bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impedance improvement of miniature UWB antenna
Authors: Cheng Jui‐Nan , Deng Sheng‐Ming , Tsai Ching‐Long , Bor Sheau‐Shong
Published: September 2007

This article presents the performance of impedance improvement of miniature ultra‐wideband (UWB) antenna on a printed circuit board (PCB). The proposed antenna has a reflection coefficient below −10 dB in the frequency range of 3.2–10.6 GHz. Most important of all, it simultaneously also has a very good impedance matching below −14 dB for the frequency range from 4.0 GHz to 10.6 GHz. Because of the performance of extra good impedance matching, it can be suitable to be utilized in different environments for the actual UWB applications to overcome the impedance variation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2982–2983, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22952
Analysis of crosstalk degradation in polarization division multiplexing system due to polarization dependence loss and gain
Authors: Perlicki K.
Published: September 2007

A simple method of the calculation of the crosstalk between two polarization multiplexed channel in an optical fiber link including polarization dependence loss and polarization dependence gain is presented. This method allows a significant simplification of the calculation of crosstalk in polarization multiplexed transmission systems. The analytical results are compared with numerical results. This comparison gives good agreement. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2915–2918, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22956
Neural network approach to determine nonsmooth one‐dimensional profiles in inverse scattering theory
Authors: Yaman Fatih , Simçsek Serkan
Published: September 2007

In this article, we present a new hybrid method to reconstruct one‐dimensional lossy profile in order to get effective and stable solutions that can be used for both acoustic and electromagnetic cases. Unlike classical integral equation methods for the solution of the inverse medium problems, the neural network approach is applied to avoid the nonlinear and ill‐posed nature of the integral equation of the first kind. The applicability and the effectiveness of the method is tested by selecting an inverse problem, namely, to determine nonsmooth one‐dimensional profile of an inhomogeneous layer located over an inhomogeneous impedance ground. To reveal the advantage and the accuracy of the method, noisy data and rectangular/triangular types of non‐smooth profiles are used. Good agreement with exact profiles has been observed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3158–3162, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).DOI 10.1002/mop.22958
Coaxially fed monopoles in shorted waveguides
Authors: Park Mi Y. , Eom Hyo J.
Published: September 2007

An efficient series solution for coaxially fed monopoles in a shorted parallel‐plate waveguide is presented. The analysis is based on mode‐matching and image method. A coaxially fed monopole in a shorted rectangular waveguide is considered as a special case. Computations are performed to verify the validity of solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3145–3148, 2007; Published online in Wiley Inter‐Science (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22959
A 3.1 to 5 GHZ CMOS RF transmitter for direct‐sequence code division multiple access applications
Authors: Ku Bon‐Hyun , Park Bonghyuk , Hong Songcheol
Published: September 2007

An ultra‐wideband RF transmitter with local oscillator (LO) leakage reduction method for direct‐sequence code division multiple access (DS‐CDMA) is presented. To achieve ultra‐wideband gain flatness, the method of combining two shunt‐peaking loads with different resonant frequencies is used. A double balanced mixer with a linear transconductance stage is used to increase the linearity of the mixer. To reduce the LO leakage at the output port, an additional DC feedback loop is applied to the linear transconductor. Measurement results show 9.5 dB gain with ±0.8 dB variation over 3.1–5 GHz range. The output P1dB is approximately −3 dBm and the output IP3 is more than 9.8 dBm for a frequency greater than 3–5 GHz. By the LO leakage reduction method, the LO leakage output power is 5 dB lower than without it. The transmitter consumes 54 mW with a 1.8 V supply and is realized with a 0.18 μm RF CMOS technology. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3140–3145, 2007; Published online in Wiley Inter‐Science (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22960
An accurate analysis of numerical dispersion for 3‐D ADI‐FDTD with artificial anisotropy
Authors: Srivastava Kumar Vaibhav , Mishra Vishwa V. , Biswas Animesh
Published: September 2007

In this article, an accurate numerical dispersion relationship is developed for 3‐D alternating direction implicit finite difference time domain (ADI FDTD) with artificial anisotropy. The numerical dispersion relation with accurate mathematical model helps to calculate the anisotropic parameters, which are used to control the error of the numerical phase velocity. Numerical example shows that the proposed method helps to reduce the numerical dispersion significantly. The effects of anisotropic parameters on the numerical dispersion with different mesh resolution, courant number, and cell dimension ratio, are shown for three‐dimensional anisotropic ADI‐FDTD. A comparison has been made for anisotropic ADI FTDD and conventional ADI FDTD in terms of accuracy and CPU time for the calculation of resonant frequencies of rectangular cavity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3109–3112, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22961
High performance all‐optical wavelength conversion based on nonlinear polarization rotation assisted with red‐shifted filtering
Authors: Feng Chuanfen , Wu Jian , Zhang Junyi , Xu Kun , Lin Jintong
Published: September 2007

