bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonmotor symptoms in Parkin gene‐related parkinsonism
Authors: Kägi Georg , Klein Christine , Wood Nicholas W. , Schneider Susanne A. , Pramstaller Peter P. , Tadic Vera , Quinn Niall P. , van de Warrenburg Bart P.C. , Bhatia Kailash P.
Published: May 2010

The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence and differences of nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) in patients with young‐onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) with and without mutations in the Parkin gene and late‐onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD). Twenty‐seven patients with YOPD and 27 with LOPD, as well as 16 patients with homozygous or compound heterozygote Parkin mutations filled in the nonmotor symptoms questionnaire, a 30‐item self‐completed questionnaire that addresses various NMSs. Overall, NMSs were more prevalent in YOPD (12.07 ± 3.9; P = 0.009) and LOPD (13.26 ± 5.8; P = 0.001) compared with Parkin mutation carriers (7.38 ± 4.2). Dribbling of saliva, vivid dreams, loss of smell, and urinary urgency were more prevalent in YOPD compared with Parkin mutation carriers. Only anxiety was more prevalent in the latter. Apart from anxiety, NMSs appear to be less prevalent in Parkin gene‐related parkinsonism. Although these results need further study, the presented data might be helpful in the clinical recognition of specific phenotypes and genotypes in YOPD. The data are in keeping with a different pathological disease process in Parkin gene‐related parkinsonism. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Emergency manager decision‐making and tornado warning communication
Authors: League Cedar E. , Díaz Walter , Philips Brenda , Bass Ellen J. , Kloesel Kevin , Gruntfest Eve , Gessner Alex
Published: May 2010

Emergency managers (EMs) play a critical role in communicating severe weather and tornado warnings to the public, yet communicating the uncertainty of when, where or if a tornado may hit remains a great challenge for EMs. Focus group and survey data concerning weather product usage, weather observing spotter interaction, and decisions to warn the public were collected from Oklahoma EMs in order to characterize the communication processes EMs employ during severe weather outbreaks. These processes include: (1) acquiring weather information, (2) interpreting the information in order to make weather hazard threat assessments, (3) verifying the information, and (4) making time‐sensitive warning decisions. The results indicate that while EMs use a variety of weather and radar products to acquire information, weather observing spotters are key sources of verification data. With respect to warning the public about tornado threats, sirens are the primary method. These findings are related to the development of a new radar system being developed by the Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA), so that this new technology can be designed to reduce uncertainty in the EM decision‐making and warning communication processes. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Identifying Novel Type ZBGs and Nonhydroxamate HDAC Inhibitors Through a SVM Based Virtual Screening Approach
Authors: Liu X. H. , Song H. Y. , Zhang J. X. , Han B. C. , Wei X. N. , Ma X. H. , Cui W. K. , Chen Y. Z.
Published: May 2010

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been successfully used for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. Search for novel type ZBGs and development of non‐hydroxamate HDACi has become a focus in current research. To complement this, it is desirable to explore a virtual screening (VS) tool capable of identifying different types of potential inhibitors from large compound libraries with high yields and low false‐hit rates similar to HTS. This work explored the use of support vector machines (SVM) combined with our newly developed putative non‐inhibitor generation method as such a tool. SVM trained by 702 pre‐2008 hydroxamate HDACi and 64334 putative non‐HDACi showed good yields and low false‐hit rates in cross‐validation test and independent test using 220 diverse types of HDACi reported since 2008. The SVM hit rates in scanning 13.56 M PubChem and 168K MDDR compounds are comparable to HTS rates. Further structural analysis of SVM virtual hits suggests its potential for identification of non‐hydroxamate HDACi. From this analysis, a series of novel ZBG and cap groups were proposed for HDACi design.
Unexpected proton spin‐lattice relaxation in the solutions of polyolefin and tetrachloroethane
Authors: He Yiyong , Qiu XiaoHua , Zhou Zhe
Published: May 2010

‘Unexpected’ proton spin‐lattice relaxation (T1) times are reported for the solutions of poly(ethylene‐co‐1‐octene) and tetrachloroethane‐d2. For the residual protons of the deuterated solvent and the methyl and vinyl protons at the polymer chain ends, their T1 relaxation times vary significantly with both the polymer concentration and molecular weight over a wide range. The T1s also decrease with increasing temperature at relative high temperatures. Such behaviors are in contrast to most reported polymer solutions in which the T1 has nearly no concentration or molecular weight dependence in the dilute and semi‐dilute regime, and normal dependence on temperature. Further investigation revealed that the paramagnetic oxygen effect did shorten the measured proton T1s, but cannot account for the unexpected T1 dependences. Spin rotation is proposed to provide a reasonable explanation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Allele‐specific expression of the MAOA gene and X chromosome inactivation in in vitro produced bovine embryos
Authors: Ferreira A.R. , Machado G.M. , Diesel T.O. , Carvalho J.O. , Rumpf R. , Melo E.O. , Dode M.A.N. , Franco M.M.
Published: May 2010

