bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated Arterial Occlusion, Delta-Opioid Receptor (DOR) Plasticity and Vagal Transmission Within the Sinoatrial Node of the Anesthetized Dog
Authors: Deo Shekhar H. , Barlow Matthew A. , Gonzalez Leticia , Yoshishige Darice , Caffrey James L.
Published: November 2008

Brief interruptions in coronary blood flow precondition the heart, engage delta-opioid receptor (DOR) mechanisms and reduce the damage that typically accompanies subsequent longer coronary occlusions. Repeated short occlusions of the sinoatrial (SA) node artery progressively raised nodal methionine-enkephalin-arginine-phenylalanine (MEAP) and improved vagal transmission during subsequent long occlusions in anesthetized dogs. The DOR type-1 (DOR-1) antagonist, BNTX reversed the vagotonic effect. Higher doses of enkephalin interrupted vagal transmission through a DOR-2 mechanism. The current study tested whether the preconditioning (PC) protocol, the later occlusion or a combination of both was required for the vagotonic effect. The study also tested whether evolving vagotonic effects included withdrawal of competing DOR-2 vagolytic influences. Vagal transmission progressively improved during successive SA nodal artery occlusions. The vagotonic effect was absent in sham animals and after DOR-1 blockade. After completing the PC protocol, exogenously applied vagolytic doses of MEAP reduced vagal transmission under both normal and occluded conditions. The magnitude of these DOR-2 vagolytic effects was small compared to controls and repeated MEAP challenges rapidly eroded vagolytic responses further. Prior DOR-1 blockade did not alter the PC mediated, progressive loss of DOR-2 vagolytic responses. In conclusion, DOR-1 vagotonic responses evolved from signals earlier in the PC protocol and erosion of competing DOR-2 vagolytic responses may have contributed to an unmasking of vagotonic responses. The data support the hypothesis that PC and DOR-2 stimulation promote DOR trafficking, and down regulation of the vagolytic DOR-2 phenotype in favor of the vagotonic DOR-1 phenotype. DOR-1 blockade may accelerate the process by sequestering newly emerging receptors.
The climbing habit in palms: Biomechanics of the cirrus and flagellum
Authors: Isnard Sandrine , Rowe Nick P.
Published: November 2008

Climbing palms in the Arecoideae (Desmoncus) and Calamoideae (rattan palms) both evolved cirrate leaves armed with hooks and grapnels for climbing. Some species of Calamoideae develop a different climbing organ known as the flagellum, which also bears hooks. The present study indicates that geometry and mechanical properties of the cirrus vary between species. Cirrate leaves are constructed to optimize bending and torsion in relation to the deployment of recurved hooks. Hook development, size, and strength vary along cirri and flagella and are consistent with observations of these attachment organs functioning as a ratchet mechanism: hooks increase in strength toward the base of attachment organs and always fail before the axis in strength tests. Hook size and strength differ between species and are related to body size and ecological preference. Larger species produce larger hooks, but smaller climbing palms of the understory deploy fine sharp hooks that are effective on small diameter supports as well as large branches and trunks. The ephemeral nature of climbing organs in palms provides a challenge to their life‐history development, particularly in terms of mechanical constraints and remaining attached to the host vegetation; these differ significantly from many vines and lianas having more perennial modes of attachment.
Root anatomy, morphology, and longevity among root orders inVaccinium corymbosum(Ericaceae)
Authors: Valenzuela‐Estrada Luis R. , Vera‐Caraballo Vivianette , Ruth Leah E. , Eissenstat David M.
Published: November 2008

Understanding root processes at the whole‐plant or ecosystem scales requires an accounting of the range of functions within a root system. Studying root traits based on their branching order can be a powerful approach to understanding this complex system. The current study examined the highly branched root system of the ericoid plant,Vaccinium corymbosumL. (highbush blueberry) by classifying its root orders with a modified version of the morphometric approach similar to that used in hydrology for stream classification. Root anatomy provided valuable insight into variation in root function across orders. The more permanent portion of the root system occurred in 4th‐ and higher‐order roots. Roots in these orders had radial growth; the lowest specific root length, N:C ratios, and mycorrhizal colonization; the highest tissue density and vessel number; and the coarsest root diameter. The ephemeral portion of the root system was mainly in the first three root orders. First‐ and 2nd‐order roots were nearly anatomically identical, with similar mycorrhizal colonization and diameter, and also, despite being extremely fine, median lifespans were not very short (115–120 d; estimated with minirhizotrons). Our research underscores the value of examining root traits by root order and its implications to understanding belowground processes.
Fossil Araceae from a Paleocene neotropical rainforest in Colombia
Authors: Herrera Fabiany A. , Jaramillo Carlos A. , Dilcher David L. , Wing Scott L. , Gómez‐N. Carolina
Published: November 2008

