bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro targeted photodynamic therapy with a pyropheophorbide‐a conjugated inhibitor of prostate‐specific membrane antigen
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Wu Lisa Y. , Choi Joseph K. , Berkman Clifford E.
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND

The lack of specific delivery of photosensitizers (PSs), represents a significant limitation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. The biomarker prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has attracted considerable attention as a target for imaging and therapeutic applications for prostate cancer. Although recent efforts have been made to conjugate inhibitors of PSMA with imaging agents, there have been no reports on PS‐conjugated PSMA inhibitors for targeted PDT of prostate cancer. The present study focuses on the use of a PSMA inhibitor‐conjugate of pyropheophorbide‐a (Ppa‐conjugate 2) for targeted PDT to achieve apoptosis in PSMA+ LNCaP cells.

METHODS

Confocal laser scanning microscopy with a combination of nuclear staining and immunofluorescence methods were employed to monitor the specific imaging and PDT‐mediated apoptotic effects on PSMA‐positive LNCaP and PSMA‐negative (PC‐3) cells.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that PDT‐mediated effects by Ppa‐conjugate 2 were specific to LNCaP cells, but not PC‐3 cells. Cell permeability was detected as early as 2 hr by HOE33342/PI double staining, becoming more intense by 4 hr. Evidence for the apoptotic caspase cascade being activated was based on the appearance of poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase (PARP) p85 fragment. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay detected DNA fragmentation 16 hr post‐PDT, confirming apoptotic events.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell permeability by HOE33342/PI double staining as well as PARP p85 fragment and TUNEL assays confirm cellular apoptosis in PSMA+ cells when treated with PS‐inhibitor conjugate 2 and subsequently irradiated. It is expected that the PSMA targeting small‐molecule of this conjugate can serve as a delivery vehicle for PDT and other therapeutic applications for prostate cancer. Prostate 69:585–594, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Piperazine‐designed α1A/α1D‐adrenoceptor blocker KMUP‐1 and doxazosin provide down‐regulation of androgen receptor and PSA in prostatic LNCaP cells growth and specifically in xenografts
Authors: Liu Chi‐Ming , Lo Yi‐Ching , Tai Ming‐Hong , Wu Bin‐Nan , Wu Wen‐Jeng , Chou Yii‐Her , Chai Chee‐Yin , Huang Chun‐Hsiung , Chen Ing‐Jun
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND

KMUP‐1 has been suggested to be beneficial in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study is aimed to further investigate whether KMUP‐1 and doxazosin prevent from prostate cancer cell growth via androgen‐dependent and ‐independent pathway in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

KMUP‐1 was measured the activity on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution in prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, DU‐145, PC‐3) by MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western Blotting and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The inhibition activities on androgen receptor (AR) and AR‐targeting molecular prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) expression by KMUP‐1 and doxazosin were measured by RT‐PCR, Western Blotting, and ELISA. Furthermore, we confirmed the effects of KMUP‐1 on growth of LNCaP xenografts in nude mice.

RESULTS

KMUP‐1 significantly inhibited LNCaP cell growth and induced apoptosis in time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. KMUP‐1 and doxazosin further inhibited the expression of AR and PSA. Treatment of LNCaP cells with KMUP‐1 resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic activities, increasing p21 and p27 and decreasing expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4, CDK2 and CDK6. Moreover, KMUP‐1 activated p53, cleaved poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase and caspase‐3, but reduced the expression of Bcl‐2. Regular administration of KMUP‐1 suppressed the LNCaP xenograft tumor growth in nude mice.

CONCLUSION

These evidences indicate that KMUP‐1 and doxazosin inhibit LNCaP cell growth and downregulate expression of AR and PSA. KMUP‐1 might be used as a chemoprevention agent for preventing the development of prostate cancer without cardiovascular adverse effect of doxazosin. Prostate 69:610–623, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human prostasomes contain chromosomal DNA
Authors: Ronquist K. Göran , Ronquist Gunnar , Carlsson Lena , Larsson Anders
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the occurrence of DNA in human prostasomes.

METHODS

Prostasomes were purified from seminal fluid (seminal prostasomes) and from PC‐3‐cells (PC‐3 cell prostasomes). DNA extracted from both sources of prostasomes was visualized on agarose gels. Further, the DNA was cloned and sequenced (13 clones from seminal prostasomal DNA and 16 clones from PC‐3 cell prostasomal DNA) and identified by alignment in the BLAST‐nucleotide search database. In order to decide if the DNA was internally or externally located in/on prostasomes, prostasomes were treated with nuclease (DNase) and A260 was measured before and after treatment. Additionally, flow cytometric studies were performed with membrane permeable and membrane impermeable DNA stains.

