bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND THE BRAZILIAN REAL ESTATE MARKET
Authors: Lima Jr. João da Rocha , Alencar Claudio Tavares de
Published: June 2008

This article discusses the main aspects of the Brazilian real estate market in order to illustrate if it would be attractive for a typical American real estate investor to buy office‐building portfolios in Brazil. The article emphasizes: [i] — the regulatory frontiers, comparing investment securitization, using a typical American REIT structure, with the Brazilian solution, using the Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário — FII; [ii] — the investment quality attributes in the Brazilian market, using an office building prototype, and [iii] ‐ the comparison of [risk vs. yield] generated by an investment in the Brazilian market, using a FII, benchmarked against an existing REIT (OFFICE SUB‐SECTOR) in the USA market. We conclude that investing dollars exchanged for Reais [the Brazilian currency] in a FII with a triple A office‐building portfolio in the São Paulo marketplace will yield an annual income and a premium return above an American REIT investment. The highly aggressive scenario, along with the strong persistent exchange rate detachment to the IGP‐M variations, plus instabilities affecting the generation of income, and even if we adopt a 300‐point margin for the Brazil‐Risk level, demonstrates that an investment opportunity in the Brazilian market, in the segment we have analyzed, outperforms an equivalent investment in the American market. Santrauka Šiame straipsnyje aptariami pagrindiniai Brazilijos nekilnojamojo turto rinkos aspektai, siekiant nustatyti, ar tipinis Amerikos nekilnojamojo turto investuotojas norėtų įsigyti Brazi lijos biurų pastatų portfelį. Straipsnyje akcentuojama: 1 – kontrolės ribos, lyginant investavimą, kai paskolos paverčiamos vertybiniais popieriais, būdingoje Amerikos nekilnojamojo turto fondo (REIT) struktūroje su Brazilijos sprendimu pagal Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário (FII); 2 – investicijų kokybės bruožai Brazilijos rinkoje pagal biurų pastato prototipą; 3 – investicijų į Brazilijos rinką per FII (rizikos ir pelningumo) lyginimas sugretinus su veikiančia REIT (biurų sektorius) JAV rinkoje. Darome išvadą, kad investiciniai doleriai, FII iškeisti į realus (Brazilijos valiuta) su „Triple A“ biurų pastato portfeliu, San Paulo rinkoje duos metines pajamas ir papildomą grąžą, didesnę už Amerikos REIT investiciją. Kai scenarijus itin agresyvus ir vyraujantis kursas atskiriamas nuo rinkos kainų bendrojo indekso (IGP-M) svyravimų, pajamos generuojamos nestabiliai, ir imama 300 taškų rizikos lygio Brazilijoje marža, matome, kad mūsų analizuotame segmente investicijos Brazilijos rinkoje duoda geresnius rezultatus nei analogiška investicija Amerikos rinkoje.
Paranormal belief and susceptibility to the conjunction fallacy
Authors: Rogers Paul , Davis Tiffany , Fisk John
Published: June 2008

Numerous studies have shown paranormal believers misperceive randomness and are poor at judging probability. Despite the obvious relevance to many types of alleged paranormal phenomena, no one has examined whether believers are more susceptible to the ‘conjunction fallacy’; that is to misperceiving co‐occurring (conjunct) events as being more likely than singular (constituent) events alone. The present study examines believervs. non‐believer differences in conjunction errors for both paranormal and non‐paranormal events presented as either a probability or a frequency estimation task. As expected, believers made more conjunction errors than non‐believers. This was true for both event types, with both groups making fewer errors for paranormal than for non‐paranormal events. Surprisingly, the response format (probabilityvs. frequency) had little impact. Results are discussed in relation to paranormal believers' susceptibility to the conjunction fallacy and more generally, to their propensity for probabilistic reasoning biases. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of genetic variations in the RGS9 gene and antipsychotic‐induced tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia
Authors: Liou Ying‐Jay , Chen Mao‐Liang , Wang Ying‐Chieh , Chen Jen‐Yeu , Liao Ding‐Lieh , Bai Ya‐Mei , Lin Chao‐Cheng , Chen Tzu‐Ting , Mo Geng‐Han , Lai I‐Ching
Published: June 2008

Some patients treated chronically with antipsychotics develop tardive dyskinesia (TD), an abnormal involuntary movement disorder. Typical antipsychotics block D2 dopamine receptors (D2DR) and produce D2DR supersensitivity. On contrary, regulators of G‐protein signaling (RGS) can enhance the signal termination of G‐protein‐coupled D2DR. Besides, after prolonged inhibition of dopaminergic transmission, dopaminergic agonists induced severe dyskinesia only in RGS9 knock‐out mice but not in normal mice. Therefore, variety in the human RGS9 gene may be related to susceptibility to TD. In this study, schizophrenic inpatients receiving long‐term antipsychotic treatment were assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale twice over a 3‐month interval. Only patients in whom abnormal involuntary movements were absent (non‐TD group) and those who showed persistent TD (TD group) were enrolled. There were 407 patients in the study sample (TD = 252; non‐TD = 155) and seven single nucleus polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RGS9 gene were genotyped for each subject. Genotype and allelic distributions of SNPs did not differ between the TD and non‐TD groups in this study, with the exception that a weak trend of allelic association was seen with rs4790953 (P = 0.0399). In the haplotype analysis, a significant association of the AGG haplotype (rs8077696–rs8070231–rs2292593) of the RGS9 gene was found (permutation P = 0.007), and this is worthy of replication and further study. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A searchable database of genetic evidence for psychiatric disorders
Authors: Konneker Thomas , Barnes Todd , Furberg Helena , Losh Molly , Bulik Cynthia M. , Sullivan Patrick F.
Published: June 2008