Both the fossil record and molecular data support a long evolutionary history for the Araceae. Although the family is diverse in tropical America today, most araceous fossils, however, have been recorded from middle and high latitudes. Here, we report fossil leaves of Araceae from the middle‐late Paleocene of northern Colombia, and review fossil araceous pollen grains from the same interval. Two of the fossil leaf species are placed in the new fossil morphogenus Petrocardium Herrera, Jaramillo, Dilcher, Wing et Gomez‐N gen. nov.; these fossils are very similar in leaf morphology to extant Anthurium; however, their relationship to the genus is still unresolved. A third fossil leaf type from Cerrejón is recognized as a species of the extant genus Montrichardia, the first fossil record for this genus. These fossils inhabited a coastal rainforest ∼60–58 million years ago with broadly similar habitat preferences to modern Araceae.
Oxidative stress induced by ochratoxin A in LLC-PK1 cell line and the chemoprotective effects of carnosic acid
Authors: Costa S. , Utan A. , Speroni E. , Cervellati R. , Piva G. , Prandini A. , Guerra M.
Published: November 2008

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of various moulds that contaminate several alimentary substrates. One of the
most dangerous of these is ochratoxin A (OTA). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the toxicity
mechanism of OTA, so the use of natural or synthetic free radical scavengers could be a potential chemopreventive
strategy. Carnosic acid (CA) is the major polyphenolic compound present in rosemary plants. This work aimed
to determine whether CA could counteract OTA-induced cell damage. Free radical scavenging properties of CA
were chemically determined at pH 7.4. Cytotoxicity of CA and OTA on LLC-PK1 cells, and the protective effects of
CA, were assessed using the Alamar Blue test. The effects in vitro of CA pre-treatment on the production of ROS,
the DNA oxidation and the induction of apoptosis induced by OTA were studied. It was found that CA has free
radical scavenging properties at both the considered pH values. Moreover, a pre-treatment of 24 h with 10, 20 and
30 µM CA is able to reduce OTA-induced cytotoxicity; a pre-treatment of 24 h with 20 and 30 µM CA achieved
ROS reduction and with 30 µM CA decreased the OTA-induced increase of 8-OH-2'-deoxyguanosine and of DNA
fragmentation in LLC-PK1. These findings suggest a starting point to develop alimentary strategies against OTAinduced
cell damage. Moreover, our results provide further evidence that oxidative stress plays an important role
in the OTA cytotoxicity mechanism.
Gliotoxin natural incidence and toxigenicity of Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from corn silage and ready dairy cattle feed
Authors: Pereyra C. , Alonso V. , Rosa C. , Chiacchiera S. , Dalcero A. , Cavaglieri L.
Published: November 2008

Corn silage is an important feed source for dairy and beef cattle in central Argentina. The presence of thermophilic
species Aspergillus fumigatus is among the major problem in silage, as many strains can produce several mycotoxins
that affect the health of dairy cattle. The aims of the present study were to determine total fungal counts and relative
density of A. fumigatus in silage samples, and to determine the natural incidence of gliotoxin in silage and ready
dairy feed samples. The potential gliotoxin production of A. fumigatus isolated from silage was also recorded. A
total of 90 samples were investigated, which were taken immediately after opening of the silo and the end of the
ensiling period of about after 5 months. Sampling was performed manually through silos in transects at 3 levels
per silo. Thirty samples of ready cattle feed (corn silage, ground corn, barley, cotton seed, brewer grains) were
collected and investigated as well. Gliotoxin contamination was determined by HPLC. The ability of A. fumigatus to
produce gliotoxin was measured using a TLC method. Results show that in all samples, the total number of yeasts
and moulds exceeded 1×104 cfu/g. Aspergillus was the most prevalent genus followed by Fusarium and Penicillium
spp. Investigations of the isolated A. fumigatus strains showed that many of these strains produced more than one
mycotoxin. All samples showed gliotoxin contamination, but the strains isolated from ready cattle feed had higher
gliotoxin levels than those isolated from corn silage. The gliotoxin concentrations found in this study exceeded the
levels that are known to induce immunosuppressive and apoptotic effects in vitro. Although at present the oral
bioavailability of gliotoxin in cattle is not known, the presented data suggest that its presence in feedstuffs could
affect productivity and present a health risk for dairy cows.
Cyclodextrins as selectors for mycotoxin recognition
Authors: Galaverna G. , Dall'Asta C. , Corradini R. , Dossena A. , Marchelli R.
Published: November 2008

This review deals with the applications of cyclodextrins as selectors for mycotoxin recognition. Complexation by
cyclodextrins via formation of inclusion (host-guest) complexes induces significant changes in the physical and
chemical properties of mycotoxins as guest molecules, effects that can be used in a variety of analytical techniques.
Changes in chromatographic and electrophoretic properties and their applications to set up new separation methods
are covered. Among these changes, a significant effect is the enhancement of the mycotoxin fluorescence upon
inclusion, a phenomenon which provides a simple and convenient method to significantly increase the sensitivity of
fluorescence-based trace analysis. The practical application of this phenomenon to set up new analytical methods
is described. Studies on the mechanism of inclusion complex formation are also reported.
Ochratoxin- and aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with green and roasted coffee samples consumed in Argentina
Authors: Magnoli C. , Astoreca A. , Ponsone M. , Barberis C. , Fernández-Juri M. , Dalcero A.
Published: November 2008

