bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locomotor control by the central complex in Drosophila—An analysis of the tay bridge mutant
Authors: Poeck Burkhard , Triphan Tilman , Neuser Kirsa , Strauss Roland
Published: April 2008

Several aspects of locomotor control have been ascribed to the central complex of the insect brain; however, the role of distinct substructures of this complex is not well known. The tay bridge1 (tay1) mutant of Drosophila melanogaster was originally isolated on the basis of reduced walking speed and activity. In addition, tay1 is defective in the compensation of rotatory stimuli during walking and histologically, tay1 causes a mid‐sagittal constriction of the protocerebral bridge, a constituent of the central complex. Cloning of the tay gene revealed that it encodes a novel protein with no significant homology to any known protein. To associate the behavioral phenotypes with the anatomical defect in the protocerebral bridge, we used different driver lines to express the tay cDNA in various neuronal subpopulations of the central brain in tay1‐mutant flies. These experiments showed an association of the aberrant walking speed and activity with the structural defect in the protocerebral bridge. In contrast, the compensation of rotatory stimuli during walking was rescued without a restoration of the protocerebral bridge. The results of our differential rescue approach are supported by neuronal silencing experiments using conditional tetanus toxin expression in the same subset of neurons. These findings show for the first time that the walking speed and activity is controlled by different substructures of the central brain than the compensatory locomotion for rotatory stimuli. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008.
Targeting TARP, a novel breast and prostate tumor‐associated antigen, with T cell receptor‐like human recombinant antibodies
Authors: Epel Malka , Carmi Irit , Soueid‐Baumgarten Sharon , Oh SangKon , Bera Tapan , Pastan Ira , Berzofsky Jay , Reiter Yoram
Published: April 2008

MHC class I molecules are important components of immune surveillance. There are no available methods to directly visualize and determine the quantity and distribution of MHC/peptide complexes on individual cells or to detect such complexes on antigen‐presenting cells in tissues. MHC‐restricted recombinant antibodies with the same specificity of T cell receptors (TCR) may become a valuable tool to address these questions. They may also serve as valuable targeting molecules that mimic the specificity of cytotoxic T cells. We isolated by phage display a panel of human recombinant Fab antibodies with peptide‐specific, MHC‐restricted TCR‐like reactivity directed toward HLA‐A2‐restricted T cell epitopes derived from a novel antigen termed TCRγ alternative reading frame protein (TARP) which is expressed on prostate and breast cancer cells. We have characterized one of these recombinant antibodies and demonstrated its capacity to directly detect specific HLA‐A2/TARP T cell epitopes on antigen‐presenting cells that have complexes formed by naturally occurring active intracellular processing of the antigen, as well as on the surface of tumor cells. Moreover, by genetic fusion we armed the TCR‐like antibody with a potent toxin and demonstrated that it can serve as a targeting moiety killing tumor cells in a peptide‐specific, MHC‐restricted manner similar to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Acrolein Diethyl Acetal: A Three‐Carbon Homologating Reagent for the Synthesis of β‐Arylpropanoates and Cinnamaldehydes by Heck Reaction Catalyzed by a Kaiser Oxime Resin Derived Palladacycle
Authors: Alacid Emilio , Nájera Carmen
Published: April 2008

A polymer palladacycle derived from Kaiser oxime resin was used as a source of palladium(0) in the chemoselective Heck reaction of acrolein diethyl acetal with aryl halides under ligand‐free conditions. The use of typical Heck conditions afforded 3‐arylpropionic esters, and the process can be directed to the synthesis of cinnamaldehydes under Cacchi conditions. These processes take place with rather low loading of the catalyst, which can be recovered by simple filtration and reused for at least five runs without competitive dehalogenation. This is the first time that a supported palladium complex has been reused under Cacchi conditions. ICP‐OES analyses of the Pd content of the crude products in both transformations indicated lower leaching for the esters than for the aldehydes in the range up to 0.08 ppm for the esters and 0.8 ppm for the aldehydes.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Tripodal Cadmium Complex and Macrocyclic Ligand Based Sensors for Phosphate Ion Determination in Environmental Samples
Authors: Kumar Ashok , Mehtab Sameena , Singh Udai P. , Aggarwal Vaibhave , Singh Jitendra
Published: May 2008

Tripodal cadmium complex of hydrotris(3‐phenyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl)borate (I1) and macrocyclic ligand 5,7 : 12,14 : 19,21 : 26,28‐Bzo4‐[28]‐5,13,19,27‐tetraene‐8,11,22,25‐N4–1,4,15,18‐O4 (I2), have been synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, Mass and elemental analysis. Spectroscopic investigations indicate high affinity of these receptors for dihydrogen phosphate ion. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based membranes of (I1) and (I2) using hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) as cation discriminator and dibutylpthalate (DBP), tributyl phosphate (TBP), dioctylsebacate (DOS), and o‐nitrophenyloctyl ether (o‐NPOE), as plasticizing solvent mediators were prepared and investigated as H2PO$\rm{ {_{4}^{-}}}$ selective sensors. The best performance was shown by the membrane of composition (w/w) (I2) (5%):PVC (31%) : DBP (61.5%):HTAB (2.5%). This sensor works well over a wide concentration range 2.1×10−7 to 1.0×10−2 M with Nernstian compliance (59.0 mV decade−1 of activity) with a fast response time of 14 s and showed good selectivity for dihydrogen phosphate ion over a number of anions. The sensor exhibits good reproducibility (SD±0.3 mV) and could be used successfully for the determination of phosphate in soil water samples.
Comprehensive proteome analysis of mouse liver by ampholyte‐free liquid‐phase isoelectric focusing
Authors: Zhong Hua , Yun Dong , Zhang Chen , Yang Pengyuan , Fan Huizhi , He Fuchu
Published: April 2008