This paper describes a new bioinformatic tool for use in psychiatric research, “SLEP” (Sullivan Lab Evidence Project). SLEP is a searchable archive of findings from psychiatric genetics that is freely available on the web for non‐commercial use (http://slep.unc.edu). Via a simple interface, users can retrieve findings from genome‐wide linkage, genome‐wide association, and microarray studies for ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, major depression, nicotine dependence, and schizophrenia. Findings can be save to disk or viewed via a genome browser. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Descriptive epidemiology of fatal respiratory outbreaks and detection of a human‐related metapneumovirus in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Mahale Mountains National Park, Western Tanzania
Authors: Kaur Taranjit , Singh Jatinder , Tong Suxiang , Humphrey Charles , Clevenger Donna , Tan Wendy , Szekely Brian , Wang Yuhuan , Li Yan , Alex Muse Epaphras , Kiyono Mieko , Hanamura Shunkichi , Inoue Eiji , Nakamura Michio , Huffman Michael A. , Jiang Baoming , Nishida Toshisada
Published: June 2008

Over the past several years, acute and fatal respiratory illnesses have occurred in the habituated group of wild chimpanzees at the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. Common respiratory viruses, such as measles and influenza, have been considered possible causative agents; however, neither of these viruses had been detected. During the fatal respiratory illnesses in 2003, 2005 and 2006, regular observations on affected individuals were recorded. Cause‐specific morbidity rates were 98.3, 52.4 and 33.8%, respectively. Mortality rates were 6.9, 3.2 and 4.6%; all deaths were observed in infants 2 months–2 years 9 months of age. Nine other chimpanzees have not been seen since the 2006 outbreak and are presumed dead; hence, morbidity and mortality rates for 2006 may be as high as 47.7 and 18.5%, respectively. During the 2005 and 2006 outbreaks, 12 fecal samples were collected from affected and nonaffected chimpanzees and analyzed for causative agents. Analysis of fecal samples from 2005 suggests the presence of paramyxovirus, and in 2006 a human‐related metapneumovirus was detected and identified in an affected chimpanzee whose infant died during the outbreak. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that the causative agent associated with these illnesses is viral and contagious, possibly of human origin; and that, possibly more than one agent may be circulating in the population. We recommend that baseline health data be acquired and food wadge and fecal samples be obtained and bio‐banked as early as possible when attempting to habituate new groups of chimpanzees or other great apes. For already habituated populations, disease prevention strategies, ongoing health monitoring programs and reports of diagnostic findings should be an integral part of managing these populations. In addition, descriptive epidemiology should be a major component of disease outbreak investigations. Am. J. Primatol. 70: 755–765, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of food and topography on ranging behavior of black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China
Authors: Fan Peng‐Fei , Jiang Xue‐Long
Published: June 2008

We studied the ranging behavior of a habituated group of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in a high, seasonal habitat on Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China, between March 2005 and April 2006. Our results indicated that the total home range size for the study group was 129 ha, or 151 ha if the lacunae within the borders in which gibbons were not observed were included. This is a much bigger range size than that of other gibbon species. However, 69.7% of their activities occurred within 29 ha. The intensity of quadrant use was significantly correlated with the distribution of important food patches. The mean yearly daily path length was 1,391 m. Gibbons traveled farther when they spent more time feeding on fruit. To avoid often passing through ridges with little food, gibbons usually stayed in the same valley for successive days, and then moved on to another valley for another several days, which resulted in a concentrated ranging pattern. Am. J. Primatol. 70:871–878, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate)/epoxy blends
Authors: Zhang Huiliang , Sun Shulin , Ren Minqiao , Chen Qingyong , Song Jianbin , Zhang Hongfang , Mo Zhishen
Published: June 2008

In this study, melt blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with epoxy resin were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The results indicate that the presence of epoxy resin influenced either the mechanical properties of the PBT/epoxy blends or the crystallization of PBT. The epoxy resin was completely miscible with the PBT matrix. This was beneficial to the improvement of the impact performance of the PBT/epoxy blends. The modification of the PBT/epoxy blends were achieved at epoxy resin contents from 1 to 7%. The maximum increase of the notched Izod impact strength (≈ 20%) of the PBT/epoxy blends was obtained at 1 wt % epoxy resin content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Influence of dehydration rate on the vitrification of corn protein
Authors: Sabino Marcos A. , Pauchard Ludovic , Allain Catherine , Mangavel Cécile , Zeng Ming , Lourdin Denis
Published: June 2008

