bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Blocking Activities of Isoindolinone‐ and Isobenzofuranone‐Containing Phenoxylalkylamines as Potent α1‐Adrenoceptor Antagonists.
Authors: Zhang Shou‐Hua , Wang Chun‐Ye , Jiang Zhen‐Zhou , Ni Pei‐Zhou , Zhou Jin‐Pei , Xi Bao‐Min , Chen Wen‐Hua
Published: July 2011

New isoindolinone‐ and isobenzofuranone‐containing phenoxyalkylamines (V) and (VIII), resp., are synthesized and evaluated for their blocking activities toward α1‐adrenoceptors.
ChemInform Abstract: Sonogashira Coupling Offers a New Synthetic Route to Thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazoles.
Authors: Eller Gernot A. , Vilkauskaite Gyte , Arbaciauskiene Egle , Sackus Algirdas , Holzer Wolfgang
Published: July 2011

A short synthetic route to the title compounds (IV) is presented.
ChemInform Abstract: Regio‐ and Stereoselectivity of Cycloaddition of C‐Amidonitrones to Esters of Methylenecyclopropanedicarboxylic Acids.
Authors: Molchanov A. P. , Tung Tran Q. , Kostikov R. R.
Published: July 2011

Diarylnitrones with electron‐demanding aryl substituents are not suitable as starting material.
ChemInform Abstract: Efficient 2,4,6‐Trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 2‐Arylbenzothiazoles and Bisbenzothiazoles by Condensation of 2‐Aminothiophenol with Aldehydes under Mild Conditions.
Authors: Maleki Behrooz , Azarifar Davood , Hojati Seyede Fateme , Veisi Hojat , Gholizadeh Mostafa , Salehabadi Hafezeh , Moghadam Mona Khodaverdian
Published: July 2011

A reaction mechanism with in situ generated HCl as primary promoter is proposed.
ChemInform Abstract: Biaryl Sulfonamides from O‐Acetyl Amidoximes: 1,2,4‐Oxadiazole Cyclization under Acidic Conditions.
Authors: Dosa Stefan , Daniels Joerg , Guetschow Michael
Published: July 2011

The reaction conditions are optimized to avoid by‐products.
ChemInform Abstract: One‐Pot Chemoselective Synthesis of Different Pyrano‐pyrazole Derivatives.
Authors: Heravi Majid M. , Saeedi Mina , Beheshtiha Yahya S. , Oskooie Hossein A.
Published: July 2011

If the reaction is carried out under microwave conditions and in the presence of sulfamic acid compounds (V) are formed as well.
ChemInform Abstract: Studies with 2‐(Acetonylthio)benzothiazole: Novel Synthesis of Pyridazin‐6(1H)‐one, Pyridazin‐6(1H)‐imine, and Phthalazine Derivatives of Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activities.
Authors: Al‐Omran Fatima A. , El‐Khair Adel A.
Published: July 2011

Novel (2)‐arylhydrazonopropan‐2‐ones (III) are synthesized and utilized as building blocks for the synthesis of new pyridazine and phthalazine derivatives.
ChemInform Abstract: Identification of Cyclicsulfonamide Derivatives with an Acetamide Group as 11β‐Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1 Inhibitors.
Authors: Ahn Jin Hee , et al. et al.
Published: July 2011

A series of cyclic sulfonamide derivatives (IX) (31 examples) with an acetamide group in the 2‐position are synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit 11β‐HSD1.
ChemInform Abstract: Reactions of 1,3,5‐Triazinylnitroformaldoximes. Part 3. Interaction of 1,3,5‐Triazinylnitroformaldoximes with Malonic Acid Esters
Authors: Bakharev V. V. , Gidaspov A. A. , Selezneva E. V. , Ul'yankina I. V. , Krivolapov D. B. , Litvinov I. A. , Eltsov O. S.
Published: July 2011

formation of a zwitterionic triazinylisoxazolone (III)
ChemInform Abstract: Thiamine Hydrochloride (VB1): An Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Synthesis of α‐Aminophosphonates under Ultrasonic Irradiation.
Authors: Mandhane Priyanka G. , Joshi Ratnadeep S. , Nagargoje Deepak R. , Gill Charansingh H.
Published: July 2011

The process works well with aromatic aldehydes.
ChemInform Abstract: Variable Temperature IR Spectroscopy in the Studies of Oxide Catalysts
Authors: Tsyganenko Alexey A.
Published: July 2011

Review: 25 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Reduction Reactions with NHC‐Bearing Complexes
Authors: Cetinkaya Bekir
Published: July 2011

Review: 160 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: NHC—Palladium Complexes in Catalysis
Authors: Normand Adrien T. , Cavell Kingsley J.
Published: July 2011

Review: 193 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Allobetulin and Its Derivatives: Synthesis and Biological Activity
Authors: Dehaen Wim , Mashentseva Anastassiya A. , Seitembetov Talgat S.
Published: July 2011

Review: 115 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: 4‐Alkynoic Acids in the Synthesis of Biologically Important Tetrapyrroles
Authors: Jacobi Peter A. , et al. et al.
Published: July 2011

Review: 134 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: With a Little Help from My Friends: Forty Years of Fruitful Chemical Collaborations
Authors: Borden Weston Thatcher
Published: July 2011

