bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non‐structural carbon compounds in temperate forest trees
Authors: HOCH G. , RICHTER A. , KÖRNER Ch.
Published: July 2003

The current carbon supply status of temperate forest trees was assessed by analysing the seasonal variation of non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in leaves, branch wood and stem sapwood of 10 tree species (six deciduous broad‐leafed, one deciduous conifer and three evergreen conifer trees) in a temperate forest that is approximately 100 years old. In addition, all woody tissue was analysed for lipids (acylglycerols). The major NSC fractions were starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose, with other carbohydrates (e.g. raffinose and stachyose) and sugar alcohols (cyclitols and sorbitol) playing only a minor quantitative role. The radial distribution of NSC within entire stem cores, assessed here for the first time in a direct interspecific comparison, revealed large differences in the size of the active sapwood fraction among the species, reflecting the specific wood anatomy (ring‐porous versus diffuse‐porous xylem). The mean minimum NSC concentrations in branch wood during the growing season was 55% of maximum, and even high NSC concentrations were maintained during times of extensive fruit production in masting Fagus sylvestris. The NSC in stem sapwood varied very little throughout the season (cross species mean never below 67% of maximum), and the small reductions observed were not significant for any of the investigated species. Although some species contained substantial quantities of lipids in woody tissues (‘fat trees’; Tilia, Pinus, Picea, Larix), the lipid pools did not vary significantly across the growing season in any species. On average, the carbon stores of deciduous trees would permit to replace the whole leave canopy four times. These data imply that there is not a lot of leeway for a further stimulation of growth by ongoing atmospheric CO2 enrichment. The classical view that deciduous trees rely more on C‐reserves than evergreen trees, seems unwarranted or has lost its justification due to the greater than 30% increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last 150 years.
Accelerated usual interstitial pneumonitis, anti‐DNA antibodies and hypocomplementemia
Authors: Schattner A. , Aviel‐Ronen S. , Mark E. J.
Published: July 2003

Abstract.  Schattner A, Aviel‐Ronen S, Mark EJ (Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot and Hebrew University‐Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem; Sheba Medical Center, Tel‐Hashomer, Israel; and Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA). Accelerated usual interstitial pneumonitis, anti‐DNA antibodies and hypocomplementemia (Case Report). J Intern Med 2003; 254: 193–196.

A healthy 60‐year‐old patient presented with progressive dyspnoea. Clinical, radiographic and pathological features of interstitial lung disease were found and an open lung biopsy established the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). Despite treatment, the patient died 4 months later in respiratory failure. Although the patient had no extra‐thoracic involvement at autopsy, his illness was associated with a very high titre of anti‐double‐stranded DNA antibodies, hypocomplementemia, hypergammaglobulinaemia and lymphoid hyperplasia. These features and a literature review, suggest immune‐mediated lung damage in a subset of patients with UIP.
Genotype, obesity and cardiovascular disease – has technical and social advancement outstripped evolution?
Authors: Zimmet P. , Thomas C. R.
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Zimmet P, Thomas CR (International Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia; and BioScience Communications, London). Genotype, obesity and cardiovascular disease – has technical and social advancement outstripped evolution? (Review). J Intern Med 2003; 254: 114–125.

Teleologically, our ancestors were highly adapted hunter‐gatherers. In recent history, the environment in which Homo sapiens exists has altered drastically and humans are exposed to environments for which the hunter‐gatherer genotype is ill‐suited. The adoption of a sedentary Western lifestyle, and the case of obtaining food of a high calorific content imposed upon a thrifty genotype, have resulted in the current global epidemic of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome. The ramification of this epidemic is that cardiovascular disease is becoming a global healthcare problem, which will have its greatest impact on the developing nations. A global strategy is required to reduce the impact of the Western lifestyle on the health of developing nations and prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Such an approach needs to be culturally sensitive, integrated, and multidisciplinary and involve a range of interventions that work at the individual and community levels. If lifestyle measures fail, then pharmacological intervention may be necessary. For this, novel agents such as dual PPARα/γ agonists may be the therapy of the future.
Fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications in end‐stage renal failure
Authors: Zoccali C , Mallamaci F , Tripepi G , Cutrupi S , Parlongo S , Malatino L. S , Bonanno G , Rapisarda F , Fatuzzo P , Seminara G , Stancanelli B , Nicocia G , Buemi M
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Zoccali C, Mallamaci F, Tripepi G, Cutrupi S, Parlongo S, Malatino LS, Bonanno G, Rapisarda F, Fatuzzo P, Seminara G, Stancanelli B, Nicocia G, Buemi M (Institute of Biomedicine, Clinical Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Reggio Cal; University of Catania; and University of Messina, Italy). Fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications in end‐stage renal failure. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 132–139.

Objective. Fibrinogen is an established predictor of cardiovascular events in the general population but the relationship between fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications has been very little investigated in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD).

Design and subjects. We investigated the relationship between fibrinogen and all cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in a prospective cohort study in 192 patients on chronic haemodialysis treatment (follow‐up: 34 ± 16 months).