A wavelength conversion scheme based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) assisted with red‐shifted filtering is presented at the rate of 20 Gbit/s by simulation and experiment. Simulated analyses and experimental results show that high performance wavelength conversion based on NPR can be achieved using a red‐shifted filtering scheme. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3078–3082, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22963
Improvement of microstrip low pass filters' characteristics using an optimized number of new multi‐ring defected ground structures
Authors: Boutejdar A. , Elsherbini A. , Haiwen Liu , Omar A.
Published: September 2007

A novel two square split ring resonators defected ground structure (DGS) is investigated for use in low pass filters (LPF) design. An equivalent circuit and parametric study for the DGS are presented. The DGS is employed in a LPF to obtain very wide reject band. The measured results illustrated the excellent performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3074–3078, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22964
Research and fabrication of a UV curable polymeric 41 × 41 array‐waveguide grating multiplexer
Authors: Chen C. M. , Zhang X. Z. , Zhang H. M. , Zhang D. , Mu S. K. , Hou A. L. , Zhang X. L. , Li L. , Zhang D. M.
Published: September 2007

In this article, a polymeric 41‐channel array‐waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer was fabricated by simple direct Ultraviolet photolithography process. We try to use a cross‐linkable negative photoresist as core material and an optically clear UV curable epoxy as cladding material. Once exposed to Ultraviolet light through a photomask, the polymeric waveguide stripes were obtained upon development. Because of the superiority of UV resist in microelectro mechanical systems, the characteristic of the optical waveguide is better than that fabricated by steam‐redissolution technique of polymeric waveguide. The propagation loss is low as 2.03 dB/cm at 1550‐nm wavelength. The AWG multiplexer has channel spacing of 0.789 nm and the center wavelength is close to 1550 nm. The new technique will be well suited for fabricating optical integrated circuits. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3040–3044, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22965
Gain‐saturated SOA‐based optical power booster for spectrum‐sliced incoherent light
Authors: Kim Tae‐Young , Kim Sun‐Jong , Park Chang‐Soo
Published: September 2007

An optical power booster based on a gain‐saturated semiconductor optical amplifier with an injected holding light is experimentally demonstrated for an optical access network using spectrum‐sliced incoherent light (SSIL). The results show that the proposed booster can provide not only a signal gain of 10.8 dB but also a Q‐factor of 8.9 for a 2.5 Gb/s SSIL signal, transmitted over 10 km of single‐mode fiber. The corresponding bit‐error rate is lowered to 6 × 10−11. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3038–3040, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22966
A time‐domain extraction for the spice‐compatible models of power delivery networks in PCB
Authors: Kuo Chih‐Wen , Wang Chen‐Chao
Published: September 2007

Simultaneous switch noise, or power/ground bounce noise, on the power and ground planes of high‐speed circuit packages is one of the main concerns of signal integrity or power integrity issues. A novel time‐domain approach is proposed to synthesize the broadband models of the resonance effect of power/ground planes. Either from measurements by time‐domain reflectrometry or simulations by the finite‐difference time‐domain method, the time‐domain step response of the planes is characterized with a pole‐residue representation obtained through the matrix pencil method. A new equivalent circuit models are then synthesized through the pole‐residue representations. The synthesized model can accurately predict the resonance behavior of power/ground planes over a wide frequency range. These models can be efficiently incorporated into the currently available circuit simulator such as HSPICE or Agilent ADS for the consideration of power/ground bouncing noise in high‐speed circuits. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3001–3004, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22967
Active integrated antenna for mobile TV signal reception
Authors: Yoon Ick‐Jae , Balzovsky Evgeny , Buyanov Yuri , Park Se‐Hyun , Kim Youngeil , Koshelev Vladimir
Published: September 2007

This paper proposes a small‐sized field‐effect transistor (FET) based active integrated antenna (AIA) for terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (T‐DMB) signal reception, which is one of the mobile TV services allocated to 200 MHz band. The commercially used T‐DMB antenna is a 120 mm long monopole, but the size of the proposed one is reduced to 50 mm by the method of active device integration. The active device integrated to the radiator influences not only on the current distribution at the radiator but also the input impedance, results in an antenna size reduction with an enhanced gain. In addition to this, a band‐pass filter is designed at the input port of the radiator. This plays a role as a matching circuit between a radiator and an active device as well as provides a band‐selection function simultaneously to be free of other high intensity signals existing around the T‐DMB band. The antenna effective length related to the same‐sized monopole and noise figure are measured to verify the validity of the proposed antenna. The performance of the proposed FET based AIA shows the feasibility of designing absolutely small‐sized antenna with active devices integrated compared to an operating frequency band. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2998–3001, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22968
Novel ′′buried‐on‐wall′′ 900 MHz cavity‐backed slot antenna with circular polarization
Authors: Shi Zhiguo , Ren Wang , Liu Haiwen , Chen Kangsheng
Published: September 2007

