bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RECONSTRUCTION OF 5D COSMOLOGICAL MODELS FROM THE EQUATION OF STATE OF DARK ENERGY
Authors: XU LI XIN , LIU HONG YA , ZHANG CHENG WU
Published: April 2006

We consider a class of five-dimensional cosmological solutions which contain two arbitrary function μ(t) and ν(t). We find that the arbitrary function μ(t) contained in the solutions can be rewritten in terms of the redshift z as a new arbitrary function f(z). We further show that this new arbitrary function f(z) can be solved for four known parameterized equations of state of dark energy. Then 5D models can be reconstructed and the evolution of the density and deceleration parameters of the universe can be determined.
ANALYZING AND DESIGNING THE GROUP COGNITION EXPERIENCE
Authors: STAHL GERRY
Published: April 2006

More than we realize it, knowledge is often constructed through interactions among people in small groups. The Internet, by allowing people to communicate globally in limitless combinations, has opened enormous opportunities for the creation of knowledge and understanding. A major barrier today is the poverty of adequate groupware. To design more powerful software that can facilitate the building of collaborative knowledge, we need to better understand the nature of group cognition — the processes whereby ideas are developed by small groups. We need to analyze interaction at both the individual and the group unit of analysis in order to understand the variety of processes that groupware should be supporting. This paper will look closely at an empirical example of an online group problem-solving experience and suggest implications for groupware design.
Validation of a Receptor–Dispersion Model Coupled with a Genetic Algorithm Using Synthetic Data
Authors: Haupt Sue Ellen , Young George S. , Allen Christopher T.
Published: April 2006

A methodology for characterizing emission sources is presented that couples a dispersion and transport model with a pollution receptor model. This coupling allows the use of the backward (receptor) model to calibrate the forward (dispersion) model, potentially across a wide range of meteorological conditions. Moreover, by using a receptor model one can calibrate from observations taken in a multisource setting. This approach offers practical advantages over calibrating via single-source artificial release experiments. A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the source calibration factors that couple the two models. The ability of the genetic algorithm to correctly couple these two models is demonstrated for two separate source–receptor configurations using synthetic meteorological and receptor data. The calibration factors underlying the synthetic data are successfully reconstructed by this optimization process. A Monte Carlo technique is used to compute error bounds for the resulting estimates of the calibration factors. By creating synthetic data with random noise, it is possible to quantify the robustness of the model's results in the face of variability. When white noise is incorporated into the synthetic pollutant signal at the receptors, the genetic algorithm is still able to compute the calibration factors of the coupled model up to a signal-to-noise ratio of about 2. Beyond that level of noise, the average of many coupled model optimization runs still provides a reasonable estimate of the calibration factor until the noise is an order of magnitude greater than the signal. The calibration factor linking the dispersion to the receptor model provides an estimate of the uncertainty in the combined monitoring and modeling process. This approach recognizes the mismatch between the ensemble average dispersion modeling technology and matching a single realization time of monitored data.
1948–98 U.S. Hydrological Reanalysis by the Noah Land Data Assimilation System
Authors: Fan Y. , Van den Dool H. M. , Lohmann D. , Mitchell K.
Published: April 2006

Land surface variables, such as soil moisture, are among the most important components of memory for the climate system. A more accurate and long time series of land surface data is very important for real-time drought monitoring, for understanding land surface–atmosphere interaction, and for improving weather and climate prediction. Thus, the ultimate goal of the present work is to produce a long-term “land reanalysis” with 1) retrospective and 2) real-time update components that are both generated in a manner that remains temporally homogeneous throughout the record. As the first step of the above goal, the retrospective component is reported here. Specifically, a 51-yr (1948–98) set of hourly land surface meteorological forcing is produced and used to execute the Noah land surface model, all on the 1/8° grid of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS). The surface forcing includes air temperature, air humidity, surface pressure, wind speed, and surface downward shortwave and longwave radiation, all derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) Global Reanalysis. Additionally, a newly improved precipitation analysis is used to provide realistic hourly precipitation forcing on the NLDAS grid. Some unique procedures are described and applied to yield retroactive forcing that is temporally homogeneous over the 51 yr at the spatial and temporal resolution, including a terrain height adjustment that accounts for the terrain differences between the global reanalysis and the NLDAS. The land model parameters and fixed fields are derived from existing high-resolution datasets of vegetation, soil, and orography. The land reanalysis output from the Noah land surface model consists of eight energy balance components and skin temperature, which are output at 3-hourly intervals, and 15 other variables (i.e., water balance components, surface state variables, etc.), which are output at daily intervals for the period of 1 January 1948 through 31 December 1998.

Using soil moisture observations throughout Illinois over 1984–98 as validation, an improvement in the simulated soil moisture (of the Noah model versus a forerunner leaky bucket model) is illustrated in terms of an improved annual cycle (much better phasing) and somewhat higher anomaly correlation for the anomalies, especially in central and southern Illinois. Nonetheless, considerable room for model improvement remains. For example, the simulated anomalies are overly uniform in the vertical compared to the observations, and some likely routes for model improvement in this aspect are proposed.
Influence of Global Warming on Baroclinic Rossby Radius in the Ocean: A Model Intercomparison
Authors: Saenko Oleg A.
Published: April 2006