The aims of this work were to identify the Aspergillus sections Nigri and Flavi, and to evaluate the natural occurrence
of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins in green and roasted coffee bean samples. The capacity to produce these
toxins by Aspergillus species was also studied. Fifty samples of Colombian coffee beans (25 green and 25 roasted)
were obtained from a processor plant located in the south of Córdoba province (Argentina). OTA and aflatoxin
analysis were performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). OTA production by strains belonging
to Aspergillus niger aggregate were cultivated using YES medium and detected by HPLC. Aflatoxin production was
tested in strains belonging to section Flavi on malt extract agar and was detected by thin liquid chromatography
(TLC). From green coffee samples, the predominant species isolated belonged to A. niger aggregate, 60 and 55%, in
dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar (DRBC) and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) respectively. While
A. flavus strains were isolated in 14% from DRBC and A. parasiticus strains in 12% and 28% in DRBC and DG18,
respectively. From roasted coffee samples, A. flavus was the most predominant fungi, isolated in similar percentages
from both media (28%); followed by A. niger aggregate isolated in 28 and 14% in DRBC and DG18, respectively.
In green and roasted coffee samples mean colony counts ranged from 2×103 to 3.5×104 colony forming units per
gram of sample (cfu/g). OTA and aflatoxins were not detected in any sample analyses (<1 and 0.5 ng/g for OTA
and aflatoxins, respectively). Twenty-five percent of black Aspergillus strains were OTA producers. The total of A.
flavus strains assayed produced aflotoxin B1 (AFB1) and 80% of the A. parasiticus strains were AFB1 and aflotoxin
G1 producers. The high percentage of A. flavus and A. parasiticus aflatoxin-producing strains suggest a potential
risk for contamination in coffee with aflatoxins.
Effect of 0.3% sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) in sow diets on plasma prolactin, lactation and piglet growth: regulatory implications
Authors: Kopinski J. , Blaney B. , Downing J.
Published: November 2008

The safety of 0.3% sorghum ergot in a sow diet was evaluated, this being the currently regulated limit for stock food
in Queensland. The alkaloid content (mg/kg) of the test diet was: dihydroergosine (DHES), 1.1; dihydroelymoclavine,
0.15; and festuclavine, 0.05. The test diet was fed to 16 sows from ~6 weeks prior to farrowing, until weaning of
piglets 4 weeks post-farrowing. Compared to 16 sows fed a control diet, there were no significant effects on either
onset of lactation, piglet mortality, or litter performance. There was a trend for ergot to reduce plasma prolactin
concentrations at farrowing, particularly in first-litter sows, but this did not meet the test for significance and there
were no corresponding trends for reduced performance. The results support shorter-term investigations showing
that a diet with 0.3% sorghum ergot is tolerated by sows, when it contains 1 mg DHES/kg or less. Data are presented
indicating a significant correlation between % ergot and DHES in 26 different sources of infected sorghum. However,
while a sample containing 0.3% ergot is most likely to contain 1 mg DHES/kg or less, this can range from <0.1 up
to 5 mg DHES/kg, depending on maturity of ergot sclerotia present in infected grain. Consequently, the risk that
occasional batches of grain with 0.3% ergot can contain up to 5 mg DHES/kg must be taken into account, and
regulations should probably be revised, either to reduce ergot concentrations to 0.1%, or to incorporate maximum
alkaloid (DHES) concentrations of 1 mg/kg, for sow feeds.
Mouldy fruits and vegetables as a source of mycotoxins: part 2
Authors: Paster N. , Barkai-Golan R.
Published: November 2008

Although chemical control is still the main way to reduce the preharvest and postharvest incidence of mycotoxigenic
fungi, the worldwide tendency to reduce chemical use, and the emergence of resistant strains, have accelerated the search
for non-chemical strategies. Those applied at the postharvest stage include heat treatments, biological control, and
modified-or controlled-atmosphere storage. It is now evident that combinations of treatments are more efficient than
individual treatments applied alone. Most of the studies on mycotoxins in fruits are focused on patulin (produced mainly
by Penicillium expansum) in apple products, and ochratoxin A (produced mainly by Aspergillus carbonarius) in grapes
and in wines. Patulin levels can be significantly reduced by washing and sorting apples, and trimming away rotten tissues.
Other treatments for patulin reduction have been associated with its ability to react readily with compounds containing
sulphydryl groups. Other additives that reduce patulin levels are ascorbic acid and B-complex vitamins. The rate of
ochratoxin A reduction during fermentation depends, among others, on the yeast used for fermentation and the type of
wine produced. During vinification, ochratoxin A is also reduced by binding to the solid residues of grapes. Alternaria
mycotoxins may be produced naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables and their processed products. At least two
of these mycotoxins, alternariol and alternariol monomethyl, were shown to be stable in heated apple juice. In some
apple cultivars, Alternaria occurs in the core and the damage is hidden. Contamination with mycotoxins is recognized
as an unavoidable risk, but three major components are involved in the attempt to minimize the risk: Good Agricultural
Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points. In many countries, regulatory
measures have been taken to limit the presence of mycotoxins in fruits and vegetables. Several factors may influence the
establishment of national and regional mycotoxin limits and regulations.
Social organization of white‐headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) in the Nongguan Karst Hills, Guangxi, China
Authors: Jin Tong , Wang De‐Zhi , Zhao Qing , Yin Li‐Jie , Qin Da‐Gong , Ran Wen‐Zhong , Pan Wen‐Shi
Published: November 2008

