bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple oxidation of formycin to oxoformycin and oxoformycin B. Synthesis of 6‐methyloxoformycin, AC‐nucleoside analog of doridosine
Authors: Ugarkar Bheemarao G. , Revankar Ganapathi R. , Robins Roland K.
Published: April 2009

A simple, high‐yield procedure has now been developed for the direct oxidation of formycin to oxoformycin and oxoformycin B. Treatment of formycin(1)with bromine/water provided oxoformycin(8). A similar treatment of formycin B(4)gave oxoformycin B(6). Upon prolonged exposure of either1or8to bromine/water at reflux temperature, conversion to6occurred in good yield. Application of this procedure to 1‐methylformycin(2), 1‐methylformycin B(5)and 2‐methylformycin(17)gave 1‐methyloxoformycin(9), 1‐methyloxoformycin B(7)and 2‐methyloxoformycin(18), respectively. Deamination of8and9with nitrosyl chloride also gave6and7, respectively. This selective oxidation of 6‐methylformycin gave 7‐amino‐6‐methyl‐3‐β‐D‐ribofuranosylpyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5(4H)‐one(10), aC‐nucleoside analog of doridosine. A similar oxidation of 1,6‐dimethylformycin B(11)gave 1,6‐dimethyloxoformycin B(12). This direct introduction of the 5‐oxo function into the pyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidine ring appears to be due to the attack of Br+at N(4), followed by the addition of water to C(5) and subsequent elimination of hydrogen bromide from the transient intermediate3.
Research on nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. XV. Synthesis of 1H,4H‐pyrazolo[4,3f]pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,4]diazepine derivatives
Authors: Massa Silvio , Stefancich Giorgio , Artico Marino , Corelli Federico
Published: April 2009

The synthesis of derivatives of 1H,4H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐f]pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,4]diazepine, a new tricyclic nitrogen‐containing nucleus is reported. Condensation of arylaldehydes with 4‐aminomethyl‐1‐phenyl‐5‐(1‐pyrryl)pyrazole afforded the title compounds. Bischler‐Napieralski intramolecular cyclization of 4‐acetamidomethyl‐1‐phenyl‐5‐(1‐pyrryl)pyrazole was also studied. The reaction led to 6‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H,4H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐f]pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,4]diazepine or alternatively to 4‐chloromethyl‐1‐phenyl‐5‐(1‐pyrryl)pyrazole depending on the solvent used.
A new mesoionic thia‐sydnone‐arylimine system. Synthesis and molecular structure
Authors: Kozinskij V. A. , Zelenskaja O. V. , Brückner S. , Malpezzi L.
Published: April 2009

Methylation of 5‐phenylamino‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole led regiospecifically to mesoionic 3‐methyl‐5‐phenylimino‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole, its molecular structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. 3‐Aryl‐5‐arylimino‐1,2,3‐thiadiazoles were obtained by replacement of chlorine in 3‐aryl‐4,5‐dichloro‐1,2,3‐thiadiazolium perchlorates with excess arylamine.
Effect of pectin on plasma lipids and caecal enzyme activity in rutin‐supplemented mice
Authors: Tamura Motoi , Hirayama Kazuhiro , Itoh Kikuji
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: Few previous reports have considered the effects of dietary fibre on the plasma lipids and caecal enzyme activity of mice fed a rutin‐supplemented diet. This investigation studied the effects of pectin on the plasma lipids and caecal enzyme activities of mice fed a diet supplemented with the quercetin glycoside rutin.

RESULTS: Male mice were randomly divided into two groups and fed either a pectin–rutin (PR) diet or a cellulose–rutin (CR) diet for 14 days. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and caecal β‐glucosidase and β‐glucuronidase activities were measured. The plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in the CR diet group, as were the caecal β‐glucosidase and β‐glucuronidase activities. The caecal β‐glucuronidase/β‐glucosidase activity ratio was significantly higher in the PR diet group, indicating differences in the metabolic activity of the intestinal flora.

CONCLUSION: The PR diet greatly affected the caecal enzyme activities. A pectin diet supplemented with the quercetin glycoside rutin might affect the lipid metabolism and metabolic activity of the intestinal flora. The plasma lipid‐lowering effects of the PR diet might have been partially caused by the metabolic actions of the intestinal gut flora. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
A consumer study of fresh juices containing berry fruits
Authors: Endrizzi Isabella , Pirretti Giuseppe , Calò Daniela G , Gasperi Flavia
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: Consumer science techniques are proposed here to support the development of innovative fresh juices designed to exploit the sensory characteristics and nutritional advantages of berry fruits and to meet the needs of modern consumers, who increasingly buy ‘ready to eat’ products to save time, without abandoning a healthy diet.

