bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus radiofrequency ablation therapy for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kagawa Tatehiro , Koizumi Jun , Kojima Sei‐ichiro , Nagata Naruhiko , Numata Makoto , Watanabe Norihito , Watanabe Tetsu , Mine Tetsuya
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is becoming a well‐known local therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is expected to enhance the effects of subsequent RFA by reducing arterial blood flow. However, the long‐term efficacy of this combined therapy has not been elucidated. In this study, the survival rates of patients who received TACE combined with RFA (TACE + RFA) were compared with those of patients treated surgically.

METHODS:

The study included consecutive patients who received TACE + RFA or surgical resection as the initial curative treatment for HCC between 2000 and 2005 at Tokai University Hospital. Inclusion criteria were a single HCC ≤50 mm or up to 3 HCCs ≤30 mm, presence of cirrhosis classified as Child‐Pugh class A, no vascular invasion, and no extrahepatic metastasis.

RESULTS:

Sixty‐two patients (23 women, 39 men; aged 67.5 ± 8.4 years [mean ± standard deviation]) received TACE + RFA, and 55 patients (15 women, 40 men; aged 66.1 ± 8.4 years) underwent surgical resection. Median follow‐up periods were similar (50 months in the TACE + RFA group vs 49 months in the resection group). The probabilities of overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years in the TACE + RFA group (100%, 94.8%, and 64.6%, respectively) were similar (P = .788) to those in the resection group (92.5%, 82.7%, and 76.9%, respectively). Two major RFA‐related complications were observed (1.5%).

CONCLUSIONS:

RFA combined with TACE is an efficient and safe treatment that provides overall survival rates similar to those achieved with surgical resection. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
A validated prognostic index predicting response to dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol in castrate‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Shamash Jonathan , Stebbing Justin , Sweeney Chris , Sonpavde Guru , Harland Steve , Dawkins Guy , Brock Cathryn , Abelman Walter , Wilson Peter , Sanitt Adam , Oliver Tim , Powles Thomas
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of patients with castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who had a prolonged response to combined dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol (DS) therapy by constructing a prognostic index.

METHODS:

Multivariate and cutoff point analyses with bootstrapping were performed 1 month after commencing DS therapy, and data were validated using an independent external dataset.

RESULTS:

The median overall survival for 145 patients was 18.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.4‐23.3 months). Only 2 factors were significant on multivariate analysis: a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level below the median at the start of DS therapy and a decline >50% in the PSA level after 1 month on DS therapy. Subsequent cutoff point analyses revealed that a PSA level <88 ng/mL at the start of DS therapy and a reduction >53.1% in PSA after the first month of treatment were the most significant factors. These 2 factors were used to construct a prognostic index, which was validated successfully by the external dataset (median overall survival, 18.3 months [95% CI, 16.4‐28.0 months]; concordance, 72% [95% CI, 68%‐76%]). The prognostic index identified 3 prognostic groups: The 2‐year overall survival rate for these 3 groups was 68% (95% CI, 57%‐98%) for the good prognostic group, 40% (95% CI, 31%‐52%) for the intermediate prognostic group, and 12% (95% CI, 5%‐25%) for the poor prognostic group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The easy‐to‐use prognostic index that the authors developed was able to identify a subgroup of patients with CRPC who had prolonged survival only 1 month after starting DS therapy. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Telecytopathology for immediate evaluation of fine‐needle aspiration specimens
Authors: Kaplan Keith J.
Published: May 2010

Telepathology is an evolving area of telemedicine. Guidelines for primary opinion telepathology should be driven by best practices in conventional laboratory procedures. See also pages 119‐26.
A low‐dropout voltage regulator with active current amplifier frequency compensation
Authors: Zhang Ke , Li Wenhong , Liu Ran
Published: May 2010

This paper presents a new compensation scheme of low‐dropout regulator (LDO) design over the conventional methodology. With only 0.3 pF on‐chip compensation capacitor, a left‐half‐plane zero is realized within the regulation loop unity‐gain bandwidth and over 56 ∘ phase margin is achieved under the full range of the load current. The LDO thus achieves stability without using the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor. It is proven experimentally that the proposed LDO has many attractive features such as high accuracy, low quiescent current, and smaller compensation capacitor. The measurement results show that the excellent performance can be comparable with the state of the art LDOs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preface: Contrib. Plasma Phys. 3–5/2010
Authors: Heikkinen Jukka A. , Morozov Dmitry
Published: May 2010

