bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of techniques for the extraction of tobacco seed oil
Authors: Stanisavljević Ivana T. , Veličković Dragan T. , Todorović Zoran B. , Lazić Miodrag L. , Veljković Vlada B.
Published: March 2009

The yield and fatty acid (FA) composition of the oil obtained from the seeds of a semi‐oriental tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plant, type Otlja, by various recovery techniques, which are: Soxhlet extraction (SE), maceration (ME), indirect and direct ultrasonic extraction (IUE and DUE, respectively) and cold pressing (CP), were compared. The solvent extractions of ground tobacco seeds (TS) were carried out by n‐hexane, while CP was used to recover the oil from the TS. The highest oil yield (32.9 g/100 g, i.e. 93% of the oil content in the seeds) was achieved by CP. Ultrasonically assisted solvent extractions appear to be inefficient in recovering the oil from the ground TS, as the oil yields were only 45–55% of the oil content, depending on the extraction conditions. Independently of the technique applied, linoleic acid was the major FA of the tobacco seed oil (TSO). The compositions of the TSO extracted by SE, ME, IUE and CP were very similar to each other, and the composition of the TSO recovered by DUE depended on the ultrasonic power input. The content of linoleic acid was reduced, while the content of saturated FA was increased by increasing the ultrasonic power from 5 to 50 W.
Synergism on antioxidant activity between natural compounds optimized by response surface methodology
Authors: Capitani Caroline D. , Carvalho Ana C. L. , Botelho Patricia B. , Carrapeiro Mariana M. , Castro Inar A.
Published: March 2009

Despite the increase in the use of natural compounds in place of synthetic derivatives as antioxidants in food products, the extent of this substitution is limited by cost constraints. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the synergism on the antioxidant activity of natural compounds, for further application in food products. Three hydrosoluble compounds (x1 = caffeic acid, x2 = carnosic acid, and x3 = glutathione) and three liposoluble compounds (x1 = quercetin, x2 = rutin, and x3 = genistein) were mixed according to a “centroid simplex design”. The antioxidant activity of the mixtures was analyzed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methodologies, and activity was also evaluated in an oxidized mixed micelle prepared with linoleic acid (LAOX). Cubic polynomial models with predictive capacity were obtained when the mixtures were submitted to the LAOX methodology (ŷ = 0.56 x1 + 0.59 x2 + 0.04 x3 + 0.41 x1x2 – 0.41 x1x3 – 1.12 x2x3 – 4.01 x1x2x3) for the hydrosoluble compounds, and to FRAP methodology (ŷ = 3.26 x1 + 2.39 x2 + 0.04 x3 + 1.51 x1x2 + 1.03 x1x3 + 0.29 x2x3 + 3.20 x1x2x3) for the liposoluble compounds. Optimization of the models suggested that a mixture containing 47% caffeic acid + 53% carnosic acid and a mixture containing 67% quercetin + 33% rutin were potential synergistic combinations for further evaluation using a food matrix.
Acephate, methamidophos and monocrotophos residues in a laboratory‐scale oil refining process
Authors: Yeoh Chee Beng , Chong Chiew Let
Published: March 2009

Acephate, methamidophos and monocrotophos are insecticides used in oil palm plantations for the control of bagworms and leaf‐eating caterpillars. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the physical refining process at laboratory scale, which simulated the manufacturing process, could remove the residues of these three insecticides in crude palm oil, in the unlikely event that crude palm oil were contaminated with these organophosphorus insecticides. A series of crude palm oil samples spiked with low (0.1 µg/g) and high (1.0 µg/g) levels of these insecticides were subjected to a laboratory‐scale physical oil refining process. Oil samples drawn at various stages of the refining process, namely, degumming, bleaching and deodorization, were analyzed using an in‐house analytical method. The results obtained from these experiments suggest that the physical refining process is capable of effectively removing residual insecticides from crude palm oil. The final product of crude palm oil refining, the refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil, was found to have no detectable levels of acephate, methamidophos and monocrotophos.
Genomic instability in giant cell tumor of bone. A study of 52 cases using DNA ploidy, relocalization FISH, and array‐CGH analysis
Authors: Moskovszky Linda , Szuhai Károly , Krenács Tibor , Hogendoorn Pancras C. W. , Szendrői Miklós , Benassi Maria Serena , Kopper László , Füle Tibor , Sápi Zoltán
Published: March 2009

