bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating resource use efficiencies in organic agriculture: a review of budgeting approaches used
Authors: Topp Cairistiona F E , Stockdale Elizabeth A , Watson Christine A , Rees Robert M
Published: September 2007

The basis of organic farming is that it is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, and it aims, wherever possible, to use renewable resources in the production system and avoid waste. Thus this review considers the use of nutrient, energy and water within the farming systems, and indices that are used to evaluate the use of these resources and hence their impact on the environment. It is crucial that the delineation of system boundaries in both time and space, including both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, is defined to assess the resources used within the system. There is increasing interest in the emergy concept, which permits different forms of energy to be compared on the same basis. Across all farming systems, there is no direct link between nutrient surplus and nutrient loss. It is important to recognise that the choice of tool used to assess the environmental consequences of the farming system, as well as whether the results are expressed on a product or an area basis, may have implications for how emissions are attributed to different parts of the production system. In order for indicators to be useful, they must be influenced by the farmer's management practices. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Tomato quality is more dependent on temperature than on photosynthetically active radiation
Authors: Riga Patrick , Anza Mikel , Garbisu Carlos
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: A greenhouse experiment was performed to study the effect of cumulative air temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on tomato quality. Tomato plants were subjected to two different shading treatments causing a 30 and 50% reduction in incoming PAR respectively (plants were exposed to 70 and 50% of incoming PAR respectively). Control plants (exposed to 100% of incoming PAR) were also included in the experiment. The experiment was carried out under unheated greenhouse conditions. To minimise the dependence of temperature on PAR, only a small area inside a large greenhouse was shaded, thereby allowing air currents to homogenise temperature all over the enclosure. Parameters of tomato quality were correlated with cumulative temperature (Tcum) and cumulative PAR (PARcum) for a period of 45 days before harvest.

RESULTS: Tcum was strongly correlated with firmness, electrical conductivity, soluble solids content and total phenolic compounds and weakly correlated with pH, dry weight, titratable acidity and vitamin C content. PARcum was only weakly correlated with firmness, dry weight, soluble solids content and total phenolic compounds.

CONCLUSION: Tcum has a stronger influence on tomato quality than PARcum. Growers could obtain tomatoes of similar quality under lower PAR than that provided by natural sunlight. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Simultaneous determination of diethylene glycol and propylene glycol in pharmaceutical products by HPLC after precolumn derivatization with p‐toluenesulfonyl isocyanate
Authors: Zhou Tao , Zhang Haiying , Duan Gengli
Published: September 2007

A simple and reliable HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of diethylene glycol (DEG) and propylene glycol (PG) in pharmaceutical products by precolumn derivatization. The derivatization reagent p‐toluenesulfonyl isocyanate (TSIC, 10 μL, 20% in ACN v/v) was added to 100 μL of the sample, and then 10 μL of water was added. The resulting derivatives were separated using a C18 analytical column and a mobile phase composed of 0.01 M KH2PO4 buffer (adjusted to pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid) and ACN (47:53 v/v) at 1 mL/min and 25°C. For detection, UV light at 227 nm was used. The derivatization conditions including reaction time, temperature, and concentration of TSIC were optimized. The calibration curves were linear from 0.062 to 18.6 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9999) and from 0.071 to 21.3 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9999) for DEG and PG, respectively. The RSD values of intra‐ and interday assays were all below 4% for DEG and PG. The proposed method was then successfully applied to analyze two Armillarisin A injection samples and two spiked syrup samples.
Poly(l‐lysine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol): a versatile aqueous lubricant additive for tribosystems involving thermoplastics
Authors: Lee Seunghwan , Spencer Nicholas D.
Published: September 2007

The adsorption and aqueous lubricating behaviour of poly(l‐lysine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL‐g‐PEG) have been investigated for tribopairs involving thermoplastic materials, including polypropylene, polyamide‐6,6 and polyethylene. A major finding is that PLL‐g‐PEG adsorbs onto both hydrophobic, non‐polar surfaces and hydrophilic, polar (negatively charged) surfaces from aqueous solution, and thus plays as a very unique and effective aqueous boundary lubricant additive for the sliding contact of thermoplastics against themselves as well as against many hydrophilic, polar materials, including metals (e.g. stainless steel) or ceramics (e.g. zirconia, ZrO2). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effectiveness of narrow‐band ultraviolet‐B phototherapy for prevention of intimal hyperplasia in a rat carotid balloon injury model
Authors: Kohyama Shinya , Morimoto Yuji , Nakai Kanji , Kaji Tatsumi , Tokumaru Aya , Nawashiro Hiroshi , Shima Katsuji , Satoh Yasushi , Takishima Kunio , Kikuchi Makoto , Matsuo Hirotaka
Published: September 2007

Background and Objective

Narrow‐band ultraviolet‐B light (NBUVB) (313 nm) is known to have anti‐proliferative effects, implying a potential treatment for intimal hyperplasia, but it remains to be ascertained. We assessed the effects of NBUVB irradiation for prevention of intimal hyperplasia.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

The rat carotid arteries were irradiated with NBUVB after balloon injury (BI), and the degree of intimal hyperplasia was histopathologically assessed. The anti‐proliferative effects using cultured human smooth muscle cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis.