The number of males per group is the most variable aspect of primate social organization and is often related to the monopolizability of females, which is mainly determined by the number of females per group and their reproductive synchrony. Colobines show both inter‐specific and intra‐specific variations in the number of males per group. Compared with other colobine species, little is known about the social organization of white‐headed langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus), despite its endangered status and unusual limestone habitat. As a part of a long‐term study of the white‐headed langurs in the Nongguan Karst Hills, Guangxi, China, we quantitatively investigated their social organization by analyzing census data from 1998 to 2003. The population censuses revealed that the predominant social organization of bisexual groups was the one‐male group, similar to a previous report on this species and many other Asian colobines. In such groups, one adult male associated with 5.1 adult females, 0.1 sub‐adult males, 2.6 juveniles and 2.9 infants on average, with a mean group size of 11.7 individuals. In addition, three multi‐male groups were recorded, consisting of 2–3 adult males, 1–5 adult females, 0–2 sub‐adult males, 0–7 juveniles and 0–2 infants. They did not contain more adult females than the one‐male groups and were unstable in group membership. The langurs outside bisexual groups were organized into small nonreproductive groups or lived as solitaries. The nonreproductive groups averaged 1.3 adult males, 1.3 sub‐adult males and 2.6 juveniles. Juvenile females were present in such groups on 52.4% of all occasions. As predicted by the monopolization model, the prevalence of the one‐male pattern in this species may mainly be attributed to the small number of females in the group. The possible reasons for the occurrence of multi‐male groups and the presence of juvenile females in nonreproductive groups are also discussed. Am. J. Primatol. 71:206–213, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gaits of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on a horizontal ladder and arboreal stability
Authors: Higurashi Yasuo , Hirasaki Eishi , Kumakura Hiroo
Published: November 2008

Most primates use diagonal sequence (DS), diagonal couplets (DC) gaits when they walk or run quadrupedally, and it has been suggested that DSDC gaits contribute to stability in their natural arboreal habitats compared to other symmetrical gaits. However, this postulate is based solely on studies of primate gaits using continuous terrestrial and arboreal substrates. A particular species may select suitable gaits according to the substrate properties. Here, we analyzed the gaits of Japanese macaques moving on a horizontal ladder with rung intervals ranging from 0.40 to 0.80 m to elucidate the relative advantages of each observed form of gait. The rung arrangement forced our macaques to choose either diagonal coupling or DS gaits. One macaque consistently used diagonal coupling (i.e., DSDC and LSDC gaits) across narrow and intermediate rung intervals, whereas the other macaque used DS gaits (i.e., DSDC and DSLC gaits). At wider rung intervals, both macaques shifted to a two‐one sequence (TOS), which is characterized by two nearly simultaneous touchdowns of both forelimbs and one touchdown of each hind limb in a stride. The transition to the TOS sequence increased the duration of support on multiple limbs, but always included periods of a whole‐body aerial phase. These results suggest that Japanese macaques prefer DSDC gaits, because the diagonal coupling and DS contribute separately to stability on complex supports compared to the lateral coupling and lateral sequence. We also postulate that stability triggers the transition from symmetrical gaits to the TOS sequence. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Simultaneous identification of piecewise affine systems and number of subsystems using mixed logical dynamical systems theory
Authors: Zanma Tadanao , Fuke Keizo , Chang Ma Shang , Ishida Muneaki
Published: November 2008

This paper addresses system identification of a switched system in which each subsystem is expressed by a piecewise affine system. The system considered is expressed by a mixed logical dynamical system for which some design methods are already known. For identification, in most cases, a number of subsystems, that is, switching points, are given in advance. However, it is not easy to find switching points for multivariable systems. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a simultaneous identification technique that takes into account the number of subsystems and their parameters. The proposed method is applied to several examples to show its effectiveness. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(5): 1–10, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10109
Experiments on stabilizing receding horizon control of a direct drive manipulator
Authors: Kawai Yasunori , Nakaso Yujiro , Mimoto Shinichiro , Fujita Masayuki
Published: November 2008

In this paper, the application of receding horizon control to a two‐link direct drive robot arm is demonstrated. Instead of terminal constraints, a terminal cost on receding horizon control is used to guarantee stability, because of the computational demand. The key idea of this paper is to apply receding horizon control with a terminal cost derived from the energy function of the robot system. The energy function is defined as the control Lyapunov function by considering inverse optimality. In experimental results, stability and performance are compared with respect to the horizon length by applying receding horizon control and inverse optimal control to the robot arm. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(5): 33–40, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10113
Extraction and processing with supercritical fluids
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Mamata
Published: November 2008

OVERVIEW: Extraction and processing with supercritical fluids (SCF) is increasingly gaining importance in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent has emerged as a highly popular technology today over the conventional techniques for extraction of natural products for rapid, contamination‐free, tailor‐made extracts having superior quality and shelf‐life and high potency of active ingredients.

