007

Vermistatin (=(3R)‐4,6‐dimethoxy‐3‐{4‐oxo‐6‐[(1E)‐prop‐1‐en‐1‐yl]‐4H‐pyran‐3‐yl}‐2‐benzofuran‐1(3H)‐one; 1) and two new vermistatin derivatives, compounds 2 and 3, were isolated from the fungal strain Guignardia sp. No. 4382 obtained from the South‐China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by various methods, including circular dichroism (CD), 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and HR‐EI‐MS. The structures of 1 and 2 were unequivocally corroborated by X‐ray crystallography, and their absolute configurations were derived by CD spectroscopy based on a literature comparison. The in vitro cytotoxic and antifungal activities of 1 and 2 were tested.
A comparative analysis of simulated and observed landslide locations triggered by Hurricane Camille in Nelson County, Virginia
Authors: Morrissey Meghan M. , Wieczorek Gerald F. , Morgan Ben A.
Published: October 2007

In 1969, Nelson County, Virginia received up to 71 cm of rain within 12 h starting at 7 p.m. on August 19. The total rainfall from the storm exceeded the 1000‐year return period in the region. Several thousands of landslides were induced by rainfall associated with Hurricane Camille causing fatalities and destroying infrastructure. We apply a distributed transient response model for regional slope stability analysis to shallow landslides. Initiation points of over 3000 debris flows and effects of flooding from this storm are applied to the model. Geotechnical data used in the calculations are published data from samples of colluvium. Results from these calculations are compared with field observations such as landslide trigger location and timing of debris flows to assess how well the model predicts the spatial and temporal distribution of landslide initiation locations. The model predicts many of the initiation locations in areas where debris flows are observed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐I receptor, E‐cadherin and αv integrin form a dynamic complex under the control of α‐catenin
Authors: Canonici Alexandra , Steelant Wim , Rigot Véronique , Khomitch‐Baud Alexandra , Boutaghou‐Cherid Hikma , Bruyneel Erik , Van Roy Frans , Garrouste Françoise , Pommier Gilbert , André Frédéric
Published: October 2007

Dynamic crosstalk between cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix and soluble informative factors is essential for cancer cell migration and invasion. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which the E‐cadherin/catenin complex and αv integrin can modulate insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I)‐induced cell migration. Human colon mucosa, human colon cancer cell lines, HT29‐D4 and HCT‐8 derivatives that differ in their expression of α‐catenin, were used as models. Interactions between E‐cadherin, αv integrin and IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR) were analyzed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunolocalization experiments. The impact of these interactions on cell mobility was determined by haptotaxis assays. We report that αv integrin, E‐cadherin and IGF‐IR form a ternary complex in both cultured cancer cells and human normal colonic mucosa. α‐Catenin regulates the scaffolding of this complex. IGF‐IR ligation by IGF‐I induces the disruption of the complex and the relocalization of αv integrin from cell–cell contacts to focal contact sites. This perturbation is correlated with the observed increase in cell migration. These results suggest that regulation of the αv integrin/E‐cadherin/IGF‐IR scaffolding is essential for the modulation of cell mobility. Its alteration could be of major importance to sustain alterations in cell adhesion that occur during cancer cell invasion and metastasis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Astaxanthin protects mesangial cells from hyperglycemia‐induced oxidative signaling
Authors: Manabe Emiko , Handa Osamu , Naito Yuji , Mizushima Katsura , Akagiri Satomi , Adachi Satoko , Takagi Tomohisa , Kokura Satoshi , Maoka Takashi , Yoshikawa Toshikazu
Published: October 2007

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a carotenoid that has potent protective effects on diabetic nephropathy in mice model of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the protective mechanism of ASX on the progression of diabetic nephropathy using an in vitro model of hyperglycemia, focusing on mesangial cells. Normal human mesangial cells (NHMCs) were cultured in the medium containing normal (5 mM) or high (25 mM) concentrations of D‐glucose. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the activation of nuclear transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1), and the expression/production of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGFβ1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) were evaluated in the presence or absence of ASX. High glucose (HG) exposure induced significant ROS production in mitochondria of NHMCs, which resulted in the activation of transcription factors, and subsequent expression/production of cytokines that plays an important role in the mesangial expansion, an important event in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. ASX significantly suppressed HG‐induced ROS production, the activation of transcription factors, and cytokine expression/production by NHMCs. In addition, ASX accumulated in the mitochondria of NHMCs and reduced the production of ROS‐modified proteins in mitochondria. ASX may prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy mainly through ROS scavenging effect in mitochondria of mesangial cells and thus is expected to be very useful for the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1925–1937, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Circular chromatic index of Cartesian products of graphs
Authors: West Douglas B. , Zhu Xuding
Published: October 2007

