bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hares and tortoises: The high‐ versus low‐throughput proteomic race
Authors: Wilkins Marc R.
Published: May 2009

The analysis of the proteome can be undertaken with parallel, high‐throughput techniques or those that analyze proteins in a serial, one‐at‐a‐time manner. The former include 2‐D gels and shotgun MS/MS; the latter includes libraries containing fusion proteins (GST, green fluorescent protein, TAP‐tag and others) that are engineered onto each protein in a proteome and then studied one by one. In this review, we explore the progress that these scientifically contrasting paradigms have made in measuring protein abundance, half‐life, post‐translational modifications, localization in cells and tissues and in protein membership of complexes, pathways and networks. We find that our understanding of the yeast proteome has been furthered more substantially by the slower “tortoise techniques” than the “high‐throughput hares”. A number of aspects of the human proteome are also likely to be elucidated most accurately with low‐throughput approaches. However, the high‐throughput techniques are expected to remain crucial for comparative analyses and most studies of proteome dynamics. This review also briefly explores how electrophoretic separations can continue to support the field of proteomics.
Headspace solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography–olfactometry analysis of raw spirits of different organoleptic quality
Authors: Plutowska Beata , Wardencki Waldemar
Published: May 2009

The aim of this research was to determine which compounds contribute to the flavour of agricultural distillates and to indicate those compounds which are responsible for a deterioration of sensory quality. Aroma profiling was carried out by headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) and gas chromatography‐olfactometry (GC–O). Aroma profiles were obtained using the fingerspan method. It was ascertained that the aroma profiles of agricultural distillates contain about 40 odours, some of which may serve in discriminatory analysis as markers of sensory quality. Some of the aroma compounds could be identified with the use of a mass spectrometer. It was found that the greatest amount of information on quality was obtained through analysis of the most intense odours detected in all or almost all samples, and that two odours formed the most radical indicators of sensory quality, being the result of the presence of two compounds, dimethyl trisulphide and geosmin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eogenetic dolomite cementation in lower Permian reservoir sandstones, southern Zagros, Iran
Authors: Zamanzadeh S. M. , Amini A. , Rahimpour‐Bonab H.
Published: May 2009

In spite of the increasing importance to hydrocarbon exploration of the Palaeozoic succession in southwest Iran (Zagros Belt), few comprehensive diagenetic studies of this interval have been carried out. This is the first study presented on the diagenetic characteristics of the Early Permian Faraghan Formation in its most representative exposures in the Zagros region. This formation is dominated by cross‐stratified sandstones at outcrop, along with stromatolitic dolomite, dolomitized limestones and subordinate siltstone/sandy shales. The formation grades upward into the thick‐bedded carbonates of the Late Permian Dalan Formation. Both formations are major hydrocarbon reservoirs in SW Iran and are time equivalents of the Unayzah and Khuff formations, respectively, in Saudi Arabia. The constituent facies of the Faraghan Formation represent sedimentation in a siliciclastic shallow‐marine environment with foreshore (including tidal flat and numerous tidal channels), estuary, sabkha, shoreface and offshore sub‐environments. In this study, the development of ferroan dolomite cements in the Faraghan Formation is investigated. Geometrically, ferroan dolomite cements occur in laterally extensive, cemented beds in conglomerates and sandstones, stratabound layers and as nodules in sandstones. Their various petrographic characteristics (such as microcrystalline nature, preservation of porosity, formation as the first diagenetic phase on the grains and their high volume) all indicate an eodiagenetic origin. Oxygen isotopic signatures of the cement (−2.10 to −6.42‰) are close to the proposed content for Lower Permian seawater. Development of this cement is attributed to the eodiagenetic environment marked by fresh and seawater mixing. In this setting, sabkha‐type dolomitic grains/lithics acted as nucleation sites facilitating dolomite cement precipitation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article was published online on 13 May 2009. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected 17 August 2009.
The lateral‐occipital and the inferior‐frontal cortex play different roles during the naming of visually presented objects
Authors: Chouinard Philippe A. , Whitwell Robert L. , Goodale Melvyn A.
Published: May 2009

We reasoned that if an area is devoted to processing only the visual features of objects, then transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to this area in either hemisphere would affect the naming of objects presented in contralateral but not ipsilateral space. In contrast, if an area is involved in language, then one might expect to see effects of TMS when applied over the left but not the right hemisphere, regardless whether objects are in contralateral or ipsilateral space. Our experiments reveal two important findings. First, TMS delivered to the lateral‐occipital complex (LOC), a visual‐form area, affected the naming of objects presented in contralateral but not ipsilateral space, independent of which hemisphere was stimulated. In two additional experiments, when participants named the color of objects or made judgments about the size of stimuli as shown physically on a computer screen, TMS over the contralateral LOC did not affect color naming but did affect the participants' ability to make size judgments. Second, TMS delivered to the left but not the right posterior inferior‐frontal gyrus (pIFG) affected the naming of objects irrespective of whether objects were presented in contralateral or ipsilateral space. In a separate experiment, when participants were asked to either read or categorize words, TMS over the left but not the right pIFG affected word categorization but not word reading. On the basis of these findings, we propose that when people name visually‐presented objects, LOC processes the visual form of objects while the left pIFG processes the semantics of objects. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An electromyographic investigation of asymmetric lifting and moving of a load: II. Effects of load lift from knuckle to target shelves
Authors: Das Biman , Mabaleka Godfrey
Published: May 2009