In this study, ampholyte‐free liquid‐phase IEF (LIEF) was combined with narrow pH range 2‐DE and SDS‐PAGE RP‐HPLC for comprehensive analysis of mouse liver proteome. Because LIEF prefractionation was able to reduce the complexity of the sample and enhance the loading capacity of IEF strips, the number of visible protein spots on subsequent 2‐DE gels was significantly increased. A total of 6271 protein spots were detected after integrating five narrow pH range 2‐DE gels following LIEF prefractionation into a single virtual 2‐DE gel. Furthermore, the pH 3–5 LIEF fraction and the unfractionated sample were separated by pH 3–6 2‐DE and identified by MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS, respectively. In parallel, the pH 3–5 LIEF fraction was also analyzed by SDS‐PAGE RP‐HPLC MS/MS. LIEF‐2‐DE and LIEF‐HPLC could obviously improve the separation efficiency and the confidence of protein identification, which identified a higher number of low‐abundance proteins and proteins with extreme physicochemical characteristics or post‐translational modifications compared to conventional 2‐DE method. Furthermore, there were 207 proteins newly identified in mouse liver in comparison with previously reported large‐scale datasets. It was observed that the combination of LIEF‐2‐DE and LIEF‐HPLC was effective in promoting MS‐based liver proteome profiling and could be applied on similar complex tissue samples.
Performance evaluation of submerged membrane bioreactor pilot units for refinery wastewater treatment
Authors: Torres Ana Paula R. , Santiago Vânia M.J. , Borges Cristiano P.
Published: May 2008

A comparative study was conducted by using membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot units at a Brazilian petroleum refinery (Betim/MG) in order to make possible the implement of this technology at PETROBRAS. This study is part of the water and wastewater reuse project conducted by Petrobras Research & Development Center (CENPES). All pilot units evaluated have the submerged membrane configuration with microfiltration polymeric membranes. One of them operates with flat sheet membranes, while the other uses hollow fiber membranes. The units have hydraulic capacity of 0.5–2.0 m3/h, and 60–70 m2 of installed membrane area, permitting to operate with a permeate flux of 7–30 L/m2 h. The pilot units evaluation was carried out by monitoring the main biological and membrane process parameters. Results obtained from the study showed that all the MBR systems consistently produced effluent with turbidity <1 NTU, BOD5 <5 mg/L, and NH3N < 3 mg/L, corresponding to 98, 97, and 96% removal, respectively. These results allow considering the MBR as an appropriate technology for pretreatment of a membrane water desalination unit for steam production or generation of high quality water for industrial reuse as cooling tower make up. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2008.
Microbial‐sponge and microbial‐metazoan buildups in the Late Viséan basin‐fill sequence of the Jerada Massif (Carboniferous, NE Morocco)
Authors: Aretz Markus , Herbig Hans‐Georg
Published: April 2008

Three distinctive Late Viséan buildup intervals are differentiated on the southern limb of the Jerada Synclinorium. The oldest buildups (BI‐1) are preserved as olistoliths in the Oued El Koriche Formation (Fm). They were located on a southern platform prior to reworking. The younger Koudiat Es‐Senn Fm contains two autochthonous buildup intervals (BI‐2 to BI‐3). BI‐1 and BI‐2 buildups are large microbial‐sponge buildups, BI‐3 are small microbial‐metazoan buildups in the capping bed succession above BI‐2. All buildups are characterized by a rigid non‐skeletal microbial framework. Growth of the largest BI‐2 buildups started in aphotic to dysphotic conditions in a water depth significantly less than 100 m and continued into agitated shallow‐water. Smaller BI‐2 buildups and all BI‐3 buildups are encased in grainy shallow‐water carbonates. In contrast to a mostly homogeneous microbial‐sponge facies below, the uppermost part of the BI‐2 buildups and all BI‐3 buildups consist of heterogeneous boundstones with differing frame builders. BI‐1 to BI‐3 buildups represent different stages within a Viséan basin‐fill sequence. Carbonate sedimentation ended with the deposition of peritidal oncolitic floatstones below the unconformably overlying Namurian shales. The Jerada buildups have many features commonly associated with ‘reefs’. Comparison with contemporaneous buildups shows considerable similarities to buildups from Algeria, the Eastern Moroccan Anti‐Atlas and the British Isles. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Suicidal thoughts among elderly Taiwanese aboriginal women
Authors: Chen Cheng‐Sheng , Yang Mei‐Sang , Yang Ming‐Jen , Chang Shun‐Jen , Chueh Ke‐Hsin , Su Yi‐Ching , Yu Ching‐Yun , Cheng Tai‐Chun
Published: April 2008

Objectives

The aims of this study were to investigate prevalence of suicidal thoughts among a population of elderly aboriginal women in Taiwan over a 1‐month period and to examine the risk factors for suicidal thinking in terms of individual (self‐perceived health, disability and financial difficulty), family (marital discord) and social (medical accessibility) aspects. The mediating effects of depression on the above risk factors were also investigated. Furthermore, we examined the buffer effect on suicidal ideation of emotional social support for dealing with marital discord.