RESULTS: A series of consumer tests were conducted on 25 juices created by mixing one of the five berry fruits investigated with five different base juice variants. A high content of polyphenols and anthocyanins characterises these mixes, especially those based on pomegranate. Independently of the added berry fruit, the most successful recipes were the mixes with pineapple and blood orange, characterised by a ‘balanced’ proportion of sweet and sour components whereas the least appreciated were those based on pomegranate. Consumer habits and opinions were also recorded and consumer groups were identified by clustering variables: age, education and juice consumption were shown to be important factors in consumer choice.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a useful insight into production and marketing strategies for a new juice line that could be accompanied by the key message: ‘Just fresh fruit: all the pleasure and nutritional intake of fresh fruit in an appealing drink’. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Debulking surgery for incompletely operated advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Gultekin Murat , Dursun Polat , Doğan Nasuh U. , Kolusari Ali , Yuce Kunter , Ayhan Ali
Published: April 2009

Background and Objectives

There is still no any data about the role of re‐operation and re‐debulking in previously incompletely operated advanced staged patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). In this study, the authors aimed to analyze the effect of an incomplete primary surgery on patient prognosis.

Methods

Clinicopathological variables of 317 advanced staged EOC patients were retrospectively collected.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients had an initial incomplete surgery and referred to our center for debulking while remaining 288 had undergone primary debulking surgery at our institution. Comparison of the two groups with respect to clinicopathological variables could not reveal significant difference. Median survival was 3.24 years for re‐operated patients while it was 2.07 years for patients who had undergone primary debulking surgery. Upon multivariate analysis, final optimal debulking, tumor grade and a history of an incomplete surgery before the final debulking were the significant prognosticators. A subgroup analysis of re‐staged patients could not reveal a significant role for either the type or the time interval between the operations.

Conclusion

A history of an incomplete primary surgery does not seem to adversely affect patient prognosis and the optimal cytoreductive success achieved in final debulking surgery is still the most important prognostic factor. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:258–260. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinicopathological aspects and prognostic value with respect to age: An analysis of 3,362 consecutive gastric cancer patients
Authors: Park Jun Chul , Lee Yong Chan , Kim Jie‐Hyun , Kim Yu Jin , Lee Sang Kil , Hyung Woo Jin , Noh Sung Hoon , Kim Choong Bai
Published: April 2009

Background and Objectives

Several studies have reported controversial results about clinicopathological features and prognoses in gastric cancer patients with respect to age, partly due to variable definitions of young age and inhomogeneity of the patient population. The aim of study was to analyze clinicopathological features and prognostic value of all stages of gastric cancer in a large consecutive series.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2005, 3,362 patients with all stages of gastric cancer were enrolled in database. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (≤45), group 2 (46–70), and group 3 (≥71).

Results

Upper location and linitis plastica were more frequent in group 1. Young patients had a higher proportion of poorly differentiated and signet ring cell type with elevated CA19‐9 level. Depressed type was more frequent in early gastric cancer (EGC) while Bormann type IV and Lauren diffuse type were more common in AGC in group 1. In curatively resected patients, a 5‐year survival rate was significantly higher in group 1 than older groups. Stage, vein invasion, curative resection, and CA19‐9 level were significant prognostic factors in all gastric cancer.

Conclusions

Clinicopathological features associated with young gastric cancer include upper location, linitis plastica, histopathologically diffuse type, and unresectability. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:395–401. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Purification of alkaloids from Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang using preparative 2‐D HPLC
Authors: Zhang Jing , Jin Yu , Liu Yanfang , Xiao Yuansheng , Feng Jiatao , Xue Xingya , Zhang Xiuli , Liang Xinmiao
Published: April 2009

Two‐dimensional preparative multi‐channel parallel high performance liquid chromatography was successfully applied for the first time to isolate and purify alkaloids from Corydalis yanhusuo. The experiments were performed in off‐line mode using the same preparative chromatographic column with pH 3.5 in the first and pH 10.0 in the second separation dimension. In the preparative process, UV‐triggered fraction collection was used in the first dimension while UV and MS‐triggered collection were used in the second dimension for reasons of sensitivity and complementarity. Two pure compounds and nine fractions were obtained in the first dimension. Then two representative fractions were further purified in the second dimension and six pure compounds were obtained. The results demonstrated that this procedure is an effective approach for the preparative isolation and purification of alkaloids from Corydalis yanhusuo. Based on the different pH values of the mobile phase in this method, it is also suitable for the preparative isolation and purification of other compounds from TCMs which are sensitive to the pH of the solutions. Moreover, this method will be a promising tool for the purification of low content compounds from natural products.
Pulpal effects of enamel ablation with a microsecond pulsed λ = 9.3‐µm CO2 laser
Authors: Staninec Michal , Darling Cynthia L. , Goodis Harold E. , Pierre Daniel , Cox Darren P. , Fan Kenneth , Larson Michael , Parisi Renaldo , Hsu Dennis , Manesh Saman K. , Ho Chi , Hosseini Mehran , Fried Daniel
Published: April 2009