This article deals with the physicochemical mechanisms involved during the desiccation of cereals, to understand the basis of their endosperm structure: vitreous endosperm is compact and floury endosperm is porous, giving the endosperm its hard and soft textures, respectively. Dehydration of zein (the most abundant protein in the vitreous region of the corn endosperm) was investigated for water contents ranging from ∼ 50% to 10% (wet basis). A system of partial confinement of zein pills was optimized to compare both slow and rapid dehydration on two separate domains of the same sample. Macroscopic observations, porosity analysis, and scanning electron microscopy showed that either a compact or porous structure is obtained, depending on the dehydration rate. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of zein, which varies from 160°C for dry zein to about 15°C for zein with 25% water content, is mainly dependent on water content. A state diagram of the zein/water system, including ice melting, was determined from calorimetric measurements of state and phase temperature changes. The different porous and compact structures observed on vitreous zein are discussed in terms of collapse and dehydration rate. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Use of modified poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) in the compatibilization of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/maize starch blends
Authors: Pascente C. , Márquez L. , Balsamo V. , Müller A. J.
Published: June 2008

In this work, the compatibilization of a poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) with a number‐average molecular weight of 120,000 g/mol (PCL120) and maize starch was investigated by the addition of a chemically modified poly(ϵ‐caprolactone). Two types of blends were prepared by melt extrusion. In type A blends, low‐molecular‐weight compatibilizers were used: (1) a poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) with a number‐average molecular weight of 10,000 g/mol that was reacted with maleic anhydride to obtain chains terminating in carboxylic groups and (2) low‐molecular‐weight poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)s (number‐average molecular weights of 600 and 2000 g/mol) with one pendant carboxylic group within the chains. With these groups of blends, tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the compatibilizers were generally effective in inducing a better dispersion for a 60/40 poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/maize starch blend with a compatibilizer, improving the mechanical properties in comparison with uncompatibilized blends. The blends with 30% starch were not improved by the addition of compatibilizer, and this may be related to the rheology of the blends during preparation. In type B blends, high‐molecular‐weight compatibilizers were prepared through the grafting of variable amounts of acrylic acid or maleic anhydride to PCL120 chains. The best compatibilizer action was obtained with 0.7 wt % maleic anhydride grafted to PCL120 because both the dispersion and mechanical properties were further improved in comparison with uncompatibilized blends and type A blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Morphology and photophysical properties of a thermally responsive fluorescent material based on a rod‐coil tri‐block copolymer
Authors: Ma Zhun , Qiang Liangliang , Zheng Zhe , Wang Yanyan , Zhang Zhijian , Huang Wei
Published: June 2008

A thermally responsive rod‐coil poly[poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐polyfluorene‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)] triblock copolymer has been successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization from an end‐functionalized macroinitiator. The thermochromic behavior and relevant morphology of this polymer were investigated by UV‐vis spectra, DLS, and AFM, respectively, at various temperatures. A thermally responsive fluorescent material was achieved facilely by combining the optically active polyfluorene with temperature‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). All the measurements demonstrated that in the region of 25–45°C, the polymer underwent a phase transition and the corresponding change in optical properties in its water solution. However, the polymer did not show completely reversible behavior upon heating and cooling. On the basis of the comparison with two other thermally responsive conjugated polymers in literatures, a tentative mechanism has been proposed that π–π interaction induced rigid segments to remain chain conformation and packing styles as in collapsed state. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Thermal stability of surfactants with amino and imido groups in poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay composites
Authors: Yuan Xuepei , Li Chuncheng , Guan Guohu , Xiao Yaonan , Zhang Dong
Published: June 2008

Effects of thermal stability of surfactants with amino and imido groups on thermal properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/clay composites were studied. The imidosilane surfactant was synthesized successfully from the imide reaction between amino silane and phthalic anhydride. TGA shows that imidosilane decomposition behaviors have two major stages according to the degradations of different functional groups. After melt extrusion, the decomposition of amino functional groups in amino surfactants decreases the thermal stability of organoclay and accelerates the degradation behaviors of PET composites. Because of the enhanced thermal stability of imidosilane surfactants, PET/imido‐palygorskite (PT) composites represent enhanced thermal stability, good dispersion and low thermal expansion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Visualization and quantification of the mechanical deformation induced by an electrical field in poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6‐dicarboxylate) (PEN) films
Authors: Zegnini Boubakeur , Lahoud Nadine , Boudou Laurent , Martinez‐Vega Juan
Published: June 2008

An optical nondestructive strain measurement technique was performed to analyze the mechanical deformation induced by an electrical field within the insulating materials. Poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6‐dicarboxylate) (PEN) films were then subjected to constant electrical fields right up to their electrical breakdown. The experimental technique made it possible to follow the various stages of the mechanical behavior of PEN in real time. The final breakdown occurred in the observation zone and the related mechanical deformation was captured. A “margarita” structure was observed with a hole at the center. The experimental results indicated that the level of the induced‐mechanical deformations depended on the local environment. We defined two different zones representing the inside and the outside of the damaged area. The induced‐deformations were larger in the damaged zone. It was also observed that deformations increased when the sample had a lower degree of crystallinity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Surface modification of medical poly(vinyl chloride) with O− water
Authors: Zhao E , Wang Lian , Yan Lifeng , Torimoto Yoshifumi , Li Quanxin
Published: June 2008

