bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anforderungen an Werkstoffe und Werkstoffoberflächen bezüglich Reinigbarkeit und Beständigkeit
Authors: Bobe U. , Wildbrett G.
Published: October 2006

Für die Produktion von Lebensmitteln und Pharmazeutika spielt die Auswahl des richtigen Werkstoffes für den Anlagenbau eine wichtige Rolle. Die Frage, wie die produktberührende Oberfläche den Produktionsablauf beeinflusst, ist von zentraler Bedeutung. Dabei wird von den Oberflächen häufig gefordert, dass sie durch ihre Reinigbarkeit und Korrosionsbeständigkeit eine nachhaltig sichere, störungsfreie und kostengünstigere Produktion gewährleisten. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, wie der aktuelle Stand der Forschung hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen der Werkstoffoberflächen auf die Reinigbarkeit ist. Des Weiteren werden Ursachen für mögliche Korrosionsschäden an nichtrostenden Edelstählen einschließlich der Möglichkeiten zur Schadensverhütung sowie der Einsatzbereich von EPDM als elastomeres Dichtungsmaterial behandelt.
Packstoffentkeimung mittels Wasserstoffperoxid – Methoden und Kombinationsverfahren
Authors: Engelhard P. , Kulozik U.
Published: October 2006

Für die Packstoffentkeimung beim keimarmen bzw. aseptischen Verpacken von Lebensmitteln hat sich Wasserstoffperoxid breit durchgesetzt. Neben den verschiedenen Anwendungen dieses stark oxidativen Entkeimungsagens in flüssiger Form etablieren sich immer mehr Verfahren, die Wasserstoffperoxid in der Gasphase einsetzen. Zwei solcher Verfahren werden in diesem Beitrag vorgestellt: die Entkeimung mittels wasserstoffperoxidhaltiger Heißluft und die Entkeimung mit einer Kombination aus flüssigem Wasserstoffperoxid und einer IR‐Bestrahlung. Mit beiden Verfahren ist es möglich, bakterielle Sporen in wenigen Sekunden abzutöten, ohne dass hohe Rückstände der Chemikalie auf dem Packmittel verbleiben.
Retrograde analyses of spinothalamic projections in the macaque monkey: Input to ventral posterior nuclei
Authors: Craig A.D. (Bud)
Published: October 2006

The distribution of retrogradely labeled spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons was analyzed in monkeys following variously sized injections of cholera toxin subunit B (CTb) in order to determine whether different STT termination sites receive input from different sets of STT cells. This report focuses on STT input to the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL) and the subjacent ventral posterior inferior nucleus (VPI), where prior anterograde tracing studies identified scattered STT terminal bursts and a dense terminal field, respectively. In cases with small or medium‐sized injections in VPL, labeled STT cells were located almost entirely in lamina V (in spinal segments consistent with the mediolateral VPL topography); few cells were labeled in lamina I (<8%) and essentially none in lamina VII. Large and very large injections in VPL produced marked increases in labeling in lamina I, associated first with spread into VPI and next into the posterior part of the ventral medial nucleus (VMpo), and abundant labeling in lamina VII, associated with spread into the ventral lateral (VL) nucleus. Small injections restricted to VPI labeled many STT cells in laminae I and V with an anteroposterior topography. These observations indicate that VPL receives STT input almost entirely from lamina V neurons, whereas VPI receives STT input from both laminae I and V cells, with two different topographic organizations. Together with the preceding observation that STT input to VMpo originates almost entirely from lamina I, these findings provide strong evidence that the primate STT consists of anatomically and functionally differentiable components. J. Comp. Neurol. 499:965–978, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dual olfactory pathway in the honeybee, Apis mellifera
Authors: Kirschner Sebastian , Kleineidam Christoph Johannes , Zube Christina , Rybak Jürgen , Grünewald Bernd , Rössler Wolfgang
Published: October 2006

The antennal lobes (ALs) are the primary olfactory centers in the insect brain. In the AL of the honeybee, olfactory glomeruli receive input via four antennal sensory tracts (T1–4). Axons of projection neurons (PNs) leave the AL via several antenno‐cerebral tracts (ACTs). To assign the input–output connectivity of all glomeruli, we investigated the spatial relationship of the antennal tracts and two prominent AL output tracts (medial and lateral ACT) mainly formed by uniglomerular (u) PNs using fluorescent tracing, confocal microscopy, and 3D analyses. Furthermore, we investigated the projections of all ACTs in higher olfactory centers, the mushroom‐bodies (MB) and lateral horn (LH). The results revealed a clear segregation of glomeruli into two AL hemispheres specifically supplied by PNs of the medial and lateral ACT. PNs of the lateral ACT innervate glomeruli in the ventral‐rostral AL and primarily receive input from T1 (plus a few glomeruli from T2 and T3). PNs of the medial ACT innervate glomeruli in the dorsal‐caudal hemisphere, and mainly receive input from T3 (plus a few glomeruli from T2 and T4). The PNs of the m‐ and l‐ACT terminate in different areas of the MB calyx and LH and remain largely segregated. Tracing of three mediolateral (ml) ACTs mainly formed by multiglomerular PNs revealed terminals in distinct compartments of the LH and in three olfactory foci within the lateral protocerebrum. The results indicate that olfactory input in the honeybee is processed via two separate, mainly uPN pathways to the MB calyx and LH and several pathways to the lateral protocerebrum. J. Comp. Neurol. 499:933–952, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunolabeling demonstrates the interdependence of mouse brain α4 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit expression
Authors: Whiteaker Paul , Cooper John F. , Salminen Outi , Marks Michael J. , Mcclure‐Begley Tristan D. , Brown Robert W.B. , Collins Allan C. , Lindstrom Jon M.
Published: October 2006