Results. Fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients who died during the follow‐up than in those who survived. Similarly, fibrinogen was higher in patients who had fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events than in event free patients. On multivariate Cox regression analysis fibrinogen was an independent predictor of survival [hazard ratio (1 g L−1 increase in plasma fibrinogen): 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.35, P = 0.006] and a highly significant (P = 0.0008), independent predictor of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events [hazard ratio (1 g L−1 increase in plasma fibrinogen): 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10–1.43] in a model including traditional risk factors and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and plasma homocysteine.

Conclusions. Fibrinogen is as an independent risk factor for overall and cardiovascular mortality in patients with ESRD. Intervention studies are required to see whether reducing plasma fibrinogen may help to curb the exceedingly high cardiovascular risk of the uremic population.
Effects of losartan on diabetic maculopathy in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized, double‐masked study
Authors: Knudsen S. T. , Bek T. , Poulsen P. Løgstrup , Hove M. Nørgaard , Rehling M. , Mogensen C. E.
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Knudsen ST, Bek T, Løgstrup Poulsen P, Nørgaard Hove M, Rehling M, Mogensen CE (Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark). Effects of losartan on diabetic maculopathy in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized, double‐masked study. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 147–158.

Objective. Diabetic maculopathy (DMa) is a leading cause of visual loss in the western world. Preliminary studies have suggested that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors might be effective in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but no studies have quantitatively assessed the effect of this treatment on macular oedema in patients with DMa. We evaluated the effect of treatment with the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on macular oedema and hard exudates in patients with an advanced stage of DMa.

Design.  Randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐masked and parallel‐group trial.

Setting. Academic medical centre.

Subjects. Twenty‐four type 2 diabetic patients with DMa.

Intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 4‐month treatment with either losartan (50 mg o.d.) or placebo.

Main outcome measures. (i) Degree of macular oedema as estimated by optical coherence tomography scanning of the retina; (ii) fundus photography and flourescein angiography; (iii) 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure (BP); (iv) urinary albumin excretion (UAE); and (v) transcapillary escape rate of albumin (TERalb).

Results. Central retinal thickness increased from 244 ± 16 to 256 ± 31 μm in the losartan group, whilst there was no change in the placebo group (245 ± 36 μm vs. 242 ± 30 μm), P = 0.017. Day BP were lowered in the losartan group (from 144/83 ± 17/10 to 138/78 ± 20/11 mmHg) compared with the placebo group (140/81 ± 14/5 to 139/82 ± 13/9 mmHg), P = 0.27 for systolic and P = 0.009 for diastolic BP. Importantly, there were no changes in night BP in any of the groups. We found no changes in the number of hard exudates, semiquantitative retinopathy grade, visual acuity, UAE, or TERalb in any of the groups.

Conclusions. Type 2 diabetic patients with maculopathy do not seem to benefit from short‐term treatment with losartan (50 mg once daily) as far as retinal thickness is concerned, as this dose may increase retinal thickness in the central macular area. Long‐term studies are required to assess the clinical implications of these findings.
Carbon and oxygen isotope composition of organic compounds in the phloem sap provides a short‐term measure for stomatal conductance of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Authors: KEITEL C. , ADAMS M. A. , HOLST T. , MATZARAKIS A. , MAYER H. , RENNENBERG H. , GEßLER A.
Published: July 2003

At eight different dates during the 2000 growing season, δ13C and δ18O were determined in the phloem of adult beech trees growing in natural beech stands in south‐west Germany differing in stand density and local climate. In addition, stand transpiration, precipitation, photosynthetic active radiation, relative air humidity, water pressure deficit of the air, air and soil temperature, soil water potential, and sugar concentration of the phloem sap were determined directly and evaporation and canopy stomatal conductance were modelled. All parameters were related to δ13C. The study aimed to identify the time integral within which the δ13C of organic compounds transported in the phloem is an indicative measure of these environmental influences. δ13C of soluble carbon transported in the phloem was well correlated with mean stomatal conductance in a two‐day integral prior to phloem sampling but did not depend on either light intensity or soil water availability. A strong positive relationship between δ13C and δ18O pointed to observed variation in δ13C of phloem sap being a result of variation in stomatal conductance. Bulk leaf δ13C was a poor indicator of changes in environmental conditions during the growing season. From these results we conclude that the analysis of δ13C in soluble carbon transported in the phloem is a reliable indicator of short‐term changes in Ci/Ca. In contrast, the δ13C of structural carbon in beech foliage represents an integration of a range of factors that mask short‐term influences responsible for Ci/Ca.
cPrG‐HCl a potential H+/Cl− symporter prevents acidification of storage vacuoles in aleurone cells and inhibits GA‐dependent hydrolysis of storage protein and phytate
Authors: Hwang Yong‐sic , Bethke Paul C. , Gubler Frank , Jones Russell L.
Published: July 2003

