bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central nervous system medication use and incident mobility limitation in community elders: the health, aging, and body composition study
Authors: Boudreau Robert M. , Hanlon Joseph T. , Roumani Yazan F. , Studenski Stephanie A. , Ruby Christine M. , Wright Rollin M. , Hilmer Sarah N. , Shorr Ronald I. , Bauer Douglas C. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Newman Anne B.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

To evaluate whether CNS medication use in older adults was associated with a higher risk of future incident mobility limitation.

Methods

This 5‐year longitudinal cohort study included 3055 participants from the health, aging and body composition (Health ABC) study who were well‐functioning at baseline. CNS medication use (benzodiazepine and opioid receptor agonists, antipsychotics, and antidepressants) was determined yearly (except year 4) during in‐home or in‐clinic interviews. Summated standardized daily doses (low, medium, and high) and duration of CNS drug use were computed. Incident mobility limitation was operationalized as two consecutive self‐reports of having any difficulty walking 1/4 mile or climbing 10 steps without resting every 6 months after baseline. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were conducted adjusting for demographics, health behaviors, health status, and common indications for CNS medications.

Results

Each year at least 13.9% of participants used a CNS medication. By year 6, overall 49% had developed incident mobility limitation. In multivariable models, CNS medication users compared to never users showed a higher risk for incident mobility limitation (adjusted hazard ratio (Adj. HR) 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.47). Similar findings of increased risk were seen in analyses examining dose– and duration–response relationships.

Conclusions

CNS medication use is independently associated with an increased risk of future incident mobility limitation in community dwelling elderly. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of reducing CNS medication exposure on mobility problems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copolymerization of norbornene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐yl acetate using novel bis(β‐ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3/AlEt3 catalytic system
Authors: He Fuping , Chen Yiwang , He Xiaohui , Chen Muqing , Zhou Weihua , Wu Qing
Published: July 2009

Vinyl‐type copolymerization of norbornene (NBE) and 5‐NBE‐2‐yl‐acetate (NBE‐OCOMe) in toluene were investigated using a novel homogeneous catalyst system based on bis(β‐ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3/AlEt3. The copolymerization behavior as well as the copolymerization conditions, such as the levels of B(C6F5)3 and AlEt3, temperature, and monomer feed ratios, which influence on the copolymerization were examined. Without combination of AlEt3, the catalytic bis(β‐ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3 exhibited very high catalyst activity for polymerization of NBE. Combination of AlEt3 in catalyst system resulted in low conversion for polymerization of NBE. For copolymerization of NBE and NBE‐OCOMe, involvement of AlEt3 in catalyst is necessary. Slight addition of NBE‐OCOMe in copolymerization of NBE and NBE‐OCOMe gives rise to significant increase of catalyst activity for catalytic system bis(β‐ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3/AlEt3. Nevertheless, excess increase of the NBE‐OCOMe content in the comonomer feed ratios results in decrease of conversion as well as activity of catalyst. The achieved copolymers were confirmed to be vinyl‐addition copolymers through the analysis of FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. 13C NMR studies further revealed the composition of the copolymer and the incorporation rate was 7.6–54.1 mol % ester units at a content of 30–90 mol % of the NBE‐OCOMe in the monomer feeds ratios. TGA analysis results showed that the copolymer exhibited good thermal stability (Td > 410 °C) and failed to observe the glass transitions temperature over 300 °C. The copolymers are confirmed to be noncrystalline by WAXD analysis results and show good solubility in common organic solvents. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3990–4000, 2009
Competing stoichiometric phases and the intermediate phase in GexSe1−x glasses
Authors: Inam F. , Tafen D. N. , Chen Gang , Drabold D. A.
Published: July 2009

Raman and calorimetric studies on GexSe1−x glasses have provided evidence for the existence of the intermediate phase (IP) in chalcogenide and other glasses. Ab initio molecular dynamics models of these glasses are discussed, and an atomistic picture of the IP, based upon the models and available experiments is presented. Analysis of our models reveals that the IP in GexSe1−x glasses may arise from the competition between amorphous GeSe2 and a polymeric a‐Se phase, which gives rise to the non‐monotonic evolution of the network parameters through the IP window. A possible electronic signature of the IP in terms of the shift in the conduction edge in the IP range is also observed.
Resistivity of boron doped diamond
Authors: Barjon J. , Habka N. , Mer C. , Jomard F. , Chevallier J. , Bergonzo P.
Published: July 2009

In this Letter, we present a significant advance in boron‐doped diamond material synthesis, with film resistivities reduced by almost two orders of magnitude with respect to the reference data of the field for boron concentrations in the range from 1 × 1018 to 3 × 1019 cm–3. The study is conducted on a series of boron‐doped diamond homoepitaxial layers grown using the microwave plasma assisted vapour phase epitaxy. The electrical properties were obtained from Hall effect measurements and conductivity data probed in the van der Paw configuration at room temperature. This work highlights the important progress made on diamond material synthesis over the last decade, with significant advances in the reduction of compensation effects. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity evaluation of non‐photoactivated hypericin
Authors: Miadokova Eva , Chalupa Ivan , Vlckova Viera , Sevcovicova Andrea , Nadova Slavomira , Kopaskova Marcela , Hercegova Alena , Gasperova Patricia , Alfoldiova Lubica , Komjatiova Monika , Csanyiova Zuzana , Galova Eliska , Cellarova Eva , Vlcek Daniel
Published: July 2009

