bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Protoilludanes and Related Sesquiterpenes
Authors: Siengalewicz Peter , Mulzer Johann , Rinner Uwe
Published: November 2011

Natural products continue to hold the interest and attention of a wide chemical community. This is due to their biological properties and potential applicability in health care and plant protection, as well as their frequently complex molecular architectures and arrays of functionality, which make them a challenge for total synthesis and a testing ground for novel methodology. These criteria are met to an extraordinary degree by protoilludanes, which are sesquiterpenes with a characteristic tricyclic 5/6/4‐framework. The fortieth anniversary of the first protoilludane synthesis has now been taken as an occasion to review the main aspects of this fascinating class of compounds. Biosynthesis, biological properties and the unusually rich variety of synthetic approaches developed over the past forty years are discussed. About 80 different substitution patterns and 15 completed or uncompleted synthetic routes are listed in this review with the goal of providing a multifacetted picture of the changes in and development of synthetic philosophy and methodology from past to present.
Protecting Group Free Formal Total Synthesis of the Antitubercular Agent Erogorgiaene
Authors: Yadav Jhillu S. , Thirupathaiah, Bodakuntla , Al Khazim Al Ghamdi Ahmad
Published: November 2011

The formal total synthesis of the antitubercular agent erogorgiaene was achieved in 12 steps by using a protecting group free strategy. The synthesis involves an enamine‐mediated 1,4‐addition, an aldol condensation, dehydrogenation, Wittig olefination, intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization, TEMPO‐BAIB‐mediated oxidation, and Evans auxiliary based diastereoselective methylation.
An Efficient One‐Step Synthesis of Piperidin‐2‐yl and Pyrrolidin‐2‐yl Flavonoid Alkaloids through Phenolic Mannich Reactions
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Binh , Wang Qian , Guéritte Françoise
Published: October 2011

An efficient one‐step synthesis of piperidin‐2‐yl and pyrrolidin‐2‐yl flavonoid alkaloids was achieved in good to excellent yields by a highly regioselective phenolic Mannich reaction of chrysin with cyclic imines or iminium salts. Performing the reaction in a mixture of H2O/THF in the absence of an external reagent afforded the C‐6 alkylated product exclusively. The same reaction in water in the presence of NaOH provided the C‐8 alkylated flavonoid as a major product. The reaction has been successfully extended to simple phenols.
Framing gender differences: Linguistic normativity affects perceptions of power and gender stereotypes
Authors: Bruckmüller Susanne , Hegarty Peter , Abele Andrea E.
Published: November 2011

When unknown groups and equal status groups are compared by contrasting one group (“the effect to be explained”) against another (“the linguistic norm”), the group positioned as the norm is sometimes perceived as more powerful, more agentic, and as less communal. Such perceptions may contribute to status‐linked stereotypes, as group differences are spontaneously described by positioning higher‐status groups as the linguistic norm. Here, 103 participants considered gender differences in status to be larger and more legitimate and applied gender stereotypes more readily upon reading about gender differences in leadership that were framed around a male rather than a female linguistic norm. These effects did not generalize to 113 participants who read about gender differences in leisure time preferences framed around either norm. Jointly, these results suggest that the effects of linguistic framing on perceived group status and power and on group stereotypes generalize to domains where there are real differences in status, and contexts in which higher‐status groups are the default standard for comparison. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revisiting the Response Mechanism of Polymeric Membrane Based Heparin Electrodes
Authors: Bell Andrea K. , Höfler Lajos , Meyerhoff Mark E.
Published: November 2011

Potentiometric membrane electrodes that respond to heparin and other polyanions were introduced in the early 1990s. Herein, the mechanism of polymer membrane electrode type heparin sensors is revisited. The extraction/diffusion of heparin is studied via both potentiometric and impedance spectroscopic techniques using a prefractionated heparin preparation that contains polyanionic species >10 000 Daltons. The reversal in EMF response using this heparin preparation indicates diffusion of higher MW heparin fragments to the backside of the membrane. Diffusion coefficients are calculated using a novel formula derived from the phase boundary potential model and Fick′s second law of diffusion. Impedance spectroscopy is also employed to show that high MW heparin species are extracted and diffuse across the PVC membranes.
RESEARCH DECISIONS IN THE FACE OF HETEROGENEITY: WHAT CAN A NEW STUDY TELL US?
Authors: Welton Nicky , Ades A. E.
Published: November 2011

Willan and Eckermann describe a method for dealing with heterogeneity in value of information (VOI) calculations for prioritising and designing new research. Their article raises three fundamental (inter‐related) issues for VOI methods: (1) how to make sense of the concept of uncertainty in a cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) model, (2) the interpretation of heterogeneity in CEA, and (3) the relationship between data from a new study and the CEA model when there is heterogeneity. We discuss these three issues using an illustrative example meta‐analysis of magnesium for myocardial infarction. Careful consideration of the relationship between existing (and future) evidence and the CEA model is required to provide practical VOI methods that can help research funders prioritise new research in the face of heterogeneity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐grade primary leiomyosarcoma in the mandible: Diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Rege Inara Carneiro Costa , Costa Nádia Lago , Batista Aline Carvalho , da Silva Clóvis Martins , Meneghini Alexandre João , Mendonça Elismauro Francisco
Published: November 2011

Background

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in smooth muscle cells and is rarely found in the oral cavity. We present a case of high‐grade primary leiomyosarcoma in the mandible and discuss the diagnosis process.