The putative H+/Cl− symporter cycloprodigiosin‐HCl (cPrG‐HCl) was used to investigate the role of vacuole acidification in cereal aleurone cell function. The protein storage vacuole (PSV) becomes acidified rapidly when aleurone cells are treated with gibberellic acid (GA) but not abscisic acid (ABA). We show that cPrG prevents PSV acidification in aleurone layers and prevents synthesis of secretory proteins such as α‐amylase. Our data support the hypothesis that decreased hydrolase synthesis is a consequence of decreased hydrolysis of storage proteins in PSV. Support for this hypothesis comes from experiments showing that breakdown of barley 7S globulins and phytate is inhibited by cPrG in GA‐treated aleurone layers. Decreased mobilization of PSV reserves is accompanied by reductions in the free amino acid pool size and in the amount of ions released from the aleurone layer. Vacuolation of the aleurone cell is a diagnostic feature of the response to GA, and vacuolation is also inhibited by cPrG. Evidence that cPrG acts as a potential H+/Cl− symporter in aleurone is presented. We show that cPrG does not inhibit the synthesis and secretion of α‐amylase when Cl− ions are omitted from the incubation medium. Although cPrG blocks many GA‐induced responses of aleurone layers, it does not affect early steps in GA signaling. The SLN1 protein, a negative regulator of GA signaling, is turned over in GA‐treated cells in the presence and absence of cPrG. Similarly, synthesis of the transcriptional activator GAMYB is unaffected by the presence of cPrG in GA‐treated cells.
Endosonographic diagnosis of intraductal papillary‐mucinous pancreatic tumors by intraductal ultrasonography
Authors: Igarashi Yoshinori , Tada Tomoko , Shimura Junichi , Ukita Takeo , Inoue Hirokazu , Maetani Iruru , Sakai Yoshihiro
Published: July 2003

Background:  Intraductal papillary‐mucinous pancreatic tumors (IPMT) are intraductal lesions formed by mucin‐producing epithelium, which proliferates in a papillary pattern, and presents a spectrum from hyperplasia to adenocarcinoma. The value of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for excluding malignancy has not been assessed in a case series previously.

Methods:  Intraductal ultrasonography was performed in 17 patients with IPMT (12 with adenocarcinoma and five with adenoma) between November 1993 and June 2002. Intraductal ultrasonography was used to determine the maximum height and maximum cross‐sectional area of protruding lesions. Results were compared after dividing the tumors into three groups: a benign lesion group, a non‐invasive cancer group, and an invasive cancer group. The resection line was located over 10 mm from the edge of the protruding lesion visualized by intraductal ultrasonography.

Results:  All adenocarcinomas had a height ≥ 5 mm and all benign lesions had a height ≤ 3 mm, with this difference being significant (P = 0.0034). The height of non‐invasive and invasive cancer was similar. The maximum cross‐sectional area of the protrusion was smaller for benign lesions (≤ 15 mm2) than for non‐invasive cancer (≥ 34 mm2, P = 0.0034). The cross‐sectional area of the protrusion was greater in patients with invasive cancer than in those with non‐invasive cancer (P = 0.0367). All surgical margins have remained clear and no patient has suffered from a recurrence during 1 to 8 years of follow‐up computed tomography and ultrasonography.

Conclusions:  Intraductal ultrasonography can distinguish benign from malignant IPMT based on the height and maximum cross‐sectional area of the protruding tumor.
The effect of rate and extent of weight loss on urea salvage in obese male subjects
Authors: Faber Peter , Johnstone Alexandra M. , Gibney Eileen R. , Elia Marinos , Stubbs R. James , Roger Paula L. , Milne Eric , Buchan William , Lobley Gerald E.
Published: July 2003

It is well established that in human subjects a proportion of urea production undergoes hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract with release of N potentially available for amino acid synthesis. Previous studies have suggested adaptive changes in urea kinetics, with more urea-N retained within the metabolic pool during reduced dietary intakes of energy and protein. We therefore investigated the effect of rate and extent of weight loss on adaptive changes in urea kinetics in two groups (eachn6) of obese men (mean age 43 (sd12) years, BMI 34·8 (sd2·9)kg/m2) during either total starvation for 6d or a very-low-energy diet (2·55MJ/d) for 21d. Subjects were resident in the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rowett Research Institute (Aberdeen, Scotland, UK) and lost 6 and 9% initial body weight within the starvation and dieting groups respectively. Changes in urea-N metabolism were assessed by stable isotope tracer kinetics using [15N15N]urea infused intravenously for 36h before, during and after weight loss. In response to weight loss, urea production decreased (P<0·01) by 25% from 278 to 206μmol urea-N/h per kg within the dieting group only. However, no changes were observed in the proportion of urea being hydrolysed in the gastrointestinal tract (range 20–25%) or in the proportion of N retained for anabolic purposes (80–85% urea-N from gastrointestinal hydrolysis) within either group. It was concluded that no adaptive changes in urea kinetics occurred in response to either the different rate or extent of weight loss.
Anti-atherogenic effect of soya and rice-protein isolate, compared with casein, in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice
Authors: Ni Weihua , Tsuda Yasuyuki , Takashima Shinichiro , Sato Hiroyoshi , Sato Masao , Imaizumi Katsumi
Published: July 2003