Review: ca. 200 refs.
Two Unprecedented Entangled Metal–Olsalazine Complexes with Coexistence of 2D → 3D Polycatenation and meso‐Helix
Authors: Xiao Dong‐Rong , Sun Dian‐Zhen , Liu Jun‐Liang , Zhang Guang‐Ju , Chen Hai‐Yan , He Jiang‐Hong , Yan Shi‐Wei , Yuan Ruo , Wang En‐Bo
Published: July 2011

Rational self‐assembly of the anti‐inflammatory drug olsalazine (H4osa) with a cobalt salt in the presence of linear bidentate ligands yields two novel metal–drug complexes[Co(H2osa)(bpp)] (1) and [Co2(osa)(bpy)2(H2O)4] (2) [bpp = 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane, bpy = 4,4′‐bipyridine]. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and further characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Compound 1 displays a new 2D → 3D parallel polycatenation of undulating (4,4) layers, whereas 2 exhibits an unusual 2D → 3D inclined polycatenation of (6,3) layers. To the best of our knowledge, they represent the first examples of metal–drug complexes that have both polycatenane and meso‐helix characteristics. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been studied by measuring their magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range of 2–300 K.
A Practical Solvating Agent for the Chiral NMR Discrimination of Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Kim Seon‐mi , Choi Kihang
Published: July 2011

A bisimidazoline compound has been prepared as a new chiral solvating agent starting from isophthalaldehyde and (S,S)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine through a single‐step synthesis. In the presence of one equivalent of this reagent, carboxylic acid racemates show 1H NMR chemical shift nonequivalences large enough for the discrimination of the enantiomers. Studies with related compounds showed that the 1,3‐disubstituted structure is crucial for the acid‐solvating ability of the bisimidazoline compound.
Photoperiodic regulation of glycogen metabolism, glycolysis, and glutamine synthesis in tanycytes of the Siberian hamster suggests novel roles of tanycytes in hypothalamic function
Authors: Nilaweera Kanishka , Herwig Annika , Bolborea Matei , Campbell Gill , Mayer Claus D. , Morgan Peter J. , Ebling Francis J. P. , Barrett Perry
Published: July 2011

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of photoperiod on the temporal and spatial expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in the brain of the seasonal mammal Phodopus sungorus (Siberian hamster). In situ hybridization was performed on brain sections obtained from male hamsters held in long photoperiod (high body weight and developed testes) or short photoperiod (reduced body weight with testicular regression). This analysis revealed upregulation in expression of genes involved in glycogen and glucose metabolism in short photoperiod and localized to the tanycyte layer of the third ventricle. On the basis of these data and a previously identified photoperiod‐dependent increase in activity of neighboring hypothalamic neurons, we hypothesized that the observed expression changes may reflect alteration in either metabolic fuel or precursor neurotransmitter supply to surrounding neurons. Gene expression analysis was performed for genes involved in lactate and glutamate transport. This analysis showed that the gene for the lactate transporter MCT2 and glutamate transporter GLAST was decreased in the tanycyte layer in short photoperiod. Expression of mRNA for glutamine synthetase, the final enzyme in the synthesis of the neuronal neurotransmitter precursor, glutamine, was also decreased in short photoperiod. These data suggest a role for tanycytes in modulating glutamate concentrations and neurotransmitter supply in the hypothalamic environment. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long noncoding RNA high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma facilitates tumor growth through enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in humans
Authors: Yang Fu , Zhang Ling , Huo Xi-song , Yuan Ji-hang , Xu Dan , Yuan Sheng-xian , Zhu Nan , Zhou Wei-ping , Yang Guang-shun , Wang Yu-zhao , Shang Jing-li , Gao Chun-fang , Zhang Feng-rui , Wang Fang , Sun Shu-han
Published: July 2011

In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have critical regulatory roles in cancer biology. However, the contributions of lncRNAs to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. Differentially expressed lncRNAs between HBV-related HCC and paired peritumoral tissues were identified by microarray and validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Liver samples from patients with HBV-related HCC were analyzed for levels of a specific differentially expressed lncRNA High Expression In HCC (termed lncRNA-HEIH); data were compared with survival data using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between groups by the log-rank test. The effects of lncRNA-HEIH were assessed by silencing and overexpressing the lncRNA in vitro and in vivo. The expression level of lncRNA-HEIH in HBV-related HCC is significantly associated with recurrence and is an independent prognostic factor for survival. We also found that lncRNA-HEIH plays a key role in G0/G1 arrest, and further demonstrated that lncRNA-HEIH was associated with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and that this association was required for the repression of EZH2 target genes. Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that lncRNA-HEIH is an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes tumor progression and leads us to propose that lncRNAs may serve as key regulatory hubs in HCC progression. (Hepatology 2011
Three New Diterpenoids from Isodon nervosus
Authors: Wei Zhi‐Xiong , Gao You‐Heng , Yang Fen , Lu Hai‐Xiao , Ni Lin , Zhou Xiao‐Hong
Published: July 2011

Three new ent‐kaurane diterpenoids, rabdonervosins D–F (1–3), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon nervosus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses. Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HepG2, CNE2, PC‐9/ZD, HeLa, MCF‐7, and HCT116 cell lines. No compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity.
Synthesis of 2,3‐Diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐ol Derivatives by the Reaction of Aryl(3‐isocyanopyridin‐4‐yl)methanones with Aryl Grignard Reagents
Authors: Kobayashi Kazuhiro , Kozuki Taketoshi , Konishi Manami , Suzuki Teruhiko , Tanmatsu Miyuki , Konishi Hisatoshi
Published: July 2011