The range of normalized electromyography (EMG) values when lifting and moving a 5.84 kg box was between 0.08 and 0.63. The right iliocostalis and the left erector spinae showed decreased muscle activity with increasing asymmetry. The right erector spinae and the left and the right external obliques showed significant increases in muscle activity at 90° asymmetry. The left and the right iliocostalis, the left erector spinae, and the right external oblique showed significant reductions in muscle activity for the sternum height when compared to the knuckle height. The right erector spinae exhibited a significant increase at reach height when compared to the knuckle height. The muscle activity for the knuckle lift was significantly lower than the floor lift. The average decrease in muscle activity was approximately 68%. Consequently, asymmetric lifting and moving tasks should be performed from a knuckle height to sternum height. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOC budgets of drained peat catchments: implications for DOC production in peat soils
Authors: Gibson H. S. , Worrall F. , Burt T. P. , Adamson J. K.
Published: May 2009

The blocking of drainage ditches in peat has been proposed as a possible mitigation strategy for the widely observed increases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations from northern peatlands. This study tested the hypothesis that drain‐blocking could lead to lower DOC concentrations by measuring the DOC export from a series of small peat‐covered catchments over a period of 2 years. Six catchments were chosen: two were pristine that had never been drained; three where drains had been blocked (one in 1995, and two in 2003); and a control peat drain catchment where the drain was left unblocked throughout the study. In the case where drains were blocked as part of thus study, the drains were observed for 2 months before blocking and 2 years after blocking. The results show that: (i) high concentrations of DOC can come from water ponded in the drain; (ii) the DOC export (flux of DOC per area of catchment) from the six study catchments shows a high degree of positive correlation with both catchment size and water yield; (iii) distinctly lower DOC export with water yield was observed for the catchments containing higher‐order channels (>27 500 m2) as opposed to single drain catchments (>7500 m2); (iv) drain‐blocking resulted in a statistically significant decrease in DOC export (average was 39%) but the effect upon DOC concentration explained only 1% of the variance in the data. The results suggest that drain blocking works by decreasing the flow from the drain, not by changing the production of DOC in the peat. The change in export with catchment size implies a considerable removal of DOC from large catchments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inter‐catchment comparison to assess the influence of topography and soils on catchment transit times in a geomorphic province; the Cairngorm mountains, Scotland
Authors: Tetzlaff D. , Seibert J. , Soulsby C.
Published: May 2009

A quantitative, process relevant analysis of ten mesoscale (ca 10–90 km2) catchments in the Cairngorm mountains, Scotland was carried out using 10‐m digital terrain models (DTMs). This analysis produced a range of topographic indices that described differences in the landscape organisation of the catchments in a way that helped explain contrasts in their hydrology. Mean transit time (MTT)—derived from isotopic tracer data—was used as a metric that characterised differences in the hydrological function of the ten catchments. Some topographic indices exhibited significant correlations with MTT. Most notably, the ratio of the median flow path length to the median flow path gradient was negatively correlated with MTT, whilst the median upslope area was positively correlated. However, the relationships exhibited significant scatter which precluded their use as a predictive tool that could be applied to ungauged basins in this region. In contrast, maps of soil hydrological properties could be used to differentiate hydrologically responsive soils (which are dominated by overland flow and shallow sub‐surface storm flow) from free draining soils (that facilitate deeper sub‐surface flows). MTT was negatively correlated with the coverage of responsive soils in catchments. This relationship provided a much better basis for predicting MTT in ungauged catchments in this geomorphic province. In the Cairngorms, the extensive cover of various glacial drift deposits appears to be a first order control on soil distributions and strongly influences the porosity and permeability of the sub‐surface. These catchment characteristics result in soil cover being a much more discerning indicator of hydrological function than topography alone. The study highlights the potential of quantitative landscape analysis in catchment comparison and the need for caution in extrapolating relationships between landscape controls and metrics of hydrological function beyond specific geomorphic provinces. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Groundwater flushing of solutes at wetland and hillslope positions during storm events in a small glaciated catchment in western New York, USA
Authors: Inamdar Shreeram , Rupp Julia , Mitchell Myron
Published: May 2009