IMPACT: The importance of SCFE is on the rise due to consumers' preferences for ‘natural’ as opposed to synthetic substances and, impending regulations for environmental protection, safety, nutritive and toxicity levels.

APPLICATIONS: Newer applications of SCFs include separation and purification of chemicals, cleaning, coating, particle formation, textile dyeing, aerogel drying, reactions with separation and food preservation. Some fundamental aspects of SCFs, various processing technologies with SCFs, and a few newer potential applications are presented in this article. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Biodegradation of diesel oil in a baffled roller bioreactor
Authors: Nikakhtari Hossein , Kumar Pardeep , Nemati Mehdi , Hill Gordon A.
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND: Ex situ bioremediation is a feasible and economical way to remove petroleum pollutants from contaminated soil or water. A baffled roller bioreactor was shown to be effective for biodegradation of diesel oil as a model petroleum pollutant. Microorganisms enriched from an industrially contaminated soil with heavy hydrocarbons were shown to be the best inoculum source for diesel biodegradation.

RESULTS: The baffled roller bioreactor demonstrated better performance than control (roller bioreactor without baffles) or bead mill roller (control bioreactor filled partially with spherical beads) bioreactors. Biodegradation consisted of both fast and slow stages for degradation of light and heavy compounds, respectively. Among the tested temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 °C, room temperature (23 °C) was found to be the optimum temperature for biodegradation. The values of maximum specific growth rate and substrate yield (µmax and YXS) for the indigenous microorganisms in the baffled roller bioreactor at room temperature were found to be 0.72 ± 0.08 h−1 and (7.0 ± 1.0) × 107 cells mg−1 diesel, respectively. Biodegradation of diesel concentrations up to 200 g L−1 was achieved with the highest biodegradation rate of 266 mg L−1 h−1 at the highest rotation rate of 45 rpm in the baffled roller bioreactor.

CONCLUSION: Using indigenous bacteria enriched from industrial contaminated soil at room temperature, a baffled roller bioreactor is able to biodegrade high diesel oil concentrations at high biodegradation rates. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Raman spectroscopy of collective modes in charge‐density‐wave systems: the mean‐field microscopic theory
Authors: Kupčić Ivan
Published: November 2008

The electron‐mediated coupling of external electromagnetic fields and Raman‐active oscillations is derived for a general electronic model with multiple bands using the adiabatic approach and the explicit diagrammatic approach. The theory is illustrated on the quasi‐one‐dimensional (Q1D) quarter‐filled charge‐density‐wave (CDW) model. It is shown how the long‐range Coulomb forces and the single‐electron relaxation processes affect the Raman spectroscopy of the amplitude‐oscillation mode in clean CDW systems. It is also argued that the adiabatic treatment of the photon‐phonon coupling functions can be safely used in this case. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variable‐temperature Raman spectro‐microscopy for a comprehensive analysis of the conformational order in PEGylated lipids
Authors: Bista Rajan K. , Bruch Reinhard F. , Covington Aaron M.
Published: November 2008

The investigation of phase transitions and associated changes in the conformational order of lipids is of importance in various research areas dealing with phenomena such as the formation and fusion of vesicles, transmembrane diffusion and membrane interactions with drugs and proteins. In this article, we have focused on the study of thermotropic phase behaviors and associated changes in the conformational order of two newly developed synthetic PEGylated lipids trademarked as QuSomes. In contrast to conventional phospholipids, this new kind of lipid forms liposomes spontaneously upon hydration, without the supply of external activation energy. Variable‐temperature Raman spectro‐microscopy has been employed in order to plot the transition temperature profiles showing the phase behavior of these new lipids composed of 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐rac‐glycerol‐3‐dodecaethylene glycol (GDM‐12) and 1,2‐distearoyl‐rac‐glycerol‐3‐triicosaethylene glycol (GDS‐23). Furthermore, several spectral indicators were calculated and correlated which allowed for the deduction of various aspects of molecular structure as well as intramolecular motion and intermolecular interactions. To confirm the observations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied and revealed a good agreement with the Raman spectroscopy results. Finally, this information may find application in various studies including the development of lipid‐based novel substances and drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermo‐Responsive Hydrogels Based on Branched Poly(L‐lactide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers
Authors: Velthoen Ingrid W. , Tijsma Edze J. , Dijkstra Pieter J. , Feijen Jan
Published: November 2008