Background and Objectives

In vitro studies have shown that CO2 lasers operating at the highly absorbed 9.3 and 9.6‐µm wavelengths with a pulse duration in the range of 10–20‐microsecond are well suited for the efficient ablation of enamel and dentin with minimal peripheral thermal damage. Even though these CO2 lasers are highly promising, they have yet to receive FDA approval. Clinical studies are necessary to determine if excessive heat deposition in the tooth may have any detrimental pulpal effects, particularly at higher ablative fluencies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulpal safety of laser irradiation of tooth occlusal surfaces under the conditions required for small conservative preparations confined to enamel.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Test subjects requiring removal of third molar teeth were recruited and teeth scheduled for extraction were irradiated using a pulsed CO2 laser at a wavelength of 9.3 µm operating at 25 or 50 Hz using a incident fluence of 20 J/cm2 for a total of 3,000 laser pulses (36 J) for both rates with water cooling. Two control groups were used, one with no treatment and one with a small cut made with a conventional high‐speed hand‐piece. No anesthetic was used for any of the procedures and tooth vitality was evaluated prior to treatment by heat, cold and electrical testing. Short term effects were observed on teeth extracted within 72 hours after treatment and long term effects were observed on teeth extracted 90 days after treatment. The pulps of the teeth were fixed with formalin immediately after extraction and subjected to histological examination. Additionally, micro‐thermocouple measurements were used to estimate the potential temperature rise in the pulp chamber of extracted teeth employing the same irradiation conditions used in vivo.

Results

Pulpal thermocouple measurements showed the internal temperature rise in the tooth was within safe limits, 3.3±1.4°C without water cooling versus 1.7±1.6°C with water‐cooling, n = 25, P<0.05. None of the control or treatment groups showed any deleterious effects on pulpal tissues and none of the 29 test‐subjects felt pain or discomfort after the procedure. Only two test‐subjects felt discomfort from “cold sensitivity” during the procedure caused by the water‐spray.

Conclusion

It appears that this CO2 laser can ablate enamel safely without harming the pulp under the rate of energy deposition employed in this study. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:256–263, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dermal scatter reduction in human skin: A method using controlled application of glycerol
Authors: Fox Matthew A. , Diven Dayna G. , Sra Karen , Boretsky Adam , Poonawalla Tasneem , Readinger Allison , Motamedi Massoud , McNichols Roger J.
Published: April 2009

Background and Objective

Previous studies in a hairless Guinea pig model showed that transdermal application of glycerol effected a temporary reduction in dermal scatter of light. This study focuses on the application of this protocol on human patients.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

After stratum corneal removal, glycerol was applied to human subjects using a low pressure transdermal application device. Optical coherence tomography imaging showed increased intensity of radiation reaching deeper regions in the skin and photographs showed enhanced visualization of dermal structures.

Results/Conclusion

Topically applied glycerol increased light penetration of in vivo corneal‐stripped skin. This minimally invasive approach to temporary dermal scatter reduction has the potential to improve the efficacy of light‐based diagnostic or therapeutic devices. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:251–255, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Macromol. Biosci. 4/2009
Authors: Gericke Martin , Liebert Tim , Heinze Thomas
Published: April 2009

Cover: The cover picture shows the preparation of cellulose sulfate by homogeneous derivatization in ionic liquids. The products were demonstrated to be valuable materials for the encapsulation of enzymes. Further details can be found in the article by M. Gericke, T. Liebert and T. Heinze on page 343.
Cyclooxygenase‐2Gly587Arg variant is associated with differential enzymatic activity and risk of esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Dan , Zhang Xuemei , Guo Yongli , Tan Wen , Lin Dongxin
Published: April 2009

Functional SNPs in theCOX‐2promoter region have been associated with susceptibility to esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we investigated SNPs in theCOX‐2coding region and their impact on risk of ESCC. The coding region ofCOX‐2in DNAs from 30 Han Chinese individuals was sequenced to identify SNPs. Different coding region variants identified were cloned and expressed in MCE‐7 cells for the measurement of COX‐2 enzymatic activity. Genotypes were determined by PCR‐RFLP in 1026 patients with ESCC and 1270 controls and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed by logistic regression model. A SNP at exon 10 (1759G>A, rs3218625) was identified, which causes587Gly to587Arg amino acid substitution. Enzymatic assays using different recombinant COX‐2 variants showed that COX‐2‐587Arg had significantly higher activity towards arachidonic acid than COX‐2‐587Gly (13.8 ± 3.2 U/mg vs. 11.2 ± 2.4 U/mg;P = 0.012). Case–control analysis showed that 10.2% of ESCC patients carried the 1759A allele whereas only 5.4% of controls had this allele (P < 0.0001). No homozygous 1759AA genotype was presented in controls albeit two patients carrying this genotype. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects with at least one 1759A allele had increased risk for the development of ESCC (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.39–2.62) compared with those with the 1759GG genotype. These results extend our previous findings and indicate that inherited variant in arachidonic acid‐metabolizing enzyme, which results in heightened enzymatic activity, may confer susceptibility to ESCC. Mol. Carcinog. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The feasibility of recording blink reflexes under general anesthesia
Authors: Deletis Vedran , Urriza Javier , Ulkatan Sedat , Fernandez‐Conejero Isabel , Lesser Jonathan , Misita David
Published: April 2009

Until now, there have been no reports on eliciting the blink reflex (BR) during anesthesia at a depth compatible with surgery. We introduce a novel method for eliciting the R1 component of the BR under inhalation or total intravenous anesthesia by using a short train of four to seven stimuli applied over the supraorbital nerve. Recording is done from the ipsilateral orbicularis oculi muscle. We set out to record the BR in 27 patients (age 1–78 years) without involvement of the facial nerve, trigeminal nerve, or brainstem. The BR could not be recorded in only 4 patients (recordability: 86.2%). All patients received at least one bolus of propofol while in surgery. Using this method, the BR was recorded on 4 awake healthy subjects. Boluses of propofol and muscle relaxants should be avoided in order to successfully record the responses. BR recording is feasible in patients under general anesthesia by using this novel technique. Muscle Nerve 39: 642–646, 2009
National dementia strategy could force rethink about resourcing
Authors: Walton Ian
Published: April 2009