The potential genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of non‐photoactivated hypericin was investigated in five experimental models. Hypericin was non‐mutagenic in the Ames assay, with and without metabolic activation. It did not exert a protective effect against mutagenicity induced by 9‐aminoacridine. In a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) assay, hypericin did not increase the frequency of mitotic crossovers or total aberrants at theade2locus, the number of convertants at thetrp5locus, or the number of revertants at theilv1locus. In combined application with 4‐nitroquinoline‐1‐oxide, it significantly enhanced the number of revertants at theilv1locus at the highest concentration used. Hypericin was not mutagenic in the algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii. However, in combined application with methyl methane sulfonate, toxicity and mutagenicity were slightly reduced. In a chromosome aberration assay using three mammalian cell lines, hypericin did not alter the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations, and in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, it did not exert any antioxidant effects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytochrome P450 2C19 inhibitory activity of common berry constituents
Authors: Sand Philipp G. , Dreiseitel Andrea , Stang Martin , Schreier Peter , Oehme Anett , Locher Sanja , Hajak Goeran
Published: July 2009

The cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2C19 is involved in the metabolism of many commonly prescribed drugs, including proton pump inhibitors, antiepileptics and antidepressants. CYP2C19 inhibitors from food and food supplements may augment the toxicity of these agents and lead to noncompliance with treatment. The present investigation addresses CYP2C19 inhibition by 18 berry constituents using a chemiluminescent assay. Test compounds displayed inhibitory properties in a concentration‐dependent fashion, with IC50values ranging from 20.2 µMup to >316 µM. In the order of decreasing effect size, anthocyanidins were followed by anthocyanidin‐monoglycosides and procyanidins. Anthocyanidin‐diglucosides exhibited weak and biphasic effects. When compared with the CYP2C19 inhibitor fluvoxamine, the flavonoids under study were 50‐ to 750‐fold less potent. It is concluded that the above natural substances are moderate to poor inhibitors of CYP2C19in vitro. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kaempferol and quercetin, components of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), induce caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis in oral cavity cancer cells
Authors: Kang Ju Wan , Kim Jeong Hong , Song Keejae , Kim Si Hong , Yoon Joo‐Heon , Kim Kyung‐Su
Published: July 2009

EGb 761, extracted from Ginkgo biloba leaves, has been proven to induce caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis in oral cavity cancer cells. Since EGb 761 is a composition of various components, it is important to identify which components are responsible for its anticancer effects to reduce the total dosage and to avoid toxicity. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the effective compounds of EGb 761 that induce apoptosis in oral cavity cancer cells and to identify whether caspase‐3 was involved in apoptosis of oral cancer cells by EGb 761 components. The results of cell proliferation assays on oral cavity cancer cells showed that kaempferol and quercetin significantly inhibited cellular proliferation at a concentration of 40 µM. Flow cytometry showed that the antiproliferative effects of each component were due to increased apoptosis. Kaempferol and quercetin induced apoptosis in various oral cancer cell lines (SCC‐1483, SCC‐25 and SCC‐QLL1) and showed cleavage of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP). Caspase‐3 activity assay revealed that induction of apoptosis by kaempferol and quercetin was caspase‐3‐dependent. In conclusion, the results suggest that kaempferol and quercetin, two components of EGb 761, effectively induce caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis of oral cavity cancer cells and can be considered as possible anti‐oral cavity cancer agents. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficacy of purslane in the treatment of oral lichen planus
Authors: Agha‐Hosseini Farzaneh , Borhan‐Mojabi Katayun , Monsef‐Esfahani Hamid‐Reza , Mirzaii‐Dizgah Iraj , Etemad‐Moghadam Shahroo , Karagah Aida
Published: July 2009

This study evaluated the effectiveness of antioxidant‐rich purslane in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). A total of 37 biopsy‐proven symptomatic OLP patients were selected for this randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. All subjects were divided into two groups to receive purslane (n = 20) or placebo (n = 17) for 3 months. Assessments were made at baseline, after 2 weeks and each month for 6 months, based on the visual analog scale (VAS) and clinical improvement including lesion type and size. Approximately 83% of the purslane patients showed partial to complete clinical improvement but 17% had no response. In the placebo group 17% experienced partial improvement, 73% did not respond and 10% showed worsening. According to VAS scores, a partial to complete response was observed in all purslane‐treated patients, while 71%, 15% and 14% of the controls demonstrated partial response, no response and worsening of the symptoms, respectively. A significant decrease in VAS scores was seen at the end of the study period (p < 0.001). No serious side‐effects occurred in either of the groups. According to our findings purslane is clinically effective in the treatment of OLP. Considering the lack of side‐effects during the study period, it may be a favorable alternative treatment for OLP. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protective effect of Morinda citrifolia fruits on β‐amyloid (25–35) induced cognitive dysfunction in mice: An experimental and biochemical study
Authors: Muralidharan P. , Kumar V. Ravi , Balamurugan G.
Published: July 2009