Results from eight ocean–atmosphere general circulation models are used to evaluate the influence of the projected changes in the oceanic stratification on the first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation in the ocean, associated with atmospheric CO2 increase. For each of the models, an oceanic state corresponding to the A1B stabilization experiment (with atmospheric CO2 concentration of 720 ppm) is compared to a state corresponding to the preindustrial control experiment (with atmospheric CO2 concentration of 280 ppm). In all of the models, the first baroclinic Rossby radius increases with increasing oceanic stratification in the warmer climate. There is, however, a considerable range among the models in the magnitude of the increase. At the latitudes of intense eddy activity associated with instability of western boundary currents (around 35°–40°), the increase reaches 4 km on average, or about 15% of the local baroclinic Rossby radius. Some of the models predict an increase of the baroclinic Rossby radius by more than 20% at these latitudes under the applied forcing. It is therefore suggested that in a plausible future warmer climate, the characteristic length scale of mesoscale eddies, as well as boundary currents and fronts, may increase. In addition, since the speed of long baroclinic Rossby waves is proportional to the squared baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation, the results suggest that the time scale for large-scale dynamical oceanic adjustment may decrease in the warmer climate, thereby increasing the frequency of long-term climate variability where the oceanic Rossby wave dynamics set the dominant period. Finally, the speed of equatorial Kelvin waves and Rossby waves, carrying signals along the equator, including those related to ENSO, is projected to increase.
Evaluations of Older Adult Assertiveness in Problematic Clinical Encounters
Authors: Ryan Ellen Bouchard , Anas Ann P. , Friedman Daniela B.
Published: April 2006

Within a communication predicament of aging framework, this study examined assertiveness as an option for older adults confronted with a problematic health care conversation. Older and younger participants evaluated scenarios in which senior client targets with or without hearing loss employed either assertive, passive, or aggressive responses. As predicted, assertive seniors were evaluated as most competent and likely to be satisfied with future encounters. Compared to older adults, young adults gave equivalent ratings for assertiveness but viewed the senior’s passive response especially positively and the aggressive response especially negatively. Hearing loss made no difference in evaluations of the three response styles. Findings are discussed in terms of the benefits for older adults of developing skills in selective assertiveness, with emphasis on their successful management of health care encounters.
The Effects of Preschool Girls’ and Boys’ Help Seeking on Adult Evaluations of Dyadic Problem Solving
Authors: Thompson R. Bruce , Arsenault Stacie , Williams Deanna
Published: April 2006

Children’s help seeking is ubiquitous in dyadic problem solving and fundamental to theories of scaffolded intellectual development. However, little is known about possible effects of variation in help seeking on adult perceptions. This was investigated by having adults evaluate preschoolers’ ability, achievement expectation, and motivation during a challenging task, unaware that the children were matched in performance, strategy, and language ability, but differed only by gender and help seeking. Girls and high-help-seeking children were judged as less capable and less confident. Child gender and help seeking interacted, whereby girls high in help seeking were rated as less capable and confident than all other children. Although girls were rated as more motivated, gender and help-seeking level interacted. High-help-seeking girls were rated as lower in motivation than low-help-seeking girls, whereas the reverse was found for boys. Gender differences in pragmatic development important to adult-child problem-solving discourse are discussed.
High-Occupancy Toll Lane Innovations: I-394 MnPASS
Authors: Halvorson Randy , Buckeye Kenneth R.
Published: April 2006

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has implemented the state’s first optional toll lane project, called the I-394 MnPASS, in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. This project, which opened in May 2005, converts the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-394 into high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, allowing solo drivers the opportunity to pay an electronic fee to bypass congestion. The lanes remain open to HOV use at no charge, including transit riders, car pools, and motorcyclists. I-394 MnPASS is the first tolling project that prices a facility directly adjacent to general-purpose lanes, separated only by a double-white-stripe buffer. Several HOT-lane innovations have been introduced to reduce project development time and costs, to improve operations, and to enhance enforcement.
The Tau Parallel Performance System
Authors: Shende Sameer S. , Malony Allen D.
Published: April 2006

The ability of performance technology to keep pace with the growing complexity of parallel and distributed systems depends on robust performance frameworks that can at once provide system-specific performance capabilities and support high-level performance problem solving. Flexibility and portability in empirical methods and processes are influenced primarily by the strategies available for instrmentation and measurement, and how effectively they are integrated and composed. This paper presents the TAU (Tuning and Analysis Utilities) parallel performance sytem and describe how it addresses diverse requirements for performance observation and analysis.
Advances, Applications and Performance of the Global Arrays Shared Memory Programming Toolkit
Authors: Nieplocha Jarek , Palmer Bruce , Tipparaju Vinod , Krishnan Manojkumar , Trease Harold , Aprà Edoardo
Published: April 2006

This paper describes capabilities, evolution, performance, and applications of the Global Arrays (GA) toolkit. GA was created to provide application programmers with an inteface that allows them to distribute data while maintaining the type of global index space and programming syntax similar to that available when programming on a single processor. The goal of GA is to free the programmer from the low level management of communication and allow them to deal with their problems at the level at which they were originally formulated. At the same time, compatibility of GA with MPI enables the programmer to take advatage of the existing MPI software/libraries when available and appropriate. The variety of applications that have been implemented using Global Arrays attests to the attractiveness of using higher level abstractions to write parallel code.
Differential gene transfers and gene duplications in primary and secondary endosymbioses
Authors: Zauner Stefan , Lockhart Peter , Stoebe-Maier Bettina , Gilson Paul , McFadden Geoffrey I , Maier Uwe G
Published: April 2006

Background

Most genes introduced into phototrophic eukaryotes during the process of endosymbiosis are either lost or relocated into the host nuclear genome. In contrast, gro EL homologues are found in different genome compartments among phototrophic eukaryotes. Comparative sequence analyses of recently available genome data, have allowed us to reconstruct the evolutionary history of these genes and propose a hypothesis that explains the unusual genome distribution of gro EL homologues.