RESULTS

We identified human chromosomal DNA in purified prostasomes from both sources and treatment with DNase demonstrated that the prostasome‐shielded DNA was protected from enzyme attack. Membrane‐permeable DNA stain raised the fluorescence contrary to membrane‐impermeable stain. Clearly discernible nucleic acid of prostasomes was separated on 1% agarose gel yielding DNA fragments of about 13 kbp and below with a marked band at about 1 kbp. Cloning and sequencing of 13 fragments from seminal prostasomes and 16 from PC‐3 cell prostasomes revealed a chromosomal origin of the DNA. In purified seminal prostasomes, 4 out of 13 DNA clones featured gene sequences (31%). The corresponding figure for PC3‐derived prostasomes was 4 out of 16 clones featuring gene sequences (25%).

CONCLUSION

Human prostasomes contain chromosomal DNA. Both nuclease treatment and differential DNA stainings indicated an inside location of the prostasomal DNA. Our findings suggest a DNA‐delivery function of prostasomes to sperm cells. Prostate 69: 737–743, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural and electrical properties of Sr3V2O8 ceramics
Authors: Khatri Praveen , Behera Banarji , Choudhary R. N. P.
Published: January 2009

A polycrystalline sample of Sr3V2O8 was prepared by a mixed oxide method at relatively low temperature (<1000 °C). Preliminary structural analysis confirms the formation of single‐phase compound in the hexagonal (rhombohedral) crystal system at room temperature. Microstructural studies using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) show that the compound has well‐defined grains. These grains are distributed uniformly throughout the surface. The dielectric property (i.e. dielectric constant) of the compound studied in a wide range of frequency (102–106 Hz) at different temperatures (25–500 °C) exhibits a small anomaly at 300 °C. The real and imaginary parts of the complex impedance trace single semicircles in the complex plane. The temperature‐dependent plots reveal the presence of bulk effect only. The bulk resistance of the material decreases with rise in temperature. This exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behaviour of the material. Detailed studies of electrical modulus exhibit an important role of the hopping mechanism in the electrical transport process of the material. The nature of the variation of the dc conductivity suggests an Arrhenius type of electrical conductivity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ambient temperature dependence on emission spectrum of InAs quantum dots
Authors: Ngo C. Y. , Yoon S. F. , Chua S. J.
Published: January 2009

Semiconductor superluminescent diodes (SLDs) are important broadband light source for fiber optic gyroscope and biomedical imaging. Quantum dots (QDs) have been proposed to be the best candidate for broadband light sources due to the inhomogeneous broadening of the gain spectrum as a result of the inherited size inhomogeneity of the self‐assembled QD growth. In this work, the effect of ambient temperature (25–100 °C) on the emission spectrum of InAs QDs with wideband emission was investigated. It was found that the full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra remains more than 125 nm throughout the temperature range, and the redshift as function of temperature is approximately 0.27 meV/K. Activation energy of 270 meV is extracted from the Arrhenius plot and the PL quenching at high temperature is attributed to thermally induced carriers escaping out of the In0.15Ga0.85As strain‐reducing layer. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Limits of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dot growth
Authors: Lenz A. , Eisele H. , Timm R. , Ivanova L. , Sellin R. L. , Liu H.‐Y. , Hopkinson M. , Pohl U. W. , Bimberg D. , Dähne M.
Published: January 2009

For the formation of large In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots, aiming at emission wavelengths of 1.3 μm, strategies like the use of strain reducing diluted InGaAs capping layers or the growth of InAs quantum dots embedded in InGaAs quantum wells are very promising. Using cross‐sectional scanning tunneling microscopy we observed for both concepts an increased quantum dot size, but also defective quantum dots, characterized by a material hole or so‐called nanovoid. The process of such nanovoid formation is investigated in detail, considering the strain and the limited growth kinetics during capping. The existence of nanovoids impressively shows the limitations of growing larger and thus more strained quantum dots. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Improvement in size distribution and optical properties of InAs/GaAs QDs by post growth thermal treatment
Authors: Saravanan Shanmugam , Harayama Takashisa
Published: January 2009

We investigated the effect of rapid thermal annealing from 700 °C to 950 °C on stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) covered with GaAs and In0.19Ga0.81As layers. Large blue‐shift of the energy positions nearly 380 meV (1187 nm to 870 nm) have been observed in InGaAs capped samples together with improvement in the photoluminescence integrated intensity of more than five times. The strong narrowing of the photoluminescence line‐width in both GaAs (as narrow as 8 meV) and InGaAs capped samples show an improvement of the size distribution of the QDs. In addition, a significant reduction of the energy spacing (ΔE2–1) between ground state and first excited state emissions were found in both GaAs and InGaAs capped quantum dots due to interface inter‐diffusion induced by thermal treatment. The excited state filling experiments for InGaAs capped sample annealed at 950 °C exhibits quantum well like behavior where as, the GaAs capped sample shows a shoulder in high energy side might be due to first excited state of QDs. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magneto‐optics of layers of triple quantum dot molecules
Authors: Le Minh Thu , Voskoboynikov Oleksandr
Published: January 2009