The neuroprotective effect of an ethyl acetate extract of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae) Linn. fruits (EMC, ethyl acetate extract of Morinda citrifolia) at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. was studied on β‐amyloid (25–35) peptide induced cognitive dysfunction in mice. In the step‐down inhibitory avoidance, EMC exhibited a significant increase in short‐term memory and long‐term memory (p < 0.05). A significant decrease (p < 0.01) in escape latency was noticed in the animals in the water maze. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in alteration of behavior was exhibited upon administration of EMC 200 and 400 mg/kg on the Y maze. Exploratory parameters such as line crossings, head dipping and rearing were increased significantly in EMC treated groups in a dose‐dependent manner (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in acetyl cholinesterase activity was noticed in the EMC 200 and 400 mg/kg treated groups. The level of monoamine oxidase‐A was decreased by the administration of EMC 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). EMC at a dose of 400 mg/kg exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.01) in the levels of serotonin and dopamine. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and ascorbic acid were decreased significantly in the b‐amyloid peptide injected group, whose levels were restored significantly (p < 0.01) by the administration of EMC (400 mg/kg). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiographic evidence of mandibular osteoporosis improvement in Wistar rats treated with Ginkgo biloba
Authors: Lucinda Leda Marília Fonseca , Toledo de Oliveira Tânia , Salvador Pollyanna Amaral , Peters Vera Maria , Reis João Evangelista de Paula , Guerra Martha de Oliveira
Published: July 2009

Objective: Evaluate the effects of the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) on the rat mandibular glucocorticoid‐induced‐osteoporosis. Method: 36 female rats were divided into six groups (n=6): control, osteoporosis, positive control and EGb1 (14mg/kg/day), EGb2 (28mg/kg/day), and EGb3 (56mg/kg/day) treatment. Treatments were conducted for 30 days after osteoporosis induction. The animals were euthanized and their left mandibles were removed and radiographed to evaluate the cortical and the periodontal bone support. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis group (Student's t‐test). The other groups were analyzed by ANOVA test followed by Tukey post‐hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: There was a significant reduction in periodontal bone support in the osteoporosis group. The positive control group showed a significant increase in the mesial periodontal bone support, as well as the EGb group treated with 28 and 56 mg/Kg, which showed a significant increase in the mesial and distal periodontal bone support. The mandibular cortical was not affected by osteoporosis; however, the group treated with EGb using 56 mg/Kg showed a significant increase in the thickness of the mandibular cortical. Conclusions: The EGb recovered the periodontal bone support and increased the mandibular cortical thickness. The EGb may be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Objective filtering of ensemble‐based background‐error variances
Authors: Raynaud Laure , Berre Loïk , Desroziers Gérald
Published: July 2009

Flow‐dependent background‐error variances can be estimated by means of an ensemble of assimilations. However, the finite size of the ensemble implies a sampling noise, which is detrimental for the variance estimation. This article presents a filtering procedure for ensemble‐estimated variance fields, which relies on an estimate of spectral signal/noise ratios.

It is first demonstrated that the sampling noise covariance can be expressed analytically as a simple function of the background‐error covariance. The resulting formula shows in particular that the spatial structure of the sampling noise is closely related to the spatial structure of background error (i.e. to its correlation function). It is then explained how this relation can be used to calculate an objective filter.

Investigations are first conducted in a highly idealized 1D framework, to show that the proposed filter is able to remove most of the sampling noise, while extracting the signal of interest. Application to an ensemble of Météo‐France Arpège forecasts is then considered. This objective filter reveals a vertical‐level dependence, with a larger signal/noise ratio near the surface, and a scale separation between signal and noise which is more pronounced in altitude. The results also indicate that, after applying such an optimized filter, variance estimates obtained from a six‐member ensemble have a residual estimation error variance around 10%.

Some insights are then given into the spatio‐temporal dynamics of the variance field. It is observed that the globally averaged background‐error variance is fairly stable in time, while spatial patterns of the variance field are closely linked to the meteorological situation, with high values found in the vicinity of troughs.

Finally, impact studies in the Arpège system show that the filtering of vorticity variances has a positive impact on the quality of the NWP system. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
The diurnal cycle of surface divergence over the global oceans
Authors: Wood R. , Köhler M. , Bennartz R. , O'Dell C.
Published: July 2009

The diurnal cycle of surface divergence over the oceans is examined using 4 × daily data from the tandem SeaWinds satellite missions during April‐September 2003. A statistically significant diurnal cycle of surface divergence is observed over a large fraction of the tropical and subtropical oceans. The highest amplitudes are found adjacent to tropical landmasses and decrease exponentially with distance away from the coast, with a representative e‐folding distance of approximately 200 km. In most of these near‐coastal regions the surface divergence peaks at ∼15‐20 h locally and there is evidence of offshore propagation of the signal. There are regions, however, where strong cycles persist for much greater distances offshore. Over the southeast Pacific Ocean, there is evidence of a diurnal subsidence wave that propagates for over 2000 km away from the South American coast at approximately 25 m s−1. A cloud response to the subsidence wave moving westward from the Andes mountains is detected using passive microwave observations of liquid‐water path. Over the remote tropical Pacific, significant diurnal amplitude is found in and around regions of strong mean surface convergence, with a phase suggesting a surface response to the early morning diurnal maximum in precipitation and propagation away from these sources consistent with gravity waves forced by deep tropospheric heating. European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model simulations of 850 hPa subsidence show a diurnal cycle that is largely consistent with the SeaWinds divergence observations. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Artificial Neural Network‐Based Quantitative Structural Property Relationship for Predicting Boiling Points of Refrigerants
Authors: Ghasemi Jahanbakhsh , Saaidpour Saadi
Published: July 2009