We propose a circularly polarized cavity‐backed slot (CBS) antenna which is composed of two symmetrically placed L‐shaped slots on a 150 × 100 mm2 ground plane (back side) and fed by a microstrip network on the opposite plane (front side). A metal cavity is placed at the back side to reduce the effect caused by the wall behind the antenna and enhance the radiation on the front side; in this way it is suitable to be “buried‐on‐wall.” Simulation results of the return loss, radiation patterns, axial ratios, and gain are presented. The antenna was fabricated on FR‐4 substrate and the measured return loss agrees well with the simulated one. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3169–3172, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).DOI 10.1002/mop.22969
New method of detecting lymphatic disease using microwaves
Authors: Lonappan Anil , Thomas Vinu , Bindu G. , Jacob Joe , Rajasekaran C. , Mathew K. T.
Published: September 2007

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is the world's most disabling and disfiguring diseases affects the persons making incapacitated or disfigured. This article presents a new solution for the early detection of LF. In vitro blood analysis is made based on the dielectric properties at microwave frequencies using rectangular cavity perturbation technique at the S‐band with the different samples of blood obtained from healthy donors as well as from patients suffering from filariasis. It is noticed that an appreciably change in the dielectric properties of patient samples with the normal healthy samples and this measurements were in good agreement with clinical analysis. This measurement technique is simple and suggests a new novel alternative in‐vitro method of diagnosing LF using microwaves and is completely independent of time unlike the traditional method diagnosis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3166–3169, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).DOI 10.1002/mop.22970
In‐line RF‐MEMS series switches for reconfigurable antenna applications
Authors: Jung Chang Won , Lee Byungje , De Flaviis Franco
Published: September 2007

The air bridged RF‐MEMS capacitive series switches in single pole single throw transmission lines for reconfigurable antenna applications are presented. The RF characteristics of capacitive series switches are analyzed, measured, and compared with microstripline and coplanar‐waveguide, which are generally used for transmission lines of MEMS reconfigurable circuits. RF‐MEMS series switches are fabricated in both transmission lines on a glass substrate (εr = 7.4 and tan δ = 0.001). The reconfigurable beam steering spiral antenna (fo = 11 GHz), which is monolithic integrated with RF‐MEMS capacitive series switches on the same glass substrate, is also presented as an example of the use of in‐line capacitive series switches. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 3130–3134, 2007; Published online in Wiley Inter‐Science (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22971
Dual‐band circular polarization square patch antenna for GPS and DMB
Authors: Kim S. M. , Yoon K. S. , Yang W. G.
Published: September 2007

We designed and implemented a dual‐band square patch antenna with circular polarization for the reception of GPS and DMB. Resonant elements of 1.5‐ and 2.6‐GHz bands are entire square patch and inner square patch divided by slots, respectively. And impedance bandwidths (VSWR ≤ 2) are 61 MHz (3.84%) for 1.5‐GHz band and 138 MHz (5.15%) for 2.6‐GHz band. The implemented antenna has a good radiation pattern characteristic. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2925–2926, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22972
The sensory bladder (1): An update on the different sensations described in the lower urinary tract and the physiological mechanisms behind them
Authors: Wyndaele Jean‐Jacques , De Wachter Stefan
Published: September 2007

Aims

To give an update of the actual information on sensory function in the lower urinary tract (LUT).

Methods

We give an up‐to‐date review of the most modern and reasonable approach to the topic of physiological mechanisms involved in LUT sensory function and different sensations described in the LUT.

Results

Although the sensory function of the LUT is a main player in the function of continence and micturition, it has been dealt with rather superficially for many decades. More recently the interest in this function grows and does so rapidly, both in basic as in clinical research. Sensation depends on neurophysiologic mechanisms in several different nerves, receptors, and transmitters. This knowledge creates a better understanding of sensory symptoms. Different stimuli can elicit sensations in the LUT such as bladder filling, micturition, noxious stimuli, external stimuli.

Conclusion

Sensation is the prerequisite of conscious bladder control and deserves full attention in the management of LUT dysfunction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:274–278, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
What you should know about the vehicle routing problem
Authors: Laporte Gilbert
Published: September 2007

In the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the aim is to design a set of m minimum cost vehicle routes through n customer locations, so that each route starts and ends at a common location and some side constraints are satisfied. Common applications arise in newspaper and food delivery, and in milk collection. This article summarizes the main known results for the classical VRP in which only vehicle capacity constraints are present. The article is structured around three main headings: exact algorithms, classical heuristics, and metaheuristics. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007
Robust estimation of the normal to a curve using optimal control
Authors: Fehrenbach J. , Hassine M. , Siala L.
Published: September 2007

