bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dominant reaction pathways in protein folding: A direct validation against molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Faccioli Pietro , Lonardi Alice , Orland Henri
Published: July 2010

The dominant reaction pathway (DRP) is an algorithm to microscopically compute the most probable reaction pathways in the overdamped Langevin dynamics without investing computational time in simulating the local thermal motion in the metastable configurations. In order to test the accuracy of such a method, we investigate the dynamics of the folding of a β hairpin within a model that accounts for both native and non-native interactions. We compare the most probable folding pathways calculated with the DRP method with the folding trajectories obtained directly from molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the two approaches give consistent results.
Application of electroosmotically-driven solution displacement for on-chip probing and characterization of protein adsorption
Authors: Tang Szu-Wei , Chang Chien-Hsiang , Wei Hsien-Hung
Published: July 2010

An alternative strategy for realizing on-chip characterization of protein adsorption is demonstrated using solution displacement with electro-osmotic flow in microchannels. The idea is illustrated by studying adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on polydimethylsiloxane surfaces. Through tracking the zeta potential change using the current monitoring technique, we quantify how the surface coverage of BSA varies with time and the BSA concentration. The Langmuir kinetic model is employed to capture the transient behavior of the adsorption and to determine both the adsorption and desorption rate constants. The Langmuir isotherm is also established in line to account for the sorption equilibrium.
Density functional theory based molecular dynamics study of hydration and electronic properties of aqueous La3+
Authors: Terrier Cyril , Vitorge Pierre , Gaigeot Marie-Pierre , Spezia Riccardo , Vuilleumier Rodolphe
Published: July 2010

Structural and electronic properties of La3+ immersed in bulk water have been assessed by means of density functional theory (DFT)-based Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations. Correct structural properties, i.e., La(III)-water distances and La(III) coordination number, can be obtained within the framework of Car–Parrinello simulations providing that both the La pseudopotential and conditions of the dynamics (fictitious mass and time step) are carefully set up. DFT-MD explicitly treats electronic densities and is shown here to provide a theoretical justification to the necessity of including polarization when studying highly charged cations such as lanthanoids(III) with classical MD. La3+ was found to strongly polarize the water molecules located in the first shell, giving rise to dipole moments about 0.5 D larger than those of bulk water molecules. Finally, analyzing Kohn–Sham orbitals, we found La3+ empty 4f orbitals extremely compact and to a great extent uncoupled from the water conduction band, while the 5d empty orbitals exhibit mixing with unoccupied states of water.
Correlation between local structure and refractive index of e-beam evaporated (HfO2–SiO2) composite thin films
Authors: Das N. C. , Sahoo N. K. , Bhattacharyya D. , Thakur S. , Kamble N. M. , Nanda D. , Hazra S. , Bal J. K. , Lee J. F. , Tai Y. L. , Hsieh C. A.
Published: July 2010

In the present work we have reported the results of investigations on local structures of e-beam evaporated (HfO2–SiO2) composite thin films by synchrotron based extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements. It has been observed that for the composite film with 10% SiO2 content, both Hf–O and Hf–Hf bond lengths are less than their values in pure HfO2 film. However the bond lengths subsequently increase to higher values as the SiO2 content in the composite films is increased further. It has also been observed that at the same composition of 10% SiO2 content, the films have smallest grain sizes (as obtained from atomic force microscopy measurements) and highest refractive index (as obtained from spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements) which suggests that the e-beam evaporated HfO2–SiO2 composite films with 10% SiO2 content leads to the most compact amorphous thin film structure.
Hole-transport properties of a low-band gap alternating polyfluorene
Authors: Debebe Siraye E. , Mammo Wendimagegn , Yohannes Teketel , Tinti Francesca , Martelli Alessandro , Camaioni Nadia
Published: July 2010

The bulk transport properties of positive carriers in thin films of a low band-gap conjugated polymer, called APFO-Green5, have been investigated in the ac regime. The frequency-dependent impedance of an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/APFO-Green5/Al structure (where ITO is indium tin oxide and PEDOT:PSS is poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulphonic acid) was measured as a function of the dc applied bias. The capacitance response at low frequency gave indication of a combination of trapping and double-injection effects, while in the intermediate-high frequency range was determined by the transit time of injected holes. Hole mobility in APFO-Green5 thin films exhibited a Frenkel-like dependence on the applied electric field, with a field-dependent coefficient of around 8×10−3 (V cm−1)−1/2. A hole mobility close to 2×10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1 was achieved at the field of 3.5×105 V cm−1, in excellent agreement with that already reported by using a different bulk investigation technique.
Strong circular photogalvanic effect in ZnO epitaxial films
Authors: Zhang Q. , Wang X. Q. , Yin C. M. , Xu F. J. , Tang N. , Shen B. , Chen Y. H. , Chang K. , Ge W. K. , Ishitani Y. , Yoshikawa A.
Published: July 2010

We report a strong circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE) in ZnO epitaxial films under interband excitation. It is observed that CPGE current is as large as 100 nA/W in ZnO, which is about one order in magnitude higher than that in InN film while the CPGE currents in GaN films are not detectable. The possible reasons for the above observations are the strong spin orbit coupling in ZnO or the inversed valence band structure of ZnO.
Conjugated polyelectrolytes for organic light emitting transistors
Authors: Seo Jung Hwa , Namdas Ebinazar B. , Gutacker Andrea , Heeger Alan J. , Bazan Guillermo C.
Published: July 2010