Results

Our analyses indicate that while two distinct gro EL genes were introduced into eukaryotes by a progenitor of plastids, these particular homologues have not been maintained in all evolutionary lineages. This is of significant interest, because two chaperone proteins always co-occur in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. We infer strikingly different lineage specific processes of evolution involving deletion, duplication and targeting of gro EL proteins.

Conclusion

The requirement of two gro EL homologues for chaperon function in phototrophs has provided a constraint that has shaped convergent evolutionary scenarios in divergent evolutionary lineages. Gro EL provides a general evolutionary model for studying gene transfers and convergent evolutionary processes among eukaryotic lineages.
Genistein inhibits radiation-induced activation of NF-κB in prostate cancer cells promoting apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest
Authors: Raffoul Julian J , Wang Yu , Kucuk Omer , Forman Jeffrey D , Sarkar Fazlul H , Hillman Gilda G
Published: April 2006

Background

New cancer therapeutic strategies must be investigated that enhance prostate cancer treatment while minimizing associated toxicities. We have previously shown that genistein, the major isoflavone found in soy, enhanced prostate cancer radiotherapyin vitroandin vivo. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular interaction between genistein and radiation using PC-3 human prostate cancer cells.

Methods

Tumor cell survival and progression was determined by clonogenic analysis, flow cytometry, EMSA analysis of NF-κB, and western blot analysis of cyclin B1, p21WAF1/Cip1, and cleaved PARP protein.

Results

Genistein combined with radiation caused greater inhibition in PC-3 colony formation compared to genistein or radiation alone. Treatment sequence of genistein followed by radiation and continuous exposure to genistein showed optimal effect. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated a significant dose- and time-dependent G2/M arrest induced by genistein and radiation that correlated with increased p21WAF1/Cip1and decreased cyclin B1 expression. NF-κB activity was significantly decreased by genistein, yet increased by radiation. Radiation-induced activation of NF-κB activity was strongly inhibited by genistein pre-treatment. A significant and striking increase in cleaved PARP protein was measured following combined genistein and radiation treatment, indicating increased apoptosis.

Conclusion

A mechanism of increased cell death by genistein and radiation is proposed to occur via inhibition of NF-κB, leading to altered expression of regulatory cell cycle proteins such as cyclin B and/or p21WAF1/Cip1, thus promoting G2/M arrest and increased radiosensitivity. These findings support the important and novel strategy of combining genistein with radiation for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Mutation patterns of amino acid tandem repeats in the human proteome
Authors: Mularoni Loris , Guigó Roderic , Albà M Mar
Published: April 2006

Background

Amino acid tandem repeats are found in nearly one-fifth of human proteins. Abnormal expansion of these regions is associated with several human disorders. To gain further insight into the mutational mechanisms that operate in this type of sequence, we have analyzed a large number of mutation variants derived from human expressed sequence tags (ESTs).

Results

We identified 137 polymorphic variants in 115 different amino acid tandem repeats. Of these, 77 contained amino acid substitutions and 60 contained gaps (expansions or contractions of the repeat unit). The analysis showed that at least about 21% of the repeats might be polymorphic in humans. We compared the mutations found in different types of amino acid repeats and in adjacent regions. Overall, repeats showed a five-fold increase in the number of gap mutations compared to adjacent regions, reflecting the action of slippage within the repetitive structures. Gap and substitution mutations were very differently distributed between different amino acid repeat types. Among repeats containing gap variants we identified several disease and candidate disease genes.

Conclusion

This is the first report at a genome-wide scale of the types of mutations occurring in the amino acid repeat component of the human proteome. We show that the mutational dynamics of different amino acid repeat types are very diverse. We provide a list of loci with highly variable repeat structures, some of which may be potentially involved in disease.
Changes in muscle compartment pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Símonardóttir Líney , Torfason Bjarni , Stefánsson Einar , Magnússon Jónas
Published: April 2006

Purpose: Hemodilution and inflammation lead to edema and increased muscle compartment pressure after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to find whether muscle compartment pressure was affected by the addition of albumin and mannitol to the pump prime, heparin coating or leukocyte depletion. Additionally, we studied the relationship between intraocular pressure and lower leg muscle compartment pressure. Edema during and following cardiac surgery is due to hemodynamic, osmotic and inflammatory changes, according to Starling’s Law. We attempted to influence the osmotic balance and reduce the inflammatory response in order to reduce the edema.

Methods: Thirty-six patients who underwent cardiac surgery were randomly allocated into four groups. Group A received albumin and mannitol into the pump prime. Group B had an, heparin-coated perfusion system, Group C had a leukocyte-depletion arterial line filter and Group D was the control group, where intraocular pressure was also measured.

Results: Lower leg muscle compartment pressure increased significantly during and after cardiac surgery in all groups, but this increase was significantly less in Group A than in the control group 24 h after surgery. No correlation was found between muscular compartment pressure and intraocular pressure. The intraocular pressure profile is different from the muscular compartment pressure and recovers much faster.