We propose an optimal control problem whose optimal command approximates the normal vector field to a given curve. This problem is obtained by studying a partial differential equation satisfied by a map that jumps across the given curve. The gradient of the cost function is then estimated by an adjoint method, and an explicit algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal command. Examples show that this numerical estimation of the normal is robust, in the sense that when the curve is not a simple closed curve, or when it is incomplete (dashed), the solution is still a good approximation of the normal. As applications, we show how the optimal state can help closing discontinuous curves and improve image restoration; it also provides a coloring of simple planar maps. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clozapine‐related agranulocytosis associated with fever of unknown origin, protective hospitalisation, and multiple adverse events related to the administration of empiric antimicrobial treatment
Authors: Manfredi Roberto , Sabbatani Sergio
Published: September 2007

An exemplary case report of a patient who developed an unpredictable sudden, late‐onset clozapine‐related life‐threatening agranulocytosis expressed by a nadir of 14 polymorphonuclear cells/µL, and subsequently underwent protective hospitalisation and broad spectrum, empiric antimicrobial therapy and also experienced serious intolerance to a number of administered antibiotic and antifungal agents, is reported and discussed on the grounds of the available evidence from the literature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How to distinguish healthy from diseased? Classification strategy for mass spectrometry‐based clinical proteomics
Authors: Hendriks Margriet M. W. B. , Smit Suzanne , Akkermans Wies L. M. W. , Reijmers Theo H. , Eilers Paul H. C. , Hoefsloot Huub C. J. , Rubingh Carina M. , de Koster Chris G. , Aerts Johannes M. , Smilde Age K.
Published: September 2007

SELDI‐TOF‐MS is rapidly gaining popularity as a screening tool for clinical applications of proteomics. Application of adequate statistical techniques in all the stages from measurement to information is obligatory. One of the statistical methods often used in proteomics is classification: the assignment of subjects to discrete categories, for example healthy or diseased. Lately, many new classification methods have been developed, often specifically for the analysis of X‐omics data. For proteomics studies a good strategy for evaluating classification results is of prime importance, because usually the number of objects will be small and it would be wasteful to set aside part of these as a ‘mere’ test set. The present paper offers such a strategy in the form of a protocol which can be used for choosing among different statistical classification methods and obtaining figures of merit of their performance. This paper also illustrates the usefulness of proteomics in a clinical setting, serum samples from Gaucher disease patients, when used in combination with an appropriate classification method.
Retraction: Identification of new high mobility group A1 associated proteins
Authors: Pierantoni Giovanna Maria , Esposito Francesco , Giraud Stéphane , Bienvenut Willy Vincent , Diaz Jean Jacques , Fusco Alfredo
Published: September 2007

The above article from Proteomics, published online on 19 September 2007 in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pmic.200700148/pdf) and in Volume 7, No. 20, pp. 3735–3742, has been retracted by agreement between some of the authors (S. Giraud, W. V. Bienvenut, J. J. Diaz), the Editor‐in‐Chief and Wiley‐VCH GmbH & Co. KGaA. The retraction has been agreed due to concerns in relation to Figure 2C. Multiple HMGA1‐pulldown bands in the immunoblot images (upper panel) appear to have been duplicated. In addition, the Coomassie gel bands of Figure 2C (lower panel) appear to have also been duplicated. The authors are unable to provide the original source files that were used to generate these data. While the authors maintain that these findings were confirmed in replicate experiments, the Editorial Board of Proteomics has decided to retract the paper. No issues have been raised with regard to any of the other data in this manuscript. The remaining authors (G. M. Pierantoni, F. Esposito, A. Fusco) have not agreed to the retraction.
8‐Plex quantitation of changes in cerebrospinal fluid protein expression in subjects undergoing intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Choe Leila , D'Ascenzo Mark , Relkin Norman R. , Pappin Darryl , Ross Philip , Williamson Brian , Guertin Steven , Pribil Patrick , Lee Kelvin H.
Published: September 2007

An 8‐plex version of an isobaric reagent for the quantitation of proteins using shotgun methods is presented. The 8‐plex version of the reagent relies on amine‐labeling chemistry of peptides similar to 4‐plex reagents. MS/MS reporter ions at 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, and 121 m/z are used to quantify protein expression. This technology which was first applied to a test mixture consisting of eight proteins and resulted in accurate quantitation, has the potential to increase throughput of analysis for quantitative shotgun proteomics experiments when compared to 2‐ and 4‐plex methods. The technology was subsequently applied to a longitudinal study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins from subjects undergoing intravenous Ig treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Results from this study identify a number of protein expression changes that occur in CSF after 3 and 6 months of treatment compared to a baseline and compared to a drug washout period. A visualization tool was developed for this dataset and is presented. The tool can aid in the identification of key peptides and measurements. One conclusion aided by the visualization tool is that there are differences in considering peptide‐based observations versus protein‐based observations from quantitative shotgun proteomics studies.
Differential analysis of Bacillus anthracis after pX01 plasmid curing and comprehensive data on Bacillus anthracis infection in macrophages and glial cells
Authors: Park Sung‐Ha , Oh Hee‐Bok , Seong Won‐Keun , Kim Chan‐Wha , Cho Sang‐Yun , Yoo Cheon‐Kwon
Published: September 2007