Quantitative Structure‐Property Relationship (QSPR) model for the estimation of boiling points of organic compounds containing halogens, oxygen, or sulfur without hydrogen bonding were established with the Molecular Modeling Pro Plus (MMPP) software. A QSPR study was performed to develop models that relate the structures of 90 refrigerants compounds to their boiling point temperatures. Molecular descriptors derived solely from structure were used to represent molecular structures. A subset of the calculated descriptors selected using genetic algorithm (GA) was used in the QSPR models development. Artificial neural network (ANN) is utilized to construct the QSPR model. The optimal QSPR model was developed based on a 4‐4‐1 artificial neural network architecture using molecular descriptors calculated from molecular structure alone. The root mean square errors (RMSE) in normal boiling points predictions were 4.46 °C for the training set, 3.86 °C for the validation set and 4.99 °C for the prediction set. The prediction results are in good agreement with the experimental value.
Theoretical determination of lowest structures of all‐metal aromatic clusters M4L2 (M = Al, Ga, In, Tl; L = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)
Authors: Mang Chaoyong , Liu Caiping , Wu Kechen
Published: July 2009

The researches of all‐metal aromatic clusters have been a thermic theme in inorganic aromaticity domain both experimentally and theoretically since the Al4L− (L = Li, Na, Cu) clusters were created by laser vaporization. In systemic determination of the lowest structures of 20 gaseous all‐metal aromatic clusters M4L2 (M = Al, Ga, In, Tl; L = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), the isomer energy differences of four low‐lying structures of each cluster were evaluated at high‐quality quantum chemistry levels. Single point calculations at the coupled cluster level were performed at geometries optimized at the MP2, B3LYP, and B3PW91 levels, and harmonic frequency calculations and zero point energy corrections were implemented following optimizations at the B3LYP and B3PW91 levels. In addition to Li‐ and Na‐containing species, theoretical investigations came down to those new clusters including K, Rb, and Cs. For many clusters, the most convincing theoretical evidences indicate that the lowest structures are a square bipyramidal isomer rather than an edge‐caped square pyramidal species. A few discrepancies were addressed at the MP2, B3LYP, and B3PW91 levels in comparison with the coupled cluster results. These findings are significant because some clusters were generated by laser vaporization and served as theoretical prototypes to test the new means for assessing aromaticity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Assessing cumulative incidence functions under the semiparametric additive risk model
Authors: Hyun Seunggeun , Sun Yanqing , Sundaram Rajeshwari
Published: July 2009

In analyzing competing risks data, a quantity of considerable interest is the cumulative incidence function. Often, the effect of covariates on the cumulative incidence function is modeled via the proportional hazards model for the cause‐specific hazard function. As the proportionality assumption may be too restrictive in practice, we consider an alternative more flexible semiparametric additive hazards model of (Biometrika1994;81:501–514) for the cause‐specific hazard. This model specifies the effect of covariates on the cause‐specific hazard to be additive as well as allows the effect of some covariates to be fixed and that of others to be time varying. We present an approach for constructing confidence intervals as well as confidence bands for the cause‐specific cumulative incidence function of subjects with given values of the covariates. Furthermore, we also present an approach for constructing confidence intervals and confidence bands for comparing two cumulative incidence functions given values of the covariates. The finite sample property of the proposed estimators is investigated through simulations. We conclude our paper with an analysis of the well‐known malignant melanoma data using our method. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recovering business processes from business applications
Authors: Zou Ying , Guo Jin , Foo King Chun , Hung Maokeng
Published: July 2009

A business process, such as the process followed when ordering a book, describes the order of executing tasks (e.g., check inventory, verify credit card, and ship book). Business applications implement the business processes for the daily operations of an organization. Organizations must continuously modify their business applications to accommodate changes to business processes. However, business applications are often designed and developed without referring to the documented definitions of business processes. Modifying business applications is a time‐consuming and error‐prone task. To correctly perform this task, developers require an in‐depth understanding of multi‐tiered applications and the definitions of the business processes that they implement. In this paper, we present an approach that automatically recovers business process definitions from multi‐tiered business applications. Given the starting UI screen of a particular business process, the approach recovers the process definition by tracing the flow of control throughout the different tiers of the business application. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through a case study using 15 business applications from three large open‐source projects. Our case study demonstrates that our approach can recover business process definitions from the implementation with high precision and recall. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relative debugging in an integrated development environment
Authors: Abramson David , Chu Clement , Kurniawan Donny , Searle Aaron
Published: July 2009

Relative Debugging allows a user to compare the internal state of two programs as they run, making it possible to test whether two programs perform the same function given the same input. When implemented with a command line user interface, a relative debugger looks like traditional debugging tools with the addition of commands that describe which structures should be equivalent in the two programs. In this paper, we discuss relative debugging within an integrated development environment, and show that there are significant advantages over a command line form. We describe a pluggable, modular, architecture that works with a variety of different products, including Microsoft's Visual Studio, SUN's NetBeans, and IBM's Eclipse. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brücken mit Fahrbahnen aus glasfaserverstärktem Kunststoff (GFK) – Neue Straßenbrücke in Friedberg (Hessen)
Authors: Knippers Jan , Pelke Eberhard , Gabler Markus , Berger Dieter
Published: July 2009