Results

NBUVB (0.3–4.5 J/cm2) irradiation immediately after BI reduced the degree of intimal hyperplasia at 14 and 28 days after BI (P<0.001) without any obvious complications. Neither an increase in the number of medial cells nor upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was observed in the irradiated arteries. NBUVB irradiation at 2 or 14 days after BI significantly suppressed further intimal hyperplasia (P<0.01). NBUVB‐irradiated cultured cells showed inhibited proliferation involved with G1 and G2/M arrests. Increased expression of p53 and inhibition of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) phosphorylation were also seen in the NBUVB‐irradiated cells.

Conclusions

These data suggest that NBUVB irradiation is an effective method for preventing intimal hyperplasia. The anti‐proliferative effect is partly due to the cell cycle arrest caused by p53 expression and inhibited pRB phosphorylation. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:659–666, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased expression of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors following low‐level light treatment facilitates enhanced protoporphyrin IX production in glioma‐derived cells in vitro
Authors: Bisland S.K. , Goebel E.A. , Hassanali N.S. , Johnson C. , Wilson B.C.
Published: September 2007

Background and objectives

This study investigates whether low‐level light treatment (LLLT) can enhance the expression of peripheral‐type mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) on glioma‐derived tumor cells, and by doing so promote the synthesis of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and increase the photodynamic therapy (PDT)‐induced cell kill using 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The endogenous photosensitizer, PpIX and related metabolites including coproporphyrin III are known to traffic into or out of the mitochondria via the PBRs situated on the outer mitochondrial membrane. Cells of astrocytic derivation within the brain express PBRs, while neurons express the central‐type of benzodiazepine receptor.

Study Design

Astrocytoma‐derived CNS‐1 cells were exposed to a range of differing low‐level light protocols immediately prior to PDT. LLLT involved using broad‐spectrum red light of 600–800 nm or monochromatic laser light specific to 635 or 905 nm wavelength. Cells (5×105) were exposed to a range of LLLT doses (0, 1, or 5 J/cm2) using a fixed intensity of 10 mW/cm2 and subsequently harvested for cell viability, immunofluorescence, or Western blot analysis of PBR expression. The amount of PpIX within the cells was determined using chemical extraction techniques.

Results

Results confirm the induction of PBR following LLLT is dependent on the dose and wavelength of light used. Broad‐spectrum red light provided the greatest cell kill following PDT, although LLLT with 635 nm or 905 nm also increased cell kill as compared to PDT alone. All LLLT regimens increased PBR expression compared to controls with corresponding increases in PpIX production.

Conclusions

These data suggest that by selectively increasing PBR expression in tumor cells, LLLT facilitates enhanced tumor cell kill using ALA‐PDT. This may further improve the selectivity and efficacy of PDT treatment of brain tumors. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:678–684, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Activity of Immobilized Trypsin in the Layer Structure of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules (PEMC)
Authors: Garbers Eike , Mitlöhner Rita , Georgieva Radostina , Bäumler Hans
Published: September 2007

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules composed by using the LbL technique on stabilized RBC as templates were coated with up to ten layer pairs of trypsin/PSS or trypsin/alginate. The trypsin layer growth was confirmed by particle electrophoresis, confocal laser scanning microscopy, flow cytometry, and protein determination according to Lowry. In the coating series with trypsin/PSS, the amount of immobilized enzyme was larger than that with trypsin/alginate. The enzyme immobilization led to activity reduction of up to 90% compared to that of the same enzyme amount in the solution. No significant differences between the activities of trypsin immobilized in combination with PSS and with alginate were found.

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Application and New Developments in Polymer‐Dispersed Liquid Crystal Simulation Studies
Authors: Jeon Young Jae , Bingzhu Yin , Rhee June Tak , Cheung David L. , Jamil Muhammad
Published: September 2007

Polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) represent an important new class of materials with electro‐optic applications such as flexible displays, large‐area devices projection displays, electrically switchable windows, etc. On considering such applications of these materials, many studies have been performed on the experimental side. Similarly, research on the simulation side for the PDLCs is of the fundamental interest too. The present article contains a short review on the present and past simulation studies of PDLCs. Various molecular simulation approaches applied to PDLC systems by different groups are reviewed here. In addition some new findings of the bulk phases are also extensively described.