Immunolabeling of β2 and α4 subunits was quantitated in brain sections (14 μm) using [125I]mAb 270 and [125I]mAb 299, respectively. Specificity was demonstrated by signal loss in β2−/−and α4−/−brain sections, respectively. Even mild paraformaldehyde fixation severely affected immunolabeling, so this study used unfixed sections. Immunolabeling autoradiography was used to map and quantitate the effects of β2 and α4 subunit‐null mutations on their putative partner subunits' protein expression. [125I]mAb 299 labeling was nearly eliminated in β2−/−sections, although dorsal interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) retained a faint signal. Therefore, α4 subunit expression is almost universally β2‐dependent. In contrast, α4‐null mutation effects on [125I]mAb 270 immunolabeling varied widely among brain regions. In corticothalamic regions, [125I]mAb 270 labeling was eliminated. However, in habenulopeduncular regions, α4 genotype had no effect. Other (predominantly dopaminergic and optic tract) nuclei also retained reduced [125I]mAb 270 labeling in α4−/−sections. Thus, although most β2 subunit protein expression is α4‐dependent, this dependence is not universal. Presumably, residual β2 subunits are found in non‐α4* subtypes. Together, these results show that immunolabeling is applicable to reliable, quantitative investigations of neuronal nAChRs, and that subunit‐null mutants can be appropriate controls for such experiments. In situ mRNA hybridization was also performed to determine if altered mRNA transcription mediated the interdependence of α4 and β2 subunit expression. α4‐Null mutation did not affect β2 mRNA expression, nor did β2 genotype affect α4 mRNA expression. Consequently, it seems that the two subunits' effects on each other's expression are mediated at the protein, rather than gene expression level. J. Comp. Neurol. 499:1016–1038, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
VE‐cadherin‐CreERT2 transgenic mouse: A model for inducible recombination in the endothelium
Authors: Monvoisin Arnaud , Alva Jackelyn A. , Hofmann Jennifer J. , Zovein Ann C. , Lane Timothy F. , Iruela‐Arispe M. Luisa
Published: October 2006

To introduce temporal control in genetic experiments targeting the endothelium, we established a mouse line expressing tamoxifen‐inducible Cre‐recombinase (Cre‐ERT2) under the regulation of the vascular endothelial cadherin promoter (VECad). Specificity and efficiency of Cre activity was documented by crossing VECad‐Cre‐ERT2 with the ROSA26R reporter mouse, in which a floxed‐stop cassette has been placed upstream of the β‐galactosidase gene. We found that tamoxifen specifically induced widespread recombination in the endothelium of embryonic, neonatal, and adult tissues. Recombination was also documented in tumor‐associated vascular beds and in postnatal angiogenesis assays. Furthermore, injection of tamoxifen in adult animals resulted in negligible excision (lower than 0.4%) in the hematopoietic lineage. The VECad‐Cre‐ERT2 mouse is likely to be a valuable tool to study the function of genes involved in vascular development, homeostasis, and in complex processes involving neoangiogenesis, such as tumor growth. Developmental Dynamics 235:3413–3422, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
μ‐Coordination Chemistry of NO Ligands: Adducts of trans‐Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) with Lithium Salts
Authors: Liang Fupei , Schmalle Helmut W. , Berke Heinz
Published: October 2006

Reaction of trans‐Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) (1) [dmpe = bis(dimethylphosphanyl)ethane] with lithium triethylborohydride and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide affords the adducts [Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO)(LiHBEt3)]n (2) and {Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO)[LiN(SiMe3)2]2}n (3), respectively, and the reaction of 1 with n‐butyllithium and iodomethane generates the complex [Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO)]3(LiI)2 (4). Complexes 2–4 have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The structure of 2 shows an infinite one‐dimensional “zigzag” chain constructed from an alternating arrangement of Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) and LiHBEt3 moieties, whereas the structure of 3 exhibits an infinite linear chain generated by the alternating arrangement of the Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) moiety and the dimeric [LiN(SiMe3)2]2 unit. In both compounds, the Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) moieties act as bridging ligands by coordination of the nitrosyl oxygen atom and the chlorine atom to the lithium ions. Complex 4 displays a discrete structure formed by two separate monomeric LiI units that are bridged by the nitrosyl oxygen atoms of three Mo(dmpe)2(Cl)(NO) moieties. The chlorine atoms of 4 are not involved in coordination. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Dissociation of the P=C Ylidic Bond
Authors: Shevchenko Igor , Rogalyov Alexey , Rozhenko Alexander B. , Röschenthaler Gerd‐Volker
Published: October 2006