Methods

The patient was a 64‐year‐old white man who had a slight increase in volume in the left‐side mandible with a radiolucent osteolytic image with the destruction of the mandibular cortex. Incisional biopsy and preoperative examination were performed, including cone beam CT and examination by immunohistochemistry that defined the histologic diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. The patient underwent reconstruction with an osteocutaneous flap with microvascular anastomosis.

Results

Two years after the surgery, there was no sign of recurrence of the lesion.

Conclusion

The use of cone beam CT to define the limits of the lesion and the immunohistochemical findings were essential to establish the treatment plan. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
The implementation of technical practices and human factors of the toyota production system in different industries
Authors: Yang Ching‐Chow , Yeh Tsu‐Ming , Yang King‐Jang
Published: October 2011

The Toyota Production System (TPS) can result in huge benefits for companies and has been widely implemented around the world. Nevertheless, most adopters emphasize only the technical practices of the TPS, but neglect the critical role of human factors in the implementation of the TPS. Therefore, this study aims at developing an integrated TPS model that fully integrates the technical elements and human elements of the TPS with Total Quality Management (TQM) practices. An empirical study was conducted to confirm the causal relationships among these constructs. In the empirical study, questionnaires were mailed and e‐mailed to 620 companies that had implemented the TPS, and 151 of the completed questionnaires were valid. These 151 respondents were divided into eight categories. The results revealed that the implementation level of each construct was significantly different in each industry. The automobile and motorcycle industries have put a great deal of effort into the application of Humanity, Human Resource Management (HRM), and TQM practices and obtained good results. Other industries, however, ignored the implementation of HRM practices. The results also revealed that the early adopters enjoyed significant benefits from the implementation of the TPS, which led high‐tech companies to start adopting TPS practices and become lean enterprises. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hydrological model calibration using a short period of observations
Authors: Tada T. , Beven K. J.
Published: November 2011

To make successful predictions in ungauged basins (PUB) exploring how to facilitate the identification of catchment characteristics from readily available information is as important as improving the theoretical representation of different hydrological processes. Today in most parts of the world, a significant amount of spatial information from GIS overlays and remote sensing imagery is available. However the hydrological information derived from such sources cannot be the complete answer to the PUB problem. Thus, to implement a field measurement program and measure the discharge hydrograph during a short observation period might be a cost‐effective strategy to improve predictive capability. In this study, we explore the most effective way to extract the information content from a limited period of observation. At first, the effectiveness of the phase correction technique using Dynamic Time Warping is demonstrated with long periods of observations to reduce the adverse influence of timing error, which is the discrepancy between the time of the real peak discharge and the observed one which may be disinformative for model identification. Then, by using the Monte Carlo approach with short periods of data, both the phase correction technique and the ensemble mean approach, in which a weighted ensemble mean of simulations using acceptable parameter sets is used as a prediction, are compared with conventional methods. We found that the ensemble mean approach without the phase correction technique could give the most robust model identification when the observation period is shorter than 2 weeks. We also found that the phase correction technique could work well with observation periods of 1 year or longer but was not always effective with shorter periods. These results were strongly dependent on the application catchment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating basin scale evapotranspiration (ET) by water balance and remote sensing methods
Authors: Senay G. B. , Leake S. , Nagler P. L. , Artan G. , Dickinson J. , Cordova J. T. , Glenn E. P.
Published: November 2011

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important hydrological process that can be studied and estimated at multiple spatial scales ranging from a leaf to a river basin. We present a review of methods in estimating basin scale ET and its applications in understanding basin water balance dynamics. The review focuses on two aspects of ET: (i) how the basin scale water balance approach is used to estimate ET; and (ii) how ‘direct’ measurement and modelling approaches are used to estimate basin scale ET. Obviously, the basin water balance‐based ET requires the availability of good precipitation and discharge data to calculate ET as a residual on longer time scales (annual) where net storage changes are assumed to be negligible. ET estimated from such a basin water balance principle is generally used for validating the performance of ET models. On the other hand, many of the direct estimation methods involve the use of remotely sensed data to estimate spatially explicit ET and use basin‐wide averaging to estimate basin scale ET. The direct methods can be grouped into soil moisture balance modelling, satellite‐based vegetation index methods, and methods based on satellite land surface temperature measurements that convert potential ET into actual ET using a proportionality relationship. The review also includes the use of complementary ET estimation principles for large area applications. The review identifies the need to compare and evaluate the different ET approaches using standard data sets in basins covering different hydro‐climatic regions of the world. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design hydrograph estimation in small and ungauged watersheds: continuous simulation method versus event‐based approach
Authors: Grimaldi S. , Petroselli A. , Serinaldi F.
Published: November 2011