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Effect of Concentration Gradient on the Morphology Development in Polymer Solutions Undergoing Thermally Induced Phase Separation
Authors: Jiang Bai Tao , Chan Philip K.
Published: September 2007

Anisotropic porous polymeric materials fabricated from the phase separation method via spinodal decomposition are used in various practical engineering applications. We studied the formation of anisotropic porous polymeric materials numerically, by imposing an initial linear concentration gradient across a model polymer solution. The initial concentration gradient is placed at three different regions of the polymer sample for comparison purposes. All the simulation results are in good agreement with published experimental observations, which are reported from the applications of porous polymeric membranes. The structure development shows that an anisotropic porous morphology forms when an initial linear concentration gradient is applied to the model polymer solution.

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Contraversive eye deviation during stimulation of the subthalamic region
Authors: Sauleau Paul , Pollak Pierre , Krack Paul , Pélisson Denis , Vighetto Alain , Benabid Alim‐Louis , Tilikete Caroline
Published: September 2007

Contraversive eye deviation (CED) is most often observed intraoperatively during subthalamic nucleus implantation for Parkinson's disease and considered to result from wrong electrode positioning. We report on a woman, bilaterally implanted in the subthalamic nucleus for severe Parkinson's disease disclosing long‐lasting CED only when the stimulators were activated separately. Clinical examination and eye movements recording in this patient showed that CED occurred when stimulation was applied at the site and at similar intensity used for the best antiparkinsonian effect. These results suggest that the subthalamic area may be involved in orienting movements, either through the subthalamic nucleus itself or the fibers from the Frontal Eye Fields. Interestingly, this report shows that CED may be corrected by bilateral stimulation and that CED may not necessarily implicate electrode repositioning. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Complete 1H and 13C assignments of the four major saponins from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)
Authors: Hayes Patricia Y. , Lambert Lynette K. , Lehmann Reg , Penman Kerry , Kitching William , De Voss James J.
Published: September 2007

Complete 1H and 13C spectral assignments for the four major steroidal saponins isolated by methanolic extraction of the roots of Dioscorea villosa, collected in North Carolina, United States (in summer and autumn), are presented in this paper. The structures were determined by a combination of 1H, 13C and 2D NMR techniques and were found to be ((3β,25R)‐26‐(β‐D‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐methoxyfurost‐5‐en‐3‐yl‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐[α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (1) (or methyl parvifloside), ((3β,25R)‐26‐(β‐D‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22 methoxyfurost‐5‐en‐3‐yl‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐O‐[β‐D‐gluco‐ pyranosyl‐(1 → 4)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (2) (or methyl protodeltonin), (3β,25R)‐spirost‐5‐en‐3‐yl‐O‐β‐D‐glucopy ranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐[α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (3) (or Zingiberensis saponin I) and (3β,25R)‐spirost‐5‐en‐3‐yl‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐O‐[β‐Ds‐glucopyranosyl ‐(1 → 4)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (4) (or deltonin). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constitutive heterochromatin during mouse oogenesis: The pattern of histone H3 modifications and localization of HP1α and HP1β proteins
Authors: Meglicki Maciej , Zientarski Maciej , Borsuk Ewa
Published: September 2007

Centromeres are the fragments of DNA that are responsible for proper chromosome segregation. They consist of centromeric chromatin surrounded by blocks of pericentric heterochromatin, playing an important role in centromere function. In somatic cells, the pericentric domains have a specific pattern of epigenetic modifications of core histones and contain specific pericentric proteins. These features are probably more important for the centromere function than the sequence of the centromeric DNA itself. In somatic cells, the HP1α and HP1β proteins are indispensable for constitutive heterochromatin formation and maintenance. We have analyzed the localization of these proteins in the primordial, growing, fully‐grown, and maturing mouse oocytes. Additionally, we have analyzed post‐translational modifications of histone H3, which can influence HP1α and HP1β association with the heterochromatin. We showed that the regions of constitutive heterochromatin have a distinct pattern of histone H3 acetylation and di‐, and trimethylation of its lysine 9. We demonstrated that HP1β protein was present in pericentric chromatin domains in primordial oocytes, growing (transcriptionally active) oocytes, and in fully‐grown oocytes, and was released to the cytoplasm after germinal vesicle breakdown. In contrast, the HP1α was never detected in primordial oocytes, was first detected in pericentric heterochromatin in growing oocytes, dissociated from pericentric heterochromatin in fully‐grown oocytes, and it was never detected in maturing oocytes. The presence of HP1α and HP1β proteins on the heterochromatin of transcriptionally active oocytes and their absence in transcriptionally silent oocytes suggest that they are necessary for the repression of RNA synthesis in heterochromatin domains of transcribing oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 414–428, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lower‐bound limit analysis by using the EFG method and non‐linear programming
Authors: Chen Shenshen , Liu Yinghua , Cen Zhangzhi
Published: September 2007