The crucial importance of edge properties of fusion plasmas has been increasingly appreciated over the last decades. The development of plasma edge theory, i.e. of quantitative understanding, is monitored, critically discussed, and stimulated through the bi‐annual series of international workshops on Plasma Edge Theory in Fusion Devices (PET). The 12th PET (PET‐12) was held at the State Museum and Reserve Rostov Kremlin in Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavsky region, Russia, from 2nd to 4th of September 2009. It was carefully organized by the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute. The event was generously co‐sponsored by this Research Centre. Additional financial support came from RFBR, Russia.

The Director‐General of the State Museum and Reserve Rostov Kremlin, Prof. A.E. Leontiev, kindly agreed to open the conference with a welcoming address. The participants greatly appreciated the keen backing of PET‐12 by Prof. V.P. Smirnov of the Russian Research Centre. Much of the success of this meeting was based on the enormous load of diligent work carried by the Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Prof. Dmitry Morozov. The great supporting efforts of Dr. L.K. Kuznezova, Dr. M.L. Subbotin and Mr. L.N. Kimchenko of the LOC are particularly appreciated.

In six invited summary lectures this time the subjects of ITER divertor design, tokamak edge nonlinear dynamics, pedestal physics, self‐similarity of edge plasma turbulence, theoretical aspects of dust in fusion devices, and non‐diffusive transport in detached plasma conditions have been reviewed. In the distribution according to topic, the number of papers on kinetic and fluid edge plasma simulation, followed by those on neutrals and impurities, and those on SOL turbulence were in the lead. Altogether 57 contributions were brought forward, including 9 as oral presentations, most as posters in three sessions. In addition to being discussed during the workshop, all papers have been screened by peer review. The results have been composed to these Proceedings. Given the importance of the subject for fusion and the ongoing strong international research efforts in this field, it has been decided to organize a next workshop, PET‐13, in USA, during the year 2011.

January 2010
Self‐Similarity of Fluctuation Particle Fluxes in the Plasma Edge of the Stellarator L‐2M
Authors: Saenko V.V.
Published: May 2010

Results are presented of statistical studies of probability density of fluctuations of plasma density, floating potential, and turbulent particle fluxes measured by a Langmuir probe in the edge plasma of the L‐2M stellarator. Empirical probability densities differ from Gaussian distributions. The empirical probability density distributions have heavy tails decreasing as x–α –1 and are leptokurtic. Fractional stable distributions were successfully applied to describing such distributions. It is shown that fractional stable distributions give good fit to the distri‐butions of increments of fluctuation amplitudes of physical variables under study. The distribution parameters are statistically estimated from measured time sequences (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
2D Statistical Analysis of Non‐Diffusive Transport under Attached and Detached Plasma Conditions of the Linear Divertor Simulator
Authors: Tanaka H. , Ohno N. , Tsuji Y. , Kajita S.
Published: May 2010

We have analyzed the 2D convective motion of coherent structures, which is associated with plasma blobs, under attached and detached plasma conditions of a linear divertor simulator, NAGDIS‐II. Data analysis of probes and a fast‐imaging camera by spatio‐temporal correlation with three decomposition and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) was carried out to determine the basic properties of coherent structures detached from a bulk plasma column. Under the attached plasma condition, the spatio‐temporal correlation with three decomposition based on the probe measurement showed that two types of coherent structures with different sizes detached from the bulk plasma and the azimuthally localized structure radially propagated faster than the larger structure. Under the detached plasma condition, movies taken by the fast‐imaging camera clearly showed the dynamics of a 2D spiral structure at peripheral regions of the bulk plasma; this dynamics caused the broadening of the plasma profile. The POD method was used for the data processing of the movies to obtain low‐dimensional mode shapes. It was found that the m = 1 and m = 2 ring‐shaped coherent structures were dominant. Comparison between the POD analysis of both the movie and the probe data suggested that the coherent structure could be detached from the bulk plasma mainly associated with the m = 2 fluctuation. This phenomena could play an important role in the reduction of the particle and heat flux as well as the plasma recombination processes in plasma detachment (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Modelling of Ion Kinetic Effects for SOL Flow Formation
Authors: Takizuka T. , Hoshino K. , Shimizu K. , Yagi M.
Published: May 2010