The reaction of aryl(3‐isocyanopyridin‐4‐yl)methanones 1, easily prepared from commercially available pyridin‐3‐amine, with aryl Grignard reagents gave, after aqueous workup, 2,3‐diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐ols 2. These rather unstable alcohols were O‐acylated with Ac2O in pyridine in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) to afford the corresponding 2,3‐diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐yl acetates 3 in relatively good yields.
“Activation of tissue tranglutsaminase by removal of carboxyl‐terminal peptides”
Authors: Fraij Bassam M.
Published: July 2011

Tissue transglutaminase (TGC or TG2) functions as transglutaminase (cross‐linking), deamidase, kinase, and disulfide isomerase and its activities are implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Proteolytic activation of zymogens in the transglutaminase family is not unusual. Plasma transglutaminase (FXIIIa), epidermal transglutaminase (TG 3), transglutaminase‐5, and microbial transglutaminase (MTG) can be subjected to proteolysis from specific proteases to generate the active functional enzyme. In the present study, calcium or GTP was essential for activation of TGC cross‐linking activity by trypsin in membrane fractions from human RBC and was accompanied by the conversion of TGC (80 kDa) to a smaller TG form (55 kDa). While bacterially expressed TGC showed no activity, bacterial expression of C‐terminal domain deletion constructs with carboxy‐terminal ends ranging from lysine 464 (TG464) to glycine 480 (TG480) produced enzymes that were highly active in cross‐linking activity. The product of a construct with a coding region ended at proline 446 (TG446), which interrupted the calcium‐binding domain, exhibited weak cross‐linking activity. TG480 and TG512 were characterized by about 80% and 10%, respectively, of the cross‐linking activities of TG464. This may indicate that the longer the peptide after the calcium binding domain, the less the enzymatic activity expressed, possibly because the folding of such peptide which interfere with the calcium binding site or the catalytic site. Western analysis of MCF7 and T47D human breast cancer cells transfected with TGC showed TGC as a major protein and TG as a minor fragment. Incubation of lysate from transfected cells with serum resulted in the conversion of the TGC to TG, a condition that may be comparable to injury or wounds that lead to rapid enzymatic transamidation activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 3469–3481, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shear stress‐mediated F1/FO ATP synthase‐dependent CO2 gas excretion from human pulmonary arteriolar endothelial cells
Authors: Kawai Yoshiko , Yoshida Kazuo , Kaidoh Maki , Yokoyama Yumiko , Ohhashi Toshio
Published: July 2011

We studied the physiological role of flow through pulmonary arterioles in CO2 gas exchange. We established human pulmonary arteriolar endothelial cells (HPAoEC). The cells demonstrated marked immunocytochemical staining of PECAM‐1, VEGF R2, ACE‐1, and CA type IV on their cell surface. Ten seconds shear stress stimulation caused the co‐release of H+ and ATP via the activation of F1/FO ATP synthase on the HPAoEC. F1/FO ATP synthase was immunocytochemically observed on the cell surface of non‐permeabilized HPAoEC. In the shear stress‐loaded HPAoEC culture media supernatant, ATPase activity increased in a time‐dependent manner. The HPAoEC were strongly stained for NTPDase 1, which partially co‐localized with purinergic P2Y1. The purinergic P2Y1 receptor agonist UTP (10−6 M) significantly potentiated the shear stress‐induced increase in ATPase activity in the culture medium supernatant. Ten seconds shear stress stimulation also produced stress strength‐dependent CO2 gas excretion from the HPAoEC, which was significantly reduced by the inhibition of F1/FO ATP synthase or CA IV on the endothelial cell (EC) surface. In conclusion, we have proposed a new concept of CO2 exchange in the human lung, flow‐mediated F1/FO ATP synthase‐dependent H+ secretion, resulting in the facilitation of a dehydration reaction involving ${\rm HCO}_{3}^{{-} } $ in plasma and the excretion of CO2 gas from arteriolar ECs. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2059–2068, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MiR‐133a regulates collagen 1A1: Potential role of miR‐133a in myocardial fibrosis in angiotensin II‐dependent hypertension
Authors: Castoldi Giovanna , di Gioia Cira R.T. , Bombardi Camila , Catalucci Daniele , Corradi Barbara , Gualazzi Maria Giovanna , Leopizzi Martina , Mancini Massimiliano , Zerbini Gianpaolo , Condorelli Gianluigi , Stella Andrea
Published: July 2011