Intended to avoid the complicated computations of elasto‐plastic incremental analysis, limit analysis is an appealing direct method for determining the load‐carrying capacity of structures. On the basis of the static limit analysis theorem, a solution procedure for lower‐bound limit analysis is presented firstly, making use of the element‐free Galerkin (EFG) method rather than traditional numerical methods such as the finite element method and boundary element method. The numerical implementation is very simple and convenient because it is only necessary to construct an array of nodes in the domain under consideration. The reduced‐basis technique is adopted to solve the mathematical programming iteratively in a sequence of reduced self‐equilibrium stress subspaces with very low dimensions. The self‐equilibrium stress field is expressed by a linear combination of several self‐equilibrium stress basis vectors with parameters to be determined. These self‐equilibrium stress
basis vectors are generated by performing an equilibrium iteration procedure during elasto‐plastic incremental analysis. The Complex method is used to solve these non‐linear programming sub‐problems and determine the maximal load amplifier. Numerical examples show that it is feasible and effective to solve the problems of limit analysis by using the EFG method and non‐linear programming. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boundary value problems defined on stochastic self‐similar multiscale geometries
Authors: Soare M. A. , Picu R. C.
Published: September 2007

A method for solving elasticity problems defined on composite bodies with a stochastic multiscale microstructure is presented. It is considered that the composite is made from two types of materials with different elastic moduli. One of these is taken as the matrix, while the other forms the inclusions. The inclusions form a stochastic fractal with a finite, but potentially large, number of scales and are randomly distributed within the matrix. The method presented here leads to the statistics of the solution, i.e. the mean and the variance of the stress and displacement fields. It is based on the stochastic finite element method (spectral approach, second‐order technique) and on scaling properties of the spatial distribution of inclusions over the problem domain. This scaling allows for a simple formulation of the multiscale problem and leads to significant computation cost savings, especially when the fractal has a large number of relevant scales. Several examples are presented and used to verify the proposed method against computationally intensive classical finite element models in which the mesh is refined down to the scale of the finest inclusions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrical and humidity sensing properties of synthesized hydrophosphoric acid doped polyaniline
Authors: Sonawane Yogesh S. , Kulkarni M. V. , Kale B. B. , Aiyer R. C.
Published: September 2007

H3PO4 doped polyaniline was synthesized by a single‐step chemical polymerization method using ammonium persulfate as an oxidizing agent. The material characterization was done by SEM, UV–vis spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The pellets of the synthesized material were used to study the electrical properties, using a four‐probe method. The room temperature electrical conductivity is found to be 0.2201 S/cm. The electrical resistance in response to the varying humid environment (ranging between 20 and 100% RH) is recorded to evaluate the sensitivity of the H3PO4 polyaniline samples toward humidity. The resistance of the samples is found to vary by three orders of magnitude for 20–100% RH and is found to decrease with increasing humidity. The response and recovery time are observed to be 12–14 and 26–30 sec, respectively. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of starch addition on burst effect and diameter of polyurethane microspheres containing theophylline
Authors: Emami Shahriar Hojjati , Orang Fariba , Mahmoudi Morteza , Rafienia Mohammad
Published: September 2007

Theophylline was encapsulated in polyurethane prepared with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), polycaprolactone (PCL) (MW = 530 and 2000 g/mol) diols, and starch as polyols and butanediol as chain extender. Polyurethane microspheres were prepared in two reactors; after polyurethane preparation by mixing PCL/starch, HMDI and theophylline in the first reactor, microspheres formation was achieved by transferring the reaction mixture to an aqueous medium (moving at 5000 rpm) of the second reactor. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was employed to confirm polyurethane formation during the course of reactions. FTIR spectrum revealed bands at 1729–1733 cm−1 and 3340–3347 cm−1 which indicates carbonyl and NH of amine groups, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the samples. SEM confirmed the formation of microspheres with spherical morphology. Particle size investigation with optical microscopy revealed a size distribution of 8–70 µm. Controlled release of theophylline from the microspheres was performed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH = 7.4 and monitored with a ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer at 274 nm. Drug release profiles showed that starch addition reduced the release rate around 24% for microspheres prepared from PCL with a molecular weight of 2000 g/mol and it had negligible effect on a molecular weight of 530 g/mol. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation, morphology and electrical conductivity of polyaniline/polyoxyalkylene–montmorillonite exfoliated nanocomposites
Authors: Salahuddin N. , Ayad M. M. , Ali M.
Published: September 2007

Polyaniline (PANI)/organoclay exfoliated nanocomposites containing different organoclay contents (14–50 wt%) were prepared. PANI emeraldine base (EB) and oligomeric PANI (o‐PANI) were intercalated into montmorillonite (MMT) modified by four types of polyoxyalkylene diamine or triamine (organoclay) using N‐methyl pyrolidinone (NMP) as a solvent in the presence of 0.1 M HCl. o‐PANI and EB have been synthesized by oxidative polymerization of aniline using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS). Infrared absorption spectra (IR) confirm the electrostatic interaction between negatively charged surface of MMT and positively charged sites in PANI. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies disclosed that the d001 spacing between interlamellar surface disappeared at low content of the organoclay. The morphology of these materials was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrical conductivities of the PANI‐organoclay and o‐PANI‐organoclay nanocomposites were 1.5 × 10−3–2 × 10−4 and 9.5 × 10−7–1.8 × 10−9 S/cm, respectively depending on the ratio of PANI. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of tercopolymers derived from ε‐caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and lactide
Authors: Jia Yongtang , Shen Xinyuan , Gu Xiaohua , Dong Jiong , Mu Chunxiao , Zhang Yuqing
Published: September 2007