Summary: Branched poly(L‐lactide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA‐PEG) block copolymers were synthesized from trifunctional PLLA and amine functionalized methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s. The copolymers in water formed hydrogels that showed thermo‐responsive behavior. The hydrogels underwent a gel to sol transition with increasing temperature as determined with the vial tilting method and oscillatory rheology. For all copolymers, the transition temperature increased with increasing copolymer concentration. The transition temperature of corresponding branched copolymers also increased with increasing PEG molecular weight, and surprisingly decreased with increasing molecular weight of the PLLA branches. In general, the gel‐sol transition is explained by disruption of micellar or aggregate interactions because of partial dehydration and shrinkage of the PEG chains. An increase in the molecular weight of the PLLA branches led to the formation of micelles and aggregates as observed with DLS at low concentrations. It is speculated that the non‐uniform size distribution and possible crystallization of longer PLLA blocks may have a negative effect on the formation of micellar packing upon gelation, allowing the disruption of micellar or aggregate interactions to occur at lower temperatures. The transition temperature of the gels could be tuned closely to body temperature by varying the concentration of the solution or the molecular weight of the PEG block and the PLLA blocks, which implies that these polymers may be used as injectable systems for in‐situ gel formation.
Impediments to prenatal diagnosis for beta thalassaemia: experiences from Pakistan
Authors: Naseem Sajida , Ahmed Suhaib , Vahidy Farhaan
Published: November 2008

Objective

To investigate the practices of parents of beta thalassaemia children towards utilization of prenatal diagnosis (PND) in Pakistan.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was done between April and September 2007 at two thalassaemia treatment centers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Simple random sampling was employed to interview 215 parents of thalassaemic children. Parents of thalassaemic children who were not planning to have any more children were excluded from the study. A structured questionnaire with preassigned values was developed for collection of data.

Results

Out of the 215 respondents, 149 (69%) families had a pregnancy following the birth of the registered thalassaemic child. Among 149 couples, 90 (60%) did not request PND. The main reasons for underutilization of PND included lack of awareness (23%), high cost (23%), poor access (17%), delay in seeking (16%) and advice against the test (12%). A significant improvement in the use of PND was observed with increasing mother's education (p < 0.016).

Conclusion

PND for thalassaemia is available in Pakistan for over a decade but its use remains limited. There is a need to increase its utilization by addressing various impediments noted in this study. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cell‐free DNA in amniotic fluid remains to be attached to HMGA2–implications for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Winter N. , Neumann A. , Bullerdiek J.
Published: November 2008

Objective

The expression of the high mobility group protein gene HMGA2 is primarily confined to embryonic and fetal cells. The aim of this study was to determine the relative expression level of HMGA2 in cells of amniotic fluid samples. Furthermore, it should be investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation whether or not HMGA2 is attached to cell‐free DNA in amniotic fluid.

Method

Expression levels of HMGA2 in 58 amniotic fluid samples from the second trimester were measured using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, the presence of HMGA2, attached to cell‐free DNA was tested by chromatin immunoprecipitation.

Results

Expression of HMGA2 was detected in all samples, but in cells of the amniotic fluid it was 161‐fold higher than in cells of the urine from healthy donors. The real‐time PCR with GAPDH showed a signal in all samples treated with the improved protocol of immunoprecipitation.

Conclusion

Our data clearly show that cells of the amniotic fluid strongly overexpress HMGA2 according to their fetal origin. The fact that apparently HMGA2 remains to be attached to cell‐free DNA suggests interesting new approaches in noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The associations among personality disorder symptoms, suicide proneness and current distress in adult male prisoners
Authors: Lamis Dorian A. , Langhinrichsen‐Rohling Jennifer , Simpler Amber H.
Published: November 2008

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, and the third leading cause of death in US jails and penitentiaries. Research has shown that the presence of an Axis II personality disorder (PD) increases the risk for suicidal behaviour. While many correctional institutions screen inmates for suicidal ideation upon intake, they can neglect to assess for the presence of PD symptoms other than those associated with criminality such as Antisocial PD. The current study examined whether symptoms of various PDs were associated with self‐reports of current suicide proneness and distress in a small sample of adult male inmates residing in a medium or a maximum security facility. As hypothesized, elevated scores on numerous PD Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory‐III scales (e.g. Schizoid, Depressive, Sadistic, Schizotypal, Borderline) were significantly associated with both self‐reports of current suicide proneness and psychological distress. Once the nature of these associations in inmates is better understood, more effective suicide prevention programs can be designed and implemented in correctional facilities. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peptide separation with immobilized pI strips is an attractive alternative to in‐gel protein digestion for proteome analysis
Authors: Hubner Nina C. , Ren Shubin , Mann Matthias
Published: November 2008

Complex protein mixtures have traditionally been separated by 2‐DE. Görg introduced IPGs as the first dimension of protein separation. In recent years, MS‐based proteomics has increasingly become the method of choice for identifying and quantifying large number of proteins. In that technology, to decrease analyte complexity, proteins are often separated by 1‐D SDS‐gel electrophoresis before online MS analysis. Here, we investigate a recently introduced device for peptide separation with IPGs (Agilent OFFGEL). Loading capacity for optimal peptide focusing is below 100 μg and – similar to 2‐D gels – IEF is more efficient in the acidic than the basic pH region. The 24‐well fractionation format resulted in about 40% additional peptide identifications but less than 20% additional protein identifications than the 12‐well format. Compared to in‐gel digestion, peptide IEF consistently identified a third more proteins with equal number of fractions. Low protein starting amounts (10 μg) still resulted in deep proteome coverage. Advantages of the in‐gel format include better reliability and robustness. Considering its superior performance, diminished sample and work‐up requirements, peptide IEF will become a method of choice for sample preparation in proteomics.
Inclusion of human errors assessment in failure frequency analysis—A case study for the transportation of ammonia by rail in Malaysia
Authors: Hassan Che Rosmani Che , Balasubramaniam Puvaneswaran A/L , Raman Abdul Aziz Abdul , Mahmood Noor Zalina , Hung Foo Chee , Sulaiman Nik Meriam Nik
Published: November 2008