I welcome the Department of Health's National Dementia strategy.1 It rightly encourages early diagnosis in dementia and potetially the identification of a huge number of patients currently not recognised as having dementia. It should, by doing so, bring to attention the severe lack of resources for dementia patients and their carers and start to force the introduction of adequate services for a very needy and under‐resourced group. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Medicine taking behaviour in depression – part 2
Authors: Feetam Celia
Published: April 2009

Medicine taking behaviour in depression is erratic, resulting in poor outcomes and increased cost to society.Indeed,the illness itself has been shown to be a risk factor for poor adherence.The first article of this two‐part series (Progress issue 1, 2009) explored poor adherence with antidepressant treatment and effect on outcome. In this article treatment variables that may affect adherence are explored alongside some of the interventions that have been proposed to improve medicine taking behaviour in patients with depression.The effect these had on outcome is examined and recommendations, based on current evidence, are made as to what should be done to improve adherence in depression. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Innovating for Health – a call for better relationships
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: April 2009

The Innovation for Health report by the Royal College of Physicians examines relationships between patients, the NHS, academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. Steve Chaplin reviews the key recommendations. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Assessment and treatment of cognitive deficits in dementia
Authors: Gifford Julia , Jones Roy
Published: April 2009

Our series Prescribing in older people gives practical advice for successful management of the special problems faced by this age group. Here, the authors discuss how cognitive deficits in dementia are assessed and describe current recommended treatment. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Theoretical description of time‐resolved pump/probe photoemission in TaS2: a single‐band DFT+DMFT(NRG) study within the quasiequilibrium approximation
Authors: Freericks J. K. , Krishnamurthy H. R. , Ge Yizhi , Liu A. Y. , Pruschke Th.
Published: April 2009

In this work, we theoretically examine recent pump/probe photoemission experiments on the strongly correlated charge‐density‐wave insulator TaS2.We describe the general nonequilibrium many‐body formulation of time‐resolved photoemission in the sudden approximation, and then solve the problem using dynamical mean‐field theory with the numerical renormalization group and a bare density of states calculated from density functional theory including the charge‐density‐wave distortion of the ion cores and spin‐orbit coupling.

We find a number of interesting results: (i) the bare band structure actually has more dispersion in the perpendicular direction than in the two‐dimensional planes; (ii) the DMFT approach can produce upper and lower Hubbard bands that resemble those in the experiment, but the upper bands will overlap in energy with other higher energy bands; (iii) the effect of the finite width of the probe pulse is minimal on the shape of the photoemission spectra; and (iv) the quasiequilibrium approximation does not fully describe the behavior in this system (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A three‐dimensional Brownian motor, realised with symmetric optical lattices
Authors: Kastberg Anders , Dion Claude M. , Hagman Henning , Zelán Martin
Published: April 2009

A three‐dimensional Brownian motor is realised using lasercooled caesium atoms trapped in a system of two static, and individually symmetric, optical lattices; a so‐called double optical lattice. Isotropic fluctuations, emanating from light scattering, are rectified, and the diffusion of the ensemble of atoms is biased, with a resulting constant velocity that is controllable both in direction and magnitude. The working principle of the Brownian motor can be seen as a pulsation between two different potentials, both symmetric but around different points. The correlation between interferometric spatial offsets, and imbalance in optical pumping rates, leads to a spatio‐temporal asymmetry sufficient for generating a controlled, directed motion (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Monte Carlo study of the Falicov–Kimball model: implementation of the histogram method
Authors: Wróbel Maciej , Małczak Mateusz , Mierzejewski Marcin , Maśka Maciej M.
Published: April 2009

We show that the histogram method that is widely used in the Monte Carlo simulations for the Ising model, can also be implemented in the simulations carried out for the Falicov–Kimball model. We estimate the systematic errors arising from application of this method and discuss the regimes of model parameters, where these errors are minimal. We apply the histogram method for determining the transition temperature and demonstrate significant advantages over standard simulations (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quantum metamaterials: Electromagnetic waves in Josephson qubit lines
Authors: Zagoskin A. M. , Rakhmanov A. L. , Savel'ev Sergey , Nori Franco
Published: April 2009

We consider the propagation of a classical electromagnetic wave through a transmission line, formed by identical superconducting charge qubits inside a superconducting resonator. Since the qubits can be in a coherent superposition of quantum states, we show that such a system demonstrates interesting new effects, such as a “breathing” photonic crystal with an oscillating bandgap. Similar behaviour is expected from a transmission line formed by flux qubits. The key ingredient of these effects is that the optical properties of the Josephson transmission line are controlled by the quantum coherent state of the qubits (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Layer‐by‐layer fabrication of hierarchical structures in sol–gel templated thin titania films
Authors: Perlich J. , Memesa M. , Diethert A. , Metwalli E. , Wang W. , Roth S. V. , Timmann A. , Gutmann J. S. , Müller‐Buschbaum P.
Published: April 2009

The fabrication of titania nanostructures with hierarchical order of different structural levels is investigated. The nanostructures are prepared with a diblock‐copolymer assisted sol–gel process. By iterative spin‐coating of the solution onto silicon substrates a thin polymer‐nanocomposite film is deposited and transformed to purely anatase titania nanostructures via calcination. In total, this procedure is repeated three times on top of the substrate. The approach is monitored with grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering after each fabrication step. With scanning electron microscopy the final hierarchical structure is imaged. From the characterization different structural levels are clearly identified.

magnified image

Preparation of small titania nanogranules on top of much larger sol–gel templated titania granules.

(© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Implementation of community‐based landslide hazard mitigation measures: the role of stakeholder engagement in ‘sustainable’ project scale‐up
Authors: Holcombe Elizabeth A. , Anderson Malcolm G.
Published: April 2009

Rainfall‐triggered landslides present a major hazard to unplanned communities in tropical developing countries. We describe the MoSSaiC methodology (Management of Slope Stability in Communities) and show that landslide hazard can be reduced if tackled at the appropriate spatial and institutional scales. Stakeholder engagement – from communities to governments and funding agencies – has enabled the implementation of ‘on the ground’ construction to effectively reduce landslide hazard. Specifically, a cross‐agency management team liaised closely with the local social intervention fund, community project committees and individual residents to map the highly localized landside triggers and to design and build appropriate mitigation measures. Institutional, political and financial cycles can potentially act to destabilize such community‐based development initiatives. However, implementation of this approach in the Caribbean is shown to have reduced landslide hazard, whilst simultaneously gaining significant support from all stakeholders. The methodology outlined is an innovative and effective alternative to conventional ‘top‐down’ landslide risk reduction approaches. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Too much love in the neighborhood can hurt: how an excess of intensity and trust in relationships may produce negative effects on firms
Authors: Molina‐Morales F. Xavier , Martínez‐Fernández M. Teresa
Published: April 2009

This study aims to provide a better understanding of the effect of social networks on innovation through the analysis of territorial agglomerations of firms. Critical voices argue that the same mechanisms that form the basis of efficient, continuous improvements of clustered firms can also be considered as limitations. We suggest that the impact of social capital decreases beyond a certain point of development. In fact, the effect of social interactions and trust on firm value creation can be described as an inverted U‐shaped curve. The study is based on a sample of 154 firms in the Valencia region of Spain. Implications of the study have relevant prescriptions for regional planners and individual entrepreneurs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depolarizing GABAergic synaptic input triggers endocannabinoid‐mediated retrograde synaptic signaling
Authors: Urbanski Michael J. , Kovacs Flora E. , Szabo Bela
Published: April 2009

Endocannabinoids released by postsynaptic neurons inhibit neurotransmitter release from presynaptic axon terminals. One typical stimulus of endocannabinoid production is an increase of calcium concentration in postsynaptic neurons. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether depolarizing GABAergic synaptic input, by increasing calcium concentration in postsynaptic neurons, can trigger endocannabinoid production. Spontaneous GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were recorded in Purkinje cells in mouse cerebellar slices with patch‐clamp pipettes containing 151 mM chloride (a usual recording mode). sIPSCs were depolarizing inward currents under this condition. Combined electrophysiological and fluorometric calcium imaging experiments indicated that sIPSCs frequently triggered calcium spikes. After the calcium spikes, a short‐term suppression of sIPSCs occurred. This suppression was prevented by the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist rimonabant and the diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor orlistat, but not changed by URB597, an inhibitor of anandamide degradation. It is, therefore, likely that CB1 receptors and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol were involved. For testing the physiological significance of the above observation, we carried out experiments on brains of 3‐ to 5‐day‐old mice. The gramicidin‐induced perforated patch‐clamp mode was used for preserving the physiological intracellular chloride concentration of the neurons. Depolarizing GABAergic sIPSCs occurred under this condition, but at a very low rate. Rimonabant did not change the frequency of these sIPSCs, arguing against the persistence of an endocannabinoid tone. The results point to a new kind of trigger of endocannabinoid production: depolarizing GABAergic synaptic input can elicit endocannabinoid production in postsynaptic neurons by activating calcium channels. The produced endocannabinoid suppresses GABA release from presynaptic axon terminals. Synapse 63:643–652, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interactions of serotonin (5‐HT)2receptor‐targeting ligands and nicotine: Locomotor activity studies in rats
Authors: Zaniewska Magdalena , McCreary Andrew C. , Filip Małgorzata
Published: April 2009