The proper assessment of design hydrographs and their main properties (peak, volume and duration) in small and ungauged basins is a key point of many hydrological applications. In general, two types of methods can be used to evaluate the design hydrograph: one approach is based on the statistics of storm events, while the other relies on continuously simulating rainfall‐runoff time series. In the first class of methods, the design hydrograph is obtained by applying a rainfall‐runoff model to a design hyetograph that synthesises the storm event. In the second approach, the design hydrograph is quantified by analysing long synthetic runoff time series that are obtained by transforming synthetic rainfall sequences through a rainfall‐runoff model. These simulation‐based procedures overcome some of the unrealistic hypotheses which characterize the event‐based approaches. In this paper, a simulation experiment is carried out to examine the differences between the two types of methods in terms of the design hydrograph's peak, volume and duration. The results conclude that the continuous simulation methods are preferable because the event‐based approaches tend to underestimate the hydrograph's volume and duration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stream nitrate uptake and transient storage over a gradient of geomorphic complexity, north‐central Colorado, USA
Authors: Baker Daniel W. , Bledsoe Brian P. , Price Jennifer Mueller
Published: November 2011

The understanding of nutrient uptake in streams is impeded by a limited understanding of how geomorphic setting and flow regime interact with biogeochemical processing. This study investigated these interactions as they relate to transient storage and nitrate uptake in small agricultural and urban streams. Sites were selected across a gradient of channel conditions and management modifications and included three 180‐m long geomorphically distinct reaches on each of two streams in north‐central Colorado. The agricultural stream has been subject to historically variable cattle‐grazing practices, and the urban stream exhibits various levels of stabilisation and planform alteration. Reach‐scale geomorphic complexity was characterised using highly detailed surveys of channel morphology, substrate, hydraulics and habitat units. Breakthrough‐curve modelling of conservative bromide (Br−) and nonconservative nitrate (NO3−) tracer injections characterised transient storage and nitrate uptake along each reach. Longitudinal roughness and flow depth were positively associated with transient storage, which was related to nitrate uptake, thus underscoring the importance of geomorphic influences on stream biogeochemical processes. In addition, changes in geomorphic characteristics due to temporal discharge variation led to complex responses in nitrate uptake. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The music of containment: Addressing the participants in mother–infant psychoanalytic treatment
Authors: Salomonsson Björn
Published: November 2011

The author discusses the psychoanalyst's approach in mother–infant treatments. Emphasis is given to the infant as an important, though often neglected, addressee. A clinical example is used in which a telephone call during a prior session triggered fretting in a 3‐month‐old girl and distress in her mother. It is suggested that in the session, nonverbal levels of the interventions reached the girl and contained her, and that this containment worked along similar lines as the communicative musicality between mother and baby. In the discussion, the psychoanalytic concept of containment (Bion, 1962) is linked with the concept of communicative musicality (Trevarthen & Aitken, 2001). The mother's need for containment also is emphasized, and the therapist must be on alert when it is essential to focus on either participant in the therapy room. This choice is guided both by explicit deliberations and by the unconscious countertransference. However, the therapist's wish to grasp the countertransference is countered by his or her unwillingness of being reminded of feelings of infantile helplessness. Similarly, when the mother's conscious and unconscious messages diverge, the baby's ability to receive her caretaking is compromised. In the article's clinical case, this happened when the mother tried to soothe her daughter while being preoccupied with anger at the therapist to an extent to which she was not fully aware.
Brief interventions with parents, infants, and young children: A framework for thinking
Authors: Emanuel Louise
Published: November 2011

In this article, I give an overview of the “Brief Intervention Model of work with Under Fives,'' focusing on ways in which observational skills, awareness of transference and countertransference phenomena, and addressing the underlying feelings thereby conveyed, can facilitate understanding and change. Two clinical vignettes illustrate the application of psychoanalytic thinking to work with the Under Fives Model and the fluctuating shifts of attention involved in trying to understand the meaning of what is being expressed. This includes the use of the clinicians' own emotional experience to work out “what the matter can be” (Emanuel & Bradley, 2008).
Focusing the lens: The infant's point of view. Discussion of “Brief interventions with parents, infants, and young children: A Framework for thinking”
Authors: Jordan Brigid
Published: November 2011