Our objective was to determine whether dietary plant proteins such as soya-protein isolate (SPI) and rice-protein isolate (RPI) compared with animal proteins, such as casein, could afford beneficial effects on atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. In experiment 1, male and female mice were fed on a purified diet containing either casein, SPI or RPI for 9 weeks. Theen facelesion area in the aorta (P< 0·05) and the lesion size in the aortic root (P< 0·05) in mice fed the casein-based diet were greater than those in the SPI or RPI groups. The plant protein groups had an increased concentration of seruml-arginine (P< 0·05) and NO metabolites (NO2plus NO3) (P< 0·05) than did the casein group. The inhibitory effect of the plant proteins on the lesion formations was unrelated to gender and total serum cholesterol. In experiment 2, thel-arginine andl-methionine contents were the same in thel-arginine-supplemented casein-based and SPI-based diets, and between thel-methionine-supplemented SPI-based and the casein-based diets. Male mice were fed on the diets for 15 weeks. There were no significant differences in theen facelesion area and the lesion size between the casein group and thel-arginine-supplemented group, although the seruml-arginine (P< 0·05) and NO2plus NO3(P< 0·05) concentrations in the supplemented group were higher than those in the casein group. There were no significant effects ofl-methionine supplementation on the lesion formations. In experiment 3, male mice were given the casein-based diet or thel-arginine-supplemented casein-based diet together with water or water containing an NO synthesis inhibitor for 9 weeks. When given the casein-based diet, the inhibitor drinking, compared with water drinking, resulted in a reduction of the serum NO2plus NO3concentration (P< 0·01) and an increase in theen facelesion area (P< 0·05) and the lesion size (P< 0·01). When given thel-arginine-supplemented diet, the inhibitor drinking, compared with water drinking, resulted in no increase in the lesion area and size. These results demonstrate anti-atherogenic potentials of SPI- as well as RPI-derived proteins, but theirl-arginine andl-methionine contents were not sufficient enough to explain the underlying mechanism(s).
Engineering plants for animal feed for improved nutritional value
Authors: Williams Peter E. V.
Published: July 2003

Feed formulation to meet nutritional requirements of livestock is becoming increasingly challenging. Regulations have banned the use of traditional high-quality protein supplements such as meat-and-bone meal, pollution from animal excreta of N and P is an issue and antibiotics are no longer available as insurance against the impact of enteric infection and feed anti-nutritional factors. The improved genetic potential of livestock is increasing daily requirement for energy and protein (essential amino acids). To benefit from the enhanced growth potential of livestock diets with high nutrient density are needed that can be formulated from crops without increased cost. Genetic modification of commodity crops used to manufacture animal feed in order to improve the density and quality of available nutrients is a potential solution to some of these problems. Furthermore, crops may be used as biofactories to produce molecules and products used in animal feed with considerable reductions in manufacturing fixed costs. Nevertheless, there are considerable not insurmountable challenges, such as the creation of sufficient economic value to deliver benefit to all members in the feed production chain, which is an essential element of identity preserving and delivering the technology to livestock producers. Individual output traits in the major commodity crops may not provide sufficient value to adequately compensate all the members of the feed production chain. Successful adoption of output traits may rely on inserting combinations of agronomic input traits with specific quality traits or increasing the value proposition by inserting combinations of output traits.
Techniques for the study of energy balance in man
Authors: Elia Marinos , Stratton Rebecca , Stubbs James
Published: July 2003

Energy balance can be estimated in tissues, body segments, individual subjects (the focus of the present article), groups of subjects and even societies. Changes in body composition in individual subjects can be translated into changes in the energy content of the body, but this method is limited by the precision of the techniques. The precision for measuring fat and fat-free mass can be as low as 0.5 kg when certain reference techniques are used (hydrodensitometry, air-displacement plethysmography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and approximately 0.7 kg for changes between two time points. Techniques associated with a measurement error of 0.7 kg for changes in fat and fat-free mass (approximately 18MJ) are of little or no value for calculating energy balance over short periods of time, but they may be of some value over long periods of time (18 MJ over 1 year corresponds to an average daily energy balance of 70 kJ, which is <1% of the normal dietary energy intake). Body composition measurements can also be useful in calculating changes in energy balance when the changes in body weight and composition are large, e.g. >5–10 kg. The same principles can be applied to the assessment of energy balance in body segments using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Energy balance can be obtained over periods as short as a few minutes, e.g. during measurements of BMR. The variability in BMR between individuals of similar age, weight and height and gender is about 7–9%, most of which is of biological origin rather than measurement error, which is about 2%. Measurement of total energy expenditure during starvation (no energy intake) can also be used to estimate energy balance in a whole-body calorimeter, in patients in intensive care units being artificially ventilated and by tracer techniques. The precision of these techniques varies from 1 to 10%. Establishing energy balance by measuring the discrepancy between energy intake and expenditure has to take into consideration the combined validity and reliability of both components. The measurement error for dietary intake may be as low as 2–3% in carefully controlled environments, in which subjects are provided only with certain food items and bomb calorimetry can be undertaken on duplicate samples of the diet. Reliable results can also be obtained in hospitalised patients receiving enteral tube feeding or parenteral nutrition as the only source of nutrition. Unreliability increases to an unknown extent in free-living subjects eating a mixed and varied diet; thus, improved methodology is needed for the study of energy balance.
Antibody Responses Determined for Japanese Dengue Fever Patients by Neutralization and Hemagglutination Inhibition Assays Demonstrate Cross-Reactivity between Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis Viruses
Authors: Yamada Ken-Ichiro , Takasaki Tomohiko , Nawa Masaru , Yabe Sadao , Kurane Ichiro
Published: July 2003