Methods

One thousand three hundred and forty‐seven elderly Taiwanese aboriginal women were enrolled. Suicide thoughts within the past month, demographic data, adverse life events, emotional social support and depressive state were assessed. The 1‐month prevalence of suicide thoughts was calculated. The risks of suicide thought based on individual, family and community aspects were estimated.

Results

The 1‐month prevalence of suicidal thoughts among the community‐dwelling aboriginal elderly women was 17.8%. Those subjects with poorer self‐perceived health, difficulty in accessing medical resources, or experiencing marital discord were at higher risk of having suicidal thoughts. After controlling for depression, the odds ratio of self‐perceived health and marital discord remained statistically significant. The odds ratio of interaction of marital discord and emotional social support was 0.41.

Conclusion

Suicidal thoughts are common among the community‐dwelling aboriginal elderly women in Taiwan. Risk factors for suicidal thoughts comprise individual (depression and physical condition), family (marital discord) and community (medical resources) aspects. Better emotional social support can effectively buffer the effect of marital discord. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Avalanche dynamics of human brain oscillations: Relation to critical branching processes and temporal correlations
Authors: Poil Simon‐Shlomo , van Ooyen Arjen , Linkenkaer‐Hansen Klaus
Published: May 2008

Human brain oscillations fluctuate erratically in amplitude during rest and exhibit power‐law decay of temporal correlations. It has been suggested that this dynamics reflects self‐organized activity near a critical state. In this framework, oscillation bursts may be interpreted as neuronal avalanches propagating in a network with a critical branching ratio. However, a direct comparison of the temporal structure of ongoing oscillations with that of activity propagation in a model network with critical connectivity has never been made. Here, we simulate branching processes and characterize the activity propagation in terms of avalanche life‐time distributions and temporal correlations. An equivalent analysis is introduced for characterizing ongoing oscillations in the alpha‐frequency band recorded with magnetoencephalography (MEG) during rest. We found that models with a branching ratio near the critical value of one exhibited power‐law scaling in life‐time distributions with similar scaling exponents as observed in the MEG data. The models reproduced qualitatively the power‐law decay of temporal correlations in the human data; however, the correlations in the model appeared on time scales only up to the longest avalanche, whereas human data indicate persistence of correlations on time scales corresponding to several burst events. Our results support the idea that neuronal networks generating ongoing alpha oscillations during rest operate near a critical state, but also suggest that factors not included in the simple classical branching process are needed to account for the complex temporal structure of ongoing oscillations during rest on time scales longer than the duration of individual oscillation bursts. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hippocampal atrophy is the critical brain change in patients with hypoxic amnesia
Authors: Di Paola M. , Caltagirone C. , Fadda L. , Sabatini U. , Serra L. , Carlesimo G.A.
Published: April 2008

Anoxia is considered a good model for studying amnesia. However, not all individuals who experience anoxic events develop memory problems. Moreover, the question still remains about whether, after anoxia, damage is limited to the hippocampus in patients with amnesia and without other significant cognitive deficits. Here we investigated brain damage in a selected sample of adults affected exclusively by an amnesic syndrome after an anoxic episode. The cerebral MR images of these patients were submitted to visual inspection, volumetric measurements of the mesial temporal structures following manual segmentation, and to Voxel‐Based Morphometry of the whole brain. We studied five anoxic patients and thirty‐three well‐matched healthy subjects. Our aim was to: (a) quantify regional atrophic changes associated with chronic anoxic damage compared to control subjects (Group Comparison Analysis); (b) identify regions of common abnormality across all patients (Conjunction Analysis in the VBM); (c) investigate whether measures of regional volume reduction correlated with neuropsychological memory scores; (d) compare the results obtained with visual inspection and ROI analyses with those obtained with VBM. We found that anoxic patients presented a significant reduction of gray matter volume in the hippocampus bilaterally compared to healthy subjects. The only common atrophic region across all patients was the hippocampus bilaterally. Correlation analysis showed only a trend between the Prose immediate free recall test and the left hippocampus. Our findings confirm that the hippocampus is very sensitive to damage stemming from anoxia. Patients with hypoxic amnesia may present damage in other brain regions, but only hippocampal atrophy is common in all of them. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Palmitate increases superoxide production through mitochondrial electron transport chain and NADPH oxidase activity in skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Lambertucci Rafael Herling , Hirabara Sandro Massao , Silveira Leonardo dos Reis , Levada‐Pires Adriana Cristina , Curi Rui , Pithon‐Curi Tania Cristina
Published: April 2008