We consider theoretically the impact of the coherent manipulation of electronic states in the triple vertical lens‐shaped circular InAs/GaAs quantum dot molecules on the collective magneto‐optical reflection from layers of those nano‐objects. The quantum dots have substantially different diameters in contrast to most of the known simulations. We demonstrate a possibility to drive molecular electronic ground states (to redistribute electronic wave functions within the molecule) by applying an external magnetic field along the system's growth direction. The change in the states leads to the redistribution of the intensity of the reflectance and absorbance peaks in the collective magneto‐optical response of a layer of the triple quantum dot molecules. Varying the distance between quantum dots within the layer one can study optically the transition from “molecular” to “atomic” configuration. We show that the changes in the quantum mechanical behaviour of the molecules can be made observable by monitoring changes of the ellipsometric parameters Ψ and Δ in the magneto‐optical response of layers of such nano‐objects. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Anxiolytic and hypnotic effect of Crocus sativus aqueous extract and its constituents, crocin and safranal, in mice
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Hossein , Noraei Nahid B.
Published: January 2009

Saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) is used for insomnia and anxiety in traditional medicine. In this study, the anxiolytic and hypnotic effects of saffron aqueous extract and its constituents, crocin and safranal, were studied in mice. Agents were administered intraperitoneally in mice before the experiments for the evaluation of hypnotic activity (induced by sodium pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg, i.p.), anxiolytic activity (elevated plus maze test), locomotor activity (open field test) and motor coordination (Rotarod test). The aqueous extract reduced the locomotor activity dose dependently. At low doses, saffron showed a significant increase in the time on the open arms of the maze. When using the Rotarod method, the aqueous extract showed considerable effect on motor coordination of the mice. In the hypnotic test, only a dose of 0.56 g/kg of saffron increased the total sleep. Crocin showed no anxiolytic, hypnotic or myorelaxation effects. Safranal, in higher doses, 0.15 and 0.35 mL/kg, showed anxiolytic effects. Safranal increased the total sleep time dose dependently. This constituent at lower doses (0.05 and 0.15 mL/kg) decreased some locomotion activity parameters. Safranal demonstrated no effects on motor coordination. The results showed that saffron aqueous extract and safranal have anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of mammal Na+K+‐ATPase by diterpenes extracted from the Brazilian brown alga Dictyota cervicornis
Authors: Garcia Diogo Gomes , Bianco Everson Miguel , Santos Maria da Conceição Batista dos , Pereira Renato Crespo , Faria Mauro Velho de Castro , Teixeira Valeria Laneuville , Burth Patrícia
Published: January 2009

The dolastane diterpenes 4‐acetoxy‐9,14‐dihydroxydolast‐1(15),7‐diene (1) and 4,7‐diacetoxy‐14‐hydroxydolast‐1(15),8‐diene (2) were isolated from specimens of the alga Dictyota cervicornis collected from the Rio de Janeiro coast, Brazil. Chemical structures of the diterpenes were assigned by 1D and 2D NMR spectral data for the first time. Both substances inhibited Na+K+‐ATPase preparations from guinea‐pig brain or kidney, with the same inhibitory potency towards enzyme isoforms. The maximal inhibition obtained for 1 was 40% at a concentration of 0.5 mm in the incubation mixture, while it reached 80% for compound 2 at this concentration. Ouabain insensitive ATPases were inhibited by 1, but not by 2. Data comparing the inhibitory potency of these compounds with that of ouabain and oleic acid suggest a higher degree of selectivity of 2 towards the Na+K+‐pump. Cardiac glycosides such as ouabain are used classically in the treatment of heart failure, but alterations of Na+K+‐pump activity are also involved in several other diseases. Therefore, the study of compounds interfering with this pump activity is gaining further importance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant, antioedema and analgesic activities of Andrographis paniculata extracts and their active constituent andrographolide
Authors: Lin F. L. , Wu S. J. , Lee S. C. , Ng L. T.
Published: January 2009

Andrographis paniculata (AP), a popular ingredient of Oriental folk medicine, is commonly used for treating infection, inflammation, fever and diarrhoea. In this study, extracts prepared from cultivated AP and their active constituent andrographolide were evaluated for antioxidant, antioedema and analgesic activities. The results showed that the aqueous AP extract (AP‐H2O) exhibited a greater antioxidant activity than the ethanol AP extract (AP‐EtOH) in all model systems tested. At a concentration of 50 µg/mL, the free radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition and antilipid peroxidation activities for AP‐H2O were 66.8%, 57.3% and 65.3%, respectively, and for AP‐EtOH were 57.8%, 52.6% and 34.2%, respectively. At a dosage of 100 mg/kg, AP‐H2O and andrographolide, but not AP‐EtOH, showed antioedema and analgesic activities. In phytochemical analysis, AP‐H2O showed a higher concentration of total flavanoid but a lower phenol content than AP‐EtOH. In conclusion, AP‐H2O was more potent than AP‐EtOH in antioxidant activities. Furthermore, compared with andrographolide, AP‐H2O as an extract also appears to possess potent antioedema and analgesic activities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A combined wave‐number‐‐frequency and time‐extended EOF approach for tracking the progress of modes of large‐scale organized tropical convection
Authors: Roundy Paul E. , Schreck III Carl J.
Published: January 2009