Titers of antibodies to infecting dengue virus serotypes determined by serum neutralization assay were higher than those of antibody to Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in Japanese dengue patients after disease day 8. Titers of antibody to dengue virus antigens determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay were higher in only 1 of 23 serum specimens after disease day 11. Thus, the neutralization test is more reliable than the HI test for serological diagnosis of dengue in countries where JE vaccination is widely used or JE is endemic.
Enhanced Binding in a General Class of Quantum Field Models
Authors: Arai Asao , Kawano Hiroyuki
Published: July 2003

We consider, in an abstract form, a system of "quantum particles" coupled to a Bose field. It is shown that, under suitable hypotheses, the composed system can have a ground state even if the uncoupled particle system has no ground state.
QSPR Modeling of Hydrocarbon Dipole Moments by Means of Correlation Weighting of Local Graph Invariants
Authors: Toropov Andrey A. , Nabiev Ozod M. , Duchowicz Pablo , Castro Eduardo A. , Torrens Francisco
Published: July 2003

Hydrocarbon dipole moments are calculated by means of correlation weighting of local graph invariants within the context of QSPR theory. This sort of flexible topological descriptor is used for several parameters: local invariants of k th vertex in the labeled hydrogen filled graph extended connectivity of zero-, first- and second-orders, number of paths of length 2 at k th vertex and valence shell of the k th vertex. The models predict hydrocarbon dipole moments in a quite sensible way. The best model is that one based upon numbers of path length 2 correlation weighting.
Quantum Mechanical Study of Clean and H-Covered α-MoO3(100) Surface
Authors: Sayede A. , Khelifa B. , Mathieu C. , Aourag H.
Published: July 2003

Structure and electronic properties of the α-MoO3(100) surface, as well as H adsorption on the α-MoO3(100) surface have been studied with periodic slab Hartree–Fock calculations. Gradient corrected density functional calculations have been performed in this study. The structure and electronic properties of the (100) surface are in agreement with experimental and previous theoretical results. Local electronic structure near the different surface oxygen sites are analyzed with Mulliken Population Analysis. The oxide is partially ionic and the symmetrically oxygens exhibit more ionic feature while the terminal oxygens are more covalent. Electrostatic potentials show broad negative minima above the terminal oxygen centers, which suggest that electrophilic adparticles, like H, resulting from surface reactions, will be attracted preferentially at these sites. The results of the H adsorption on the (100) surface are interpreted based on charge-transfer interactions between the surface and H species. It is found that terminal oxygen sites are the most stable binding site. Ionic relaxation of the α-MoO3(100) surface for the adsorption of hydrogen has no effect on the chemical properties and hydrogen atoms adsorbed favorably on the α-MoO3(100) surface at full coverage.
Computational Procedure of Lattice Energy Using the Ab Initio MO Method
Authors: Nagayoshi Kanade , Ikeda Tohru , Kitaura Kazuo , Nagase Shigeru
Published: July 2003

Recently, we have proposed a computational procedure for calculations of lattice energies of molecular crystals using the ab initio MO method. This procedure does not use potential functions and is applicable to a variety of molecular crystals. The procedure has been successfully applied to calculation of packing structure of electron donor-acceptor complex, H3N–BF3, and hydrogen bonding crystal, CH3OH. In this work, we present a full account of the computational procedure. This method is applied to the packing structure calculations of hydrocarbon crystals, C2H2, C2H4 and C6H6. The lattice parameters optimized at the MP2/6-311++G** level are in good agreement with the experimental values. The basis set dependence of the lattice constants is also discussed for several crystals.
Dual ectopic thyroid: report of a case
Authors: Ulug Tuncay , Ulubil S. Arif , Alagol Faruk
Published: July 2003

Dual ectopic thyroid is very rare. We report a case of dual ectopic thyroid in the lingual and infrahyoid areas in a 20-year-old female patient with no thyroid gland in its normal anatomical location. On physical examination, there was a 7 × 5 cm anterior midline neck swelling just below the hyoid bone and a 2 × 2 cm mass in the base of the tongue. Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were normal. A thyroid scan with technetium-99m sodium pertechnate confirmed dual ectopic thyroid with no iodine uptake in the normal anatomical location of the thyroid gland. The infrahyoid ectopic thyroid was surgically removed for cosmetic reasons, and the lingual thyroid, which was symptomatic, was left untouched. The importance of thyroid scanning in the evaluation of anterior midline neck swellings and treatment options are discussed.
Thermal Cycling Setup for Testing Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Traeger F. , Vaßen R. , Rauwald K.‐H. , Stöver D.
Published: July 2003