We report on solution-processed light emitting field-effect transistors (LEFETs) that incorporate symmetric high work function (WF) source and drain metal electrodes. A key architectural design is the incorporation of a conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) electron injection layer atop the emissive layer. The device structure also comprises a hole-transporting layer underneath the emissive layer. Both holes and electrons are injected from stable, high WF metal though the CPE layer leading to electroluminescence near the electron-injecting electrode. With the benefits of the simplicity in device fabrication, the LEFETs incorporating CPEs are interesting structures for integrated organic optoelectronic devices.
The effects of cap layers on electrical properties of indium nitride films
Authors: Liu Wei , Tan Rayson Jen Ngee , Soh Chew Beng , Chua Soo Jin
Published: July 2010

The unintentional n-type doping in the indium nitride thin films was investigated. The electron density decreases from 3.5×1019 to 9×1018 cm−3 and the mobility increases from 4 to 457 cm2 V−1 s−1 when the thickness increases from 50 to 350 nm. This can be explained by assuming the film consists of a surface accumulation layer and a bulk layer. It was found that the accumulation layer can be eliminated by capping the surface with silicon nitride, GaN or zinc nitride of 2 nm each, respectively; while an AlN cap layer will cause the formation of two-dimensional electron gas at the AlN/InN interface.
Quantitative proteomics of the Cav2 channel nano-environments in the mammalian brain
Authors: Müller Catrin Swantje , Haupt Alexander , Bildl Wolfgang , Schindler Jens , Knaus Hans-Günther , Meissner Marcel , Rammner Burkhard , Striessnig Jörg , Flockerzi Veit , Fakler Bernd , Schulte Uwe
Published: July 2010

Local Ca
2+
signaling occurring within nanometers of voltage-gated Ca
2+
(Cav) channels is crucial for CNS function, yet the molecular composition of Cav channel nano-environments is largely unresolved. Here, we used a proteomic strategy combining knockout-controlled multiepitope affinity purifications with high-resolution quantitative MS for comprehensive analysis of the molecular nano-environments of the Cav2 channel family in the whole rodent brain. The analysis shows that Cav2 channels, composed of pore-forming α1 and auxiliary β subunits, are embedded into protein networks that may be assembled from a pool of ∼200 proteins with distinct abundance, stability of assembly, and preference for the three Cav2 subtypes. The majority of these proteins have not previously been linked to Cav channels; about two-thirds are dedicated to the control of intracellular Ca
2+
concentration, including G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signaling, to activity-dependent cytoskeleton remodeling or Ca
2+
-dependent effector systems that comprise a high portion of the priming and release machinery of synaptic vesicles. The identified protein networks reflect the cellular processes that can be initiated by Cav2 channel activity and define the molecular framework for organization and operation of local Ca
2+
signaling by Cav2 channels in the brain.
Mechanisms of suspended animation are revealed by transcript profiling of diapause in the flesh fly
Authors: Ragland Gregory J. , Denlinger David L. , Hahn Daniel A.
Published: July 2010

Diapause is a widespread adaptation to seasonality across invertebrate taxa. It is critical for persistence in seasonal environments, synchronizing life histories with favorable, resource-rich conditions and mitigating exposure to harsh environments. Despite some promising recent progress, however, we still know very little about the molecular modifications underlying diapause. We used transcriptional profiling to identify key groups of genes and pathways differentially regulated during pupal diapause, dynamically regulated across diapause development, and differentially regulated after diapause was pharmacologically terminated in the flesh flySarcophaga crassipalpis.We describe major shifts in stress axes, endocrine signaling, and metabolism that accompany diapause, several of which appear to be common features of dormancy in other taxa. To assess whether invertebrates with different diapause strategies have converged toward similar transcriptional profiles, we use archived expression data to compare the pupal diapause ofS. crassipalpiswith the adult reproductive diapause ofDrosophila melanogasterand the larval dauer ofCaenorhabditis elegans. Although dormant invertebrates converge on a few similar physiological phenotypes including metabolic depression and stress resistance, we find little transcriptional similarity among dormancies across species, suggesting that there may be many transcriptional strategies for producing physiologically similar dormancy responses.
Stalin's russocentrism in historical and international context
Authors: Umland Andreas
Published: July 2010

If Lenin were alive today and to find himself in Stalin's hands, without any doubt, he would have confessed being a German spy – and, maybe, with some more justification [than others who had done so in 1937-1938]. (Georgii Fedotov after the third show trial (as quoted in Liuks [Luks], Istoriia Rossii i Sovetskogo Soiuza 258)).
Control of Transmission of Infection in Hospitals Requires More than Clean Hands
Authors: Dancer Stephanie J.
Published: July 2010

The focus on hand hygiene appears timely, given the problems that we have with transmission of infection in our hospitals. Unfortunately, people do not always clean their hands when they should, and even if they do, there are other factors that contribute to the acquisition of infection. Nonadherence to hand hygiene is now being targeted by the introduction of more rigorous assessment in healthcare environments. “Zero tolerance” mandates are facilitating managerial pursuit of poor hand hygiene, with a variety of disciplinary outcomes. This article questions the priority afforded hand hygiene and its enforcement and asks whether we should reconsider additional infection control strategies rather than threaten staff over hand hygiene practices.
Observation of energetic-ion losses induced by various MHD instabilities in the Large Helical Device (LHD)
Authors: Ogawa K. , Isobe M. , Toi K. , Watanabe F. , Spong D.A. , Shimizu A. , Osakabe M. , Ohdachi S. , Sakakibara S.
Published: July 2010