While the role of groundwater in flushing of solutes has long been recognized, few studies have explicitly studied the within‐event changes in groundwater chemistry. We compared the changes in groundwater chemistry during storm events for a wetland and hillslope position in a small (1·5 ha) glaciated, forested catchment in western New York. Flushing responses for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), nitrate (NO3) and sulfate (SO4) in wetland and hillslope groundwaters were also compared against the corresponding responses in stream water. Eight storm events with varying intensity, amount, and antecedent moisture conditions were evaluated. Solute flushing patterns for wetland and hillslope groundwaters differed dramatically. While DOC concentrations in wetland groundwater followed a dilution trend, corresponding values for hillslope groundwater showed a slight increase. Concentrations for NO3 in wetland groundwater were below detection limits, but hillslope groundwaters displayed high NO3 concentrations with a pronounced increase during storm events. Flushing responses at all positions were also influenced by the size of the event and the time between events. We attributed the differences in flushing to the differences in hydrologic flow paths and biogeochemical conditions. Flushing of the wetland did appear to influence storm‐event stream chemistry but the same could not be said for hillslope groundwaters. This suggests that while a variety of flushing responses may be observed in a catchment, only a subset of these responses affect the discharge chemistry at the catchment outlet. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal sterilization method for the zirconia/alumina composites used for total hip replacements
Authors: Nam Kwang Woo , Yoo Jeong Joon , Koo Kyung‐Hoi , Yoon Kang Sup , Kim Hee Joong
Published: May 2009

Zirconia/alumina composite ceramics have been recently developed for total hip arthroplasty because of their excellent mechanical properties and tribologic characteristics. All such materials used clinically must be easily sterilized, but no report has been issued concerning methods for sterilizing zirconia/alumina composite hip prostheses. Here, we show that 50 kGy of gamma irradiation effectively sterilizes both the surfaces and interiors of these materials. In addition, it was found that the commonly used ethylene oxide and 25‐kGy gamma irradiation sterilization methods inadequately sterilize deep inside the femoral head. Moreover, no changes in the chemical or mechanical properties of the composites were noted after exposure to 50‐kGy gamma irradiation. We suggest that 50‐kGy gamma irradiation is an optimal sterilization method for zirconia/alumina composite total hip replacements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Lyophilization to improve drug delivery for chitosan‐calcium phosphate bone scaffold construct: A preliminary investigation
Authors: Reves Benjamin T. , Bumgardner Joel D. , Cole Judith A. , Yang Yunzhi , Haggard Warren O.
Published: May 2009

Lyophilization was evaluated in chitosan‐calcium phosphate microspheres and scaffolds to improve drug delivery of growth factors and antibiotics for orthopedic applications. The dual delivery of an antibiotic and a growth factor from a composite scaffold would be beneficial for treatment of complex fracture sites, such as comminuted fractures and segmental bone defects. The aim of this investigation was to increase the loading capacity of the composite by taking advantage of the increased porosity, due to lyophilization, and to produce an extended elution profile using a secondary chitosan‐bead coating. The physiochemical properties of the composite were investigated, and loading and elution studies were performed with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2), and amikacin. Lyophilization was found to increase the surface area of scaffolds by over 400% and the porosity of scaffolds by 50%. Using ALP as a model protein, the loading capacity was increased by lyophilization from 4.3 ± 2.5 to 24.6 ± 3.6 μg ALP/mg microspheres, and the elution profile was extended by a supplemental chitosan coating. The loading capacity of BMP‐2 for composite microspheres was increased from 74.4 ± 3.7 to 102.1 ± 8.0 μg BMP‐2/g microspheres with lyophilization compared with nonlyophilized microspheres. The elution profiles of BMP‐2 and the antibiotic amikacin were not extended with the supplemental coating. Additional investigations are planned to improve these elution characteristics for growth factors and antibiotics. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Calcium control of gene regulation in rat hippocampal neuronal cultures
Authors: Pinato Giulietta , Pegoraro Silvia , Iacono Giovanni , Ruaro Maria Elisabetta , Torre Vincent
Published: May 2009

Blockage of GABA‐A receptors in hippocampal neuronal cultures triggers synchronous bursts of spikes initiating neuronal plasticity, partly mediated by changes of gene expression. By using specific pharmacological blockers, we have investigated which sources of Ca2+ entry primarily control changes of gene expression induced by 20 µM gabazine applied for 30 min (GabT). Intracellular Ca2+ transients were monitored with Ca2+ imaging while recording electrical activity with patch clamp microelectrodes. Concomitant transcription profiles were obtained using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays and confirmed with quantitative RT‐PCR. Blockage of NMDA receptors with 2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid (APV) did not reduce significantly somatic Ca2+ transients, which, on the contrary, were reduced by selective blockage of L, N, and P/Q types voltage gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Therefore, we investigated changes of gene expression in the presence of blockers of NMDA receptors and L, N, and P/Q VGCCs. Our results show that: (i) among genes upregulated by GabT, there are genes selectively dependent on NMDA activation, genes selectively dependent on L‐type VGCCs and genes dependent on the activation of both channels; (ii) the majority of genes requires the concomitant activation of NMDA receptors and Ca2+ entry through VGCCs; (iii) blockage of N and P/Q VGCCs has an effect similar but not identical to blockage of L‐type VGCCs. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 727–747, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol by Trichothecium roseum isolate in a laboratory scale bioreactor
Authors: Kurbanoglu E.B. , Taskin M. , Zilbeyaz K. , Kurbanoglu N.I.
Published: May 2009

BACKGROUND: Enantiomerically pure, fluorinated compounds play an important role in medicinal chemistry. Trichothecium roseum strains were isolated for the production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol. Biocatalytic production of optically active (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol was achieved by asymmetric reduction of 3′‐fluoroacetophenone in a batch culture of Trichothecium roseum using ram horn peptone (RHP). The reaction conditions (pH, temperature and agitation) required to improve the conversion of 3′‐fluoroacetophenone and enantiomeric excess (ee) of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol were studied.