The effect of unbound palmitic acid (PA) at plasma physiological concentration range on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by cultured rat skeletal muscle cells was investigated. The participation of the main sites of ROS production was also examined. Production of ROS was evaluated by cytochrome c reduction and dihydroethidium oxidation assays. PA increased ROS production after 1 h incubation. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor did not change PA‐induced ROS production. However, the treatment with a mitochondrial uncoupler and mitochondrial complex III inhibitor decreased superoxide production induced by PA. The importance of mitochondria was also evaluated in 1 h incubated rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. Soleus muscle, which has a greater number of mitochondria than EDL, showed a higher superoxide production induced by PA. These results indicate that mitochondrial electron transport chain is an important contributor for superoxide formation induced by PA in skeletal muscle. Results obtained with etomoxir and bromopalmitate treatment indicate that PA has to be oxidized to raise ROS production. A partial inhibition of superoxide formation induced by PA was observed by treatment with diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. The participation of this enzyme complex was confirmed through an increase of p47phox phosphorylation after treatment with PA. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 796–804, 2008, © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Elevated fibroblast growth factor‐2 increases tumor necrosis factor‐α induced endothelial cell death in high glucose
Authors: Clyne Alisa Morss , Zhu Han , Edelman Elazer R.
Published: April 2008

Glucose and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) concentrations are elevated in diabetes. Both of these factors correlate with diabetic vasculopathy and endothelial cell apoptosis, yet their combined effects have not been measured. We have previously shown that the angiogenic growth factor fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2), which is generally protective against endothelial cell death, is similarly elevated in high glucose conditions. We therefore investigated the effect of TNFα on endothelial cell death under normal and elevated glucose conditions, with a particular focus on FGF‐2. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were cultured in 5 and 30 mM glucose and stimulated with TNFα, together with FGF‐2 or a neutralizing FGF‐2 antibody. Cell death was measured via cell counts or an annexin apoptotic assay, and cell cycle phase was determined by propidium iodide labeling. TNFα‐induced endothelial cell death increased for cells in high glucose, and cell death was enhanced with increasing FGF‐2 exposure and negated by a neutralizing FGF‐2 antibody. Endothelial cells were most susceptible to TNFα‐induced cell death when stimulated with FGF‐2 18 h prior to TNFα, corresponding to cell entry into S phase of the proliferative cycle. The FGF‐2 associated increase in TNFα‐induced cell death was negated by blocking cell entry into S phase. Endothelial cell release of FGF‐2 in high glucose leads to cell cycle progression, which makes cells more susceptible to TNFα‐induced cell death. These data suggest that growth factor outcomes in high glucose depend on secondary mediators such as cytokines and stimulation cell cycle timing. J. Cell. Physiol. 217: 86–92, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three‐dimensional sonography of the placental and uterine spiral vasculature: Influence of maternal age and parity
Authors: Zalud Ivica , Shaha Steven
Published: May 2008

Purpose.

To test the influence of maternal age and parity on placental volume and uterine spiral vasculature volume, their mean gray value, and 3‐dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) indices in normal pregnancy.

Methods.

Women with a gestational age of 14–25 weeks were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included posterior placenta, structural or chromosomal anomaly, pregnancy complications, and unknown pregnancy outcome. 3D sonograms of the placenta and uterine spiral vasculature were obtained. Virtual Organ Computer‐aided AnaLysis imaging software was used to calculate the volumes, mean gray value, and 3DPD indices.

Results.

The study included 199 women, the majority of whom were Filipino, Japanese, or part Hawaiian. The placental volume, uterine spiral vasculature volume, mean gray value, and 3DPD indices were similar in all women regardless of maternal age. However, uterine spiral vasculature volume was significantly larger in women younger than 25 years, compared with women 35 years of age and older. Parity influenced all placental 3DPD indices, whereas placental volume, uterine spiral vasculature volume, mean gray value, and 3DPD indices remained unaffected.

Conclusion.

Maternal age influenced uterine spiral vasculature volume, whereas parity influenced all placental 3DPD indices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008
On self‐immersions of infinite graphs
Authors: Andreae Thomas
Published: May 2008

The existence of an infinite graph which is not isomorphic to a proper minor of itself was proved by Oporowski. In the present note, it is shown that an analogous result holds when immersions are considered instead of minors. The question whether or not the same is true for weak immersions remains open. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58: 275–285, 2008
Estimating the net effects of migration and remittances on poverty and inequality: comparison of Fiji and Tonga
Authors: Brown Richard P.C. , Jimenez Eliana
Published: April 2008

We use original 2005 household survey data from Fiji and Tonga to estimate the impact of migration and remittances on income distribution and measures of poverty. Measures of inequality and poverty based on observed, with‐migration income and remittances are then compared with those based on two without‐migration and remittances scenarios; one in which remittances are treated simplistically as an exogenous addition to household income, and another in which counterfactual household incomes are estimated, taking account of what the migrant members would have earned had they not migrated. The estimated effects of remittances on poverty alleviation were found to be stronger when the more rigorous, counterfactual income estimates are used, but their effect on income inequality was found to be ambiguous. The extent to which migration and remittances alleviate poverty was also found to be more substantial in Tonga, the country with a much longer migration history and higher remittance dependence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction to the special issue: to prosper, organizational psychology should…
Authors: Greenberg Jerald
Published: April 2008

