bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereochemistry and Molecular Recognition on the Surface of a Smectite Clay Mineral
Authors: Yamagishi Akihiko , Sato Hisako
Published: November 2012

Attempts at optical resolution and asymmetric syntheses using smectite clay minerals are described. Use of the method was prompted by the discovery that the saturated adsorption of a tris(chelated) metal complex, [Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)3]2+, by Na-montmorillonite depended heavily on the stereochemical properties. The pure enantiomer was adsorbed by cation exchange at negative surface sites of the clay mineral, while the racemic mixture was adsorbed to two times excess of the cation exchange capacity. The chelate takes a uniform orientation on a clay mineral surface due to the matching between the molecular symmetry and the two-dimensional network of a phyllosilicate layer. On a clay mineral surface covered with the enantiomeric chelates, a vacant space capable of chiral discrimination was generated. Based on this, an ion-exchange adduct of smectite and the chiral chelate was used as an adsorbent for separating racemic mixtures or selectively producing either one of the optical isomers.
Organic Geochemical Composition of the Georgia Kaolins: Insights into Formation and Diagenetic Conditions
Authors: Cheshire Michael C. , Bish David L. , Brassell Simon C.
Published: November 2012

Most previous studies of the kaolin deposits in the southeastern United States have focused on their mineralogy and petrology to understand better the depositional and diagenetic environments of the kaolins. Many studies suggest, however, that much of the information held within the minerals was changed during extensive post-depositional groundwater and microbial alteration. Organic δ13C and biomarker analyses were used, therefore, to provide further information on the nature of the original sediments, the depositional environment(s), and the amount of diagenetic alteration that has occurred in Georgia kaolin deposits.

Two different types of kaolin can be discerned, based on their total organic carbon contents: organic-lean kaolin and lignitic kaolin. The bulk organic δ13C in the Georgia kaolins ranges from ~−26 to −19% (VPDB, Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite standard), with a noticeable enrichment in 13C with decrease in organic carbon concentration. The lean kaolins are by far the more dominant types, with an organic-matter composition primarily of C16–C22n-alkanes, C16 and C18 fatty acids, and unresolved complex mixtures. Lignitic kaolin has a distinctly different organic matter (OM) composition. The lignitic material is primarily C15–C33n-alkanes with a greater abundance of C23–C31n-alkanes and lesser amounts of resinous and microbial constituents along with the oxidized forms of the saturated lipid fractions.

Biomarker data suggest that the lignitic material is primarily terrestrially derived from conifers with minor input from microbial lipids. The OM in both types of kaolin shows strong signs of microbial decomposition that yield the organically lean kaolins. The oxidation of the detrital organic matter would subsequently yield organic acids that would have exerted significant influence on the mineralogy and metal mobility.
L2 acquisition of the progressive marker zai in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Liu, Feng-hsi
Published: November 2012

Two studies on L2 acquisition of the progressive marker zai in Mandarin Chinese by native English speakers were conducted to investigate the interaction between L1 influence and the congruence of lexical aspect and tense-aspect morphology, as formulated in the aspect hypothesis. The two factors make opposite predictions with respect to the early stage and the acquisition process. The findings from a judgment task and a production task show that the observed pattern is neither predicted by the aspect hypothesis alone nor entirely conditioned by L1 influence. Rather, it is the result of both forces at work. At the early stage zai is associated with activities and accomplishments involving goal or distance. In the acquisition process, both widening and narrowing of predicate types are observed. The findings also show that the L1 effect does not disappear at the same time, but proceeds in stages. In the case of zai marking, the L1 effect weakening process is governed by the strength of event ending that is part of the meaning of the predicates.
A study on Chinese-character learning strategies and character learning performance among American learners of Chinese
Authors: Sung, Ko-Yin
Published: November 2012

This study investigated Chinese-character learning strategies employed by 74 first-year American college learners of Chinese. This study attempted to answer the following research questions: (1) what Chinese-character learning strategies are most frequently used by first-year Chinese language learners?; (2) what are the factors underlying the most frequently used strategies?; and (3) are there any linear trends between the most frequently used strategies and character learning performance?. The results found seven most frequently used strategies. Furthermore, four of these strategies were stroke-orthographic-knowledge-based while the remaining three were phonological-semantics-knowledge-based. The stroke-orthographic-knowledge-based strategies accounted for 6.8% of the learners' character learning performance.
When in China, do as the Chinese do? Learning compliment responding in a study abroad program
Authors: Jin, Li
Published: November 2012

Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of English-speaking students studying abroad in China. Whether these students can learn and reflect in their behaviors certain uniquely Chinese-style speech acts during their sojourn in China merits investigation. This paper reports on a case study investigating what and how four American university-level students developed knowledge and skills of compliment responding in Mandarin Chinese when they were participating in an 8-week intensive summer language program in Shanghai. Among the four participants, two were from a 2nd-year Mandarin Chinese class and two from a 3rd-year class. The qualitative data were collected from one pre-study questionnaire, weekly semi-structured interviews (a total of 6 for each participant), participants' weekly reflective blogs, and the researcher's observation of participants' social interaction with native speakers of Mandarin Chinese. The results showed that despite their similar academic, linguistic, and cultural background, each participant experienced a heterogeneous and dynamic developmental process and developed different awareness and skills of compliment responding in Mandarin Chinese throughout the study abroad program. The researcher discussed how each participant's agency and individual social interaction with native speakers of Mandarin Chinese as well as local Chinese residents' socialization efforts during the study abroad program intertwiningly shaped what and how the participants learned about Mandarin Chinese compliment responding strategies.
The Hands of Time: Temporal gestures in English speakers
Authors: Casasanto, Daniel , Jasmin, Kyle
Published: November 2012

Do English speakers think about time the way they talk about it? In spoken English, time appears to flow along the sagittal axis (front/back): the future is ahead and the past is behind us. Here we show that when asked to gesture about past and future events deliberately, English speakers often use the sagittal axis, as language suggests they should. By contrast, when producing co-speech gestures spontaneously, they use the lateral axis (left/right) overwhelmingly more often, gesturing leftward for earlier times and rightward for later times. This left-right mapping of time is consistent with the flow of time on calendars and graphs in English-speaking cultures, but is completely absent from conventional spoken metaphors.

English speakers gesture on the lateral axis even when they are using front/back metaphors in their co-occurring speech. This speech-gesture dissociation is not due to any lack of lexical or constructional resources to spatialize time laterally in language, nor to any lack of physical resources to spatialize time sagittally in gesture. We propose that when speakers are describing sequences of events, they often use neither the Moving Ego nor Moving Time perspectives. Rather, they adopt a “Moving Attention” perspective, which is grounded in patterns of interaction with cultural artifacts, not in patterns of interaction with the natural environment. We suggest possible pragmatic, kinematic, and mnemonic motivations for the use of a lateral mental timeline in gesture and in thought. Gestures reveal an implicit spatial conceptualization of time that cannot be inferred from language.
Linguistic versus cultural relativity: On Japanese-Chinese differences in picture description and recall
Authors: Tajima, Yayoi , Duffield, Nigel
Published: November 2012

This study examines whether the sentence structure of particular languages predisposes speakers to particular attentional patterns. We hypothesized that the holistic attentional bias of Japanese participants observed in a previous study (Masuda and Nisbett 2001), attributed in that paper to pan-Asian cultural factors, is better interpreted as a consequence of specific linguistic properties of Japanese: namely, sentence structure. In experiments involving Japanese, English and Chinese native speakers, it was found that Japanese participants reported more Ground information before mentioning Figure information, mentioned more background details overall, and remembered background elements in a subsequent recall task significantly more accurately than either English or Chinese participants. The “Asian response” was thus split, as predicted by the grammatical typology of Japanese and Chinese. Our results therefore support a linguistic interpretation of Japanese-English differences, and run counter to the previous explanation in terms of culture.
Cognitive Sociolinguistics meets loanword research: Measuring variation in the success of anglicisms in Dutch
Authors: Zenner, Eline , Speelman, Dirk , Geeraerts, Dirk
Published: November 2012

This paper introduces a new, concept-based method for measuring variation in the use and success of loanwords by presenting the results of a case-study on 149 English person reference nouns (i.e. common nouns used to designate people, such as manager) in Dutch. With this paper, we introduce four methodological improvements to current quantitative corpus-based anglicism research, based on the general tenets of Cognitive Sociolinguistics (Geeraerts 2005; Kristiansen and Geeraerts 2007; Geeraerts 2010; Geeraerts et al. 2010): (1) replacing raw frequency as a success measure by a concept-based onomasiological approach; (2) relying on larger datasets and semi-automatic extraction techniques; (3) adding a multivariate perspective to the predominantly structuralist orientation of current accounts; (4) using inferential statistical techniques to help explain variation. We illustrate our method by presenting a case-study on variation in the success of English person reference nouns in Dutch. Generally, this article aims to show how a Cognitive Sociolinguistic perspective on loanword research is beneficial for both paradigms. On the one hand, the concept-based approach provides new insights in the spread of loanwords. On the other hand, attention to contact linguistic phenomena offers a new expansion to the domain of cognitive linguistic studies taking a variationist approach.
The emergence of duality of patterning: Insights from the laboratory
Authors: Roberts Gareth , Galantucci Bruno
Published: November 2012

The concept of duality of patterning (henceforth DP) has recently begun to undergo new scrutiny. In particular, the fact that Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language (ABSL) does not appear to exhibit a layer of meaningless units (Sandler et al. 2011) casts doubt on the universality of DP as a defining feature of natural language. Why, then, do the vast majority of the world's languages exhibit DP? Two hypotheses have been suggested. The first is that DP is a necessary solution to the problem of conveying a large number of meanings; the second is that DP arises as a consequence of conventionalization. We tested these hypotheses in an experimental-semiotics study. Our results supported the hypothesis based on conventionalization but were inconclusive with regard to the hypothesis based on the number of meanings. At the same time, the task of measuring DP in an experimental-semiotics study presented interesting challenges, suggesting that the concept of DP may need some overhauling.
Lexical contrast maintenance and the organization of sublexical contrast systems
Authors: Wedel Andrew
Published: November 2012