During embryogenesis, one of the two X chromosomes is inactivated in embryos. The production of embryos in vitro may affect epigenetic mechanisms that could alter the expression of genes related to embryo development and X chromosome inactivation (XCI). The aim of this study was to understand XCI during in vitro, pre‐implantation bovine embryo development by characterizing the allele‐specific expression pattern of the X chromosome‐linked gene, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). Two pools of ten embryos, comprised of the 4‐, 8‐ to 16‐cell, morula, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst stages, were collected. Total RNA from embryos was isolated, and the RT‐PCR‐RFLP technique was used to observe expression of the MAOA gene. The DNA amplicons were also sequenced using the dideoxy sequencing method. MAOA mRNA was detected, and allele‐specific expression was identified in each pool of embryos. We showed the presence of both the maternal and paternal alleles in the 4‐, 8‐ to 16‐cell, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst embryos, but only the maternal allele was present in the morula stage. Therefore, we can affirm that the paternal X chromosome is totally inactivated at the morula stage and reactivated at the blastocyst stage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of allele‐specific expression of an X‐linked gene that is subject to XCI in in vitro bovine embryos from the 4‐cell to expanded blastocyst stages. We have established a pattern of XCI in our in vitro embryo production system that can be useful as a marker to assist the development of new protocols for in vitro embryo production. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77: 615–621, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of follicular size and FSH on granulosa cell apoptosis and atresia in porcine antral follicles
Authors: Lin Pengfei , Rui Rong
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this study was to establish a culture model for isolated intact porcine antral follicles and investigate the relationship between granulosa cell apoptosis and follicular atresia. Small (<3 mm), medium (3–5 mm) and large (>5 mm) healthy porcine follicles were isolated and cultured in serum‐free TCM199 with or without follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). Microscopic identification of healthy follicles was confirmed by histology. A spontaneous onset of apoptotic cell death in granulosa cells was observed from cultured antral follicles. The apoptotic rate of granulosa cells from small follicles cultured for 24 hr was higher than those of large and medium follicles, accompanied with high FasL mRNA abundance in granulosa cells. Supplementation with 3 or 5 IU/ml FSH significantly inhibited the percentage of granulosa cells that became apoptotic. FSH did not significantly alter estradiol secretion from cultured follicles. Progesterone secretion significantly decreased after culture for 48 hr, coinciding with the morphological changes observed. FasL and Fas mRNA were expressed in the healthy, early atretic, and progressed atretic porcine follicles regardless of follicular size. However, FasL but not Fas mRNA levels increased during follicular atresia. Addition of FSH significantly decreased FasL rather than Fas mRNA levels in granulosa cells and could attenuate apoptosis. Small follicles seemed to be more susceptible to atresia as compared to medium and large follicles. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77: 670–678, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐resolution magnetization‐prepared 3D‐FLAIR imaging at 7.0 Tesla
Authors: Visser Fredy , Zwanenburg Jaco J. M. , Hoogduin Johannes M. , Luijten Peter R.
Published: May 2010

The aim of the present study is to develop a submillimeter volumetric (three‐dimensional) fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery sequence at 7T. Implementation of the fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery sequence is difficult as increased T1 weighting from prolonged T1 constants at 7T dominate the desired T2 contrast and yield suboptimal signal‐to‐noise ratio. Magnetization preparation was used to reduce T1 weighting and improve the T2 weighting. Also, practical challenges limit the implementation. Long refocusing trains with low flip angles were used to mitigate the specific absorption rate constraints. This resulted in a three‐dimensional magnetization preparation fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery sequence with 0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 = 0.5 mm3 resolution in a clinically acceptable scan time. The contrast‐to‐noise ratio between gray matter and white matter (contrast‐to‐noise ratio = signal‐to‐noise ratio [gray matter] − signal‐to‐noise ratio [white matter]) increased from 12 ± 9 without magnetization preparation to 28 ± 8 with magnetization preparation (n = 12). The signal‐to‐noise ratio increased for white matter by 13 ± 6% and for gray matter by 48 ± 15%. In conclusion, three‐dimensional fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery with high resolution and full brain coverage is feasible at 7T. Magnetization preparation reduces the T1 weighting, thereby improving the T2 weighted contrast and signal‐to‐noise ratio. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preferential patterns of myocardial iron overload by multislice multiecho T*2 CMR in thalassemia major patients
Authors: Meloni Antonella , Positano Vincenzo , Pepe Alessia , Rossi Giuseppe , Dell'Amico MariaChiara , Salvatori Cristina , Keilberg Petra , Filosa Aldo , Sallustio Giuseppina , Midiri Massimo , D'Ascola Domenico , Santarelli Maria Filomena , Lombardi Massimo
Published: May 2010