A novel approach to the surface modification of medical poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with atomic oxygen radical anions‐dissolved solution (named as O– water) has been investigated. The O– water was generated by bubbling of the O– (atomic oxygen radical anion) flux into the deionized water. The surface hydrophilicities of the PVC films were investigated by contact angle measurements before and after the O– water treatment. Surface chemical compositions of the original and treated PVC films were studied using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influence of the O– water on the surface roughness as well as morphological alterations of the PVC films was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Results show that the O– water treatment caused an obvious increase in the surface hydrophilicity and surface energy and also caused an alteration of the surface chemical composition, with an increase in surface roughness because of the etching effect. The modifications are attributed to the formation of oxygen‐containing functional groups (CO, CO, OCO, etc.) and dechlorination, mainly caused by the reactions between the molecules on PVC surfaces and the active oxygen species in the O– water. Present method, potentially, may be applied to the surface modification of polymers and other heat‐sensitive materials. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Hydroxyalkylation of oxamic acid with propylene carbonate: Synthesis, composition, and properties of products
Authors: Zarzyka‐Niemiec Iwona
Published: June 2008

The work aimed at synthesis of hydroxypropoxy compounds containing oxalamidoester group from oxamic acid (OA) and propylene carbonate (PC) substrates. The thermal stability of obtained products was tested to estimate their usefulness for formation of polyurethane foams. The influence of initial molar ratio of reagents, amount of catalyst and temperature of reaction between OA and PC on structure of product was studied. The Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI ToF) analysis of products evidenced that in the conditions used the formation of hydroxypropoxy derivatives of OA was accompanied by homocondensation of OA, which became minor process in presence of excess of PC. The physicochemical and thermal properties of products were studied. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Comparison of sympatric freshwater turtle populations from an urbanized Sydney catchment
Authors: Burgin Shelley , Ryan Michelle
Published: June 2008

Australian freshwater turtles are widely distributed throughout the continent, and in each river catchment there are at least two taxa. In south‐eastern Australia Chelodina longicollis and forms of Emydura macquarii co‐habit within a waterway, although they have been shown to partition habitat within the water column in non‐urban bodies of water. Limited comparative data are available for the urban populations.

Within urban Sydney C. longicollis (eastern long‐necked turtle) and Emydura macquarii dharuk (Sydney short‐necked turtle) share habitat. However, in contrast with non‐urban studies of C. longicollis and other sympatric E. macquarii taxa, it was observed that the population profile of the two species was similar at all sites, and that C. longicollis were present in greater numbers than E. m. dharuk.

The continued degradation of preferred habitat, low recruitment, and potential competition from introduced turtles place both species in a precarious position.

The shallow, impounded waterways of the regulated urban bodies of water align more closely with the preferred habitat of C. longicollis than with that of forms of E. macquarii, which prefer deeper flowing waters or large wetlands adjacent to rivers. Emydura m. dharuk may be at greatest risk of extinction in urban areas.

Across urban Sydney, the low numbers of E. m. dharuk compared with C. longicollis may be due to the lack of mobility of E. m. dharuk such that individuals tend to be stranded in sub‐optimal habitat. In contrast, C. longicollis has a greater propensity for overland movement, and a preference for the ‘new habitat’ resulting from urban impacts on the associated waterways, and thus appears to be able to utilize these modified urban waters more successfully.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A proposal for a dynamic h‐type index
Authors: Rousseau Ronald , Ye Fred Y.
Published: June 2008

A time‐dependent h‐type indicator is proposed. This indicator depends on the size of the h‐core, the number of citations received, and recent change in the value of the h‐index. As such, it tries to combine in a dynamic way older information about the source (e.g., a scientist or research institute that is evaluated) with recent information.
Amiodarone modulates pharmacokinetics of low‐dose methotrexate in rats
Authors: Fuksa Leos , Brcakova Eva , Cermanova Jolana , Hroch Milos , Chladek Jaroslav , Kolouchova Gabriela , Malakova Jana , Martinkova Jirina , Staud Frantisek , Micuda Stanislav
Published: June 2008

Clinical studies of low‐dose methotrexate (LDMTX) pharmacokinetics document increased plasma concentrations of MTX after co‐administration of the drug with amiodarone or macrolide antibiotics. As drug–drug interactions may increase the toxicity of LDMTX, a rat model was used to follow renal and biliary elimination of MTX during its constant‐rate i.v. infusion and concomitant single bolus i.v. injections of amiodarone or azithromycin. The mean steady‐state plasma concentration of 1.7±0.1 µmol/l was reached and the total clearance achieved 17.7±1.0 ml/min/kg. Administration of amiodarone decreased the biliary clearance of MTX to 73% of the control values (p<0.05). Correspondingly, the total clearance decreased to 72% and plasma MTX concentrations were augmented to 2.5±0.4 µmol/l (p<0.05). Amiodarone‐treated rats exhibited a 3.3‐fold decrease in the renal clearance (p<0.05) of conjugated bilirubin, which was associated with its increased plasma concentration. In contrast, azithromycin did not alter any of the MTX pharmacokinetic parameters. In conclusion, this is the first report describing the impairment of MTX hepatic elimination during co‐administration with amiodarone. This study also provides new insight into acute amiodarone‐induced hyperbilirubinaemia, where increased bilirubin production and decreased renal clearance may contribute to this effect. Importantly, azithromycin seems to be a safe co‐medication during LDMTX therapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling Neisseria meningitidis B metabolism at different specific growth rates
Authors: Baart Gino J.E. , Willemsen Marieke , Khatami Elnaz , de Haan Alex , Zomer Bert , Beuvery E. Coen , Tramper Johannes , Martens Dirk E.
Published: June 2008