MicroRNAs play an important role in myocardial diseases. MiR‐133a regulates cardiac hypertrophy, while miR‐29b is involved in cardiac fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether miR‐133a and miR‐29b play a role in myocardial fibrosis caused by Angiotensin II (Ang II)‐dependent hypertension. Sprague–Dawley rats were treated for 4 weeks with Ang II (200 ng/kg/min) or Ang II + irbesartan (50 mg/kg/day in drinking water), or saline by osmotic minipumps. At the end of the experimental period, cardiac miR‐133a and miR‐29b expression was measured by real‐time PCR, and myocardial fibrosis was evaluated by morphometric analysis. A computer‐based prediction algorithm led to the identification of collagen 1a1 (Col1A1) as a putative target of miR‐133a. A reporter plasmid bearing the 3′‐untranslated regions (UTRs) of Col1A1 mRNA was constructed and luciferase assay was performed. MiR‐133a suppressed the activity of luciferase when the reporter gene was linked to a 3′‐UTR segment of Col1A1 (P < 0.01). Mutation of miR‐133a binding sites in the 3′‐UTR of Col1A1 mRNA abolished miR‐133a‐mediated repression of reporter gene activity, showing that Col1A1 is a real target of miR‐133a. In vivo, Ang II caused an increase in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001, tail cuff) and myocardial fibrosis in presence of a decrease in miR‐133a (P < 0.01) and miR‐29b (P < 0.01), and an increase in Col1A1 expression (P < 0.01). These effects were abolished by Ang II administration + irbesartan. These data demonstrate a relationship between miR‐133a and Col1A1, suggesting that myocardial fibrosis occurring in Ang II‐dependent hypertension is regulated by the down‐regulation of miR‐133a and miR‐29b through the modulation of Col1A1 expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 850–856, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Angiotensin‐(1–7) decreases LPS‐induced inflammatory response in macrophages
Authors: Souza Laura L. , Costa‐Neto Claudio M.
Published: July 2011

It has been previously shown that besides its classical role in blood pressure control the renin–angiotensin system, mainly by action of angiotensin II on the AT1 receptor, exerts pro‐inflammatory effects such as by inducing the production of cytokines. More recently, alternative pathways to this system were described, such as binding of angiotensin‐(1–7) to receptor Mas, which was shown to counteract some of the effects evoked by activation of the angiotensin II–AT1 receptor axis. Here, by means of different molecular approaches we investigated the role of angiotensin‐(1–7) in modulating inflammatory responses triggered in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Our results show that receptor Mas transcripts were up‐regulated by eightfold in LPS‐induced macrophages. Interestingly, macrophage stimulation with angiotensin‐(1–7), following to LPS exposure, evoked an attenuation in expression of TNF‐α and IL‐6 pro‐inflammatory cytokines; where this event was abolished when the receptor Mas selective antagonist A779 was also included. We then used heterologous expression of the receptor Mas in HEK293T cells to search for the molecular mechanisms underlying the angiotensin‐(1–7)‐mediated anti‐inflammatory responses by a kinase array; what suggested the involvement of the Src kinase family. In LPS‐induced macrophages, this finding was corroborated using the PP2 compound, a specific Src kinase inhibitor; and also by Western blotting when we observed that Ang‐(1–7) attenuated the phosphorylation levels of Lyn, a member of the Src kinase family. Our findings bring evidence for an anti‐inflammatory role for angiotensin‐(1–7) at the cellular level, as well as show that its probable mechanism of action includes the modulation of Src kinases activities. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2117–2122, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of HCN and cardiac function in a colonial ascidian
Authors: Hellbach Annette , Tiozzo Stefano , Ohn Jungho , Liebling Michael , De Tomaso Anthony W.
Published: July 2011

Hyperpolarization‐activated, cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) channels generate the rhythmic beating of mammalian hearts. We identified an HCN homolog in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, a nonvertebrate chordate which possesses a tubular heart that beats bidirectionally. Contractions initiate at one end of the heart and travel across the length of the organ, and these periodically reverse, suggesting the presence of two pacemakers, one on each side. We find that HCN expression is highly enriched in cells scattered throughout the myocardium. We functionally analyzed the role of HCN channels in heartbeat using the antagonists Cilobradine and Zatebradine, which decreased the heartbeat in a reversible manner. We also assessed the role of β‐adrenoreceptors in regulating HCN function using the antagonist Metoprolol, which lowered heartbeat rate (HR), as well as the agonist Isoproterenol, which did not alter HR, but caused simultaneous beating, analogous to a fibrillation. Measurements of direction and velocity of blood flow by making use of a novel system to study heart function in model systems amenable to live imaging revealed a significant correlation between heartbeat arrhythmia and drug treatment, similar to that observed with the same drugs in vertebrates. These results suggest that the heart pacemaker in tunicates may be homologous to that in their vertebrate counterparts in both development and function. J. Exp. Zool. 315:476–486, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacological modulation of the bOLD response: A study of acetazolamide and glyceryl trinitrate in humans
Authors: Asghar Mohammad S. , Hansen Adam E. , Pedersen Simon , Larsson Henrik B.W. , Ashina Messoud
Published: July 2011

Purpose:

To examine the effect of acetazolamide, known to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), known to increase cerebral blood volume (CBV) on the blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) response in humans using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate how pharmacological agents may modulate cerebral hemodynamic and thereby possibly the BOLD signal.

Materials and Methods:

Six subjects were randomly allocated to receive acetazolamide, GTN, or placebo in a double‐blind three‐way crossover controlled study. Before, during, and after drug administration we recorded the BOLD response during visual stimulation with reversing checkerboard.

Results:

We found that acetazolamide caused significant depression of the BOLD response (P = 0.0066). The maximum decrease occurred at 5 minutes after infusion and was 51.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.03–81.76). GTN did not influence the BOLD response (P = 0.55).