An algorithm combining filtering in the wave‐number‐‐frequency domain with time‐extended empirical orthogonal function (EEOF) analysis is developed and applied to diagnose and track signals associated with modes of organized moist deep convection in the Tropics. The wave‐number‐‐frequency spectrum of outgoing long‐wave radiation (OLR) is broken down into five broad filter bands in order to concentrate signals associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation, convectively coupled equatorial Rossby, Kelvin, and mixed Rossby–gravity waves, easterly waves, and low‐frequency variations such as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The EEOF patterns are obtained from analysis of the filtered data, and principal component (PC) time series are generated by projection of temporally smoothed, but otherwise unfiltered data onto the EEOF patterns. Filtered data are reconstructed by taking the product of the EEOF patterns and the corresponding PCs. These reconstructed data compare well with unfiltered OLR anomalies and with OLR anomalies filtered in the wave‐number‐‐frequency domain for the same modes. The method is easily applied in real time since results are not influenced by the proximity to the end of the dataset. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
The diabatic heat budget of the upper troposphere and lower/mid stratosphere in ECMWF reanalyses
Authors: Fueglistaler S. , Legras B. , Beljaars A. , Morcrette J.‐J. , Simmons A. , Tompkins A. M. , Uppala S.
Published: January 2009

We present an analysis of the diabatic terms in the thermodynamic energy equation from ERA‐40 and the ECMWF reanalysis ERA‐Interim. We analyse the clear‐sky radiative heating, the cloud radiative effects, and the impact from latent heat exchange and mixing. The diabatic heat budget is closed with the calculation of the temperature assimilation increment. The previously noted excessive tropospheric circulation at low latitudes in ERA‐40 is also reflected in the diabatic heat budget. The temperature increment acts to cool the excessive model heating. Conversely, ERA‐Interim requires heating from the assimilation increment at low latitudes, suggesting too little convection. In the tropical tropopause layer (TTL), both reanalyses show a strong heating from the interaction of clouds with radiation, but lack of reliable independent estimates renders the role of clouds uncertain. Both reanalyses show cooling in the TTL by the assimilation increment, suggesting that the models may overestimate the cloud radiative heating, or that the convective parametrization scheme has difficulties in capturing the thermal effects of deep convection. In the stratosphere, ERA‐40 shows unrealistic radiative heating due to problems in the temperature profile. The diabatic heat balance is dominated by the assimilation increment, and the residual circulation is much faster than in ERA‐Interim. Conversely, ERA‐Interim is better balanced and requires a substantially smaller temperature increment. Its structure and magnitude of radiative heating/cooling at low/high latitudes is quite realistic. Overall, ERA‐Interim provides a much improved residual circulation, but uncertainties in the magnitude of terms in particular around the tropical tropopause remain large. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
In silico methods for predicting metabolism and mass fragmentation applied to quetiapine in liquid chromatography/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry urine drug screening
Authors: Pelander Anna , Tyrkkö Elli , Ojanperä Ilkka
Published: January 2009

Current in silico tools were evaluated for their ability to predict metabolism and mass spectral fragmentation in the context of analytical toxicology practice. A metabolite prediction program (Lhasa Meteor), a metabolite detection program (Bruker MetaboliteDetect), and a fragmentation prediction program (ACD/MS Fragmenter) were used to assign phase I metabolites of the antipsychotic drug quetiapine in the liquid chromatography/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOFMS) accurate mass data from ten autopsy urine samples. In the literature, the main metabolic routes of quetiapine have been reported to be sulfoxidation, oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acid, N‐ and O‐dealkylation and hydroxylation. Of the 14 metabolites predicted by Meteor, eight were detected by LC/TOFMS in the urine samples with use of MetaboliteDetect software and manual inspection. An additional five hydroxy derivatives were detected, but not predicted by Meteor. The fragment structures provided by ACD/MS Fragmenter software confirmed the identification of the metabolites. Mean mass accuracy and isotopic pattern match (SigmaFit) values for the fragments were 2.40 ppm (0.62 mDa) and 0.010, respectively. ACD/MS Fragmenter, in particular, allowed metabolites with identical molecular formulae to be differentiated without a need to access the respective reference standards or reference spectra. This was well exemplified with the hydroxy/sulfoxy metabolites of quetiapine and their N‐ and O‐dealkylated forms. The procedure resulted in assigning 13 quetiapine metabolites in urine. The present approach is instrumental in developing an extensive database containing exact monoisotopic masses and verified retention times of drugs and their urinary metabolites for LC/TOFMS drug screening. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aquatic plant‐derived changes in oil sands naphthenic acid signatures determined by low‐, high‐ and ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Headley John V. , Peru Kerry M. , Armstrong Sarah A. , Han Xiumei , Martin Jonathan W. , Mapolelo Mmilili M. , Smith Donald F. , Rogers Ryan P. , Marshall Alan G.
Published: January 2009