The plasma flow in the scrape‐off layer (SOL) plays an important role for the control of heat and particle including impurity in magnetic fusion reactors. SOL flow patterns have recently been studied by the particle simulations, and the effects of finite‐orbit‐size of ions are found to be essential for the flow‐pattern formation [Takizuka et al., Nucl. Fusion 49, 075038 (2009)]. Based on these simulation results, a new model of the edge plasma flow is developed by introducing the “ion‐orbit‐induced flow” to the fluid equations. A tokamak plasma is divided into three regions; core region, transition layer and SOL region. The “ion‐orbit‐induced flow” is modeled by separating untrapped part and trapped part, and by taking account the collision effect and poloidal distribution. The “ion‐orbit‐induced flow” becomes large at the edge region (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of Source and Sink on Heat Transport in the SOL
Authors: Froese A. , Takizuka T. , Yagi M.
Published: May 2010

Parallel electron heat flux in the SOL is determined via fully kinetic simulations using the one‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell code PARASOL. The heat flux in fluid simulations is usually approximated in the collisional limit by the Spitzer‐Härm heat flux qSH and in the collisionless limit by the one‐way free‐streaming heat flux qFS adjusted by the coefficient αe.

equation image

Though αe is defined at the collisionless limit, in practice it is used generally and taken to be a constant ∼0.1. We survey the dependence of αe with respect to many plasma parameters: collisionality, source and sink relative position, source model, and sink radiation rate. Increasing radiation and the size of the radiation region generally increases αe. Without Langevin heating and electron radiation, αe is found tobe non‐monotonic with collisionality. This effect is traced to the fact that in a collisionless plasma, the electron velocity distribution exhibits a high‐energy tail, which implies that use of the one‐way free‐streaming heat flux is inaccurate. A new treatment for the free‐streaming heat flux is proposed, wherein the symmetric bulk electron distribution is ignored, which makes αe ∼ 1 at all radiation rates for moderate and low collisionality. This method does not work for Langevin heating, which maintains a Maxwellian electron energy distribution (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Kinetic Effects in the Pedestal of a Tokamak
Authors: Catto P. J. , Kagan G.
Published: May 2010

We consider the effects of finite E × B on the residual and neoclassical ion heat transport and ion flow in the pedestal. For a tokamak pedestal with a density scale of the poloidal ion gyroradius the finite E × B drift modfies the ion orbits, moving the trapped‐passing boundary towards the tail of the ion distribution function (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magnetic Perturbation Spectrum Produced by Non‐Axisymmetric Scrape‐Off Layer Current and the X‐Point Shadow
Authors: Joseph I.
Published: May 2010

The applied magnetic perturbation spectrum produced by non‐axisymmetric scrape‐off layer current is calculated for the symmetric two‐wire model of a diverted plasma at large aspect‐ratio. The spectral peak lies close to the magnetic field line pitch‐resonance condition near the separatrix, but moves toward larger poloidal harmonics on flux surfaces in the core. Dissipative and kinetic effects limit the ability of the asymmetric parallel current to reach the midplane when the biasing region is sufficiently close to the strike point. Thus, the X‐point casts a thin “shadow” across the separatrix where it is not possible to drive current. The size of the region of reduced current drive efficiency is estimated based on fluid and kinetic limits (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Towards Modeling of ITER H‐mode
Authors: Rozhansky V. , Veselova I. , Kaveeva E. , Voskoboynikov S. , Coster D.
Published: May 2010

Reported is the first modeling of ITER H‐mode. Simulations were made with the code B2SOLPS5.2 with drifts and currents, which was specially developed for simulation of tokamak H‐regimes. The emphasis is made on the pedestal and edge transport barrier regions. It is demonstrated that the specific feature of the ITER discharges is the density profile in the edge barrier region typical for the low particle sources in the main part of the barrier. The density, temperature and radial electric field profiles are calculated for two values of the edge barrier width (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Impact of Single and Multiple Harmonic Magnetic Perturbations on the Transport Barrier Dynamics in a Tokamak
Authors: de Solminihac F. , Beyer P. , Leconte M. , Benkadda S. , Garbet X.
Published: May 2010