In Friedberg (Hessen) wurde im Juli 2008 erstmals in Deutschland eine Straßenbrücke unter Verwendung von glasfaserverstärktem Kunststoff (GFK) fertig gestellt. Das Bauwerk überspannt mit 27 m die Bundesstraße B 3a bei der Stadt Friedberg (Hessen) und wurde in Stahl‐GFK‐Verbundbauweise realisiert. Die hohe Dauerhaftigkeit des neuen Werkstoffs und die zügige Montage der Brücke waren die entscheidenden Gründe pro GFK.

In den letzten Jahren wurden in den USA, Japan und auch in Europa einige Leichtbaubrücken mit faserverstärkten Kunststoffen realisiert. Dabei konnten wertvolle Erfahrungen zum Bau und Betrieb gesammelt und die Leistungsfähigkeit von Verbundwerkstoffen unter Beweis gestellt werden.

Die Brücke in Friedberg geht über diese Vorbilder hinaus, indem hier erstmals die Verbundwirkung zwischen der GFK‐Fahrbahn und dem Haupttragwerk aus Stahl berücksichtigt wird. Außerdem wurde konsequent der Ansatz eines wartungsarmen und langlebigen Bauwerks verfolgt, indem auf Lager und Fahrbahnübergänge verzichtet wurde.

Bridges with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) decks – The new Road Bridge in Friedberg (Hessen, Germany).

In July 2008 the first road bridge in Germany using glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) was finished in Friedberg (Hessen). The structure has a span of 27 m and acts as overfly of the federal road B 3 near Friedberg (Hessen). The high durability of the new construction material and the fast assembly of the bridge were decisive factors in favour of GFRP.

Within the last years several light weight bridges using FRP were realised in USA, Japan and also in Europe. Through this valuable experiences could be gathered regarding construction, the use and performance of composites could be demonstrated.

The bridge in Friedberg extends this experience with the approach of considering the composite action of the FRP deck and the steel girders. It also follows consequently the approach of durable bridge construction by omitting any bearings or expansion joints.
Asymmetrische Netzwerkbogenbrücken
Authors: Zwingmann Bernd , Schanack Frank , Marx Steffen
Published: July 2009

Asymmetrische Netzwerkbögen eröffnen dem entwerfenden Ingenieur neue gestalterische Möglichkeiten bei gleichzeitig guter Wirtschaftlichkeit und hoher Effizienz des Tragwerks. Im Gegensatz zu Stabbogenbrücken mit vertikalen Hängern befindet sich die Stützlinie in Netzwerkbögen ohne Hängerausfall für alle Lastfälle im Bogen. Daher muss die Bogenform nicht einem bestimmten Lastfall angepasst werden und kann asymmetrisch sein. Voraussetzung ist, dass auch dann eine Hängeranordnung entworfen wird, die Hängerausfall vermeidet. Die Schrittgrößen und die technische Machbarkeit entsprechen im Wesentlichen denen von symmetrischen Netzwerkbögen. Mögliche Anwendungsgebiete umfassen asymmetrische Brückenstandorte sowie schiefwinklige Brücken und Brücken mit veränderlicher Breite.

Asymmetric network arch bridges.

Asymmetric network arch bridges offer new possibilities to the design engineers. At the same time they ensure both, economic and static efficiency. In contrast to tied arch bridges with vertical hangers, in network arches without hanger relaxation the line of thrust lies within the arch for all load cases. Therefore, the arch shape does not have to be adapted to a special load case and may be asymmetric. The requirement for this is, that a hanger arrangement is designed, which avoids hanger relaxation. Internal forces and technical feasibility are basically the same as in symmetric network arches. Possible applications are asymmetric bridge locations, skew bridges or bridges with variable width.
Laboratory‐scale Dry/Wet‐Milling Process for the Extraction of Starch and Gluten from Wheat
Authors: Steeneken Peter A. M. , Helmens Harold J.
Published: July 2009

A laboratory‐scale process is presented for the manufacture of starch and gluten from wheat. Main feature of this process is that whole wheat kernels are crushed dry between smooth rolls prior to wet disintegration in excess water in such way that gluten formation is prevented and fibres can be removed by sieving. Centrifugation of the endosperm suspension yields a dough which can be separated into starch and gluten using an established batter process. The results suggest that starch recovery is increased in comparison to a conventional wheat flour process without a concomitant decrease in protein recovery. Although starch purification was omitted, a total starch with a low protein content is obtained. On the other hand, the protein content of the gluten fraction is rather low due to difficulties in removing the starch. Despite this, the effect on dough mechanical properties by the addition of gluten obtained from wet‐milled wheat is comparable to the effect of gluten from flour.
Investigation of Dry‐Heated Hard and Soft Wheat Flour
Authors: Ozawa Miki , Kato Yukie , Seguchi Masaharu
Published: July 2009