The phosphorus ylides RPh2P=C(Mes)N=C(CF3)2 [R = Ph, Ph2P(O)CH2] in solution undergo reversible dissociation of the P=C ylidic bond to give phosphanes RPh2P and the carbene MesC(:)N=C(CF3)2. The latter can be trapped as its mesomeric nitrile ylide by treatment with cyclohexene or phenyl isocyanate to give cyclic addition products. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Redox Chemistry of a Dimanganese(II,III) Complex with an Unsymmetric Ligand: Water Binding, Deprotonation and Accumulative Light‐Induced Oxidation
Authors: Anderlund Magnus F. , Högblom Joakim , Shi Wei , Huang Ping , Eriksson Lars , Weihe Högni , Styring Stenbjörn , Åkermark Björn , Lomoth Reiner , Magnuson Ann
Published: October 2006

A dinuclear manganese complex {[Mn2II,IIIL(μ‐OAc)2]ClO4} has been synthesised, where L is the dianion of 2‐{[bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]methyl}‐6‐{[(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzyl)(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]methyl}‐4‐methylphenol, an unsymmetric binucleating ligand with two coordinating phenol groups. The two manganese ions, with a Mn–Mn distance of 3.498 Å, are bridged by the two bidentate acetate ligands and the 4‐methylphenolate group of the ligand, resulting in a N3O3 and N2O4 donor set of MnII and MnIII, respectively. Electrochemically [Mn2II,IIIL(μ‐OAc)2]+ is reduced to [Mn2II,IIL(μ‐OAc)2] at E1/2(1) = –0.53 V versusFc+/0 and oxidised to [Mn2III,IIIL(μ‐OAc)2]2+ at E1/2(2) = 0.38 V versus Fc+/0. All three redox states have been characterised by EPR, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Subsequent oxidation of [Mn2II,IIIL(μ‐OAc)2]2+ [E1/2(3) = 0.75 V vs. Fc+/0] in dry acetonitrile results in an unstable primary product with a lifetime of about 100 ms. At high scan rates quasireversible voltammetric behaviour is found for all three electrode processes, with particularly slow electron transfer for the II,III/II,II [k°(1) = 0.002 cm s–1] and III,III/II,III [k°(2) = 0.005 cm s–1] couples, which can be rationalised in terms of major distortions of the MnIII centres. In aqueous media the bridging acetates are replaced by water‐derived ligands. Deprotonation of these stabilises higher valence states, and photo‐induced oxidation of the manganese complex results in a Mn2III,IVLcomplex with oxo or hydroxo bridging ligands, which isfurther oxidised to an EPR‐silent product. These results demonstrate that a larger number of metal‐centred oxidations can be compressed in a narrow potential range if build up of charge is avoided by charge‐compensating reactions. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
New Chiral Ferrocene‐Bridged Phosphole–Phosphane Ligands
Authors: Guadalupe Lopez Cortes Jose , Ramon Olivier , Vincendeau Sandrine , Serra Daniel , Lamy Franck , Daran Jean‐Claude , Manoury Eric , Gouygou Maryse
Published: October 2006

A convenient synthesis of new chiral ferrocenene‐bridged phosphole–phosphane ligands in an enantiomerically pure form has been developed. These new chiral P,P ligands have been tested in a palladium‐catalysed allylic substitution reaction. High activities and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 61 %) were observed. A palladium(II) complex has been isolated and its crystal structure established. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Functionalized Phenanthridine and Dibenzopyranone Derivatives through Benzyne Cyclization – Application to the Total Syntheses of Trisphaeridine and N‐Methylcrinasiadine
Authors: Sanz Roberto , Fernández Yolanda , Castroviejo M. Pilar , Pérez Antonio , Fañanás Francisco J.
Published: October 2006

A series of regioselectively functionalized benzo[c]chromen‐6‐ones, phenanthridinones, and phenanthridine derivatives have been prepared by an anionic cyclization and in situ oxidation sequence starting from 2‐bromobenzyl‐2‐fluorophenyl ethers and amines. These processes involve the generation of a benzyne‐tethered aryllithium intermediate and subsequent 6‐exo‐dig cyclization. By applying this methodology to the appropriate starting materials, short and efficient syntheses of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids trisphaeridine and N‐methylcrinasiadine have been achieved in good overall yields. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Diastereoselective Synthesis of ‐Hydroxy Sulfoxides: Enzymatic and Biomimetic Approaches
Authors: Colonna Stefano , Pironti Vincenza , Zambianchi Francesca , Ottolina Gianluca , Gaggero Nicoletta , Celentano Giuseppe
Published: October 2006

Stereoselectivities of up to 98 % have been found in the enzymatic synthesis of β‐hydroxy sulfoxides catalyzed by cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO). The diastereoselectivity of the “one‐pot” preparation of the title compounds in the presence of bovine serum albumin has also been investigated. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Vitamin E Metabolites: Synthesis of [D2]‐ and [D3]‐γ‐CEHC
Authors: Mazzini Francesco , Galli Francesco , Salvadori Piero
Published: October 2006

Deuterated analogues of α‐ and γ‐CEHC, main urinary and plasma metabolites of vitamin E, can be traced and accurately determined quantitatively by MS in complex matrices. In that regard, here we report the first synthesis ofrac‐[D3]‐γ‐CEHC together with a simple route to 7a,8a‐[D2]‐γ‐CEHC through the set up of efficient procedures for the preparation of the corresponding deuterated hydroquinone building blocks. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Effect of surface modification of siliconeon Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion and colonization
Authors: Tang Haiying , Cao Ting , Wang Anfeng , Liang Xuemei , Salley Steven O. , McAllister James P. , Ng K.Y. Simon
Published: October 2006

