bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structures of β‐chalcogeno‐α, β‐unsaturated chalcogenoesters: Novel intramolecular interaction between the carbonyl oxygen and the chalcogen atom at the β‐position
Authors: Ozaki Toshiya , Nomoto Akihiro , Ogawa Akiya
Published: April 2011

A series of β‐chalcogeno‐α, β‐unsaturated chalcogenoesters (1 and 2) were synthesized, and their molecular structures were investigated in detail by X‐ray crystal analyses. Interestingly, intramolecular interactions between the carbonyl oxygen and the chalcogen atom at the β‐position (β‐S ···O and β‐Se···O) were observed in most cases, and intermolecular π–π interaction and hydrogen bonding were observed in the case of δ‐hydroxy derivatives (1b and 2b). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:579–585, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.20690
Iron‐catalyzed quick homocoupling reaction of aryl or alkynyl Grignard reagents using a phosphonium ionic liquid solvent system
Authors: Kude Keisuke , Hayase Shuichi , Kawatsura Motoi , Itoh Toshiyuki
Published: April 2011

The iron‐catalyzed homocoupling reaction of aryl Grignard reagent was completed very quickly when the reaction was carried out in a phosphonium salt ionic liquid solvent system at 0°C for 5 min. Using a similar reaction system, the first example of the iron‐catalyzed homocoupling reaction of alkynyl Grignard reagents has also been accomplished using the ionic liquid technology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:397–404, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.20696
ESTIMATED INFILTRATION PARAMETERS AND MANNING ROUGHNESS IN BORDER IRRIGATION
Authors: Weibo Nie , Liangjun Fei , Xiaoyi Ma
Published: April 2011

Based on the volume balance (VB) equation, the surface water profile was shown to be a power function and Philip equation equal to the Kostiakov–Lewis equation when the infiltration parameter a = 0.5. With this assumption, an equation was proposed for estimating infiltration parameters together with Manning roughness. The method requires only multi‐point water advance data of border irrigation. Solving the equation requires use of the nonlinear least‐squares fitting technique by Matlab software. The proposed method was validated with field experimental data and some reported border tests. The solution procedure was analysed, the results showing that the values of infiltration parameters S and A are not changed, but Manning roughness n varies when σh were given different values (0.70, 0.75, 0.80, respectively). Alternative measures of subsurface water storage and water advance trajectory were used to validate the method. Errors between measured and estimated were 2.0–13% for subsurface water storage, in which the infiltration parameters S and A were estimated with the proposed method. The maximum average absolute error was 6.07% for water advance in all border tests when different Manning roughness n was used (for an n value was estimated when different the shape factor of surface profile σh values were adopt by the proposed method in this paper). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of ion transporter expression in gill mitochondrion‐rich cells of eels acclimated to low‐Na+ or‐Cl− freshwater
Authors: Tse William K.F. , Chow S.C. , Lai K.P. , Au D.W.T. , Wong Chris K.C.
Published: April 2011

In this study, we aimed to establish an experimental model to study the role of the gill mitochondrion‐rich cells (MRCs) of freshwater fish in Na+ uptake and to examine the effect of adjusting external Na+ and Cl− ions on selected ion transporters in gill MRCs. Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) acclimated to deionized (DI) water for 2 weeks were transferred directly to (a) ion‐supplemented artificial freshwater (AF), (b) Na+‐deficient AF, or (c) Cl−‐deficient AF for 2 days. The effects of the transfer on the expression levels of ion transporters in isolated gill cells were investigated. Our data demonstrated that the 2‐day acclimation in ion‐supplemented AF, Na+‐deficient AF, or Cl−‐deficient AF led to a significant increase in serum osmolarity attributed mainly to an increase in serum Na+ and/or Cl− levels when compared with DI‐acclimated eel. Significant inductions of V‐type H+‐ATPase (V‐H+‐ATPase) and cotransporter (NBC1) mRNA expression in gill MRCs were detected in AF‐acclimated fish. In fish acclimated to Na+‐deficient AF, mRNA expression levels of V‐H+‐ATPase, NBC1, and Na+/H+‐exchanger‐3 (NHE3) were significantly increased in MRCs. Fish acclimated to Cl−‐deficient AF showed no observable change in expression levels of ion transporters in gill MRCs. In addition, expression levels of ion transporters in pavement cells were stable throughout the 2‐day experiments. These data indicate that the level of Na+ in freshwater is important for altering the mRNA expression of ion transporters in gill MRCs, which supports the notion that gill MRCs play important roles in freshwater Na+ uptake. J. Exp. Zool. 315:385–393, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Facile synthesis of new imidazoles from direct reaction of 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone with aldehydes
Authors: Aly Ashraf A. , Hassan Alaa A. , Brown Alan B. , El‐Shaieb Kamal M. , Bedair Tarek M. I.
Published: April 2011

New imidazoles were easily prepared from 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone and stoichiometric quantities of the appropriate aldehydes in dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent. The reaction proceeded for few hours. The procedure can be generalized to different classes of aldehydes. 2‐Methyl‐1H‐naphtho[2,3‐d]imidazole‐4,9‐dione was also obtained in good yield during refluxing of 2,3‐diaminonaphthoquinone in acetic acid. The structure of the newly synthesized imidazoles was extensively investigated using NMR experiments. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).
Cephalic modifications in dimorphic dwarf spiders of the genus oedothorax (Erigoninae, Linyphiidae, Araneae) and their evolutionary implications
Authors: Michalik Peter , Uhl Gabriele
Published: April 2011