Risk is defined as the probability of a specific adverse event occurring within a specific period, while Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) is the development of a quantitative estimate of risk based on engineering evaluation and mathematical techniques by combining estimate of incident consequences and frequencies. In view of the increase in the use of railways as the mode of transportation for hazardous materials throughout the world, the associated risk analysis should be taken into concern. In this study, the failure frequency of the transportation of ammonia from the Petronas fertilizers Kedah (PFK) plant in Gurun (Northern part of Peninsular Malaysia), to the Chemical Company Malaysia (CCM) fertilizer's facilities in Port Klang (South‐western part of Peninsular Malaysia) was evaluated by incorporating the human error assessment. The study highlighted the importance of human error contributions in the failure frequency analysis and its impact on the selected failure scenarios. Besides, it also shows that the application of the human error assessment and reduction technique (HEART), which is a useful human reliability analysis tool, should be used in parallel with the fuzzy arithmetic approach to reduce the uncertainties involved in the estimation of human error probabilities, and hence, to reduce the likelihood of incorrect risks estimates being assessed. The results suggested that the commonly applied approach in quantitative risk assessments, which only consider equipment failures in the failure frequency estimations, are clearly an underestimate of the potential causes of failures leading to hazardous material releases, and hence, the calculated risks based do not reflect the actual risks. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009
Thiol‐disulfide redox equilibria of glutathione metaboloma compounds investigated by tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Rubino Federico M. , Pitton Marco , Caneva Enrico , Pappini Marco , Colombi Antonio
Published: November 2008

The thiol group of cysteine plays a pivotal role in structural and functional biology. We use mass spectrometry to study glutathione‐related homo‐ and heterodimeric disulfides, aiming at understanding the factors affecting the redox potentials of different disulfide/thiol pairs. Several electrospray ionization (ESI)‐protonated disulfides of cysteamine, cysteine, penicillamine, N‐acetylcysteine, N‐acetylpenicillamine, γGluCySH, HSCyGly, and glutathione were analyzed on a triple quadrupole instrument to measure their energy‐resolved tandem mass spectra. Fission of the disulfide bond yields RSH*H+ and RS+ ions. The logarithm of the intensity ratio of the RS+/RSH*H+ fragments in homodimeric disulfides is proportional to the normal reduction potential of their RSSR/RSH pairs determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in solution, the more reducing ones yielding the higher ratios. Also in some R1S‐SR2 disulfides, the ratio of the intensities of the RSH + H+ and RS+ ions of each participating thiol shows a linear relationship with the Nernst equation potential difference of the corresponding redox pairs. This behavior allows us to measure the redox potentials of some disulfide/thiol pairs by using different thiol‐reducing probes of known oxidoreductive potential as reference. To assist understanding of the fission mechanism of the disulfide bond, the fragments tentatively identified as ‘sulfenium’ were themselves fragmented; accurate mass measurement of the resulting second‐generation fragments demonstrated a loss of thioformaldehyde, thus supporting the assigned structure of this elusive intermediate of the oxidative stress pathway. Understanding this fragmentation process allows us to employ this technique with larger molecules to measure by mass spectrometry the micro‐redox properties of different disulfide bonds in peptides with catalytic and signaling biological activity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The growth of thin NiO films on Ag(001) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy
Authors: Großer Stephan , Hagendorf Christian , Neddermeyer Henning , Widdra Wolf
Published: November 2008

We have used scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to study the growth of NiO films on Ag(001) at a coverage of 1.5 monolayers. The films have been obtained by reactive deposition of Ni in O2 atmosphere. Particular attention has been paid to the development of the growth morphology of the deposit as a function of substrate and annealing temperature. For room temperature deposition, the Ag(001) surface is completely covered with the (2 × 1) NiO precursor structure with a thickness of one monolayer and small double‐layer NiO islands. The Ag(001) substrate surface is nearly unaffected. Subsequent annealing leads to drastic changes of the morphology of the film. The (2 × 1) precursor structure gradually disappears with annealing time and transforms to double‐layer NiO islands. One part of these NiO islands is embedded in the initially flat Ag substrate, and additional Ag islands appear on the surface. Local I/U characteristics (I: tunneling current, U: tunneling bias) have been measured on each kind of island and we found characteristic differences for the various parts of the surface, e.g. for Ag, the (2 × 1) precursor, double‐layer and trilayer NiO. These differences can be used to directly map the individual species on the surface. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inclusion, subsumption, JJ‐paths, and structured path testing: a Redress
Authors: Yates D. F. , Malevris N.
Published: November 2008

