bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hitchhiker's guide through advances and conceptual changes in chemotaxis
Authors: Eisenbach Michael
Published: August 2007

Chemotaxis is a basic recognition process, governed by protein network that translates molecular‐based information on the surrounding environment into a guided motional response of the recipient cell or organism. This process is prevalent from bacteria to human beings. Some of the chemotaxis systems—like that of the bacterium Escherichia coli—are well established; others—like that of mammalian sperm cells—are at their relatively early stages of research. In contrast to mammalian sperm chemotaxis, where studies have so far been limited to the phenomenological level primarily, the model of bacterial chemotaxis is known down to the angstrom resolution. Despite this difference in depth of understanding, many fundamental questions are open not only in the new but also in the old chemotaxis fields of research, and recent advances in them are raising additional intriguing questions. This review summarizes some of these surprises and previously unasked or overlooked questions, and as such it offers a guided tour through conceptual changes in chemotaxis. J. Cell. Physiol. 213:574–580. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epithelial–mesenchymal interconversions in normal ovarian surface epithelium and ovarian carcinomas: An exception to the norm
Authors: Ahmed Nuzhat , Thompson Erik W. , Quinn Michael A.
Published: August 2007

Cancer that arises from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) accounts for approximately 90% of human ovarian cancer, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer‐related deaths among women in developed countries. The pathophysiology of epithelial ovarian cancer is still unclear because of the poor understanding of the complex nature of its development and the unusual mechanism(s) of disease progression. Recent studies have reported epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cultured OSE and ovarian cancer cell lines in response to various stimuli, but our understanding of the importance of these observations for normal ovarian physiology and cancer progression is not well established. This review highlights the current literature on EMT‐associated events in normal OSE and ovarian cancer cell lines, and discusses its implication for normal ovarian function as well as acquisition of neoplastic phenotypes. The pathological changes in OSE in response to EMT during neoplastic transformation and the contribution of hormones, growth factors, and cytokines that initiate and drive EMT to sustain normal ovarian function, as well as cancer development and progression are also discussed. Finally, emphasis is placed on the clinical implications of EMT and potential therapeutic opportunities that may arise from these observations have been proposed. J. Cell. Physiol. 213:581–588. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Duplication and divergence of fgf8 functions in teleost development and evolution
Authors: Jovelin Richard , He Xinjun , Amores Angel , Yan Yi‐lin , Shi Ruihua , Qin Baifang , Roe Bruce , Cresko William A. , Postlethwait John H.
Published: August 2007

Fibroblast growth factors play critical roles in many aspects of embryo patterning that are conserved across broad phylogenetic distances. To help understand the evolution of fibroblast growth factor functions, we identified members of the Fgf8/17/18‐subfamily in the three‐spine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, and investigated their evolutionary relationships and expression patterns. We found that fgf17b is the ortholog of tetrapod Fgf17, whereas the teleost genes called fgf8 and fgf17a are duplicates of the tetrapod gene Fgf8, and thus should be called fgf8a and fgf8b. Phylogenetic analysis supports the view that the Fgf8/17/18‐subfamily expanded during the ray‐fin fish genome duplication. In situ hybridization experiments showed that stickleback fgf8 duplicates exhibited common and unique expression patterns, indicating that tissue specialization followed the gene duplication event. Moreover, direct comparison of stickleback and zebrafish embryonic expression patterns of fgf8 co‐orthologs suggested lineage‐specific independent subfunction partitioning and the acquisition or the loss of ortholog functions. In tetrapods, Fgf8 plays an important role in the apical ectodermal ridge of the developing pectoral appendage. Surprisingly, differences in the expression of fgf8a in the apical ectodermal ridge of the pectoral fin bud in zebrafish and stickleback, coupled with the role of fgf16 and fgf24 in teleost pectoral appendage show that different Fgf genes may play similar roles in limb development in various vertebrates. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 308B:730–743, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Systematic epitope analysis of the p26 EIAV core protein
Authors: Soutullo Adriana , Santi María N. , Perin Juan C. , Beltramini Leila M. , Borel Ileana Malan , Frank Ronald , Tonarelli Georgina G.
Published: August 2007

The major core protein of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), p26, is one of the primary immunogenic structural proteins during a persistent infection of horses and is highly conserved among antigenically variants of viral isolates. In order to investigate its immune profile in more detail for a better diagnostic, an epitope mapping was carried out by means of two libraries of overlapping peptide fragments prepared by simultaneous and parallel SPPS on derivatized cellulose membranes (SPOT synthesis). Polyclonal equine sera from infected horses were used for the biological assay. Particularly two promising continuous epitopes (NAMRHL and MYACRD) were localized on the C‐terminal extreme of p26, region 194–222. A cyclic synthetic fragment of 29 amino acid residues containing the identified epitopes was designed and studied. A significant conformational change towards a helical structure was observed when the peptide was cyclized by a bridge between Cys198 and Cys218. This observation correlated with an improvement of its ability to be recognized by specific antibodies in an EIA (Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent assay). These results suggest that the conformationally restricted synthetic antigen adequately mimics the native structure of this region of p26 core protein. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calorimetric investigation of phosphorylated and non‐phosphorylated peptide ligand binding to the human Grb7‐SH2 domain
Authors: Spuches A. M. , Argiros H. J. , Lee K. H. , Haas L. Lowell , Pero S. C. , Krag D. N. , Roller P. P. , Wilcox D. E. , Lyons B. A.
Published: August 2007