Reproductive competition among males selects for a broad variety of strategies and traits from mate guarding to nuptial food gifts. Males of many dwarf spider species possess conspicuous secondary cephalic modifications, and the few studies available suggest that these cephalic structures are connected to extensive glandular tissue. Because females were observed to contact the male head structures during mating, these traits may have evolved in the context of sexual selection. We investigated the structure, glandular equipment, and sensory equipment of the cephalic regions of several species of the dwarf spider genus Oedothorax with varying degrees of sexual dimorphism using light and electron microscopy. In one Oedothorax species, there are two male morphs that exhibit a cephalic modification (O. gibbosus gibbosus) or not (O. gibbosus tuberosus). Our study demonstrates that all males investigated produce cephalic secretions, irrespective of the morphology of their cephalic region, however, they may differ in amount of secretion and in cellular organization. In males of O. apicatus,
O. gibbosus gibbosus and O. retusus the gland cells are very abundant in the area of a cephalic hump, whereas in the less conspicuous O. agrestis, and O. gibbosus tuberosus the gland cells are restricted to a small area behind the ocular region or include the ocular region as in O. fuscus. The glandular tissue consists of two gland types in O. agrestis, O. fuscus, O. gibbosus tuberosus and O. retusus and of only one type in O. apicatus and O. gibbosus gibbosus. The setae present on the head structure of all species seem to function as mechano‐ and/or chemoreceptors. The implications of our findings for the evolution of secretory head structures are discussed along with their potential for driving speciation. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Label‐free sensing and atomic force spectroscopy for the characterization of protein–DNA and protein–protein interactions: application to estrogen receptors
Authors: Berthier A. , Elie‐Caille C. , Lesniewska E. , Delage‐Mourroux R. , Boireau W.
Published: April 2011

In this paper we describe a new surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor dedicated to potential estrogenic compounds prescreening, by developing an estrogen receptor (ER) specific DNA chip. Through the covalent binding of a DNA strain wearing the estrogen response element (ERE) to an activated 6‐mercapto‐1‐hexadecanoic acid and 11‐mercapto‐1‐undecanol self‐assembled monolayer on gold surface, the SPR biosensor allows to detect specifically, quickly, and without any labeling the binding of ER in the presence of estrogen. In parallel, we investigated the ER interaction with itself, in order to study the formation of ER dimer apparently needed to activate the gene expression through ERE interaction. For that, we engaged force spectroscopy experiments that allowed us to prove that ER needs estrogen for its dimerization. Moreover, these ER/ER intermolecular measurements enabled to propose an innovative screening tool for anti‐estrogenic compounds, molecules of interest for hormono‐dependant cancer therapy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single and multiple bonds in (strept)avidin–biotin interactions
Authors: Teulon Jean‐Marie , Delcuze Yannick , Odorico Michael , Chen Shu‐wen W. , Parot Pierre , Pellequer Jean‐Luc
Published: April 2011

Thanks to Dynamic Force Spectroscopy (DFS) and developments of massive data analysis tools, such as YieldFinder, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) becomes a powerful method for analyzing long lifetime ligand–receptor interactions. We have chosen the well‐known system, (strept)avidin–biotin complex, as an experimental model due to the lack of consensus on interpretations of the rupture force spectrum (Walton et al., 2008). We present new measurements of force–displacement curves for the (strept)avidin–biotin complex. These data were analyzed using the YieldFinder software based on the Bell‐Evans formalism. In addition, the Williams model was adopted to interpret the bonding state of the system. Our results indicate the presence of at least two energy barriers in two loading rate regimes. Combining with structural analysis, the energy barriers can be interpreted in a novel physico‐chemical context as one inner barrier for H‐bond ruptures (γ < 1 Å), and one outer barrier for escaping from the binding pocket which is blocked by the side chain of a symmetry‐related Trp120 in the streptavidin tetramer. In each loading rate regime, the presence of multiple parallel bonds was implied by the Williams model. Interestingly, we found that in literature different terms created for addressing the apparent discrepancies in the results of avidin–biotin interactions can be reconciled by taking into account multiple parallel bonds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure and assembly–disassembly properties of wild‐type transthyretin amyloid protofibrils observed with atomic force microscopy
Authors: Pires Ricardo H. , Saraiva Maria J. , Damas Ana M. , Kellermayer Miklós S. Z.
Published: April 2011