Genetic instability in relation to clinical behavior was studied in 52 cases of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB). Ploidy was determined in the mononuclear cell population by using native cell smears and image cytometry. A relocalization technique allowed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of CD68‐negative neoplastic cells for numerical changes of chromosomes X, 3, 4, 6, 11, and telomeric association on 11p. Genome‐wide alterations were tested using array comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH) on magnetically separated CD68‐negative tumor cells. CTNNB1, TP53, and BCL2 protein expression was also analyzed in formol‐paraffin sections to see if their pathways are involved in the development of chromosomal instability. CD68‐positive histiocytes showed no significant numerical chromosome and telomeric alterations. Based on ploidy values and clinical outcome, we could distinguish five groups as follows: diploid nonrecurrent (n = 20), tetraploid nonrecurrent (n = 6), diploid recurrent (n = 5), tetraploid and/or aneuploid recurrent (n = 14), and malignant cases (n = 7). Random individual‐cell aneusomy was significantly (P < 0.001) more frequent in the recurrent groups (36.01 ± 11.94%) than in the benign nonrecurrent cases (10.65 ± 3.66%). The diploid recurrent group showed significantly (P < 0.001) increased balanced aneusomy compared with the diploid nonrecurrent group and the tetraploid nonrecurrent group represented eusomic polysomy. Array‐CGH and FISH showed clonal aberrations almost exclusively in the malignant group. None of the protein markers tested showed significant correlation with elevated aneuploidy/polysomy (P = 0.56). Our results show that ploidy determination combined with FISH analysis may help predicting recurrence potential of GCTB and suggest that chromosomal abnormalities superimposed on telomeric associations could be responsible for an aggressive clinical course. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss,Inc.
Pathway analysis by adaptive combination of P‐values
Authors: Yu Kai , Li Qizhai , Bergen Andrew W. , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Rosenberg Philip S. , Caporaso Neil , Kraft Peter , Chatterjee Nilanjan
Published: March 2009

It is increasingly recognized that pathway analyses—a joint test of association between the outcome and a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a biological pathway—could potentially complement single‐SNP analysis and provide additional insights for the genetic architecture of complex diseases. Building upon existing P‐value combining methods, we propose a class of highly flexible pathway analysis approaches based on an adaptive rank truncated product statistic that can effectively combine evidence of associations over different SNPs and genes within a pathway. The statistical significance of the pathway‐level test statistics is evaluated using a highly efficient permutation algorithm that remains computationally feasible irrespective of the size of the pathway and complexity of the underlying test statistics for summarizing SNP‐ and gene‐level associations. We demonstrate through simulation studies that a gene‐based analysis that treats the underlying genes, as opposed to the underlying SNPs, as the basic units for hypothesis testing, is a very robust and powerful approach to pathway‐based association testing. We also illustrate the advantage of the proposed methods using a study of the association between the nicotinic receptor pathway and cigarette smoking behaviors. Genet. Epidemiol. 33:700–709, 2009. Published 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reliability and validity of revised Turkish version of Mini Mental State Examination (rMMSE‐T) in community‐dwelling educated and uneducated elderly
Authors: Keskinoglu Pembe , Ucku Reyhan , Yener Görsev , Yaka Erdem , Kurt Pınar , Tunca Zeliha
Published: March 2009

Objective

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the revised Turkish version of Mini Mental State Examination (rMMSE‐T) in educated and uneducated community‐dwelling elderly, to re‐organize the present Turkish version of MMSE and to determine cut‐off point of the revised test.

Methods

This cross‐sectional and analytical study involved totally 490 elderly subjects selected by cluster sampling method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, kappa analysis and Cronbach's α coefficients were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Areas under ROC curve in educated and uneducated elderly were found as 0.953 and 0.907. Cut‐off point of 22/23 of rMMSE‐T in educated elderly had the highest sensitivity (90.9), specificity (97.0) and positive likelihood ratio (30.3), whereas cut‐off point of 18/19 of the test in uneducated elderly had the highest sensitivity (82.7), specificity (92.3) and positive likelihood ratio (10.7). The Cronbach's α values of the rMMSE‐T for educated and uneducated elderly were higher than 0.7 (sign of good internal consistency of the test). A significant correlations between intrarater and interrater test–retest in educated elderly subjects were observed (0.966 (p = 0.000); 0.855 (p = 0.000), respectively), and also in uneducated elderly (0.988 (p = 0.000); 0.934 (p = 0.000), respectively). Kappa value of the test in educated and uneducated elderly showed a perfect agreement interraters (1.000) and a substantial agreement in intraraters (1.000, 0.784; 0.826, 0.656, respectively).

Conclusion

rMMSE‐T had a high reliability and validity. It will be more appropriate to use the revised test and the new cut‐off point for the diagnosis and screening of dementia among community‐dwelling Turkish elderly population. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How long should a trial of escitalopram treatment be in patients with major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder? An exploration of the randomised controlled trial database
Authors: Baldwin David S. , Stein Dan J. , Dolberg Ornah T. , Bandelow Borwin
Published: March 2009

Objective

To extend the knowledge of course of improvement in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) or generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) participating in randomised placebo‐controlled trials (RCTs) and to infer the optimal duration of initial escitalopram treatment in clinical practice, after which intervention might be reasonable in case of non‐response.

Methods

Post hoc analysis of pooled clinical trial database for escitalopram in MDD (14 studies), GAD (4 studies) and SAD (2 studies). ‘Onset’ of action was defined as a 20% or more decrease from baseline score in disorder‐specific psychopathological rating scales: ‘response’ as a 50% or more decrease from baseline score.

Results

In MDD, the probability of responding at week 8 if no onset was apparent at week 2 was 43%; in patients with an onset of effect the probability was nearly 80%. Similar patterns were observed in GAD and SAD. The chance of responding beyond week 4 in MDD, GAD and SAD was 20% or less if no effect had occurred by week 2.