Variationist/evolutionary models of phonology assume a causal chain that links biases at the utterance level to the development and consolidation of abstract phonological patterns over time. Some of the properties of linguistic cognition that have been proposed to underlie this chain are (i) storage of experienced detail at multiple levels of description, (ii) feedback between perception and production, (iii) a similarity bias in the production and perception of variation, and (iv) enhancement of cues to potentially ambiguous lexical items in usage. I review evidence for these properties and argue that they interact to provide a pathway for individual usage events to influence the evolution of contrastive sublexcal category systems, i.e phoneme inventories. Specifically, the proposed Network-Feedback model predicts that the organization of sublexical category systems is shaped by a conflict between a general drive toward greater similarity among sublexical categories on the one hand, and a bias toward maintaining contrast between tokens of competing lexical categories on the other. The model provides testable hypotheses about the conditions favoring phoneme merger, chain-shifts, and phonemic splits, and more generally about the influence of lexical contrast on the packing of sublexical categories along gestural/perceptual dimensions. Finally, this pathway of change is consistent with proposals that sublexical categories such as features and segments are not primitives of language, but emerge through more general properties of performance, perception, categorization and learning.
The origins of duality of patterning in artificial whistled languages
Authors: Verhoef Tessa
Published: November 2012

In human speech, a finite set of basic sounds is combined into a (potentially) unlimited set of well-formed morphemes. Hockett (1960) placed this phenomenon under the term ‘duality of patterning’ and included it as one of the basic design features of human language. Of the thirteen basic design features Hockett proposed, duality of patterning is the least studied and it is still unclear how it evolved in language. Recent work shedding light on this is summarized in this paper and experimental data is presented. This data shows that combinatorial structure can emerge in an artificial whistled language through cultural transmission as an adaptation to human cognitive biases and learning. In this work the method of experimental iterated learning (Kirby et al. 2008) is used, in which a participant is trained on the reproductions of the utterances the previous participant learned. Participants learn and recall a system of sounds that are produced with a slide whistle. Transmission from participant to participant causes the whistle systems to change and become more learnable and more structured. These findings follow from qualitative observations, quantitative measures and a follow-up experiment that tests how well participants can learn the emerged whistled languages by generalizing from a few examples.
The emergence of duality of patterning through iterated learning: Precursors to phonology in a visual lexicon
Authors: Giudice Alex Del
Published: November 2012

Duality of Patterning, one of Hockett's (1960) proposed design features unique to human language, refers in part to the arrangements of a relatively small stock of distinguishable meaningless sounds which are combined to create a potentially infinite set of morphemes. Literature regarding the emergence of this design feature is less abundant than that exploring other levels of structure as focus is more often given to the emergence of syntax. In an effort to explore where combinatorial structure of meaningless elements arises the results of two pilot experiments are presented within which we observe human participants modifying a small lexicon of visual symbols through a process of iterated learning. As this lexicon evolves there is evidence that it becomes simpler and more learnable, more easily transmitted. I argue that these features are a consequence of spontaneous emergence of combinatorial, sub-lexical structure in the lexicon, that the pattern of emergence is more complex than the most widely espoused explanation suggests, and I propose ways in which future work can build on what we learn from these pilot experiments to confirm this hypothesis.
Simultaneous presentation of Brugada syndrome and primary aldosteronism
Authors: Tomcsányi János , Sármán Beatrix
Published: November 2012

The authors present a case of a 42-year-old male patient, who was referred for evaluation for tachycardia. Detailed studies revealed Brugada syndrome and hypokalaemia due to primary aldosteronism. With this case report the authors draw attention to the risk of malignant ventricular tachycardia in a patient with low potassium level, especially in case of coexisting Brugada syndrome. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1797–1799.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Diode Laser on Pain and Edema in Individuals with Cleft Lip and Palate Submitted to Secondary Bone Graft
Authors: Da Silva Cunha Mércia Jussara , Esper Luis Augusto , Sbrana Michyele Cristhiane , Da Silva Cirino Camila Camarinha , Oliveira Paula Gabriela Faciola Pêssoa , De Almeida Ana Lúcia Pompéia Fraga
Published: November 2012

Objective

To clinically evaluate the effects of diode laser, Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide laser (GaAIAs), on the pain and edema after secondary alveolar bone graft.

Design

Case-control, double-blind study.

Setting

Institutional tertiary referral hospital.

Participants

The sample was composed of 60 individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, of both genders, aged 9 to 15 years, submitted to secondary alveolar bone graft.

Main Outcome Measures

The individuals were divided into an experimental group (patients irradiated with diode laser GaAIAs, energy density of 4 J/cm2, power of 100 mW, and wavelength in the infrared spectrum, for 10 seconds per point on 10 points, adding up to a dose of 40 J/cm2) and a placebo group (simulated laser application for 60 seconds per point, also on 10 points). Applications were made on the receptor site immediately postoperatively and after 24 and 48 hours. The pain and edema were assessed preoperatively and at each application.