Male Wistar rats were used to verify the hypothesis that serotonin (5‐HT)2Aor 5‐HT2Creceptors may control the locomotor effects evoked by nicotine (0.4mg/kg). The 5‐HT2Areceptor antagonist (M100,907), the 5‐HT2Areceptor agonist (DOI), the 5‐HT2Creceptor antagonist (SB 242,084), and the 5‐HT2Creceptor agonists (Ro 60‐0175 and WAY 163,909) were used. M100,907 (0.5–2mg/kg) did not alter, while DOI (1 mg/kg) enhanced the nicotine‐induced hyperlocomotion. The effect of DOI was antagonized by M100,907 (1 mg/kg). SB 242,084 (0.25–1 mg/kg) augmented, while Ro 60‐0175 (1 and 3 mg/kg) and WAY 163,909 (1.5 mg/kg) decreased the overall effect of acute nicotine; effects of Ro 60‐0175 and WAY 163,909 were attenuated by SB 242,084 (0.125 mg/kg). In another set of experiments, M100,907 (2 mg/kg) on Day 10 attenuated, while DOI (0.1–1 mg/kg) enhanced the nicotine‐evoked conditioned hyperlocomotion in rats repeatedly (Days 1–5) treated with nicotine in experimental chambers. SB 242,084 (0.125 or 1 mg/kg) did not change, while Ro 60‐0175 (1 mg/kg) or WAY 163,909 (1.5 mg/kg) decreased the expression of nicotine‐induced conditioned hyperactivity. Only DOI (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) and SB 242,084 (1 mg/kg) enhanced the basal locomotion. The present data indicate that 5‐HT2Areceptors are significant for the expression of nicotine‐evoked conditioned hyperactivity. Conversely, 5‐HT2Creceptors play a pivotal role in the acute effects of nicotine. Pharmacological stimulation of 5‐HT2Areceptors enhances the conditioned hyperlocomotion, while activation of 5‐HT2Creceptors decreases both the response to acute nicotine and conditioned hyperactivity. Synapse 63:653–661, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antifungal properties of a peptide derived from the signal peptide of the HIV‐1 regulatory protein, Rev
Authors: Lee Juneyoung , Lee Dong Gun
Published: April 2009

Antifungal effects of nuclear entry inhibitory signal peptide of HIV‐1 Rev protein (Rev‐NIS) were investigated. Rev‐NIS contained potent antifungal activities without hemolytic effects. To understand the antifungal mechanism(s),
in vivo
and
in vitro
fluorescent studies were conducted. Flow cytometric analysis with bis‐(1,3‐dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol [DiBAC4(3)] and calcein‐leakage measurement from large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) indicated that Rev‐NIS depolarized and disrupted the fungal membranes. These results were further confirmed by using giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The current study suggests that Rev‐NIS exerts its antifungal activity with membrane‐active mechanism(s).
Glutathione and gamma‐glutamyl transferases are involved in the formation of cadmium–glutathione complex
Authors: Adamis Paula Daniela Braga , Mannarino Sérgio Cantú , Eleutherio Elis Cristina Araújo
Published: April 2009

In a wild‐type strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cadmium induces the activities of both gamma‐glutamyl transferase (gamma‐GT) and glutathione transferase 2 (Gtt2). However, Gtt2 activity did not increase under gamma‐GT or Ycf1 deficiencies, suggesting that the accumulation of glutathione–cadmium in the cytosol inhibits Gtt2. On the other hand, the balance between the cytoplasmic and vacuolar level of glutathione seems to regulate gamma‐GT activity, since this enzyme was not activated in a gtt2 strain. Taken together, these results suggest that gamma‐GT and Gtt2 work together to remove cadmium from the cytoplasm, a crucial mechanism for metal detoxification that is dependent on glutathione.
The nature of sociolinguistic perception
Authors: Campbell-Kibler Kathryn
Published: April 2009

This study investigates how linguistic variation carries social meaning, examining the impact of the English variable (ING) on perceptions of eight speakers from the U.S. West Coast and South. Thirty-two excerpts of spontaneous speech were digitally manipulated to vary only in tokens of (ING) and used to collect listener perceptions in group interviews (N = 55) and an experiment (N = 124). Interview data and experimental results show that (ING) impacts social perception variably, inhabiting an indexical field of related meanings (Eckert, Penelope. [2008]. Variation and the indexical field. Journal of Sociolinguistics 12(4):453–476). One of these meanings, intelligence/education, is explored in detail to understand how a given meaning is realized or not in a specific context. Speakers were heard as less educated/intelligent when they used -in, but this effect is driven by reactions to speakers heard as aregional and not as working-class. Some implications on our future understanding of the processing of socially laden variation are discussed.
Coloniality and Theological Method in Africa
Authors: Heaney Robert S.
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this article is to approach the heuristic potency of coloniality illustrated by reference to the emergence of African theologies. Coloniality refers to subjugating strategies found in mission discourses which are not unrelated to wider colonial violence. It will be argued that such an analytic category, which arises from historical experiences of mission malpractice, has particular theological and methodological significance. Consequently, post-colonial Anglicanisms will affirm particularism, experiential interfaces and inductive theologizing.
Können neue Erfassungsmethoden alte Probleme der Wohlbefindensmessung lösen?
Authors: Erhart Michael , Rose Matthias , Ravens-Sieberer Ulrike
Published: April 2009