In present fusion devices, the H‐mode is the most promising operational regime. It is characterized by a very hot core and a much colder edge. This is due to the presence of an edge transport barrier. In this thin zone located at the edge of the plasma, the turbulent flux is strongly reduced. However, this barrier is unstable and exhibits quasi‐periodic relaxation oscillations. In this work, we study the control of these relaxations by resonant magnetic perturbations. We perform 3D turbulence simulations to investigate the influence of these magnetic perturbations (MP) on the barrier relaxations. In particular, we present two configurations created respectively by a multiple harmonic MP and a single harmonic MP. We find that stabilization of the relaxation oscillations can be achieved with both single and multiple harmonic MP. However, with the single harmonic MP, the energy confinement is always degraded whereas with the multiple harmonic MP, the confinement can be maintained. The different competing mechanisms at the origin of these results will be discussed (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Turbulent Dynamics of Beryllium Seeded Plasmas at the Edge of Tokamaks
Authors: Shurygin R.V. , Morozov D. Kh.
Published: May 2010

Numerical simulation of turbulent MHD dynamics of beryllium seeded plasmas at the edge of tokamaks is performed. The model is based on the 4‐fluid {∅︁, n, pe, pi } reduced nonlinear Braginsky's MHD equations. Neutral hydrogen flow from the wall is described with a diffusion model. Beryllium line radiation is taken into consideration. The Be ion distribution over ionization states is calculated using the reduced model. Electron impact ionization, three body, photo‐ and dielectronic recombination and charge‐exchange with neutral hydrogen are taken into account. Coronal equilibrium is not supposed. Simulations are performed for T‐10 parameters. Radial distributions of averaged temperatures and their fluctuation levels, species flows, impurity radiation power, and impurity ions concentrations are obtained as functions of the Be concentration at the wall. The impurity radiation is shown to act on the turbulent oscillation level significantly if the total Be concentration at the wall exceeds 3 · 1011 cm–3. The impurity turbulent transversal flow is directed inward and exceeds neoclassical flow significantly. The parallel conductivity and, as a consequence, turbulent transport are increased significantly by impurity radiation. The radiation loss dependence on the neutral Hydrogen concentration at the wall is also examined. The hydrogen concentration increasing the plasma density also rises. The relative beryllium concentration decreases. In total, these two effects are compensated, and the level of radiation losses is changed insignificantly (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
First Steps Towards the Coupling of the IMPGYRO and SOLPS Codes to Analyze Tokamak Plasmas with Tungsten Impurities
Authors: Toma M. , Bonnin X. , Hoshino K. , Hatayama A. , Schneider R. , Coster D.
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this paper is to present the first steps towards coupling the IMPGYRO and SOLPS codes for a self‐consistent treatment of tungsten as an impurity together with a background plasma. The kinetic IMPGYRO code transfers the effect of tungsten impurities to the SOLPS fluid code, as source / sink terms. As the first step of the coupling, we have implemented in the IMPGYRO code the calculation of the following source / sink terms: 1) electron particle source / sink due to tungsten ionization / recombination, 2) electron heat sink by tungsten radiation cooling, 3) background plasma ion momentum source / sink due to Coulomb collisions with tungsten ions, and 4) background plasma ion heat source / sink due to Coulomb collisions with tungsten ions. Test calculations have been done to check these source terms with a fixed background plasma from the SOLPS code and reasonable results have been obtained. In addition, some technical improvements have been done concerning the data transfer between the SOLPS and IMPGYRO codes on a Linux‐cluster system under MPI environment. Based on this, the code is ready for full coupled calculations (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Modelling of Impurity Transport in the Linear Plasma Devices PISCES‐B and Pilot‐PSI Using the Monte‐Carlo Code ERO
Authors: Borodin D. , Kirschner A. , Nishijima D. , Doerner R. , Westerhout J. , van Rooij G. J. , Rapp J. , Kreter A. , Ding R. , Galonska A. , Philipps V.
Published: May 2010