This special issue showcases papers by four sets of authors who share opinions about specific things that should be done for the field of organizational psychology to prosper. To begin, Lefkowitz argues that practitioners should embrace a more humanistic set of values. Second, Cascio suggests that the field's success requires integrating the contributions of scientists and practitioners. Third, Edwards identifies 10 key methodological limitations that must be overcome in organizational psychology research. Finally, Gelfand and her associates opine that to prosper, the field's theories and research must embrace a more global perspective. Concluding, Porter comments on what these papers suggest about the present status of the field and offers opinions on where the field appears to be—and should be—going. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
To prosper, organizational psychology should… bridge application and scholarship
Authors: Cascio Wayne F.
Published: April 2008

Academics and practitioners differ on so many dimensions that researchers have described them as living in different “thought worlds.” That gap persists, and there are important explanations for it, but a confluence of economic and organizational forces is driving academics and practitioners toward each other. To date, much of the effort by academics to reach out to practitioners has focused on the diffusion of scientific knowledge, not its creation. This paper explores several promising strategies for improving both the bidirectional diffusion of knowledge as well as its creation. It argues that for genuine change to occur, it is necessary to modify academic reward systems and to promote much closer collaboration between academics and practitioners. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organizational psychology: a look backward, outward, and forward
Authors: Porter Lyman W.
Published: April 2008

This paper provides a commentary on selected issues and topics in the four papers included in this special issue of the journal (those by Lefkowitz, Cascio, Edwards, and Gelfand et al.). To put the contents of the four papers in context, the past development of the field of organizational psychology is first briefly reviewed, followed by a discussion of its relationship to adjacent “cousin” fields. Comments are then presented on each of the four papers. The paper concludes with an examination of several questions: Has the field of organizational psychology made progress over the past 50+ years? Has the field been sufficiently introspective about itself and its scholarly efforts and values? How does the field of organizational psychology compare—in terms of the issues raised in the four papers—to other fields? And, finally, what will be being said about the field of organizational psychology 20 years from now? Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of pepsin phosphorylation using immobilized metal affinity chromatography
Authors: Novotna Lenka , Hruby Martin , Benes Milan J. , Kucerova Zdenka
Published: April 2008

The interactions of pepsin with immobilized trivalent metal ions and the participation of the enzyme phosphate group in this process were investigated using high performance immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Two different sorbents were used: the newly prepared one, consisting of Ga3+ chelate of (6‐amino‐1‐hydroxyhexane‐1,1‐diyl) bis(phosphonic acid) covalently bound to a methacrylate support (BP‐Ga3+), and the commercial one, containing immobilized Fe3+ ions (POROS MC20‐Fe3+). The comparison of the behavior of porcine pepsin A and its partially dephosphorylated form on both sorbents showed that both forms of pepsin were adsorbed under the same conditions. To eliminate the participation of free carboxyl groups in pepsin adsorption, both enzyme forms were modified by amidation or esterification. Native enzyme and its partially dephosphorylated form both with modified carboxyl groups differed in their interaction with immobilized Ga3+ and Fe3+. Phosphorylated pepsin molecules with esterified carboxyl groups were adsorbed on both sorbents while nonphosphorylated ones with esterified carboxyl groups were not adsorbed.
Macromol. Chem. Phys. 9/2008
Authors: Njikang Gabriel N. , Cao Lan , Gauthier Mario
Published: April 2008

Cover: The self‐assembly of dendritic (arborescent) amphiphilic graft copolymers is investigated at the air‐water interface. Depending on the structure (branching functionality) and the composition of the molecules, large clusters, ribbon‐like superstructures, or isolated molecules are observed, as indicated in the schemes next to the AFM images. Further details can be found in the article by G. N. Njikang, L. Cao, and M. Gauthier* on page 907.
Using ancient DNA analysis in palaeopathology: a critical analysis of published papers, with recommendations for future work
Authors: Roberts C. , Ingham S.
Published: May 2008

Despite an observable increase in the number of studies using ancient DNA analysis to diagnose disease in human remains, there remain issues to be addressed about the quality of the resulting publications. This paper describes the qualitative analysis of published papers that describe the detection of pathogenic DNA in human skeletal and mummified remains from archaeological sites. Its ultimate goal is to provide an overview of the main problematic issues in relationship to standards developed in molecular biology and to make recommendations for future work. Sixty‐five papers published between 1993 and 2006 were surveyed and the quality of each was assessed using 15 criteria. Interesting results emerged. Of particular note was the high number of papers that did not acknowledge the use of even basic contamination control (90%) or procedures to validate results independently (85%). This study illustrates that attention to contamination control and authentication of results is needed in future research, if confidence in aDNA analysis in palaeopathology is to be increased. Additionally, methods of analysis must be described in published papers to ensure transparency in processes utilised to generate the data. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and research for applying innovative magnetic soft mold imprinting techniques in microstructure component manufacturing
Authors: Weng Y.‐J. , Weng Y.‐C. , Yang S.‐Y.
Published: May 2008