Conclusion:

The BOLD response is decreased during increased CBF by acetazolamide, suggesting an inverse relationship between global CBF and the BOLD response. GTN does not change the BOLD response. This indicates that GTN exerts an effect on the large vessels only and that CBV changes in the microvascular system are necessary to alter the BOLD response. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recovery of hippocampal network connectivity correlates with cognitive improvement in mild alzheimer's disease patients treated with donepezil assessed by resting‐state fMRI
Authors: Goveas Joseph S. , Xie Chunming , Ward B. Douglas , Wu Zhilin , Li Wenjun , Franczak Malgorzata , Jones Jennifer L. , Antuono Piero G. , Li Shi‐Jiang
Published: July 2011

Purpose:

To identify the neural correlates of cognitive improvement in mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects following 12 weeks of donepezil treatment.

Materials and Methods:

Resting‐state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (R‐fMRI) was used to measure the hippocampal functional connectivity (HFC) in 14 mild AD and 18 age‐matched normal (CN) subjects. AD subjects were scanned at baseline and after donepezil treatment. CN subjects were scanned only at baseline as a reference to identify regions correlated or anticorrelated to the hippocampus. Before each scan, participants underwent cognitive, behavioral, and functional assessments.

Results:

After donepezil treatment, neural correlates of cognitive improvement measured by Mini‐Mental State Examination scores were identified in the left parahippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and inferior frontal gyrus. Improvement in AD Assessment Scale‐cognitive subscale scores correlated with the HFC changes in the left DLPFC and middle frontal gyrus. Stronger recovery in the network connectivity was associated with cognitive improvement.

Conclusion:

R‐fMRI may provide novel insights into the brain's responses to AD treatment in clinical pharmacological trials, and also may predict clinical response. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automatic abdominal fat assessment in obese mice using a segmental shape model
Authors: Tang Yang , Sharma Priyank , Nelson Marvin D. , Simerly Richard , Moats Rex A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose:

To develop a computerized image analysis method to assess the quantity and distribution of abdominal fat tissues in an obese (ob/ob) mouse model relevant to 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods:

A novel segmental shape model is presented that separates visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). With shape and distance constraints, it deforms a contour inwards from the skin to the muscle wall and separates the connecting adipose tissues in an ob/ob mouse. The fat tissues are segmented by the adaptive fuzzy C means method to compensate for intensity variation in adipose images. The results were obtained by logical operations applied on the extracted fat images and the separated adipose masks.

Results:

The method was validated by manual segmentations on 109 axial slice images from 7 ob/ob mice. The average correlation coefficients of measured sizes between the automatic and manual results for total adipose tissue (TAT) is 0.907; SAT is 0.944; VAT is 0. 950. The average Dice coefficient of their positions for TAT is 0.941, SAT is 0.935, and VAT is 0.920.

Conclusion:

The automated results correlate well with manual segmentations and the method can be used to increase laboratory automation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of β2‐microglobulin conformational intermediates associated to different fibrillation conditions
Authors: Santambrogio Carlo , Ricagno Stefano , Sobott Frank , Colombo Matteo , Bolognesi Martino , Grandori Rita
Published: July 2011

β2‐Microglobulin (β2m) is the light chain of the class‐I major histocompatibility complex, being also the causing agent of dialysis‐related amyloidosis, which results from its accumulation as amyloid material in the skeletal joints. This study describes conformational properties of β2m under two distinct, in vitro amyloidogenic conditions: neutral pH in the presence of 20% 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE) and acidic pH in the absence of TFE. Species distribution analysis by electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) is combined with information obtained by ion mobility–mass spectrometry (IM‐MS), fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. It is shown that β2m populates quite different conformational ensembles under the two conditions, but both ensembles display a minor fraction of the population in a partially folded state. In spite of similar compactness, these two partially folded forms display different conformations: helical secondary structure is predominant in the species at pH 7.4, 20% TFE, while the low‐pH form is mainly random coil. As temperature is increased, the TFE intermediate looses helical structure becoming more similar to the low‐pH intermediate. The existence of different conformational ensembles may rationalize the different aggregation propensity displayed by β2m under the two fibrillation conditions analyzed here. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Thymus algeriensis, Eucalyptus globulus and Rosmarinus officinalis from Morocco
Authors: Ait‐Ouazzou Abdenour , Lorán Susana , Bakkali Mohammed , Laglaoui Amin , Rota Carmen , Herrera Antonio , Pagán Rafael , Conchello Pilar
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND: The present study reports on the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of Thymus algeriensis, Eucalyptus globulus and Rosmarinus officinalis from Morocco.

RESULTS: The composition of these species was analysed by GC‐MS, and 65 components were identified. Eucalyptus globulus EO showed a great similarity with EOs from other regions, with 1,8‐cineole (79.85%) the major component. Also rich in this constituent was Rosmarinus officinalis (43.99%). However, the chemical profile of Thymus algeriensis was rather different, and for the first time such a high content of borneol (23.48%) has been described in this EO. The antimicrobial activity of these species has also been studied against seven pathogenic and spoiling bacteria of significant importance. According to the results, Thymus algeriensis showed the best bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect, followed by Eucalyptus globulus and Rosmarinus officinalis.