The simulations for linear devices using the 3D Monte‐Carlo code ERO have a number of particularities of both physical and technical nature. Many physical effects introduced and tested for these simulations (elastic collisions, population of metastable states, etc.) can be relevant for tokamaks as well. The current status of these activities is summarized. As an example some simulations reproducing the experimental observations at PISCES‐B and Pilot‐PSI are presented. Main deviations and ideas for their origins are discussed (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of Carbon Deposition on the FirstWall of LHD by Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Kawamura G. , Tomita Y. , Kobayashi M. , Tokitani M. , Masuzaki S. , Kirschner A.
Published: May 2010

Deposition of impurities on surfaces of plasma confinement devices is one of essential issues in present devices and also future fusion devices. In the Large Helical Device (LHD), it is necessary to reveal fundamental characteristics of impurity transport and deposition by simulation studies along with experimental studies. In the present paper, simulation scheme of carbon deposition on the first wall of LHD and results are discussed. The geometry of the LHD divertor and the configuration of the plasma are newly implemented to the Monte Carlo code ERO. The profiles of the background plasma is calculated numerically by a 1D two‐fluid model along a magnetic field line. Spatial distributions of the carbon impurities are investigated for a typical set of plasma parameters in LHD. The simulation results indicate that the deposition is caused by neutral carbon particles from two facing divertor plates. The divertor opposite to the first wall makes less contributions than the adjacent one because of the ionization in the divertor plasma. Chemically sputtered impurities cause more deposition near the divertor than physical ones because atomic processes of methane molecules lead to isotropic particle velocities (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Current literature in diabetes
Authors:   John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Published: May 2010

In order to keep subscribers up‐to‐date with the latest developments in their field, John Wiley & Sons are providing a current awareness service in each issue of the journal. The bibliography contains newly published material in the field of diabetes/metabolism. Each bibliography is divided into 26 sections: 1 Reviews; 2 General; 3 Genetics; 4 Epidemiology; 5 Immunology; 6 Obesity; 7 Prediction and Prevention; 8 Intervention: a) General; b) Care; c) Drug Therapy; d)Economics; e) Gene therapy; f) Nursing; g) Nutrition; h) Surgery; i) Transplantation; 9 Pathology and Complications: a) General; b) Cardiovascular; c) Eye disease; d) Gestational and fetal; e) Neurological; f) Podiatrical; g) Renal; 10 Endocrinology & Metabolism; 11 Experimental Studies; 12 Diagnosis and Techniques. Within each section, articles are listed in alphabetical order with respect to author
Appraising the mitogenicity of insulin analogues relative to human insulin—response to: Weinstein D, Simon M, Yehezkel E, Laron Z, Werner H. Insulin analogues display IGF‐I‐like mitogenic and anti‐apoptotic activity in cultured cancer cells. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2009; 25(1): 41–9
Authors: Kazda C. , Slieker L. , Ilag L. , Byrd R. , Rees T. , Prince M.
Published: May 2010

Interest in mitogenic and potentially carcinogenic effects of insulin and insulin analogues has been renewed by several recent publications that have examined the relationship between cancer and insulin analogues. Actions mediated through the insulin‐like growth factor‐I receptor in a hyperinsulinaemic state have been implicated mechanistically. Both type 2 diabetes and endogenously elevated insulin‐like growth factor‐I have been epidemiologically linked to malignancies. Therefore, in vitro mitogenic effects and binding affinities of the various analogues have been analysed. A recent publication by Weinstein et al. studied the in vitro mitogenic and anti‐apoptotic activities of insulin analogues, and their conclusion asserts that insulins glargine, detemir, and lispro displayed proliferative and anti‐apoptotic effects in a number of malignant cell lines. However, their conclusions are not supported by the data which are not complete and lack clear statistical significance. This data should be interpreted cautiously in light of all other presently available scientific evidence. Prospective, randomized clinical trials will best address any direct relationship between insulin analogues and cancer. Until those studies are designed and completed, clinicians should consider the demonstrated strong benefit of glycaemic control in balance with any alleged risk. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organic‐Additive‐Assisted Synthesis of Hierarchically Meso‐/Macroporous Titanium Phosphonates
Authors: Ma Tian‐Yi , Yuan Zhong‐Yong
Published: May 2010