Grb7 is a member of the Grb7 family of proteins, which also includes Grb10 and Grb14. All three proteins have been found to be overexpressed in certain cancers and cancer cell lines. In particular, Grb7 (along with the receptor tyrosine kinase erbB2) is overexpressed in 20–30% of breast cancers. In general, growth factor receptor bound (Grb) proteins bind to activated membrane‐bound receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs; e.g., the epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR) through their Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. In particular, Grb7 binds to erbB2 (a.k.a. EGFR2) and may be involved in cell signaling pathways that promote the formation of metastases and inflammatory responses. In previous studies, we reported the solution structure and the backbone relaxation behavior of the Grb7‐SH2/erbB2 peptide complex. In this study, isothermal titration calorimetry studies have been completed by measuring the thermodynamic binding parameters of several phosphorylated and non‐phosphorylated peptides representative of natural Grb7 receptor ligands as well as ligands developed through combinatorial peptide screening methods. The entirety of these calorimetric studies is interpreted in an effort to describe the specific ligand binding characteristics of the Grb7 protein. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Profiling of N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization and a hybrid quadrupole linear ion‐trap and Fourier‐transform ion‐cyclotron‐resonance mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐LTQ‐FTICR‐MS)
Authors: Cataldi Tommaso R. I. , Bianco Giuliana , Abate Salvatore
Published: August 2007

A method for the comprehensive profiling of the N‐acyl‐homoserine lactone (AHL) family of bacterial quorum‐sensing molecules is presented using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap (LTQ) and Fourier‐transform ion‐cyclotron‐resonance mass spectrometer (FTICR). We demonstrate an increase in signal intensity in MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) of the protonated molecules, [M + H]+, by using acetonitrile (ACN) instead of methanol (MeOH) as the organic solvent under the conditions in which the samples were supplied to the probe by direct infusion at constant flow rates. The presence of ACN prevents the formation of methanol adducts such as [M + MeOH + H]+ and [M + MeOH + Na]+, while also lowering the signal intensity of sodiated [M + Na]+ ions. Sensitivity of these signaling molecules in terms of signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) using low‐resolution LTQ‐MS and high‐resolution FTICR‐MS were compared under reversed‐phase (RP) LC separations with ESI interface. Special emphasis was paid to the choice of the separation column, its elution conditions and detection of the major AHL compounds produced by the Serratia liquefaciens strain ATCC 27592. The most promising results were obtained using a RP C16‐amide column eluted with a linear mobile phase gradient ACN/H2O containing 0.1% formic acid. The whole set of AHL homologs in bacterial extracts was detected in the extracted‐ion chromatographic (XIC) mode, and the calculations of molecular formulae were performed by including the isotopic pattern. This mode of displaying data, with a very narrow mass‐to‐charge ratio window (i.e. ± 0.0010 as m/z unit) around each selected ion, has allowed the identification of all the eight known homoserine lactones, viz. C4‐HSL, 3‐oxo‐C6‐HSL, C6‐HSL, 3‐oxo‐C8‐HSL, C8‐HSL, C10‐HSL, C12‐HSL and C14‐HSL. In addition, at least four uncommon signaling mediators previously unreported, namely, 3‐oxo‐C10:1‐HSL, 3‐oxo‐C11:2‐HSL, 3‐oxo‐C13:2‐HSL and 3‐OH‐C16‐HSL, were identified and characterized; their roles in cell‐to‐cell communication has to be elucidated. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) on soil organic matter biodegradation and other soil chemical properties
Authors: Chouliaras Nikolaos , Gravanis Fotios , Vasilakoglou Ioannis , Gougoulias Nikolaos , Vagelas Ioannis , Kapotis Thomas , Wogiatzi Eleni
Published: August 2007