Bacillus anthracis is a gram‐positive bacterial organism responsible for anthrax. This organism has two pathogenic plasmids: pX01 and pX02. The genetic function of pX01, which comprises about 198 kb, is not known, except for a region called the pathogenic island, which contains three genes—pag, lef, and cya—that code for three toxic proteins. A 2‐D difference gel electrophoresis (2‐D DIGE) system was used to verify the existence of proteins controlled by the pX01 plasmid, and protein regulation data were obtained using DeCyder software. A total of 1728 proteins were identified in the wild‐type strain of this organism and 1684 in the pX01 plasmid. Twenty‐seven of these proteins disappeared and eight appeared when the pX01 plasmid was removed. An additional 52 proteins were downregulated and 15 were upregulated when this plasmid was removed. A total of 102 proteins have been identified using the MALDI‐TOF method of analysis, including 49 whose functions are unknown. Among these, 31 participate in metabolic processes, two in cellular processes, 15 in the processing of genetic information, and five in the processing of extracellular information. Another seven proteins participate in bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. We investigated the functions of these proteins in other bacteria, particularly the B. anthracis derivative H9041. Bacterial growth differed between pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and its pX01–/pX02+ derivative as did the cytotoxicity of macrophages infected by pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and the pX01–pX02+ derivative. We also found that S100B protein levels increased in the host infected with pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis or its pX01–/pX02+ derivative. These data suggest that the pX01 plasmid plays a key role in the regulation of protein functions in B. anthracis.
Proteomic analysis of calcium‐dependent secretion in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Kawase Osamu , Nishikawa Yoshifumi , Bannai Hiroshi , Zhang Houshuang , Zhang Guohong , Jin Shigeki , Lee Eung‐Goo , Xuan Xuenan
Published: September 2007

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that invades a wide range of nucleated cells. In the course of intracellular parasitism, the parasite releases a large variety of proteins from three secretory organelles, namely, micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules. Elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in the parasite causes microneme discharge, and microneme secretion is essential for the invasion. In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis of the Ca2+‐dependent secretion to evaluate the protein repertoire. We found that Ca2+‐mobilising agents, such as thapsigargin, NH4Cl, ethanol and a Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, promoted the secretion of the parasite proteins. The proteins, artificially secreted by A23187, were used in a comparative proteomic analysis by 2‐DE followed by PMF analysis and/or N‐terminal sequencing. Major known microneme proteins (MICs), such as MIC2, MIC4, MIC6 and MIC10 and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), were identified, indicating that the proteomic analysis worked accurately. Interestingly, new members of secretory proteins, namely rhoptry protein 9 (ROP9) and Toxoplasma SPATR (TgSPATR), which was a homologue of a Plasmodium secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR), were detected in Ca2+‐dependent secretion. Thus, we succeeded in detecting Ca2+‐dependent secretory proteins in T. gondii, which contained novel secretory proteins.
Pre‐transplant depression as risk factor for survival of patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Grulke Norbert , Larbig Wolfgang , Kächele Horst , Bailer Harald
Published: September 2007

Introduction: Depression is discussed as a possible risk factor for survival in cancer patients. We explored this relationship for patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Patients and methods: The depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) served as a measure for depression. One hundred and thirty‐eight patients (mean age 41 years; different diagnoses) participating in a psycho‐oncology study filled in the HADS after admission for allogeneic HSCT. They were followed‐up for at least two years; 72 patients died during follow‐up.

Results: Depression scores were not correlated with medical and psychosocial objective factors with the exception of having under‐aged children. Controlling for medical factors that showed up as predictors for survival in our sample (patient's age at HSCT, having had a transplant before, risk for treatment failure) the HADS depression score (range 0–21) emerged as an independent predictor (Cox regression): hazard ratio = 1.087, 95% CI = 1.018–1.161.

Conclusion: Depression is probably not a simple indicator of a worse health status. Further research is needed to decide if depression must be considered as an independent risk factor for survival when diagnosed in the pre‐transplant period. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employing the treatment‐free interval of intermittent androgen ablation to screen candidate prostate cancer therapies
Authors: Mao Shifeng , Daliani Danai D. , Wang Xuemei , Thall Peter F. , Do Kim‐Anh , Perez Cherie A. , Brown Melissa A. , Bouchillon Kathleen , Carter Cindy M. , Logothetis Christopher J. , Kim Jeri
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND

Because neither continuous nor intermittent hormonal therapy is curative, we designed a clinical model to screen new drugs for additive or synergistic effects with hormonal therapy and used IM862, a naturally occurring dipeptide with antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties, to test it.