Conclusions

The pattern of response in these RCTs suggests that in patients with MDD, GAD or SAD in wider clinical practice, a period of at least 4 weeks is worthwhile before considering further intervention. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transient or steady‐state? Using vertical temperature profiles to quantify groundwater–surface water exchange
Authors: Anibas Christian , Fleckenstein Jan H. , Volze Nina , Buis Kerst , Verhoeven Ronny , Meire Patrick , Batelaan Okke
Published: March 2009

Heat is recognized as a natural tracer to identify the exchange of water between the groundwater and surface water compartment. One‐dimensional (1D) heat transport models have the ability to obtain quantitative estimates of vertical fluxes through the sediment matrix. Input to these models can come from temperatures observed in the surface water and in the bed material of rivers and lakes. The upper thermal boundary condition at the groundwater–surface water interface is affected by seasonal and diurnal temperature variations. We hypothesize that effects of these transient influences are negligible at certain times of the year, such that the vertical temperature distribution can be approximated to be at steady state. Temperature time series observed over a year in the surface water and at several depths below a river in Belgium and in sediments of an acid mine lake in Eastern Germany were simulated with a heat balance model implemented in FEMME and the water and energy model VS2DH to obtain seepage fluxes. Temperature variations throughout the year at all depths could be adequately reproduced with the transient models. Vertical temperature profiles at several measuring times during the year were also fitted with an analytical, steady‐state solution for 1D heat transport and the obtained fluxes compared to the results from transient simulations. Fluxes obtained from the much simpler steady‐state solution were compared well with the flux rates from transient simulations for moments between mid and late summer, as well as during the winter. During transitional seasons (fall and spring), the fluxes from the steady‐state solution deviated significantly from the transient estimates with a tendency to underestimate at the beginning and to overestimate towards the end of those seasons. We conclude that fitting a simple analytical solution for 1D vertical heat transport to temperature data observed at particular well‐selected times of the year can provide an inexpensive, simple method to obtain accurate point estimates of groundwater–surface water exchange in rivers and lakes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implications of noise and resolution on mechanical properties of trabecular bone estimated by image‐based finite‐element analysis
Authors: Rajapakse Chamith S. , Magland Jeremy , Zhang X. Henry , Liu X. Sherry , Wehrli Suzanne L. , Guo X. Edward , Wehrli Felix W.
Published: March 2009

Recent advances in micro‐magnetic resonance imaging (µMRI) now allow noninvasive assessment of mechanical properties of trabecular bone (TB) in vivo by micro finite‐element analysis. The first aim of this work was to address the implications of limited resolution and signal‐to‐noise ratio on elastic properties of TB derived under conditions of in vivo imaging via simulation at various resolutions and noise levels on the basis of models derived from µCT images at 21 µm isotropic voxel size from cores of cadaveric human TB (n = 13) from three anatomic sites. The second aim was to compare how elastic constants derived from actual MR images at 9.4 Tesla at 50 µm isotropic voxel size compare with those from high‐resolution µCT. Elastic moduli computed from simulated in vivo µMR images were highly correlated with those obtained from µCT (R2 = 0.99) and the data were relatively immune to noise. Correlations of similar strength were obtained between estimated moduli from µCT and acquired high‐field MR images. Systematic errors manifesting in significant deviations of the slopes from unity are caused by higher apparent bone‐volume fraction of the MR images but can potentially be corrected with appropriate histogram‐standardization techniques. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1263–1271, 2009
Hip resurfacing increases bone strains associated with short‐term femoral neck fracture
Authors: Long Jason P. , Santner Thomas J. , Bartel Donald L.
Published: March 2009

Short‐term femoral neck fracture is a primary complication associated with contemporary hip resurfacing. Some fractures are associated with neck notching, while others occur in the absence of notching. These unexplained fractures may be due to large magnitude strains near the implant rim, which could cause bone damage accumulation and eventual neck fracture. We used statistically augmented finite element analysis to identify design and environmental variables that increase bone strains near the implant rim after resurfacing, and lead to strain magnitudes sufficient for rapid damage accumulation. After resurfacing, the compressive strains in the inferior, peripheral neck increased by approximately 25%, particularly when the implant shell was bonded. While the tensile strains in the peripheral neck were low in magnitude in the immediate postoperative models, they increased substantially following compressive damage accumulation. Low bone modulus, within the range of normal bone, and high head load contributed the most to large magnitude strains. Therefore, in some cases, hip resurfacing may cause a region of compressive bone damage to develop rapidly, which in turn leads to large tensile strains and potential neck fracture. Our study suggests that indications for surgery should account for bone material quality, and that rehabilitation protocols should avoid high‐load activities. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1319–1325, 2009
Vibrational spectroscopy of a compound with a CS7 ring
Authors: Parker Stewart F. , Refson Keith , Tavender Susan M. , Albers Peter , Hannebauer Bernd , Janik Matthias , Müller Arndt , Martens Jürgen , Watzke Martin , Shankland Kenneth , Leech Charlotte , Offermanns Heribert
Published: March 2009