This is a discussion of the article “Brief Interventions With Parents, Infants, and Young Children: A Framework for Thinking by Louise Emmanuel.” Questions of symptom formation, the difference between a defense and developmental phenomena, and different therapeutic techniques are explored from the perspective of The Baby as Subject (an infant–parent psychotherapy approach developed at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia). The relationship between feeding difficulties and the dynamics of the infant–parent attachment relationship are discussed with reference to whether the infant's apparent self‐sufficiency is interpersonally generated and whether bids for autonomy are a sign of healthy, age‐appropriate developmental drives at play. The use of representational toys in infant–parent psychotherapy to enable infants and toddlers to represent their experience or for the therapist to visually express what he or she understands the infant's experience to be and thus to work directly with the infant's representations is outlined. In addition to the linguistic content of verbal interpretations, the infant is receptive to the experience of another thinking mind and the emotional language, facial expressions, and gestures that also convey to the baby the experience of being understood or misunderstood.
Intolerance of uncertainty, depression, and anxiety: the moderating and mediating roles of rumination
Authors: Liao Kelly Yu‐Hsin , Wei Meifen
Published: November 2011

Objectives: This study examined rumination as a moderator and mediator between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and depression and anxiety symptoms. Designs: The study was a cross sectional study. Survey data were collected from 332 undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university. Results: The results from hierarchical analyses supported the moderator role of rumination. A high level of rumination enhanced the association between IU and depression symptoms. In addition, both high and low levels of rumination strengthened the relation between IU and anxiety symptoms. Results from structural equation modeling analyses indicated that rumination fully mediated the relation between IU and depression symptoms, but only partially mediated the association between IU and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: The results supported rumination as a moderator and mediator in the association between IU and depression and anxiety symptoms. Future research and practical implications are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 67:1–20, 2011.
Health literacy and medication understanding among hospitalized adults
Authors: Marvanova Marketa , Roumie Christianne L. , Eden Svetlana K. , Cawthon Courtney , Schnipper Jeffrey L. , Kripalani Sunil
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Patients' ability to accurately report their preadmission medications is a vital aspect of medication reconciliation, and may affect subsequent medication adherence and safety. Little is known about predictors of preadmission medication understanding.

METHODS:

We conducted a cross‐sectional evaluation of patients at 2 hospitals using a novel Medication Understanding Questionnaire (MUQ). MUQ scores range from 0 to 3 and test knowledge of the medication purpose, dose, and frequency. We used multivariable ordinal regression to determine predictors of higher MUQ scores.

RESULTS:

Among the 790 eligible patients, the median age was 61 (interquartile range [IQR] 52, 71), 21% had marginal or inadequate health literacy, and the median number of medications was 8 (IQR 5, 11). Median MUQ score was 2.5 (IQR 2.2, 2.8). Patients with marginal or inadequate health literacy had a lower odds of understanding their medications (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34 to 0.84; P = 0.0001; and OR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.78; P = 0.0001; respectively), compared to patients with adequate health literacy. Higher number of prescription medications was associated with lower MUQ scores (OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.75; for those using 6 medications vs 1; P = 0.0019), as was impaired cognitive function (OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.86; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Lower health literacy, lower cognitive function, and higher number of medications each were independently associated with less understanding of the preadmission medication regimen. Clinicians should be aware of these factors when considering the accuracy of patient‐reported medication regimens, and counseling patients about safe and effective medication use. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Open‐ITC: an alternate computational approach to analyze the isothermal titration calorimetry data of complex binding mechanisms
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Janarthanan , Mohanty Smita
Published: October 2011

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is an important technique used in quantitatively analyzing the global mechanism of protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions through thermodynamic measurements. Among different binding mechanisms, the parallel and ligand induced protein oligomerization mechanisms are technically difficult to analyze compared with a sequential binding mechanism. Here, we present a methodology implemented as a program “Open‐ITC” that eliminates the need for exact analytical expressions for free ligand concentrations [L] and mole fractions of bound ligand θ that are required for the thermogram analysis. Adopting a genetic algorithm‐based optimization, the thermodynamic parameters are determined, and its standard error is evaluated at the global minimum by calculating the Jacobian matrix. This approach yielded a statistically consistent result for a single‐site and a two‐site binding protein–ligand system. Further, a comparative simulation of a two‐step sequential, a parallel, and a ligand induced oligomerization model revealed that their mechanistic differences are discernable in ITC thermograms, only if the first binding step is weaker compared with the second binding step (K1 < K2). We find this to be valid even for the cases where the enthalpies of each of the binding process did not vary significantly. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of transition metal ion coordination on the collision‐induced dissociation of polyalanines
Authors: Watson Heather M. , Vincent John B. , Cassady Carolyn J.
Published: November 2011