Neisseria meningitidis is a human pathogen that can infect diverse sites within the human host. The major diseases caused by N. meningitidis are responsible for death and disability, especially in young infants. At the Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI) a vaccine against serogroup B organisms is currently being developed. This study describes the influence of the growth rate of N. meningitidis on its macro‐molecular composition and its metabolic activity and was determined in chemostat cultures. In the applied range of growth rates, no significant changes in RNA content and protein content with growth rate were observed in N. meningitidis. The DNA content in N. meningitidis was somewhat higher at the highest applied growth rate. The phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide content in N. meningitidis changed with growth rate but no specific trends were observed. The cellular fatty acid composition and the amino acid composition did not change significantly with growth rate. Additionally, it was found that the PorA content in outer membrane vesicles was significantly lower at the highest growth rate. The metabolic fluxes at various growth rates were calculated using flux balance analysis. Errors in fluxes were calculated using Monte Carlo Simulation and the reliability of the calculated flux distribution could be indicated, which has not been reported for this type of analysis. The yield of biomass on substrate (Yx/s) and the maintenance coefficient (ms) were determined as 0.44 (±0.04) g g−1 and 0.04 (±0.02) g g−1 h−1, respectively. The growth associated energy requirement (Yx/ATP) and the non‐growth associated ATP requirement for maintenance (mATP) were estimated as 0.13 (±0.04) mol mol−1 and 0.43 (±0.14) mol mol−1 h−1, respectively. It was found that the split ratio between the Entner‐Doudoroff and the pentose phosphate pathway, the sole glucose utilizing pathways in N. meningitidis, had a minor effect on ATP formation rate but a major effect on the fluxes going through for instance the citric‐acid cycle. For this reason, we presented flux ranges for underdetermined parts of metabolic network rather than presenting single flux values, which is more commonly done in literature. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 1022–1035. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of oxygen gradients on the activity and microbial community structure of a nitrifying, membrane‐aerated biofilm
Authors: Downing Leon S. , Nerenberg Robert
Published: June 2008

Shortcut nitrogen removal, that is, removal via formation and reduction of nitrite rather than nitrate, has been observed in membrane‐aerated biofilms (MABs), but the extent, the controlling factors, and the kinetics of nitrite formation in MABs are poorly understood. We used a special MAB reactor to systematically study the effects of the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at the membrane surface, which is the biofilm base, on nitrification rates, extent of shortcut nitrification, and microbial community structure. The focus was on anoxic bulk liquids, which is typical in MAB used for total nitrogen (TN) removal, although aerobic bulk liquids were also studied. Nitrifying MABs were grown on a hollow‐fiber membrane exposed to 3 mg N/L ammonium. The MAB intra‐membrane air pressure was varied to achieve different DO concentrations at the biofilm base, and the bulk liquid was anoxic or with 2 g m−3 DO. With 2.2 and 3.5 g m−3 DO at the biofilm base, and with an anoxic bulk‐liquid, the ammonium fluxes were 0.75 and 1.0 g N m−2 day−1, respectively, and nitrite was the main oxidized nitrogen product. However, with membrane DO of 5.5 g m−3, and either zero or 2 g m−3 DO in the bulk, the ammonium flux was around 1.3 g N m−2 day−1, and nitrate flux increased significantly. For all experiments, the cell density of ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was relatively uniform throughout the biofilm, but the density of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) decreased with decreasing biofilm DO. Among NOB, Nitrobacter spp. were dominant in biofilm regions with 2 g m−3 DO or greater, while Nitrospira spp. were dominant in regions with less than 2 g m−3 DO. A biofilm model, including AOB, Nitrobacter spp., and Nitrospira spp., was developed and calibrated with the experimental results. The model predicted the greatest extent of nitrite formation (95%) and the lowest ammonium oxidation flux (0.91 g N m−2 day−1) when the membrane DO was 2 g m−3 and the bulk liquid was anoxic. Conversely, the model predicted the lowest extent of nitrite formation (40%) and the highest ammonium oxidation flux (1.5 g N m−2 day−1) when the membrane‐DO and bulk‐DO were 8 g m−3 and 2 g m−3, respectively. The estimated kinetic parameters for Nitrospira spp., revealed a high affinity for nitrite and oxygen. This explains the dominance of Nitrospira spp. over Nitrobacter spp. in regions with low nitrite and oxygen concentrations. Our results suggest that shortcut nitrification can effectively be controlled by manipulating the DO at the membrane surface. A tradeoff is made between increased nitrite accumulation at lower DO, and higher nitrification rates at higher DO. Biotechnol. Bioeng. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multivariate modeling and exploration of environmental n‐way data from bulk precipitation quality control
Authors: Astel Aleksander , Małek Stanisław
Published: June 2008