Energetic-ion losses induced by toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) and resistive interchange modes (RICs) were observed in neutral-beam heated plasmas of the Large Helical Device (LHD) at a relatively low toroidal magnetic field level (⩽0.75 T). The energy and pitch angle of the lost ions are detected using a scintillator-based lost-fast ion probe. Each instability increases the lost ions having a certain energy/pitch angle. TAE bursts preferentially induce energetic beam ions in co-passing orbits having energy from the injection energy E = 190 keV down to 130 keV, while RICs expel energetic ions of E = 190 keV down to ∼130 keV in passing–toroidally trapped boundary orbits. Loss fluxes induced by these instabilities increase with different dependences on the magnetic fluctuation amplitude: nonlinear and linear dependences for TAEs and RICs, respectively.
Fishbone modes in compressible plasmas
Authors: Kolesnichenko Ya.I. , Lutsenko V.V. , White R.B.
Published: July 2010

It is shown that there exist two types of m = n = 1 fishbone modes with frequencies significantly exceeding the frequency of the conventional fishbone instability. One of them is the resonance continuum mode (RCM), and the other is the non-resonance gap mode (NGM). They are associated with the trapped energetic ions and arise due to plasma compressibility. The spatial structure of the RCM may differ considerably from the rigid kink displacement inherent in the conventional fishbone mode.
Intracellular Phospholipase A1and Acyltransferase, Which Are Involved inCaenorhabditis elegansStem Cell Divisions, Determine thesn-1 Fatty Acyl Chain of Phosphatidylinositol
Authors: Imae Rieko , Inoue Takao , Kimura Masako , Kanamori Takahiro , Tomioka Naoko H. , Kage-Nakadai Eriko , Mitani Shohei , Arai Hiroyuki
Published: July 2010

Phosphatidylinositol (PI), an important constituent of membranes, contains stearic acid as the major fatty acid at the sn-1 position. This fatty acid is thought to be incorporated into PI through fatty acid remodeling by sequential deacylation and reacylation. However, the genes responsible for the reaction are unknown, and consequently, the physiological significance of the sn-1 fatty acid remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified acl-8, -9, and -10, which are closely related to each other, and ipla-1 as strong candidates for genes involved in fatty acid remodeling at the sn-1 position of PI. In both ipla-1 mutants and acl-8 acl-9 acl-10 triple mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans, the stearic acid content of PI is reduced, and asymmetric division of stem cell-like epithelial cells is defective. The defects in asymmetric division of these mutants are suppressed by a mutation of the same genes involved in intracellular retrograde transport, suggesting that ipla-1 and acl genes act in the same pathway. IPLA-1 and ACL-10 have phospholipase A1and acyltransferase activity, respectively, both of which recognize the sn-1 position of PI as their substrate. We propose that the sn-1 fatty acid of PI is determined by ipla-1 and acl-8, -9, -10 and crucial for asymmetric divisions.
The morphology and biology of Gonatus tinro and Gonatopsis okutanii (Teuthida: Gonatidae) indicate that they are conspecific
Authors: Katugin Oleg N. , Shevtsov Gennadyi A. , Zuev Mikhail A.
Published: July 2010

Katugin, O. N., Shevtsov, G. A., and Zuev, M. A. 2010. The morphology and biology of Gonatus tinro and Gonatopsis okutanii (Teuthida: Gonatidae) indicate that they are conspecific. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1464–1477. Distribution, size and maturity patterns, and ontogenetic changes in morphological characters of the squid species Gonatus tinro and Gonatopsis okutanii were examined. The database includes information collected during research surveys to the Sea of Okhotsk and the adjacent Northwest Pacific Ocean from 1972 through 2005. Both species are distributed within the same areas beyond the shelf: G. tinro within a wide range of depths and an active vertical migrant, G. okutanii mostly demersal, characteristic of many adult gonatids. Seasonal changes in size and maturity of G. tinro and G. okutanii are congruent in many respects: G. tinro are usually small and young with hookless tentacle clubs, and squid identified as G. okutanii tend to be larger adults with truncated tentacles. The comparative morphology of the two species and the discovery of individuals bearing external features of both indicate that G. okutanii is an adult stage and G. tinro a young stage of the same species. It is concluded that G. okutanii is a junior synonym of G. tinro, which becomes the valid name by precedence.
Slow Hematological Recovery in Children With IBD‐associated Anemia in Cases of “Expectant Management”
Authors: Pels Lise PM , Van de Vijver Els , Waalkens Herman J , Uitentuis Jan , Jong Gieneke Gonera‐de , van Overbeek Lidy AT , Norbruis Obbe F , Rings Edmond HHM , van Rheenen Patrick F
Published: July 2010

Background and Objective:

Allowing children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to live with subnormal hemoglobin (Hb) levels affects their quality of life. The therapeutic approach to normalize Hb varies according to the cause of IBD‐associated anemia. In exclusive iron‐deficiency anemia (IDA) repletion of iron stores is obligatory, whereas controlling inflammation is the treatment of choice for anemia of chronic disease (ACD). In daily practice the focus is on control of intestinal inflammation, and spontaneous hematological recovery is awaited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hematological effect of “expectant management” on newly diagnosed pediatric patients with IBD with anemia.