The circular chromatic index of a graph G, written $\chi_{c}'(G)$, is the minimum r permitting a function $f : E(G)\rightarrow [0,r)$ such that $1 \le | f(e)-f(e')|\le r - 1$ whenever e and $e'$ are incident. Let $G = H$ □ $C_{2m +1}$, where □ denotes Cartesian product and H is an $(s-2)$‐regular graph of odd order, with $s \equiv 0 \, {\rm mod}\, 4$ (thus, G is s‐regular). We prove that $\chi_{c}'(G) \ge s +\lfloor \lambda(1 - 1/s)\rfloor^{-1}$, where $\lambda$ is the minimum, over all bases of the cycle space of H, of the maximum length of a cycle in the basis. When $H = C_{2k +1}$ and m is large, the lower bound is sharp. In particular, if $m \ge 3k + 1$, then $\chi_{c}'(C_{2k +1}$ □ $C_{2m + 1})=4 + \lceil {3k/2} \rceil^{-1}$, independent of m. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 57: 7–18, 2008
Physiologic reactivity to startling tones in female vietnam nurse veterans with PTSD
Authors: Carson Margaret A. , Metzger Linda J. , Lasko Natasha B. , Paulus Lynn A. , Morse Amanda E. , Pitman Roger K. , Orr Scott P.
Published: October 2007

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with larger heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), and eyeblink responses to sudden, loud tones. The present study tested this association in female nurse veterans with PTSD related to witnessing patients' death, severe injury and/or suffering during their Vietnam service. Nurses with current, past but not current, or who never had PTSD listened to 15 consecutive 95‐dB, 500‐ms, 1000‐Hz tones with sudden onsets, while HR, SC, and eyeblink responses were measured. Nurses with current PTSD produced significantly larger averaged HR, but not SC or eyeblink responses across tone trials. A larger HR response to loud tones is one of the most robust physiologic findings in PTSD and may reflect increased defensive responding.
Elevated heart rate as a predictor of PTSD six months following accidental pediatric injury
Authors: De Young Alexandra C. , Kenardy Justin A. , Spence Susan H.
Published: October 2007

The present study investigated the relationship between elevated heart rate (HR) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 6 months following accidental pediatric injury. The HR was taken in 101 children, aged 7 to 16 years, upon arrival at the hospital and again 24 hours following admission. Posttraumatic stress disorder was assessed 6 months later using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM‐IV (W. K. Silverman & A. M. Albano, 1996). Children who had an elevated HR (defined as greater than/equal to one standard deviation above the age and sex mean) at admission or 24 hours later were more likely to experience traumatic stress symptoms at 6 months. These findings suggest elevated HR could be used to aid in the early identification of children at risk of developing PTSD following a traumatic accident.
Different emotional memory consolidation in cancer survivors with and those without a history of intrusive recollection
Authors: Nagamine Mitsue , Matsuoka Yutaka , Mori Etsuro , Imoto Shigeru , Kim Yoshiharu , Uchitomi Yosuke
Published: October 2007

The study examined emotional memory consolidation among cancer survivors with and without a history of intrusive recollection (IR). Eleven cancer survivors with a history of IR (IR+), 20 cancer survivors without a history of IR (IR−), and 20 healthy women were tested for emotional memory. The participants viewed emotionally arousing slides, and one week later, they were asked to return to the laboratory and were given an unexpected memory test to examine their retention of emotional memory. Only the IR− group did not show any significant enhancement in emotional memory, compared to neutral memory. These findings are discussed in light of possible inhibitory mechanisms of emotional memory consolidation.
Brain, skull, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes in adult posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Woodward Steven H. , Kaloupek Danny G. , Streeter Chris C. , Kimble Matthew O. , Reiss Allan L. , Eliez Stephan , Wald Lawrence L. , Renshaw Perry F. , Frederick Blaise B. , Lane Barton , Sheikh Javaid I. , Stegman Wendy K. , Kutter Catherine J. , Stewart Lorraine P. , Prestel Rebecca S. , Arsenault Ned J.
Published: October 2007