Mass spectrometry is a common tool for studying the fate of complex organic compound mixtures in oil sands processed water (OSPW), but a comparison of low‐, high‐ (∼10 000), and ultrahigh‐resolution (∼400 000) instrumentation for this purpose has not previously been made. High‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS) and ultrahigh‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR MS), with negative‐ion electrospray ionization, provided evidence for the selective dissipation of components in OSPW. Dissipation of oil sands naphthenic acids (NAs with general formula CnH2n+zO2 where n is the number of carbon atoms, and Z is zero or a negative even number describing the number of rings) was masked (by components such as fatty acids, O3, O5, O6, O7, SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5, SO6, and NO4 species) at low resolution (1000) when using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Changes observed in the relative composition of components in OSPW appear to be due primarily to the presence of plants, specifically cattails (Typha latifolia) and their associated microorganisms. The observed dissipation included a range of heteratomic species containing O2, O3, O4, and O5, present in Athabasca oil sands acid extracts. For the heteratomic O2 species, namely naphthenic acids, an interesting structural relationship suggests that low and high carbon number NAs are dissipated by the plants preferentially, with a minimum around C14/C15. Other heteratomic species containing O6, O7, SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5, SO6, and NO4 appear to be relatively recalcitrant to the cattails and were not dissipated to the same extent in planted systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Artifacts in Fourier transform mass spectrometry
Authors: Mathur Raman , O'Connor Peter B.
Published: January 2009

Recent work on a new, higher sensitivity preamplifier design for Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) revealed a number of artifact peaks (spectral features) which do not contain useful chemical information. In order to determine the cause of these artifacts and eliminate them, these severely distorted spectra were compared with similarly distorted signal models. The source of several common signal processing artifacts was thereby determined and correlated to radio‐frequency interference (RFI) noise and saturation of the amplifier and/or the digitizer. Under such conditions, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) generates spectral artifact peaks corresponding to harmonics and mixing frequencies of the real signal peaks and RFI frequencies. While this study was done using FTICRMS data, it is important to stress that these artifacts are inherent to the digitization and FFT process and thus are relevant to any FT‐based MS instrument, including the orbitrap and FT ion trap. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the calibration of continuous, high‐precision δ18O and δ2H measurements using an off‐axis integrated cavity output spectrometer
Authors: Wang Lixin , Caylor Kelly K. , Dragoni Danilo
Published: January 2009

The 18O and 2H of water vapor serve as powerful tracers of hydrological processes. The typical method for determining water vapor δ18O and δ2H involves cryogenic trapping and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Even with recent technical advances, these methods cannot resolve vapor composition at high temporal resolutions. In recent years, a few groups have developed continuous laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) approaches for measuring δ18O and δ2H which achieve accuracy levels similar to those of lab‐based mass spectrometry methods. Unfortunately, most LAS systems need cryogenic cooling and constant calibration to a reference gas, and have substantial power requirements, making them unsuitable for long‐term field deployment at remote field sites. A new method called Off‐Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA‐ICOS) has been developed which requires extremely low‐energy consumption and neither reference gas nor cryogenic cooling. In this report, we develop a relatively simple pumping system coupled to a dew point generator to calibrate an ICOS‐based instrument (Los Gatos Research Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer (WVIA) DLT‐100) under various pressures using liquid water with known isotopic signatures. Results show that the WVIA can be successfully calibrated using this customized system for different pressure settings, which ensure that this instrument can be combined with other gas‐sampling systems. The precisions of this instrument and the associated calibration method can reach ∼0.08‰ for δ18O and ∼0.4‰ for δ2H. Compared with conventional mass spectrometry and other LAS‐based methods, the OA‐ICOS technique provides a promising alternative tool for continuous water vapor isotopic measurements in field deployments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Profiling the metabolic differences of anthraquinone derivatives using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with data‐dependent acquisition
Authors: Song Rui , Lin Hui , Zhang Zunjian , Li Zhe , Xu Lei , Dong Haijuan , Tian Yuan
Published: January 2009

This work concentrates on the in vitro metabolism of anthraquinone derivatives from rhubarb. Different metabolic reactions for anthraquinone derivatives were dependent on the substituent group in the skeleton. Monohydroxylation in the exocyclic methyl group was the major metabolic modification for emodin. Aloe‐emodin containing a hydroxymethyl group was mainly metabolized through a methylation reaction. For rhein, both hydrogenation and methyl substitution on the benzene ring were the major metabolic reactions. Hydroxyl substitution on the benzene ring was the predominant metabolic reaction for chrysophanol. For physcion, demethylation of the exocyclic methoxy group was the most important metabolic reaction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Invertebrate drift patterns in a regulated river: dams, periphyton biomass or longitudinal patterns?
Authors: Tonkin Jonathan D , Death Russell G , Joy Michael K
Published: January 2009