Organic‐inorganic hybrid materials of meso‐/macroporous titanium triphosphonate materials were synthesized by using amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid) as the coupling molecule. The preparation was accomplished by a hydrothermal process in the presence or absence of small amounts of the diblock copolymer EO30PO34 and β‐cyclodextrin as the organic additives. The organic‐additive‐assisted preparation efficiently aided the enlargement of the surface areas and pore volumes of the resultant porous titanium triphosphonates and helped improve the wormhole‐like mesoporosity. In addition to the large macrochannels, with a size of 500–1000 nm, observed in all the titanium phosphonates synthesized with or without organic additives, a secondary small‐scaled, spherical macroporous structure with a diameter of 50–100 nm was obtained by the addition of cyclodextrin. These macroporous structures are proposed to be templated by the aggregation of cyclodextrin. The structural characterization confirms the integrity of organic groups inside the framework. Large adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions and CO2 are demonstrated in these hybrid materials, which makes them promising adsorbents for practical applications.
Sophorolipids from Candida bombicola: Cell separation by ultrasonic particle manipulation
Authors: Palme Olof , Comanescu George , Stoineva Ivanka , Radel Stefan , Benes Ewald , Develter Dirk , Wray Victor , Lang Siegmund
Published: May 2010

The yeast Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 is well‐known to produce mixtures of glycolipids containing the sugar sophorose, the so‐called sophorolipids, especially when cultivated on hydrophobic carbon sources as co‐substrates. To improve cultivation efficiency, an integrated process was developed using ultrasound separation technology. Since this technology is new for use with C. bombicola, it was first characterized in batch experiments and afterwards implemented in an integrated production process. In this process, separation efficiencies of about 99% C. bombicola cells could be achieved, leading to 8 g/L of nearly cell‐free sophorolipid product and a total amount of 73.8 g/L sophorolipids. Furthermore, a technical mixture of unusual branched fatty alcohols containing mainly 2‐hexyl‐1‐decanol was used as co‐substrate with glucose in a shake flask study. This resulted in the production of a new product, 1‐O‐β‐glucopyranosyl‐2‐hexyldecanol, a molecule containing glucose as the sugar moiety and 2‐hexyl‐1‐decanol as a branched hydrophobic side chain.
Application of Halide Molten Salts as Novel Reaction Media for O‐Glycosidic Bond Formation
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Talisman Ian Jamie , Malhotra Sanjay V.
Published: May 2010

In this study we have explored the application of halide molten salts as reaction media for O‐glycosidic bond formation under basic conditions and mild heating. Eighteen different room‐temperature ionic liquids and molten salts, representing four different classes of cations (i.e. imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium and ammonium), were screened in the glycosidation reaction of p‐nitrophenol with acetobromo‐α‐D‐galactose. 1‐Butyl‐4‐methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM·Cl) gave the best results and was applied in the reactions of other phenolic substrates to give the products with up to 80 % yields. All the reactions were highly selective to give the β‐anomers, and the molten salt BMIM·Cl couldeasily be reused with no apparent loss in activity.
Highly Enantioselective 1,4‐Michael Additions of Nucleophiles to Unsaturated Aryl Ketones with Organocatalysis by Bifunctional Cinchona Alkaloids
Authors: Oliva Cristina G. , Silva Artur M. S. , Resende Diana I. S. P. , Paz Filipe A. A. , Cavaleiro José A. S.
Published: May 2010

The development of general and efficient asymmetricorganocatalytic additions of malononitrile and nitromethane to 1,5‐diarylpenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ones (cinnamylideneacetophenones) catalyzed by cinchona organocatalysts is reported. The reactions afforded excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 %), high yields (up to 97 %), and exclusive 1,4‐addition regioselectivities. The potential of these new enantioselective additions lies in the demonstration that organocatalysts bearing primary amino groups in combination with TFA provide effective catalytic systems for the activation of a broad range of aryl ketones under mild conditions to give compounds with high levels of enantioselectivity and yields.
Ex situ Deposited Bismuth Film on Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrode: A Disposable Device for Stripping Voltammetry of Heavy Metal Ions
Authors: Serrano Núria , Díaz‐Cruz José Manuel , Ariño Cristina , Esteban Miquel
Published: May 2010

Ex situ deposited bismuth films on commercial screen‐printed carbon electrodes (BiSPCE) are tested by DPASV in Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) solutions as a cheap and user‐friendly alternative to mercury electrodes and bismuth films on conventional glassy carbon electrodes (BiFE).
Usage of Bismuth Film Electrode as Biosensor Transducer for Alkaline Phosphatase Assay
Authors: Anik Ülkü , Çubukçu Meliha , Çevik Serdar , Timur Suna
Published: May 2010