Transthyretin (TTR) is an important human transport protein present in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid. Aggregation of TTR in the form of amyloid fibrils is associated with neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms of cytotoxicity are likely to stem from the presence of intermediate assembly states. Characterization of these intermediate species is therefore essential to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of TTR‐related amyloidoses. In the present work we used atomic force microscopy to investigate the morphological features of wild‐type (WT) TTR amyloid protofibrils that appear in the early stages of aggregation. TTR protofibrils obtained by mild acidification appeared as flexible filaments with variable length and were able to bind amyloid markers (thioflavin T and Congo red). Surface topology and contour‐length distribution displayed a periodic pattern of ∼15 nm, suggesting that the protofibrils assemble via an end‐binding oligomer fusion mechanism. The average height and periodic substructure found in protofibrils is compatible with the double‐helical model of the TTR amyloid protofilament. Over time protofibrils aggregated into bundles and did not form mature amyloid‐like fibrils. Unlike amyloid fibrils that are typically stable under physiological conditions, the bundles dissociated into component protofibrils with axially compacted and radially dilated structure when exposed to phosphate‐buffered saline solution. Thus, WT TTR can form metastable filamentous aggregates that may represent an important transient state along the pathway towards the formation of cytotoxic TTR species. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallel AFM imaging and force spectroscopy using two‐dimensional probe arrays for applications in cell biology
Authors: Favre Mélanie , Polesel‐Maris Jérôme , Overstolz Thomas , Niedermann Philippe , Dasen Stephan , Gruener Gabriel , Ischer Réal , Vettiger Peter , Liley Martha , Heinzelmann Harry , Meister André
Published: April 2011

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations of living cells provide new information in both biology and medicine. However, slow cell dynamics and the need for statistically significant sample sizes mean that data collection can be an extremely lengthy process. We address this problem by parallelizing AFM experiments using a two‐dimensional cantilever array, instead of a single cantilever. We have developed an instrument able to operate a two‐dimensional cantilever array, to perform topographical and mechanical investigations in both air and liquid. Deflection readout for all cantilevers of the probe array is performed in parallel and online by interferometry. Probe arrays were microfabricated in silicon nitride. Proof‐of‐concept has been demonstrated by analyzing the topography of hard surfaces and fixed cells in parallel, and by performing parallel force spectroscopy on living cells. These results open new research opportunities in cell biology by measuring the adhesion and elastic properties of a large number of cells. Both properties are essential parameters for research in metastatic cancer development. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of lipid microtubes as a novel slow‐release delivery system for laryngeal injection
Authors: Kolachala Vasantha L. , Berg Eric E. , Shams Samantha , Mukhatyar Vivek , Sueblinvong Viranuj , Bellamkonda Ravi V. , Johns Michael M.
Published: April 2011

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The potential utility of direct injection of bioactive substances in the treatment of vocal fold tissue fibrosis is limited by rapid clearance from the injection site. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of a lipid‐based microtube delivery system to preserve the biological activity of injected substances and prolong their duration of pharmacological effects in the larynx.

Study Design:

Prospective in vitro and case–control in vivo murine study

Methods:

Lipid‐based microtubes were loaded with Texas red‐dextran (MT‐TR) and hepatocyte growth factor (MT‐HGF). In vitro and in vivo (using a murine vocal fold injection model) release of MT‐TR and MT‐HGF were determined to assess duration of microtube‐mediated delivery. The biologic effects of MT‐HGF on fibroblasts were assessed after treatment in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β.

Results:

In vitro release kinetics demonstrated slow release of MT‐TR and MT‐HGF, correlating with in vivo results demonstrating persistence of MT‐HGF at 4 weeks postinjection. Bioefficacy was maintained, as MT‐HGF was shown to inhibit TGF‐β‐mediated induction of procollagen mRNA levels in vitro 24 hours after treatment in fibroblast cells. Sustained release of HGF from microtubes at 6 days exacerbated the effects of TGF‐β and increased levels of procollagen mRNA.

Conclusions:

Microtubes have significant potential utility as an efficacious means of sustained‐release delivery of bioactive agents to the larynx. Atthough the role of HGF as an antifibrotic agent is questioned, its sustained bioefficacy after microtube encapsulation distinguishes microtubes from other delivery vehicles.
Macromol. React. Eng. 1/2008
Authors: Müller Matthias , Cunningham Michael F. , Hutchinson Robin A.
Published: April 2011

Cover: ATRP polymerization was investigated using a tubular reactor. Solution ATRP experiments mediated with a CuBr/pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst were performed with styrene and butyl acrylate to demonstrate the feasibility of a continuous reaction process for ATRP living/controlled polymerization. Further details can be found in the article by M. Müller, M. F. Cunningham*, and R. A. Hutchinson* on page 31.
Steroid therapy may be effective in augmenting hemoglobin levels during hemolytic crises in children with hereditary spherocytosis
Authors: Ballin Ami , Waisbourd‐Zinman Orit , Saab Hitam , Yacobovich Joanne , Zoldan Meirah , Barzilai‐Birenbaum Shlomit , Yaniv Isaac , Tamary Hannah
Published: April 2011

Background

The course of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) may be subject to hemolytic episodes, sometimes requiring blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a short course of steroid therapy in elevating hemoglobin levels during hemolytic crisis.

Procedure

The files of all patients followed for HS from 1968 to 2009 at our hospital were reviewed. Outcome of hemolytic crises was compared between steroid‐treated and untreated patients; patients given packed red blood cell transfusion(s) or erythropoietin treatment were excluded. A good outcome was defined as an increase of at least 20% in hemoglobin level from the nadir within 1 week.