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts for the treatment of hydrocephalus are generally made of silicone rubber. The growth of bacterial colonies on the silicone surface leads to frequent CSF shunt complications. A systematic study of the effect of the surface modification of silicone on Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion and colonization was performed for different incubation times by means of colony counting and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Silicone was modified with different biopolymers and silanes, including heparin, hyaluronan, octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), and fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) to provide a stable and biocompatible surface with different surface functional groups and degrees of hydrophobicity. The modified silicone surfaces were studied by using contact angle measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). After 4 and 8 h of incubation, the FAS‐ and OTS‐coated silicone and the hyaluronan coated OTS/silicone surfaces showed significantly reduced bacterial adhesion and colonization compared to blank silicone by both quantification methods. However, the heparin coated OTS/silicone showed significantly increased bacterial adhesion. These results indicate that the nature of the surface functional group and surface roughness determine the extent of bacterial adhesion and colonization. However, the degree of hydrophobicity of the surface did not appear to play a determining role in bacterial adhesion and colonization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Protein adsorption on polyurethane catheters modified with a novel antithrombin‐heparin covalent complex
Authors: Du Ying Jun , Brash John L. , McClung Glen , Berry Leslie R. , Klement Petr , Chan Anthony K.C.
Published: October 2006

Highly anticoagulant covalent antithrombin‐heparin complex (ATH) was covalently grafted onto polyurethane catheters to suppress adsorption/activation of procoagulant proteins and enhance adsorption/activation of anticoagulant proteins for blood compatibility. Consistency of catheter coating was demonstrated using immunohistochemical visualization of ATH. The ability of the resulting immobilized ATH heparin chains to bind antithrombin (AT) from plasma, as measured by binding of 125I‐radiolabeled AT, was greater than that for commercially‐available heparin‐coated catheters, and much greater than for uncoated catheters. Complementary measurements of antifactor Xa (FXa) activity and plasma protein binding were also performed. Both ATH‐coated and heparin‐coated catheters demonstrated functional binding of exogenous AT. However, the ATH‐coated catheters gave a trend towards elevated anti‐ FXa activities/AT binding ratios, consistent with the higher active pentasaccharide content in starting ATH. Western blot analysis of proteins adsorbed to catheters after incubation with rabbit plasma established protein binding profiles that showed AT and albumin as major plasma proteins adsorbed to ATH‐coated catheters, while AT and altered forms of fibrinogen were major plasma protein species adsorbed to heparinized catheters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Injectable hyaluronic acid microhydrogels for controlled release formulation of erythropoietin
Authors: Hahn Sei Kwang , Kim Ji Seok , Shimobouji Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2006

An injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) microhydrogel was successfully developed as a novel drug carrier for controlled release formulation of protein drugs. HA hydrogels were prepared by the disulfide bond formation of thiolated HA (HA‐SH). EPO was loaded in situ during HA‐SH hydrogel preparation using an accelerating agent of sodium tetrathionate. The gelation time was drastically reduced from a day to 30 min when sodium tetrathionate was added for HA‐SH hydrogel preparation. In vitro release of EPO in PBS at 37°C showed that EPO was rapidly released for 3 days with an initial burst and then slowly up to 9 days from HA‐SH hydrogels. HA‐SH microhydrogels were prepared by the reactive spray drying of diluted HA‐SH precursor solution. The mean particle size was ∼2.3 μm and the water content after spray drying was ∼14%. Ellman's test showed that sodium tetrathionate contributed not only for rapid crosslinking reaction but also for the reduction of residual free thiol content in HA‐SH microhydrogels after spray drying. EPO recovery from HA‐SH microhydrogels after degradation with hyaluronidase SD was higher than 95%. The released EPO appeared to be intact from the analysis with RP‐HPLC. According to in vivo release test of EPO from HA‐SH microhydrogels in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, elevated plasma concentration of EPO higher than 0.1 ng/mL, which is a critical minimal concentration for EPO efficacy, was maintained up to 7 days. There was no adverse effect during and after the in vivo tests. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
A degree sum condition for longest cycles in 3‐connected graphs
Authors: Yamashita Tomoki
Published: October 2006

For a graph G, we denote by dG(x) and κ(G) the degree of a vertex x in G and the connectivity of G, respectively. In this article, we show that if G is a 3‐connected graph of order n such that dG(x) + dG(y) + dG(z) ≥ d for every independent set {x, y, z}, then G contains a cycle of length at least min{d − κ(G), n}. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 54: 277–283, 2007
Kinetic and mechanistic study on the thermal reactivity of stabilized phosphorus ylides, part 3: [(Acetyl)(arylcarbamoyl)methylene]triphenylphosphoranes and [(alkoxycarbonyl)(arylcarbamoyl)methylene]triphenylphosphoranes and their thiocarbamoyl analogues
Authors: Aitken R. Alan , Al‐Awadi Nouria A. , Dawson Graham , El‐Dusouqui Osman , Kaul Kamini , Kumar Ajith
Published: October 2006