The product of the Asinger reaction between elemental sulfur, n‐butylamine and acetophenone is 8‐(n‐butylaminophenylmethyliden)‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7‐heptathiocane which contains a CS7 ring. A combination of infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopies with periodic density functional theory calculations is used to provide a complete assignment of the vibrational spectra of this unusual species. The similarity between the Raman spectra of the compound and that of elemental sulfur is particularly striking. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman spectroscopic study of the antimonate mineral brandholzite Mg[Sb2(OH)12]·6H2O
Authors: Frost Ray L. , Čejka Jiří , Sejkora Jiří , Ozdín Daniel , Bahfenne Silmarilly , Keeffe Eloise C.
Published: March 2009

Raman spectra of brandholzite Mg[Sb2(OH)12]·6H2O were studied, complemented with infrared spectra, and related to the structure of the mineral. An intense Raman sharp band at 618 cm−1 is attributed to the SbO symmetric stretching mode. The low‐intensity band at 730 cm−1 is ascribed to the SbO antisymmetric stretching vibration. Low‐intensity Raman bands were found at 503, 526 and 578 cm−1. Corresponding infrared bands were observed at 527, 600, 637, 693, 741 and 788 cm−1. Four Raman bands observed at 1043, 1092, 1160 and 1189 cm−1 and eight infrared bands at 963, 1027, 1055, 1075, 1108, 1128, 1156 and 1196 cm−1 are assigned to δ SbOH deformation modes. A complex pattern resulting from the overlapping band of the water and hydroxyl units is observed. Raman bands are observed at 3240, 3383, 3466, 3483 and 3552 cm−1; infrared bands at 3248, 3434 and 3565 cm−1. The Raman bands at 3240 and 3383 cm−1 and the infrared band at 3248 cm−1 are assigned to water‐stretching vibrations. The two higher wavenumber Raman bands observed at 3466 and 3552 cm−1 and two infrared bands at 3434 and 3565 cm−1 are assigned to the stretching vibrations of the hydroxyl units. Observed Raman and infrared bands in the OH stretching region are associated with O‐H···O hydrogen bonds and their lengths 2.72, 2.79, 2.86, 2.88 and 3.0 Å (Raman) and 2.73, 2.83 and 3.07 Å (infrared). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
To b or not to b: The ongoing saga of peptide b ions
Authors: Harrison Alex G.
Published: March 2009

Modern soft ionization techniques readily produce protonated or multiply protonated peptides. Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of these protonated species is often used as a method to obtain sequence information. In many cases fragmentation occurs at amide bonds. When the charge resides on the C‐terminal fragment so‐called y ions are produced which are known to be protonated amino acids or truncated peptides. When the charge resides on the N‐terminal fragment so‐called b ions are produced. Often the sequence of y and b ions are essential for peptide sequencing. The b ions have many possible structures, a knowledge of which is useful in this sequencing. The structures of b ions are reviewed in the following with particular emphasis on the variation of structure with the number of amino acid residues in the b ion and the effect of peptide side chain on b ion structure. The recent discovery of full cyclization of larger b ions results in challenges in peptide sequencing. This aspect is discussed in detail. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:640–654, 2009
Malnutrition and neutropenia in children treated for Burkitt lymphoma in Malawi
Authors: Israëls Trijn , van de Wetering Marianne D. , Hesseling Peter , van Geloven Nan , Caron Huib N. , Molyneux Elizabeth M.
Published: March 2009

Background

Infection in neutropenic children is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children treated for cancer. In developing countries, children with cancer are often malnourished at diagnosis. In Blantyre, Malawi, children with Burkitt lymphoma are treated with a local protocol with limited toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of febrile neutropenia during this treatment and the association with malnutrition at diagnosis.

Methods

We documented nutritional status, febrile and/or neutropenic episodes, antibiotic therapy and short term outcome of all children with Burkitt lymphoma treated according to the local protocol and admitted from January 2007 to March 2008.

Results

Fifty eight (69%) of 84 patients were acutely malnourished at diagnosis with an arm muscle area (AMA) below the 5th percentile. Malnutrition at diagnosis was associated with a significantly higher rate of profound neutropenia. This association remained significant (OR 12; 95% C.I. 1.5 ‐ infinitely; P = 0.012) after control for clinical stage of disease, bone marrow involvement and HIV infection which are possible confounders. All patients with profound neutropenia, prolonged neutropenia and treatment related deaths were malnourished at diagnosis. Four (4.9%) of 81 patients died of treatment related causes; three of them due to a Gram negative septicaemia.