Transition metal–polyalanine complexes were analyzed in a high‐capacity quadrupole ion trap after electrospray ionization. Polyalanines have no polar amino acid side chains to coordinate metal ions, thus allowing the effects metal ion interaction with the peptide backbone to be explored. Positive mode mass spectra produced from peptides mixed with salts of the first row transition metals Cr(III), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), and Cu(II) yield singly and doubly charged metallated ions. These precursor ions undergo collision‐induced dissociation (CID) to give almost exclusively metallated N‐terminal product ions whose types and relative abundances depend on the identity of the transition metal. For example, Cr(III)‐cationized peptides yield CID spectra that are complex and have several neutral losses, whereas Fe(III)‐cationized peptides dissociate to give intense non‐metallated products. The addition of Cu(II) shows the most promise for sequencing. Spectra obtained from the CID of singly and doubly charged Cu‐heptaalanine ions, [M + Cu − H]+ and [M + Cu]2+, are complimentary and together provide cleavage at every residue and no neutral losses. (This contrasts with [M + H]+ of heptaalanine, where CID does not provide backbone ions to sequence the first three residues.) Transition metal cationization produces abundant metallated a‐ions by CID, unlike protonated peptides that produce primarily b‐ and y‐ions. The prominence of metallated a‐ions is interesting because they do not always form from b‐ions. Tandem mass spectrometry on metallated (Met = metal) a‐ and b‐ions indicate that [bn + Met − H]2+ lose CO to form [an + Met − H]2+, mimicking protonated structures. In contrast, [an + Met − H]2+ eliminate an amino acid residue to form [an‐1 + Met − H]2+, which may be useful in sequencing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gas‐phase ion‐molecule reaction of alpha‐phenylvinyl cation towards substituted benzenes in the environment of an ITMS
Authors: Begala Michela , Tocco Graziella
Published: November 2011

Ion‐molecule reactions between the α‐phenylvinyl cation (α‐PVC) and mono‐substituted benzenes have been investigated using a quadrople ion‐trap mass spectrometer. The α‐PVC, generated by chemical ionization from phenylacetilene, was found to react selectively with mono‐substituted benzenes bearing electron withdrawing groups to give the product ions [M + 103]+ and the trans‐vinylating product ions [M + 25]+. To characterize the reaction products, a combination of collision‐induced dissociation, isotope‐labeling experiments and model compounds were used. The results indicate, in addition to direct heteroatom alkylation, high extent of ortho attack. We attributed the positional selectivity of the α‐PVC to the nature of the substituent on the neutral molecule. In particular, hydroxy and amino groups promoted the alkenylation at ortho position. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections among hemodialysis patients in Khartoum, Sudan
Authors: Gasim Gasim I. , Hamdan Hamdan Z. , Hamdan Sumaia Z. , Adam Ishag
Published: November 2011

The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is important for health planners and service providers. A cross‐sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for markers of HBV (HBsAg) and anti‐HCV among hemodialysis patients at the Ahmed Gasim hemodialysis unit, Sudan. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain socio‐demographic data and sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti‐HCV). Of the 353 patients enrolled in the study, HBsAg and anti‐HCV were detected in 16 (4.5%) and 30 (8.5%) patients, respectively. None of the patients were co‐infected with HBV and HCV. Multivariate analysis showed that duration of dialysis was significantly associated with anti‐HCV seropositivity [OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.2–1.3; P = 0.024]. No other socio‐demographic or clinical characteristics (age, sex, level of education, history of surgery, and number of units of blood transfused) were significantly associated with HBsAg or anti‐HCV seropositivity. The results of this study suggest that HBsAg and anti‐HCV have low prevalence among hemodialysis patients in Khartoum. Longer duration of dialysis was a risk factor for anti‐HCV. J. Med. Virol. 84:52–55, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phenotypic assay of a hepatitis B virus strain carrying an rtS246T variant using a new strategy
Authors: Hu Jie‐li , Cui Jing , Guo Jin‐jun , Zhang Wen‐lu , Cai Xue‐fei , Yuan Zuo‐wei , Li Qing‐ling , Deng Xiao‐yan , Zeng Ai‐zhong , Hu Yuan , Tang Ni , Huang Ai‐long
Published: November 2011

Phenotypic assays of hepatitis B virus (HBV) play an important role in research related to the problem of drug resistance that emerges during long‐term nucleot(s)ide therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Most of the phenotypic assay systems that are available currently rely on the transfection of recombinant replication‐competent HBV DNA into hepatoma cell lines. Cloning clinical HBV isolates using conventional digestion‐and‐ligation techniques to generate replication‐competent recombinants can be very difficult because of the sequence heterogeneity and unique structure of the HBV genome. In this study, a new strategy for constructing an HBV 1.1× recombinant was developed. The core of this strategy is the “fragment substitution reaction” (FSR). FSR allows PCR fragments to be cloned without digestion or ligation, providing a new tool for cloning fragments or genomes amplified from serum HBV DNA, and therefore making the assay of HBV phenotypes more convenient. Using this strategy, a phenotypic assay was performed on an HBV strain carrying an rtS246T variant isolated from a patient with chronic hepatitis B that was only responsive partially to entecavir therapy. The results indicated that this strain is sensitive to entecavir in vitro. J. Med. Virol. 84:34–43, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adenovirus isolation rates in acute flaccid paralysis patients
Authors: Ivanova Olga E. , Yurashko Olga V. , Eremeeva Tatiana P. , Baikova Olga Yu. , Morozova Nadezhda S. , Lukashev Alexander N.
Published: November 2011