Patients and Methods:

Medical records of children with IBD were reviewed. Study endpoints were the difference in Hb from the moment of IBD diagnosis (T0) to the end of the induction phase (T1), and time until normalization of Hb, stratified for the type of anemia at T0.

Results:

A total of 103 children were included in the study, of whom 80 (78%) had anemia at T0. Exclusive IDA was found in 58% of them. Expectant management caused a modest increase in Hb between T0 and T1 for both types of anemia (IDA 0.4 mmol/L; ACD 0.5 mmol/L), but 65 of 80 children (81%) still had anemia at T1. The proportion of children with exclusive IDA had increased to 74%. One third of the cases initially classified as having ACD had progressed to exclusive IDA. There was no significant difference in time until normalization of Hb between children with exclusive IDA and ACD. Twelve months after IBD diagnosis 24% of the group initially diagnosed as having exclusive IDA and 50% of the ACD group were still anemic.

Conclusions:

Hematological recovery in children with IBD‐associated anemia is slow with expectant management, regardless of the type of anemia at T0. Present results underline the need for a more active approach to improve Hb.
Analysis of Gene Mutations in Children With Cholestasis of Undefined Etiology
Authors: Matte Ursula , Mourya Reena , Miethke Alexander , Liu Cong , Kauffmann Gregory , Moyer Katie , Zhang Kejian , Bezerra Jorge A
Published: July 2010

Background:

The discovery of genetic mutations in children with inherited syndromes of intrahepatic cholestasis allows for diagnostic specificity despite similar clinical phenotypes. Here, we aimed to determine whether mutation screening of target genes could assign a molecular diagnosis in children with idiopathic cholestasis.

Patients and Methods:

DNA samples were obtained from 51 subjects with cholestasis of undefined etiology and surveyed for mutations in the genes SERPINA1, JAG1, ATP8B1, ABCB11, and ABCB4 by a high‐throughput gene chip. Then, the sequence readouts for all 5 genes were analyzed for mutations and correlated with clinical phenotypes. Healthy subjects served as controls.

Results:

Sequence analysis of the genes identified 14 (or 27%) subjects with missense, nonsense, deletion, and splice site variants associated with disease phenotypes based on the type of mutation and/or biallelic involvement in the JAG1, ATP8B1, ABCB11, or ABCB4 genes. These patients had no syndromic features and could not be differentiated by biochemical markers or histopathology. Among the remaining subjects, 10 (or ∼20%) had sequence variants in ATP8B1 or ABCB11 that involved only 1 allele, 8 had variants not likely to be associated with disease phenotypes, and 19 had no variants that changed amino acid composition.

Conclusions:

Gene sequence analysis assigned a molecular diagnosis in 27% of subjects with idiopathic cholestasis based on the presence of variants likely to cause disease phenotypes.
Epidemics in networks of spatially correlated three-dimensional root-branching structures
Authors: Handford T. P. , Pérez-Reche F. J. , Taraskin S. N. , Costa L. da F. , Miazaki M. , Neri F. M. , Gilligan C. A.
Published: July 2010

Using digitized images of the three-dimensional, branching structures for root systems of bean seedlings, together with analytical and numerical methods that map a common susceptible–infected–recovered (‘SIR’) epidemiological model onto the bond percolation problem, we show how the spatially correlated branching structures of plant roots affect transmission efficiencies, and hence the invasion criterion, for a soil-borne pathogen as it spreads through ensembles of morphologically complex hosts. We conclude that the inherent heterogeneities in transmissibilities arising from correlations in the degrees of overlap between neighbouring plants render a population of root systems less susceptible to epidemic invasion than a corresponding homogeneous system. Several components of morphological complexity are analysed that contribute to disorder and heterogeneities in the transmissibility of infection. Anisotropy in root shape is shown to increase resilience to epidemic invasion, while increasing the degree of branching enhances the spread of epidemics in the population of roots. Some extension of the methods for other epidemiological systems are discussed.
The evolution of cultural adaptations: Fijian food taboos protect against dangerous marine toxins
Authors: Henrich Joseph , Henrich Natalie
Published: July 2010

The application of evolutionary theory to understanding the origins of our species' capacities for social learning has generated key insights into cultural evolution. By focusing on how our psychology has evolved to adaptively extract beliefs and practices by observing others, theorists have hypothesized how social learning can, over generations, give rise to culturally evolved adaptations. While much field research documents the subtle ways in which culturally transmitted beliefs and practices adapt people to their local environments, and much experimental work reveals the predicted patterns of social learning, little research connects real-world adaptive cultural traits to the patterns of transmission predicted by these theories. Addressing this gap, we show how food taboos for pregnant and lactating women in Fiji selectively target the most toxic marine species, effectively reducing a woman's chances of fish poisoning by 30 per cent during pregnancy and 60 per cent during breastfeeding. We further analyse how these taboos are transmitted, showing support for cultural evolutionary models that combine familial transmission with selective learning from locally prestigious individuals. In addition, we explore how particular aspects of human cognitive processes increase the frequency of some non-adaptive taboos. This case demonstrates how evolutionary theory can be deployed to explain both adaptive and non-adaptive behavioural patterns.
Support for Individual Investment Projects Versus Overall Improvement of the Investment Climate in Russia
Authors: Isaeva Patricia , Oppenheimer Peter
Published: July 2010