Introduced in 1976 by Hennell, Woodward, and Hedley, the Linear Code Sequence and Jump (LCSAJ) has since been named the jump‐to‐jump path (JJ‐path). If all JJ‐paths in a piece of code have been tested, then it is guaranteed, for example, that all of the code's branches and all of its statements will likewise have been tested. JJ‐path testing is thus said to include both branch and statement testing. Over the years, much work has been carried out on the inclusion relation, and this is also true of a closely‐linked relation that is known as subsumption. Not surprisingly, some of the work in the literature has focussed on the criteria of executing all JJ‐paths and sequences of such, and how these criteria relate to other path coverage and test data criteria. Unfortunately, certain results involving JJ‐paths in the context of inclusion, as portrayed in a widely referenced and influential paper, are in error. Consequently, the main purpose of this paper is to rectify this situation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Survivin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in MG‐63 cells in vitro
Authors: Liang Xinjun , Da Mingxu , Zhuang Zhiqiang , Wu Weiguang , Wu Zhuang , Wu Yanfeng , Shen Huiyong
Published: November 2008

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the skeleton and occurs mainly in children and adolescent. The prognosis of osteosarcoma is very poor due to its aggressive and no effective treatment. This study is the first to investigate the anti‐cancer effects of antisense pEGFP‐C1‐Survivin on human osteosarcoma cells. It was shown in our results that Survivin blockaded could significantly induce apoptosis and inhibit the invasive of osteosarcoma cells line MG‐63. The effects were probably produced by the decreased expression of Survivin induced by antisense pEGFP‐C1‐Survivin which was examined by RT‐PCR and western blotting. All these suggested that Survivin should be very important in the development of osteosarcoma and Survivin blockaded by using antisense pEGFP‐C1‐Survivin could markedly inhibit the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells line MG‐63, partially reversed their malignant phenotype. Targeting Survivin might be a promising option in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Chromosomal Imbalances are Associated with Increased Proliferation and Might Contribute to Bone Destruction in Cholesteatoma
Authors: Ecsedi Szilvia , Rákosy Zsuzsa , Vízkeleti Laura , Juhász Attila , Sziklai István , Ádány Róza , Balázs Margit
Published: November 2008

Objectives

Our aim was to evaluate the copy number alterations of chromosomes 3, 7, 8, and 17 in middle ear cholesteatomas and define the association between the rate of cell proliferation and chromosome number changes.

Methods

Tissues were obtained from 16 patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed on tumor imprint preparations. Cell proliferation was characterized with Ki‐67 monoclonal antibody on cholesteatoma samples and on postauricular skins as control.

Results

Different degrees of aneusomy were found for all chromosomes except for chromosome 3. Chromosome copy number alterations were associated with elevated proliferative rate and related also with the aggressiveness of the lesions.

Conclusions

Based on our results, we assume that aneusomy of chromosomes 7, 8, and 17 might play an important role during invasion of the adjacent bony structures of cholesteatoma, as well as associate with increased cell proliferation activity, which might lead to the aggressive behavior of the tissue.
Optimal financial education
Authors: Subrahmanyam Avanidhar
Published: November 2008

When agents first invest in financial markets, they are relatively inexperienced. The agents best positioned to educate the inexperienced stand to earn trading profits at the expense of inexperienced agents. Owing to this phenomenon, we show that the equilibrium amount of financial education does not fully correct the biases of the inexperienced agents. In a dynamic setting, large levels of uninformed trading volume may be generated by the inexperienced agents. This is because, in equilibrium, the experienced intermediaries may delay educating the inexperienced in order to earn commissions in earlier rounds of trade.
Low‐Grade Astrocytoma Associated with Abscess Formation: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Tsai Tai‐Hsin , Hwang Yan‐Fen , Hwang Shiuh‐Lin , Hung Chen‐Hsiang , Chu Cheng‐Wei , Lua Boon‐Kee , Lin Chih‐Lung , Lee Kung‐Shing , Loh Joon‐Khim , Kwan Aij‐Lie , Wang Chih‐Jen , Huang Tzuu‐Yuan , Howng Shen‐Long , Lieu Ann‐Shung
Published: November 2008

A rare case of low‐grade astrocytoma associated with abscess formation occurred in a 52‐year‐old man presenting with Broca's aphasia. He underwent craniotomy and tumor removal under the impression of brain tumor with necrotic cystic change. Abscess accumulation within the intra‐axial tumor was found intraoperatively. Literature related to brain abscess with brain tumor is reviewed, with an emphasis on abscesses with astrocytoma. We discuss the common brain tumors that are associated with abscess, pathogens that coexist with brain tumor, and the pathogeneses of coexisting brain abscess and tumor. It is very important to know how to differentiate between and diagnose a brain abscess and tumor, or brain abscess with tumor, preoperatively from clinical presentation and through the use of computed tomography, conventional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion‐weighted imaging or magnetic resonance spectroscopy.