METHODS

Patients with prostate cancer who had rising PSA levels after radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy were given combined androgen ablation for 3 months. After 2 months' treatment, patients were randomly assigned in a double‐blind fashion to receive intranasal IM862 or placebo daily. Treatment continued for 6 months or until disease progression, which was defined by a rising serum PSA level, the appearance of new skeletal or extraskeletal metastatic disease, or new symptoms requiring intervention.

RESULTS

Seventy‐one patients were evaluable for response. Median time to PSA progression was not reached in either group. At 6 months, disease had progressed in 14 (41%) of the 34 patients receiving treatment and 18 (49%) of the 37 receiving placebo (P = 0.39). No significant toxicities emerged.

CONCLUSIONS

The model was demonstrated to be an efficient platform for new drug screening; however, IM862, though well tolerated, failed to demonstrate superiority over placebo in prolonging time to PSA progression. Prostate 67: 1677–1685, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
17α‐estradiol inhibits LAPC‐4 prostatic tumor cell proliferation in cell cultures and tumor growth in xenograft animals
Authors: Qiao Yaming , Zhang Zhi‐Kai , Cai Li‐Qun , Tan Chen , Imperato‐McGinley Julianne L. , Zhu Yuan‐Shan
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND

Blockade of androgen activity is a major effective therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Estrogen analogs have been used for prostate cancer therapy for years presumably by inhibiting testosterone biosyntheses, but with considerable adverse events due to their classic estrogenic activity. With the discovery of the estrogen receptor (ER) β and its presence in prostate tumor cells, evaluation of estrogen analogs with less classic estrogenic activity in prostate cancer therapy is emerging.

METHODS

The effects of 17α‐estradiol (αE2), a stereo‐isomer of 17β‐estradiol (βE2), on dihydrotestosterone (DHT)‐induced cell growth and gene expressions were examined in androgen‐dependent LAPC‐4 prostatic tumor cells and in LAPC‐4 xenograft animals, and compared to those of βE2.

RESULTS

Both αE2 and βE2 attenuated DHT induction of PSA gene expression, cell proliferation, and cell growth in cultured LAPC‐4 cells. The inhibition of cell proliferation was associated with a blockade of DHT‐induced cyclin A and cyclin D1 expression by αE2 and βE2. In LAPC‐4 xenograft mice, αE2 significantly inhibited tumor growth without altering the plasma testosterone level, while βE2 failed to inhibit tumor growth even though it significantly inhibited PSA gene expression.

CONCLUSION

αE2 is an effective agent for inhibition of DHT‐induced PSA, cyclin A, cyclin D1 gene expression, and cell proliferation in LAPC‐4 cells, and tumor growth in LAPC‐4 xenograft mice. Prostate 67: 1719–1728, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 with lower urinary tract symptoms in the third national health and nutrition examination survey
Authors: Rohrmann Sabine , Giovannucci Edward , Smit Ellen , Platz Elizabeth A
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND

Benign growth of the prostate is thought to contribute to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older men. It is, however, unclear which factors induce prostate growth in these men. We examined the association of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 and its major binding protein IGFBP‐3 with LUTS in a representative US study.

METHODS

We included men 60 years and older who participated in the morning session of the Third National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES III) between 1988 and 1994. Men were classified as cases (n = 91) if they reported at least three of four LUTS (nocturia, incomplete emptying, hesitancy, or weak stream) but had not had non‐cancer prostate surgery in the past. Controls were men without symptoms and surgery (n = 220). All results were weighted to account for sampling probability in NHANES III. IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 were measured by ELISA and IRMA, respectively.

RESULTS

After mutual adjustment, men in the highest tertile of serum IGF‐1 concentration had a non‐significantly higher odds of LUTS than men in the lowest tertile (odds ratio (OR) = 3.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–11.4; p‐trend = 0.09]. A high concentration of IGFBP‐3 was inversely related to the odds of LUTS (OR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.08–0.81; p‐trend = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

A high IGFBP‐3 level might affect LUTS by decreasing the bioavailability of IGF‐1 or independent of IGF‐1 by up‐regulating apoptosis, and, thus, limiting its growth promoting effects on the prostate. Prostate 67: 1693–1698, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A coarse‐grained α‐carbon protein model with anisotropic hydrogen‐bonding
Authors: Yap Eng‐Hui , Fawzi Nicolas Lux , Head‐Gordon Teresa
Published: September 2007