Results

Of the 118 patients with HS who attended our hospital during the study period, 20 were treated with steroids and 9 received no treatment. Mean nadir hemoglobin level in both groups was 6.9 g/dl. The study group had a total of 50 steroid‐treated hemolytic crises of which 37 (74%) responded favorably to treatment. Treatment failure was significantly associated with a low dose (<1 mg/kg/day) or short duration (<1 week) of treatment. The nine untreated patients had 16 hemolytic crises, of which 25% had a good outcome. Steroid therapy was significantly more effective than no therapy in increasing hemoglobin level (P = 0.015) in these hemolytic crises.

Conclusion

Steroid therapy may be effective in augmenting hemoglobin levels during hemolytic crises in patients with moderate HS and eventually will result in a reduced need for RBC transfusion. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 303–305. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein loop selection using orientation‐dependent force fields derived by parameter optimization
Authors: Liang Shide , Zhang Chi , Standley Daron M.
Published: April 2011

We used the orientation‐dependent Optimized Side Chain Atomic eneRgy (OSCAR‐o), derived in an early study, for protein loop selection. The prediction accuracy of OSCAR‐o was better than that of physics‐based force fields or statistical potential energy functions for both the RAPPER decoy set and the Jacobson decoy set. The native conformer was frequently ranked as lowest energy among the decoys. Furthermore, strong correlation was observed between the OSCAR‐o score and the root mean square deviation (RMSD) from the native structure for energy‐minimized decoys. In practical use, we applied OSCAR‐o to rescore decoys generated by a widely used loop‐modeling program, LOOPY. As a result, the mean RMSD values of top‐ranked decoys were reduced by 0.3 Å for loop targets of seven to nine residues. We expect similar performance for OSCAR‐o with other loop‐modeling algorithms in the context of decoy rescoring. A loop selection program (OSCAR‐ls) based on OSCAR‐o is available at http://sysimm.ifrec.osaka‐u.ac.jp/OSCAR/. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Contact and fumigant toxicity of plant essential oils and efficacy of spray formulations containing the oils against B‐ and Q‐biotypes of Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Kim Soon‐Il , Chae Song‐Hwa , Youn Hee‐Sung , Yeon Seong‐Hum , Ahn Young‐Joon
Published: April 2011

BACKGROUND: The contact + fumigant toxicity of 92 plant essential oils and control efficacy of 18 experimental spray formulations containing nine selected essential oils (0.5 and 0.1% sprays) and six commercial insecticides to females from B‐ and Q‐biotypes of Bemisia tabaci were evaluated using vapour‐phase mortality and spray bioassays.

RESULTS: Garlic and oregano (LC50, 0.15 mL cm−3) were the most toxic oils against B‐ and Q‐biotype females. Strong fumigant toxicity to both biotype females was also obtained from catnip, cinnamon bark, clove bud, clove leaf, davana, savory and vetiver Haiti oils (LC50, 0.17–0.48 mL cm−3). The 0.5% sprays of these oils (except for thyme red oil) resulted in 90–100% mortality against both biotype females. Only garlic applied as 0.1% spray provided 100% mortality. Spinosad 100 g L−1 suspension concentrate (SC) treatment resulted in 92 and 95% mortality against both biotype females, whereas acetamiprid 80 g L−1 wettable powder (WP), imidacloprid 80 g L−1 SC, thiamethoxam 100 g L−1 water‐dispersible granule (WDG) and pyridaben 200 g L−1 WP treatments resulted in 89–100% mortality against B‐biotype females only.

CONCLUSION: In the light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in the agricultural environment, the essential oils described, particularly garlic, cinnamon bark and vetiver Haiti, merit further study as potential insecticides for the control of B. tabaci populations as fumigants with contact action. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Drip application of methyl bromide alternative chemicals for control of soilborne pathogens and weeds
Authors: Gerik James S , Hanson Bradley D
Published: April 2011

BACKGROUND: Producers of several high‐value crops in California have traditionally used preplant soil fumigation with methyl bromide/chloropicrin combinations. Although methyl bromide has been phased out since 2005, several crop industries, including cut flower producers, have continued methyl bromide use under Critical Use Exemptions, a provision of the Montreal Protocol. This research was conducted to evaluate newer, emerging methyl bromide alternative chemicals.

RESULTS: Two field trials were conducted to test several emerging chemicals in combination with metam sodium as replacements for methyl bromide. Emerging chemicals included 2‐bromoethanol, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, propylene oxide and sodium azide. Weed and pathogen populations were measured after chemical application, and seed viability was assessed from weed seed previously buried in the plots. In the first trial, the emerging chemicals did not improve pest control compared with metam sodium alone. However, in the second trial, several of these chemicals did improve the pest control performance of metam sodium.

CONCLUSIONS: The emerging alternative chemicals have the potential to provide better control of soilborne pathogens and weeds when used with metam sodium than metam sodium alone. Registration of these materials could provide California growers with a broader choice of tools compared with the limited methyl bromide alternatives now available. Published 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hot carrier relaxation process in InGaN epilayers
Authors: Lagarde D. , Carrère H. , Chassaing P.‐M. , Balocchi A. , Marie X. , Balkan N. , Schaff W. J.
Published: April 2011