CONCLUSIONS: As far as we know this is the first time that minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration values have been reported for Eucalyptus globulus EO. Our data support the possible use of this EO as well as Thymus algeriensis EO, as potential natural agents in preservatives for food and pharmaceutical products. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Functional and bioinformatic characterisation of sequence variants of Fad3 gene from flax
Authors: Khadake Rupali , Khonde Vijaykumar , Mhaske Vaishali , Ranjekar Prabhakar , Harsulkar Abhay
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND: Desaturases are enzymes that drive the multi‐step fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. As evident from directed mutagenesis, single base changes in their polypeptide can potentially alter their structure and may result in altered substrate specificity, regioselectivity and even loss of function. The authors have previously isolated several sequence variants of Δ15 desaturase from flax while attempting to clone that gene. The aim of the present study was to analyse these gene variants for their functionality and to predict the tertiary structure of the protein in order to correlate the functional differences with the protein structure.

RESULTS: The variants differed in the rate at which they could convert linoleic acid to α‐linolenic acid. The highest conversion rate was 7.03%, while the lowest was 2.39%. The overall shape of the predicted 3D model of the protein is a compact cylinder containing α‐helices and β‐sheets. The Ramchandran plot of this model revealed that 98.5% of the residues are located in allowed region, which denotes a stable structure.

CONCLUSION: Although the structures of the variants are apparently similar, subtle changes account for variation in their activity. Besides, these substitutions may alter their cross‐talk with other proteins and thus differentially influence their specificity, localisation and stability, which in turn may explain the diversity in their function. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Validation of seventh edition AJCC gastric cancer staging modifications
Authors: Kim Dae Hoon , Oh Cheong Ah , Oh Seung Jong , Choi Min Gew , Noh Jae Hyung , Sohn Tae Sung , Bae Jae Moon , Kim Sung
Published: July 2011

Background and Objectives

The seventh edition of the AJCC has more detailed staging categories for gastric cancer than does the sixth edition. The aim of our study was to compare the prognostic accuracies of the sixth and seventh AJCC editions for gastric cancer patients.

Methods

We analyzed survival rates by category using the sixth and seventh editions of the AJCC in 10,060 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy between 1994 and 2007 at Samsung Medical Center.

Results

Significant differences in prognosis were seen when comparing the new stages of the seventh edition of the AJCC that are subgroups of stages IB, II, IIIA, and IV in the sixth edition. In particular, stage IV of the AJCC sixth edition is divided into stages IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC and IV in the seventh edition, and the 5‐year survival rates of these respective stages were 80.2%, 45.3%, 23.5%, 17.2%, and 10.1% (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Each category of the AJCC sixth edition has been divided into multiple stages in the AJCC seventh edition, each with a different prognosis. The newly divided subgroups from AJCC sixth edition stage IV showed more accurate outcome classification based on AJCC seventh edition staging stratification. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:26–30. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A simulation‐optimization model to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers using abstraction/recharge wells
Authors: Javadi A. A. , Abd‐Elhamid H. F. , Farmani R.
Published: July 2011

Seawater intrusion is one of the most serious environmental problems in many coastal regions all over the world. Mixing a small quantity of seawater with groundwater makes it unsuitable for use and can result in abandonment of aquifers. Therefore, seawater intrusion should be prevented or at least controlled to protect groundwater resources. This paper presents development and application of a simulation‐optimization model to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers using different management scenarios; abstraction of brackish water, recharge of freshwater, and combination of abstraction and recharge. The model is based on the integration of a genetic algorithm optimisation technique and a coupled transient density‐dependent finite element model. The objectives of the management scenarios include determination of the optimal depth, location and abstraction/recharge rates for the wells to minimize the total costs for construction and operation as well as salt concentrations in the aquifer. The developed model is applied to analyze the control of seawater intrusion in a hypothetical confined coastal aquifer. The efficiencies of the three management scenarios are examined and compared. The results show that combination of abstraction and recharge wells is significantly better than using abstraction wells or recharge wells alone as it gives the least cost and least salt concentration in the aquifer. The results from this study would be useful in designing the system of abstraction/recharge wells to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers and can be applied in areas where there is a risk of seawater intrusion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incidence of placental mosaicism leading to discrepant results between QF‐PCR and karyotyping in 22,825 chorionic villus samples
Authors: Holgado Elaine , Liddle Stuart , Ballard Terry , Levett Lisa
Published: July 2011

Objective

To review the frequency and analyse the origin of completely discrepant results observed between QF‐PCR and karyotyping in chorionic villus samples (CVS) as a result of placental mosaicism. Also, to assess QF‐PCR results for biallelic or triallelic patterns and determine their significance.

Methods

Between May 2002 and December 2009, 22 825 CVS were received at TDL Genetics for processing by QF‐PCR and karyotype. The QF‐PCR and karyotype data were compared to determine the incidence of discrepant results.

Results

Of the 22 825 samples received, 22 779 (99.8%) gave concordant results between the PCR and karyotype, and 46 samples (0.2%) gave discordant results. Of these discrepant cases, 5 displayed triallelic peaks and 41 displayed biallelic peaks. All discordant results are due to the presence of placental mosaicism, a known limitation of using this sample type for prenatal diagnosis.

Conclusion

This retrospective study of placental mosaicism in CVS is the largest single centre study to date and provides a figure for the occurrence of completely discrepant results between QF–PCR and karyotype due to placental mosaicism. This study also demonstrates that the presence of triallelic peaks at QF–PCR is not sufficient to exclude the presence of placental mosaicism. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temporal and within practice variability in the health improvement network
Authors: Haynes Kevin , Bilker Warren B. , TenHave Tom R. , Strom Brian L. , Lewis James D.
Published: July 2011

Background

The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database is a primary care electronic medical record database in the UK designed for pharmacoepidemiologic research. Matching on practice and calendar year often is used to account for secular trends in time and differences across practices. However, little is known about the consistency within practices across observation years and among practices within a given year, in THIN or other large medical record databases.