T*2 multislice multiecho cardiac MR allows quantification of the segmental distribution of myocardial iron overload. This study aimed to determine if there were preferential patterns of myocardial iron overload in thalassemia major. Five hundred twenty‐three thalassemia major patients underwent cardiac MR. Three short‐axis views of the left ventricle were acquired and analyzed using a 16‐segment standardized model. The T*2 value on each segment was calculated, as well as the global value. Four main circumferential regions (anterior, septal, inferior, and lateral) were defined. Significant segmental variability was found in the 229 patients with significant myocardial iron overload (global T*2 <26 ms), subsequently divided into two groups: severe (global T*2 <10 ms) and mild to moderate (global T*2 between 10 and 26 ms) myocardial iron overload. A preferential pattern of iron store in anterior and inferior regions was detected in both groups. This pattern was preserved among the slices. The pattern could not be explained by additive susceptibility artifacts, negligible in heavily iron‐loaded patients. A significantly higher T*2 value in the basal slice was found in patients with severe iron overload. In conclusion, a segmental T*2 cardiac MR approach could identify early iron deposit, useful for tailoring chelation therapy and preventing myocardial dysfunction in the clinical setting. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimized parallel imaging for dynamic PC‐MRI with multidirectional velocity encoding
Authors: Peng Hsu‐Hsia , Bauer Simon , Huang Teng‐Yi , Chung Hsiao‐Wen , Hennig Jürgen , Jung Bernd , Markl Michael
Published: May 2010

Phase contrast MRI with multidirectional velocity encoding requires multiple acquisitions of the same k‐space lines to encode the underlying velocities, which can considerably lengthen the total scan time. To reduce scan time, parallel imaging is often applied. In dynamic phase contrast MRI using standard generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA), several central k‐spaces for autocalibration of the reconstruction (autocalibrating signal lines (ACS)) are typically acquired, separately for each velocity direction and each cardiac timeframe, for calculating the reconstruction weights. To further accelerate data acquisition, we developed two methods, which calculated weights with a substantially reduced number of ACSl lines. The effects on image quality and flow quantification were compared to fully sampled data, standard GRAPPA, and time‐interleaved sampling scheme in combination with generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (TGRAPPA). The results show that the two proposed methods can clearly improve scan efficiency while maintaining image quality and accuracy of measured flow or myocardial tissue velocities. Compared to TGRAPPA, the proposed methods were more accurate in evaluating flow velocity. In conclusion, the proposed reconstruction strategies are promising for dynamic multidirectionally encoded acquisitions and can easily be implemented using the standard GRAPPA reconstruction algorithm. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal transportation meshfree approximation schemes for fluid and plastic flows
Authors: Li B. , Habbal F. , Ortiz M.
Published: May 2010

We develop an optimal transportation meshfree (OTM) method for simulating general solid and fluid flows, including fluid–structure interaction. The method combines concepts from optimal transportation theory with material‐point sampling and max‐ent meshfree interpolation. The proposed OTM method generalizes the Benamou–Brenier differential formulation of optimal mass transportation problems to problems including arbitrary geometries and constitutive behavior. The OTM method enforces mass transport and essential boundary conditions exactly and is free from tension instabilities. The OTM method exactly conserves linear and angular momentum and its convergence characteristics are verified in standard benchmark problems. We illustrate the range and scope of the method by means of two examples of application: the bouncing of a gas‐filled balloon off a rigid wall; and the classical Taylor‐anvil benchmark test extended to the hypervelocity range. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three‐dimensional finite element implementation of the nonuniform transformation field analysis
Authors: Fritzen Felix , Böhlke T.
Published: May 2010

In this paper aspects of the nonuniform transformation field analysis (NTFA) introduced by Michel and Suquet (Int. J. Solids Struct. 2003; 40:6937–6955) are investigated for materials with three‐dimensional microtopology. A novel implementation of the NTFA into the finite element method (FEM) is described in detail, whereas the NTFA was originally used in combination with the fast Fourier transformation (FFT). In particular, the discrete equivalents of the averaging operators required for the preprocessing steps and an algorithm for the implicit time integration and linearization of the constitutive equations of the homogenized material are provided. To the authors knowledge this is the first implementation of the method for three‐dimensional problems. Further, an alternative mode identification strategy is proposed with the aim of small computational cost in combination with good efficiency. The new identification strategy is applied to three‐dimensional metal matrix composites in order to investigate its effective non‐linear behaviour. The homogenized material model is implemented into ABAQUS/STANDARD. Numerical examples at integration point level and in terms of structural problems highlight the efficiency of the method for three‐dimensional problems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bounded renormalization with continuous penalization for level set interface‐capturing methods
Authors: Battaglia L. , Storti M. A. , D'Elía J.
Published: May 2010

In this work, a reinitialization procedure oriented to regularize the level set (LS) function field is presented. In LS approximations for two‐fluid flow simulations, a scalar function indicates the presence of one or another phase and the interface between them. In general, the advection of such function produces a degradation of some properties of the LS function, such as the smoothness of the transition between phases and the correct position of the interface. The methodology introduced here, denominated bounded renormalization with continuous penalization, consists of solving by the finite element method a partial differential equation with certain distinguishing properties with the aim of keeping the desirable properties of the LS function. The performance of the strategy is evaluated for several typical cases in one, two and three‐dimensional domains, for both the advection and the renormalization stages. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The end of slavery: Disease patterns and cultural behaviours of African Americans in Suriname
Authors: Okumura M.
Published: May 2010