RESULTS: The gram scale production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol by the most effective biocatalyst, Trichothecium roseum EBK‐11 using RHP was carried out in a fermenter with 1 L working volume. The results showed that the yield with >99% ee of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol reached 77%. The concentration of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol at the end of 62 h fermentation was 2.70 g L−1.

CONCLUSION: An important chiral intermediate for the pharmaceutical industry using T. roseum EBK‐11 in submerged culture containing RHP from waste material was produced up to gram scale with excellent ee (99%). In this work, T. roseum fungus was used for the first time as a biocatalyst for efficient production of a chiral alcohol. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
From DMF to isatine: A novel and general one‐pot synthesis of isatine and its N‐unsubstituted derivatives vianucleophilic substitution reactions on 1,2‐bis(dimethylamino)‐1,2‐dichloro‐ethene
Authors: Huber Stefan M. , Hennig André , Pühlhofer Frank G. , Weiss Robert
Published: May 2009

magnified image

3‐Imino‐2‐amino‐isatines were obtained by a one‐pot reaction of an excess of aniline (or its derivatives) with 1,2‐bis(dimethylamino)‐1,2‐dichloro‐ethene (prepared in situ from DMF). Subsequent hydrolysis yielded the corresponding isatine derivatives in reasonable to high yields. DFT calculations with regard to the mechanisms of this reaction sequence are presented. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2009).
Analysis of ENSO interannual oscillations using non‐stationary quasi‐periodic statistics: a study of ENSO memory
Authors: Gaucherel Cédric
Published: May 2009

Most climate fluctuations may be modulated by a variety of periodic or quasi‐periodic deterministic forcing (e.g. diurnal, seasonal or Milankovitch cycles). These process modulations often induce cyclostationary (CS) behaviour defined as periodic correlations. I proposed here that quasi‐periodic correlations may appear when the inertia (memory) of a process is modulating its pure CS property. This effect of the phenomenon memory led to CS behaviour ‘in average’ both in time and frequency domains, called Extended CycloStationarity (ECS) and being rigorously defined in this paper. A new statistical tool has been developed to analyse ECS in a time series with the help of a comfortable time‐frequency visualization technique (called DXM). This tool has been applied to the quantification of ENSO interannual ECS quasi‐cycles, taking into account the possible ENSO memory. ECS property searched in the SOI and SST (Niño‐3) indices perfectly confirmed the well‐known interannual periodicities (the quasi‐biennial, 28 months, and the quasi‐quadrennial, 45 months) and their evolutions discussed in the literature. The main result presented here was that these significant quasi‐cycles were the only ones detected throughout the 50‐year datasets, suggesting that various periodicities were detected in the past because ECS quasi‐cycles were not taken into account. This result led to the hypothesis that the quasi‐biennial cycle belonged to the atmospheric component and that the quasi‐quadrennial cycle belonged to the oceanic component of ENSO only. Both quasi‐cycle evolutions were significantly (p < 0.01) correlated (r2 = 0.62), with a delayed action (30‐month time lag) of the atmosphere upon the ocean. This observation highlighted the nature of the strong coupling between the two components and suggested a possible influence of Pacific atmospheric processes on oceanic processes. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Nutrient composition of leaves and fruit juice of grapevine as affected by soil and nitrogen fertilization
Authors: Peuke Andreas D.
Published: May 2009

Effects of soil type and nitrogen (N) fertilizer–application rates on the nutrient composition of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Riesling) leaves during a growing cycle were compared with the composition of the resulting grape juice. Grapevines were planted in 75 L containers that had been installed in a vineyard and filled with three different vineyard soils (loess, shell lime, and Keuper). Four typical levels of N fertilizer (40, 80, 120, and 160 kg N ha–1) were applied. Elemental composition of mature leaves sampled seven times during the growing cycle as well as of the extracted grape juice was analyzed. The time of sampling affected all measured elements (C, N, Ca, K, P, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, and B) in the leaves. Nitrogen‐fertilizer rate affected the concentrations of all elements except Ca and Mg, while the soil type had significant effects on elemental composition of the leaves with the exception of N, B, and Ca. Soil type had a significant effect on K, S, Mn, and B in the grape juice. Increasing rates of N fertilizer increased C concentration in the grape juice significantly and affected its elemental composition similar to the effects in leaves. This may be explained with the role of leaves as the source for supplying the grapes during ripening via phloem transport. Cluster analysis for the elemental composition of soils, leaves, and grape juice revealed no consistent relationships indicating that other soil characteristics in addition to the mineral concentration influence the elemental composition of grapevine leaves and grape juice.
Crop species differ in root plasticity response to localised P supply
Authors: Rose Terry J. , Rengel Zed , Ma Qifu , Bowden John W.
Published: May 2009