Methods

We analyzed mortality rates, cancer incidence rates, prescribing rates, and encounter rates across 415 practices from 2000 to 2007 using a practice‐year as the unit of observation in separate random and fixed effects longitudinal Poisson regression models. Adjusted models accounted for aggregate practice‐level characteristics (smoking, obesity, age, and Vision software experience).

Results

In adjusted models, subsequent calendar years were associated with lower reported mortality rates, increasing cancer reporting rates, increasing prescriptions per patient, and decreasing encounters per patient, with a corresponding linear trend (p < 0.001 for all analyses). For calendar year 2007, the ratio of the 75th percentile to the 25th percentile for crude rate of cancer, mortality, prescriptions, and encounters was 1.63, 1.63, 1.45, and 1.42, respectively. Adjusting for practice characteristics reduced the among‐practice variation by approximately 40%.

Conclusions

THIN data are characterized by secular trends and among‐practice variation, both of which should be considered in the design of pharmacoepidemiology studies. Whether these are trends in data quality or true secular trends could not be definitively differentiated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Easily accessible oxygen‐containing derivatives of niobium pentachloride as catalytic precursors for ethylene polymerization
Authors: Marchetti Fabio , Pampaloni Guido , Patil Yogesh , Raspolli Galletti Anna Maria , Hayatifar Mohammad
Published: July 2011

The low catalytic activity of NbCl5 as an ethylene polymerization catalyst was significantly increased by the addition of a series of oxygen donors. The novel niobium derivatives NbCl5(OPh2) (1), NbCl5(OEt2) (3), NbCl5(OCPh2) (5), NbCl5(OCHPh) (6), NbCl5(OCHMe) (7) and [NbCl4(dppe)2](NbCl6) (18) (dppe is 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) and the previously reported derivatives NbCl5(OMePh) (2), NbCl5(thf) (4) (thf is tetrahydrofuran), NbCl5(OCHOMe) (8), NbCl5(OCHNMe2) (9), NbCl5[OC(NMe2)2] (10), NbCl5(NCMe) (11), NbCl4(κ2‐1,2‐OC6H4OMe) (12), NbCl4[κ2‐OC(Me)CH2C(Me2)O] (13), (14), [NbCl4(O2CMe)]2 (15), NbCl3(dme)(µ‐O)NbCl5 (16) (dme is 1,2‐dimethoxyethane), [NbCl4(κ2‐dmm)2](NbCl6) (17) (dmm is dimethylmaleate), TaCl5(OCMe2) (19) and [TaCl4(O2CMe)]2 (20) were tested as catalytic precursors in the ethylene polymerization reaction using AlMe3‐depleted methylaluminoxane as co‐catalyst. Highly linear polyethylene was obtained. Compounds 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8–13 showed catalytic activities in the range 89–116 kgpolymer molNb−1 h−1 bar−1, i.e. comparable with the best performances reached with niobium pre‐catalysts up to now. However, the dinuclear compounds 14–16 and 18 were found to be less active, whereas17 and the tantalum derivatives 19 and 20 did not produce polymer. Relatively high molecular weights were achieved with the mononuclear compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, 10 and 12, the dinuclear 16 and the phosphine ionic 18. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
First physics results from the CMS experiment
Authors: De Roeck A.
Published: July 2011

We discuss a number of recent results of physics analyses from CMS as presented during the summer and fall of 2010, based on data samples of a few 100 nb‐1 up to 3.1 pb‐1.
Effect of methoprene on the progeny production of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Wijayaratne Leanage KW , Fields Paul G , Arthur Frank H
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND: Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle) is a serious insect pest of stored products around the world. Current control measures for this species have several limitations: loss of registration of insecticides, insecticide resistance and consumer concerns about chemical residues in food. The objective of this study was to determine whether methoprene affects progeny production of T. castaneum. Late‐instar larvae or young adults were exposed to methoprene‐treated wheat, and progeny production was determined. The pairing of male and female adults was performed as untreated × untreated, treated × untreated or treated × treated, to study sex‐based effects.

RESULTS: There were three outcomes to late‐instar larvae held on methoprene‐treated wheat kernels (0.001 and 0.0165 ppm): (1) failure to emerge as an adult; (2) emergence as an adult, and almost no offspring produced; (3) emergence as an adult and normal production of offspring. Male larvae were more susceptible to methoprene than female larvae. In contrast, young adults exposed to methoprene (1.67–66.6 ppm) showed no reduction in offspring production.