A series of tri‐components copolymers with different molar ratios were synthesized via bulk ring‐opening copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC), L‐lactide (LLA), and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), using stannous octoate as catalyst. The sequence structure of the tercopolymer chain was characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results showed that although block sequence of the corresponding monomers still existed in the tercopolymer chain, the random tercopolymers were ultimately obtained due to the transesterification during polymerization. For the samples TP1 and TP2, longer sequence of LLA existed in the molecular chains. The thermal properties of tercopolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the mechanical properties of the resulting copolymers were studied by using a tensile tester. The results indicated that the properties of these copolymers could be adjusted by changing the compositions of the copolymers. The resulting tercopolymers are expected to have potential uses as nerve regeneration and other biomedicine materials. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glomerular and tubular induction of the transcription factor c‐Jun in human renal disease
Authors: De Borst MH , Prakash J , Melenhorst WBWH , van den Heuvel MC , Kok RJ , Navis G , van Goor H
Published: September 2007

The transcription factor c‐Jun regulates the expression of genes involved in proliferation and inflammation in many cell types but its role in human renal disease is largely unclear. In the current study we investigated whether c‐Jun activation is associated with human renal disease and if c‐Jun activation regulates pro‐inflammatory and pro‐fibrotic genes in renal cells. Activation of c‐Jun was quantified by scoring renal expression of phosphorylated c‐Jun (pc‐Jun) in control human renal tissue and in biopsies from patients with various renal diseases (diabetic nephropathy, focal glomerulosclerosis, hypertension, IgA nephropathy, membranous glomerulopathy, minimal change disease, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, acute rejection, and Wegener's granulomatosis); this was correlated with parameters of renal damage. Furthermore, we studied the functional role of c‐Jun activation in human tubular epithelial cells (HK‐2) stimulated with TGF‐β. Activated c‐Jun was present in nuclei of glomerular and tubular cells in all human renal diseases, but only sporadically in controls. Across the diseases, the extent of pc‐Jun expression correlated with the degree of focal glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, cell proliferation, kidney injury molecule‐1 (Kim‐1) expression, macrophage accumulation, and impairment of renal function. In HK‐2 cells, TGF‐β induced c‐Jun activation after 1 h (+40%, p < 0.001) and 24 h (+160%, p < 0.001). The specific c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 abolished c‐Jun phosphorylation at all time points and blunted TGF‐β‐ or BSA‐induced procollagen‐1α 1 and MCP‐1 gene expression in HK‐2 cells. We conclude that in human renal disease, the transcription factor c‐Jun is activated in glomerular and tubular cells. Activation of c‐Jun may be involved in the regulation of inflammation and/or fibrosis in human renal disease. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Classification of commercial Catuaba samples by NMR, HPLC and chemometrics
Authors: Daolio Cristina , Beltrame Flávio L. , Ferreira Antonio G. , Cass Quezia B. , Cortez Diógenes Aparício Garcia , Ferreira Márcia M. C.
Published: September 2007

For over a century, Catuaba has been used in Brazilian folk medicine as an aphrodisiac even though the identity of the plant material employed is often uncertain. The species recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopeia is Anemopaegma arvense (Bignoniaceae), but many other plants, regionally known as Catuaba, are commercialised. Frequently, the quality control of such a complex system is based on chemical markers that do not supply a general idea of the system. With the advent of the metabolomics approach, a global analysis of samples becomes possible. It appears that 1H‐NMR is the most useful method for such application, since it can be used as a wide‐spectrum chemical analysis technique. Unfortunately, the generated spectra is complex so a possible approach is to look at the metabolite profile as a whole using multivariate methods, for example, by application of principal component analysis (PCA). In the present paper, we describe for the first time a proton high‐resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐HR‐MAS NMR) method coupled with PCA for the metabolomic analysis of some commercial Catuaba samples, which provided a reduction in the time required for such analysis. A comparative study of HPLC, HR‐MAS and liquid‐NMR techniques is also reported. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphological and fractal studies of polypropylene/poly(ethene‐1‐octene) blends during melt mixing using scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Xu Xinhua , Zhu Tianbing , Zhu Lin , Song Na , Sheng Jing
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Polymer blending creates new materials with enhanced mechanical, chemical or optical properties, with the exact properties being determined by the type of morphology and the phase dimension of the blend. In order to control blend properties, morphology development during processing needs to be understood. The formation and evolution of polypropylene/poly(ethylene‐1‐octene) (PP/POE) blend morphology during blending are qualitatively represented by a series of time‐dependent scanning electron microscopy (SEM) patterns. The area diameter and its distribution of dispersed phase domains are discussed in detail. In order to characterize the formation and evolution of phase morphology quantitatively, two fractal dimensions, Ds and Dd, and their corresponding scaling functions are introduced to analyze the SEM patterns.