The effects of basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) on soil organic matter biodegradation, nutritional mineral elements and bacterial colonies were studied in the laboratory. The air‐dried basil plant tissues incorporated at five different rates (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 g per 50 g of soil) resulted in increases in organic carbon mineralization, mineral nitrogen forms in organic phosphorus and available potassium. The level of available forms of manganese and zinc was increased at all the rates of added basil whereas copper was increased at the two upper rates. Also, the addition of basil resulted in a decrease in soil bacterial colonies. The results of this study indicated that the basil could be used as a cover crop for suppressing weed or pathogens in organic soils, with a positive effect on soil productivity. In addition, the incorporation of basil in soil could reduce the number of bacterial colonies. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) pomace
Authors: Cossuta Dániel , Simándi Béla , Hohmann Judit , Doleschall Fruzsina , Keve Tibor
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: The goal of this work was to utilize the sea buckthorn pomace, which is the by‐product of a sea buckthorn juice process. Pilot plant supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) experiments were performed in a 5 × 10−3 m3 volume high‐pressure vessel. The effects of pressure and temperature on extraction yield and recoveries of biologically active components were studied using a 32 full factorial design. The pressure and temperature were varied over the ranges of 30–46 MPa and 313–353 K, respectively. The extract samples were analysed by TLC‐densitometry, UV/VIS spectrofotometry and HPLC methods.

RESULTS: The obtained yields changed between 142–164 g kg−1, according to the solvent power of the supercritical fluid. The recoveries of the different minor components were (g minor components kg−1 dried raw material): 2.50–4.25 sitosterol, 0.20–1.60 ursolic acid, 0.04–0.18 carotenoid, 0.35–0.42 total tocopherol.

CONCLUSION: By evaluation the designed experiments 46 MPa and 333 K were chosen as the optimum conditions. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Postoperative Infections in Cytoreductive Surgery With Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Intraoperative Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Authors: Capone A. , Valle M. , Proietti F. , Federici O. , Garofalo A. , Petrosillo N.
Published: August 2007

Background

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a common evolution of many abdominal and pelvic malignancies. Over the last decade novel therapeutic approaches have emerged combining cytoreductive surgery with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Aim of our study was to assess frequency, sites, and organisms of postoperative infections in this surgery and to evaluate associated risk factors and clinical outcome.

Methods

Retrospective study of postoperative infection in 30 patients undergoing combined cytoreductive surgery and hypertermic intraoperative chemotherapy in an oncologic surgery in Rome, between June 2001 and December 2004.

Results

Twenty‐nine postoperative infections were recorded in 11 patients (36.7%; 2.6 infections per patient), including 13 surgical site infections, 8 clinical sepsis, 6 bloodstream infections, and 2 pneumonias. At multivariate analysis, total peritonectomy was found as independent variable associated to postoperative infection. Mortality rates were 36.4% and 5% among patients with and without postoperative infections, respectively (P = 0.04). Four of the 5 patients with invasive candidosis died.

Conclusions

Peritonectomy procedures have an high risk of postoperative infections, prolonged hospital stay, and high morbidity and mortality. The increasing role of this surgery for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis should strengthen the need for a careful evaluation of possible risk factors for postoperative infections, including the role of colonizing organisms. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:507–513. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vascular endothelial growth factor staining and elevated INR in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Geisler John P. , Miller Greg A. , Broshears John R. , Manahan Kelly J
Published: August 2007

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tumors correlates with the incidence of an elevated prothrombin time (PT), specifically an international normalized ratio (INR) ≥ 1.4, in patients undergoing primary surgical cytoreduction for ovarian cancer.

Methods

INRs were obtained on all patients perioperatively. VEGF expression was determined by immunostaining of tumor specimens using published protocols.

Results

One hundred patients underwent surgical cytoreduction. Sixty‐seven percent of patients had postoperative INR of 1.4 or greater. INRs of greater than or equal to 1.8 were found in 5% of patients. INR elevation was independent of mean estimated blood loss (EBL) with the EBL in the patients with INRs ≥ 1.4 not significantly different than the EBL in the patients with INRs < 1.4 (660 ml vs. 530 ml, P = 0.09). There was a significant correlation between elevated INR and tumor VEGF immunostaining (P < 0.005). All but one patient with an elevated INR had positive VEGF staining.

Conclusions

In conclusion, development of an elevated INR (INR ≥ 1.4) is common in patients undergoing primary surgical cytoreduction. Positive tumor VEGF staining is very common in patients having a postoperative coagulopathy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:514–517. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic factors determining survival in differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Gulcelik Mehmet Ali , Gulcelik Nese Ersoz , Kuru Bekir , Camlibel Mithat , Alagol Haluk
Published: August 2007

Background

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is among the most curable cancers. We evaluated the prognoses of patients with DTC from an iodine‐deficient area.

Materials and Methods

Four hundred twenty‐two patients with thyroid cancer who underwent surgery between 1992 and 2000 at the Ankara Oncology Hospital were evaluated. Three hundred eighty‐two patients with DTC were included. Gender, age, histopathological type, tumor size, capsular invasion and vascular invasion, distant metastasis, TNM, and AMES‐MACIS scoring were analyzed.