Conclusion

Acute malnutrition at diagnosis is associated with significantly more treatment related profound neutropenia. The intensity of chemotherapeutic regimens has to be adapted to the level of available supportive care and patients' nutritional status and tolerance to avoid unacceptable morbidity and mortality. This local treatment protocol for Burkitt lymphoma has a treatment related mortality of 5% in patients in Malawi. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:47–52. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proteomic analysis of a filamentous fungal endophyte using EST datasets
Authors: Bassett Shalome A. , Bond Judy J. , Kwan Fiona Y. S. , McCulloch Alan F. , Haynes Paul A. , Johnson Richard D. , Bryan Gregory T. , Jordan T. William
Published: March 2009

Proteomic analysis of many species of fungi, particularly filamentous fungi, is difficult due to the lack of publicly available genome sequence data and the problems associated with cross‐species comparisons. Furthermore, the detection of fungal proteins in biological systems where there are a greater number of proteins present from other eukaryote species provides additional challenges. We present an EST‐based approach for identifying proteins from a fungal endophyte of temperate grasses and demonstrate that this method is well suited for fungi with minimal sequence data.
Unbiased proteomic screen for binding proteins to modified lysines on histone H3
Authors: Chan Doug W. , Wang Yi , Wu Meng , Wong Jiemin , Qin Jun , Zhao Yingming
Published: March 2009

We report a sensitive peptide pull‐down approach in combination with protein identification by LC‐MS/MS and qualitative abundance measurements by spectrum counting to identify proteins binding to histone H3 tail containing dimethyl lysine 4 (H3K4me2), dimethyl lysine 9 (H3K9me2), or acetyl lysine 9 (H3K9ac). Our study identified 86 nuclear proteins that associate with the histone H3 tail peptides examined, including seven known direct binders and 16 putative direct binders with conserved PHD finger, bromodomain, and WD40 domains. The reliability of our proteomic screen is supported by the fact that more than one‐third of the proteins identified were previously described to associate with histone H3 tail directly or indirectly. To our knowledge, the results presented here are the most comprehensive analysis of H3K4me2, H3K9me2, and H3K9ac associated proteins and will provide a useful resource for researchers studying the mechanisms of histone code effector proteins.
Growth and long‐term lung function in cystic fibrosis: A longitudinal study of patients diagnosed by neonatal screening
Authors: Assael Baroukh Maurice , Casazza Giovanni , Iansa Patrizia , Volpi Sonia , Milani Silvano
Published: March 2009

Objective

So far there is no long‐term analysis relating the achievement of growth milestones (such as prepubertal and pubertal take‐off and peak velocity) to the course of respiratory function from childhood to adulthood in cystic fibrosis. This study was designed to evaluate linear growth and severity of lung disease, find a correlation between growth and disease severity throughout childhood.

Patients

One hundred sixty‐three patients from one center were selected according to: diagnosis by neonatal screening, complete follow‐up available (four height measurements/year) until the age of 20, respiratory tests available from the age of 5–6 years until adulthood, lung transplantation, or death. Disease was classified as mild or severe according to FEV1 (group 1 and group 2). A third group of patients (group 3) consisted of those who died or underwent lung transplantation before the age of 18.

Methods

Individual growth profiles were fitted with a seven‐constant nonlinear growth function. A multivariate linear model was fitted, with gender and severity of disease as covariates, and age, height, and height velocity at growth milestones as dependent variables. Data were compared with those of the normal Italian population.

Results

Lung disease severity correlates with delayed prepubertal and pubertal growth milestones. Peak height velocities were significantly reduced in relation to the severity of the disease.

Conclusions

Patients with severe forms of cystic fibrosis exhibit reduced growth velocity values at an early age, before a clear decline in pulmonary function. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:209–215. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Engineered cystine knot peptides that bind αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1 integrins with low‐nanomolar affinity
Authors: Kimura Richard H. , Levin Aron M. , Cochran Frank V. , Cochran Jennifer R.
Published: March 2009

There is a critical need for compounds that target cell surface integrin receptors for applications in cancer therapy and diagnosis. We used directed evolution to engineer theEcballium elateriumtrypsin inhibitor (EETI‐II), a knottin peptide from the squash family of protease inhibitors, as a new class of integrin‐binding agents. We generated yeast‐displayed libraries of EETI‐II by substituting its 6‐amino acid trypsin binding loop with 11‐amino acid loops containing the Arg‐Gly‐Asp integrin binding motif and randomized flanking residues. These libraries were screened in a high‐throughput manner by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting to identify mutants that bound to αvβ3integrin. Select peptides were synthesized and were shown to compete for natural ligand binding to integrin receptors expressed on the surface of U87MG glioblastoma cells with half‐maximal inhibitory concentration values of 10–30 nM. Receptor specificity assays demonstrated that engineered knottin peptides bind to both αvβ3and αvβ5integrins with high affinity. Interestingly, we also discovered a peptide that binds with high affinity to αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1integrins. This finding has important clinical implications because all three of these receptors can be coexpressed on tumors. In addition, we showed that engineered knottin peptides inhibit tumor cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin, and in some cases fibronectin, depending on their integrin binding specificity. Collectively, these data validate EETI‐II as a scaffold for protein engineering, and highlight the development of unique integrin‐binding peptides with potential for translational applications in cancer. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two centuries of process safety at DuPont
Authors: Klein James A.
Published: March 2009