Adenoviruses usually cause asymptomatic or mild infection, but occasionally they produce various severe syndromes including neurological disorders. Association of adenovirus infection with acute flaccid paralysis has been investigated. Shedding of adenovirus with feces was detected in 1.05% of young children (mostly infants) with acute flaccid paralysis syndrome versus 0.42% in healthy contact children (P < 0.01). However, 85% of adenoviruses in the pediatric AFP patients belonged to HAdV‐C species, which does not have a known neuropathogenic potential. Also, 40% of adenoviruses were isolated from patients with consequently established diagnosis of traumatic neuritis at the discharge, which was not compatible with virus ethology of neurological lesions. Higher adenovirus prevalence in young neurological patients could be affected by an underlying immune deficiency or by congestion in children's hospitals. Indeed, among 70 patients (40 infants, 30 adults) with primary immune deficiencies, asymptomatic shedding of adenoviruses was found in 10–17%; in one adult patient a mixture of HAdV‐C2 and HAdV‐D15 persisted for several months. Adenoviruses also could be detected in feces of 12% and 57% of healthy young children from two orphanages, respectively. A significant fraction of samples in these groups contained adenovirus mixtures. Therefore, immune deficiencies and congested groups in children's facilities (orphanages and hospitals) could affect significantly the prevalence of adenovirus shedding. The role of adenoviruses in AFP requires further study. J. Med. Virol. 84:75–80, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of berberine on hippocampal neuronal damage and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 activity following transient global cerebral ischemia
Authors: Hong Jeong‐Seok , Chu Yeun‐Kyung , Lee Hyung , Ahn Byung‐Hoon , Park Jae‐Hyung , Kim Mi‐Jung , Lee Sunghye , Ryoo Ho‐Sang , Jang Jung‐Hee , Lee Seong‐Ryong , Park Jong‐Wook
Published: November 2011

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with a long history of use in Chinese medicine, has several important pharmacological effects. Several studies have revealed that berberine has neuroprotective and neuropsychiatric effects. However, there are few reports regarding the protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia. In this study, mice were subjected to 20 min of global brain ischemia and sacrificed 72 hr later. Berberine was administered for 7 days prior to ischemia and daily until sacrifice. Mice treated with berberine showed reduced matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) activity. Berberine inhibited gelatinase activity directly in in situ zymography and reduced neuronal damage following global ischemia. Laminin expression and NeuN expression were markedly reduced in CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia, and berberine reduced the laminin degradation and neuronal loss. In the TUNEL assay, damaged neurons were also apparent in the CA1 and CA2 areas, and berberine reduced TUNEL‐positive cells. These data demonstrate that berberine, a plant alkaloid, may protect from hippocampal neuronal damage following transient global ischemia by reducing MMP‐9 activity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modulation of neurotransmitter release in orexin/hypocretin‐2 receptor knockout mice: A microdialysis study
Authors: Ortega Jorge E. , Katner Jason , Davis Richard , Wade Mark , Nisenbaum Laura , Nomikos George G. , Svensson Kjell A. , Perry Kenneth W.
Published: October 2011

Orexinergic neurons are discretely localized within the lateral hypothalamus and have widespread projections to the whole brain. Here, the role of orexin/hypocretin‐2 receptors (OX2) in modulating extracellular concentrations of neurotransmitters was evaluated in the hypothalamus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of OX2 knockout (KO) mice by using a microdialysis technique. In the hypothalamus, basal concentrations of norephinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh), and histamine (Hist) were significantly higher in KO mice, whereas KCl perfusion (147 mM) resulted in significantly lesser increases in NE, ACh, and Hist release in KO compared with wild‐type (WT) mice. No differences in basal concentrations or evoked release of serotonin (5‐HT) or dopamine (DA) were found in the hypothalamus between genotypes. In the PFC, no differences in the basal concentrations of the studied neurotransmitters were found between genotypes. After KCl perfusion, significantly higher increases in NE, 5‐HT, and DA release were found in KO compared with WT mice. No differences in the evoked release of ACh and Hist in the PFC were found between genotypes. The present results demonstrate that genetic deletion of OX2 receptors differentially modulates extracellular concentrations of distinct neurotransmitters in the somatodendritic region vs. a nerve terminal region of the orexinergic neurons. In the hypothalamus, an inhibitory role of the OX2 receptors in modulating basal concentrations of NE, ACh, and Hist was revealed, which probably accounts for the reduced responsiveness to KCl as well. In the PFC, the evoked release of the monoamines NE, 5‐HT, and DA seems to be controlled negatively by OX2 receptors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bioresolution of benzyl glycidyl ether using whole cells of Bacillus alcalophilus
Authors: Bala Neeraj , Kaur Kirandeep , Chimni Swapandeep Singh , Saini Harvinder Singh , Kanwar Shamsher Singh
Published: November 2011