InGaN epilayers with gallium fractions ranging between 0 and 0.48 have been studied by time‐resolved photoluminescence. Layers containing low gallium fractions are associated with low PL emission intensity. For In0.83Ga0.17N layer, the luminescence decay is 100 times faster in the high energy part of the photoluminescence spectrum than on the low energy part, reflecting the hot carrier recombination process. This is confirmed by the significant blue shift of the photoluminescence spectra for short decay times compared to the time integrated spectrum. It takes about 10 ps for the carriers to reach an equilibrium temperature of 100 K.
Nanoneedles based on porous silicon for chip bonding with self assembly capability
Authors: Jonnalagadda Prasad , Mescheder Ulrich , Kovacs Andras , Nimoe Antwi
Published: April 2011

Needle‐like surface structures have been fabricated using a self‐organized nanostructuring process based on porous silicon. Optimized surfaces have been used for a novel bonding process in Si‐MEMS. The realized needle‐like surfaces enable Van‐der‐Waals based bonding at low temperature with self‐assembly capability. The bonding forces depend on the surface topology and can be tailored by the nanostructuring process between permanent and detachable bonding. Bond strength for permanent bonding in the range of 1‐10 MPa has been achieved. Multiple bonding of the same surface is possible (Velcro®‐principle). The capability of needle like surfaces for self aligned bonding of Si‐chips or small silicon based systems (“smart dust”) on locally nanostructured areas of silicon wafers (Si‐motherboard) has been shown. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Non‐linear conductivity of NbS3 in pressure induced metal state
Authors: Dizhur Eugene , Kostyleva Irina , Voronovskii Anatoly , Zaitzev‐Zotov Sergey
Published: April 2011

Temperature and voltage dependencies of conduction of a quasi‐one‐dimensional conductor NbS3 after its transition into a metallic state has been studied at pressures higher than 6 GPa. The differential resistance R = dV /dI measured at small biases (the electric field E below 2 V/cm) demonstrate a considerable growth upon cooling below 20 K accompanied by appearance of the non‐linear conduction.

Both the growth and nonlinear conduction disappear at E > 3 V/cm or when the temperature exceeds 40 K. A narrow dip visible only at much smaller fields E < 20 mV/cm is superimposed over that nonlinear background when cooling below 3.7 K. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Compressibility and vibration modes of the supramolecular compound assembly from arsenic vanadates and [Co(H2O)6]2+ cations
Authors: Han Dandan , Hong Youliang , Ma Yanmei , Wang Xin , Zhu Pinwen
Published: April 2011

The high‐pressure behavior of new supramolecular compound based on arsenic vanadates formulated as [H2As6V15O42(H2O)][Co(H2O)6]2.2H2O is investigated by Raman spectroscopy using a diamond anvil cell up to 21GPa. A reversible pressure‐induced phase transition was observed at a pressure above 8.3 GPa. Upon compression, the intensity of modes at lower‐frequency from 100‐600 cm‐1V1, V2, V3, V4, softens and vanishes at about 8.3 GPa. Also, the high‐frequency v7(937cm‐1) disappears at about 8.3 GPa. The reversible transition may be due to both the extinct of vanadyl(V=O) double bonds in VO5 pyramids and the changes in the AsO3 network under pressure. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Corosolic Acid Triggers Mitochondria and Caspase‐dependent Apoptotic Cell Death in Osteosarcoma MG‐63 Cells
Authors: Cai Xiaobing , Zhang Hao , Tong Dake , Tan Zhangyong , Han Dong , Ji Fang , Hu Wei
Published: April 2011

The response of osteosarcoma MG‐63 cells to corosolic acid treatment has been investigated. The results showed that corosolic acid significantly inhibited cell viability in both a dose and a time dependent manner. It was found that corosolic acid increased the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio by up‐regulating Bax expression, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and triggered the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Corosolic acid treatment triggered the activation of caspase‐8, 9 and 3. The apoptosis was obviously inhibited by pretreatment with a general caspase inhibitor, z‐VAD‐FMK. Moreover, pretreatment of CsA, a cyclophilin D ligand that inhibits mitochondria potential uncoupling, prevented the activation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3, but not caspase‐8, and the apoptosis of MG‐63 cells, triggered by corosolic acid. All these results indicated that corosolic acid‐induced apoptosis was associated with the activation of caspases via a mitochondrial pathway. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formulation and in vitro evaluation of κ‐carrageenan‐pregelatinized starch‐based mucoadhesive gels containing miconazole
Authors: Lefnaoui Sonia , Moulai‐Mostefa Nadji
Published: April 2011

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of using κ‐carrageenan (κ‐Carr) with pregelatinized starch (PGS) in the improvement of swelling and erosion behaviors of mucoadhesive gels containing 2% of miconazole. Polymer blends containing carrageenan and PGS were used for the formulation, and the effect of varying polymer concentrations on the drug release was studied. The matrices were prepared using different biopolymer (starch hydrogel) concentrations. Swelling and erosion characteristics of the matrices were carried out in various media and their impact on drug release were studied. The swelling action of the gel matrix was controlled by the rate of its hydration in the medium. Release studies have showed that the swelling and erosion of matrices influence the drug release. In addition, the presence of κ‐Carr in the gel formula improves the bioadhesive properties. The release data showed a good fit into the power law or Korsmeyer–Peppas equation indicating the combined effects of diffusion and erosion mechanisms of drug release. Most of the formulations released miconazole by an anomalous (non‐Fickian) transport mechanism, except those matrices that contained PGS alone which showed zero‐order release.
Anion Effects on the Formation of Silver(I) Complexes with the Flexible Ligand 4,4′‐Bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)biphenyl
Authors: Ni Tianjun , Zhao Yongmei , Shao Min , Zhu Shourong , Xing Feifei , Li Mingxing
Published: April 2011