This paper describes the results of study on modeling and exploration of a three‐way environmental data set acquired from monitoring bulk precipitation chemistry collected in the Dupniański Stream Catchment (Silesian Beskid, Southern Poland) using Tucker3 modeling and self‐organizing map approach. It appears that the constructed Tucker3 model is appropriate for the studied data and explains more than 91% of the data variance. The Tucker3 model allows to distinguish ‘heavy metals‐dust particles’ and ‘anthropogenic’ factors responsible for chemical profiles of bulk precipitation and to identify seasonal variations in bulk precipitation quality. A self‐organizing map approach confirms Tucker3 modeling results and additionally allows to identify a strong, temporary impact of remote pollution sources located in the vicinity of Polish‐Czech Republic border and indicates a cyclical impact of remote pollution sources located in highly industrialized Katowice and Bełchatów regions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MR imaging assessment of the kinetics of P846, a new gadolinium‐based MR contrast medium, in ischemically injured myocardium
Authors: Jacquier Alexis , Wendland Michael , Do Loi , Robert Philippe , Corot Claire , Higgins Charles B. , Saeed Maythem
Published: June 2008

The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare the kinetics of a new gadolinium‐based low‐diffusibility magnetic resonance (MR) contrast medium, P846 and Gd‐DOTA in left ventricular (LV) blood and in normal and ischemically injured myocardium using inversion recovery echo‐planar imaging (IR‐EPI) and (2) to compare the enhancement pattern after injection of P846 with Gd‐DOTA, using T1‐weighted spin‐echo imaging (T1‐SE). Sixteen rats were subjected to left descending artery (LAD) occlusion for 30 min, followed by 2.5 h reperfusion. MR imaging was performed before and after administration of the contrast medium in two different groups of animals: one group (n = 8) received 0.05 mmol kg−1 P846 and the other (n = 8) 0.1 mmol kg−1 Gd‐DOTA. A blipped IR‐EPI and a multislice T1‐SE were performed before injection and for 90 min after injection. T1‐values were derived by fitting regional signal intensity on the IR‐EPI images, the R1, ΔR1 (R1postcontrast – R1precontrast) and ΔR1 ratios were calculated in LV blood, normal and injured myocardium. On SE‐T1, the signal intensity ratio (SI) and extent of injury were measured. True infarct size was measured using histochemical staining. Changes in ΔR1 were 4.8 times greater with 0.05 mmol kg−1 P846 than with 0.1 mmol kg−1 Gd‐DOTA in LV blood (6.3 ± 0.9 vs 0.9 ± 0.1 s−1, p < 0.0001), normal (1.7 ± 0.2 vs 0.34 ± 0.03 s−1, p < 0.0001) and ischemically injured myocardium (5.4 ± 0.4 vs 1.6 ± 0.1 s−1, p < 0.0001). MR imaging experiments showed that the signal enhancement with P846 is longer (90 min), which might be explained by a lower diffusion of P846 compared with Gd‐DOTA (30 min). P846 differentiates viable and nonviable myocardium. Despite lower gadolinium dose, P846 permits differentiation of viable and nonviable myocardium owing to a high contrast and a long imaging window with conventional t1‐weighted SE sequence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐Hamiltonian structure for the finite defocusing Ablowitz‐Ladik equation
Authors: Gekhtman Michael , Nenciu Irina
Published: June 2008

We study the Poisson structure associated to the defocusing Ablowitz‐Ladik equation from a functional‐analytical point of view by reexpressing the Poisson bracket in terms of the associated Carathéodory function. Using this expression, we are able to introduce a family of compatible Poisson brackets that form a multi‐Hamiltonian structure for the Ablowitz‐Ladik equation. Furthermore, we show using some of these new Poisson brackets that the Geronimus relations between orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle and those on the interval define an algebraic and symplectic mapping between the Ablowitz‐Ladik and Toda hierarchies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Three‐Component Synthesis of Amine Derivatives Using Benzylic and Allylic Alcohols as N‐Alkylating Agents in the Absence of External Catalysts and Additives
Authors: Li Hai‐Hua , Dong De‐Jun , Tian Shi‐Kai
Published: June 2008

The direct employment of benzylic and allylic alcohols as N‐alkylating agents provides a useful synthetic route for amine derivatives by avoiding the preactivation of the hydroxy groups of alcohols. Herein we report a novel by‐product‐catalyzed three‐component synthesis of amine derivatives from readily available benzylic and allylic alcohols, acyl chlorides (chloroformates or sulfonyl chlorides), and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). In the absence of external catalysts and additives, a range of benzylic and allylic alcohols have been transformed into the corresponding N‐alkyl amides (carbamates or sulfonamides) in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, by‐product TMSCl and its decomposition into HCl have been found to be responsible for promoting the three‐component reaction of benzylic (or allylic) alcohols with acyl chlorides (chloroformates or sulfonyl chlorides) and HMDS.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Optimizing soluble protein extraction and two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis quality for extremophile ciliates
Authors: Fulgentini Lorenzo , Marangoni Roberto , Colombetti Giuliano
Published: June 2008