The effect of localised phosphorus (P) fertiliser placement and in particular, deep P fertiliser placement, on the comparative root growth and P uptake of fibrous vs tap‐rooted crops is not known. In this study, we examined the root growth and P uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), and narrow‐leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) in a split‐root system and in columns with deep (19 cm) or shallow (5 cm) P fertiliser sources in glasshouse conditions. In the split‐root system, plants of all three species grown under heterogeneous soil P conditions absorbed more P and produced greater root and shoot biomass than those under homogeneous P supply. Root plasticity differed between species under heterogeneous soil P supply: canola and wheat allocated relatively more root biomass and root length to the high P zone than narrow‐leaf lupin. In the column experiment, there was no difference in the amount of P accumulated in shoots of any crops grown in the deep vs shallow P fertiliser treatments. Root proliferation occurred within the shallow and deep‐P fertiliser bands in all three species; however, root distribution above or below the bands did not differ between deep or shallow P fertiliser treatments in any species. Whilst root plasticity responses to heterogeneous soil P supply differed among species, root architecture (fibrous vs taproot) did not confer any advantage or disadvantage to the acquisition of P from deep vs shallow P fertiliser bands. Moreover, whilst roots proliferate in the vicinity of P fertiliser bands, root distribution outside of the bands appears to remain unaltered in both fibrous and tap‐rooted crops during early growth.
Prediction of model pools for a long‐term experiment using near‐infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Michel Kerstin , Ludwig Bernard
Published: May 2009

Fourty‐one soil samples from the “Eternal Rye” long‐term experiment in Halle, Germany, were used to test the usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to differentiate between C derived from C3 and C4 plants by using the isotopic signature (δ13C) and to predict the pools considered in the Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model, i.e., decomposable plant material, resistant plant material, microbial biomass, humified organic matter, and inert organic matter. All samples were scanned in the visible‐light and near‐infrared region (400–2500 nm). Cross‐validation equations were developed using the whole spectrum (first to third derivative) and a modified partial least‐square regression method. δ13C values and all pools of the RothC model were successfully predicted by NIRS as reflected by RSC values (ratio between standard deviation of the laboratory results and standard error of cross‐validation) ranging from 3.2 to 3.4. Correlations analysis indicated that organic C can be excluded as basis for the successful predictions by NIRS in most cases, i.e., 11 out of 16.
Prostaglandin E2 is activated by airway injury and regulates fibroblast cytoskeletal dynamics
Authors: Sandulache Vlad C. , Singh Tripti , Li‐Korotky Ha Sheng , Lo Chia Y. , Otteson Todd D. , Barsic Mark , Dohar Joseph E. , Hebda Patricia A.
Published: May 2009

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To characterize the activation of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2/prostaglandin (PG) E2 signaling during airway mucosal repair and its subsequent role during the wound healing process.

Study Design:

Prospective animal study.

Methods:

The subglottis was approached via cricothyroidotomy. Sham airways were closed, and wounded airways were subjected to laser injury and closed. Subglottic tissue was harvested at 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours postinjury. Secretions were collected preoperatively and at time of sacrifice. Inflammatory gene expression was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Subglottic/tracheal explants were exposed to exogenous IL‐1β in the presence or absence of COX inhibitors. Explant‐produced PGE2 levels were assayed using enzyme linked immunoassays. Human airway fibroblast migration and collagen contraction were assayed in the presence or absence of prostaglandin E2.

Results:

Laser injury triggers a rapid, dose‐dependent increase in mucosal IL‐1β and COX‐2 gene expression, with an anatomical distribution proportional to the distance from the site of injury. Gene upregulation correlates with dose‐dependent increases in PGE2 mucosal secretion levels. Ex vivo analysis indicates IL‐1β is responsible for the activation of the COX‐2 / PGE2 pathway. Prostaglandin E2 differentially inhibits airway fibroblast migration and contraction in a specific, dose‐dependent manner.

Conclusions:

PGE2 is activated during mucosal inflammation and acts to decrease fibroplastic activity in the mucosal wound bed. During subglottic stenosis (SGS) development, the levels of PGE2 generated in response to injury may be insufficient to blunt the intrinsically fibroplastic phenotype of SGS fibroblasts, resulting in excessive scarring. Laryngoscope, 2009
Specific IKKβ inhibitor IV blocks streptonigrin‐induced NF‐κB activity and potentiates its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells
Authors: Gavriil Maria , Tsao Cheng‐Chung , Mandiyan Sreekala , Arndt Kim , Abraham Robert , Zhang Yixian
Published: May 2009

Many anticancer agents activate NF‐κB, which plays an important role in the survival of cancer cells. Inhibition of NF‐κB activity may therefore potentiate the efficacy of anticancer agents. We found that a previously used anticancer agent Streptonigrin (SN) was also a potent NF‐κB inducer. Using a specific IKKβ inhibitor IV (Podolin et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2005; 312: 373–381), we revealed that the activation of NF‐κB was mediated through DNA damage‐induced activation of IKK complex. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SN‐induced DNA damage was unrelated to reactive oxygen species but to the hydroquinone form of SN converted by the NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase (NQO1). The study suggests that the combination of SN with IKK inhibitor may improve efficacy over the use of single agent. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Walking economy in people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Christiansen Cory L. , Schenkman Margaret L. , McFann Kim , Wolfe Pamela , Kohrt Wendy M.
Published: May 2009