A series of five [(acetyl)(arylcarbabmoyl)methylene]triphenyl‐phosphoranes 1a–e and their thiocarbamoyl analogues 2a–e, [(alkoxycarbonyl)(arylcarbamoyl)methylene]triphenylphosphoranes 3a–e and their thiocarbamoyl analogues 4a–e were prepared and fully characterized. All ylides are found under conditions of flash vacuum pyrolysis to fragment giving arylisocyanate or isothiocyanate and acetyl ylides or alkoxy ylides which undergo thermal extrusion of Ph3PO. A kinetic study shows that these reactions are unimolecular and are of first‐order nature with no significant substituent effect. The thiocarbamoyl ylides 2 react from 4.6 to 42 times faster than their carbamoyl ylides 1, while the thiocarbamoyl ylides 4 react from 6.6 to 20.9 times faster than their carbamoyl ylides 3. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 6–16, 2007
A framework for network quality monitoring in the VoIP environment
Authors: de Lima Ana Flàvia M. , de Carvalho Leandro S. G. , de Souza José Neuman , de Souza Mota Edjair
Published: October 2006

Monitoring speech quality in Voice over IP (VoIP) networks is important to ensure a minimal acceptable level of speech quality for IP calls running through a managed network. Information such as packet loss, codec type, jitter, end‐to‐end delay and overall speech quality enables the network manager to verify and accurately tune parameters in order to adjust network problems. The present article proposes the deployment of a monitoring architecture that collects, stores and displays speech quality information about concluded voice calls. This architecture is based on our proposed MIB (Management Information Base) VOIPQOS, deployed for speech quality monitoring purposes. Currently, the architecture is totally implemented, but under adjustment and validation tests. In the future, the VOIPQOS MIB can be expanded to automatically analyze collected data and control VoIP clients and network parameters for tuning the overall speech quality of ongoing calls. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) by flavonoids isolated from Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb) (Simaroubaceae)
Authors: Loizzo Monica Rosa , Said Ataa , Tundis Rosa , Rashed Khaled , Statti Giancarlo Antonio , Hufner Antje , Menichini Francesco
Published: October 2006

In our screening program for antihypertensive properties of plants, the leaves of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb), a plant used in Egyptian traditional medicine, were analysed. Chromatographic separation of A. excelsa MeOH extract yielded six flavonoids for the first time from this species, namely apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol‐3‐O‐α‐arabinopyranoside, kaempferol‐3‐O‐β‐galactopyranoside, quercetin‐3‐O‐α‐arabinopyranoside and luteolin‐7‐O‐β‐glucopyranoside. The in vitro hypotensive activities of the MeOH extract and the isolated compounds were elucidated. All the flavonoids tested exhibited ACE inhibitory activity, in particular the most active compound was kaempferol‐3‐O‐β‐galactopyranoside with an IC50 value of 260 µm. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptogenic and central nervous system effects of single doses of 3% rosavin and 1% salidroside Rhodiola rosea L. extract in mice
Authors: Perfumi Marina , Mattioli Laura
Published: October 2006

Rhodiola rosea L., or ‘golden root’, is a popular plant in traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia, with a reputation for improving depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue and treating symptoms of asthenia subsequent to intense physical and psychological stress. Due to these therapeutic properties, R. rosea is considered to be one of the most active adaptogenic drugs. To confirm and extend results obtained in the few preclinical and clinical studies available in English language journals, the purpose of the present study was to re‐investigate the effects produced by a single oral administration of an R. rosea hydroalcohol extract (containing 3% rosavin and 1% salidroside) on the central nervous system in mice. The extract was tested on antidepressant, adaptogenic, anxiolytic, nociceptive and locomotor activities at doses of 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg, using predictive behavioural tests and animal models. The results show that this R. rosea extract significantly, but not dose‐dependently, induced antidepressant‐like, adaptogenic, anxiolytic‐like and stimulating effects in mice. This study thus provides evidence of the efficacy of R. rosea extracts after a single administration, and confirms many preclinical and clinical studies indicating the adaptogenic and stimulating effects of such R. rosea extracts. Moreover, antidepressant‐like and anxiolytic‐like activities of R. rosea were shown in mice for the first time. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Getting to grips with packaging: using ethnography and computer simulation to understand hand–pack interaction
Authors: Yoxall A. , Luxmoore J. , Austin M. , Canty L. , Margrave K. J. , Richardson C. J. , Wearn J. , Howard I. C. , Lewis R.
Published: October 2006

The general population of many developed countries is aging. Despite many medical advances, aging brings with it a host of issues, not least of all the loss of strength and dexterity. Hence, everyday functions that were easily performed at a younger age can become difficult or even impossible. One major area of concern is the ability of elderly consumers to access food or medicines from packaged goods such as jars, bottles and child‐resistant closures. Many consumers avoid food in jars or have problems with medical compliance. Recently, the authors developed a new approach to packaging design termed the ‘three‐stranded approach’. Here, they outline numerical, experimental and analytical techniques for matching pack function to human ability. Within this work it became apparent that developing a more detailed understanding of how packaging is manipulated and gripped would be of use to packaging designers and engineers and hence enable the manufacture of easier‐to‐open packaging. This paper outlines some preliminary studies on the development of a computational model of a human hand as a tool for packaging design, and a supporting study on the various grips used by consumers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating the costs for a group of geriatric patients using the Coxian phase‐type distribution
Authors: Marshall Adele H. , Shaw Barry , McClean Sally I.
Published: October 2006