Different mechanisms of failure can be induced and studied with the experimental setup for thermal‐cycling tests developed by the authors and shown in the Figure. It offers a realistic test rig for a broad range of applications, being suitable for a large surface temperature range (1050–1400 °C) and thermal gradients of 0.4–1.0 K/μm through the ceramic layer. Cycle lengths are variable; typically, 5 min heating and 2 min cooling are chosen, since a steady state is normally reached after about 1 min of heating or cooling.
Determination of Antibiotic Residues in Manure, Soil, and Surface Waters
Authors: Christian Thorsten , Schneider Rudolf J. , Färber Harald A. , Skutlarek Dirk , Meyer Michael T. , Goldbach Heiner E.
Published: July 2003

In the last years more and more often detections of antimicrobially active compounds (“antibiotics”) in surface waters have been reported. As a possible input pathway in most cases municipal sewage has been discussed. But as an input from the realm of agriculture is conceivable as well, in this study it should be investigated if an input can occur via the pathway application of liquid manure on fields with the subsequent mechanisms surface run‐off/interflow, leaching, and drift. For this purpose a series of surface waters, soils, and liquid manures from North Rhine‐Westphalia (Northwestern Germany) were sampled and analyzed for up to 29 compounds by HPLC‐MS/MS.

In each of the surface waters antibiotics could be detected. The highest concentrations were found in samples from spring (300 ng/L of erythromycin). Some of the substances detected (e.g., tylosin), as well as characteristics in the landscape suggest an input from agriculture in some particular cases. In the investigation of different liquid manure samples by a fast immunoassay method sulfadimidine could be detected in the range of 1…2 mg/kg. Soil that had been fertilized with this liquid manure showed a content of sulfadimidine extractable by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of 15 μg/kg dry weight even 7 months after the application. This indicates the high stability of some antibiotics in manure and soil.
Performance Enhancement by Unsteady‐State Reactor Operation: Theoretical Analysis for Two‐Sites Kinetic Model
Authors: Reshetnikov S.I. , Ivanov E.A. , Kiwi‐Minsker L. , Renken A.
Published: July 2003

Theoretical analysis of the reactor performance under unsteady‐state conditions was carried out. The reactions are described by two kinetic models, which involve the participation in catalytic reaction of two types of active sites. The kinetic model I assumes the blocking of one of the active sites by a reactant, and the kinetic model II suggests a transformation of active sites of one type into another under the influence of the reaction temperature. The unsteady‐state conditions on the catalyst surface are supposed to be created (i) by forced oscillations of temperature and concentration in the reactor inlet (periodic operation of reactor) and (ii) by catalyst circulation between two reactors in a dual‐reactor system (spatial regulation). The influence of various parameters like concentration of reactant, cycle split, length of period of forced oscillations, temperatures and the ratio of catalyst volumes in the dual‐reactor was investigated with respect to the yield of the desired product. It is shown that for both cases of unsteady‐state conditions (periodic reactor operation as well as in a dual‐reactor system), a mean reaction rate predicted by the kinetic model I was up to two times higher than the steady‐state value. The kinetic model II shows a 20 % increase of the selectivity towards the desired product.
Heterogeneously Catalyzed Partial Oxidation of Methane in Supercritical Water
Authors: Bröll D. , Krämer A. , Vogel H.
Published: July 2003

One promising application of supercritical water as reaction medium is the selective oxidation from methane to methanol. Methanol is one of the most important intermediates in the chemical industry with a world‐wide production capacity of about 29 million tons per year (1996). A direct conversion of methane to methanol is not practicable in the gaseous phase, since the formed methanol is oxidized faster than methane. For this reason methanol is produced on the technical scale via synthesis gas route.
Morphology Development of Polymer Blends in Complex Flow Fields
Authors: Mours M. , Laun M. , Oosterlinck F. , Vinckier I. , Moldenaers P.
Published: July 2003

Polymer blends are an economically interesting alternative when it comes to the development of materials with new or improved properties, with these properties strongly dependent on the underlying morphology. The influence of typically complex flow fields in processing equipment, on the morphology, is still poorly understood. A completely immiscible concentrated PS/PMMA model blend was subjected to different types of shear, elongation and combined flow fields and the morphology development in a capillary entrance flow field, is described.
Redox and Conformational Equilibria and Dynamics of Cytochrome c at High Electric Fields
Authors: Wackerbarth Hainer , Hildebrandt Peter
Published: July 2003

Cytochrome c (Cyt‐c) adsorbed in the electrical double layer of the Ag electrode/electrolyte interface has been studied by stationary and time‐resolved surface‐enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy to analyse the effect of strong electric fields on structure and reaction equilibria and dynamics of the protein. In the potential range between +0.1 and −0.55 V (versus saturated calomel electrode), the adsorbed Cyt‐c forms a potential‐dependent reversible equilibrium between the native state B1 and a conformational state B2. The redox potentials of the bis‐histidine‐coordinated six‐coordinated low‐spin and five‐coordinated high‐spin substates of B2 were determined to be −0.425 and −0.385 V, respectively, whereas the additional six‐coordinated aquo‐histidine‐coordinated high‐spin substate was found to be redox‐inactive. The redox potential for the conformational state B1 was found to be the same as in solution in agreement with the structural identity of the adsorbed B1 and the native Cyt‐c. For all three redox‐active species, the formal heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants are small and of the same order of magnitude (3–13 s−1), which implies that the rate‐limiting step is largely independent of the redox‐site structure. These findings, as well as the slow and potential‐dependent transitions between the various conformational (sub‐)states, can be rationalized in terms of an electric field‐induced increase of the activation energy for proton‐transfer steps linked to protein structural reorganisation. Further increasing the electric field strength by shifting the electrode potential above +0.1 V leads to irreversible structural changes that are attributed to an unfolding of the polypeptide chain.
Determination of mono‐ and disaccharides by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection
Authors: Carvalho Alexandre Zatkovskis , da Silva José A. F. , do Lago Claudimir L.
Published: July 2003