Results

The two groups presented increase in pain and edema in 24 and 48 hours. No statistically significant difference was found between groups.

Conclusions

According to the present methodology, the use of low-level laser to control the pain and edema in the postoperative period of secondary alveolar bone graft was not effective.
Patterns of Tooth Agenesis in Patients with Crouzon or Apert Syndrome
Authors: Reitsma Jacobus H. , Ongkosuwito Edwin M. , Van Wijk Arjen J. , Prahl-Andersen Birte
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Dental agenesis is the most common anomaly of dental development and can be a component of a congenital syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of agenesis and to describe patterns of tooth agenesis in patients with Crouzon or Apert syndrome compared with nonsyndromic controls.

Patients and Methods

Longitudinal records of 67 patients with Crouzon syndrome (n = 39) or Apert syndrome (n = 28) from the Erasmus Medical Centre were examined. Syndromic patients were compared with patients in a nonsyndromic control group (n = 284).

Results

Prevalence of tooth agenesis in patients with Crouzon syndrome (35.9%) and patients with Apert syndrome (46.4%) was significantly higher than the prevalence in control subjects (27.5%) ( P < .005). In all groups third molars were the most likely to be agenetic. Tooth agenesis excluding third molars was significantly higher in syndromic patients than in control subjects ( P < .001). Bilateral agenesis of mandibular second premolars occurred significantly more often in patients with Crouzon and Apert syndrome than in control subjects ( P < .001).

Conclusions

Tooth agenesis is more prevalent in patients with Crouzon or Apert syndrome than in control subjects. Tooth agenesis and mandibular symmetrical patterns of second premolar agenesis are more prevalent in syndromic patients.
Effect of the Antifibrillatory Compound Tedisamil (KC-8857) on Transmembrane Currents in Mammalian Ventricular Myocytes
Authors: Jost N. , Virag L. , Hala O. , Varro A. , Thormahlen D. , Papp J. Gy.
Published: November 2012

The cellular mechanism of action of tedisamil (KC-8857) (TED), a novel antiarrhythmic / antifibrillatory compound, was studied on transmembrane currents in guinea pig, rabbit and dog ventricular myocytes by applying the patch-clamp and the conventional microelectrode technique. In guinea pig myocytes the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) was largely diminished by 1 μM TED (from 0.88±0.17 to 0.23±0.07 pA / pF, n=5, p < 0.05), while its slow component (IKs) was reduced only by 5 μM TED (from 8.1±0.3 to 4.23±0.07 pA / pF, n=5, p < 0.05). TED did not significantly change the IKr and IKs kinetics. In rabbit myocytes 1 μM TED decreased the amplitude of the transient outward current (Ito) from 20.3±4.9 to 13.9±2.8 pA / pF (n=5, p < 0.05), accelerated its fast inactivation time constant from 8.3±0.6 to 3.5±0.5 ms (n=5, p < 0.05) and reduced the ATP-activated potassium current (IKATP) from 38.2±11.8 to 18.4±4.7 pA / pF (activator: 50 μM cromakalim; n=5, p < 0.05). In dog myocytes 2 μM TED blocked the fast sodium current (INa) with rapid onset and moderately slow offset kinetics, while the inward rectifier potassium (IK1), the inward calcium (ICa) and even the Ito currents were not affected by TED in concentration as high as 10 μM. The differences in Ito responsiveness between dog and rabbit are probably due to the different α-subunits of Ito in these species. It is concluded that inhibition of several transmembrane currents, including IKr, IKs, Ito, IKATP and even INa, can contribute to the high antiarrhythmic / antifibrillatory potency of TED, underlying predominant Class III combined with I A / B type antiarrhythmic characteristics.
ET-18-OCH3 (Edelfosine): A Selective Antitumour Lipid Targeting Apoptosis Through Intracellular Activation of Fas / CD95 Death Receptor
Authors: Mollinedo Faustino , Gajate Consuelo , Martin-Santamaria Sonsoles , Gago Federico
Published: November 2012

Synthetic ether-linked analogues of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine, collectively named as antitumour lipids (ATLs), were initially synthesized in the late 60s, but have attracted a renewed interest since the finding that the ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3- phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3, edelfosine), a synthetic analogue of 2-lysophosphatidylcholine considered the ATL prototype, induces a selective apoptotic response in tumour cells, sparing normal cells. Unlike most chemotherapeutic agents currently used, ET-18-OCH3 does not interact with DNA, but act at the cell membrane, and thereby its effects seem to be independent of the proliferative state of target cells. Each part of the molecular structure of ET-18-OCH3 is important for its optimal proapoptotic activity. Recent progress has unveiled the molecular mechanism underlying the apoptotic action of ET-18-OCH3, involving membrane rafts and Fas / CD95 death receptor, and has led to the proposal of a two-step model for the ET-18-OCH3 selective action on cancer cells, namely: a) ET-18-OCH3 uptake into the tumour cell, but not in normal cells; b) intracellular activation of Fas / CD95 through its translocation and capping into membrane rafts. ET-18-OCH3 constitutes the first antitumour drug acting through the intracellular activation of the Fas / CD95 death receptor. Computational docking studies have allowed us to propose a molecular model for the putative interaction of ET-18-OCH3 with the intracellular Fas/CD95 death domain. This novel mechanism of action represents a new way to target tumour cells in cancer chemotherapy and can be of interest as a new framework in designing novel and more selective proapoptotic antitumour drugs.
Furocoumarins in Medicinal Chemistry. Synthesis, Natural Occurrence and Biological Activity
Authors: Santana L. , Uriarte E. , Roleira F. , Milhazes N. , Borges F.
Published: November 2012