We develop a sequence based α‐carbon model to incorporate a mean field estimate of the orientation dependence of the polypeptide chain that gives rise to specific hydrogen bond pairing to stabilize α‐helices and β‐sheets. We illustrate the success of the new protein model in capturing thermodynamic measures and folding mechanism of proteins L and G. Compared to our previous coarse‐grained model, the new model shows greater folding cooperativity and improvements in designability of protein sequences, as well as predicting correct trends for kinetic rates and mechanism for proteins L and G. We believe the model is broadly applicable to other protein folding and protein–protein co‐assembly processes, and does not require experimental input beyond the topology description of the native state. Even without tertiary topology information, it can also serve as a mid‐resolution protein model for more exhaustive conformational search strategies that can bridge back down to atomic descriptions of the polypeptide chain. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A unique and differential effect of denaturants on cofactor mediated activation of Plasmodium falciparum β‐ketoacyl‐ACP reductase
Authors: Karmodiya Krishanpal , Surolia Namita
Published: September 2007

The urea and guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) induced unfolding of FabG, a β‐ketoacyl‐ACP reductase of Plasmodium falciparum, was examined in detail using intrinsic fluorescence of FabG, UV‐circular dichroism (CD), spectrophotometric enzyme activity measurements, glutaraldehyde cross‐linking, and size exclusion chromatography. The equilibrium unfolding of FabG by urea is a multistep process as compared with a two‐state process by GdmCl. FabG is fully unfolded at 6.0M urea and 4.0M GdmCl. Approximately 90% of the enzyme activity could be recovered on dialyzing the denaturants, showing that denaturation by both urea and GdmCl is reversible. We found two states in the reversible unfolding process of FabG in presence of NADPH; one is an activity‐enhanced state and the other, an inactive state in case of equilibrium unfolding with urea. On the contrary, in presence of NADPH, there is no stabilization of FabG in case of equilibrium unfolding with GdmCl. We hypothesize that the hydrogen‐bonding network may be reorganized by the denaturant in the activity‐enhanced state formed in presence of 1.0M urea, by interrupting the association between dimer–dimer interface and help in accommodating the larger substrate in the substrate binding tunnel thus, increasing the activity. Furthermore, binding of the active site organizer, NADPH leads to compaction of the FabG in presence of urea, as evident by acrylamide quenching. We have shown here for the first time, the detailed inactivation kinetics of FabG, which have not been evaluated in the past from any of the FabG family of enzymes from any of the other sources. These findings provide impetus for exploring the influences of ligands on the structure–activity relationship of Plasmodium β‐ketoacyl‐ACP reductase. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular determinants of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase inhibition by hydroquinone‐based compounds
Authors: Lape Michael , Elam Christopher , Versluis Maria , Kempton Robert , Paula Stefan
Published: September 2007

The ion transport activity of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) is specifically and potently inhibited by the small molecule 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone (BHQ). In this study, we investigated the relative importance of the nature and position of BHQ's four substituents for enzyme inhibition by employing a combination of experimental and computational techniques. The inhibitory potencies of 21 commercially available or synthesized BHQ derivatives were determined in ATPase activity assays, and 11 compounds were found to be active. Maximum inhibitory potency was observed in compounds with two para hydroxyl groups, whereas BHQ analogues with only one hydroxyl group were still active, albeit with a reduced potency. The results also demonstrated that two alkyl groups were an absolute requirement for activity, with the most potent compounds having 2,5‐substituents with four or five carbon atoms at each position. Using the program GOLD in conjunction with the ChemScore scoring function, the structures of the BHQ analogues were docked into the crystal structure of SERCA mimicking the enzyme's E2 conformation. Analysis of the docking results indicated that inhibitor binding to SERCA was primarily mediated by a hydrogen bond between a hydroxyl group and Asp‐59 and by hydrophobic interactions involving the bulky inhibitor alkyl groups. Attempts to dock BHQ into crystal structures corresponding to the E1 conformation of the enzyme failed, because the conformational changes accompanying the E2/E1 transition severely restricted the size of the binding site, suggesting that BHQ stabilizes the enzyme in its E2 form. The potential role of Glu309 in enzyme inhibition is discussed in the context of the computational results. The docking scores correlated reasonably well with the measured inhibitory potencies and allowed the distinction between active and inactive compounds, which is a key requirement for future virtual screening of large compound databases for novel SERCA inhibitors. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modelling long‐term effects of IGRs on honey bee colonies
Authors: Thompson Helen M , Wilkins Selwyn , Battersby Alastair H , Waite Ruth J , Wilkinson David
Published: September 2007

Systems have been developed to monitor the direct effects of insect growth regulator (IGR) pesticide exposure on honey bee development, but there has been little work on the longer‐term impact of exposure on the colony. A honey bee population model provided the opportunity to investigate the effects of short‐term mortality of brood and of sublethal changes in behaviour of the surviving adults on honey bee populations. The model showed that brood mortality alone has limited effect on colony size. There were two mechanisms that could have greater influence on productivity. Precocious foraging in affected adult bees, and hence early loss of brood‐rearing (nurse) capabilities, had a much larger effect than expected. Increasing mortality rates by 30% to simulate sublethal effects on lifespan, rather than reduced brood‐rearing capability, gave a significantly smaller effect. In order to simulate an effect with the ‘shortened lifespan’ mechanism as large as that with the ‘premature ageing’ mechanism, the mortality rate of affected adults had to be increased by 500%. A significant finding from the model is that application of IGRs in spring and early summer could have substantial effects on colony size and viability. Sublethal effects such as precocious foraging can have worse effects than massive brood mortality, as it severely reduces the ability to rear the next generation of nurse bees. © Crown copyright 2007. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of annealing on the properties and structure of electrodeposited semiconducting Cu–O thin films
Authors: Wijesundera R. P. , Hidaka M. , Koga K. , Sakai M. , Siripala W. , Choi Jae‐Young , Sung Nark Eon
Published: September 2007