Gait dysfunction is an early problem identified by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Alterations in gait may result in an increase in the energy cost of walking (i.e., walking economy). The purpose of this study was to determine whether walking economy is atypical in patients with PD when compared with healthy controls. A secondary purpose was to evaluate the associations of age, sex, and level of disease severity with walking economy in patients with PD. The rate of oxygen consumption (V̇O2) and other responses to treadmill walking were compared in 90 patients (64.4 ± 10.3 years) and 44 controls (64.6 ± 7.3 years) at several walking speeds. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to determine relationships of age, sex, and disease state with walking economy in PD patients. Walking economy was significantly worse in PD patients than in controls at all speeds above 1.0 mph. Across all speeds, V̇O2 was 6 to 10% higher in PD patients. Heart rate, minute ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio, and rating of perceived exertion were correspondingly elevated. No significant relationship of age, sex, or UPDRS score with V̇O2 was found for patients with PD. The findings suggest that the physiologic stress of daily physical activities is increased in patients with early to mid‐stage PD, and this may contribute to the elevated level of fatigue that is characteristic of PD. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Screening for dystonia genes DYT1, 11 and 16 in patients with writer's cramp
Authors: Ritz Katja , Groen Justus L. , Kruisdijk Jose J.M. , Baas Frank , Koelman Johannes H.T.M. , Tijssen Marina A.J.
Published: May 2009

Task‐specific focal upper limb dystonia can be part of the phenotypic spectrum of different types of hereditary dystonia. We investigated whether writer's cramp as presenting symptom is associated with mutations in DYT11, DYT16, or with the DYT1 GAG deletion in 43 patients. No DYT11 and DYT16 mutations were identified. One patient carried the GAG deletion in the DYT1 gene. In our cohort, writer's cramp as presenting symptom is not associated with mutations in DYT11, DYT16, but it can be the sole manifestation of DYT1 GAG deletion mutation carriers. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Theoretical analysis for image formation from a lens system using supercontinuum light illumination
Authors: Su Wei‐Hung , Huang Chia‐Jeng , Chen Chi‐Chang
Published: May 2009

Theoretical analysis for image formation of a lens system using a supercontinuum light source is provided. The supercontinuum wave is generated by launching femtosecond laser pulses into a highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. The ultra high spatial coherence (determined by the core diameter of the photonic crystal fiber) and low temporal coherence (ultra wide spectral range from UV to near infrared) make it possible to achieve very long depth‐of‐focus projection without speckle noise. Even though the numerical aperture of the lens is as high as 1, the simulation result indicates that the depth of focus can be very large, in the order of centimeters. An application to 3D sensing using the supercontinuum wave is presented as well. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1899–1904, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24464
Extraction of effective permittivity and permeability of periodic metamaterial cells
Authors: Hyun Lee Dong , Sang Park Wee
Published: May 2009

The complex permittivity and permeability of various periodic metamaterial (MTM) cells are extracted by using a fictitious rectangular waveguide consisting of perfect electric conductor and perfect magnetic conductor walls. The shapes of the MTM cells include a thin wire (TW), a single split‐ring resonator (SSRR), a double SRR (DSRR), a modified SRR, and a structure combining the TW and DSRR. The TW falls in the negative‐ε/positive‐μ region, the SRRs in the positive‐ε/negative‐μ region, and the combined structure in the negative‐ε/negative‐μ region. We also investigate how the permittivity and permeability are affected by the dimension parameters of the MTM cells. Another extraction technique utilizing time domain signals is developed to overcome some limitations that the waveguide technique cannot handle. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1824–1830, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24468
Wideband high‐gain antenna using metamaterial superstrate with the zero refractive index
Authors: Ju Jeongho , Kim Dongho , Lee Wangjoo J. , Choi Jaeick I.
Published: May 2009

A high‐gain antenna using a single layer metamaterial (MTM) superstrate with a zero refractive index (n) is proposed. To enhance the magnitude and flatness property of the antenna gain at the same time, the effectively zero refractive index behavior of metamaterial superstrate is used, which gathers the wave emitted from the microstrip patch antenna and collimates it toward the normal direction of the antenna. Both the simulation and measurement results provide that the realized gain of the proposed antenna is increased by about 5 dB and the flatness of that gain is no more than 1.5 dB in the predicted frequency band, where the proposed MTM is designed to have a zero index of refraction. Consequently, the high and flat gain antenna can be easily obtained by using our MTM superstrate. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1973–1976, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24469
A low power LC‐tank SiGe BiCMOS injection locked frequency divider
Authors: Jang Sheng‐Lyang , Wun Jyun‐Yan , Liu Cheng‐Chen , Juang Miin‐Horng
Published: May 2009