There have been few bioanthropological studies related to African Americans, either slaves or free people. The results of an analysis of eight skeletons of African ancestry (five males and three females) acquired in Suriname at the end of the 19th century by Dr J. Spilzley and currently housed in the Duckworth Collection (University of Cambridge) are presented. Dental abrasion related to habitual pipe smoking was observed in four individuals, confirming the widespread use of pipe to smoke tobacco among slaves observed in other related sites. Our results indicate a very poor state of oral health for these individuals, with females presenting a higher frequency of dental carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss in comparison with males. The presence of cribra orbitalia in some individuals suggests, as observed in other diaspora skeletal series, individuals suffering from severe stress, caused by poor nutrition, infectious diseases, or both. Such appalling life conditions agree with many written records, which describe very harsh work conditions and very deprived diets. Our results, although based in a small sample, contribute to a better understanding of the cultural behaviours as well as the patterns of disease that afflicted the African Americans in Suriname in the 19th century. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thiazolidinediones, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality: translating research into action for diabetes (TRIAD)
Authors: Bilik Dori , McEwen Laura N. , Brown Morton B. , Selby Joe V. , Karter Andrew J. , Marrero David G. , Hsiao Victoria C. , Tseng Chien‐Wen , Mangione Carol M. , Lasser Norman L. , Crosson Jesse C. , Herman William H.
Published: May 2010

Background

Studies have associated thiazolidinedione (TZD) treatment with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and questioned whether the two available TZDs, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, have different CVD risks. We compared CVD incidence, cardiovascular (CV), and all‐cause mortality in type 2 diabetic patients treated with rosiglitazone or pioglitazone as their only TZD.

Methods

We analyzed survey, medical record, administrative, and National Death Index (NDI) data from 1999 through 2003 from Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD), a prospective observational study of diabetes care in managed care. Medications, CV procedures, and CVD were determined from health plan (HP) administrative data, and mortality was from NDI. Adjusted hazard rates (AHR) were derived from Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, history of diabetic nephropathy, history of CVD, insulin use, and HP.

Results

Across TRIAD's 10 HPs, 1,815 patients (24%) filled prescriptions for a TZD, 773 (10%) for only rosiglitazone, 711 (10%) for only pioglitazone, and 331 (4%) for multiple TZDs. In the seven HPs using both TZDs, 1,159 patients (33%) filled a prescription for a TZD, 564 (16%) for only rosiglitazone, 334 (10%) for only pioglitazone, and 261 (7%) for multiple TZDs. For all CV events, CV, and all‐cause mortality, we found no significant difference between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone.

Conclusions

In this relatively small, prospective, observational study, we found no statistically significant differences in CV outcomes for rosiglitazone‐ compared to pioglitazone‐treated patients. There does not appear to be a pattern of clinically meaningful differences in CV outcomes for rosiglitazone‐ versus pioglitazone‐treated patients. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A computational study of CX (X = H, C, F, Cl) bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) in polyhalogenated methanes and ethanes
Authors: Shi Jing , He Jian , Wang Hua‐Jing
Published: May 2010

Bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) play a significant role in the photolysis of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which lead to the depletion of stratospheric ozone. In this work, we estimate the performance of Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods in calculating BDEs of CFCs and HCFCs, and find that DFTs are unreliable for this system. The reasons for the unreliability of DFT methods in this system are also concluded. Furthermore, composite ab initio methods G3 and G3B3 are demonstrated to accurately estimate BDEs of polyhalogenated lower alkanes. Eighty two experimental values from Comprehensive Handbook of Chemical Bond Energies (2007, 2nd edition) are re‐evaluated. Eight of them are doubted as having a deviation exceeding 20.0 kJ/mol between the theoretical and experimental values. We also systematically predict the BDEs in polyhalogenated methanes and ethanes. A further study is conducted on their relationships of structures and properties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment and validation of bronchodilation using the interrupter technique in preschool children
Authors: Mele Laura , Sly Peter D. , Calogero Claudia , Bernardini Roberto , Novembre Elio , Azzari Chiara , de Martino Maurizio , Lombardi Enrico
Published: May 2010

Objective

To determine and validate a cut‐off value for bronchodilation using the interrupter resistance (Rint) in preschool children.

Patients and Methods

Rint was measured in 60 healthy children (age range 2.7–6.4 years) before and after salbutamol inhalation (200 µg). Four potential methods for assessing BDR were evaluated: percent change from baseline, percent change of predicted values, absolute change in Rint, and change in Z‐score. These cut‐off values, determined as the fifth percentile of the healthy group, were applied to children referred for the assessment of recurrent wheezing, classified on the basis of acute symptoms and/or abnormal chest examination into symptomatic (n = 60, age range 2.9–6.1 years) and asymptomatic (n = 60, age range 2.5–5.7 years) groups.

Results

The cut‐off values for bronchodilation calculated in healthy children were: −32% baseline; −33% predicted; −0.26 kPa L−1 sec; and −1.25 Z‐scores. Assessing BDR in children with a history of wheezing by either a decrease in absolute Rint or a decrease in Z‐score gave sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value all >80% for detecting children with current respiratory symptoms.