RESULTS: The evolution of the area diameter indicates that the major reduction in phase domain size occurs during the initial stage of melt mixing, and the domain sizes show an increasing trend due to coalescence with increasing mixing times. The distribution in dispersed phase dimension obeys a log‐normal distribution, and the two fractal dimensions are effective to describe the phase morphology: Ds for dispersed phase dimension and Dd for the distribution in it.

CONCLUSIONS: The fractal dimensions Ds and Dd can be used quantitatively to characterize the evolutional self‐similarity of phase morphology and the competition of breakup and coalescence of dispersed phase domains. It is shown that the fractal dimensions and scaling laws are useful to describe the phase morphology development at various mixing times to a certain extent. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Experience and predictors of symptoms, distress and health‐related quality of life over time in postmenopausal women with recurrent breast cancer
Authors: Kenne Sarenmalm Elisabeth , Öhlén Joakim , Odén Anders , Gaston‐Johansson Fannie
Published: September 2007

The purpose of this study was to explore the symptom experience and predictors of distress and quality of life over time in women with recurrent breast cancer. Fifty‐six women completed questionnaires at the diagnosis of recurrence, 1 month, 3 and 6 months after recurrence. A majority of women reported multiple, concurrent and distressing symptoms such as lack of energy, difficulty sleeping, pain, worry and problems with sexual interest or activity during the recurrent breast cancer trajectory. The highest level of symptom burden and distress and decreased quality of life was reported 3 months after recurrence. Although distress declined and quality of life improved over time, patients reported persistent symptoms. Of the patients at increased risk of vulnerability to distress were women who experienced multiple and concurrent symptoms. Other risk factors were co‐morbidity, prehistory of anxiety and depression and progressive or terminal disease. Fatigue, pain and depression explained 68–72% of the variance in distress. Distress explained 44–46% of the variance in quality of life. These findings suggest that symptoms are important contributors to the distress experience, and that distress has a severe impact on quality of life. The care of women with recurrent breast cancer must be based upon the awareness of critical factors that exacerbate the vulnerability to distress throughout the disease trajectory. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Plasma Exposure on SiCOH and Methyl Silsesquioxane Films
Authors: Silverstein Michael S. , Shach‐Caplan Michal , Khristosov Maria , Harel Tuval
Published: September 2007

The effects of plasma exposure (O2, Ar, H2, and CF4) on the surface chemistries, surface energies, and dielectric constants, k, of two low‐k SiCOH films (BD‐1 and BD‐2) and a methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ) control are described. Relatively non‐polar, low surface energy MSQ and BD‐2 exhibited significant changes when exposed to various plasmas: carbon depletion, oxygen enhancement, and increased surface energy. The higher surface energy BD‐1 has a more extensive SiOSi network structure, which was relatively insensitive to plasma exposure. BD‐1's relatively low k is indicative of a porous material. While most plasmas produced an increase in k, deposition of CFn species as a result of exposure to a CF4 plasma caused a slight decrease in k. The increase in k corresponded to an increase in the dispersive surface energy component.

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Solid‐phase synthesis of glucose‐derived Amadori peptides
Authors: Frolov Andrej , Singer David , Hoffmann Ralf
Published: September 2007

Nonenzymatic glycosylation or glycation of amino groups in peptides and proteins by D‐glucose is a universal reaction with important implications for the pathogenesis of many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Here a general approach is reported to synthesize site specifically glucose‐derived N‐glycated peptides. Therefore, model peptides H‐AKASASFL‐NH2, H‐AKASADFL‐NH2, H‐ASKASKFL‐NH2, and H‐AKDSASFL‐NH2 were synthesized on solid phase by Fmoc chemistry using Fmoc‐Lys(4‐methyltrityl)‐OH in positions 2 or 3 to be glycated. After completion of the synthesis, the acid labile 4‐methyltrityl‐group was cleaved with 1% TFA in DCM and the free amino groups were glycated by the Lobry de Bruyn reaction using 2,3:4,5‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐aldehydo‐β‐D‐arabino‐hexos‐2‐ulo‐2,6‐pyranose on solid phase. After TFA treatment, the crude peptides were obtained in high yields and purities above 80%. Minor by‐products were well separated on reversed‐phase HPLC. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Examination of methodology for the synthesis of cyclic thioether peptide libraries derived from linear tripeptides
Authors: Roberts Kade D. , Ede Nicholas J.
Published: September 2007