Results

The 10‐year disease‐free survival rate was 72% and the overall survival rate was 88%. Age ≥45 years at presentation, follicular thyroid cancer, tumor extension beyond the thyroid capsule, vascular invasion, distant metastasis, increasing tumor size, stage, and high MACIS‐AMES scores were found to be statistically significant adverse prognostic factors in univariate analysis for DFS and OAS. Multivariate analysis for DFS and OAS confirmed that distant metastasis, follicular thyroid cancer, tumor extension beyond the thyroid capsule, vascular invasion, primary tumor size, TNM stage, and high MACIS score were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

In DTC patients, in addition to traditional risk factors, prognostic factors, such as vascular invasion and capsular invasion, need to be evaluated; not only for achieving an adequate therapeutic approach, but also for avoiding overtreatment of low‐risk patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:598–604. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of pelvic exenteration and reconstruction for treatment of advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies: Analysis of risk factors predicting recurrence and survival
Authors: Park Jeong‐Yeol , Choi Hyuck Jae , Jeong Seung‐Yong , Chung Jinsoo , Park Jung Kun , Park Sang‐Yoon
Published: August 2007

Background and Objectives

Pelvic exenteration offers the last chance of cure for some advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancy patients. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze factors associated with recurrence and survival after pelvic exenteration.

Methods

Forty‐six women with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies were enrolled between July 2001 and February 2006. All pelvic exenteration surgery was performed by the same gynecological oncologist.

Results

Two patients were excluded due to the discovery of peritoneal disease during surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that a tumor size >4 cm was the only factor associated with risk of recurrence after surgery (P = 0.014), that margin status was the only factor associated with disease‐free survival (P = 0.0.047), and that margin status and lymph node metastasis were associated with overall survival (P = 0.017 and 0.012, respectively).

Conclusions

Pelvic exenteration and reconstruction was found to have a potential to provide long‐term survival without postoperative mortality although the morbidity rate is somewhat high. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size >4 cm was a predictive factor for recurrence, and that margin status and lymph node metastasis were predictive factors for survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:560–568. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exact treatment of linear difference equations with noncommutative coefficients
Authors: Jivulescu M. A. , Messina A. , Napoli A. , Petruccione F.
Published: August 2007

The exact solution of a Cauchy problem related to a linear second‐order difference equation with constant noncommutative coefficients is reported. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diffraction of light revisited
Authors: Kunik Matthias , Skrzypacz Piotr
Published: August 2007

The diffraction of monochromatic light is considered for a plane screen with an open infinite slit by solving the vectorial Maxwell–Helmholtz system in the upper half‐space with the Fourier method. With this approach we can represent each solution satisfying an appropriate energy condition by its boundary fields in the Sobolev spaces H±1/2. We show that Sommerfeld's theory using a boundary integral equation with Hankel kernels for the so‐called B‐polarization is covered by our approach, but in general it violates a necessary energy condition. Our representation includes also solutions which are not covered by Sommerfeld's theory. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of knee cartilage thickness using MRI: a reproducibility study in a meniscectomized guinea pig model of osteoarthritis
Authors: Bolbos R. , Benoit‐Cattin H. , Langlois J‐B. , Chomel A. , Chereul E. , Odet C. , Janier M. , Pastoureau P. , Beuf O.
Published: August 2007

The in vivo precision (reproducibility) of quantitative MRI is of particular importance in osteoarthritis (OA) progression of small magnitude and response to therapy. In this study, three‐dimensional high‐resolution MRI performed at 7 T was used to assess the short‐term reproducibility of measurements of mean tibial cartilage thickness in a meniscectomized guinea pig model of OA. MR image acquisition was repeated five times in nine controls (SHAM) and 10 osteoarthritic animals 3 months after meniscectomy (MNX), in vivo. The animals were then killed for histomorphometric assessment and correlation with the MRI‐based measurements. Medial tibial cartilage thickness was measured on MR images using semi‐automatic dedicated 3D software developed in‐house. The reproducibility of measurements of cartilage thickness was assessed by five repeated MRI examinations with a short recovery delay between examinations (48 h). The computed coefficients of variation were 8.9% for the SHAM group and 8.2% for the MNX group. The coefficients of variation were compatible with expected thickness variations between normal and pathological animals. A positive agreement and significant partial correlation (Spearman r′ = 0.74; P < 0.01) between the MRI and histomorphometric data was established. Three‐dimensional high‐resolution MRI is a promising non‐invasive research tool for in vivo follow‐up. This modality could be used for staging and monitoring therapy response in small‐animal models of OA. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The conjugate gradient method solves the neutron transport equation h‐optimally
Authors: Chang B.
Published: August 2007

We report a serendipitous finding that the conjugate gradient method is able to obtain the solution to the linear system derived by the discontinuous Galerkin method for the discrete‐ordinate approximation of the mono‐energetic time‐independent neutron transport equation to a specified accuracy in a number of iterations which is bounded independently of the order of the system. A theoretical explanation for this phenomenon is given. The results of an experiment to test the theory are presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Active stiffness control of wind‐rain‐induced vibration of prototype stay cable
Authors: Wang L. Y. , Xu Y. L.
Published: August 2007