Conclusions

Both a decrease in Rint ≥0.26 kPa L−1 sec and a decrease in Z‐score of ≥1.25 are appropriate for assessing BDR in preschool children with a history of recurrent wheezing. As Z‐score is a more general solution, we recommend using a change in Z‐score to determine BDR in preschool children. Further longitudinal studies will be required to determine the clinical utility of measuring BDR in managing lung disease in such children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:633–638. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An unusual cause of fever in a neonate: Influenza A (H1N1) virus pneumonia
Authors: Sert Ahmet , Yazar Abdullah , Odabas Dursun , Bilgin Hüseyin
Published: May 2010

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans, known as H1N1 influenza A, refers to influenza A due to a new H1N1 strain called swine‐origin influenza virus A. The signs and symptoms of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are similar to those of seasonal influenza, and specific diagnostic testing is required to distinguish novel influenza A (H1N1) virus from seasonal influenza virus. It results in various degrees of infection, ranging from mild to severe to fatal. For the treatment of swine‐origin influenza virus A oseltamivir and zanamivir are effective in most cases. Influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia in the newborn has not been yet reported in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a neonate of pneumonia in which influenza A (H1N1) virus was isolated. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:734–736. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New surface contacts formed upon reductive lysine methylation: Improving the probability of protein crystallization
Authors: Sledz Pawel , Zheng Heping , Murzyn Krzysztof , Chruszcz Maksymilian , Zimmerman Matthew D. , Chordia Mahendra D. , Joachimiak Andrzej , Minor Wladek
Published: May 2010

Surface lysine methylation (SLM) is a technique for improving the rate of success of protein crystallization by chemically methylating lysine residues. The exact mechanism by which SLM enhances crystallization is still not clear. To study these mechanisms, and to analyze the conditions where SLM will provide the optimal benefits for rescuing failed crystallization experiments, we compared 40 protein structures containing N,N‐dimethyl‐lysine (dmLys) to a nonredundant set of 18,972 nonmethylated structures from the PDB. By measuring the relative frequency of intermolecular contacts (where contacts are defined as interactions between the residues in proximity with a distance of 3.5 Å or less) of basic residues in the methylated versus nonmethylated sets, dmLys‐Glu contacts are seen more frequently than Lys‐Glu contacts. Based on observation of the 10 proteins with both native and methylated structures, we propose that the increased rate of contact for dmLys‐Glu is due to both a slight increase in the number of amine‐carboxyl H‐bonds and to the formation of methyl CH···O interactions. By comparing the relative contact frequencies of dmLys with other residues, the mechanism by which methylation of lysines improves the formation of crystal contacts appears to be similar to that of Lys to Arg mutation. Moreover, analysis of methylated structures with the surface entropy reduction (SER) prediction server suggests that in many cases SLM of predicted SER sites may contribute to improved crystallization. Thus, tools that analyze protein sequences and mark residues for SER mutation may identify proteins with good candidate sites for SLM.
Higher derivative effects on η/s at finite chemical potential
Authors: Hanaki K.
Published: May 2010

We review the recent developments on the study of KSS bound violation in the presence of higher derivative corrections. Special emphasis is given to the cases with finite R‐charge chemical potential.
Introduction to superstring cosmology
Authors: Kounnas C.
Published: May 2010

This is a summary of lectures in superstring cosmology given by the author at the CORFU 2009 School and Workshops “Theory – Cosmology – Phenomenology”, Corfu Institute, Greece, Sept. 6.–13, 2009. These lectures are based on some recent developments and ideas, in the framework of superstring theory, concerning the evolution and structure of the universe in (i) the very early “non‐geometric” cosmological era, (ii) the intermediate “radiation‐like” era and (iii) the late time cosmological era characterized by the electroweak phase transition.
The “landscape” of Pati–Salam heterotic superstring vacua
Authors: Rizos J.
Published: May 2010

The main aspects of a recently developed method for classification of heterotic superstring vacua in the Free Fermionic Formulation are presented. Using these techniques we classify a big number of approximately 1015 heterotic string vacua with Pati–Salam, SU(4) × SU(2)L × SU(2)R gauge symmetry with respect to their main phenomenological features as the number of families, Pati–Salam breaking Higgs, Standard Model Higgs doublets, additional triplets and exotic charge states. We identify an interesting subclass of these vacua, approximately one to one million, whose massless spectrum is completely free of fractionally charge states.
MBE growth of cubic AlN on 3C‐SiC substrate
Authors: Schupp Thorsten , Rossbach Georg , Schley Pascal , Goldhahn Rüdiger , Röppischer Marcus , Esser Norbert , Cobet Christoph , Lischka Klaus , As Donat Josef
Published: May 2010

We present our recent results on the growth of cubic AlN (001) layers by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE) using freestanding 3C‐SiC (001) substrate. For high‐quality c‐AlN layers reflection high‐electron energy diffraction (RHEED) patterns in all azimuths show RHEED patterns of the cubic lattice, hexagonal reflections are absent. High‐resolution X‐ray diffraction (HRXRD) measurements confirm the cubic structure of the c‐AlN layers with a lattice parameter of 4.373 Å. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) scans show an atomically smooth surface with a roughness of 0.2 nm RMS. Ellipsometry studies yield the dielectric function (DF) of c‐AlN from 1 to 10 eV. The direct gap is determined with 5.93 eV at room temperature, while the indirect one is below 5.3 eV (onset of adsorption). The high‐energy part of the DF is dominated by two transitions at 7.20 and 7.95 eV attributed to critical points of the band structure.
A growth model of cubic GaN microstripes grown by MOVPE: Vapour phase diffusion model including surface migration effects
Authors: Sukkaew Pitsiri , Sanorpim Sakuntam , Onabe Kentaro
Published: May 2010