An efficient protein extraction methodology is quite important for sample preparation and subsequent 2‐D PAGE and MS analysis. Cell lysis is the first step in protein extraction and purification. Many techniques are available for cell disruption, including physical and detergent‐based methods. Here, we report on a very fast and efficient detergent‐free Tris‐based method to extract the soluble fraction proteins of extremophile ciliates, comparing it with a detergent‐based protocol. This comparison has been carried out by means of 2‐D PAGE and subsequent MALDI‐compatible silver staining of protein samples obtained from the intensely pigmented hypersaline ciliate Fabrea salina and the Antarctic hypotrich ciliate Euplotes focardii. Our results indicate that this fast and easy extraction method allows to obtain more clear crude extracts and more spot‐abundant polyacrylamide gels.
Molecular‐Level Investigation of Critical Gap Size between Catalyst Particles and Electrolyte in Hydrogen Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Liu J. , Cui S. , Keffer D. J.
Published: June 2008

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the structure and transport at the electrode/electrolyte interface in hydrogen‐based proton exchange membrane fuel cells. We examine the wetting of catalyst surfaces that are not immediately adjacent to a Nafion membrane, but rather are separated from the membrane by a hydrophobic gap of carbon support surface (graphite). A mixture of Nafion, water and hydronium ions is able to wet small gaps (7.4 Å) of graphite and reach the catalyst surface, providing a path for proton transport from the catalyst to the membrane. However, for gaps of 14.8 Å, we observe no wetting of the graphite or the catalyst surface. Using a coarse‐grained model, we found that the presence of a graphite gap of 7.4 Å width slowed down the transport of water by at least an order of magnitude relative to a system with no gap. The implication is that catalyst particles that are not within nominally 1 nm of either the proton exchange membrane or recast ionomer in the electrode leading to the membrane do not possess a path for efficient proton transport to the membrane and consequently do not contribute significantly to power production in the fuel cell.
Brain derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism, the five factor model of personality and hippocampal volume: Implications for depressive illness
Authors: Joffe Russell T. , Gatt Justine M. , Kemp Andrew H. , Grieve Stuart , Dobson‐Stone Carol , Kuan Stacey A. , Schofield Peter R. , Gordon Evian , Williams Leanne M.
Published: June 2008

Altered hippocampal volume, the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism, and neuroticism have each been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, especially depression. However, the relationship between these variables is not well understood. Here, we determined the effects of the BDNF Val66met polymorphism on the five‐factor personality dimensions (assessed using the NEO‐FFI), trait depression (assessed with the DASS‐21) in a cross‐sectional cohort of 467 healthy volunteers. A large matched subset of this cohort was also assessed for grey matter volume of the hippocampus and contiguous temporal cortical regions using magnetic resonance imaging. In Met carriers, elevations in neuroticism and trait depression and stress were associated with lower mean hippocampal volume, but there were no such associations in Val homozygotes. Trait depression, in particular, was found to moderate the effects of BDNF genotypes on hippocampal volume. Met carriers with high trait depression showed a reduction in grey matter volume of the mean hippocampus compared with Val homozygotes. These findings suggest that even in otherwise healthy subjects, trait depression may contribute to the susceptibility of Met carriers to hippocampal grey matter loss. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of ocular filtering in EEG data on the assessment of drug‐induced effects on the brain
Authors: Romero Sergio , Mañanas Miguel A. , Barbanoj Manel J.
Published: June 2008

Ocular artifacts in EEG signals affect the interpretation of clinical study results. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of automatic ocular filtering procedures in the conclusions drawn from a pharmaco‐EEG trial. Regression analysis, gold standard, and blind source separation (BSS), Second Order Blind Identification algorithm, ocular filtering procedures were compared using time, frequency, topographic and tomographic brain mapping approaches and pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) relationships. Data consisted of EEGs obtained from 20 volunteers who received single oral doses of haloperidol 3 mg, risperidone 1 mg, olanzapine 5 mg and placebo in a randomized cross‐over double‐blind design. Although the BSS‐based technique preserved brain activity more than regression analysis in anterior leads, in general, topographic significance probability maps globally showed similar results with both methods for most spectral variables. However, different results were obtained when using whole multi‐channel information for studying drug effects in the brain: (i) higher correlations between PK and PD time courses showing that BSS allowed estimation of spectral variables more accurately related to drug effects and (ii) larger and more symmetric drug related tomographic LORETA maps showing that BSS led to results that were more neurophysiopharmacologically sound. Definitely, the BSS‐based procedure is an effective and efficient preprocessing method to remove ocular artifacts from EEG data. The selection of the ocular filtering procedure could determine different results whose impact depends on the evaluating tool applied to analyze the pharmaco‐EEG data. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiple repetitions reveal functionally and anatomically distinct patterns of hippocampal activity during continuous recognition memory
Authors: Johnson Jeffrey D. , Muftuler L. Tugan , Rugg Michael D.
Published: June 2008