The cables in a cable‐stayed bridge usually possess low inherent damping and are prone to wind‐induced, traffic‐induced, and wind‐rain‐induced vibrations. This paper establishes an active control algorithm using the stiffness control method to suppress wind‐rain‐induced vibration of prototype stay cables. By neglecting the axial inertia force and the modal coupling, the governing equations of motion of wind‐rain‐induced vibration control of prototype stay cables with active stiffness control algorithm are first derived. The fourth‐order Runge–Kutta method is then introduced to find the numerical solutions to the problem. Extensive parameter studies have been carried out for investigating the features of the control method as a design guideline. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grafting of methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Zhang Shuying , Cao Liqin , Shao Fang , Chen Liuping , Jiao Jiqing , Gao Wei
Published: August 2007

The grafting of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer onto natural rubber (NR) was carried out by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) swelling polymerization with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) was used to confirm the formation of graft copolymers with the characteristic bands of symmetric CO and COC stretching vibrations at 1728 cm−1 and 1147 cm−1, respectively. The effects of the rubber‐to‐monomer ratio, amount of initiator, reaction time, and pressure on the monomer grafting level (GL) and grafting efficiency (GE) were investigated, and the optimum conditions for the preparation of NR‐g‐MMA were found to be 70:30 of the rubber‐to‐monomer ratio, 1.2% of the initiator content, and the reaction pressure of 23 MPa for 6 h. The thermal behavior of the NR and the different NR/MMA molar ratio grafted copolymer samples was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The observed glass transition temperature (Tg) was consistent with the GL. The tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, elongation at break, hardness, and oil resistance of graft copolymers were determined and compared with the values of NR and that of polymerization products prepared in traditional toluene solution. The results showed that the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, hardness and oil resistance were greatly improved after modification in scCO2. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile green strategy for micro/nano structured conducting polyaniline‐clay nanocomposite via template polymerization using amphiphilic dopant, 3‐pentadecyl phenol 4‐sulphonic acid
Authors: Sudha J. D. , Reena V. L. , Pavithran C.
Published: August 2007

Novel self‐assembled nano/microstructured conducting PANICN was prepared by in situ intercalative emulsion polymerization of aniline in aqueous dispersion of clay using bifunctional amphiphilic dopant, 3‐pentadecyl phenol‐4‐sulphonic acid (PDPSA) derivable from renewable resource. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed the formation of monolayer of protonated PANI intercalated nanoclays with template polymerized self‐assembled micro/nanostructured protonated PANI. Nano/micro structured PANIs were formed by the supra molecular self‐assembling of the inter‐chain hydrogen bonding, inter‐plane phenyl stacking and electrostatic layer by layer self‐assembling (ELBS) between polarized alkyl chains present dopant anions and were manifested using fourier transform infra red spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. On the basis of the results, structure‐directing effect of ‘anilinium salt micelle’ was schematically illustrated in this article. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2664–2673, 2007
Study on the β to α transformation of polypropylene crystals in compatibilized blend of polypropylene/polyamide‐6
Authors: Zhang R. H. , Shi D. , Tjong S. C. , Li R. K. Y.
Published: August 2007

By using a commercial β‐nucleating agent (TMB‐5) for polypropylene (PP), it was observed that high β‐crystal content in a compatibilized blend of polypropylene/polyamide‐6 (labeled as Blend‐03 in this work) can be achieved for samples prepared by compression moulding. As β‐PP possesses more superior impact strength then α‐PP, and the β to α transformation is an important mechanism of energy absorption for β‐PP, it is of obvious interest to understand the possibilities of β to α transformation in β‐polypropylene/polyamide‐6 blends. Tensile tests were performed at temperatures of 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C, and the occurrence of β to α transformation was monitored by differential scanning calorimeter and wide angle X‐ray diffraction measurements. It was observed that the β to α transformation in Blend‐03 could only be activated at elevated tensile testing temperatures. This was related to the increase in tensile elongation at break with the increase in tensile testing temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2674–2681, 2007
Testing MACRO (version 5.1) for pesticide leaching in a Dutch clay soil
Authors: Scorza Júnior Rômulo P , Jarvis Nicholas J , Boesten Jos JTI , van der Zee Sjoerd EATM , Roulier Stéphanie
Published: August 2007