Growth features of c‐GaN stripes grown by selective area metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (SA‐MOVPE) on GaAs (001) substrates with stripe patterns aligned along [110] direction were analysed by vapour phase diffusion (VPD) model including surface migration effects from (111) facets. An addition of surface migration effects was found to improve the correlation between the simulation and experiment for the fill factors smaller than 0.5. The effects of the surface migration length (L) and the weight of surface migration contribution on the surface profile and the growth rate of the c‐GaN stripes were also analysed. An increase of L was found to strongly enhance the growth rate at the centre of c‐GaN stripes, while increasing the weight of contribution leads to the growth rate enhancement at the edges of the stripes. Our simulation demonstrated that the most probable values of L and the weight of contribution were 0.8 µm and 0.13, respectively. According to our simulation, mechanism of cubic‐to‐hexagonal structural phase transition is suggested as an incentive of the surface concentration profiles.
Stress test measurements of lattice‐matched InAlN/AlN/GaN HFET structures
Authors: Leach Jacob H. , Wu Mo , Ni Xianfeng , Li Xing , Özgür Ümit , Morkoç Hadis , Liberis Juozas , Šermukšnis Emilis , Matulionis Arvydas , Cheng Hailing , Kurdak Çagliyan , Moon Yong‐Tae
Published: May 2010

InAlN/GaN heterostructures offer some benefits over existing AlGaN/GaN heterostructures for HFET device applications. In addition to having a larger bandgap than typical AlGaN compounds used in HFET devices (with Al < 30%), which leads to better confinement and subsequent larger power carrying capacity, InAlN can be grown lattice‐matched to GaN, resulting in strain‐free heterostructures. As such, lattice‐matched InAlN provides a unique system wherein the reliability of the devices may exceed that of the strained AlGaN/GaN devices as a result of being able to decouple the hot electron/hot phonon effects on the reliability from the strain related issues. In this work, we subjected lattice‐matched InAlN‐based HFETs to electrical stress and observed the corresponding degradation in maximum drain current. We found that the degradation rates are lower only for a narrow range of moderate gate biases, corresponding to low field average 2‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) densities of 9–10 × 1012 cm−2. We propose that the degradation is attributable to the buildup of hot phonons since the degradation rates as a function of electron density generally follow the hot phonon lifetime versus electron density. This provides evidence that hot phonons have a significant role in device degradation and there exists an optimal 2DEG density to minimize hot phonon related degradation. We did not observe any correlation between the degradation rate and the gate leakage.
True green InGaN laser diodes
Authors: Lutgen Stephan , Avramescu Adrian , Lermer Teresa , Queren Desiree , Müller Jens , Bruederl Georg , Strauss Uwe
Published: May 2010

We present true green InGaN ridge waveguide (RWG) laser diodes (LDs) at 520 nm on c‐plane GaN substrates in pulse operation at room temperature. Defect reduction in the In‐rich quantum wells by improving growth conditions of the epitaxial layers is the key parameter to demonstrate laser operation at this wavelength. Carrier lifetime measurements in combination with electroluminescence (EL) data and simulations of competing recombination processes below laser threshold confirm that the reduction of defects in the light emitting InGaN quantum wells is essential to realize true green nitride‐based LDs with low laser threshold of 125 mA and good slope efficiency of 220 mW/A for optical output power level up to 50 mW. Investigation of the lateral far field of 520 nm RWG LDs shows a perfect beam quality. The measured vertical far field shows a substrate mode due to leakage into the transparent GaN substrate supported by waveguide simulations with an additional internal loss of less than 1 cm−1. Mounted InGaN‐based ridge LDs at 500 nm demonstrate high optical output power of 35 mW in cw operation with good wall plug efficiency of 3.5% at room temperature.
Effect of nanoscale confinement on fluorescence of MEH‐PPV/MCM‐41 composite
Authors: Telbiz German M. , Posudievsky Oleg Yu. , Dementjev Andrei , Kiskis Juris , Gulbinas Vidmantas , Valkunas Leonas
Published: May 2010

Fluorescence spectra and kinetics of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV)/MCM41 silica composite have been analyzed at different temperatures and compared with fluorescence properties of MEH‐PPV solutions and spin coated films. As follows from this comparison, the composite possesses significantly wider fluorescence spectra, longer fluorescence relaxation and weaker temperature dependence of its intensity. These peculiarities are explained in terms of the reduced exciton diffusion and an increased torsional disorder of polymer chains embedded in pores.
Memory performance, brain excitatory amino acid and acetylcholinesterase activity of chronically aluminum exposed mice in response to soy isoflavones treatment
Authors: Liu Yan‐qiang , Xin Tian‐rong , Liang Jing‐jing , Wang Wei‐ming , Zhang Yuan‐yuan
Published: May 2010