An LC‐tank injection locked frequency divider (ILFD) is proposed, and the ILFDs with a direct‐injection MOSFET and a tail‐injection HBT were implemented in the 0.35 μm SiGe 3P3M BiCMOS technology. Measurement results show that when the tuning voltage is tuned from 0 V to 1.8 V, the free‐running oscillation frequency of ILFD is tunable from 2.29 GHz to 2.94 GHz, and at the incident power of 0 dBm the divide‐by‐2/(‐4) operation range is from the incident frequency 4.2 to 6.7/(9.06 to 11.96) GHz. The core power consumption is 2.6 mW at Vdd = 1.1 V. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1970–1973, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24470
Homodyne detection of weak coherent optical pulse: Applications to quantum cryptography
Authors: Xu Qing , Sabban Manuel , Gallion Philippe
Published: May 2009

We propose a quantum key distribution system using balanced homodyne detection, in which strong reference pulses are time‐multiplexed with weak signal pulses by means of fiber interferometer. We use a dual‐threshold decision scheme for postdetection to improve the system performance in terms of BER, with a trade‐off in effective key generation rate. We conduct experimental measurements at 64 km SMF fiber at 1550 nm wavelength, and we prove that the system security can also be enhanced with properly selected threshold parameters. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1934–1939, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24471
Metamaterial transmission lines with tunable phase and characteristic impedance based on complementary split ring resonators
Authors: Vélez Adolfo , Bonache Jordi , Martín Ferran
Published: May 2009

In this article, resonant‐type tunable metamaterial transmission lines with independent control over the electrical parameters of the line, that is, the electrical length and characteristic impedance, are presented for the first time. Tuning is achieved by loading a host microstrip line with varactor‐loaded complementary split ring resonators (VLCSRRs) and varactor diodes. By locating the varactor diodes in series configuration with the line, outside the region occupied by the VLCSRRs, it is possible to control the characteristic impedance and the electrical length (phase shift), over a wide band. As an illustrative example, a tunable 35 Ω/90° line functional between 0.4 and 0.8 GHz (which represents more than 65% tuning range), is presented and applied to the design of a transmission line power divider. The device is small and it exhibits reasonable performance. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1966–1970, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24480
Compact resonant antenna based on composite right/left‐handed transmission line with a magneto‐dielectric material
Authors: Duk Jang Kyung , Hee Kim Jae , Hyun Lee Dong , Park Wee Sang
Published: May 2009

We present a method of reducing the size of antennas that is based on composite right/left‐handed (CRLH) transmission lines (TL) which use a magneto‐dielectric material (MDM). The CRLH‐TL antenna consists of two mushroom structures, each composed of a metal patch connected to the ground plane by a via. To achieve high permeability in the antenna, an MDM is constructed by integrating split ring resonators into ordinary dielectric material. Antennas with and without MDM were fabricated and measured. Inserting the MDM decreased the antenna's resonant frequencies by 10.8% at the −1st order mode and by 11.3% at the zeroth‐order mode. At the zeroth‐order mode, the antenna resonated at 1.88 GHz with a bandwidth of 0.48% and had a monopolar radiation pattern, with gain of 0.534 dBi and efficiency of 51.7%. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1994–1997, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24490
Reflection and transmission fields in tilted wire medium interface
Authors: Vahdati A. , Viitanen A. J.
Published: May 2009

The reflection and transmission coefficients for plane wave incident fields are presented for the interface of a wire medium where the direction of the wires are at an angle with respect to the interface. In general, the reflection problem is divided into two polarizations. For ordinary fields, the reflection from the wire medium interface is like the reflection from an isotropic dielectric medium. For extraordinary fields, which is considered in this study, due to spatial dispersion there exist two transmitted eigenfields in the wire medium and the reflection is more complicated requiring an additional boundary condition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1991–1994, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24491
Analysis of wideband half circular disk patch antenna loaded with two symmetrical notches
Authors: Ansari J. A. , Singh Prabhakar , Prasad Yadav Nagendra , Vishvakarma Babau R.
Published: May 2009

The analysis of half circular disk loaded with symmetrical notches is presented based on circuit concept. The bandwidth is found to depend on the parameters of the notches as well as the width of the central patch. Theoretical results are compared with the simulated results obtained from IE3D, which are found to be in close agreement. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1880–1883, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24496
High‐efficiency power amplifier using in/output matching networks based on novel harmonic control circuit
Authors: Choi Jaewon , Seo Chulhun
Published: May 2009

In this article, a high‐efficiency power amplifier using the novel harmonic control circuit is realized with Si LDMOSFET. This harmonic control circuit has the short impedances for the second‐ and third‐harmonic components, which has been used to design the in/output matching networks. We have demonstrated the fact that the efficiency enhancement effect of the proposed harmonic control circuit is superior to the class‐F or inverse class‐F harmonic control circuit. Also, in case the harmonic control circuit has been used to the input matching network as well as the output matching network, the efficiency of the proposed power amplifier has been improved all the more. The measured maximum power‐added efficiency (PAE) of the proposed power amplifier is 87.1% at 1.71 GHz band. Compared with class‐F and inverse class‐F amplifiers, the measured maximum PAE of the proposed power amplifier has been improved in 9.5–14.3%. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1873–1876, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24508
Novel dual‐band Fabry‐Pérot cavity antenna with low‐frequency separation ratio
Authors: Kim Dongho
Published: May 2009