CONCLUSION: Methoprene concentrations will decline with time following its application. However, this research indicates that methoprene can still reduce populations of T. castaneum by reducing their progeny production, even if adults emerge. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of charge, topology and orientation of the electric field on the interaction of peptides with the α‐hemolysin pore
Authors: Christensen Christopher , Baran Christian , Krasniqi Besnik , Stefureac Radu I. , Nokhrin Sergiy , Lee Jeremy S.
Published: July 2011

Nanopore analysis is an emerging technique of structural biology which employs nanopores, such as the α‐hemolysin pore, as a biosensor. A voltage applied across a membrane containing a nanopore generates a current, which is partially blocked when a molecule interacts with the pore. The magnitude (I) and the duration (T) of the current blockade provide an event signature for that molecule. Two peptides, CY12(+)T1 and CY12(−)T1 with net charges + 2 and − 2, respectively, were analysed using different applied voltages and all four possible orientations of the electrodes and pore. The four orientations were vestibule downstream (VD), vestibule upstream (VU), stem downstream (SD) and stem upstream (SU) where vestibule and stem refer to the side of the pore on which the peptide was placed and downstream and upstream refer to the application of a positive or negative electrophoretic force, respectively. For CY12(+)T1, the effect of voltage on the event duration was consistent with translocation in the VD and SD configurations, but only intercalation events were observed in the VU and SU configurations. For CY12(−)T1, translocations were only observed in the VD and VU configurations. The results are interpreted in terms of two energy barriers on either side of the lumen of the pore. The difference in height of the barriers determines the preferred direction of exit. Electroosmotic flow and current rectification due to the pore as well as the dipole moment and charge of the peptide also play significant roles. Thus, factors other than simple electrophoresis are important for determining the interaction of small peptides with the pore. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The mixed‐spin ferro–ferrimagnetic ternary alloy
Authors: Albayrak Erhan
Published: July 2011

The ${\rm AB}_{p} {\rm C}_{1{-} p} $ type of mixed‐spin ferro–ferrimagnetic ternary‐alloy with the spins SA = 1, SB = 3/2, and SC = 1/2 is investigated on the Bethe lattice on which the A ions are distributed only on the odd shells and B or C ions are distributed randomly on the even shells with the probabilities p and 1 − p, respectively. The phase diagrams are studied for given probabilities p, the ratio of bilinear interaction parameters $R = |J_{{\rm AB}} |/J_{{\rm AC}} $ and the coordination numbers z = 3, 4, 5, and 6 with respect to the reduced temperature. It was found that the critical lines are seen at higher temperatures for higher q, otherwise they are qualitatively similar, therefore, the phase diagrams are only given for q = 6. In addition to the critical temperatures, the model also displays up to four compensation points for appropriate system parameters.
Microscopic theory for insulator to metal transition in cuprates
Authors: Larsson Sven
Published: July 2011

“Hubbard U” is equal to the energy of the insulator to metal transition in Mott insulators. Hubbard U is, therefore, also the excitation energy for metal atom to other metal atom transitions and the key concept in photoinduced conductivity spectra of pure and doped cuprates. In this article, the electronic structure of Cu(II) and Cu(III) sites is first discussed. It is shown that Hubbard U depends on the location of the excitation in the CuO2 plane relative to the Cu(III) sites. Far from the Cu(III) sites, the ground‐state wave function continues to be of spin‐coupled type. Near to a Cu(III) site, it changes character and is mixed with charge components. The Hubbard gap thus depends on locality in the CuO2 plane. Close to a Cu(III) site, it tends to zero and induces local conductivity. Far from a Cu(III) site, it is large but converges to zero as the doping levels are raised. In fact, the Hubbard gap has many features in common with the pseudogap. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 112:1829–1837, 2012
ADJUSTMENT OF PRAIRIE POTHOLE STREAMS TO LAND‐USE, DRAINAGE AND CLIMATE CHANGES AND CONSEQUENCES FOR TURBIDITY IMPAIRMENT
Authors: Lenhart C. F. , Verry E. S. , Brooks K. N. , Magner J. A.
Published: July 2011

Changes in land use and drainage have contributed to channel adjustment in small‐order to medium‐order streams in the prairie pothole region of south‐west Minnesota. Although conversion from prairie to agriculture occurred a century ago, recent decades have seen increased subsurface tile drainage, annual row crop coverage and channel modifications, particularly at road crossings such that channel adjustment is ongoing. Channel evolution in Elm and Center Creeks, two fourth‐order streams in the Blue Earth River basin, was studied to understand relationships between changes in channel morphology and suspended sediment concentrations. The construction of drainage ditches and expanded subsurface tiling has connected isolated basins to stream channels, effectively increasing drainage areas of Elm and Center Creeks by 15–20%. Sinuosity has been reduced by grading and drainage of first‐order sloughs, channel straightening at road crossings and natural cut‐offs and agricultural ditching that have shortened Elm Creek by 15% between 1938 and 2003. Stream cross‐sectional area was enlarged in response to the land‐use and drainage changes. In the headwaters, public ditches are wider than historic channels and entrenched by berms. Unchannelized headwater and upper mainstem portions of Elm Creek are also highly entrenched (up to 1.07 meters below the pre‐channelization bed elevation with a bank height ratio > 1.5) but have not widened substantially. In contrast, the lower main channel has widened by an average of 68%. These channel adjustments contribute to the suspended sediment load and violations of Minnesota's turbidity and Index of Biotic Integrity standards. The watershed has a low sediment delivery ratio because it is a flat, poorly connected landscape and likely delivers less sediment to the Minnesota River than steeper rivers downstream, such as the Blue Earth River. Entrenchment and increased sediment transport capacity in the lower reaches of the river have lead to increased sediment delivery to the downstream Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers. Understanding geomorphic changes will be important for addressing water‐quality impairments in the region. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.