The present study employs an innovative technique, which uses PDMS soft mold, blended with magnetic powder as the transmission and imprinting methods, and integrates features from soft micromolding PMMA, an electro‐magnetically controlled, well‐proportioned, pressing technique in order to study how to create microlens arrays through a magnetic soft mold imprinting resist technique. Thus, it renders nanometer imprinting applications, and its technology, more developed and mature. The research findings revealed that, PDMS, blended with magnetic powder, can accurately recast and duplicate nanometer microstructures. Under well‐proportioned magnetic pressing, controlled by an electro‐magnetic disk, it can effectively fill and shape resist microstructures. The composite material of PDMS, with added magnetic iron powder, can effectively improve mechanical strength properties of pure PDMS soft mold, which is easily transformed for imprinting. Meanwhile, owing to the unique features of PDMS soft mold, conformal contact with the base material is possible; therefore, the effective imprinting area and the duplicated representation are significantly improved. In addition, as magnetic PDMS soft mold is easily produced and fast in recasting, the costs can be effectively reduced. In addition, due to features such as low surface free energy and a tendency not to stick to resist in imprinting, the soft mold is evenly controlled by the electro‐magnetic disk for imprinting duplication, highlighting the advantages of microstructure imprinting procedures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereoisomeric effect on in vitro drug release from injectable poly(lactic acid co castor oil) polyesters
Authors: Sokolsky‐Papkov Marina , Domb Abraham J.
Published: May 2008

A systematic study on the influence of lactic acid (LA) conformation on polyester properties, degradation, and drug release profiles is reported. Copolyesters based on L‐ or DL‐LA and castor oil (CO) (triglyceride of ricinoleic acid (RA)) were synthesized by melt condensation. Two feed ratios of LA to CO were used. Copolymers with feed ratio of 60:40 and 50:50 LA to CO were synthesized. P(LA/CO)s 60:40 and 50:50 had weight average molecular weights (Mw) of 4700 and 3700, respectively. All polymers are viscous liquids at room temperature. Copolymer composition and LA conformation had direct effect on polymer properties, degradation rate, and drug release profile. Increase in CO content (hydrophobisity) decreased the degradation and release rates of the polymers. Effect of sample size was also different for all polymers. Choosing polymer composition and LA conformation it is possible to choose desired release profile for the tested drug. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous determination of eight bioactive alkaloids in Corydalis saxicola by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection
Authors: Cheng Xuanxuan , Wang Dongmei , Jiang Lin , Yang Depo
Published: April 2008

Corydalis saxicola Bunting (Papaveraceae), a traditional folk medicine, has been used to treat hepatic diseases for a long time. Owing to its signicant clinical effectiveness against hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatoma, C. saxicola and its preparation are widely applied. In this study, eight alkaloids, namely isocorydine, scoulerine, dehydrocheilanthifoline, dehydrodiscretamine, dehydroisoapocavidine, dehydrocavidine, palmatine and berberine, which have been previously proven to possess potential antitumour activity, were selected as the chemical markers of C. saxicola. To evaluate the quality of C. saxicola, a simple, accurate and reliable HPLC‐DAD method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the above eight compounds. Separation was achieved on a GeminiTM C18 column (5 µm, 250 × 4.6 mm i.d., Phenomenex Inc., CA, USA) with a gradient solvent system of 20 mm aqueous ammonium acetate–acetonitrile, at a flow‐rate of 1.0 mL/min and detected at 270 and 280nm. All eight calibration curves showed good linearity (R2 > 0.9992). The method was reproducible with intra‐ and inter‐day variations of less than 5%. The recovery was in the range of 96.09–102.80%. This assay was successfully utilised to quantify the eight alkaloids in C. saxicola from different locations. The results demonstrated that this method is simple, reliable and suitable for the quality control of this medicinal herb. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fingerprint of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. by HPLC‐MS
Authors: Yang Ting , Yang Yi‐Hua , Yang Ju‐Yun , Chen Ben‐Mei , Duan Ju‐Ping , Yu Shu‐Yi , Ouyang Hong‐Tao , Cheng Jun‐Ping , Chen Yu‐Xiang
Published: April 2008

A HPLC‐MS fingerprint method has been developed based on the consistent chromatographic features of the major chemical constituents among 10 batches of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. Chromatographic separation was conducted on a Hypersil‐Keystone Hypurity C18 column using methanol:water:acetic acid as the mobile phase. Major compounds, including oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and ferulic acid, were analysed by HPLC‐MS. Their analysis was ascertained by comparison with data derived from the standard compounds. The HPLC‐MS fingerprint was successfully applied to analyse and differentiate samples from different geographical origins, or processing methods. H. diffusa was well distinguished from Hedyotis chrysotricha by HPLC‐MS. Therefore the establishment of fingerprint of H. diffusa is critical in assessing and controlling its overall quality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Warum Sandburgen bauen einfach ist
Authors: Herminghaus Stephan
Published: April 2008