The Amylograph profile of dry‐heated (120°C, 120 min) wheat flour showed a drastic change, i.e. an earlier onset time and higher peak viscosity than that of a control. However, no difference in the size of the starch granules was observed between dry‐heated and normal starch at every temperature. Wheat flour was fractionated with acetic acid, and the separated prime starch (PS) and tailings (T) fractions were dry‐heated at 120°C for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, respectively. There was almost no difference in the RVA and DSC profiles between PS and dry‐heated PS, and T and dry‐heated T fractions, i.e., dry heating of wheat flour did not change the structures of starch that would be related to onset time and peak viscosity in the Amylograph profile. We thus excluded the water solubles (WS) fractions from control and dry‐heated wheat flour, but the effect of dry heating on the Amylograph profile was not lost. Next, the gluten (G) fraction was excluded following WS fraction from these wheat flours, and Amylograph tests were performed. The Amylograph profiles in both wheat flours were almost coincidental, which showed that the G fraction in dry‐heated wheat flour caused the earlier onset time and higher peak viscosity.
Danon disease: Case report and detection of new mutation
Authors: Regelsberger G. , Höftberger R. , Pickl W. F. , Zlabinger G. J. , Körmöczi U. , Salzer‐Muhar U. , Luckner D. , Bodamer O. A. , Mayr J. A. , Muss W. H. , Budka H. , Bernheimer H.
Published: July 2009

Danon disease is an X‐linked disorder resulting from mutations in the lysosome‐associated membrane protein‐2 (LAMP2) gene. We report a male patient with skeletal myopathy, mental retardation, and massive hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy necessitating heart transplantation. Immunohistochemistry of skeletal muscle and leukocytes, western blot analysis of leukocytes and cardiac muscle, flow cytometry, and DNA sequencing were performed. Muscle biopsy revealed autophagic vacuolar myopathy and lack of immunohistochemically detectable LAMP‐2. Diagnosis of Danon disease was confirmed by western blot analysis of myocardial tissue and peripheral blood sample of the patient showing deficiency of LAMP‐2 in myocardium and leukocytes. Moreover, absence of LAMP‐2 in lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes was shown by flow cytometric analysis. Genetic analysis of the LAMP2 gene revealed a novel 1‐bp deletion at position 179 (c.179delC) at the 3′ end of exon 2, resulting in a frameshift with a premature stop codon.
Do tropical forest leaves suffer more insect herbivory? A comparison of tropical versus temperate herbivory, estimated from leaf litter
Authors: Adams Jonathan M. , Zhang Yangjian , Basri Md. , Shukor Noraini
Published: July 2009

It is generally believed that tropical forests suffer more herbivory, as a proportion of leaf area, than do temperate forests. Reviews so far have compared studies performed by different authors using very different methodologies. Here we carried out studies on 125 samples at 86 localities in eastern North America and on 75 samples taken at five localities in Malaysia and Singapore, including both mature secondary and primary forest. Samples in North America were spread over 3 years. In tropical Asia, the samples were taken at four time slices at least 8 months apart, scattered over a 4‐year period. Total herbivore damage during the lifetime of tree leaves was estimated from the percentage area damaged in recently fallen, undecayed leaves from the forest floor, using scanner‐linked software. In terms of percentage damage per leaf, the results suggest that lowland tropical forest has significantly higher leaf herbivory (5.82%) than temperate forest (5.48%). This is in accord with the general expectation that aseasonal tropical forests should have more herbivory damage. However, when percentage damage ‘per unit time of growing season’ is calculated based on an estimate of leaf lifetime in the tropics, tropical lowland herbivory damage turns out to be a fraction (about one half) of that in the temperate zone. Thus, these results tend to put in question the widely held view that herbivore damage is markedly more intense in the tropics. Over total leaf lifetime, the intensity of damage in the tropical area is only slightly higher than temperate regions. In terms of intensity of herbivory on leaves per unit of time, the opposite seems to be the case. It is uncertain which index should be taken as more significant in interpreting the selection pressure for anti‐herbivore defenses in the tropics.
The disruption of habitat isolation among threeHexagrammosspecies by artificial habitat alterations that create mosaic‐habitat
Authors: Kimura Motoko R. , Munehara Hiroyuki
Published: July 2009

In the coastal areas of Japan, three species of greenling (Hexagrammosspp.) can hybridize. In a natural reef setting we showed thatHexagrammos agrammusandH. octogrammusestablished their breeding territories in a shallow area where seaweed was abundant, whereasH. otakiiestablished breeding territories in a deep area that was sparsely covered with seaweed. This difference in habitat use resulted inH. otakiibeing distributed separately from the other two species, thereby reducing the potential for hybridization. However, all the three species co‐occurred in an artificial area near a breakwater. This area is characterized by steep slopes and complex stacked concrete structures, which create a mosaic‐habitat consisting of a shallow environment with seaweed and a deep environment with sparse seaweed, allowing the three species to breed within a single area. Our results suggest that man‐made structures can create an artificial mosaic‐habitat that can disrupt habitat isolation and promote hybridization between species.
Surface Properties of Butanol Phosphate Esters in Alkali Solutions
Authors: Du Zong‐liang , Zhou Dong‐liang , Chen Yong , Chen Min , Zhu Pu‐xin
Published: July 2009