The separation and detection of common mono‐ and disaccharides by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with contactless conductivity detection (CCD) is presented. At high values of pH, the sugars are converted to anionic species that can be separated by CE and indirectly detected by CCD. The main anionic species present in the running electrolytes are hydroxide and phosphate, which have greater mobility than the ionized sugars, and, thus, the indirect detection is possible. The method was applied to analysis of glucose, fructose, and sucrose in soft drinks, isotonic beverages, fruit juice, and sugarcane spirits. Galactose was used as internal standard in all cases. Plate numbers range from ca. 70 700 to 168 200 and the limits of detection from 13 to 31 μM.
Validated capillary electrophoresis method for small‐anions measurement in wines
Authors: Saavedra Luis , Barbas Coral
Published: July 2003

A capillary electrophoresis method has been developed and validated for acetic, citric, fumaric, lactic, malic, oxalic, succinic, and tartaric acids plus the measurement of nitrate and sulfite ions in white and red wines. The separation was carried out in a neutral coated capillary. Separation was performed at –14 kV of applied potential. Temperature was maintained at 20°C. The background electrolyte used was 200 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.50. Separation was obtained in less than 13 min. Validation parameters obtained for the method permit it to be considered adequate for routine analysis.
Trace determination of arsenic species by capillary electrophoresis with direct UV detection using sensitivity enhancement by counter‐ or co‐electroosmotic flow stacking and a high‐sensitivity cell
Authors: Sun Baoguo , Macka Miroslav , Haddad Paul R.
Published: July 2003

Stacking techniques used independently and also with a high‐sensitivity cell (HSC) were employed to optimise sensitivity and detection limits in the direct photometric detection of the following eight arsenic species by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE): arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), 4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrophenylarsonic acid (Roxarsone), p‐aminophenylarsonic acid (p‐ASA), 4‐nitrophenylarsonic acid (4‐NPAA), and phenylarsonic acid (PAA) (target analytes). The stacking mechanisms, optimised stacking and separation conditions, and concentration sensitivity enhancement factors were discussed and compared for (i) normal stacking mode (NSM, sometimes also referred to as field‐amplified stacking) in an uncoated fused‐silica capillary in the counter‐electroosmotic flow (EOF) mode, (ii) large‐volume sample stacking (LVSS) with polarity switching, and (iii) the less often applied stacking method of co‐EOF NSM stacking with EOF reversal using a poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC)‐coated capillary. The optimal injection volumes were 7.4, 60 and 17.2% of the total capillary volume, for the above three methods, respectively. LVSS with polarity switching gave the lowest limit of detection (LOD). The use of the HSC further reduced the LOD of each target analytes by a factor of 5–8 times. By combining LVSS and HSC, LODs of the target analytes could be reduced by a factor of 218–311, to 5.61, 9.15, 11.1, and 17.1 μg/L for As(III), DMA, MMA, and As(V), respectively. The method was demonstrated to be applicable to the determination of the target analytes in tap water and lake water, with recoveries in the range of 89.4–103.3%.
Effect of NaOH on large‐volume sample stacking of haloacetic acids in capillary zone electrophoresis with a low‐pH buffer
Authors: Tu Chuanhong , Zhu Lingyan , Ang Chay Hoon , Lee Hian Kee
Published: July 2003

Large‐volume sample stacking (LVSS) is an effective on‐capillary sample concentration method in capillary zone electrophoresis, which can be applied to the sample in a low‐conductivity matrix. NaOH solution is commonly used to back‐extract acidic compounds from organic solvent in sample pretreatment. The effect of NaOH as sample matrix on LVSS of haloacetic acids was investigated in this study. It was found that the presence of NaOH in sample did not compromise, but rather help the sample stacking performance if a low pH background electrolyte (BGE) was used. The sensitivity enhancement factor was higher than the case when sample was dissolved in pure water or diluted BGE. Compared with conventional injection (0.4% capillary volume), 97–120‐fold sensitivity enhancement in terms of peak height was obtained without deterioration of separation with an injection amount equal to 20% of the capillary volume. This method was applied to determine haloacetic acids in tap water by combination with liquid‐liquid extraction and back‐extraction into NaOH solution. Limits of detection at sub‐ppb levels were obtained for real samples with direct UV detection.
Capillary electrophoresis speciation of chromium in leather tanning liquor
Authors: Poboży Ewa , Knell Mark , Kilian Krzysztof , Kataky Ritu , Trojanowicz Marek
Published: July 2003