There has recently been a resurgence of calls for the Russian authorities to develop and implement an active industrial policy, identifying sectors and individual companies as priority targets for government support. However, in our view, the fundamental question still facing the Russian economy is not whether to support individual industries, let alone individual enterprises and projects, but how to attract private investment and improve the overall business climate.
Predictors of injury‐related and non‐injury‐related mortality among veterans with alcohol use disorders
Authors: Fudalej Sylwia , Bohnert Amy , Austin Karen , Barry Kristen , Blow Frederic , Ilgen Mark
Published: July 2010

Aims  To describe the association between alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and mortality and to examine risk factors for and all‐cause, injury‐related and non‐injury‐related mortality among those diagnosed with an AUD.

Setting  Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Participants  A cohort of individuals who received health care in VHA during the fiscal year (FY) 2001 (n = 3 944 778), followed from the beginning of FY02 through the end of FY06.

Measurements  Demographics and medical diagnoses were obtained from VHA records. Data on mortality were obtained from the National Death Index.

Findings  Controlling for age, gender and race and compared to those without AUDs, individuals with AUDs were more likely to die by all causes [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.30], by injury‐related (HR = 3.29) and by non‐injury‐related causes (HR = 2.21). Patients with AUDs died 15 years earlier than individuals without AUDs on average. Among those with AUDs, Caucasian ethnicity and all mental illness diagnoses that were assessed were associated more strongly with injury‐related than non‐injury‐related mortality. Also among those with AUDs, individuals with medical comorbidity and older age were at higher risk for non‐injury related compared to injury‐related mortality.

Conclusions  In users of a large health‐care system, a diagnosis of an AUD is associated significantly with increased likelihood of dying by injury and non‐injury causes. Patients with a diagnosis of an AUD who die from injury differ significantly from those who die from other medical conditions. Prevention and intervention programs could focus separately upon selected groups with increased risk for injury or non‐injury‐related death.
Effect of leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 on the adhesion of lymphocytes to endothelial cells
Authors: TO S S T , SCHRIEBER L
Published: July 2010

The arachidonic acid metabolites leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may play an important role in inflammation. It is not known whether these mediators influence the binding of lymphocytes to endothelial cells, a process which is important in the extravasation of lymphocytes in inflammatory states. In the present investigation, the effect of LTB4 and PGE; on the binding interaction between lymphocytes and endothelial cells was examined using a centrifugation cell binding assay. Although LTB4 elicited an aggregation response on human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) and enhanced their binding to endothelial cells it had no effect on lymphocyte binding. By contrast, PGE; caused a dose-dependent inhibition of lymphocyte binding to endothelial cells. The inhibitory effect of PGE2 had a rapid onset but was exhibited only when PGE2 was present continuously during the cell binding assay. Although the mechanism by which PGE; acts is not clear, it may provide a negative feedback mechanism in regulating the influx of lymphocytes into inflammatory sites.
Analysis of antibodies to RNA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Authors: BLANCO F , KALSI J , ISENBERG D A
Published: July 2010

The frequency and clinical associations of anti-RNA antibodies measured by ELISA were assessed in 138 patients wit h systemic lupus cry thematosus (SLE). Of the sera from these patients 9.4% had anti-RNA antibodies but no distinguishing features, clinical, serological or immunogenetic. between those with or without these antibodies could be identified. However, investigations of patients with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases did not reveal any anti-RNA positivity. which indicates a marked disease specificity for anti-RNA antibodies in SLE. The initial anti-RNA antibody screen used a soluble yeast extract as lest antigen. The positive sera were further tested against a range of RNAs from 10 different types of rat tissue. In essence few differences were observed, suggesting that the anti-RNA response is directed against common, highly conserved epitopes.
CD23/FcεR11 expression in contact sensitivity reactions: a comparison between aeroallergen patch test reactions in atopic dermatitis and the nickel patch test reaction in non-atopic individuals
Authors: BUCKLEY C , IVISON C , POULTER L W , RUSTIN M H A
Published: July 2010

The immunopathology of patch test reactions to aeroallergens in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) has been compared to that of contact sensitivity reactions to nickel in non-atopic individuals. Both reactions were found to exhibit equivalent erythema and induration on gross examination at 48 h. Four millimetre punch biopsies were obtained at 48 h frozen, and cryostat sections stained with a panel of MoAbs. The distribution of macrophages, dermal dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, T lymphocytes and the expression of CD23 antigen was recorded. Increased numbers of dermal dendritic cells, macrophages, T lymphocytes and Langerhans cells were found in the dermal infiltrates of both the nickel patch test reactions and the aeroallergen patch test reactions compared with their respective controls. There were no significant differences between atopic patch test reaction and nickel patch test reaction samples in the tissue distribution of these cell types. There was a significant increase in CD23 expression on Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells in the atopic patch test reactions, whereas an increase was only observed on dendritic cells in nickel patch test reactions. No significant difference in CD23 expression was observed in the control skin samples taken from patients with AD, nickel-sensitive patients and normal controls. This study supports the hypothesis that the aeroallergen patch test reaction in atopic dermatitis is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, yet is distinct from the contact sensitivity reaction to nickel in terms of raised expression of CD23.
A type 2 (Th2-like) pattern of immune response predominates in the pulmonary interstitium of patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA)
Authors: Wallace W A H , Ramage E A , Lamb D , Howie S E M
Published: July 2010