Phosphate esters of two butanol isomers were synthesized by esterification of n‐butanol and isobutanol with phosphorus pentoxide. The surface activity and penetrability of the esters were analyzed by way of surface chemistry and canvas disc wetting tests in different alkaline solutions. The surface tension of the butanol phosphate esters and their sodium salts was found to decrease with increasing alkaline concentration up to 250 g/L NaOH. Furthermore, the products exhibited a good surface activity with proper penetrability even in highly alkaline solutions. The stable surface activity of the esters in concentrated alkali lye interpreted by the adsorption of the molecule from solution owing to the common ion effect.
Artificial Rearing of Infant Mice Leads to n‐3 Fatty Acid Deficiency in Cardiac, Neural and Peripheral Tissues
Authors: Hussein Nahed , Fedorova Irina , Moriguchi Toru , Hamazaki Kei , Kim Hee‐Yong , Hoshiba Junji , Salem Norman
Published: July 2009

The ability to control the fatty acid content of the diet during early development is a crucial requirement for a one‐generation model of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n3) deficiency. A hand feeding method using artificial rearing (AR) together with sterile, artificial milk was employed for feeding mice from postnatal day 2–15. The pups were fed an n‐3 fatty acid adequate (3% α‐linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3n3) + 1% 22:6n3) or a deficient diet (0.06% 18:3n3) with linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n6) as the only dietary source of essential fatty acids by AR along with a dam‐reared control group (3.1% 18:3n3). The results indicate that restriction of n‐3 fatty acid intake during postnatal development leads to markedly lower levels of brain, retinal, liver, plasma and heart 22:6n3 at 20 weeks of age with replacement by docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn6; 22:5n6), arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n6) and docosatetraenoic acid (DTA; 22:4n6). A detailed analysis of phospholipid classes of heart tissue indicated that phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and cardiolipin were the major repositories of 22:6n3, reaching 40, 29 and 15%, respectively. A novel heart cardiolipin species containing four 22:6n3 moieties is described. This is the first report of the application of artificially rearing to mouse pup nutrition; this technique will facilitate dietary studies of knockout animals as well as the study of essential fatty acid (EFA) functions in the cardiovascular, neural and other organ systems.
CJX1, an amlodipine derivative, interacts with ATPase of human P‐glycoprotein
Authors: Ji Bian‐Sheng , He Ling
Published: July 2009

Our aim has been to elucidate the possible mechanism of CJX1, an amlodipine derivative, in the modulation of P‐gp function by determining its effect on P‐gp ATPase activity. Basal P‐gp ATPase activity was increased by CJX1 with half‐maximal activity concentration (Km) of 8.6 ± 1.4 μM. Kinetic analysis indicated a non‐competitive inhibition of Verapamil (Ver)‐stimulated P‐gp ATPase activity by CJX1 and competitive inhibition of CJX1‐stimulated P‐gp ATPase activity by tetrandrine (Tet). The effect of CsA on CJX1‐stimulated and Ver‐stimulated P‐gp ATPase activity was non‐competitive and competitive inhibition, respectively. These findings implying that CJX1 and Tet can bind P‐gp either on overlapping sites or distinct but interacting sites, while CJX1 and Ver as well as CsA can bind P‐gp on separated sites in K562/DOX cells. Furthermore, the combined effect of CJX1 and Ver has been evaluated isobolographically in numerous fixed‐ratio combinations of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:10 in K562/DOX cells. The results show that mixtures of both drugs at these fixed‐ratios exerted synergistic interactions, indicating that when the two reverses that bind P‐gp on separated sites are combined, each can contribute to the overall interaction with P‐gp, leading to the greater effect than that by either agent alone.
Cell culturing in a three‐dimensional matrix affects the localization and properties of plasma membrane cholesterol
Authors: Stefanova Nadezhda , Staneva Galya , Petkova Diana , Lupanova Teodora , Pankov Roumen , Momchilova Albena
Published: July 2009

Most in vitro studies use 2‐dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures, where cells are forced to adjust to unnatural substrates that differ significantly from the natural 3‐dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix that surrounds cells in living organisms. Our analysis demonstrates significant differences in the cholesterol and sphingomyelin content, structural organization and cholesterol susceptibility to oxidation of plasma membranes isolated from cells cultured in 3D cultures compared with conventional 2D cultures. Differences occurred in the asymmetry of cholesterol molecules and the physico‐chemical properties of the 2 separate leaflets of plasma membranes in 2D and 3D cultured fibroblasts. Transmembrane distribution of other membrane phospholipids was not different, implying that the cholesterol asymmetry could not be attributed to alterations in the scramblase transport system. Differences were also established in the chemical activity of cholesterol, assessed by its susceptibility to cholesterol oxidase in conventional and “matrix” cell cultures. The influence of plasma membrane sphingomyelin and phospholipid content on cholesterol susceptibility to oxidation in 2D and 3D cells was investigated with exogenous sphingomyelinase (SMase) and phospholipase C (PLC) treatment. Sphingomyelin was more effective than membrane phospholipids in protecting cholesterol from oxidation. We presume that the higher cholesterol/sphingomyelin molar ratio is the reason for the higher rate of cholesterol oxidation in plasma membranes of 3D cells.
Selective arginines are important for the antibacterial activity and host cell interaction of human α‐defensin 5
Authors: de Leeuw Erik , Rajabi Mohsen , Zou Guozhang , Pazgier Marzena , Lu Wuyuan
Published: July 2009