Conclusion: Lower leg muscle compartment pressure and intraocular pressure behave differently during and after cardiac surgery. Albumin and mannitol added to the pump prime decreases muscle compartment pressure after cardiac surgery.
Nurse prescribing from the community nurse's perspective
Authors: Luker Karen A , McHugh Gretl A
Published: April 2006

Background

Since 1994, district nurses and health visitors in the United Kingdom have been able to prescribe from a limited formulary. Items which are prescribed by these nurses are wound care products, incontinence appliances and medicinal preparations such as paracetamol and emollients. There is a planned expansion of prescribing by nurses, in terms of both the range of products and drugs that are prescribable and the types of nurses eligible for training for this new role.

Objective

To investigate patterns of nurse prescribing among community nurses in three primary care trusts in the United Kingdom.

Methods

Postal survey to 164 community nurses who were qualified to prescribe. Responses were received from 129 (79 per cent) with 35 nurses identifying themselves as not prescribing and excluded from the sample; 93 (72 per cent) of the questionnaires were entered on a database for analysis.

Key findings

Prescribing costs for district nurses ranged from £7.65 to £18,053 (median £2,023.64) and for health visitors from £0.73 to £2,556 (median £42.77) for a 12-month period. Nineteen per cent (n=28) of community nurses had decided not to prescribe even though they were trained to do so. Infrastructures and mechanisms to support nurses with nurse prescribing have been slow to emerge. Nurses perceived that their ability to prescribe was benefiting their patients and that they were providing better care. Community nurses cautiously welcomed the proposed extension of nurse prescribing.

Conclusions

Nurse prescribing has allowed community nurses more autonomy in managing a patient's total care. Our findings suggest that around one-quarter of nurses qualified to prescribe are not doing so. With the imminent extension of nurse prescribing for other nurses, action is needed by primary care trusts to put structures in place to ensure that nurses take on board this extension and challenge to their role.
Regulation of pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion by actin cytoskeleton remodelling: role of gelsolin and cooperation with the MAPK signalling pathway
Authors: Tomas Alejandra , Yermen Barbara , Min Le , Pessin Jeffrey E. , Halban Philippe A.
Published: April 2006

We have previously isolated two MIN6 β-cell sublines, B1, highly responsive to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and C3, markedly refractory (Lilla, V., Webb, G., Rickenbach, K., Maturana, A., Steiner, D. F., Halban, P. A. and Irminger, J. C. (2003) Endocrinology 144, 1368-1379). We now demonstrate that C3 cells have substantially increased amounts of F-actin stress fibres whereas B1 cells have shorter cortical F-actin. Consistent with these data, B1 cells display glucose-dependent actin remodelling whereas, in C3 cells, F-actin is refractory to this secretagogue. Furthermore, F-actin depolymerisation with latrunculin B restores glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in C3 cells. In parallel, glucose-stimulated ERK1/2 activation is greater in B1 than in C3 cells, and is potentiated in both sublines following F-actin depolymerisation. Glucose-activated phosphoERK1/2 accumulates at actin filament tips adjacent to the plasma membrane, indicating that these are the main sites of action for this kinase during insulin secretion. In addition, B1 cell expression of the calcium-dependent F-actin severing protein gelsolin is >100-fold higher than that of C3 cells. Knock-down of gelsolin reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whereas gelsolin over-expression potentiated secretion from B1 cells. Gelsolin localised along depolymerised actin fibres after glucose stimulation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that F-actin reorganization prior to insulin secretion requires gelsolin and plays a role in the glucose-dependent MAPK signal transduction that regulates β-cell insulin secretion.
Significant Formation of 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine in Photoirradiation of “Photo-Fenton Reagent” with Calf Thymus DNA and L 5178Y cells
Authors: Matsugo Seiichi , Kumaki Satoshi , Shimasaki Choichiro , Mori Toshiaki , Saito Isao
Published: April 2006

A significant formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was observed in photoirradiation of “photo-Fenton reagent” (1) with calf thymus DNA in maximum yield of 1.1%. The ten-fold enhancement of the formation of 8-OHdG compared to the control level was observed in photoirradiation of L5178Y cells with 1. The 8-OHdG formation well corresponds to the site specific DNA-cleaving activity of 1 upon photoirradiation.
A New Class of Metal-Dependent Selective Anion Carrier. PH-Controlled Up-Hill Transport of SCN− by Formation of Transition-Metal Complex
Authors: Araki Koji , Lee Sung Kil , Otsuki Joe , Seno Manabu
Published: April 2006

In the presence of appropriate pH-gradient across an organic liquid membrane, selective up-hill transport of SCN− through the membrane was efficiently mediated by 6,6′-bis(4-hexylbenzoylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine upon complex formation with CuII, in which the metal center served as an SCN−-selective binding site while pH-switched dissociation-association of the amide proton(s) of the ligand regulated uptake and release of SCN−.
Preparation and Properties of 7-(1,3-Dithiol-2-ylidene)-7H-cyclopenta[1,2-b;4,3-b′] dithiophenes and Their Polymers
Authors: Kozaki Masatoshi , Tanaka Shoji , Yamashita Yoshiro
Published: April 2006

The title 1,3-dithiole compounds which were synthesized using a Wittig-Hornor reaction have a planar structure with both inter- and intramolecular short S···S contacts. Their electrochemical oxidation gave polythiophene derivatives which have lower oxidation potentials than polythiophene and the conductivity of the nonsubstituted derivative was 3.5 × 10−3 S cm−1.
Evaluation of Acidity of CO2 in Protic Media. Carboxylation of Reduced Quinone
Authors: Tanaka Hiroaki , Nagao Hirotaka , Tanaka Koji
Published: April 2006