The length of stay in hospital of geriatric patients may be modelled using the Coxian phase‐type distribution. This paper examines previous methods which have been used to model health‐care costs and presents a new methodology to estimate the costs for a cohort of patients for their duration of stay in hospital, assuming there are no further admissions. The model, applied to 1392 patients admitted into the geriatric ward of a local hospital in Northern Ireland, between 2002 and 2003, should be beneficial to hospital managers, as future decisions and policy changes could be tested on the model to investigate their influence on costs before the decisions were carried out on a real ward. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Curvature‐adjusted optimal design of sampling times for the inference of pharmacokinetic compartment models
Authors: Daimon Takashi , Goto Masashi
Published: October 2006

In pharmacokinetics, compartment models are often used to describe the time course of blood concentration after the administration of a drug. In this article, we propose an optimal design criterion for precise estimation of parameters included in the compartment model and illustrate the non‐sequential design of sampling times of blood drug concentration data in individual pharmacokinetics. The proposed optimal design criterion minimizes the determinant of the mean‐squared error matrix of the parameter estimator that is quadratically approximated by the curvature array. Therefore, the proposed criterion considers the intrinsic and parameter‐effects nonlinearity underlying the compartment model, and so is applicable in a pharmacokinetic experiment where the sample size of the blood drug concentration data is quite small. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medical Application of Carbon‐Nanotube‐Filled Nanocomposites: The Microcatheter
Authors: Koyama Shozo , Haniu Hisao , Osaka Kazuaki , Koyama Haruhide , Kuroiwa Naomi , Endo Morinobu , Kim Yoong Ahm , Hayashi Takuya
Published: October 2006

Carbon nanotubes hold great promise for use in biomedical fields. Among numerous potential applications, including DNA and protein sensors, bioseparators, biocatalysts, and tissue scaffolds, this article emphasizes the use of carbon‐nanotube‐filled polymer composites as medical devices, namely, microcatheters. The currently hot topic of the biocompatibility (e.g., toxic properties) of carbon nanotubes is discussed. In addition, critical issues that must be clarified for the full utilization of current carbon‐nanotube science and technology in biomedical fields are discussed.
Stretching and Breaking of a Molecular Junction
Authors: Romaner Lorenz , Heimel Georg , Gruber Mathis , Brédas Jean‐Luc , Zojer Egbert
Published: October 2006

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on band structure are used to investigate the electromechanical properties of a molecular junction consisting of a dithiolbenzene molecule sandwiched between two gold slabs. This represents a prototypical system for the field of molecular electronics; such a system has previously been studied in break‐junction measurements and electron‐transport calculations. The stretching and breaking behavior of the junction is analyzed for different geometric conformations, and it is found that the breakage occurs through dissociation of one of the sulfur–gold bonds with a maximum force of 1.25 nN. The molecular electronic states shift during stretching, and, at the point of highest stress in the junction, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the molecule is located exactly at the Fermi level.
A Calculus and logic of resources and processes
Authors: Pym David , Tofts Chris
Published: October 2006

Recent advances in logics for reasoning about resources provide a new approach to compositional reasoning in interacting systems. We present a calculus of resources and processes, based on a development of Milner’s synchronous calculus of communication systems, SCCS, that uses an explicit model of resource. Our calculus models the co-evolution of resources and processes with synchronization constrained by the availability of resources. We provide a logical characterization, analogous to Hennessy–Milner logic’s characterization of bisimulation in CCS, of bisimulation between resource processes which is compositional in the concurrent and local structure of systems.
Comparing soil CO2emission in pine plantation and oak shrub: dynamics and correlations
Authors: Wu Yaqiong , Liu Guohua , Fu Bojie , Liu Zhanfeng , Hu Huifeng
Published: October 2006

The magnitude of soil CO2emission varying significantly among different vegetation types for plants could alter the microclimatic environment of soil. In aPinus tabulaeformisplantation and an adjacentQuercus alienavar.acuteserratashrub, which are located in a dry‐hot valley region of Minjiang River in the Southwest of China, the daily soil CO2emission dynamics was measured in August 2004 and in May, July, and October 2005. The results showed that the soil CO2emission in the oak shrub was significantly higher than the pine plantation in each measurement period. Additionally, soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, and the leaf litter decomposition rate in the two vegetations differed significantly from each other. The variation of soil organic matter and microbial biomass carbon partially contributed to the evident difference in soil CO2emission. Moreover, the correlations between soil CO2emission, soil temperature, and soil water content were evaluated in this study. The soil temperature positively controlled soil CO2emission in the pine plantation and the oak shrub, while the soil water content negatively influenced soil CO2emission in the two vegetation types. However, the soil temperature and soil water content played varied roles in the different vegetation types. By the means of stepwise regression, the soil temperature more significantly influenced the dynamics of soil CO2emission for the plantation than the soil water content; oppositely, the soil water content was the more significant controlling factor for the shrub. Based on the exponent model between the soil CO2emission and soil temperature, theQ10values were estimated, which was 1.7 in the pine plantation and 3.0 in the oak shrub. The former was lower than the global average level of 2.0, whereas the latter was higher than the global average level.
Imperial power, gentry power and clan power: Western and Chinese cultural traditions in a comparative perspective
Authors: Bing Wang , Dan Wang
Published: October 2006