The reaction of 4,4′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)biphenyl (btmb) with silver(I) salts of BF4–, NO3– and N3– led to the formation of four new silver(I) coordination polymers {[Ag(btmb)]BF4}n (1), {[Ag2(btmb)3](NO3)2(H2O)5}n (2), [Ag2(btmb)(N3)2]n (3), and [Ag(btmb)(N3)]n (4). Their coordination number varies from 2 (in 1) to 3 (in 2), 4 (in 3), and 5 (in 4). Different from the single chain structure of 1, complex 2 displays a 1D ladder‐like double chain framework, whereas complex 3 exhibits a 2D layered architecture. Complex 4 has the same anion as complex 3 but shows a different metal‐to‐ligand ratio and a 1D double‐zigzag chain structure. Both 3 and 4 have Ag···Ag argentophilic interactions. The ligand btmb adopts both cis or trans configuration in the studied complexes. A trans‐ or cis‐btmb ligand link silver ions with Ag···Ag distances of ≈︁18 and 13 Å, respectively. BF4– and NO3– are non‐coordinating anions in 1 and 2. N3– is the bridging anion in 3 (1,3‐bridging fashion) and 4 (1,1‐bridging fashion). These findings suggest that the coordination numbers around the AgI ion correlate to the coordination abilities of anions and the btmb to silver ratio. In addition, the influence of anions on thermal stability were also investigated. This work is a good example that nicely supports the less explored field of anion‐dependent structures of complexes with non‐pyridyl ligands.
Pancreas Divisum: A Differentiated Surgical Approach in Symptomatic Patients
Authors: Schneider Lutz , Müller Elias , Hinz Ulf , Grenacher Lars , Büchler Markus W. , Werner Jens
Published: April 2011

Background

Some patients with pancreas divisum (PD) develop symptoms of recurrent pancreatitis. This is probably caused by insufficient drainage of the pancreatic duct. We report the results of our follow‐up of patients who underwent surgery for symptomatic pancreas divisum according to an individualized surgical approach.

Methods

Between October 2001 and April 2009, 28 patients with symptomatic pancreas divisum were operated at the University Hospital of Heidelberg. According to the localization and type of morphological changes of the pancreas, patients received a reinsertion of the papilla (SP; n = 11), duodenum‐preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR; n = 10), pylorus‐preserving Whipple (ppWhipple; n = 4), or other pancreatic resections (n = 3). Hospitalization, morbidity, mortality, pain course, and patient satisfaction were analyzed.

Results

Before surgery, patients received a median of three endoscopic interventions and were hospitalized for 77 days. The median postoperative follow‐up was 4.1 years. Surgical morbidity was 11% and mortality 0%. We performed an SP when the pancreas was soft (n = 10). When the pancreas was inflammatory altered, a DPPHR was performed in ten, ppW in four, segmental resection in two, and SP and pancreatic left resection in one case. A redo operation for persisting symptoms was needed in six patients (3 soft and 3 altered pancreas). Compared with the preoperative situation, pain was significantly reduced in the follow‐up (median Visual Analogue Scale 0 vs. 10). Ninety‐six percent of patients were without symptoms during the follow‐up.

Conclusions

The individualized surgical approach for patients with symptomatic PD achieves significant reduction of pain in all patients. Reinsertions of the papilla should be performed as a first surgical intervention in patients with a soft pancreas when symptoms persist despite adequate endoscopic treatment. DPPHR should be performed when fibrotic alterations of the pancreas are present.
A novel in silico approach to identify potential therapeutic targets in human bacterial pathogens
Authors: Vetrivel Umashankar , Subramanian Gurunathan , Dorairaj Sudarsanam
Published: April 2011

In recent years, genome-sequencing projects of pathogens and humans have revolutionized microbial drug target identification. Of the several known genomic strategies, subtractive genomics has been successfully utilized for identifying microbial drug targets. The present work demonstrates a novel genomics approach in which codon adaptation index (CAI), a measure used to predict the translational efficiency of a gene based on synonymous codon usage, is coupled with subtractive genomics approach for mining potential drug targets. The strategy adopted is demonstrated using respiratory pathogens, namely, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae as examples. Our approach identified 8 potent target genes (Streptococcus pneumoniae–2, H. influenzae–6), which are functionally significant and also play key role in host-pathogen interactions. This approach facilitates swift identification of potential drug targets, thereby enabling the search for new inhibitors. These results underscore the utility of CAI for enhanced in silico drug target identification.
Preparation of Diacylglycerol‐Enriched Oil from Free Fatty Acids Using Lecitase Ultra‐Catalyzed Esterification
Authors: Wang Lili , Wang Yong , Hu Changying , Cao Qian , Yang Xiaohui , Zhao Mouming
Published: April 2011