In order to evaluate the acidity of CO2 in protic media, interaction of CO2 with reduced 2,3,5,6-tetramethylquinone (TMQ) was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry in CH3CN, CH3OH, and CH3CN / H2O. Predominant carboxylation of TMQ in CH3OH and CH3CN / H2O (9:1 v/v) indicates that the acidity of CO2 is almost equivalent or stronger than that of proton in those media.
Ytterbium Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols to Aldehydes and Ketones by Means of Iodosylbenzene
Authors: Yokoo Toshiaki , Matsumoto Kozo , Oshima Koichiro , Utimoto Kiitiro
Published: April 2006

Treatment of a 1,2-dichloroethane solution of various alcohols with iodosylbenzene in the presence of a catalytic amount of ytterbium(III) nitrate provided the corresponding carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields.
Cyclopropylidene Dianion Equivalent. Preparation of 1,1-Dilithio-2,2-diphenylcyclopropane
Authors: Oku Akira , Ose Yasuyoshi , Kamada Tohru , Yoshida Tomohiro
Published: April 2006

The title compound was prepared by the treatment of the corresponding 1,1-dibromocyclopropane with lithium naphthalene radical anion (Li-C10H8). Trapping of the dilithio compound by chlorotrimethylsilane provided evidence for its highly basic profile which can compete with silylation.
Electropolymerization Conditions for Producing Insulator Polypyrrole Films
Authors: Osaka Tetsuya , Momma Toshiyuki , Kanagawa Himeko
Published: April 2006

By using the electropolymerization of pyrrole from aqueous solutions of Na2CO3 for NaHCO3, flat and pinhole-less insulating films were obtained due to the self-leveling and self-saturation effects. The influences of the supporting electrolyte and of the additive (N-methylpyrrole) to the NaOH polymerization solution were also investigated to produce the insulating PPy films having some different properties.
An Efficient Backbone Amide Nitrogen Alkylation of RA-VII, an Antitumor Cyclic Hexapeptide
Authors: Itokawa Hideji , Suzuki Jin , Hitotsuyanagi Yukio , Kondo Kazuyuki , Takeya Koichi
Published: April 2006

RA-VII, a potent antitumor cyclic hexapeptide, was effectively alkylated under the phase-transfer condition to afford [N-dialkylaminoethyl-Ala2]RA-VII derivatives without racemization.
High-Performance Separation and Determination of Co(III) and Ni(II) Chelates of 4-(2-Pyridylazo)resorcinol at Femtomole Levels by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Iki Nobuhiko , Hoshino Hitoshi , Yotsuyanagi Takao
Published: April 2006

Separation of 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and its chelates of CoIII, FeII, NiII, and VV was accomplished within 6 min by simple capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a spectrophotometric detection. The detection limits, defined as 3σ of base-line noise were 1.80 × 10−7 mol dm−3 for CoIII and 1.41 × 10−7 mol dm−3 for NiII chelates, and those on a mass basis were 1.08 fmol (63.6 fg) and 0.84 fmol (49.3 fg) in 6.0 × 10−9 dm3 sample, respectively. A guideline on the ligand design for the CE system is also obtained from the pH dependence of the separation behavior of PAR chelates.
External Ligand - Exchange in Cyclometalated Complexes Possessing Pd(II)-C(sp3) Bond
Authors: Yoneda Akio , Ouchi Mikio , Hakushi Tadao , Newkome George R , Fronczek Frank R
Published: April 2006

A stable class of σ- bonded palladium(II) complexes was synthesized from exchange of the external pyridine ligand upon treatment with excess of metronidazole. The crystal structure of metronidazole[2-{2,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl}-8-quinolinol-C, N, O]palladium(II) was determined by the X-ray analysis.
Weighting Functions in Order to Modify the Isotropic Character of the Steric Constant Ωs. Its Application to the Hydrolyses of Carboxamides
Authors: Akai Ikuo , Sakakibara Kazuhisa , Hirota Minoru
Published: April 2006

In order to take into account the preferred direction of the access of reagents, weighting functions were introduced in the calculation of Ωs. A p-orbital-shaped weighting function served to improve the correlation of Ωs with the rates of the hydrolyses of alkanecarboxamides and related compounds.
Bis(methylthio) Substituted Unsymmetrical 2,5-Bis(1′,3′-dithiol-2′-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalenes
Authors: Misaki Yohji , Nishikawa Hiroyuki , Yamabe Tokio , Mori Takehiko , Inokuchi Hiroo , Mori Hatsumi , Tanaka Shoji
Published: April 2006

The title compounds (2) were synthesized as the donor components for organic conductors, and preparation and electrical properties of their cation radical salts were investigated. Among various cation radical salts obtained so far, AsF6 salt of ethylenedithio-2 and SbF6 salt of ethylenedioxy-2 showed metallic temperature dependence of conductivities down to 0.6 K.
A New Approach to Study of Solvent Effect on Intramolecular Electron Transfer
Authors: Borovkov Victor V , Ishida Akito , Takamuku Setsuo , Sakata Yoshiteru
Published: April 2006

An electron-transfer process in a porphyrin-quinone model compound was studied by steady-state and nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in thirteen solvents with different polarity (εs values ranged from 4.3 to 46.7). Electron-transfer rate constants (ket) and fluorescence quenchings were strongly dependent on the polarity of solvents. The parabolic dependence of ln ket on optical and static dielectric constant term (1/εop − 1/εs) was observed for applied solvents.
Possible Solution to Discord between Void Volume Recovery of Polypeptide and Separation of Drugs with Restricted-access Type Polymer-based Separation Media for HPLC
Authors: Hosoya Ken , Kishii Yutaka , Tanaka Nobuo , Kimata Kazuhiro , Araki Takeo , Kiniwa Hideaki
Published: April 2006