Memory performance, brain excitatory amino acid and acetylcholinesterase activity of chronically aluminum (Al) exposed mice in response to soy isoflavones (SI) treatment was investigated in the study. Forty eight mice were allotted randomly into a control group, an Al exposed group (100 mg/kg Al) and an Al exposed group treated with SI (100 mg/kg Al + 60 mg/kg SI) for 60 days. Chronic Al exposure significantly impaired long memory performance in mice as assessed using a passive avoidance task test (χ2 analysis, p < 0.05). Interestingly, SI treatment markedly improved the memory performance score in the Al exposed mice. This improvement was associated with a total reversal of Al‐induced increases in acetylcholinesterase activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice. The Al exposure also led to significant decreases in brain levels of aspartic and glutamic acids, two excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters; whereas SI treatment partially reversed the decreased aspartic and glutamic acid contents in the hippocampus. The results suggest that SI can improve long memory performance in the Al exposed mice, possibly by modulating the metabolism of brain acetylcholine and amino acid neurotransmitters. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antitumour effects of phyllanthus emblica L.: Induction of cancer cell apoptosis and Inhibition of in vivo tumour promotion and in vitro invasion of human cancer cells
Authors: Ngamkitidechakul C. , Jaijoy K. , Hansakul P. , Soonthornchareonnon N. , Sireeratawong S.
Published: May 2010

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (PE) is a medicinal fruit used in many Asian traditional medicine systems for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. The present study tested the potential anticancer effects of aqueous extract of PE in four ways: (1) against cancer cell lines, (2) in vitro apoptosis, (3) mouse skin tumourigenesis and (4) in vitro invasiveness. The PE extract at 50–100 µg/mL significantly inhibited cell growth of six human cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HepG2 (liver), HeLa (cervical), MDA‐MB‐231 (breast), SK‐OV3 (ovarian) and SW620 (colorectal). However, the extract was not toxic against MRC5 (normal lung fibroblast). Apoptosis in HeLa cells was also observed as PE extract caused DNA fragmentation and increased activity of caspase‐3/7 and caspase‐8, but not caspase‐9, and up‐regulation of the Fas protein indicating a death receptor‐mediated mechanism of apoptosis. Treatment of PE extract on mouse skin resulted in over 50% reduction of tumour numbers and volumes in animals treated with DMBA/TPA. Lastly, 25 and 50 µg/mL of PE extract inhibited invasiveness of MDA‐MB‐231 cells in the in vitro Matrigel invasion assay. These results suggest P. emblica exhibits anticancer activity against selected cancer cells, and warrants further study as a possible chemopreventive and antiinvasive agent. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of in vivo antihypertensive and in vitro vasodepressor activities of the leaf extract of syzygium guineense (willd) D.C.
Authors: Ayele Yohannes , Urga Kelbessa , Engidawork Ephrem
Published: May 2010

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of the hydroalcohol extract of the leaves of Syzygium guineense (Willd) D.C. (Myrtaceae) in a 1‐kidney‐1‐clip rat model and its vasorelaxant effect on isolated aorta. The extract reduced blood pressure in a dose and time dependent fashion. Following 3 days of treatment, single oral daily doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg caused an overall reduction (p < 0.05) of systolic blood pressure by 6.9, 34.0 and 40.8 mmHg, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure was, however, significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by 100 mg/kg (10.3 mmHg) and 150 mg/kg (18.4 mmHg) doses only. The mean blood pressure was reduced by 5.0, 18.3 and 25.9 mmHg by the respective doses. The extract also caused a dose‐dependent relaxation of aorta precontracted with KCl at a concentration of 5–70 mg/mL, with a maximum relaxation of 56.22% achieved at 70 mg/mL concentration. The relaxation mechanism was found to be independent of the endothelium system, muscarinic receptors, histamine receptors, ATP dependent K+ channels, cyclooxygenase enzymes and cGMP/NO pathway. The findings suggest that the extract had an antihypertensive effect most likely caused by dilation of the blood vessels, a confirmation for the folkloric use of the plant. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of intraperitoneal and intracerebroventricular injection of crocin on acute corneal pain in rats
Authors: Tamaddonfard Esmaeal , Hamzeh‐Gooshchi Nasrin
Published: May 2010

In this study, the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of crocin in separate and combined treatments with i.p. injections of morphine (an opioid receptor agonist) and naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist) were investigated on acute corneal pain in rats. Acute corneal pain was induced by local application of a drop of 5 M NaCl solution on the corneal surface. The number of eye wipes was taken as a pain response, and counted during the first 30 s. Crocin injected i.p. and i.c.v. and morphine injected i.p. significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the number of eye wipes. Morphine (i.p.)‐induced antinociception was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by the systemically and centrally injected crocin. The antinociceptive effects induced by i.p. and i.c.v. injections of crocin were not reversed by i.p. injection of naloxone. These findings indicated that both crocin and morphine attenuated hypertonic saline‐induced corneal pain. The opioid receptors may not be involved in the analgesic mechanism of crocin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NFκB: a promising target for natural products in cancer chemoprevention
Authors: Luqman Suaib , Pezzuto John M.
Published: May 2010