Testing of pesticide leaching models against comprehensive field‐scale measurements is necessary to increase confidence in their predictive ability when used as regulatory tools. Version 5.1 of the MACRO model was tested against measurements of water flow and the behaviour of bromide, bentazone [3‐isopropyl‐1H‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazin‐4(3H)‐one‐2,2‐dioxide] and imidacloprid [1‐(6‐chloro‐3‐pyridylmethyl)‐N‐nitroimidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamine] in a cracked clay soil. In keeping with EU (FOCUS) procedures, the model was first calibrated against the measured moisture profiles and bromide concentrations in soil and in drain water. Uncalibrated pesticide simulations based on laboratory measurements of sorption and degradation were then compared with field data on the leaching of bentazone and imidacloprid. Calibrated parameter values indicated that a high degree of physical non‐equilibrium (i.e. strong macropore flow) was necessary to describe solute transport in this soil. Comparison of measured and simulated bentazone concentration profiles revealed that the bulk of the bentazone movement in this soil was underestimated by MACRO. Nevertheless, the model simulated the dynamics of the bentazone breakthrough in drain water rather well and, in particular, accurately simulated the timing and the concentration level of the early bentazone breakthrough in drain water. The imidacloprid concentration profiles and its persistence in soil were simulated well. Moreover, the timing of the early imidacloprid breakthrough in the drain water was simulated well, although the simulated concentrations were about 2–3 times larger than measured. Deep groundwater concentrations for all substances were underestimated by MACRO, although it simulated concentrations in the shallow groundwater reasonably well. It is concluded that, in the context of ecotoxicological risk assessments for surface water, MACRO can give reasonably good simulations of pesticide concentrations in water draining from cracking clay soils, but that prior calibration against hydrologic and tracer data is desirable to reduce uncertainty and improve accuracy. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Response of wild Brassica juncea populations to glyphosate
Authors: Huangfu Chao‐He , Song Xiao‐Ling , Qiang Sheng , Zhang Hong‐Jun
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: Wild Brassica juncea (L.) is a troublesome arable land weed and ruderal. It is critical to understand the responses of this weed to herbicides, because the assessment of its susceptibility profile has important ecological and evolutionary consequences for future cultivation of herbicide‐tolerant oilseed rape. The response of 31 wild populations from different geographic origins in China to glyphosate was evaluated with two bioassay methods, and variable responses were found in initial studies. Dose‐response assays were conducted to characterize the extreme populations further, and shikimate accumulation in vivo was determined using a spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS: On the basis of ID50 values, the resistance ratios (R/S) were 5.85 and 4.19 for two glyphosate‐resistant B. juncea populations in germination tests, whereas they were 4 times more resistant to glyphosate in spray tests. There were differences in shikimate accumulation patterns between the two biotypes. Shikimate concentrations in resistant populations began to decline from 6 days after treatment (DAT), while they increased continually in susceptible populations.

CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that the populations responded differentially to glyphosate, and this variability may provide the genetic basis for evolution of individuals with increased resistance to glyphosate, with important implications for herbicide resistance management, especially in the context of risk assessment of glyphosate‐tolerant crops. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Dissipation behaviour of spinosad insecticide in soil, cabbage and cauliflower under subtropical conditions
Authors: Sharma Anjali , Srivastava Anjana , Ram Bali , Srivastava Prakash Chandra
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: Pesticides used on cauliflower and cabbage, which are important vegetable crops for India, must be investigated for the persistence and magnitude of their residues in the crops and soil to ensure human and environmental safety. The behaviour of spinosad, an effective insecticide with a favourable environmental profile, was investigated in field trials under subhumid and subtropical conditions.

RESULTS: The persistence of spinosad in soil, cabbage and cauliflower was evaluated at two application rates (17.5 and 35.0 g ha−1) by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). At 17.5 g ha−1, spinosad persisted up to 7 days in soil, cabbage and cauliflower. However, at 35.0 g ha−1, spinosad residues persisted up to 7 days in soil and 10 days in cabbage and cauliflower.

CONCLUSION: The dissipation of the insecticide from soil, cabbage and cauliflower appeared to occur in a single phase and conformed to first‐order kinetics. The half‐lives of spinosad residues in cabbage, cauliflower and soil were calculated as 1.5, 2.8 and 2.8 days respectively for the 17.5 g ha−1 treatment, and as 2.6, 2.0 and 2.0 days for the 35 g ha−1 treatment. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Pyrethroid resistance discovered in a major agricultural pest in southern Australia: the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae)
Authors: Umina Paul A
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: The redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor Tucker) is an important pest of field crops and pastures. Control of this pest relies heavily on chemicals, with few genuine alternatives presently available. Pesticide responses of H. destructor from the field with reported chemical control failures were compared with mites from susceptible ‘control’ populations. Toxicology bioassays were conducted on adult mites across multiple generations.

RESULTS: Very high levels of resistance to two synthetic pyrethroids, bifenthrin and alpha‐cypermethrin, were detected in this species for the first time. For bifenthrin, LC50 estimates showed a difference in resistance of greater than 240 000‐fold. Resistance to alpha‐cypermethrin was almost 60 000‐fold. This resistance was shown to be heritable, persisting after several generations of culturing. There was no evidence that resistance to organophosphorus chemicals had evolved, which is likely to be a direct consequence of the history of chemical applications these mites have experienced.

CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for more judicious management decisions in order to control pest species in a sustainable manner. The implications of these findings in regard to the management and future research of the redlegged earth mite are discussed. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Review Article: ZnO: From basics towards applications
Authors: Klingshirn C.
Published: August 2007

The cover picture of the current issue depicts a selection of luminescence colours of zinc oxide and relates to the Review Article by Claus Klingshirn (University of Karlsruhe) [1]. Zinc oxide is a wide band gap semiconductor which shows intrinsic luminescence in the blue and near‐UV spectral range as well as extrinsic emission from the blue to the infrared. The author discusses in detail why ZnO is a promising material for optoelectronics, in particular for the blue and ultraviolet region of the spectrum. His fields of research include the (non)linear, temporally or spatially resolved spectroscopy of semiconductors and their growth by molecular beam epitaxy. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
In honour of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alfred Seeger on the occasion of his 80th birthday
Authors: Stutzmann Martin
Published: August 2007

On 31 August 2007, Alfred Seeger, Emeritus Professor of Solid State Physics at the University of Stuttgart and former Director at the Max‐Planck‐Institut für Metallforschung in Stuttgart will celebrate his 80th birthday. This is a perfect occasion for the Editors and the Staff of physica status solidi to express their deepest appreciation and gratitude to an eminent scientist, who has shaped our journal as a Founding Editor, a member of the Editorial Board, as well as an author and referee for more than 40 years!

Alfred Seeger was born in Stuttgart in 1927 and studied Physics at the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart from 1946 to 1949. He received his Ph.D. in March 1951 at the tender age of 24 and, following post‐doctoral stays in Bristol and Cambridge, obtained the newly founded Chair of Solid State Physics in Stuttgart in 1959. In 1965, he also became the Director of the Institute of Physics at the Max‐Planck‐Institut für Metallforschung. Alfred Seeger's scientific oeuvre includes more than 650 publications in international scientific journals, which so far have been cited more than 13000 times. In recognition of his important contributions to solid state physics, Alfred Seeger has received numerous awards and honours, e.g. the Gold Medal of the Japanese Institute of Metals and the German–South African Alexander von Humboldt Prize.

Almost in parallel to his outstanding career as an internationally renowned scientist, Alfred Seeger also has had a strong influence on the fate and on the scientific impact of physica status solidi ever since he agreed to become a Founding Editor of the journal in 1960. We all value him as a very productive and reliable member of the Editorial Board, always willing to help and giving honest and critical advice when needed. Most impressive are also his scientific contributions to the journal. Starting from three papers published in Volume 1 of physica status solidi, Alfred Seeger has contributed on the average four articles per year between 1961 and 1971, and about one article per year from 1972 to 2004. These sum up to a total of 79 papers published in physica status solidi so far with Alfred Seeger as first author or as a co‐author, which have been cited more than 2500 times as up to now. The two contributions with the highest impact are the 1968 paper of Seeger and Chik on “Diffusion Mechanisms and Point Defects in Silicon and Germanium” [phys. stat. sol. 29, 455 (1968)] and the article on “Interpretation of Self‐Diffusion and Vacancy Properties in Copper” [Mehrer and Seeger, phys. stat. sol. 35, 313 (1969)].

On behalf of all Editors of physica status solidi, the entire editorial staff, as well as many friends and colleagues, I personally want to thank Alfred Seeger for nearly 50 years of invaluable support of our journal as an Editor and a scientist. We all wish him good health and many more productive years to come. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sequential design approaches for bioequivalence studies with crossover designs
Authors: Potvin Diane , DiLiberti Charles E. , Hauck Walter W. , Parr Alan F. , Schuirmann Donald J. , Smith Robert A.
Published: August 2007

The planning of bioequivalence (BE) studies, as for any clinical trial, requires a priori specification of an effect size for the determination of power and an assumption about the variance. The specified effect size may be overly optimistic, leading to an underpowered study. The assumed variance can be either too small or too large, leading, respectively, to studies that are underpowered or overly large. There has been much work in the clinical trials field on various types of sequential designs that include sample size reestimation after the trial is started, but these have seen only little use in BE studies. The purpose of this work was to validate at least one such method for crossover design BE studies. Specifically, we considered sample size reestimation for a two‐stage trial based on the variance estimated from the first stage. We identified two methods based on Pocock's method for group sequential trials that met our requirement for at most negligible increase in type I error rate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple stable isotope (18O,13C,15N and34S) analysis of human hair to identify the recent migrants in a rural community in SW England
Authors: Bol Roland , Marsh Jen , Heaton Tim H. E.
Published: August 2007