Size monodisperse restricted-access and permeable polymer-based separation media were prepared and utilized as HPLC packing materials for void volume recovery of polypeptides and chromatographic separation of drugs. Restricted-access polymer-based packing material gave quantitative recovery of the polypeptide, but separation of some drugs was very poor, while permeable packing material with sufficiently large pores showed good recovery of the polypeptide and also excellent separation of the drugs.
Heterogeneous Liquid Phase Oxidation of Alcohols with Zirconia-Supported Vanadium Oxide as Solid Oxidizing Reagent
Authors: Nakamura Hideo , Matsuhashi Hiromi , Arata Kazushi
Published: April 2006

An oxidant in heterogeneous system was obtained by impregnating Zr(OH)4 with NH4VO3 followed by calcination in air at 500 °C; this material (V2O5/ZrO2) converted alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes or ketones at moderate temperatures in solvent.
Surface Modification of Denture to Provide Contamination-Free Ability by Using Silane Coupling Agent Containing Fluorocarbon Chain
Authors: Yoshino Norio , Yamamoto Yasushi , Teranaka Toshio
Published: April 2006

Silane coupling agent containing fluorocarbon chain, (1H,1H,2H,2H-henicosafluorododecyl)trimethoxysilane, was applied for the surface modification of some dental materials. The contact angles of water and oleic acid on the modified material surfaces were increased. The modified denture teeth worn in an oral cavity displayed a long-range stain-protecting ability.
A New Preconcentration Method of Hydrophobic Substances in Water Using Polyvinylmethylether as a Thermo-responsive Polymer. Application to Spectrophotometric Determination of a Trace Amount of Phosphate in Natural Water
Authors: Matsubara Chiyo , Kikuchi Nobuyuki , Denpouya Isamu , Takamura Kiyoko
Published: April 2006

A new method of concentration and separation for determining trace amounts of phosphate in natural water, using polyvinylmethylether(PVME), one of the thermally reverse polymers, was provided. When the solution was warmed to 45 °C, PVME shrank greatly, so that the phosphomolybdate Malachit Green aggregate stuck to the walls along with PVME.
Synthesis of Polymeric Metalloporphyrin and Their Catalytic Activity in the Oxidation
Authors: Wang Rong Min , Wang Yun Pu
Published: April 2006

The polymeric porphyrin has been prepared by interfacial polymerization of tetrakis (p-hydroxylphenyl) porphyrin with m-benzene-disulfo chloride. The spectra and catalytic behaviours of its complexes with transition metal (Cu, Zn) have been studied. The cupric complex exhibits higher catalytic activity in oxidation of ethyl benzene, cyclohexene and isobutyl alcohol by O2 without any solvent.
Substituent Effect on Electron Affinity of 2,6-Dimethylnitrobenzene
Authors: Mishima Masaaki , Kang Chul Hyun , Huh Chul , Fujio Mizue , Tsuno Yuho
Published: April 2006

Electron affinities have been determined for a series of 2,6-dimethyl-4-substituted nitrobenzenes, where the nitro group is twisted out of the coplanarity with the benzene ring, by measurement of electron transfer equilibria in the gas phase with a pulsed ICR spectrometer. The substituent effect of this system has been found to be in agreement with that of the planar nitrobenzene system.
Synthesis of Tris[5-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-thienyl]cyclopropenylium Ion and Its Transformation into the Fully π-Conjugated Dianion
Authors: Komatsu Koichi , Tsuji Ryotaro , Murata Yasujiro , Takeuchi Ken’ich
Published: April 2006

Reaction of trichlorocyclopropenylium ion with 2,5-di-t-butyl-4-(2-thienyl)phenol affords the titled cation, which can be transformed into the fully π-conjugated dianion.
Synthesis of Water-Soluble Platinum(II) Complexes Stabilized with Trimethylstibane. Stibane Transfer in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Miyamoto T Ken
Published: April 2006

A new series of trimethylstibane-platinum(II) complexes were prepared. They have relatively low thermal stability in solution. The crystal structures of [Pt(SbMe3)4](NO3)2 (where Me = methyl) was determined by X-ray analysis.
Relationship between Gas Sensitivity and Film Structure of SnO2 Thin Film Gas Sensor by Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Kanamori Masaaki , Takeuchi Mitsuhiro , Ohya Yutaka , Takahashi Yasutaka
Published: April 2006

Gas sensing properties of SnO2 films prepared by sol-gel method are investigated to be strongly dependent on the firing temperature conditions. The films obtained at 400 °C have much higher sensitivity than those at 800 °C, being attributed to the fact that the crystallite size of the films linearly increased with the firing temperature. Probable mechanisms to explain the sensing properties are discussed.
Syntheses and Properties of Novel Dimeric Tetrathiafulvalenes Linked with an Ethenylene or Ethynylene Spacer
Authors: Otsubo Tetsuo , Kochi Yasutaka , Bitoh Atsushi , Ogura Fumio
Published: April 2006

Conjugated dimeric TTFs linked with an ethenylene or ethynylene spacer were prepared as novel electron donors and preferentially formed 1:1 complexes with TCNQF4 and with DDQ, which were more conductive than those of monomeric TTFs.
Synthesis of Non-Natural Branched Polysaccharides. Regioselective Introduction of α-Mannoside Branches into Chitin
Authors: Kurita Keisuke , Kobayashi Masayuki , Munakata Tetsuya , Ishii Shigeru , Nishimura Shin-Ichiro
Published: April 2006