CFA is an inflammatory condition of the lungs resulting in scarring, pulmonary failure and death. The etiology of the disease is unknown, but the pathogenesis is believed to involve a persistent immunological reaction to unidentified antigen in the lung resulting in tissue damage. Recent advances in our understanding of the immune system have shown that different patterns of stimulatory cytokines are produced at sites of inflammation by a range of cell types. Patterns of cytokine production by inflammatory cells are recognized to be associated with different patterns of immunological response, and these have been described as type 1 (or Th1-like) and type 2 (or Th2-like) on this basis. We have studied cytokine expression in the intestinal inflammatory cell infiltrate in lung tissue from patients with CFA using mRNA in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that while there is evidence for both a type 1 (characterized by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)) and type 2 (characterized by IL-4 and IL-5) response present in CFA, the type 2 (or Th2) pattern of cytokines appears to predominate. This would be consistent with a possible role for the humoral immune response in the pathogenesis of this condition. In addition, recent evidence suggests that IL-4 and IFN-γ may be important regulatory factors for pulmonary fibroblasts. The relative paucity of IFN-γ may contribute to the excessive fibroblast activation, deposition of collagen and scar formation that occurs in CFA.
Cell cycling in HIV infection: analysis ofin vivoactivated lymphocytes
Authors: Mahalingam M , Pozniak A , Mcmanus T J , Vergani D , Peakman M
Published: July 2010

Infection with HIV results in increased circulating levels of T lymphocytes expressing phenotypic markers of immune activation. In the present study, using three-colour immunofluorescence, we examined the cell cycle status of these activated cells. Activated (HLA-DR+ CD25+ and CD38+) CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were analysed for DNA content in 15 HIV + patients and 10 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. As expected, all HIV+ patients had elevated percentage levels of activated CD4+ HLA-DR+, CD4+ CD25+ CD8+ HLA-DR+ CD8+ CD25+ and CD8+ CD38+ T lymphocytes compared with control subjects (P<0.001 for all). Percentage levels of CD4+ HLA-DR+ and CD8+ HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes in the ‘proliferative’(S-G2M) phase of the cell cycle were also higher in the HIV+” patients compared with controls (P<0.001 for both). The percentage levels of proliferative CD4+ CD25+ CD8+ CD25+ and CD8+ CD38+ lymphocytes were, however, similar in HIV+ patients and controls, indicating that the proliferative fraction of cells in vivo was confined to the HLA-DR+ subset and absent from the CD25+ and CD38+ populations. Four HIV+ patients had grossly elevated levels of CD8+ lymphocytes which were CD38+(>95%) and confined to the pre-G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting these may be cells committed to apoptosis. These observations indicate an increase in the proliferative capacity of HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes in HIV infection in vivo. The reduced DNA content in other populations (e.g. CD38+ CD8+ lymphocytes) of some patients with advanced HIV disease suggests that these cells are apoptotic. Thus our results define both proliferative and apoptotic processes as a spectrum of activation-related events in HIV infection.
An inverse model to estimate ammonia emissions from fields
Authors: Loubet B. , Génermont S. , Ferrara R. , Bedos C. , Decuq C. , Personne E. , Fanucci O. , Durand B. , Rana G. , Cellier P.
Published: July 2010

This paper presents and evaluates an inverse model for estimating ammonia emission from agricultural land. The method is based on an analytical model derived from the advection‐diffusion equation, assuming power law profiles for wind speed and diffusivity. A three‐dimensional model and a two‐dimensional model are evaluated. The hypotheses of flux‐driven or concentration‐driven emissions are also tested. The model is evaluated against three datasets covering a range of ammonia fluxes, field geometry/size and measurement techniques. The sensitivity and the uncertainty of the method is also evaluated with a MonteCarlo approach, as well as based on existing datasets. Finally, the capability of the method to work with time‐integrated concentrations (e.g. using diffusive concentration samplers) is also evaluated. The inverse model gives estimations of the ammonia emissions within a few per cent of the measurements. Moreover, the method is mainly sensitive to the concentration, the friction velocity and the thermal stratification of the atmosphere. The two‐dimensional approaches give similar results to the three‐dimensional one, provided the field is large enough. The concentration‐driven hypothesis is similar to the flux‐driven hypothesis for a fetch greater than approximately 20 m. The results are discussed in comparison with the previous approaches: the Theoretical Profile Shape (TPS or Zinst approach) and the backward Lagrangian Stochastic model (BLS).
Pectinesterase Activity and Proximate Analyses of Sea Buckthorn Juices
Authors: Harrison Judith E. , Beveridge Thomas H. J.
Published: July 2010