The differences between China and Western countries in human and physical environment has brought about two distinctive models of state. In the Chinese-style state of quasi-consanguinity, in which family and state have a similar structure, imperial power, gentry power, and clan power are the product of common ownership of consanguineous groups. The similarity in the structures of these three kinds of power derives from the fact that they are all restricted by the power of lineage generated from the self-sufficient small farmer economy, and must obey the conventions of ancestors which hold the benefits of the group as supreme. The relationship between these three kinds of power, is definitely not the one that is based on the division of power that is founded on individual private ownership in Western countries, where ‘public power’ and ‘individual private ownership’ are antithetic, but are three aspects of the patriarchal dictatorship that complement each other. Therefore, village rule in China and autonomy in the West are two totally different concepts, and gentry power is also not the ‘authorized power’ from the state.
Hanxue Shangdui : A case study on the contentions between the Han School and the Song School in the middle Qing dynasty
Authors: Shuhong Zhang
Published: October 2006

During the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods of the Qing dynasty, Fang Dongshu published the Hanxue Shangdui, which launched a fierce attack on the Han School and marked the open contentions between the Han and the Song schools. While defending the Song Learning, Fang attacked the shortcomings of the Han School, mainly in four aspects: the Han School’s methods of scholarship, various concepts of philosophy proposed by the Han-Learning scholars, the trivial and piecemeal character, and the heterodoxy of the Han School. Fang Dongshu criticized the Han-Learning scholars who paid attention only to the books and neglected the social affairs. Sharp and reasonable as it was, his criticism however seemed less objective, especially when he tried to use the emperor’s authority to threaten the Han School, which was beyond the range of the normal academic debates.
Conflicting viewpoints on opium prohibition: Radical changes to opium policy in the late Qing dynasty
Authors: Zenghe Liu
Published: October 2006

The ban on opium at the end of the Qing dynasty was larger and more influential than ever before. Opinions differed on opium prohibition between the court and society. The intelligentsia and government believed in a set of policies, while opium farmers and traders resisted them. Subsequent conflicts became more and more intense, especially when opium farmers began protesting the ban on planting opium. The reactions of officials and commoners towards this backlash against the opium ban were very complex. The rehabilitation plans and measures following the backlash proved ineffective, leaving a confused situation out of control.
Cause analysis of meager salaries of Sichuan primary school teachers in the 1930s
Authors: Chongbi Zeng
Published: October 2006

This paper aims to investigate the phenomenon wherein primary school teachers in Sichuan received low salaries in the 1930s. Compared with other professions among either physical or nonphysical jobs, primary school teachers had lower salaries, which were often paid in arrears and deducted. The main causes were instability, mismanagement, and an unbalanced distribution of education funds.
Making Something from Nothing: On Plato's Hipparchus
Authors: Davis Michael
Published: October 2006

Plato's Hipparchus is generally not taken particularly seriously; it is thought either spurious or negligible. Yet its theme, love of the good, places it at the summit of philosophy, at least as Socrates presents it in the Republic. Why, then, is such a slight writing the locus of the discussion of so monumental a question? As is so often the case in Platonic dialogues, in the Hipparchus, we find our way to the deepest questions by way of reflecting on the puzzles revealed in apparently superficial particulars. The most obvious such puzzle in the Hipparchus is its title, for Hipparchus is not a participant in the dialogue but rather the famous, or perhaps infamous, character for whom it is named.
Tolerant Imperialism: John Stuart Mill's Defense of British Rule in India
Authors: Tunick Mark
Published: October 2006

Some critics of John Stuart Mill understand him to advocate the forced assimilation of people he regards as uncivilized and to defend toleration and the principle of liberty only for civilized people of the West. Examination of Mill's social and political writings and practice while serving the British East India Company shows, instead, that Mill is a tolerant imperialist: Mill defends interference in India to promote the protection of legal rights, respect and toleration for conflicting viewpoints, and a commercial society that can cope with natural threats. He does not think the principle of liberty is waived for the uncivilized or that the West should forcibly reshape them in its own monistic image. Mill's tolerant imperialism reflects a tension between liberty and moral development that also surfaces when Mill thinks about the scope of government in civilized societies.
Numerical and experimental characterization of singularities of a six-wire parallel architecture
Authors: Ottaviano Erika , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: October 2006

A characterization of singularities for a six-wire parallel architecture is presented as a result of numerical and experimental analyses. Numerical analysis has been developed through geometrical and analytical considerations. The study is based on a classification that has been derived on the basis of the geometry of tetrahedra, and singular configurations have been classified as a function of the tetrahedron volume. Experimental characterization has been carried out by considering the wire parallel architecture Cassino tracking system (CATRASYS). Experimental results are reported to characterize the performance of the CATRASYS chain in different operating conditions as an illustrative practical example.
Aluminum incorporation in stishovite
Authors: Panero Wendy R.
Published: October 2006