Zusammenfassung. Die meisten der derzeit verfügbaren Mehriteminstrumente zur Erfassung des Wohlbefindens und der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität sind sehr lang und umfangreich, während kürzere Verfahren oft Einbußen in der Messpräzision bedingen. Die Messungen der unterschiedlichen Verfahren sind darüber hinaus kaum vergleichbar. Diese Nachteile schränken die praktische Anwendbarkeit der Wohlbefindensmessung für wissenschaftliche sowie klinische Untersuchungen ein. Am Beispiel des internationalen KIDSCREEN Projektes wird aufgezeigt, wie moderne Verfahren der Item-Response Theorie (IRT), des Itembanking und des Computer Adaptiven Testens (CAT) zur Lösung der genannten Probleme beitragen können. Die 6 Items der IRT skalierten Skala Psychisches Wohlbefinden des KIDSCREEN-52 Lebensqualitätsinstruments konnten mit weiteren 20 Items von 5 anderen Lebensqualitätsinstrumenten auf eine gemeinsame Metrik kalibriert werden. Die entwickelte Itembank erhöht die Reliabilität der Messung von α = .81 auf α = .92, ermöglicht eine individuelle Diagnostik und die Vergleichbarkeit der Messergebnisse über die Instrumente. Die Itembank kann als Grundlage für einen Computer Adaptiven Test (CAT) psychischen Wohlbefindens verwendet werden.
Constraints on mineralization, fluid‐rock interaction, and mass transfer during faulting at 2–3 km depth from the SAFOD drill hole
Authors: Schleicher Anja M. , Tourscher Sara N. , van der Pluijm Ben A. , Warr Laurence N.
Published: April 2009

Mineralogical and geochemical changes in mudrock cuttings from two segments of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) drill hole (3066–3169 and 3292–3368 m measured depth) are analyzed in this study. Bulk rock samples and hand‐picked fault‐related grains characterized by polished surfaces and slickensides were investigated by X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and geochemical analysis. The elemental changes in fault‐related grains along the sampled San Andreas Fault are attributed to dissolution of detrital grains (particularly feldspar and quartz) and local precipitation of illite‐smectite and/or chlorite‐smectite mixed layers in fractures and veins. Assuming ZrO2 and TiO2 to be immobile elements, systematic differences in element concentrations show that most of the elements are depleted in the fault‐related grains compared to the wall rock lithology. Calculated mass loss between the bulk rock and picked fault rock ranges from 17 to 58% with a greater mass transport in the shallow trace of the sampled fault that marks the upper limit the fault core. The relatively large amount of element transport at temperatures of ∼110–114°C recorded throughout the core requires extensive fluid circulation during faulting. Whereas dissolution/precipitation may be partly induced by the disequilibrium between fluids and rocks during diagenetic processes, stress‐induced dissolution at grain contacts is proposed as the main mechanism for extensive mineral transformation in the fault rocks and localization of neomineralization along grain interface slip surfaces.
North American influence on tropospheric ozone and the effects of recent emission reductions: Constraints from ICARTT observations
Authors: Hudman R. C. , Murray L. T. , Jacob D. J. , Turquety S. , Wu S. , Millet D. B. , Avery M. , Goldstein A. H. , Holloway J.
Published: April 2009

We use observations from the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) campaign over eastern North America in summer 2004, interpreted with a global 3‐D model of tropospheric chemistry (GEOS‐Chem), to improve and update estimates of North American influence on global tropospheric ozone and the effect of recent U.S. anthropogenic reductions on surface ozone pollution. We find that the 50% decrease in U.S. stationary NOx sources since 1999 has decreased mean U.S. boundary layer ozone concentrations by 6–8 ppbv in the southeast and 4–6 ppbv in the Midwest. The observed dO3/dCO molar enhancement ratio in the U.S. boundary layer during ICARTT was 0.46 mol mol−1, larger than the range of 0.3–0.4 from studies in the early 1990s, possibly reflecting the decrease in the NOx/CO emission ratio as well as an increase in the ozone production efficiency per unit NOx. North American NOx emissions during summer 2004 as constrained by the ICARTT observations (0.72 Tg N fossil fuel, 0.11 Tg N biomass burning, 0.28 Tg N lightning for 1 July to 15 August) enhanced the hemispheric tropospheric ozone burden by 12.4%, with comparable contributions from fossil fuel and lightning (5–6%), but only 1% from biomass burning emissions despite 2004 being a record fire year over Alaska and western Canada.
Teleconnections force interannual‐to‐decadal tidal variability in the Lagoon of Venice (northern Adriatic)
Authors: Zanchettin D. , Rubino A. , Traverso P. , Tomasino M.
Published: April 2009

In the present investigation, for the first time, fundamental characteristics of autumn and winter average sequences of sea level heights (SLH) that were recorded in the Lagoon of Venice (northern Adriatic, in the Mediterranean Sea) during the period 1872–2004 are investigated. Interannual‐to‐decadal variability of Venetian SLH is found to reflect the variability of the most prominent Euro‐Atlantic teleconnections (EATs). In particular, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Atlantic/Western Russian, and the Scandinavian patterns are found to contribute to generate the ∼5‐year, ∼8‐year and ∼22‐year peaks that dominate the spectra of seasonal Venetian SLH. Among the possible oceanic and atmospheric phenomena downscaling interannual‐to‐decadal large‐scale atmospheric signals into the observed variability in the Venetian SLH, we explore inverse barometer effect, wind‐driven setup, and the thermohaline circulation of both the Adriatic and the Mediterranean seas. All these phenomena are assessed to display some of the typical features of the shared interannual‐to‐decadal variability of both Venetian SLH and EATs. Our analysis shows also that the decadal variability of winter Venetian SLH is closely linked with variations in solar activity: in particular, the winter SLH multidecadal pattern is found to be correlated, with very high statistical confidence, to the Hale Cycles pattern (∼22 years), which describes the series of sunspot cycles with alternating opposite polarity. The marked signature of Hale Cycles on the leading mode of multidecadal sea level pressure winter variability (which is practically indistinguishable from the inverse wintertime NAO) is also detailed to further support the hypothesis of a Sun‐Venetian SLH association.
Footprint of temperature changes in the temperate and boreal forest carbon balance
Authors: Piao Shilong , Friedlingstein Pierre , Ciais Philippe , Peylin Philippe , Zhu Biao , Reichstein Markus
Published: April 2009