A new dual‐band Fabry‐Pérot cavity (FPC) antenna consisting of a partially reflective surface (PRS) superstrate and an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) substrate is proposed for low‐frequency separation ratio. The main purpose of this antenna is to introduce more than −20 dB rejection band in between two very closely located service bands (up‐ and downlink bands) of Korean personal communication service (PCS). Additionally, with the help of metallic side walls enclosing all the openings between the superstrate and the substrate, we can obtain more than 10 dB realized gain throughout the two operation bands. Moreover, the selective behavior of the gain near the pass bands is highly increased and the back radiation is reduced remarkably. The effect of attaching the superstrate to the side walls on antenna performance is also analyzed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1869–1872, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24509
Synthesis of rhodium(III) complexes with tris/tetrakis‐benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles—quick identification of cyclometallation by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Chandrashekhar N. , Gayathri V. , Nanje Gowda N. M.
Published: May 2009

Reactions of rhodium(III) halides with multidentate N,S‐heterocycles, (LH3) 1,3,5‐tris(benzimidazolyl)benzene (L1H3; 1), 1,3,5‐tris(N‐methylbenzimidazolyl) benzene (L2H3; 2) and 1,3,5‐tris(benzothiazolyl)benzene (L3H3; 3), in the molar ratio 1:1 in methanol–chloroform produced mononuclear cyclometallated products of the composition [RhX2(LH2)(H2O)] (X = Cl, Br, I; LH2 = L1H2, L2H2, L3H2). When the metal to ligand (1–3 or 1,2,4,5‐tetrakis(benzothiazolyl)benzene [L4H2; 4]) molar ratio was 2:1, the reactions yielded binuclear complexes of the compositions [Rh2Cl5(LH2)(H2O)3] (LH2 = L1H2, L2H2, L3H2) and [Rh2X4(L4)(H2O)2] (X = Cl, Br, I). Elemental analysis, IR and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts supported the binuclear nature of the complexes. Cyclometallation was detected by conventional 13C NMR spectra that showed a doublet around ∼190 ppm. Cyclometallation was also detected by gradient‐enhanced heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (g‐HMBC) experiment that showed cross‐peaks between the cyclometallated carbon and the central benzene ring protons of 1–3. Cyclometallation was substantiated by two‐dimensional 1H1H correlated experiments (gradiant‐correlation spectroscopy and rotating frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy) and 1H13C single bond correlated two‐dimensional NMR experiments (gradient‐enhanced heteronuclear single quantum coherence). The 1H15N g‐HMBC experiment suggested the coordination of the heterocycles to the metal ion via tertiary nitrogen. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of full‐length and truncated Fyn tyrosine kinase transcripts and encoded proteins during spermatogenesis and localization during acrosome biogenesis and fertilization
Authors: Kierszenbaum Abraham L. , Rivkin Eugene , Talmor‐Cohen Anat , Shalgi Ruth , Tres Laura L.
Published: May 2009

We report that full‐length and truncated transcripts of Fyn tyrosine protein kinase are expressed during testicular development. Truncated Fyn (tr‐Fyn) transcripts encode a 24 kDa protein with a N‐terminal (NT) domain, a complete Src homology (SH) 3 domain and an incomplete SH2 domain. The kinase domain is missing in tr‐Fyn. In contrast, full‐length Fyn transcripts encode a 59–55 kDa protein. Fractionated spermatids by centrifugal elutriation express tr‐Fyn transcripts and protein, but not full‐length Fyn transcripts and protein. Neither full‐length Fyn nor tr‐Fyn transcripts and encoded proteins are detected in elutriated pachytene spermatocytes. Sertoli cells express full‐length and truncated Fyn throughout testicular development. In contrast, sperm contain full‐length Fyn transcripts and protein but not the truncated form. tr‐Fyn protein is visualized at the cytosolic side of Golgi membranes, derived proacrosomal vesicles, along the outer acrosome membrane and the inner acrosome membrane–acroplaxome complex anchoring the acrosome to the spermatid nuclear envelope. Fyn and phosphotyrosine immunoreactivity coexist in the tail of capacitated sperm. During fertilization, the Fyn‐containing acroplaxome seen in the egg‐bound and egg‐fused sperm is no longer detected upon decondensation of the sperm nucleus. tr‐Fyn expands the catalog of truncated tyrosine protein kinases expressed during spermiogenesis. We suggest that the NT and SH3 domains of tr‐Fyn may recruit adaptor and effector proteins, in particular GTPase activating proteins, required for acrosome–acroplaxome biogenesis, acroplaxome F‐actin dynamics and Sertoli cell function. During fertilization, full‐length Fyn in the acroplaxome may contribute to a transient local signaling burst during the early events of sperm–egg interaction. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 832–843, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.