The scope of this review encompasses the importance of furocoumarins and the most important developments in this field that have been made in recent years, with particular emphasis placed on the aspects related to medicinal chemistry. A concise and exhaustive overview is given regarding the methods used for the synthesis of these compounds, new furocoumarins isolated from natural sources, and the most significant biological properties associated with these molecules. The section describing the synthetic methods is organized on the basis of the key step used for the formation of the two different oxygenated rings. In this respect there are three possibilities: (i) formation of the furan ring onto the coumarin, (ii) formation of the pyrone ring onto the benzofuran and (iii) the simultaneous formation of both oxygenated rings onto a benzene unit. The most recent preparative approaches are discussed along with modifications or improvements to methods that, though not particularly new, are still commonly used. The recently discovered natural furocoumarins are focused and presented in tables that provide information about its structure and source. The discussion of the biological importance of furocoumarins mainly focuses on their more relevant applications in photochemotherapy, but also provides examples of their versatility in a range of applications in the fields of biology and pharmacology.
Dendrotoxins: Structure-Activity Relationships and Effects on Potassium Ion Channels
Authors: Harvey A. L. , Robertson B.
Published: November 2012

Dendrotoxins are small proteins isolated from mamba (Dendroaspis) snakes. The original dendrotoxin was found in venom of the Eastern green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps, and related proteins were subsequently found in other mamba venoms. The dendrotoxins contain 57-60 amino acid residues crosslinked by three disulphide bridges, and they are homologous to Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin (BPTI). The dendrotoxins have little or no anti-protease activity, but they block particular subtypes of voltage-dependent potassium channels of the Kv1 subfamily in neurones. ?-Dendrotoxin from green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps and toxin I from the black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis block cloned Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.6 channels in the low nanomolar range; toxin K, also from the black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis, preferentially blocks Kv1.1 channels and is active at picomolar concentrations. Structural modifications and mutations to dendrotoxins have helped to define the molecular recognition properties of different types of K+ channels, although more work is needed to characterise the chemical features of the toxins that underlie their selectivity and potency at particular subtypes of channels. Dendrotoxins have been useful markers of subtypes of K+ channels in vivo, and dendrotoxins have become widely used as probes for studying the function of K+ channels in physiology and pathophysiology. With some pathological conditions being associated with voltage-gated K+ channels, analogues of dendrotoxins might have therapeutic potential.
Conantokins: Peptide Antagonists of NMDA Receptors
Authors: Layer Richard T. , Wagstaff John D. , White H. Steve
Published: November 2012

Conantokins are small peptides (17-27 amino acids) found in the venoms of cone snails (Conus sp.) that inhibit the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Unlike most of the peptides characterized from cone snail venom that contain multiple disulfide bridges, conantokins are linear peptides that possess a high degree of alpha-helicity in the presence of divalent cations, and contain gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. Four naturally occurring conantokins have been identified and characterized to date, conantokin-G, conantokin-T, conantokin-R, and conantokin-L. The most extensively characterized, conantokin-G, is selective for subtypes of NMDA receptors containing the NR2B subunit. The conantokins have been synthesized and characterized in a number of animal models of human pathologies including pain, convulsive disorders, stroke, and Parkinsons disease. The potential pharmacological selectivity of the conantokins, coupled with their efficacy in preclinical models of disease and favorable safety profiles indicate that these peptides represent both novel probes for NMDA receptor function as well as an important class of compounds for continued investigation as human therapeutics.
The Design, Structure, and Clinical Update of Small Molecular Weight Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
Authors: Skiles Jerry W. , Gonnella Nina C. , Jeng Arco Y.
Published: November 2012

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-containing enzymes involved in the degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix proteins. Under normal physiological conditions, the activities of these enzymes are well-regulated by endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Chronic stimulation of MMP activities due to an imbalance in the levels of MMPs and TIMPs has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases such as cancer, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, MMP inhibitors are expected to be useful for the treatment of these disorders. Because of their importance in a variety of pathological conditions, a number of small molecular weight MMP inhibitors have entered clinical trials in humans. However, the results of these trials have been extremely disappointing and have led many investigators to conclude that MMP inhibitors have no therapeutic benefit in human cancer. To date, the first generation MMP inhibitors exhibited poor bioavailability while second-generation compounds revealed that prolonged treatment caused musculoskeletal pain and inflammation or had a lack of efficacy. This article describes the design of small molecular weight MMP inhibitors, a brief description of available three-dimensional MMP structures, a review of the proposed therapeutic utility of MMP inhibitors, and a clinical update of compounds that have entered clinical trials in humans. The experimentally determined structures used in the structure-based design of MMP inhibitors are thoroughly covered. Major emphasis is on recently published and / or patented potent MMP inhibitors, from approximately January 2000 to April 2003, and their pharmacological properties. Protein inhibitors of these proteolytic enzymes, i.e. TIMPs, will not be discussed.
Pharmacophore Modeling and Three Dimensional Database Searching for Drug Design Using Catalyst: Recent Advances
Authors: Guner Osman , Clement Omoshile , Kurogi Yasuhisa
Published: November 2012