We present a method for the speciation of chromium by capillary electrophoresis. Cr(III) was complexed with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) to form a negatively charged complex. Using 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 8 containing 0.5 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH) at a separation voltage of –15 kV, both forms of chromium CrDTPA2– and CrO42– were separated in less than 6 min. Direct UV detection at 214 nm was used. The effect of the presence of interfering ions was investigated. The application of the developed method to speciation of chromium in tanning liquor is demonstrated. The obtained results have shown a good correlation with those of flame atomic absorbance spectrometry (FAAS), inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and UV/VIS spectrophotometry.
Determination of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides by capillary electrophoresis with integrated potential gradient detection
Authors: Qin Weidong , Li Sam F. Y.
Published: July 2003

This report describes separation and detection of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides spiked in drinking water by the technique combining solid‐phase extraction, field‐amplified sample stacking, capillary electrophoresis, and potential gradient detection. The herbicide solution (400 mL) was concentrated to 0.1 mL by the solid‐phase extraction procedure. The buffer containing 3 mM ammonia and 0.3 mM hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin was adjusted to pH 9.0 with ammonia. The sample solution was injected into the capillary to 30% of the whole length, and −9 kV and 9 kV were employed for field‐amplified sample stacking and separation, respectively. The herbicides were baseline separated and the detection limits with the above combined techniques were in the range of 1–4×10−2 ng/mL.
Determination of lactate or oxalate using injected lactate oxidase and peroxidase by capillary electrophoresis with UV detection
Authors: Qi Lining , Danielson Neil D.
Published: July 2003

Two reactions, catalyzed by lactate oxidase (LO) and peroxidase, are initiated by a single injection of the enzymes and the substrate 2,2'‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylene‐thiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) into the capillary previously filled with the sample (lactate or lactate‐oxalate mixture) and the run buffer containing NADH. The oxidized ABTS product upon reaction with NADH is converted to NAD+ which is separated and detected in less than 2 min at 266 nm with a sample throughput of 7 min (including wash steps between samples). Simplex™ software is used to optimize the enzyme concentrations and reaction temperature. Consumption of the more expensive LO enzyme is only 1.4×10−3 U per assay assuming 27 nL per injection. Linearity is established within the range from 0.0025 to 1 mM with R2 of 0.9982. Recoveries of lactate from five spiked serum samples averaged 101%. Application of this method for the determination of oxalate as an inhibitor of LO is demonstrated.
Electrophoretic separations on chips with hydrodynamically closed separation systems
Authors: Kaniansky Dušan , Masár Marián , Bodor Róbert , Žúborová Mária , Ölvecká Eva , Jöhnck Matthias , Stanislawski Bernd
Published: July 2003

This review focuses on capillary electrophoretic separations performed on capillary electrophoresis chips (CE chips) with hydrodynamically closed separation systems in a context with transport processes (electroosmotic flow (EOF)) and hydrodynamic flow (HDF)) that may accompany the separations in these devices. It also reflects some relevant works dealing with conventional CE operating under such hydrodynamic conditions. The use of zone electrophoresis (ZE), isotachophoresis (ITP) and their on‐line combination (ITP‐ZE) on the single‐column and column‐coupling CE chips with the closed separation systems and related problems are key topics of the review. Some attention is paid to sample pretreatment in the separations performed on the CE chips. Here, mainly potentialities of the ITP‐ZE combination in trace analysis applications of the miniaturized systems are discussed in a broader extent. Links between the ZE separation and detection provide a frame for the discussion of current status of the detection on the CE chips. Analytical applications illustrate potentialities of the CE chips operating with the closed separation systems (suppressed HDF and EOF) to the determination of small ions present in various matrices by ZE, ITP and ITP‐ZE.
Interpersonal psychotherapy for chronic depression
Authors: Markowitz John C.
Published: July 2003

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time‐limited, manualized, life‐event‐based treatment of demonstrated efficacy for acute major depression. This article describes its adaptation and application to chronic forms of unipolar depression. The interpersonal difficulties of chronically depressed patients present a potentially good fit for a therapy that builds interpersonal functioning, but the chronicity of illness and paucity of life events of dysthymic patients complicate the use of IPT. Recent outcome research is reviewed. A case example illustrates the clinical approach and potential benefits. Based on a limited number of studies, the benefits of acute IPT for chronic depression appear non‐specific and modest. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.
Supportive–expressive therapy for chronic depression
Authors: Mark David G. , Barber Jacques P. , Crits‐Christoph Paul
Published: July 2003

We describe our clinical experience with a subset of chronically depressed patients characterized as introverted, with an early onset of feeling different from, and often feeling more sensitive than, others. We outline six central issues that concern a psychodynamic approach to chronically depressed people. This article describes and illustrates how a modified supportive–expressive psychotherapy influenced by the relational perspective can help in the treatment of these patients. In particular, we facilitate an interaction in which the patient speaks from rather than merely about his or her depressed self. A couple of clinical moments are presented to illustrate how a lack of recognition by the therapist of the self the depressed patient is at the moment leads to a kind of lifeless despair, and conversely, how the therapist's recognition facilitates the patient talking from his depressed state rather than merely about it. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.