In this study, we use net ecosystem productivity (NEP) measurement data across several forest sites and a simple conceptual model to investigate the linkage between temperature and NEP by considering either temperature change in the recent past or current mean annual temperature (MAT) as a forcing. After removing the effect of stand age, forest NEP is only weakly correlated with MAT. However, temperature changes during the period of 1980–2002 do explain a very significant fraction of the current spatial patterns of NEP, although the response of the terrestrial carbon balance to temperature changes varies with season. Changes in spring temperature having the highest correlation with annual NEP. We also show that temperature changes before the 1970s had a limited influence on the current NEP, and that the impact of recent temperature changes within the last decade on NEP are not strong enough to be observable. Overall, our analysis indicates not only that temperature changes in the recent past is one of the important drivers of today's forest carbon balance in the Northern Hemisphere, but also that the ongoing global warming will contribute significantly to the near‐future evolution of the Northern Hemisphere carbon sink. A non‐equilibrium framework must be taken into account when studying the impacts of temperature change on current or future forest net carbon balance.
Empirical normalization for the effect of volcanic stratospheric aerosols on AVHRR NDVI
Authors: Vargas M. , Kogan F. , Guo W.
Published: April 2009

The 1982 El Chichon and 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruptions produced large volumes of stratospheric aerosols that affected the environmental indices estimated from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor. As a result the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) used to derive several vegetation health products exhibits a negative bias between approximately 20°N and 20°S during the post eruption years. In this work a statistical method based on Empirical Distribution Functions (EDF) and simple assumptions regarding the state of global vegetation is used to reduce these biases. Results show that the statistical technique effectively reduces the biases allowing the construction of consistent time series from this historical dataset for climate studies.
TatD is a central component of a Tat translocon‐initiated quality control system for exported FeS proteins in Escherichia coli
Authors: Matos Cristina F R O , Di Cola Alessandra , Robinson Colin
Published: April 2009

Bacterial Tat systems export folded proteins, including FeS proteins such as NrfC and NapG, which acquire their cofactors before translocation. NrfC and NapG are proofread by the Tat pathway, and misfolded examples are degraded after interaction with the translocon. Here, we identify TatD as a crucial component of this quality control system in Escherichia coli. NrfC/NapG variants lacking FeS centres are rapidly degraded in wild‐type cells but stable in a ΔtatD strain. The precursor of another substrate, FhuD, is also transiently detected in wild‐type cells but stable in the ΔtatD strain. Surprisingly, these substrates are stable in ΔtatD cells that overexpress TatD, and export of the non‐mutated precursors is inhibited. We propose that TatD is part of a quality control system that is intimately linked to the Tat export pathway, and that the overexpression of TatD leads to an imbalance between the two systems such that both Tat‐initiated turnover and export are prevented.
The influence of oxygen on structure and magnetic properties of full Heusler Co2MnAl films and magnetic tunnel junctions
Authors: Qiu J. J. , Ko V. , Luo P. , Yeo W. K. , An L. H. , Zong B. Y. , Han G. C.
Published: April 2009

Two series of Co2MnAl (CMA) and Co2MnAlO (CMAO) thin films deposited on Si (100) coated with thermo-SiO2 by using two CoMnAl targets were studied. One target is oxygen-free and the other one contains 0.8% oxygen. The properties of the two series CMA (O) films strongly depend on deposition conditions and seed layers. The oxygen impurity is a key factor to influence the properties. It would obviously increase the thickness of magnetic dead layer, weaken the magnetic anisotropy, and significantly decrease the spin polarization in CMA film. The magnetoresistance ratios of IrMn pinned top-type magnetic tunnel junctions by utilizing CMAO/CMA as the bottom ferromagnetic electrode were 19% and 68%, respectively.
Permeability calculation in composite media with low filler concentration: A new method of effective media theory application
Authors: Jiang J. T. , Zhen L. , Wei X. J. , Gong Y. X. , Shao W. Z. , Xu C. Y. , He K.
Published: April 2009

A new method was established to calculate the intrinsic or effective permeability in composite media with low filler concentrations. The calculation instability of Bruggeman effective media theory was avoided through a media reconstruction, and thus the prediction accuracy and calculation consistence were greatly improved. The established method has been tested in Fe/SiO2 based composite media, and its validity been preliminarily proved. This study then proposed a new way to extend the applicability scope of the Bruggeman effective media theory.