Perceiving a pharmacophore is the first essential step towards understanding the interaction between a receptor and a ligand. Once a pharmacophore is established, a beneficial use of it is 3D database searching to retrieve novel compounds that would match the pharmacophore. As the 3D searching technology has evolved over the years, it has been effectively used for lead optimization, combinatorial library focusing, as well as virtual high-throughput screening. This paper is an update to the original paper published in this journal earlier: Kurogi, Y, and Güner, O. F. “Pharmacophore Modeling and Three-Dimensional Database Searching for Drug Design Using Catalyst,” in Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2001, 8(9), 1035-1055.
RNase P: A Promising Molecular Target for the Development of New Drugs
Authors: Tekos Apostolos , Stathopoulos Constantinos , Tsambaos Dionysios , Drainas Denis
Published: November 2012

RNase P is an ubiquitous and essential endonuclease in tRNA biogenesis, which generates the mature 5-termini of tRNAs. RNase P activities have been identified in all three kingdoms of life (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya). Most forms of RNase P are ribonucleoproteins, i.e., they consist of an essential RNA and protein subunits. In bacteria and in some archaea, the catalytic function of this enzyme resides entirely in its RNA subunit, which is one of firstly identified ribozymes. Its high structural and functional diversity among representatives of a vast variety of phylogenetic domains indicates that RNase P could also serve as a molecular target of and a useful screening system for the biological activity of different compounds and give more insight into the molecular mechanisms of their action inside the cell. The emerged information from recent studies on the mechanism and structural idiosyncrasies of RNase P provides a convenient platform for designing specific inhibitors for this ribozyme and potential areas of its application in gene therapy. This review summarises the current information on the effect of several protein synthesis inhibitors, retinoids and arotinoids, vitamin D analogues and anthalin on the activity of RNase P.
Formation and Speciation Characteristics of Brominated Trihalomethanes in Seawater Chlorination
Authors: Padhi R. K. , Sowmya M. , Mohanty A. K. , Bramha S. N. , Satpathy K. K.
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT  Formation character of brominated‐trihalomethanes (Br‐THMs) in chlorinated seawater and its dependence on applied chlorine dose, reaction time, and temperature were investigated in the laboratory. Seawater was collected from the east coast of India and a chlorine dose of 1, 3, 5, and 10 ppm was each applied at a temperature of 20, 30, and 40 °C to investigate the yield and kinetics of Br‐THMs formation. Qualitative and quantitative estimation of THM formation at various intervals of time ranging from 5 min to 168 h was determined by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC‐ECD). Chlorine dose, chlorine contact time, and reaction temperature positively affected the load of THMs. The ratio of chlorine dose to halogen incorporation decreased from 12% to 5% with increasing applied chlorine dose from 1 to 10 ppm. Significant levels of THMs were found to be formed within 0.5 h of reaction, followed by a very slow rate of formation. Elevated temperature favored both increased rate of formation and overall THM yield. The formation order of different trihalomethane species at all studied temperatures was observed to be bromodichloromethane (CHCl2Br) < dibromochloromethane (CHClBr2) < bromoform (CHBr3). Formation of chloroform was not observed, and bromoform was the dominant (96% to 98%) among the three THM species formed.
Herbrand consistency of some arithmetical theories
Authors: Salehi Saeed
Published: November 2012

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem is proved for Herbrand consistency of some arithmetical theories with bounded induction, by using a technique of logarithmic shrinking the witnesses of bounded formulas, due to Z. Adamowicz [Herbrand consistency and bounded arithmetic, Fundamenta Mathematicae, vol. 171 (2002), pp. 279–292]. In that paper, it was shown that one cannot always shrink the witness of a bounded formula logarithmically, but in the presence of Herbrand consistency, for theories IΔ0 + Ωm with m ≥ 2, any witness for any bounded formula can be shortened logarithmically. This immediately implies the unprovability of Herbrand consistency of a theory T ⊇ IΔ0 + Ω2 in T itself.