Work was undertaken to examine methodology for the cyclization of linear tripeptides on the solid phase via intramolecular S‐alkylation using the Multipin™ Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis platform. While previous work had shown that this chemistry could be used to efficiently cyclize linear tetrapeptide libraries, application of this synthetic strategy to the model linear tripeptide sequence Leu‐Ser‐Lys resulted in significant cyclic dimer formation. Ultimately, it was found that the addition of a large excess of lithium in the form of LiCl to the cyclization solution, significantly reduced cyclic dimer formation affording highly pure crude cyclic monomer. The application of this modified cyclization protocol to the preparation of cyclic peptide libraries was successfully demonstrated with the synthesis of a 20‐membered library 4{1–20} based on the linear tripeptide sequence Leu‐Xxx‐Lys in which the position Xxx was varied with the standard 20 proteogenic residues. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and functional characterization of the porcine proline–rich antifungal peptide SP‐B isolated from salivary gland granules
Authors: Cabras T. , Longhi R. , Secundo F. , Nocca G. , Conti S. , Polonelli L. , Fanali C. , Inzitari R. , Petruzzelli R. , Messana I. , Castagnola M. , Vitali A.
Published: September 2007

A 1905‐Da cationic proline‐rich peptide, named SP‐B, was recently isolated by our group as the main component of salivary gland granules, and its primary sequence fully characterized by means of automated Edman sequencing and LC‐MS/MS tools. In the present study SP‐B is shown to possess antifungal activity when challenged with strains of Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, while only negligible antibacterial activity was detected. Furthermore, SP‐B was found to be non‐cytotoxic when tested on fibroblast cell lines. To obtain information regarding its structure affinity, capillary electrophoresis (CE), circular dichroism (CD) and attenuated total reflection (ATR)‐FT/IR experiments were performed. CE revealed a pH dependence of the hydrodynamic radial dimensions both in aqueous and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol solutions. CD and ATR‐FT/IR measurements confirmed the structure–pH relationship, revealing a secondary structure composed of mixed proportions of polyproline‐II, unordered and turn motifs, the last being more evident in the zwitterionic form of the peptide. From these findings SP‐B peptide could be classified as a new member of the proline‐rich antimicrobial peptide family. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The extract of Prunus persica flesh (PPFE) attenuates chemotherapy‐induced hepatotoxicity in mice
Authors: Lee Chang Ki , Park Kwang Kyun , Hwang Jae Kwan , Lee Sang Kook , Chung Won Yoon
Published: September 2007

Cisplatin (cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum II) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of a variety of human solid tumors. However, its clinical use is limited due to severe toxicity. The pathogenesis of liver damage caused by cisplatin is generally considered to be oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of the ethanol extract of Prunus persica flesh (PPFE) against cisplatin‐induced hepatotoxicity in animal models. In a xenograft model with the repeated administration of a low‐dose cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days, and in an acute toxicity model with a single administration of a high‐dose cisplatin (45 mg/kg body weight) over a 16 h period, the consecutive administration of PPFE in combination with and prior to the cisplatin injection reversed the cisplatin‐induced decrease in the liver weight as a percentage of total body weight, and the cisplatin‐induced increases in the serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels caused by liver damage. Moreover, the oral administration of PPFE significantly recovered the reduced glutathione level and inhibited lipid peroxidation in the cisplatin‐treated mice. These results demonstrate that supplementation with PPFE might protect against cisplatin‐induced toxicity in cancer patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant and antiglycation properties of total saponins extracted from traditional Chinese medicine used to treat diabetes mellitus
Authors: Xi Miaomiao , Hai Chunxu , Tang Haifeng , Chen Mingsheng , Fang Kunquan , Liang Xin
Published: September 2007

Eleven antidiabetic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) extracts rich in saponins were examined for their antioxidant and antiglycation activities. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were evaluated by studying the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes induced by ascorbate/Fe2+, cumine hydroperoxide (CHP) or CCl4/reduced form of nicotinamide‐adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). The antioxidant capacities were also evaluated by studying the scavenging of 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The antiglycation activities of these extracts were evaluated by hemoglobin‐δ‐gluconolactone (δ‐Glu) assay, bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐glucose assay and N‐acetyl‐glycyl‐lysine methyl ester (GK peptide)‐ribose assay. Aralia taibaiensis outperformed other extracts in most of the assays except inhibition of early glycation products formation, where Acanthopanax senticosus showed higher activity. Aralia taibaiensis was particularly potent in inhibiting the late glycation and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on proteins. The antioxidant and antiglycation activities of most extracts were correlated with the saponin content. The results demonstrate that the antidiabetic activities of most extracts could be explained, at least in part, by their combined antioxidant and antiglycation properties. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on haloperidol‐induced catalepsy in albino mice
Authors: Nair Vinod , Arjuman Albina , Gopalakrishna H. N. , Nandini M.
Published: September 2007