N-Phthaloyl-chitosan was converted into 3-O-acetyl-6-O-trimethylsilyl-N-phthaloyl-chitosan, which was then subjected to the glycosylation of a peracetylated mannose orthoester to form an α-(1→6) linkage. Subsequent deprotection followed by N-acetylation afforded chitins having mannose branches. The branched chitins were readily soluble in water and showed strong affinity for concanavalin A.
Liquid Crystalline Phases through Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding Formed in a Mixture of Phenol Derivatives and 4,4′-Bipyridine
Authors: Koga Toshiaki , Ohba Hideki , Takase Akira , Sakagami Sakumitsu
Published: April 2006

Smectic liquid crystalline phases are formed due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding in a binary mixture of phenol derivatives and 4,4′-bipyridine as the length of the terminal alkyl or alkoxyl chains are increased.
Stereoselective Formation of a 2 : 1 Molecular Complex between α-Cyclodextrin and carbazole-Viologen Linked Compound with a Long Alkyl Chain as the Spacer
Authors: Yonemura Hiroaki , Nojiri Tsuyoshi , Matsuo Taku
Published: April 2006

Analysis of 1H NMR spectra revealed a novel mode of complexation between α-cyclodextrin (CD) and a carbazole-viologen linked compound with 16 methylene units in the spacer. The complexation afforded a stable rotaxane-type CD complex, where two α-CDs encased the spacer chain. NOE experiments confirmed selective formation of unique isomer among four possible orientations of the encasing α-CD.
Phthalimidomethyl Group. A New Protecting Group of Thiols
Authors: Gong Young-Dae , Iwasawa Nobuharu
Published: April 2006

Phthalimidomethyl group is employed as a protecting group of thiols. This group can be introduced to thiols under mild reaction conditions and be removed by treatment with hydrazine hydrate followed by mercuric acetate or cupric acetate.
Synthesis of the Tetrahydrofuran Ring Part of a Marine Toxin Polycavernoside-A
Authors: Hayashi Nobuyuki , Mine Takaaki , Fujiwara Kenshu , Murai Akio
Published: April 2006

Construction of the tetrahydrofuran ring part of polycavernoside A, which has been isolated as one of toxic principles from the red alga Polycavernosa tsudai, is described starting from 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol. The synthesis involves the Sharpless epoxidation and the Evans procedure for introduction of three chiral centers.
Remarkable Rate Enhancement in CO Insertion into Pd-C Bond by Generating Cationic Organopalladium Complexes [PdR(s)L2]+BF4− (R = Alkyl Group, s = Acetone, L = Phosphine Ligands) from Neutral Monoorganopalladium Complexes [PdR(X)L2] (X = Halide)
Authors: Kayaki Yoshihito , Kawataka Futoshi , Shimizu Isao , Yamamoto Akio
Published: April 2006

Removal of the halide ligand X in PdR(X)L2 with AgBF4 generates solvent-coordinated cationic organopalladium complexes [PdR(s)L2]BF4 which show much higher reactivities for CO insertion than the parent neutral complexes.
Activation of Methane Promoted by NeohexylPt(II) Complexes. Isolation of MethylPt(II) Complexes
Authors: Miyashita Akira , Saida Yoshiko
Published: April 2006

trans-Pt(CH2CMe2Et)Br(PPh3)2 induced C-H bond activation of CH4 under UV p irradiation leading to trans-PtMeBr(PPh3)2, while H-D exchange reaction of CH4 with D2 or D2SO4 took place in the photochemical reaction system containing Pt(PPh3)4 and neohexyl bromide. A possible reaction mechanism involving radical process is discussed on the basis of radical-trap experiment.
Dinuclear Rhenium(III) Complexes with a Single Oxide Bridge, [Re2(μ-O)Cl2(L)2]2+ (L = 2,2′-Bipyridine or 1,10-Phenanthroline)
Authors: Takahira Takuya , Umakoshi Keisuke , Sasaki Yoichi
Published: April 2006

Two rhenium(III) complexes with a single oxide bridge, [Re2(μ-O)Cl2(L)2]2+ (L = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)) were prepared, and the crystal structure of the phen complex was determined. The complexes show four reversible one-electron redox couples, [Re2(μ-O)Cl2(L)2]0/+/2+/3+/4+ in acetonitrile. Both Re2(III,III) and Re2(III,IV) states of these complexes exhibit strong visible absorption bands.
Interaction between Methylchloroform and Surface Modified Activated Carbon in CF4 Plasma
Authors: Tanada Seiki , Torii Yasuhiro , Nakamura Takeo , Kawasaki Naohito , Tokimoto Toshimitsu
Published: April 2006

The interaction between methylchloroform and a surface modified activated carbon, which was treated with tetrafluoromethane plasma, was evaluated on the basis of adsorption isotherms and physicochemical properties of the activated carbon. Tetrafluoromethane plasma-treated activated carbon could be used for the complete recovery of methylchloroform.
Enzymatic Hydrolyses of the σ-Symmetric Dicarboxylic Diesters Bearing a Sulfinyl Group as the Prochiral Center
Authors: Tamai Satoshi , Miyauchi Satoru , Morizane Chikako , Miyagi Kaname , Shimizu Hisashi , Kume Masaharu , Sano Sigeki , Shiro Motoo , Nagao Yoshimitsu
Published: April 2006