In this paper, the above results are generalized for Δ0 + Ω1. Also after tailoring the definition of Herbrand consistency for IΔ0 we prove the corresponding theorems for IΔ0. Thus the Herbrand version of Gödel's second incompleteness theorem follows for the theories IΔ0 + Ω1 and IΔ0.
The Bernays-Schönfinkel-Ramsey class for set theory: decidability
Authors: Policriti Alberto , Omodeo Eugenio
Published: November 2012

As proved recently, the satisfaction problem for all prenex formulae in the set-theoretic Bernays-Shönfinkel-Ramsey class is semi-decidable over von Neumann's cumulative hierarchy. Here that semi-decidability result is strengthened into a decidability result for the same collection of formulae.
Small representations of SL2in the finite Morley rank category
Authors: Cherlin Gregory , Deloro Adrien
Published: November 2012

We study definable irreducible actions of SL2on an abelian group of Morley rank ≤ 3rkand prove they are rational representations of the group.
The tree property and the failure of the Singular Cardinal Hypothesis at ℵω2
Authors: Sinapova Dima
Published: November 2012

We show that givenωmany supercompact cardinals, there is a generic extension in which the tree property holds at ℵω2+ 1and the SCH fails at ℵω2.
A sound and complete axiomatization for Dynamic Topological Logic
Authors: Fernández-Duque David
Published: November 2012

Dynamic Topological Logic () is a multimodal system for reasoning about dynamical systems. It is defined semantically and, as such, most of the work done in the field has been model-theoretic. In particular, the problem of finding a complete axiomatization for the full language of over the class of all dynamical systems has proven to be quite elusive.

Here we propose to enrich the language to include a polyadic topological modality, originally introduced by Dawar and Otto in a different context. We then provide a sound axiomatization for over this extended language, and prove that it is complete. The polyadic modality is used in an essential way in our proof.
Non-finitely axiomatisable two-dimensional modal logics
Authors: Kurucz Agi , Marcelino Sérgio
Published: November 2012

We show the first examples of recursively enumerable (even decidable) two-dimensional products of finitely axiomatisable modal logics that are not finitely axiomatisable. In particular, we show that any axiomatisation of some bimodal logics that are determined by classes of product frames with linearly ordered first components must be infinite in two senses: It should contain infinitely many propositional variables, and formulas of arbitrarily large modal nesting-depth.
Fistula in ano: An overview
Authors: Nicholls John
Published: November 2012

Perianal fistula is a very unpleasant condition. It is also quite difficult
to be solved without recurrence or with complete preservation of sphincter
function. This paper summarizes the etiology, classification of fistulas
along with the long term surgical experiences in the approach and the
treatment of this condition.
Single access laparoscopic right hemicolectomy
Authors: Bracale Umberto , Mijatovic Srdjan , Lazzara Fabrizio , Perna Fabrizio , Badessi Francesco , Pignata Giusto
Published: November 2012

Single Access Laparoscopic Colectomy (SALC) were reported in several studies.
The first Single Access laparoscopic right colectomy was descibed by Remzi et
Al. We report our experience in SALC describing our approach for Right
Colectomy. In our experience we perform as well an extracorporeal
side-to-side anastomosis, in contrast wit a conventional laparoscopic right
colectomy in which we perform an intra-corporeal anastomosis. We think that
an important limit of this approach is represented by the difficult to
perform a safe intra-corporeal anastomosis. In conclusion we think that right
SALC is a safe and feasible approach. However, many issues will be
established, as well as technological, economical and educational aspects,
before its introduction in the daily clinical practice.
Case of leptosuccin induced malignant hyperthermia in a patient with GIST of the rectum
Authors: Nejkovic Natasa , Protic Snezana , Zaric Nemanja , Krivokapic Zoran , Djurasic Ljubomir
Published: November 2012

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a form of myopathy that is usually triggered
by volatile anaesthetics such as halothane, sevoflurane and des flurane and
depolarising muscle relaxants such as succinylcholine. Pathologic response in
MH inc1ude increase in oxygen consumption, increase in endtidal C02,
tachycardia, hyperthermia, hyperkalemia and muscle rigidity. Immediate
recognition and treatment are crucial to avoid lethal outcome. Molecular
genetic studies have confirmed that ryanodine muscle receptors are
responsible for MH. We present a case of leptosuccin induced MH with masseter
muscle rigidity, mild pC02 increase (6.3 kPa), elevated body temperature
measured with esophageal temperature probe (39.5?C) tachycardia (115
beats/min) and respiratory and metabolic acidosis (pH was 7,23) in a patient
who underwent low anterior resection of the rectum for gast rointestinal
stromal tumor (GIST) of the rectum.
Virus elimination from ornamental plants using in vitro culture techniques
Authors: Milosevic Snezana , Cingel Aleksandar , Jevremovic Sladjana , Stankovic Ivana , Bulajic Aleksandra , Krstic Branka , Subotic Angelina
Published: November 2012

Viruses are responsible for numerous epidemics in different crops in all
parts of the world. As a consequence of their presence great economic losses
are being incurred. In addition to the development of sensitive techniques
for detection, identification and characterization of viruses, substantial
attention has also been paid to biotechnological methods for their
elimination from plants. In this review article, the following
biotechnological in vitro culture techniques for virus elimination from
ornamental plants are presented: meristem culture, thermotherapy,
chemotherapy, cryotherapy or a combination of these methods. The plant
species, as well as the type of virus determine the choice of a most suitable
method. The state of the art in investigation of virus elimination from
Impatiens sp. in Serbia is summarized.
Thermodynamic characterization of early phytotoxic effects of sulfonylurea herbicides to maize lines
Authors: Dragicevic Vesna , Simic Milena , Brankov Milan , Spasojevic Igor , Secanski Mile , Kresovic Branka
Published: November 2012