ASTRACT

Three varieties of sea buckthorn fruit were harvested and pressed to obtain juices. These were analyzed for pectin methylesterase activity, moisture, nitrogen, oil, pH, total acid, and °Brix. Yields of press juice for Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. rhamnoides L. varieties Luchistaya, Prozrachnaya, and ssp. mongolica Rousi cv. Indian Summer were 68%, 69%, and 66% w/w, respectively. Differences in juice composition were found to be in moisture content, °Brix, pH, and in total acid with the Luchistaya variety having the highest acid levels and lowest pH. Pectin methylesterase (PME) was present in all sea buckthorn juices with initial activity levels of 6.8 to 14.0 μ equivalents per min per 100 g of juice at pH 8 and 23 °C. Activity was pH‐dependent with little PME activity at pH 3 to 5 and the highest activity at pH 8. The cream, pellet, and serum layers of centrifuged juices all contained PME. Heat treatment reduced PME activity in the juices by 1 decimal reduction or less.
Determination of Anabolic Steroid Residues (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) in Pork by ELISA and Comparison with Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chifang Peng , Chuanlai Xu , Zhengyu Jin , Xiaogang Chu , Liying Wang
Published: July 2010

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) has a relative molecular mass of only 344.5 and it has no immunogenicity. The analytical methods for the carbodiimides and the mixed anhydride were both adopted to couple MPA with bovine serum albumin, the carrier protein. The coupling rates of conjugate using the above methods were estimated to be 14 and 20 by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The coupling was successful and verified according to sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) analysis. New Zealand White rabbits were immunized with the conjugate, the coupling rate of which was 14, and blood was collected after 5 periods of immunities. Then the titer of antiserum was tested to be 2.6 X 105 by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Based on the purified antibody, a competitive indirect ELISA was developed. ELISAs provided a limit of detection of 0.096 ng/g, recoveries (in the edible tissues) between 72% and 91%, and a working range of 0.1 to 8.1 ng/g. Preliminary evaluation of assay performance through specificity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy showed that this ELISA method can be applied to the practical detection of MPA in tissue samples. Moreover, it was compared with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The ion pair for quantification of MPA was 345.2/123.1, and the linear equation of MPA was Y = 6.68 X 103 X + 6.63 X 102. The 2 analytical methods can be applied to monitor MPA and other steroid residues in edible foods.
Polyphenol Oxidase from Apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv Bramley's Seedling): Purification Strategies and Characterization
Authors: Ni Eidhin Deirdre M. , Murphy Eileen , O'Beirne David
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was isolated from Bramley's Seedling apples with 75.7‐fold purification and 26.5% recovery by ammonium sulfate precipitation, phenyl sepharose chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. Molecular weight was estimated to be about 45 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). Optimum PPO activity was at pH 6.5 and greater than 50% activity was retained during storage for 72 h at pH 5.5 to 6.5. Optimum temperature for activity was 30 °C and the enzyme had residual activity of greater than 50% during storage for 72 h at 20 °C to 30 °C and for 24 h at 40 °C to 50 °C. Of the substrates tested, activity was greatest with 4‐methylcatechol followed by catechol, pyrogallol, and (−)epicatechin. The most effective inhibitors tested were sodium metabisulfite and ascorbic acid.
Effect of Cheese pH and Temperature on Serum Phase Characteristics of Cream Cheese During Storage
Authors: Gigante Mirna L. , Almena‐Aliste Montserrat , Kindstedt Paul S.
Published: July 2010