Macroinvertebrate drift was sampled at 15 sites along the Tongariro River, New Zealand above and below two hydroelectric dams. Sixty‐seven invertebrate taxa were collected in the drift. Trichoptera (31) were the most diverse, followed by Diptera (13), Ephemeroptera (8) and Plecoptera (8). However, chironomidae were the numerically dominant taxa in the drift throughout the river and represented over 80% of all animals collected. Of these, Orthocladiinae and Diamesinae were the most abundant. Taxonomic richness declined with distance downstream and peaked at sites with intermediate levels of periphyton biomass. The per cent of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) was 3–4 times higher in the unregulated section of the river and declined exponentially with both distance downstream and increase in periphyton biomass, but densities were similar along the river. Of the measured environmental variables periphyton biomass was most closely linked with drift community structure. Periphyton biomass was six times higher in the lower section of the river than the upper unregulated section. The autocorrelation between periphyton biomass and distance downstream complicates the interpretation of results. However, because of the distinct differences between above and below dam sections of river in periphyton biomass and the strong link between it and invertebrate drift we suggest that the alteration of flow patterns by the hydroelectric dams and the associated shift in periphyton biomass is the most likely explanation for invertebrate drift patterns in the river. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoscale imaging of microbial pathogens using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Alsteens David , Dague Etienne , Verbelen Claire , Andre Guillaume , Dupres Vincent , Dufrêne Yves F.
Published: January 2009

The nanoscale exploration of microbes using atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an exciting research field that has expanded rapidly in the past years. Using AFM topographic imaging, investigators can visualize the surface structure of live cells under physiological conditions and with unprecedented resolution. In doing so, the effect of drugs and chemicals on the fine cell surface architecture can be monitored. Real‐time imaging offers a means to follow dynamic events such as cell growth and division. In parallel, chemical force microscopy (CFM), in which AFM tips are modified with specific functional groups, allows researchers to measure interaction forces, such as hydrophobic forces, and to resolve nanoscale chemical heterogeneities on cells, on a scale of only ∼25 functional groups. Lastly, molecular recognition imaging using spatially resolved force spectroscopy, dynamic recognition imaging or immunogold detection, enables microscopists to localize specific receptors, such as cell adhesion proteins or antibiotic binding sites. These noninvasive nanoscale analyses provide new avenues in pathogenesis research, particularly for investigating the action mode of antimicrobial drugs, and for elucidating the molecular basis of pathogen–host interactions Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Noise in biological circuits
Authors: Simpson Michael L. , Cox Chris D. , Allen Michael S. , McCollum James M. , Dar Roy D. , Karig David K. , Cooke John F.
Published: January 2009

Noise biology focuses on the sources, processing, and biological consequences of the inherent stochastic fluctuations in molecular transitions or interactions that control cellular behavior. These fluctuations are especially pronounced in small systems where the magnitudes of the fluctuations approach or exceed the mean value of the molecular population. Noise biology is an essential component of nanomedicine where the communication of information is across a boundary that separates small synthetic and biological systems that are bound by their size to reside in environments of large fluctuations. Here we review the fundamentals of the computational, analytical, and experimental approaches to noise biology. We review results that show that the competition between the benefits of low noise and those of low population has resulted in the evolution of genetic system architectures that produce an uneven distribution of stochasticity across the molecular components of cells and, in some cases, use noise to drive biological function. We review the exact and approximate approaches to gene circuit noise analysis and simulation, and review many of the key experimental results obtained using flow cytometry and time‐lapse fluorescent microscopy. In addition, we consider the probative value of noise with a discussion of using measured noise properties to elucidate the structure and function of the underlying gene circuit. We conclude with a discussion of the frontiers of and significant future challenges for noise biology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Cells at the Nanoscale
Commercialization of nanotechnology
Authors: Hobson David W.
Published: January 2009

The emerging and potential commercial applications of nanotechnologies clearly have great potential to significantly advance and even potentially revolutionize various aspects of medical practice and medical product development. Nanotechnology is already touching upon many aspects of medicine, including drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, clinical diagnostics, nanomedicines, and the use of nanomaterials in medical devices. This technology is already having an impact; many products are on the market and a growing number is in the pipeline. Momentum is steadily building for the successful development of additional nanotech products to diagnose and treat disease; the most active areas of product development are drug delivery and in vivo imaging. Nanotechnology is also addressing many unmet needs in the pharmaceutical industry, including the reformulation of drugs to improve their bioavailability or toxicity profiles. The advancement of medical nanotechnology is expected to advance over at least three different generations or phases, beginning with the introduction of simple nanoparticulate and nanostructural improvements to current product and process types, then eventually moving on to nanoproducts and nanodevices that are limited only by the imagination and limits of the technology itself. This review looks at some recent developments in the commercialization of nanotechnology for various medical applications as well as general trends in the industry, and explores the nanotechnology industry that is involved in developing medical products and procedures with a view toward technology commercialization Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Regulatory and Policy Issues in Nanomedicine
Nanoparticle therapeutics: a personal perspective
Authors: McNeil Scott E.
Published: January 2009

Nanotechnology offers many potential benefits to cancer research through passive and active targeting, increased solubility/bioavailablility, and novel therapies. However, preclinical characterization of nanoparticles is complicated by the variety of materials, their unique surface properties, reactivity, and the task of tracking the individual components of multicomponent, multifunctional nanoparticle therapeutics in in vivo studies. There are also regulatory considerations and scale‐up challenges that must be addressed. Despite these hurdles, cancer research has seen appreciable improvements in efficacy and quite a decrease in the toxicity of chemotherapeutics because of ‘nanotech’ formulations, and several engineered nanoparticle clinical trials are well underway. This article reviews some of the challenges and benefits of nanomedicine for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
The Versatility of Solid‐State Metathesis Reactions: From Rare Earth Fluorides to Carbodiimides
Authors: Unverfehrt Leonid , Glaser Jochen , Ströbele Markus , Tragl Sonja , Gibson Katharina , Meyer H.‐Jürgen
Published: January 2009