Variations in susceptibility of maize lines to herbicides depend on different
factors. Visible signs of phytotoxicity do not occur in the first few days
after application when plants are tolerant to some herbicides. The aim of our
experiment was to study susceptibility of 16 ZP lines to nicosulfuron and
foramsulfuron 48 hours after application in the 2006-2009 period. The
alterations in dry matter content, as well as thermodynamic parameters of
free energy and enthalpy, were analyzed. The examined parameters show that
season had a significant influence on phytotoxicity expression, with high
EWRC values obtained together with high values of free energy and dry matter
during the cold season with lower precipitation level (period after herbicide
application). In susceptible lines, the phytotoxic effect induced an increase
in dry matter and free energy. Phytotoxic effects of nicosulfuron and
foramsulfuron have basically different impact on system energetic properties:
the effects of nicosulfuron could be connected to greater energy consumption,
and the effects of foramsulfuron to increasing potential energy, mainly from
metabolism, which could be associated with a ?metabolic burst?. From that
point of view, the examined parameters can be successfully used as indicators
of herbicide stress immediately after application.
Lyme borreliosis and pregnancy
Authors: Relic Milijana , Relic Goran
Published: November 2012

nema
Fur mites of the family Listrophoridae (Acariformes: Sarcoptoidea) associated with South American sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)
Authors: Sikora Bożena , Bochkov Andre
Published: November 2012

Six species of 3 genera belonging to the fur mite family Listrophoridae were recorded on skins of South American rodents of the cricetid subfamily Sigmodontinae housed in the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (Munich, Germany). Among them, Amlistrophorus geoxus sp. nov. from Geoxus valdivianus from Chile is described as a new for science, and males of Prolistrophorus amazonicus amazonicus Fain, 1971 are recorded for the first time. The full generic status for the subgenus Amlistrophorus of the genus Prolistrophorus proposed by Fain et al. (1996) is not supported, and Prolistrophorus musculinus Fain, 1973 stat. nov. (formerly a subspecies of P. amazonicus) from Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Suriname is raised to species status. New hosts are recorded for the following species: Prolistrophorus argentinus (Hirst, 1921) from Holochilus brasiliensis and H. chacarius from Argentina, P. amazonicus from Calomys callosus from Argentina and Bolivia, C. laucha and C. musculinus from Argentina, P. akodon Fain and Lukoschus, 1982 from Akodon montensis from Argentina, P. nectomys Fain, 1971 from Nectomys palmipes from Peru and Melanomys caliginosus from Panama, and Sclerolistrophorus oxymycteris Fain, 1976 from Oryzomys laticeps from Brazil.
Mawsonascaris parva sp. nov. (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from the Arabian whipray Himantura randalli Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto et Moore (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) off the coast of Iraq
Authors: Ali Atheer , Zhang Lu-Ping , Al-Salim Nadirah , Li Liang
Published: November 2012

Mawsonascaris parva sp. nov. collected from the Arabian whipray Himantura randalli Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto et Moore (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) off the coast of Iraq is described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from its congeners by its small body size (8.11–18.2 mm long), the absence of an intestinal caecum, the slightly unequal spicules (left and right spicule 1.08–2.50 mm and 0.98–2.01 mm long, respectively, representing 12.1–13.7% and 10.1–12.1% of body length), the number and arrangement of male caudal papillae (13–14 pairs in total, arranged as: 7–8 pairs of precloacal, 1 pair of double paracloacal and 5 pairs of postcloacal) and the presence of a single, median precloacal papilla. Thus, a total of six species of Mawsonascaris are now known and this is the first species of this genus recorded from species of Himantura.
Apicomplexa primers amplify Proteromonas (Stramenopiles, Slopalinida, Proteromonadidae) in tissue and blood samples from lizards
Authors: Maia João , Gómez-Díaz Elena , Harris D.
Published: November 2012

Microscopy has traditionally been the most common method in parasitological studies, but in recent years molecular screening has become increasingly frequent to detect protozoan parasites in a wide range of vertebrate hosts and vectors. During routine molecular screening of apicomplexan parasites in reptiles using the 18S rRNA gene, we have amplified and sequenced Proteromonas parasites from three lizard hosts (less than 1% prevalence). We conducted phylogenetic analysis to confirm the taxonomic position and infer their relationships with other stramenopiles. Although our phylogeny is limited due to scarcity of molecular data on these protists, our results confirm they are closely related to Proteromonas lacertae. Our findings show that unexpected parasites can be amplified from host samples (blood and tissue) using general procedures to detect hemoparasites, and stress that positive PCR amplifications alone should not be considered as definitive proof of infection by particular parasites. Further validation by sequence confirmation and thorough phylogenetic assessment will not only avoid false positives and biased prevalence estimates but also provide valuable information on the biodiversity and phylogenetic relationships of other parasitic organisms. More generally, our results illustrate the perils of general diagnosis protocols in parasitological studies and the need of cross-validation procedures.