Relationships between recent migration and hairδ18O values were examined for 40 people living in a rural community in SW England. The isotopic contents of 35 ‘local’ hair samples were compared with those of 5 recently arrived individuals (from Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany and the USA). The hairδ18O values of these ‘visitors’ were +7.9 (Omaha, USA), +11.2 (Jena, Germany), +12.1 (Osorno, Chile), +12.6 (Montreal, Canada) and +14.3‰ (Adelaide, Australia). The hair value for the USA visitor (+7.9‰) fell outside the range for the 33 local adult residents, +10.5 to +14.3‰ (+12.7 ± 0.8‰). Hairδ18O values did not identify the individuals from Adelaide, Montreal and Osorno as ‘visitors’, but hairδ13C orδ34S data did. Combining the hairδ18O,δ13C andδ34S values using principal components analysis (two components explained 89% of the overall variation among the 40 subjects) helped to more clearly distinguish European from non‐European individuals, indicating the existence of global overall isotope (geo‐origin) relationships. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring and evaluation of dechlorination processes using compound‐specific chlorine isotope analysis
Authors: Sakaguchi‐Söder Kaori , Jager Johannes , Grund Harald , Matthäus Felix , Schüth Christoph
Published: August 2007

A simple, quick and sensitive method for the compound‐specific stable chlorine isotope analysis of chlorinated solvents by conventional quadrupole gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is presented. With this method, compound‐specific stable chlorine isotope ratios of typical chlorinated solvents like tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) can be determined quantitatively within 30 min by direct injection. The chlorine isotope ratios of target substances are calculated from the peak areas of several selected molecular ions and fragment ions of the substances, using a set of unique mathematical equations. The precision of the method was demonstrated through reproducibility tests. An internal precision of ±0.4‰ to ±1.1‰ was obtained when analyzing PCE and TCE in the 10–1000 pmol range. The validity of the method was further demonstrated by determining the chlorine isotopic fractionation factor during the reductive dechlorination of TCE in a batch experiment using zero‐valent iron. The chlorine isotopic fractionation factor was calculated as 0.9976 ± 0.0011 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9469 (n = 38). The high correlation coefficient indicates that compound‐specific stable chlorine isotope analysis can be performed with sufficient accuracy using conventional quadrupole GC/MS when significant fractionation takes place during a reaction. For the first time, the chlorine isotope fractionation factor of TCE during an abiotic anaerobic dechlorination process was determined using quadrupole GC/MS, without offline sample preparation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Routine hydrogen isotope measurement of cellulose nitrate by high‐temperature pyrolysis – reference materials and precision
Authors: Knöller Kay , Boettger Tatjana , Haupt Marika , Weise Stephan M.
Published: August 2007

The determination of isotope ratios of non‐exchangeable hydrogen in tree‐ring cellulose is commonly based on the nitration of wood cellulose followed by online high‐temperature pyrolysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry measurement of cellulose nitrate samples. The application of this method requires a proper calibration using appropriate reference materials whoseδ2H values have been reliably normalized to the V‐SMOW/SLAP scale. In our study, we achieve this normalization by a direct alternating measurement of reference waters (V‐SMOW and SLAP) and three cellulose nitrates chosen as reference materials. For that purpose, both water and solid organic samples are introduced into the pyrolysis reactor by silver capsule injection. The analytical precision of the water measurement using the capsule method is ±1.5‰. The hydrogen isotopic composition of three cellulose nitrate standards measured ranges from −106.7 to −53.9‰. The standard deviation of the calculated means from five measurement periods of those standards is better than 1‰. Twenty‐four different measurements of the hydrogen isotope composition of cellulose nitrate were evaluated in order to assess the precision of the described method. We obtained an analytical precision of ±3.0‰ as representative for the 95% confidence interval applicable for routine measurements of cellulose nitrate samples. Evidence was found for significant differences in the behavior of cellulose nitrate and PE foil during the pyrolitic conversion that emphasizes the need for a proper calibration of the routine measurements. This calibration can only be successful if the reference materials used have a very similar chemical composition and undergo the same preparation procedure as the samples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous determination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma using micro solid‐phase extraction tips and aqueous normal‐phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Shen Jim X. , Xu Yan , Tama Cristina I. , Merka Eric A. , Clement Robert P. , Hayes Roger N.
Published: August 2007

Cation‐exchange micro solid‐phase extraction (SPE) tips and aqueous normal‐phase (ANP) chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry were explored for the rapid, selective and sensitive quantitation of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma. A novel micro‐SPE device was evaluated for analyte capacity, extraction efficiency and its ability to maximize recovery of an analyte of interest from bioanalytical matrices by successive replicates of linked extraction steps. Ion suppression using two different methods with micro‐SPE tips was negligible when compared to protein precipitation. The use of ANP chromatography eliminated the need for sample reconstitution following extraction and was found to be highly selective. A reliable chromatography system was developed with a short duty cycle of 2 min/sample. The proposed bioanalytical method required 50 µL of plasma for the determination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine at limits of quantitation of 0.1 and 1.25 ng/mL, respectively. The analytical method was validated in accordance with the FDA guidance on bioanalytical method validation; selectivity, linearity, reproducibility and accuracy were all acceptable. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.