DuPont was founded over 200 years ago with a core value for understanding and managing the hazards associated with our processes. From the beginning of gunpowder manufacture on the Brandywine River, to expansion into chemicals in the early 1900s, to the many, diverse businesses of today, this core value for safety has helped the company reduce risk and prevent serious injuries and incidents. This article reviews some of this basic corporate history, recognizing that the lessons of the past can help us provide for a safer future. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009
Ratio index variables or ANCOVA? Fisher's cats revisited
Authors: Tu Yu‐Kang , Law Graham R. , Ellison George T.H. , Gilthorpe Mark S.
Published: March 2009

Over 60 years ago Ronald Fisher demonstrated a number of potential pitfalls with statistical analyses using ratio variables. Nonetheless, these pitfalls are largely overlooked in contemporary clinical and epidemiological research, which routinely uses ratio variables in statistical analyses. This article aims to demonstrate how very different findings can be generated as a result of less than perfect correlations among the data used to generate ratio variables. These imperfect correlations result from measurement error and random biological variation. While the former can often be reduced by improvements in measurement, random biological variation is difficult to estimate and eliminate in observational studies. Moreover, wherever the underlying biological relationships among epidemiological variables are unclear, and hence the choice of statistical model is also unclear, the different findings generated by different analytical strategies can lead to contradictory conclusions. Caution is therefore required when interpreting analyses of ratio variables whenever the underlying biological relationships among the variables involved are unspecified or unclear. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative profiling of biomarkers related to B‐vitamin status, tryptophan metabolism and inflammation in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Midttun Øivind , Hustad Steinar , Ueland Per M.
Published: March 2009

Vitamins B2 and B6 serve as cofactors in enzymatic reactions involved in tryptophan and homocysteine metabolism. Plasma concentrations of these vitamins and amino acids are related to smoking and inflammation, and correlate with other markers of immune activation. Large‐scale studies of these relations have been hampered by lack of suitable analytical methods. The assay described includes riboflavin, five vitamin B6 forms (pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate, pyridoxal, 4‐pyridoxic acid, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine), tryptophan and six tryptophan metabolites (kynurenine, kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, 3‐hydroxykynurenine, xanthurenic acid and 3‐hydroxyanthranilic acid), cystathionine, neopterin and cotinine. Trichloroacetic acid containing 13 isotope‐labelled internal standards was added to 60 µL of plasma, the mixture was centrifuged, and the resulting supernatant used for analysis. The analytes were separated within 5 min on a stable‐bond C8 column by a gradient‐type mobile phase containing acetonitrile, heptafluorobutyric acid and high concentration (650 mmol/L) of acetic acid, and detected using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS). The mobile phase ensured sufficient separation and high ionization efficiency of all analytes. Recoveries were 75–123% and within‐day and between‐day coefficients of variance (CVs) were 2.5–9.5% and 5.4–16.9%, respectively. Limits of detection ranged from 0.05 to 7 nmol/L. The method enables quantification of endogenous plasma concentrations of 16 analytes related to B‐vitamin status and inflammation, and may prove useful in large‐scale epidemiological studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of the multiregional inoperability input‐output model (MRIIM) for spatial explicitness in preparedness of interdependent regions
Authors: Crowther Kenneth G. , Haimes Yacov Y.
Published: March 2009

Any given region in the US is a complex, interconnected, and interdependent economic system of systems that includes multiple stakeholders, spans multiple sub‐regions, and produces a very large number of commodities and services. This paper provides a holistic, methodological framework with which to model the multisectoral and multiregional economic interdependencies inherent in such a large‐scale and complex system, factors essential to making strategic preparedness decisions. The framework we present extends the Inoperability Input‐Output Model (IIM) [Santos and Haimes, 2004], a model which has been developed to study these large‐scale systems and which has been deployed in various studies. The basic IIM yields only average estimates across geography, and thus may provide insufficient information with which to make decisions about preparedness allocation within and across regions. Such average estimates may lead planners and policy makers to overlook geographically concentrated risks and significant cross‐regional interdependencies, which are critical in evaluating strategic preparedness options. This paper extends the IIM to model the multiregional interdependencies among the various regions in the US by introducing and developing the Multiregional IIM (MRIIM) and by presenting the spatially explicit concepts of intraregional and multiregional interdependency matrices, A* and T*, respectively. The MRIIM possesses important properties that are derived from the databases that support the model and from the construction of the model itself. These properties guarantee unique solutions when studying the cascade of perturbation across regions and guarantee convergence when computational methods are applied. These properties also lead to a notion of resilience that is gained from cross‐regional interdependencies. The major contribution of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of spatial explicitness in interdependency analysis through an example case study. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng
Seed dispersal and predation in the endemic Atlantic rainforest palm Astrocaryum aculeatissimum across a gradient of seed disperser abundance
Authors: Donatti Camila I. , Guimarães Paulo R. , Galetti Mauro
Published: March 2009