The structures and the electronic states in electrodeposited semiconductor Cu–O thin films have been investigated for each annealing temperature (TA) by X‐ray diffraction (XD) and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) near the Cu K edge using synchrotron radiation. The thin films prepared as grown and annealed at TA ≤ 175 °C, 200 °C ≤ TA ≤ 300 °C, TA = 400 °C are characterized mainly by the pure Cu2O‐type structure, the pseudo‐Cu2O‐type having a superlattice structure, and two phases of Cu2O‐type and CuO‐type structures, respectively, while the film annealed at TA = 500 °C is single‐phase CuO‐type. The XAS spectra suggest that there is a structural phase transition occurring at about 400 °C, which induces a modulation of the local structure around Cu ions observed in the extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and the occupational electronic band states of Cu‐4p localized just above the Fermi level, taken from X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). The open‐circuit voltage suggests that the photosensitivity of the Cu–O thin films strongly depends on the annealing treatment and shows a crossover from an n‐type to a p‐type semiconductor. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Nuclear fusion rate for ddμ muonic molecule
Authors: Gheisari R. , Avazpour A.
Published: September 2007

A variational approach using a new wave function to ddμ muonic molecular ion is proposed. This approach requires four terms in the total three‐body wave function. The formation and fusion take place by the reason of the existence of the both Coulomb potential and nuclear absorption. The nuclear fusion rates and eigenvalues related to such levels below dμ(1s) + d threshold are calculated with a good accuracy and a short computation time. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Stable 2H isotope analysis of modern‐day human hair and nails can aid forensic human identification
Authors: Fraser Isla , Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram
Published: September 2007

Continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF‐IRMS) was used to compare 2H isotopic composition at natural abundance level of human scalp hair and fingernail samples collected from subjects worldwide with interpolated δ2H precipitation values at corresponding locations. The results showed a strong correlation between δ2H values of meteoric water and hair (r2 = 0.86), while the corresponding correlation for nails was not as strong (r2 = 0.6). Offsets of −180‰ and −127‰ were observed when calculating solutions of the linear regression analyses for δ2H vs. δ18O correlation plots of hair and nail samples, respectively. Compared with the +10‰ offset of the global meteoric water line equation these findings suggested that δ18O data from hair and nail would be of limited diagnostic value. The results of this pilot study provide for the first time tentative correlations of 2H isotopic composition of human hair and nails with local water. Linear regression analyses for measured δ2H values of human hair and nails vs. water yielded δ2H(hair) = 0.49 × δ2H(water) − 35 and δ2H(nails) = 0.38 × δ2H(water) − 49, respectively. The results suggest that 2H isotopic analysis of hair and nail samples can be used to provide information regarding an individual's recent geographical life history and, hence, location. The benefit of this technique is to aid identification of victims of violent crime and mass disasters in circumstances where traditional methods such as DNA and fingerprinting cannot be brought to bear (or at least not immediately). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GasBench/isotope ratio mass spectrometry: a carbon isotope approach to detect exogenous CO2 in sparkling drinks
Authors: Cabañero Ana I. , San‐Hipólito Tamar , Rupérez Mercedes
Published: September 2007

A new procedure for the determination of carbon dioxide (CO2) 13C/12C isotope ratios, using direct injection into a GasBench/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GasBench/IRMS) system, has been developed to improve isotopic methods devoted to the study of the authenticity of sparkling drinks. Thirty‐nine commercial sparkling drink samples from various origins were analyzed. Values of δ13Ccava ranged from −20.30‰ to −23.63‰, when C3 sugar addition was performed for a second alcoholic fermentation. Values of δ13Cwater ranged from −5.59‰ to −6.87‰ in the case of naturally carbonated water or water fortified with gas from the spring, and δ13Cwater ranged from −29.36‰ to −42.09‰ when industrial CO2 was added. It has been demonstrated that the addition of C4 sugar to semi‐sparkling wine (aguja) and industrial CO2 addition to sparkling wine (cava) or water can be detected. The new procedure has advantages over existing methods in terms of analysis time and sample treatment. In addition, it is the first isotopic method developed that allows 13C/12C determination directly from a liquid sample without previous CO2 extraction. No significant isotopic fractionation was observed nor any influence by secondary compounds present in the liquid phase. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.