The incubation of whole Bacillus alcalophilus cells grown on a mineral supplemented medium (MSM) containing 1% (w/v) sucrose as carbon source, 1.2% (w/v) tryptone as nitrogen source at pH 6.5 and temperature 30 °C in 24 h kinetically resolved benzyl glycidyl ether (1 mg/ml) to provide (S)‐benzyl glycidyl ether with 30% ee and (R)‐3‐benzyloxypropane‐1,2‐diol with 40% ee. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of long‐term fertilization on the diversity of bacterial mercuric reductase gene in a Chinese upland soil
Authors: Liu Yu‐Rong , He Ji‐Zheng , Zhang Li‐Mei , Zheng Yuan‐Ming
Published: November 2011

Soil mercury (Hg) pollution has received considerable attention due to its neurotoxin effects and its potential risk to food safety. The microbial transformation of Hg plays a key role in reducing Hg toxicity by the mercuric reductase (MerA) conferred by genes arranged in the mer operon. This study investigated the effects of long‐term fertilization on the diversity of bacterial mercuric reductase gene (merA), which specify the reduction of ionic Hg2+ to the volatile elemental form Hg0, in an agricultural soil with relatively high Hg content. The soil samples were collected from different treatments, including control without fertilizer (CK), fertilizer nitrogen (N), combined fertilizers (NPK) of N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and NPK plus organic manure (NPK + OM). The merA gene diversity patterns were analyzed based on the merA clone libraries and sequencing measurements. Results showed that the merA gene diversity was influenced by soil variables depending on the fertilization practices. In particular, NH4+ and NO3– contents had strong effect on the merA gene diversity pattern both in the N and NPK treatments, whereas the merA gene diversity pattern in NPK + OM treatment was distinctly influenced by the contents of organic matter, available P and K. These results suggested that long‐term fertilization had significant influences on merA gene diversity, which could be helpful to understand the Hg reduction process and potentially serve microbial remediation of Hg contaminated soil. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Branched polyethyleneimine‐bonded tentacle‐type polymer stationary phase for peptides and proteins separations by open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Zhang Xiaowei , Yang Juan , Liu Shaofeng , Lin Xucong , Xie Zenghong
Published: November 2011

A novel tentacle‐type polymer stationary phase covalently modified with branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) was developed for peptides and proteins separations by open‐tubular CEC (OT‐CEC). The preparation procedure included the silanization of capillary inner wall, in situ graft polymerization and PEI functionalization. A wrinkly polymer surface of multitudinous steric amine groups was evenly formed on the capillary inner wall, and anodic EOF could be gained within a wide pH range of 2.5–7.5. The electroosmotic mobility was examined for its dependence on pH as well as PEI concentrations. Good repeatability was gained with RSD for the migration time of EOF marker within 4.8% and satisfactory chemical stability was validated. Due to the existence of amine groups on the surface of tentacle‐type polymer stationary phase, the silanol effect that occurs between the positively charged biomolecules and the silanols of the capillary column was greatly suppressed. Compared with a monolayer‐coating capillary, seven enkephalin‐related peptides were well resolved on the PEI‐bonded column with high efficiencies. Favorable separations of peptides and proteins with high column efficiencies were obtained in 144 000–189 000 and 97 000–170 000 plates/m. Branched PEI‐bonded tentacle‐type polymer stationary phase has been proven to afford satisfactory retention and resolution of peptides and proteins.
Preparative isolation and purification of senkyunolide‐I, senkyunolide‐H and ferulic acid from Rhizoma Chuanxiong using counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Wei Yun , Hu Jia , Li Hao , Liu Jiangang
Published: November 2011

Three active compounds, senkyunolide‐I, senkyunolide‐H and ferulic acid (FA), were successfully isolated and purified from the extracts of Rhizoma Chuanxiong by counter‐current chromatography (CCC). Based on the principle of the partition coefficient values (k) for target compounds and the separation factor (α) between target compounds, the two‐phase solvent system that contains n‐hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water at an optimized volume ratio of 3:7:4:6 v/v was selected for the CCC separation, and the lower phase was employed as the mobile phase in the head‐to‐tail elution mode. In a single run, 400 mg of the crude extract yielded pure senkyunolide‐I (6.4 mg), senkyunolide‐H (1.7 mg) and FA (4.4 mg) with the purities of 98, 93 and 99%, respectively. The CCC fractions were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and the structures of the three active compounds were identified by MS and 1H NMR.
Molecularly imprinted supermacroporous cryogels for cytochrome c recognition
Authors: Tamahkar Emel , Bereli Nilay , Say Rıdvan , Denizli Adil
Published: November 2011