Children and adolescents with maltreatment‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller intracranial tissue volume than controls. Linear relationships have also been observed between intracranial tissue volume and the age of maltreatment onset. The authors explored associations among adult PTSD, early trauma, and cerebral volumes in 99 combat veterans. A bone‐based estimate of cranial volume was developed to adjust for variation in body size. Posttraumatic stress disorder was not associated with smaller cerebral tissue volume, but rather with smaller cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cranial volumes. These findings co‐occurred with expected effects of alcoholism and aging on cerebral tissue and CSF volumes. The results point to early developmental divergences between groups with and without PTSD following adult trauma.
Baroreceptor sensitivity at rest and during stress in women with posttraumatic stress disorder or major depressive disorder
Authors: Hughes Joel W. , Dennis Michelle F. , Beckham Jean C.
Published: October 2007

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and parasympathetic nervous system functioning was investigated during a baseline rest period and anger recall speaking task using noninvasive estimates of baroreceptor sensitivity. Participants (N = 124) were women categorized into one of four diagnostic groups: PTSD without major depressive disorder (MDD), PTSD with comorbid MDD, MDD without PTSD, and controls with neither psychiatric diagnosis. Women with PTSD (with or without MDD) exhibited significantly lower resting baroreceptor sensitivity than women not diagnosed with PTSD. Baroreceptor sensitivity decreased during the anger recall task, and the decrease was less among the psychiatric groups. Taken together, these findings suggest that PTSD is associated with reduced parasympathetic nervous system functioning.
Salivary cortisol levels and mood vary by lifetime trauma exposure in a sample of healthy women
Authors: Ganzel Barbara L. , Eckenrode John J. , Kim Pilyoung , Wethington Elaine , Horowitz Eric , Temple Elise
Published: October 2007

The authors examined the effects of lifetime trauma exposure on salivary cortisol and mood in a sample of women (N = 37) over 25 days before and after a stressful event. The sample excluded posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression and was divided into three groups: (a) no trauma, (b) prior trauma with no peritraumatic symptoms of acute distress, and (c) prior trauma with peritraumatic symptoms. Because results indicated no significant differences between groups one and two, they were combined for analysis. Women reporting prior trauma with symptoms had lower afternoon cortisol levels across time, with sustained negative mood relative to the comparison group. These data suggest the presence of long‐term psychophysiological effects of trauma exposure in healthy women.
The rocks and hard places in psychotherapy outcome research
Authors: Schnurr Paula P.
Published: October 2007

The field of traumatic stress has experienced significant growth in the number of psychotherapy treatment studies conducted, especially in the past 10 years. In this article, the author aims to help both the readers of this work and psychotherapy researchers by reviewing key concepts in trial design and discussing issues unique to psychotherapy (and other nonpharmacological interventions). The discussion is broad and nontechnical, particularly with respect to statistical issues. The focus is on between‐group randomized designs, and on outcome rather than process. Examples are drawn from posttraumatic stress disorder treatment studies to enhance relevance to the field of traumatic stress.
The crucial role of criterion A: A response to Maier's commentary
Authors: Weathers F. W. , Keane T. M.
Published: October 2007

We thank Maier for his thoughtful comments (this issue, pp. 925–926) and appreciate the opportunity to further explicate our views regarding the Criterion A problem. According to Maier, the obvious conclusion to be drawn from our article (Weathers & Keane, 2007) is that Criterion A should be eliminated. We believe the opposite, given the current conceptual and empirical status of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) construct.
Assessment and control of confounding in trauma research
Authors: Kurth Tobias , Sonis Jeffrey
Published: October 2007

Confounding is a central problem in nonexperimental trauma research. In this article, the authors review recent advances in the theoretical conception of confounding, with an emphasis on the counterfactual definition of confounding. The strengths and limitations of different techniques for controlling confounding are discussed. Special attention is given to propensity scores, a method that has been used widely in the health sciences, but only rarely in trauma research, in the last several years. The article is written for researchers who use data analytic methods to control confounding and for clinicians who read original research articles to inform their clinical practice. Guidelines to assess the appropriate use of multiple regression models and propensity scores are offered.
Performance test: Designing an effective competency model
Authors: Kanaga Kim
Published: October 2007

The demand for leadership competency models has grown in recent years, but it has done so much faster than the underlying expertise. The value of such models comes from the behaviors that make up the competencies and the processes used for identifying them. Here are some keys to creating an effective competency model.
Lending an ear: Why leaders must learn to listen actively
Authors: Hoppe Michael H.
Published: October 2007