Production of diacylglycerol‐enriched oil by esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) with glycerol (GLY) using phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra) was investigated in this work. The variables including reaction time (2–10 h), water content (2–14 wt%, FFA and GLY mass), enzyme load (10–120 U/g, FFA and GLY mass), reaction temperature (30–70 °C) and mole ratio of GLY to FFA (0.5–2.5) were studied. The optimum conditions obtained were as follows: reaction temperature 40 °C, water content 8 wt%, reaction time 6 h, molar ratio of GLY to FFA 2.0, and an enzyme load of 80 U/g. Under these conditions, the esterification efficiency (EE) of free fatty acids was 74.8%. The compositions of the FFA and acylglycerols of the upper oil layer (crude diacylglycerol) of the reaction mixture were determined using a high temperature gas chromatograph (GC). The crude diacylglycerol from the selected conditions was molecularly distilled at 170 °C evaporator temperatures to produce a diacylglycerol‐enrich oil (DEO) with a purity of 83.1% and a yield of 42.7%.
Regulation of remyelination in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hanafy Khalid A. , Sloane Jacob A.
Published: April 2011

Multiple sclerosis is a common demyelinating disease that worsens over the course of disease, a significant problem in clinical management. Disability in MS is significantly promoted by poor repair and remyelination of lesions. Both oligodendrocyte recruitment and maturation defects are seen as major causes of poor remyelination in MS. The mechanisms behind impaired remyelination in animal models include involvement of the Notch1, wnt, and hyaluronan/TLR2 pathways. RXR/PPAR signaling has also more recently been identified as an important regulator of remyelination. The local inflammatory milieu also appears to play critical and conflicting roles in promotion and inhibition of remyelination in MS. Understanding the forces regulating remyelination in MS represents an exciting and important initial step towards developing therapeutics targeting chronic disability in MS.
Yet another Poincaré Polyhedron Theorem
Authors: Anan'in Sasha , Grossi Carlos H.
Published: April 2011

Poincaré's Polyhedron Theorem is a widely known valuable tool in constructing manifolds endowed with a prescribed geometric structure. It is one of the few criteria providing discreteness of groups of isometries. This work contains a version of Poincaré's Polyhedron Theorem that is applicable to constructing fibre bundles over surfaces and also suits geometries of non-constant curvature. Most conditions of the theorem, being as local as possible, are easy to verify in practice.
Effect of household land management on cropland topsoil organic carbon storage at plot scale in a red earth soil area of South China
Authors: FENG S. , TAN S. , ZHANG A. , ZHANG Q. , PAN G. , QU F. , SMITH P. , LI L. , ZHANG X.
Published: April 2011

An inventory of topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) content in household farms was performed in a village from a red earth region in Jiangxi Province, China in 2003. In this region, the farmland managed by each household is fragmented, consisting of several plots of land that are not necessarily adjacent to each other. A statistical analysis of SOC variation with land use and household management type, and with crop management practices was conducted. Plot size ranged from 0·007 to 0·630 ha with a mean of 0·1 ha, and SOC content ranged from 1·72 to 25·2 g/kg, varying widely with a variety of land management and agricultural practices, arising from individual household behaviours. The mean SOC content in plot size <0·1 ha was 20% lower than in plot size ⩾0·1 ha. SOC of dry crop plots was 70% lower than that in rice paddies, and SOC of plots contracted from the village was almost double that of plots leased from other householders. Moreover, a 30% increase in SOC was observed with green manure cultivation, and a 55% increase under triple cropping. The difference in SOC levels between the least and most favourable cases of household land management and agricultural practice was up to 150%. The results suggest that policies targeted at crop management alone may not deliver the expected SOC benefits if household land management is also not improved.
Hidden viability risks in the use of farm-saved small-grain seed
Authors: PELTONEN-SAINIO P. , RAJALA A. , JAUHIAINEN L.
Published: April 2011

Agriculture must provide sustainable food security and economic development to meet future challenges; new cultivars and the use of quality seed will be key components of this. The use of farm-saved seed may increase due to imbalances between income and expenditure associated with farming. The present study characterized the quality of commonly used, and thereby easily available, farm-saved seed in Finland. Farmers provided 657 seed lot samples of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that they intended to use for sowing. Germination, seed weight, seedling elongation and within-seed-lot variability were analysed. Information was available on region, number of seed generations and cultivar. The specific aims were to identify how many generations of farm-saved seed are generally used by farmers, whether there is any safe generation threshold and the variability of quality of the seed lots. It was found that 0·80–0·84 of barley seed lots exceeded the 0·85 minimum germination requirement for certified seed, but only 0·60 of wheat. The risk of poor establishment was higher in wheat if the seed was not tested: 0·13 of wheat seed lots had germination of ⩽0·65 and 0·06 of ⩽0·50, while for barley the proportions with inadequate germination were 0·03–0·05. At most, >0·30 abnormal seedlings were recorded for barley and >0·50 for wheat. Variation in seed size and seedling length within seed lots was important, and increase in the latter was associated with reduced germination. In combination with up to 0·14 lethal fungus-infected seed, this emphasizes the need for seed upgrading measures. No safe threshold for farm-saved seed generations was determined.
Molecular characterization of pouched amphistome parasites (Trematoda: Gastrothylacidae) using ribosomal ITS2 sequence and secondary structures
Authors: Ghatani S. , Shylla J.A. , Tandon V. , Chatterjee A. , Roy B.
Published: April 2011