Trockene Granulate wie Wüstensand haben mit Flüssigkeiten vieles gemein. So rinnt der Sand im Stundenglas mühelos durch die dünne Engstelle. Sobald man aber eine gewöhnliche Flüssigkeit wie Wasser in das Granulat hineinmischt, nimmt dieses eine steife Konsistenz an – stabil genug, um als Baumaterial für Sandburgen zu dienen. Erstaunlicherweise ist die Steifigkeit des feuchten Granulats weitgehend unabhängig vom Wassergehalt. Den Grund hierfür fand jetzt ein internationales Forscherteam um Stephan Herminghaus vom Max‐Planck‐Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation in Göttingen heraus.
Die Welt im Tröpfchen
Authors: Schlichting H.‐Joachim
Published: April 2008

Auch feucht‐regnerische Tage können Ihren Reiz haben. Zum Beispiel dann, wenn sie auf Fensterscheiben Wassertropfen entstehen lassen, die die Umwelt abbilden – was man freilich erst bei genauem Hinsehen entdeckt.
Zinc adaptation and resistance to cadmium toxicity in mammalian cells: Molecular insight by proteomic analysis
Authors: Rousselet Estelle , Martelli Alain , Chevallet Mireille , Diemer Hélène , Van Dorsselaer Alain , Rabilloud Thierry , Moulis Jean‐Marc
Published: May 2008

To identify proteins involved in cellular adaptive responses to zinc, a comparative proteome analysis between a previously developed high zinc‐ and cadmium‐resistant human epithelial cell line (high zinc‐resistant HeLa cells, HZR) and the parental HeLa cells has been carried out. Differentially produced proteins included cochaperones, proteins associated with oxido‐reductase activities, and ubiquitin. Biochemical pathways to which these proteins belong were probed for their involvement in the resistance of both cell lines against cadmium toxicity. Among ER stressors, thapsigargin sensitized HZR cells, but not HeLa cells, to cadmium toxicity more acutely than tunicamycin, implying that these cells heavily relied on proper intracellular calcium distribution. The similar sensitivity of both HeLa and HZR cells to inhibitors of the proteasome, such as MG‐132 or lactacystin, excluded improved proteasome activity as a mechanism associated with zinc adaptation of HZR cells. The enzyme 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) was overproduced in HZR cells as compared to HeLa cells. It transforms HPP to homogentisate in the second step of tyrosine catabolism. Inhibition of HPPD decreased the resistance of HZR cells against cadmium, but not that of HeLa cells, suggesting that adaptation to zinc overload and increased HPP removal are linked in HZR cells.
Mass spectrometric characterization of mitochondrial complex I NDUFA10 variants
Authors: Muñoz Javier , Fernández‐Irigoyen Joaquín , Santamaría Enrique , Parbel Axel , Obeso José , Corrales Fernando J.
Published: April 2008

In the present study, we have used a combination of 2‐DE and MS to isolate and characterize two variants of the mitochondrial complex I subunit NDUFA10 from Wistar rat brain. Extensive MS/MS analysis revealed that a D/N substitution at position 120 resulting from a 353A/G transition in the coding gene is the biochemical difference between the two most abundant NDUFA10 isoforms. Moreover, 33 modifications of distinct chemical nature targeting 59 specific residues were found to be common to the acidic and basic forms. Positions C67, H149 and H322 of NDUFA10 were specially targeted by different modifications suggesting the high reactivity of these residues and their potential implication in the regulation of the protein function. Together with nonenzymatic modifications that can form in the sample isolation and workup steps, such as oxidation of methionine, tryptophan, cysteine and histidine, we describe amino acid variants of unknown chemical structure that must be further characterized, as well as accumulation of R, K and H methylations and probably K acetylations at the C‐terminal region that might play a role in the control of NDUFA10 activity according to similar mechanisms to those described for histones.
Kinetics and mechanisms of gas‐phase elimination of 2,2‐diethoxyethyl amine and 2,2‐diethoxy‐N,N‐diethylethanamine
Authors: Mora José R. , Domínguez Rosa M. , Herize Armando , Tosta María , Chuchani Gabriel
Published: April 2008

The gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2,2‐diethoxyethyl amine and 2,2‐diethoxy‐N,N‐diethylethanamine (320–380 °C; 40–150 Torr) in a seasoned reaction vessel are homogeneous, unimolecular and obey a first‐order rate law. These elimination processes involve two parallel reactions. The first gives ethanol and the corresponding 2‐ethoxyethenamine. The latter compound further decomposes to ethylene, CO and the corresponding amine. The second parallel reaction produce ethane and the corresponding ethyl ester of an α‐amino acid. The following Arrhenius expressions are given as:

For 2,2‐diethoxyethyl amine

For 2,2‐diethoxy‐N,N‐diethylethanamine

Comparative kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the overall, the parallel and the consecutive reactions lead to consider two types of mechanisms in terms of a concerted polar cyclic transition state structures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hexacyclo[7.1.0.01,3.03,5.05,7.07,9]decane, or pentagramane: high‐level computational studies on a novel hydrocarbon
Authors: Ball David W.
Published: April 2008

A novel hydrocarbon whose line diagram is that of the classic pentagram is described. High‐level computational studies have been performed to determine its structure, vibrational frequencies, NMR spectra, and thermochemistry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gas‐phase reactions of Cl atoms with hydrochloroethers: relative rate constants and their correlation with substituents' electronegativities
Authors: Dalmasso Pablo R. , Taccone Raúl A. , Nieto Jorge D. , Cometto Pablo M. , Lane Silvia I.
Published: April 2008