The objective of the study was to evaluate the anticataleptic effect of Withania somnifera (WS) extract, on haloperidol‐induced catalepsy in albino mice. Catalepsy was induced with haloperidol (1 mg/kg) i.p. in five groups of male albino mice (n = 6). Three groups received Withania somnifera extract (1.7, 4.25, 8.5 mg/kg) respectively, one group received scopolamine (1 mg/kg) and one group received the vehicle (1% gum acacia) orally, 30 min prior to haloperidol administration. Catalepsy was measured by using standard bar test at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min. This constituted the acute study. For the chronic study, the drugs were administered for 6 more days. Catalepsy was again measured on day 7. Animals were then sacrificed by cervical dislocation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was estimated in the brain. In this study, Withania somnifera extract treated groups showed a dose dependent reduction in cataleptic scores, both in the acute and chronic study. The SOD activity in brain was also found to be lowered in the WS (4.25 mg, 8.5 mg/kg) treated groups. In conclusion, Withania somnifera was found to be more efficacious than scopolamine in reversing haloperidol induced catalepsy. A clear correlation between the SOD levels and cataleptic scores was observed. We believe that the antioxidant properties of this drug could have contributed to the anticataleptic effect. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insecticidal properties of several essential oils on the house fly (Musca domestica L.)
Authors: Pavela Roman
Published: September 2007

The insecticidal activity of 34 essential oils, extracted from plants, was screened against the house fly, Musca domestica L. under laboratory conditions. Essential oils from Pogostemon cablin proved to be the most efficient at a lethal dose of 3 µg/fly after topical application. Eight oils (P. roseum, O. vulgare, O. compactum, M. pulegium, O. basilicum, O. majorana, T. vulgaris and P. graveolens) were lethal in doses ranging from 10 to 20 µg (10, 13, 13, 13, 15, 17, 18 and 19 µg/fly, respectively). The lethal doses of another 13 oils were ascertained in the range 20–50 µg/fly, nine oils had lethal doses of 50–100 µg. For two oils, the lethal dose could not be for the topical application.

In the fumigant test, the most efficient proved to be Mentha pulegium oil (4.7 µg/cm2). For 10 oils, a lethal dose between 5 and 10 µg/cm2 was ascertained (T. bipinata, C. aurantifolia, T. occidentalis, T. matschiana, S. officinalis, T. vulgaris, M. quinquenervia, O. compactum, C. limonum and R. officinalis, respectively). For the other 10 oils a lethal dose from 10 but to 80 µg/cm2 was ascertained, and for 13 oils the lethal dose was higher than the highest dose in the tests. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory effects of emodin on the proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cell‐induced by angiotensin II
Authors: Wang ShiJun , Liu YunYing , Fan FangHua , Yan Jie , Wang XingXiang , Chen JunZhu
Published: September 2007

Rhubarb, used as a traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, offers therapeutic potential for cardiovascular and other diseases. Emodin, extracted from the root extract of rhubarb has sparked increasing interest for therapeutic application. The main objective was to study the effect of emodin on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and the expression of proto‐oncogene c‐myc. VSMCs were cultured by the explant method, then incubated for 24, 48 and 72 h with emodin (10–80 µm) and Ang II, or were left untreated (control). Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), respectively. The expression of c‐myc was measured by immunohistochemical staining and image analysis technique. Ang II increased the cell proliferation compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The expression of PCNA and c‐myc was increased compared with the control group (p < 0.01). After pretreatment with emodin, the above indexes were obviously reduced compared with the Ang II group (p < 0.01). These findings suggested that emodin inhibited VSMCs proliferation induced by Ang II. Inhibition of the expression of c‐myc might be correlated with the inhibitory effects. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antileishmanial, antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of 12,16‐dideoxy aegyptinone B from Zhumeria majdae Rech.f. & Wendelbo
Authors: Moein Mahmood Reza , Pawar Rahul S. , Khan Shabana I. , Tekwani Babu L. , Khan Ikhlas A.
Published: September 2007

The ethanol extract of Zhumeria majdae showed potent antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activity in vitro. Bioactivity guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of 12,16‐dideoxy aegyptinone B (1). This compound exhibited potent in vitro antileishmanial activity with an IC50 of 0.75 µg/mL and a strong antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values of 1.3 and 1.4 µg/mL against chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains, respectively. This compound was further found to have mild cytotoxicity towards cancer cell lines. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Further studies on the hepatoprotective effects of Anoectochilus formosanus
Authors: Fang Hsun‐Lang , Wu Jin‐Bin , Lin Wei‐Lii , Ho Hui‐Ya , Lin Wen‐Chuan
Published: September 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Anoectochilus formosanus effective fraction (AFEF) on chronic liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. CCl4 (5%; 0.1 mL/10 g body weight) was given twice a week for 9 weeks, and mice received AFEF throughout the whole experimental period. Plasma GPT, hepatic levels of hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde were significantly lower in mice treated with AFEF compared with those treated with CCl4 only. Liver pathology in the AFEF‐treated mice was also improved. RT‐PCR analysis showed that AFEF treatment increased the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1A and decreased the expression of collagen(α1)(I) and transforming growth factor‐β1. These results clearly demonstrated that AFEF reduced the hepatic damage induced by CCl4 in mice. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.