We used a continuous recognition procedure that included multiple presentations of test items, along with high‐resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to investigate the relationship between item novelty and recognition‐related activity in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). In several regions of hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex, activity elicited by new items exceeded that for old items, whereas no MTL regions exhibited greater activity for old items. Critically, anatomically distinct regions of MTL were engaged by item novelty in two different ways, as evidenced by statistically dissociable profiles of activity. In bilateral medial hippocampus and left posterior parahippocampal cortex, activity followed a categorical profile in which it was greater for new than old items but did not differ further with additional presentations of old items. By contrast, effects in adjacent regions of right lateral hippocampus and left parahippocampal cortex were graded, whereby activity declined linearly with respect to each successive item presentation. These findings suggest that the relationship between hippocampal (and parahippocampal) activity and continuous psychological dimensions, such as item novelty, cannot be captured by a unitary function. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Local axon collaterals of area CA1 support spread of epileptiform discharges within CA1, but propagation is unidirectional
Authors: Orman R. , Von Gizycki H. , Lytton W.W. , Stewart M.
Published: June 2008

CA3 and subiculum are hippocampal formation regions that can initiate seizure activity because each has a substantial intrinsic excitatory connectivity. We studied the intrinsic connectivity of area CA1 by exploring the spread of synchronous population discharges in ventral hippocampal slices from rats using a recording chamber that permitted multiple simultaneous extracellular recordings along all laminae of CA1. Brief single stimulus pulses were applied to stratum oriens (SO) or stratum radiatum (SR) on the CA3 side or the subicular side of CA1. In disinhibited slices, events triggered with SO or SR stimulation on the CA3‐side propagated over the proximo‐distal extent of CA1 with a maximal conduction velocity of 0.4 m/s, comparable with antidromic conduction velocities within CA1. By contrast, SO or SR stimuli applied on the subicular side of CA1 triggered events that did not spread “backward” toward CA3. These events are rapidly decremented in amplitude and duration. Whereas antidromic responses were largest when stimuli were applied on the subicular side of CA1, such responses were not sufficient to trigger epileptiform discharges when excitatory transmission was intact. We conclude that the unidirectional spread of epileptiform activity in area CA1 is the result of an intrinsic axon collateral system where each pyramidal cell has a proportionally larger projection toward subiculum. Although this collateral system is sparse compared with other hippocampal formation regions, its unidirectionality protects against re‐entrant activation of CA3 and may be physiologically significant as a relay from proximal CA1 to distal CA1. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modulation of long‐term potentiation by individual subtypes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in the rat dentate gyrus
Authors: Luo Le , Chen Wei‐Heng , Wang Ming , Zhu Da‐Miao , She Jia‐Qi , Ruan Di‐Yun
Published: June 2008

The roles of the muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (mAChRs) in long‐term potentiation (LTP) at many areas of the central nervous system including the hippocampus, have been extensively studied. However, not much is known about the modulation of LTP through individual subtypes of mAChR (M1–M5 subtype). In this study, we investigated the involvement of each individual subtypes of mAChR in LTP induction by intrahippocampal administration of cholinergic ligands at the dentate gyrus (DG) of anesthetized rats. We found atropine, an antagonist of mAChRs, suppressed the induction of LTP. This observation confirmed that the muscarinic system is involved in LTP. We then examined the effects of M1AChR antagonists (pirenzepine and telenzepine), M2/4AChR antagonists (Methoctramine and {11‐[[2‐[(diethylamino)methyl]‐1‐piperidinyl]acetyl]‐5,11‐dihydro‐6H‐pyrido[2,3‐b][1,4]benzodiazepin‐6‐one}(AFDX‐116)), and M3/5AChR antagonist (4‐diphenylacetoxy‐N‐methylpiperidine methiodide (4‐DAMP)) on LTP. Our results showed that both M1AChR and M2/4AChR antagonists but not M3/5AChR antagonist suppressed the amplitude of LTP. We also examined the effects of these cholinergic ligands on basal synaptic transmission and found that only pirenzepine augmented the amplitude of population spike. This study suggests that individual mAChR subtypes play different modulation roles in LTP induction in the DG of rats. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combination regimen with statins and NSAIDs: A promising strategy for cancer chemoprevention
Authors: Xiao Hang , Yang Chung S.
Published: June 2008

Statins and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for lowering cholesterol and antiinflammation, respectively. Recently, their potential roles as cancer chemopreventive agents have been subject to intensive studies. Human trials have not provided conclusive results on the protective effects of statins against different cancers, while more convincing results have been observed for cancer preventive effects of NSAIDs, especially on colorectal cancer. A promising strategy to enhance the cancer preventive efficacy of statins and NSAIDs is to use them in combination, which may produce synergy and lower the dose required for each agent. This strategy is of particular interest for potential use of low doses of statins and NSAIDs on a long‐term basis for cancer chemoprevention; increased risks for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects associated with the use of NSAIDs have been observed in colorectal cancer chemopreventive trials. This article reviews the evidence for the cancer preventive actions of statins and NSAIDs, as well as their possible synergistic action and the mechanisms involved. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.