The new carbodiimide compounds LaF(CN2) and LiPr2F3(CN2)2 were obtained as crystalline powders by solid‐state metathesis reactions from 1:1 molar ratios of REF3 (RE = rare earth) and Li2(CN2) at temperatures between 500 and 700 °C over 4 days in fused copper ampoules. Higher proportions of Li2(CN2) in reactions yielded RE2(CN2)3 compounds, including the new Eu2(CN2)3. Single‐crystal structure refinements were performed for LaF(CN2) and LiPr2F3(CN2)2. Homologous LiRE2F3(CN2)2 compounds with RE = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd were assigned by isotypic indexing of their XRD patterns. The crystal structure of LaF(CN2) contains planar [La3F3] layers being interconnected by carbodiimide ions, and is related with that of the mineral bastnäsite (REF(CO3)).
(Ph4P)2[Be3(μ‐OH)3(H2O)6]Cl5: Crystal Structure and DFT Calculations
Authors: Puchta Ralph , Neumüller Bernhard , Dehnicke Kurt
Published: January 2009

Bis(tetraphenylphosphonium)‐tris(μ‐hydroxo)hexaaquatriberylliumpentachloride, (Ph4P)2[Be3(μ‐OH)3(H2O)6]Cl5 (1), was surprisingly obtained by reaction of (Ph4P)N3·n H2O with BeCl2 in dichloromethane suspension and subsequent crystallization from acetonitrile to give single crystals of composition 1·5.25CH3CN. According to the crystal structure determination space group P$\bar{1}$, Z = 2, lattice dimensions at 100 K: a = 1354.8(2), b = 1708.7(2), c = 1753.2(2) pm, α = 114.28(1)°, β = 94.80(1)°, γ = 104.51(1)°, R1 = 0.0586] the [Be3(μ‐OH)3(H2O)6]3+ cations form six‐mem‐bered Be3O3 rings with boat conformation and distorted tetrahedrally coordinated beryllium atoms with the terminally coordinated H2O molecules. The structure ist characterized by a complicated three dimensional hydrogen‐bridging network including O–H···O, O–H···Cl, and O–H···NCCH3 contacts. DFT calculations result in nearly planar [Be3(OH)3] six‐membered ring conformations.
Participatory Organizational Change in Community‐Based Health and Human Services: From Tokenism to Political Engagement
Authors: Bess Kimberly D. , Prilleltensky Isaac , Perkins Douglas D. , Collins Leslie V.
Published: January 2009

Community psychologists have long worked with community‐based human service organizations to build participatory processes. These efforts largely aim at building participatory practices within the current individual‐wellness paradigm of human services. To address collective wellness, human service organizations need to challenge their current paradigm, attend to the social justice needs of community, and engage community participation in a new way, and in doing so become more openly political. We use qualitative interviews, focus groups, organizational documents, and participant observation to present a comparative case study of two organizations involved in such a process through an action research project aimed at transforming the organizations’ managerial and practice paradigm from one based on first‐order, ameliorative change to one that promotes second‐order, transformative change via strength‐based approaches, primary prevention, empowerment and participation, and focuses on changing community conditions. Four participatory tensions or dialectics are discussed: passive versus active participation, partners versus clients, surplus powerlessness versus collective efficacy, and reflection/learning versus action/doing.
Ideal Point Discriminant Analysis Revisited with a Special Emphasis on Visualization
Authors: de Rooij Mark
Published: January 2009

Ideal point discriminant analysis is a classification tool which uses highly intuitive multidimensional scaling procedures. However, in the last paper, Takane wrote about it. He concludes that the interpretation is rather intricate and calls that a weakness of the model. We summarize the conditions that provide an easy interpretation and show that in maximum dimensionality they can be obtained without any loss. For reduced dimensionality, it is conjectured that loss is minor which is examined using several data sets.
Preoperative pain as a risk factor for chronic post‐surgical pain – Six month follow‐up after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Gerbershagen Hans J. , Özgür Enver , Dagtekin Oguzhan , Straub Karin , Hahn Moritz , Heidenreich Axel , Sabatowski Rainer , Petzke Frank
Published: January 2009

Background: Chronic post‐surgical pain (CPSP) by definition develops for the first time after surgery and is not related to any preoperative pain. Preoperative pain is assumed to be a major risk factor for CPSP. Prospective studies to endorse this assumption are missing.

Methods: In order to assess the incidence and the risk factors for CPSP multidimensional pain and health characteristics and psychological aspects were studied in patients prior to radical prostatectomy. Follow‐up questionnaires were completed three and six months after surgery.