Members of the family Gastrothylacidae (Trematoda: Digenea: Paramphistomata) are parasitic in ruminants throughout Africa and Asia. In north-east India, five species of pouched amphistomes, namely Fischoederius cobboldi, F. elongatus, Gastrothylax crumenifer, Carmyerius spatiosus and Velasquezotrema tripurensis, belonging to this family have been reported so far. In the present study, the molecular phylogeny of these five gastrothylacid species is derived using the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequence and secondary structure analyses. ITS2 sequence analysis was carried out to see the occurrence of interspecific variations among the species. Phylogenetic analyses were performed for primary sequence data alone as well as the combined sequence-structure information using neighbour-joining and Bayesian approaches. The sequence analysis revealed that there exist considerable interspecific variations among the various gastrothylacid fluke species. In contrast, the inferred secondary structures for the five species using minimum free energy modelling showed structural identities, in conformity with the core four-helix domain structure that has been recently identified as common to almost all eukaryotic taxa. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed using combined sequence–structure data showed a better resolution, as compared to the one using sequence data alone, with the gastrothylacid species forming a monophyletic group that is well separated from members of the other family, Paramphistomidae, of the amphistomid flukes group. The study provides the molecular characterization based on primary sequence data of the rDNA ITS2 region of the gastrothylacid amphistome flukes. Results also demonstrate the phylogenetic utility of the ITS2 sequence–secondary structure data for inferences at higher taxonomic levels.
The Development of Metallurgy in Southeast Asia: Reply to Loofs-Wissowa
Authors: Bayard Donn , Charoenwongsa Pisit
Published: April 2011

We find this a most curious attack, both in tone and in substance; Loofs-Wissowa appears to believe that we, Solheim, Gorman, and the media have been engaged in a conspiracy to cloud the minds of Westerners and Southeast Asians alike on the origins of metallurgy in the region. Loofs-Wissowa evidently feels that Southeast Asian laymen view this question as equal in importance to contemporary issues there (which is of course not the case). He also believes that it is the most burning issue in archaeology since Piltdown or Glozel, splitting the profession into “Believers” in the “long dates” and “Non Believers”. This is again rather an exaggeration; we would estimate the “Believers” to number not more than a few hundred, while the “Non Believers” may be counted on the fingers of one hand (Marschall, Sørensen, Sieveking, and of course Loofs-Wissowa himself). The remainder of the archaeological world (i.e., over 90%) has other questions to occupy it. However, Loofs-Wissowa is certainly correct in pointing out the attention paid to the question of early metallurgy over the past few years, and we welcome this opportunity to counter his arguments and distinguish between our views and those published by the media. This may best be done by first pointing out errors of omission in the facts presented by Loofs-Wissowa, by examining basic errors in his conceptual framework, and finally by answering the three specific questions he poses.
“Anti-Communism” in Japanese-Philippine Relations during the 1930s
Authors: Goodman Grant K.
Published: April 2011

This paper derives from a larger study of the nature of Japan's relations with colonial South and Southeast Asia in the period between the Russo-Japanese War and the Pacific War. By means of a detailed examination of a single facet of Japanese-Philippine relations, it is hoped that a greater insight may be gained into the often convolute processes of the interactions between, on the one hand, the dominant Asian power of the inter-war period, and on the other hand, colonial entities and personalities still beholden to Western European or North American rulers. However, two caveats need to be put forward about this essay: (1) the case of the Philippines was unique in colonial Asia since the United States had fully committed itself to a policy of withdrawal, thus facilitating contacts between the local ruling elite and Japanese diplomats; (2) despite pre-war and wartime propaganda to the contrary, the principal concern of Japan in all its dealings with colonial South and Southeast Asia before the Pacific War was economic. In the prior instance, therefore, the paragraphs that follow will demonstrate an apparently remarkable degree of freedom of action on the part of the Filipinos in authority under the Commonwealth Administration (1935–46) in spite of the continuing legal responsibility of the United States for Philippine foreign affairs under the provisions of the Tydings-McDuffie (Independence) Act of 1934. The second caveat will be evidenced by the unstinting and continuous attention of Japanese diplomats to the development of ever closer economic ties between the Philippines and Japan.
Marxism and the History of the Nationalist Movements in Laos
Authors: Christie C. J.
Published: April 2011

The relationship between Marxism-Leninism and the national liberation movements of the Third World has always been an uneasy one. The essential issues have been: firstly, the nature of the relationship between movements for national liberation in the Third World and the proletarian movements of the industrially advanced countries; secondly, the question of whether, given the relative backwardness of the Third World countries, leadership of the national liberation movements should be provided by the “bourgeois-nationalist” parties or by Marxist-Leninist parties. The first issue was at least partially resolved by the Comintern in Lenin's time with agreement on the general principle that nationalliberation movements were a vital part of the worldwide struggle against capitalism; but the question of the relative importance of the national liberation movements as against the proletarian movements in the industrialized world was left in abeyance. The second problem of the leadership of the national liberation movements was not satisfactorily resolved in the era of Lenin; however, Stalin's relative neglect of the national liberation issue (particularly after the 1927 fiasco in China and the emergence of the fascist threat in Europe in the inter-war years) did give the Asian Marxists the opportunity to evolve their own policies. It was in the historical context of Comintern weakness and neglect of the Third World that an indigenously developed Marxist national liberation strategy was to emerge.