Defensins constitute a major family of natural antimicrobial peptides that protect the host against microbial invasion. Here, we report on the antibacterial properties and cellular interaction of Human Defensin 5 as a function of its positive charge and hydrophobicity. We find that selective replacement of arginine residues in HD‐5 by alanine or charge‐neutral lysine residues reduces antibacterial killing as well as host cell interaction. We identify arginines at positions 9 and 28 in the HD‐5 sequence as particularly important for its function. Replacement of arginine at position 13 to Histidine, as observed in a Crohn's disease patient, reduced bacterial killing strain‐selectively. Finally, we find that HD‐5 interacts with host cells via receptor‐mediated mechanisms.
Intracellular ANKRD1 protein levels are regulated by 26S proteasome‐mediated degradation
Authors: Badi Ileana , Cinquetti Raffaella , Frascoli Michela , Parolini Cinzia , Chiesa Giulia , Taramelli Roberto , Acquati Francesco
Published: July 2009

The ANKRD1/CARP gene encodes a muscle‐specific protein which has been implicated in transcriptional regulation and myofibrillar assembly. Several features at both the mRNA and protein levels define ANKRD1 as a gene whose expression is tightly regulated, and deregulated expression of this protein has been recently associated to human congenital heart disease. It is therefore crucial to define the intracellular pathways that regulate the ANKRD1 protein's steady‐state levels. Here, we show that ANKRD1 is a short‐lived protein whose levels are tightly regulated by the 26S proteasome. In addition, a critical role for a putative PEST motif was established, although other degrons within the ANKRD1 protein are likely implicated in the control of its intracellular levels.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) affects processing of amyloid precursor protein and β‐amyloidogenesis in brain slice cultures derived from transgenic Tg2576 mouse brain
Authors: Bürger Susanne , Noack Monika , Kirazov Ludmil P. , Kirazov Evgeni P. , Naydenov Cyrill L. , Kouznetsova Elena , Yafai Yousef , Schliebs Reinhard
Published: July 2009

The up‐regulation of the angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in brains of Alzheimer patients in close relationship to β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques, suggests a link of VEGF action and processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). To reveal whether VEGF may affect APP processing, brain slices derived from 17‐month‐old transgenic Tg2576 mice were exposed with 1 ng/ml VEGF for 6, 24, and 72 h, followed by assessing cytosolic and membrane‐bound APP expression, level of both soluble and fibrillar Aβ‐peptides, as well as activities of α‐ and β‐secretases in brain slice tissue preparations.

Treatment of brain slices with VEGF did not significantly affect the expression level of APP, regardless of the exposure time studied. In contrast, VEGF exposure of brain slices for 6 h reduced the formation of soluble, SDS extractable Aβ(1–40) and Aβ(1–42) as compared to brain slice cultures incubated in the absence of any drug, while the fibrillar Aβ peptides did not change significantly. This effect was less pronounced 24 h after VEGF exposure, but was no longer detectable when brain slices were exposed by VEGF for 72 h, which indicates an adaptive response to chronic VEGF exposure. The VEGF‐mediated reduction in Aβ formation was accompanied by a transient decrease in β‐secretase activity peaking 6 h after VEGF exposure. To reveal whether the VEGF‐induced changes in soluble Aβ‐level may be due to actions of VEGF on Aβ fibrillogenesis, the fibrillar status of Aβ was examined using the thioflavin‐T binding assay. Incubation of Aβ preparations obtained from Tg2576 mouse brain cortex, in the presence of VEGF slightly decreased the fibrillar content with increasing incubation time up to 72 h. The data demonstrate that VEGF may affect APP processing, at least in vitro, suggesting a role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Expression of the neural specific protein, GAP‐43, dramatically lengthens the cell cycle in fibroblasts
Authors: Zhao Junpeng , Yao Yajuan , Xu Changlei , Jiang Xiaohua , Xu Qunyuan
Published: July 2009

It has been demonstrated that during neurogenesis in the mammalian brain, cell‐cycle lengthening in neuronal progenitors may cause them to switch from proliferation to neuron‐generating division. However, little is known about the cellular mechanisms involved in lengthening of the cell cycle. Growth‐associated protein‐43 (GAP‐43) is a nervous system‐specific protein whose expression in proliferating neuroblasts is related to neurogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effect of GAP‐43 on cell‐cycle progression in transgenic fibroblast cells. Using cumulative bromodeoxyuridine labeling, cell‐cycle kinetics in GAP‐43‐transgenic and control NIH 3T3 cells were analyzed. Our data demonstrate that expression of GAP‐43 in fibroblasts results in lengthening of the cell cycle compared to control fibroblasts. The mechanism by which GAP‐43 mediated this effect appeared to involve increasing the time spent by the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
The Omaha Magic Theatre: An Alternative Theatre for Mid-America
Authors: Babnich Judith , Pinkston Alex
Published: July 2009

Aspiring young actors traditionally leave their hometowns to seek training and performance experiences in America's theatre centers. Many choose to study and perform in New York City, and they carry with them to New York the naive assumption that only in the “Big Apple” can a theatre artist's dreams come true. But some become disenchanted with the New York theatre scene and gain a determination to create significant, non-commercial theatre in another part of the country. And, on occasion, they erect their alternative stages in the very towns from which they sprang.