Tropical forests have been subject to intense hunting of medium and large frugivores that are important in dispersing large‐seeded species. It has been hypothesized that in areas with extinction or low abundance of medium and large‐bodied animals the density of small rodents may increase. Therefore, this increment in the density of small rodents may compensate for the absence or low abundance of medium and large frugivores on seed removal and seed dispersal. Here, we fill up this gap in the literature by determining if seed removal, seed dispersal, and seed predation by small rodents (spiny rats, Trinomys inheringi and squirrels, Sciurus ingrami) are maintained in defaunated areas. We accessed seed removal, seed dispersal, seed predation, and seedling recruitment of an endemic Atlantic rainforest palm, Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, in a gradient of abundance of agoutis. We found that seed removal, scatter hoarding, and seed predation increase with the abundance of agoutis. In contrast, the proportion of dispersed but non‐cached seeds decreased with the abundance of agoutis. We did not find any effect of the abundance of agoutis on seed dispersal distance, but we did find a positive trend on the density of seedlings. We concluded that small rodents do not compensate the low abundance of agoutis on seed removal, scatter hoarding, and seed predation of this palm tree. Moreover, areas in which agoutis are already extinct did not present any seed removal or scatter hoarding, not even by small rodents. This study emphasizes both the importance of agoutis in dispersing seeds of A. aculeatissimum and the collapse in seed dispersal of this palm in areas where agoutis are already extinct.
SUBGROUPS OF FINITE GROUPS WITH A STRONG COVER-AVOIDANCE PROPERTY
Authors: BALLESTER-BOLINCHES A. , EZQUERRO LUIS M. , SKIBA ALEXANDER N.
Published: March 2009

A subgroup A of a group G has the strong cover-avoidance property in G, or A is a strong CAP-subgroup of G, if A either covers or avoids every chief factor of every subgroup of G containing A. The main aim of the present paper is to analyse the impact of the strong cover and avoidance property of the members of some relevant families of subgroups on the structure of a group.
Neuroprotective effects of genistein and folic acid on apoptosis of rat cultured cortical neurons induced by β-amyloid 31-35
Authors: Yu Huan-Ling , Li Li , Zhang Xiao-Hong , Xiang Li , Zhang Jie , Feng Jin-Fang , Xiao Rong
Published: March 2009

Genistein and folic acid have been reported respectively to protect against the development of cognitive dysfunction; however, the underlying mechanism(s) for this protection remain unknown. In this report, the mechanism(s) contributing to the neuroprotective effects of genistein and folic acid were explored using rat cortical neuron cultures. We found that genistein and folic acid, both separately and collaboratively, increased cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential in β-amyloid (Aβ) 31-35-treated neurons. Furthermore, reduced percentage of comet cells and shortened tail length were observed in the neurons treated with genistein or folic acid. A more significant reduction in tail length of the comet neurons was observed in the co-administered neurons. RT-PCR analysis of the cultured cortical neurons showed down-regulated expression of p53, bax and caspase-3, but up-regulated expression of bcl-2 in the three neuroprotective treatment groups compared with neurons from the Aβ31-35 solo-treated group. In a nuclear dyeing experiment using Hoechst 33342, we found that both genistein and folic acid prevent neuronal apoptosis. Collectively, these findings suggest that the mechanism underlying the neuroprotection of genistein and folic acid singly or in combination observed in cultured cortical neuron studies might be related to their anti-apoptotic properties.
The breeding season of the sheep with particular reference to its modification by artificial means using light
Authors: Yeates N. T. M.
Published: March 2009

At the beginning of the present century Heape (1900), describing the sexual season of mammals, pointed out that sheep in the British Isles are sexually active during only a portion of the year.
The control of bacterial growth in fowl semen
Authors: Smith A. U.
Published: March 2009

1. The bacteria commonly found in freshly collected fowl semen are coliform bacilli, staphylococci, diphtheroid bacilli and haemolytic streptococci. These organisms are probably derived from the cloaca, which usually has the same flora as the expressed semen, while the sperm mass from the vas deferens is sterile.

2. In diluted or undiluted semen stored for 24 hr. at room temperature, or 48 hr. at 2°C, there is a great increase in the bacterial population, especially of coliform bacilli.

3. Although the presence of egg white did not diminish the growth of bacteria in stored diluted semen it improved the motility of the spermatozoa.

4. Sulphathiazole in the concentrations used proved toxic to the spermatozoa, and unreliable for bacteriostasis.
Milk-secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. Parts III and IV
Authors: Barntcoat C. R. , Logan A. G. , Grant A. I.
Published: March 2009

Milk production is of fundamental and practical importance to the sheep industry. Reports indicate considerable differences in milking ability between ewes of different breeds as well as between ewes of the same breed.

Milking capacity of ewes is dependent on both nutritional and hereditary factors, probably the nutritional factor being the more important. Under commercial farming conditions milk yield might affect not only the growth rates of ‘fat’ lambs and the quality of their carcases, but eventually also the constitution of the ewe lambs retained in the flocks for breeding purposes. It therefore appeared that milking ability of Romney ewes in New Zealand would be a matter worthy of investigation.
Prevention of mineral deficiency by soaking seed in nutrient solution
Authors: Roberts Winifred O.
Published: March 2009

A method is described for economizing in the use of fertilizers on deficient soil by soaking the cereal seeds in nutrient solutions containing the deficient element at a sufficiently high concentration to supply a large part of the total requirements of the plants.