Rate constants for the reactions of Cl atoms with CH3OCHCl2 and CH3OCH2CH2Cl were determined at (296 ± 2) K and atmospheric pressure using synthetic air as bath gas. Decay rates of these organic compounds were measured relative to the following reference compounds: CH2ClCH2Cl and n‐C5H12. Using rate constants of 1.33 × 10−12 and 2.52 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 sec−1 for the reaction of Cl atoms with CH2ClCH2Cl and n‐C5H12, respectively, the following rate coefficients were derived: k(Cl + CH3OCHCl2) = (1.05 ± 0.11) × 10−12 and k(Cl + CH3OCH2CH2Cl) =  (1.14 ± 0.10) × 10−10, in units of cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The rate constants obtained were compared with previous literature data and a correlation was found between the rate coefficients of some CH3OCHR1R2 + Cl reactions and ΔElectronegativity of CHR1R2. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The nature of electron transitions in anionic dioxaborines, derivatives of aminocoumarin
Authors: Gerasov A. O. , Shandura M. P. , Kovtun Yu. P. , Kachkovsky A. D.
Published: April 2008

Combined quantum‐chemical and spectral studies of the features of electron transitions and absorption spectra of symmetrical and unsymmetrical polymethine dyes, derivatives of aminocoumarin, have been performed. It was established that the lowest two electron transitions are splitting transitions, involving solitonic level and two low positioned acceptor levels, in contrast to the cationic cyanine dyes, where two lowest transitions are connected with two splitting donor levels and solitonic level. The considerable interaction between two acceptor levels in symmetrical dyes provides an additional decrease of the first transition energy and hence leads to the relatively deep and intensive color, whereas the second transition with its negligible oscillator strength is practically unobserved. The higher electron transitions involve orbitals located mainly at the coumarin residue; the corresponding spectral bands appear in the short‐wavelength region. Introduction of dialkylamino group in coumarin heterocycle shifts bathochromically the long‐wavelength absorption band and considerably increases the intensity of S0 → S1 and S0 → S3 electron transitions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epitaxy of softly deposited small Co nanoclusters on Cu(001) surfaces
Authors: Jiménez‐Sáez J. C. , Pérez‐Martín A. M. C. , Jiménez‐Rodríguez J. J.
Published: May 2008

Soft deposition of Co nanoclusters on a Cu(001) substrate is studied by constant‐temperature molecular‐dynamics simulations. A different epitaxial behaviour of the clusters has been found as a function of the number of atoms. At room temperature, Co clusters grow epitaxially below two hundred atoms. Some of these clusters show stacking faults. Larger clusters do not achieve epitaxy. In these clusters, influence of the substrate is small and only affects the zone nearest to the interface, which becomes epitaxial. By increasing temperature and deposition energy, it is possible to enlarge the parts of the cluster grown epitaxially even attaining a complete epitaxy. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Nano‐scale shear mode testing of the adhesion of nanoparticles to a surface‐support
Authors: Munz M. , Cox D. C. , Cumpson P. J.
Published: May 2008

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM/SFM), the strength of the adhesion between nanoparticles (NPs) and a flat gold surface was studied. By scanning in contact mode, a lateral force was applied to the NPs, depending on the cantilever stiffness and the setpoint value of the topography feedback. In this way, a threshold force for NP detachment was determined. The sample under investigation consisted of arrays of tungsten NPs deposited on top of a flat gold surface. The NPs were generated using electron beam deposition (EBD) and the precursor gas W(CO)6. Owing to the array‐wise arrangement of the NPs, any change in their position was comparatively easy to detect by deviation from the array points. The beam dwell time was employed as a parameter to control the NP size. The force threshold value for particle detachment was found to increase with the beam dwell time. Loose NPs moved by the scanning tip displayed increased lateral forces. These appeared in the lateral force images as continuous tracks. After expansion of the scan area such tracks were seen to mostly originate from the edges of the previous scans where the NPs had piled up. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magnetic properties of Zn0.7Co2.3O4+δ spinel prepared by thermal decomposition of binary oxalates in air
Authors: Bazuev G. V. , Gyrdasova O. I.
Published: April 2008

Magnetization and ac susceptibility of two Zn0.7Co2.3O4+δ spinel specimens obtained by decomposition of the binary oxalate Znx Co1–x C2O4·2H2O in air were measured in the temperature range 2–300 K. It is shown that the complex oxide Zn0.7Co2.3O4+δ formed right after the decomposition of the oxalate (at 220 °C) contains about 0.002 mass% metal cobalt, which is responsible for the dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χ on magnetic field at 300 K. Below 100 K, the χ = f (T) dependence of this specimen is characterized by divergence between curves measured under ZFC and FC conditions and a magnetic hysteresis loop at 2 K. The specimen synthesized at 700 °C does not contain a ferromagnetic component and is paramagnetic in the temperature interval 2–300 K. The observed differences in magnetic properties are explained by a higher degree of oxidation of cobalt and the nanodimensional state of the compound formed at a lower temperature. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)