Three 13.6‐kg blocks of cultured cream cheese manufactured on different days were obtained from a commercial source within 2 wk of manufacture. Blocks were sectioned into samples that were randomly assigned to 3 treatments. A model system was used to change cheese pH. One group of samples was exposed to volatile ammonia to increase the pH to about 5.3. A 2nd group was exposed to volatile acetic acid to decrease the pH to about 4.5. A 3rd group served as a control (pH about 4.8). Samples from each pH treatment were vacuum‐packaged and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 storage temperatures: 4 °C and 20 °C. Samples were randomly chosen for analysis after 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 d of storage and centrifuged at 12500 ±g for 75 min at 25 °C to obtain expressible serum (ES). The ES was analyzed for viscosity at 25 °C. Effects of pH treatment, storage time, and storage temperature were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to a split split‐plot design. The amount of ES increased significantly during storage and was affected by storage temperature and cheese pH. Significantly more ES was obtained at higher temperature and higher pH. Viscosity of ES decreased significantly during storage and was affected by storage temperature and cheese pH. Viscosity decreased more rapidly at higher temperature and higher pH. The data suggest that higher temperature and higher pH resulted in accelerated loss of stabilizer function during storage, possibly due to microbiological degradation of the stabilizer.
Non‐enzymatic Depolymerization of Carrot Pectin: Toward a Better Understanding of Carrot Texture During Thermal Processing
Authors: Sila Daniel N. , Smout Chantal , Elliot Franklin , Loey Ann Van , Hendrickx Marc
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT Pretreated carrot discs were thermally processed (90 °C to 110 °C) in closed containers and the resulting textural characteristics were analyzed. The pretreatment conditions used include conventional high‐temperature blanching (90 °C, 4 min), low‐temperature blanching (LTB = 60 °C, 40 min), LTB combined with 0.5% calcium chloride soaking, LTB combined with 2% sodium chloride soaking, high pressure pretreatment (HP = 400 MPa, 60 °C, 15 min), HP combined with 0.5% calcium chloride soaking, and control (non‐pretreated sample). Alcohol insoluble residues (AIR) from the pretreated carrot discs were characterized in terms of degree of methoxylation (DM). The AIR samples were further subjected to fractionation into water‐soluble pectin (WSP), chelator‐soluble pectin (CSP), and sodium carbonate‐soluble pectin (NSP). Heat depolymerization patterns and β‐elimination kinetics were investigated on the different pectin fractions. Thermal texture degradation was strongly influenced by the pretreatment condition used and the processing temperature during subsequent thermal treatment. Pretreatment conditions that showed a significant reduction in DM exhibited decreased WSP content, reduced β‐elimination, and consequently superior textural characteristics. β‐elimination was markedly pronounced in the highly methoxylated WSP fractions. CSP and NSP fractions were insensitive to β‐elimination. A strong correlation (r> 0.95) between thermal texture loss of carrots and β‐elimination kinetics exists. Overall, the benefits of controlled pectinmethylesterase activity in carrot processing were pointed out.
Utilizing Acidic Sprays for Eliminating Salmonella enterica on Raw Almonds
Authors: Pao Steven , Kalantari Aref , Huang Guangwei
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT In‐shell or shelled almonds inoculated with Salmonella were sprayed with water, acetic acid, citric acid, acidified sodium chlorite, peroxyacetic acid, or a mixture of citric, hydrochloric, and phosphoric acids before testing for Salmonella on xylose‐lysine‐deoxycholate (XLD) agar and tryptic soy agar (TSA). Spraying acids on in‐shell almonds reduced about 0.48 to 1.88 and 0.22 to 0.67 log colony‐forming units (CFU)/g of Salmonella on XLD agar and TSA counts, respectively, on the in‐shell almonds but had no effect on the edible portion of the almonds (shelled almonds). When spraying acids on shelled almonds, a single spray application (1.6 mL acid solution/25 g of shelled almonds) with 1 min holding caused 0.72 to 1.93 and 0.38 to 1.35 log CFU/ g reductions of Salmonella counts on XLD agar and TSA, respectively. Increasing the holding time to 5 min did not enhance the reductions. When spraying shelled almonds, increasing the number of application (1 to 3 times) enhanced Salmonella reduction. Except for the peroxyacetic acids, increasing total holding time (5 to 120 min) improved the efficacies. Furthermore, increasing acid concentrations improved the efficacies of acetic, citric, and peroxyacetic acid treatments. Estimated 5‐log reductions on both TSA and XLD counts can be achieved under laboratory conditions using 10% citric acid by (1) the combination of shelling, 1 spraying, and 3 d of storage, (2) the combination of shelling, 2 sprayings, and 1 d of storage, or (3) the combination of shelling and 3 sprayings. Acidic sprays may be utilized for enhancing the microbiological safety of raw nuts.
Absorption‐enhancing Treatments for Antihypertensive Activity of Oligopeptides from Tuna Cooking Juice: In Vivo Evaluation in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Ko Wen‐Ching , Cheng Mei‐Li , Hsu Kuo‐Chiang , Hwang Jyh‐Sheng
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption‐enhancing effect for antihypertensive activity of an angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory oligopeptides in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The oligopeptides OA3, derived from tuna cooking juice, significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SHR at the doses of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/kg body weight; their efficacies were exhibited in a dose‐dependent manner. Emulsification, microencapsulation, and lipophilization were applied to enhance the antihyperten‐sive activity of OA3 at the dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight in SHR individually. Lipophilization revealed most effectively by 16 mm Hg in SBP in SHR 4 h after oral administration; the significant different effect lasted more than 6 h. Such efficacy is greater than that from no further treated OA3 with the dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight. Enhancing treatments by using 30% gum Arabic and 30% lecithin exhibited minor effects by 13 and 11 mm Hg, respectively. Results imply that these additional treatments could further enhance and extend the antihyperten‐sive effect of OA3 oligopeptides. This suggests that absorption‐enhancing treatments improve the bioavailability of oligopeptides to exhibit higher antihypertensive effect. Furthermore, these enhancing effects may be brought about by the changes in cell membrane permeation or the protection of oligopeptides.
Aroma Impact Compounds in Three Citrus Oils: Cross‐matching Test and Correspondence Analysis Approach
Authors: Chida Masahiro , Yamashita Keiko , Izumiya Yuri , Watanabe Kokichi , Tamura Hirotoshi
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT Twenty‐three odor chemicals from 3 Citrus essential oils (lemon, Valencia orange, and Citrus sudachi) were selected as the potent character‐impact compounds on the basis of their limited odor unit values, and then every chemical was cross‐matched by sensory test to the 3 oils to attribute each aroma character to 1 of the 3 Citrus oils. The matching‐frequency data (ratio data) obtained was subjected to correspondence analysis and graphed on a diagram. Consequently, it was found that the aroma character of lemon oil was mainly represented by citral, with a high matching frequency of 0.89 (59 counts out of 66 trials, x2o= 93.36). The orange character consisted mostly of linalool and nonanal. α, β‐Pinene, α‐sinensal and myrcene were related to the aroma of C. sudachi oil. The application of the cross‐matching test and correspondence analysis in the characterization of food aromas has never been reported in the literature to date, and the validity of these methods was successfully demonstrated by our study.