First‐principles calculations of the structure, energetics, compressibility, and elastic constants of aluminous stishovite reveal that the dissolution of aluminum in stishovite can accommodate a significant population of both oxygen vacancies and hydrogen defects. The results show that the incorporation of aluminum in stishovite account for a 1.2(±0.1)% decrease in K0 per mole percent dissolved aluminum, independent of dissolution mechanism (hydrous or anhydrous). Elastic constants, calculated to be in agreement with experimentally‐derived values, indicate that the rutile to CaCl2 transition is likely to be unaffected by the dissolution of small amounts of aluminum and/or hydrogen. As a result, the dissolution of aluminum into stishovite in a subducting basaltic layer will have no more than a 0.2% effect on the density of that layer as it enters the lower mantle.
Effective normal stress alteration due to pore pressure changes induced by dynamic slip propagation on a plane between dissimilar materials
Authors: Rudnicki John W. , Rice James R.
Published: October 2006

Recent, detailed examinations of fault zones show that walls of faults are often bordered by materials that are different from each other and from the more uniform material farther away. In addition, they show that the ultracataclastic core of mature fault zones, where slip is concentrated, is less permeable to flow across it than the adjoining material of the damage zone. Inhomogeneous slip at the interface between materials with different poroelastic properties and permeabilities causes a change in pore pressure there. Because slip causes compression on one side of the fault wall and extension on the other, the pore pressure on the fault increases substantially when the compressed side is significantly more permeable and decreases when, instead, the extended side is more permeable. This change in pore pressure alters the effective normal stress on the slip plane in a way that is analogous to the normal stress alteration in sliding between elastically dissimilar solids. The magnitude of the effect due to induced pore pressure can be comparable to or larger than that induced by sliding between elastic solids with a dissimilarity of properties consistent with seismic observations. The induced pore pressure effect is increased by increasing contrast in permeability, but the normal stress alteration due to elastic contrast increases rapidly as the rupture velocity approaches the generalized Rayleigh velocity. Because the alteration in effective normal stress due to either effect can be positive or negative, depending on the contrast in properties, the two effects can augment or offset each other.
A field study of the hemispherical directional reflectance factor and spectral albedo of dry snow
Authors: Bourgeois C. S. , Calanca P. , Ohmura A.
Published: October 2006

Hemispherical directional reflectance factors (HDRF) were collected under solar zenith angles from 49° to 85°. The experimental site was the Greenland Summit Environmental Observatory (72°35′N, 34°30′W, 3203 m above sea level) where both the snow and the atmosphere are very clean. The observations were carried out for two prevailing snow surface types: a smooth surface with wind‐broken small snow grains and a surface covered with rime causing a higher surface roughness. A specially designed Gonio‐Spectrometer (wavelength range 350–1050 nm), was developed at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science and used to collect spectral HDRFs over the hemisphere. The angular step size was 15° in zenith and azimuth. The HDRFs showed strong variations ranging from 0.6 to 13, depending on the solar zenith angle. The HDRF distribution was nearly isotropic at noon. It varied with increasing solar zenith angle, resulting in a strong forward scattering peak. Smooth surfaces exhibited stronger forward scattering than surfaces covered with rime. At a solar zenith of 85°, an HDRF of ∼13 was observed in the forward scattering direction for λ=900 nm. Spectral albedos were calculated by interpolating the HDRF data sets on a 2° grid and integrating individual wavelengths. Spectral albedos showed variations depending on the solar illumination geometry and the snow surface properties. Broadband albedos were calculated by integration of the spectral albedos over all wavelengths. The broadband albedos derived from directional measurements reproduced the diurnal pattern measured with two back‐to‐back broadband pyranometers.
SPICAM on Mars Express: Observing modes and overview of UV spectrometer data and scientific results
Authors: Bertaux Jean‐Loup , Korablev Oleg , Perrier Séverine , Quémerais Eric , Montmessin Franck , Leblanc F. , Lebonnois S. , Rannou P. , Lefèvre F. , Forget F. , Fedorova A. , Dimarellis E. , Reberac A. , Fonteyn D. , Chaufray J. Y. , Guibert S.
Published: October 2006

This paper is intended as an introduction to several companion papers describing the results obtained by the SPICAM instrument on board Mars Express orbiter. SPICAM is a lightweight (4.7 kg) UV‐IR dual spectrometer dedicated primarily to the study of the atmosphere of Mars. The SPICAM IR spectrometer and its results are described in another companion paper. SPICAM is the first instrument to perform stellar occultations at Mars, and its UV imaging spectrometer (118–320 nm, resolution ∼1.5 nm, intensified CCD detector) was designed primarily to obtain atmospheric vertical profiles by stellar occultation. The wavelength range was dictated by the strong UV absorption of CO2 (λ < 200 nm) and the strong Hartley ozone absorption (220–280 nm). The UV spectrometer is described in some detail. The capacity to orient the spacecraft allows a great versatility of observation modes: nadir and limb viewing (both day and night) and solar and stellar occultations, which are briefly described. The absolute calibration is derived from the observation of UV‐rich stars. An overview of a number of scientific results is presented, already published or found in more detail as companion papers in this special section. SPICAM UV findings are relevant to CO2, ozone, dust, cloud vertical profiles, the ozone column, dayglow, and nightglow. This paper is particularly intended to provide the incentive for SPICAM data exploitation, available to the whole scientific community in the ESA data archive, and to help the SPICAM data users to better understand the instrument and the various data collection modes, for an optimized scientific return.