Molecular imprinting is an attractive biomimetic approach that creates specific recognition sites for the shape and functional group arrangement to template molecules. The purpose of this study is to prepare cytochrome c‐imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)‐based supermacroporous cryogel which can be used for the separation of cytochrome c from protein mixtures. N‐Methacryloyl‐(L)‐histidinemethylester (MAH) was used as the metal‐coordinating monomer. In the first step, Cu2+ was complexed with MAH, and the cytochrome c imprinted PHEMA (MIP) cryogel was prepared by free radical cryopolymerization initiated by N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylene diamine at −12°C. After polymerization is completed, the template cytochrome c molecules were removed from the MIP cryogel using 0.5 M NaCl solution. The maximum cytochrome c binding amount was 126 mg/g polymer. Selective binding studies were performed in the presence of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin. The relative selectivity coefficients of MIP cryogel for cytochrome c/lysozyme and cytochrome c/bovine serum albumin were 1.7 and 5.2 times greater than those of the non‐imprinted PHEMA cryogel, respectively. The selectivity of MIP cryogel for cytochrome c was also confirmed with fast protein liquid chromatography. The MIP cryogel could be used many times with no remarkable decrease in cytochrome c binding capacity.
National trends in laryngeal cancer surgery and the effect of surgeon and hospital volume on short‐term outcomes and cost of care
Authors: Gourin Christine G. , Frick Kevin D.
Published: November 2011

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The past 2 decades have witnessed an increase in the use of chemoradiation in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. We sought to characterize contemporary patterns of laryngeal cancer surgical care and the effect of volume status on surgical care and short‐term outcomes.

Study Design:

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Methods:

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, temporal trends in laryngeal cancer surgical care were evaluated in 78,478 cases performed in 1993 to 2008. Relationships between volume and mortality, complications, length of stay, and costs were evaluated in 24,856 cases performed in 2003 to 2008 using regression analysis, with adjustment for patient and provider characteristics.

Results:

Laryngeal cancer surgery in 2001 to 2008 was associated with increased utilization of high‐volume hospitals (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, P = .039), a decrease in partial and total laryngectomy procedures (OR = 0.7, P < .001), an increase in flap reconstruction (OR = 1.6, P < .001), prior radiation (OR = 2.2, P < .001), comorbidity (OR = 1.6, P < .001), and wound complications (OR = 4.0, P < .001), compared to 1993 to 2000. High‐volume hospitals were significantly associated with partial laryngectomy (OR = 1.8, P = .026) and flap reconstruction (OR = 1.8, P = .027). High‐volume surgeons were associated with partial laryngectomy (OR = 1.7, P = .048), flap reconstruction (OR = 1.6, P = .029), prior radiation (OR = 2.2, P = .013), and comorbidity (OR = 0.4, P = .008). After controlling for all other variables, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed between surgery at a high‐volume hospital and length of hospitalization, and surgery by a high‐volume surgeon was associated with even greater reductions in length of hospitalization as well as lower hospital‐related costs.

Conclusions:

These data reflect changing trends in the primary management of laryngeal cancer, with meaningful differences in the type of surgical care provided by high‐volume providers.
A Snapshot of Thermo‐Oxidative Degradation Products in Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Carroccio Sabrina , Rizzarelli Paola , Zampino Daniela
Published: October 2011

The products derived from thermo‐oxidation of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC) and their related degradation pathways are investigated. PC degradation is carried out at 300 °C in air. The oxidized products are analyzed for the first time by using direct electrospray mass spectrometry (MS) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight MS. Together with the formation of bisphenol A oligomers, several new structures containing biphenyl units, phenols, acetophenones, alcohols, acids, and xanthones molecules are detected. The use of thin films, instead of PC bulk, allows one to obtain precise information about mechanisms involved during thermo‐oxidative processes and to establish a new order of priorities among the renowned degradative reactions.
Operator Bezoutiant and roots of entire functions, concrete examples
Authors: Sakhnovich L. A.
Published: October 2011

In this paper we investigate the properties of the operator Bezoutiant. We omit the assumption that the operator Bezoutiant is normally solvable.We investigate the following problems: describing the conditions under which two entire functions have no common zeroes, extending the Schur‐Cohn theorem to new classes of entire functions. We apply the general results to the theory of Bessel and confluent hypergeometric functions.
Mild well‐posedness of equations with fractional derivative
Authors: Bu Shangquan
Published: October 2011

We study the (Wα, p, Lp)‐mild well‐posedness of the equation with fractional derivative Dαu(t) = Au(t) + f(t), 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π, where A is a closed operator in a Banach space X, α > 0, 1 ≤ p < ∞ and Dα is the fractional derivative in the sense of Weyl. We completely characterize the (Wα, p, Lp)‐mild well‐posedness of this equation by Lp‐multiplier defined by the resolvent of A, this extends the previous works by Keyantuo and Lizama.
Commutation methods for Schrödinger operators with strongly singular potentials
Authors: Kostenko Aleksey , Sakhnovich Alexander , Teschl Gerald
Published: October 2011

We explore the connections between singular Weyl–Titchmarsh theory and the single and double commutation methods. In particular, we compute the singular Weyl function of the commuted operators in terms of the original operator. We apply the results to spherical Schrödinger operators (also known as Bessel operators). We also investigate the connections with the generalized Bäcklund–Darboux transformation.