Results: CPSP incidences in 84 patients after three and six months were 14.3% and 1.2%. Preoperatively, CPSP patients were assigned to higher pain chronicity stages measured with the Mainz Pain Staging System (MPSS) (p = 0.003) and higher pain severity grades (Chronic Pain Grading Questionnaire) (p = 0.016) than non‐CPSP patients. CPSP patients reported more pain sites (p = 0.001), frequent pain in urological body areas (p = 0.047), previous occurrence of CPSP (p = 0.008), more psychosomatic symptoms (Symptom Check List) (p = 0.031), and worse mental functioning (Short Form‐12) (p = 0.019). Three months after surgery all CPSP patients suffered from moderate to high‐risk chronic pain (MPSS stages II and III) compared to 66.7% at baseline and 82.3% had high disability pain (CPGQ grades III and IV) compared to 41.7% before surgery. CPSP patients scored significantly less favorably in physical and mental health, habitual well‐being, and psychosomatic dysfunction three months after surgery.

Conclusions: All patients with CPSP reported on preoperative chronic pain. Patients with preoperative pain, related or not related to the surgical site were significantly at risk to develop CPSP. High preoperative pain chronicity stages and pain severity grades were associated with CPSP. CPSP patients reported poorer mental health related quality of life and more severe psychosomatic dysfunction before and 3 months after surgery.
p-VARIATION OF VECTOR MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO BILINEAR MAPS
Authors: BLASCO O. , CALABUIG J. M.
Published: January 2009

We introduce the spaces Vℬp(X) (respectively 𝒱ℬp(X)) of the vector measures ℱ:Σ→X of bounded (p,ℬ)-variation (respectively of bounded (p,ℬ)-semivariation) with respect to a bounded bilinear map ℬ:X×Y →Z and show that the spaces Lℬp(X) consisting of functions which are p-integrable with respect to ℬ, defined in by Blasco and Calabuig [‘Vector-valued functions integrable with respect to bilinear maps’, Taiwanese Math. J. to appear], are isometrically embedded in Vℬp(X). We characterize 𝒱ℬp(X) in terms of bilinear maps from Lp′×Y into Z and Vℬp(X) as a subspace of operators from Lp′(Z*) into Y*. Also we define the notion of cone absolutely summing bilinear maps in order to describe the (p,ℬ)-variation of a measure in terms of the cone-absolutely summing norm of the corresponding bilinear map from Lp′×Y into Z.
THE SET OF SOLUTIONS OF INTEGRODIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS IN BANACH SPACES
Authors: AGARWAL RAVI P. , O’REGAN DONAL , SIKORSKA-NOWAK ANETA
Published: January 2009

In this paper, we first prove an existence theorem for the integrodifferential equation(*)wheref,k,xare functions with values in a Banach spaceEand the integral is taken in the sense of Henstock–Kurzweil–Pettis. In the second part of the paper we show that the setSof all solutions of the problem (*) is compact and connected in (C(Id,E),ω), where$I_{d} \subset I_{a} $.
The quest for an absolute chronology in human prehistory: anthropologists, chemists and the fluorine dating method in palaeoanthropology
Authors: GOODRUM MATTHEW R. , OLSON CORA
Published: January 2009

By the early twentieth century there was a growing need within palaeoanthropology and prehistoric archaeology to find a way of dating fossils and artefacts in order to know the age of specific specimens, but more importantly to establish an absolute chronology for human prehistory. The radiocarbon and potassium–argon dating methods revolutionized palaeoanthropology during the last half of the twentieth century. However, prior to the invention of these methods there were attempts to devise chemical means of dating fossil bone. Collaborations between Emile Rivière and Adolphe Carnot in the 1890s led to the development of the fluorine dating method, but it was not until the 1940s that this method was improved and widely implemented by Kenneth Oakley to resolve a number of problems in palaeoanthropology, including the Piltdown Man controversy. The invention of the fluorine dating method marked a significant advance in the quest for absolute dating in palaeoanthropology, but it also highlights interesting problems and issues relating to the ability of palaeoanthropologists and chemists to bring together different skills and bodies of knowledge in order successfully to develop and apply the fluorine dating method.
Validity of resting energy expenditure estimated by an activity monitor compared to indirect calorimetry
Authors: Dellava Jocilyn E. , Hoffman Daniel J.
Published: January 2009

The use of activity monitors (triaxial accelerometers) to estimate total energy expenditure in kilocalories is dependent on the estimation of resting energy expenditure (REE). However, the REE estimated by activity monitors has not been validated against more precise techniques, such as indirect calorimetry (IC). Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare REE estimated by the Actical activity monitor (ActMon) to that measured by IC and standard prediction equations of REE. Fifty healthy adults between 18 and 43 years of age were measured for weight and percentage of body fat using a digital scale and bioelectrical impedance. The REE estimated by the ActMon was only 129 kJ/d higher, but not statistically different (P>0·05), than the REE measured with IC. Using multiple linear regression, there was a positive relationship for men, but not for women, between fat mass (kg) and percentage of body fat and the difference in REE estimated by the ActMon compared to IC (P < 0·001). Therefore, in the cohort studied, the use of an activity monitor to estimate REE is valid when compared to IC, but not to a standard prediction equation of REE.