The ability to listen effectively is an essential component of leadership. But many leaders, often unknowingly, fall short in this area. By learning the skills and behaviors of active listening—the willingness and ability to hear and understand—leaders can become more effective.
Determination of critical pitting temperatures by calcium chloride test, results of round‐robin test
Authors: Werner H. , Rommerskirchen I.
Published: October 2007

At the Institute for Corrosion Protection (Institut für Korrosionsschutz) in Dresden, the CaCl2 test was developed to test high‐alloyed CrNiMo steels and NiCrMo alloys and was applied for pitting and crevice corrosion resistance tests of those materials and their weldments. This test was carried out as a potentiostatic test at 0.2VSCE in a solution of 4.5 mol/l CaCl2 with an initial pH value of 3.2. Investigations on the influence of filler material, heat treatment and varying heat inputs per unit length of the welds confirm the applicability of the test. With reference to the results from a round‐robin test carried out by a study group of the GfKORR working committee Corrosion Protection of Iron and Steel (Korrosionsschutz von Eisen und Stahl) on material grade 2.4605 (alloy 59) and its weldments, the study group concludes that, in research projects, the CaCl2 test is a good test to characterise the localised corrosion behaviour of welded joints of high‐alloyed CrNiMo steels and NiCrMo alloys. However, to use it as quality assurance test would be too complex and susceptible to individual measuring differences.
The use of doped polyaniline as an electrode in the galvanic anodic protection of ferrous metals in industrial acid solutions
Authors: Hu J. , Xiao S. , Zhong L. , Zhu H. , Gan F.
Published: October 2007

In order to investigate the galvanic anodic protection (GAP) of ferrous metals (such as 410, 304 and 316 stainless steels) in acid solutions by doped polyaniline (PANi), separate doped PANi powder‐pressed electrodes with different surface areas (the area ratio of the PANi electrode to stainless steel is between 1:1 and 1:2) have been prepared. These were coupled with ferrous metal in the following solutions: 5 M sulphuric acid, 5 M phosphoric acid and industrial phosphoric acid (containing 5 M phosphoric acid and 0.05% chloride ion) to construct a galvanic cell, in which PANi is cathode while ferrous metal is anode. The results indicate that a PANi electrode with sufficient area can provide corrosion protection to stainless steel in these acidic solutions. A pilot scale coupling experiment was carried out. The results indicate that PANi is a promising material as an electrode for the anodic protection of ferrous metals in acidic solutions in industrial situations.
Fullerene End‐Capped Biodegradable Poly(ε‐caprolactone)
Authors: Kai Weihua , Hua Lei , Dong Tungalag , Pan Pengju , Zhu Bo , Inoue Yoshio
Published: October 2007

Fullerene capped poly(ε‐caprolactone)s (PCLs), namely single‐ and double‐fullerene end‐capped PCLs with different fullerene content, were successfully synthesized. The effect of the fullerene end on the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of the PCL was studied. The aggregation behavior of the fullerene moieties at the end of the PCL chain was also studied. It was found that the aggregated fullerenes have two kinds of effect on the crystallization behavior of the PCL i.e., confinement effect and nucleating effect. The fullerene content shows a certain balance between the confinement effect and the nucleating effect on the crystallization rate of PCL. It was also found that the mechanical properties of the fullerene end‐capped PCLs are strongly related to the content of fullerene and the mode of end‐capping style: either single or double end‐capping.

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Construction of Glycosylated Surfaces for Poly(propylene) Beads with a Photoinduced Grafting/Chemical Reaction Sequence
Authors: Hu Meng‐Xin , Wan Ling‐Shu , Fu Zhi‐Sheng , Fan Zhi‐Qiang , Xu Zhi‐Kang
Published: October 2007

Surface modification of commercial PPBs with different saccharides is described. Surface‐glycosylated PPBs were prepared through reaction between the hydroxyl groups of poly(HEMA) and acetylated saccharides such as α‐glucose pentaacetate, β‐galactose pentaacetate, and lactose octaacetate. The modified PPBs were characterized by XPS and water contact angle measurement. It was found that the grafting degree of poly(HEMA) increases with UV irradiation time, monomer concentration, and water content in solvent. The binding degree of monosaccharides is higher than that of disaccharides. The glycosylated PPBs can selectively recognize lectins, indicating potential for protein isolation.

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