The result of greatest potential practical importance was obtained on oats. Soaking oats in molecular tribasic potassium phosphate brought about an increase in yield from 17 to 25 cwt./acre (46 %) on phosphate-deficient soil at the cost of 13·6 lb./acre of the potassium phosphate (or 4·6 lb. P2O6) without the addition of any phosphate to the soil. There was a correspondingly large increase in the weight of straw. Nearly 75% of the P2O5 introduced in this way was recovered from the harvested grain. Sodium phosphate appears equally efficaceous for oats. Strikingly beneficial effects were also obtained on barley and wheat.
The response of sugar beet to fertilizer and the effect of farmyard manure
Authors: Adams S. N.
Published: March 2009

1. Forty-nine 33 factorial experiments in 1957–60 tested the response of sugar beet to 0·6,1·2, 1·8 cwt. N, 0·0,0·5,1·0 cwt. P2O5 and 0·8 1·6 2·4 cwt. K2O per acre. On forty-one of the sites, the experiment was repeated in the presence of 12 tons FYM per acre. There were also six trials in which the rates of mineral fertilizer had been altered to suit local conditions.

2. Optimum dressings for sugar yield without FYM were 1·0 cwt. N, 0·5 cwt. P2O6 and 1·6 cwt. K2O per acre. This closely agrees with results of experiments made in 1934–39. Exceeding the optimum nitrogen dressing decreased sugar yield although the yield of tops was increased. The main value of dung for beet was in the N, P and K it provided. With FYM, optimum dressings were only 0·6 cwt. N, 0·0 cwt. P2O5 and 0·8 cwt. K2O per acre.

3. Response to nitrogen differed greatly from field to field and the best guide to the nitrogen requirement of a field was the previous cropping. Beet which followed two or more cereal crops needed more nitrogen on average than beet which did not. Response to phosphate and potash did not differ much in different experiments and the national optimum would have been satisfactory for nearly all fields. The only use of soil analysis was to identify the very few fields which needed more than the average dressing of phosphate. The efficiency of phosphate and potash manuring could be slightly increased by taking soil type into account.
Denitrification in some tropical soils
Authors: Greenland D. J.
Published: March 2009

Denitrification has been studied in a range of near-neutral Ghanaian soils. The technique used was to add nitrate, alone or with glucose, to 10 or 15 g. samples and incubate at 30° C. and 70 or 160% of the water holding capacity. Changes in the nitrate and total nitrogen contents were then determined over a period of 14 days. Only small or non-significant losses of nitrogen occurred in the unsaturated soils, but larger and rapid losses were observed in the saturated samples. In the samples from under standing forest or old grassland denitrification proceeded without addition of a carbonaceous substrate, but a small addition was required in the cultivated and young grassland soils. The amount needed was much less than has been shown necessary for an equivalent nitrogen loss in a number of temperate zone soils. Evidence was obtained that nitrification and denitrification could proceed simultaneously in the same sample. It is c6nsidered that this supports the concept of a micro-mosaic of aerobic and anaerobic spots in a wet soil.
Establishment studies. IV. The effect on spring oats of undersowing with long-term ley mixtures
Authors: Charles A. H.
Published: March 2009

The effect of undersowing on a spring oat crop with four long-term ley mixtures was investigated. Ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy and general-purpose mixtures were used; broad red and white clovers were included in all mixtures and two levels of nitrogen applied, no nitrogen (n0) and Nitro-Chalk at 3 cwt./acre.

1. Panicle number was reduced by all the undersown mixtures except when cocksfoot was the only grass sown (mixture B).

2. The weight of individual grains was slightly reduced by undersowing with a ryegrass-dominant general-purpose mixture (D) in the absence of Nitro-Chalk, and there was also an indication of a lowering of the total number of grains per panicle when Nitro-Chalk was applied.

3. All the herbage mixtures reduced the percentage of kernel at both nitrogen levels under the ryegrass-dominant mixture (A), but only at one level of nitrogen when cocksfoot (mixture B) or timothy (mixture C) were the only grasses sown.
Effects of oxytetracycline and copper sulphate, separately and together, in the rations of growing pigs
Authors: Braude R. , Townsend M. Jill , Harrington G. , Rowell J. G.
Published: March 2009

1. A co-ordinated trial has been carried out at twenty-one centres to study the effects of feeding to growing pigs oxytetracycline (10 g./ton) and copper sulphate (2 lb./ton) separately and together. Fifteen centres repeated the test and thus there was a total of thirty-six pens with 245 pigs on each of the four treatments.

2. Growth rate and efficiency of food conversion were significantly improved by addition to the ration of copper sulphate (9·7 and 7·9% respectively) and of oxytetracycline (3·1 and 2·3% respectively). The improvement due to copper sulphate was significantly greater than that due to oxytetracycline. There was no further improvement when both supplements were fed together.

3. The cold dead weight of the pigs was significantly increased by the two supplements, the carcasses were shorter, and the streaks thicker. Supplementation with oxytetracycline resulted in slightly increased fat over the eye muscle and supplementation with copper resulted in increased depth of eye muscle. Percentage yields of fore-end, middle and gammon were not affected by either supplement.

4. None of the treatment × centre interactions was significant.