Enzymatic hydrolyses of the σ-symmetric dicarboxylic diesters bearing a sulfinyl group as the prochiral center were examined by employing porcine liver esterase and procine pancreatic lipase. Eventually, their chiral half esters were elaborately obtained as the corresponding chiral phenacyl esters. The stereochemistry of the chiral half esters was determined by the X-ray analysis and their chemical correlations.
Photochemical Reaction of (l-cysteinesulfinato-N,S){tris(2-aminoethyl)amine}cobalt(III). Formation of a Cobalt(III) Complex with an Uncoordinated Sulfinate Group
Authors: Akhter Farooque MD , Kojima Masaaki , Hirotsu Masakazu , Kashino Setsuo , Yoshikawa Yuzo
Published: April 2006

On photolysis of cis(t-N,S)-[Co{S(O)2CH2CH(COOH)NH2-S,N}(tren)]2+ (t-N = tertiary amine nitrogen; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) with visible light two types of linkage isomerization took place to yield cis(t-N,O(C))-[Co{NH2CH(CH2SO2)COO-N,O}(tren)]+ (O(C) = oxygen of carboxylate group) with an uncoordinated sulfinate group, and a pair of diastereomers of cis(t-N,O(S))-[Co{OS(O)CH2CH(COOH)NH2-O,N}(tren)]2+ (O(S) = oxygen of sulfinate group).
Aggregation Numbers and Shapes of Lysophosphatidylcholine and Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Micelles
Authors: Hayashi Hideko , Yamanaka Teruko , Miyajima Miyuki , Imae Toyoko
Published: April 2006

Aggregation numbers and shapes of 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine(LPPC) and 1-lauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine(LLPE) micelles have been investigated at 35 °C by static and dynamic light scattering method. The average aggregation number of LPPC micelle is 139. The LLPE micelle is rod-like shape, and grows with increasing concentration. At 5.87 mg cm−3 micelle concentration, apparent aggregation number of LLPE is 902 and average length of rigid rod is estimated to be 45–57 nm.
Alkali Metal Sensing with a Fluorescent 5,11,17,23-Tetraphenylcalix[4]arene and the Mechanism of the Fluorescence Change
Authors: Matsumoto Hitoshi , Shinkai Seiji
Published: April 2006

The fluorescence intensity of a tetraester derivative of the title compound increases markedly upon the Na+-binding. Hence, this is useful as a new, convenient Na+-sensing system. The mechanism of the fluorescence increase is discussed by comparing the fluorescence properties of several reference compounds.
Electrochemical Intercalation of Organic Molecules into Thin Film of Layered Oxide MoO3
Authors: Tagaya Hideyuki , Ara Kensuke , Ogata Tateaki , Matsushita Koichi , Kadokawa Jun-ichi , Karasu Masa , Chiba Koji
Published: April 2006

Electrochemical reduction of vacuum evaporated MoO3 thin film in organic electrolyte solution resulted in the formation of organic intercalation compounds of pyridine, 4-methylpyridine and 4-propylpyridine. Interlayer spacings of MoO3 increased to 12–19 Å by the intercalation, and reduction of MoO3 was confirmed by XPS measurement.
A Remarkably Rapid Synthesis of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Complexes by Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Matsumura-Inoue Takeko , Tanabe Masahiro , Minami Takayoshi , Ohashi Tomoko
Published: April 2006

A facile synthesis method or ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes by microwave irradiation has been developed. This method greatly reduces reaction time from 4 hours to 20 minutes with better yield(60–90%). The procedures are simple and may be used for synthesis of a variety of metal polypyridine complexes.
The effect of serum creatinine method choice on estimated glomerular filtration rate determined by the abbreviated MDRD formula
Authors: McKillop Derek J , Cairns Brian , Duly Ellie , Van Drimmelen Marie , Ryan Michael
Published: April 2006

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the variability in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by laboratories in Northern Ireland where creatinine assays other than the Beckman CX3 assay used to derive the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) are utilized.

Methods: Fifty patient samples were analysed for serum creatinine by kinetic Jaffe assays on the Roche modular P-800 (compensated assay), the Beckman LX20 and the Abbott Aeroset analysers.

Results: The median (interquartile range) eGFR calculated by the abbreviated MDRD equation using the creatinine results obtained by each method were 45.4 (31.7-66.6), 49.2 (35.4-78.1) and 50.0 (35.1-71.2) mL/min/1.73 m2 for Beckman, Roche (compensated) and Abbott assays, respectively. Following mathematical alignment of creatinine methods to the Beckman method the median (interquartile range) eGFR for the Roche and Abbott methods were 44.0 (32.0-67.6) and 45.6 (31.2-64.8) mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively.

Conclusion: The regression equations published in this study can be used to align creatinine methods. However, method-related biases in eGFR of up to10% are minimal in the context of the magnitude of variance reflected in the 90% confidence intervals.
Conflicting emotions: The connection between affective perspective taking and theory of mind
Authors: Harwood Michelle D. , Farrar M. Jeffrey
Published: April 2006

The relation between theory of mind and affective perspective taking was examined in a study with 42 three‐ to five‐year‐olds. Children completed tasks measuring affective perspective taking, theory of mind, and receptive language abilities. Significant positive correlations existed between overall affective perspective taking and theory of mind performance, independent of age and language. The relation between theory of mind and affective perspective taking was strongest for those scenarios in which there was a conflict between the child and the friend's emotional responses. These findings indicate that the abilities to understand conflicting emotions and to understand false beliefs are related aspects of social development.