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) is found in nearly all animal cell types. It is involved in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, cytokines, free radicals, ultraviolet irradiation, oxidized LDL and microbial antigens, and has been shown to regulate the expression of a number of genes including bcl‐2, bcl‐xl, cIAP, suvivin, TRAF, COX‐2, MMP‐9, iNOS and cell cycle‐regulatory components. Many carcinogens, inflammatory agents and tumor promoters have been shown to activate NFκB, and resulting tumors demonstrate misregulated NFκB. Incorrect regulation of NFκB has been linked to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection and improper immune development. Aberrant regulation of NFκB is involved in cancer development and progression as well as in drug resistance. Inhibitors of NFκB mediate effects potentially leading to antitumor responses or greater sensitivity to the action of antitumor agents. Tools have been developed for the rapid assessment of NFκB activity, so in concert with a better understanding of NFκB activation mechanisms, many agents capable of suppressing NFκB activation have been identified. The present article focuses on the functions of NFκB, its role in human cancer and the therapeutic potential and benefit of targeting NFκB by natural products in cancer chemoprevention. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel natural peptides from Hyla arborea schelkownikowi skin secretion
Authors: Samgina T. Yu. , Gorshkov V.A. , Artemenko K.A. , Kovalev S.V. , Ogourtsov S.V. , Zubarev R. A , Lebedev A.T.
Published: May 2010

Hyla arborea schelkownikowi is one of the leaf frog species inhabiting the southern territories of Russia and the former USSR. This frog species is a member of the Hylidae Rafinesque, 1815 batrachians family. The present study deals with the previously uninvestigated peptidome of the Hyla arborea schelkownikowi skin secretion. Nano‐electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (nanoESI‐FTMS) of the skin secretion, in the intact form and after acetylation, was selected as the general method of analysis. Electron‐capture dissociation (ECD) and collision‐induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation were both employed, while de novo sequencing was performed by manual interpretation of the MS data. The suppression of the cyclization of b‐ions in the mass spectrometer by the acetylation reaction proved to be very efficient for the de novo sequencing of short peptides. Ten skin peptides were found and all of them, except for bradykinin, had not previously been reported. Six of the peptides belong to the tryptophyllins and related peptides, while three peptides are similar to the aureins. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconstructing bulk isotope ratios from compound‐specific isotope ratios
Authors: Morrison Douglas J. , Cooper Karen , Preston Tom
Published: May 2010

Carbon isotope analysis by bulk elemental analysis coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry has been the mainstay of δ13C analyses both at natural abundance and in tracer studies. More recently, compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has become established, whereby organic constituents are separated online by gas or liquid chromatography before oxidation and analysis of CO2 for constituent δ13C. Theoretically, there should be concordance between bulk δ13C measurements and carbon‐weighted δ13C measurements of carbon‐containing constituents.

To test the concordance between the bulk and CSIA, fish oil was chosen because the majority of carbon in fish oil is in the triacylglycerol form and ∼95% of this carbon is amenable to CSIA in the form of fatty acids. Bulk isotope analysis was carried out on aliquots of oil extracted from 55 fish samples and δ13C values were obtained. Free fatty acids (FFAs) were produced from the oil samples by saponification and derivatised to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) for CSIA by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry. A known amount of an internal standard (C15:0 FAME) was added to allow analyte quantitation. This internal standard was also isotopically calibrated in both its FFA (δ13C = −34.30‰) and FAME (δ13C = −34.94‰) form. This allowed reporting of FFA δ13C from measured FAME δ13C values. The bulk δ13C was reconstructed from CSIA data based on each FFA δ13C and the relative amount of CO2 produced by each analyte.

The measured bulk mean δ13C (SD) was −23.75‰ (1.57‰) compared with the reconstructed bulk mean δ13C of −23.76 (1.44‰) from CSIA and was not significantly different. Further analysis of the data by the Bland‐Altman method did not show particular bias in the data relative to the magnitude of the measurement. Good agreement between the methods was observed with the mean difference between methods (range) of 0.01‰ (−1.50 to 1.30). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural identification of mouse urinary metabolites of pterostilbene using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Shao Xi , Chen Xiaoxin , Badmaev Vladimir , Ho Chi‐Tang , Sang Shengmin
Published: May 2010

Pterostilbene, the dimethoxy derivative of resveratrol, has drawn much attention recently due to its potential beneficial health effects. The metabolic fate of pterostilbene, however, is not well understood. In the present study, we identified nine novel mouse urinary pterostilbene metabolites, pterostilbene glucuronide, pterostilbene sulfate, mono‐demethylated pterostilbene glucuronide, mono‐demethylated pterostilbene sulfate, mono‐hydroxylated pterostilbene, mono‐hydroxylated pterostilbene glucuronide, mono‐hydroxylated pterostilbene sulfate, and mono‐hydroxylated pterostilbene glucuronide sulfate, using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The structures of these metabolites were confirmed by analyzing the MSn (n = 1–3) spectra. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the identification of urinary metabolites of pterostilbene in mice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.