A biosensor for monitoring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity was developed by using bismuth film electrode (BiFE) as transducer. The aim was to test the possible applications of BiFE as transducer in this biosensing platform. ALP was immobilized onto the BiFE electrode by means of gelatin which was then crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. The measurement was based on monitoring of p‐nitrophenol which was released after enzymatic reaction of p‐nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) substrate. The effect of enzyme activity (in Unit) was examined for 100 μM of pNPP substrate and a good linearity was observed between 1.28 and 4.26 U activities with the equation of y=0.214x−0.201 and R2=0.998 where x and y show enzyme activity in unit and current response in μA respectively. Analytical characteristics were also examined after the optimization of experimental parameters.
Bismuth Film Anodic Stripping Voltammetry for the Determination of Lead in Kerosene: A Metrological Study
Authors: Miguel Eliane M. , da Cunha Alessandra Licursi M. C. , Pacheco Wagner F. , Farias Pércio A. M. , Aucélio Ricardo Q.
Published: May 2010

Anodic stripping voltammetry and bismuth film electrode (BFE) were used to develop a method for the determination of lead in a complex sample (kerosene) prepared as a stable microemulsion. The method allowed the sensitive determination of lead with a quantification limit, in the sample, of 1.4×10−7 mol L−1 employing a 240 s accumulation time. Fortified sample analysis enabled the average analyte recovery around 99% which was statistically similar to the one achieved using a reference method (atomic absorption spectrometry). A detailed metrological evaluation was made including the calculation of the uncertainty associated to the voltammetric measurement indicating that repeatability (variations in the formation of different films and in the behavior of the analyte in the prepared microemulsions) is the main contribution of measurement uncertainty.
A Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Chitosan Composite as a New Sensor for Simultaneous Determination of Acetaminophen and Mefenamic Acid in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Biological Samples
Authors: Babaei Ali , Afrasiabi Mohammad , Babazadeh Mitra
Published: May 2010

A new chemically modified electrode is constructed based on multiwalled carbon nanotube/chitosan modified glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs‐CHT/GCE) for simultaneous determination of acetaminophen (ACT) and mefenamic acid (MEF) in aqueous buffered media. The measurements were carried out by application of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) methods. Application of DPV method showed that the linear relationship between oxidation peak current and concentration of ACT and MEF were 1 μM to 145 μM, and 4 μM to 200 μM, respectively. The analytical performance of this sensor has been evaluated for detection of ACT and MEF in human serum, human urine and a pharmaceutical preparation with satisfactory results.
Development of a Chloride Ion‐Selective Solid State Sensor Based on Doped Polypyrrole‐Graphite‐Epoxy Composite
Authors: Álvarez‐Romero G. A. , Ramírez‐Silva M. T. , Galán‐Vidal C. A. , Páez‐Hernández M. E. , Romero‐Romo M. A.
Published: May 2010

This paper reports the development and characterization of a solid state potentiometric sensor for chloride ions, based on doped polypyrrole‐graphite‐epoxy composite. The optimum mixture proportion found for polypyrrole:graphite was 60 : 40 meanwhile a 50 : 50 proportion was used for the polypyrrol+graphite:epoxy mixture. The stabilization time was approximately 16 min, while the response times varied within 2 and 23 s. The sensor displayed a sensitivity of 58 mV/decade [Cl−], and 3×10−6 M detection limit. The selectivity coefficients showed a greater selectivity to that reported for commercial‐type sensors. The statistical analysis for chlorides' determination in commercial saline serums did not show significant differences respect to data reported by the manufacturers.
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry of Tin at the Bismuth Film Electrode Using Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide
Authors: Prior Chad
Published: May 2010

A sensitive anodic stripping voltammetric procedure at the bismuth film electrode (BiFE) is presented for analysis of Sn(IV) in the presence of Pb(II). For the first time Sn(IV) and Pb(II) signals are resolved at the BiFE allowing quantification of Sn(IV) in the absence and presence of Pb(II) and in simultaneous determination of both trace metals. The optimised oxalic acid – CTAB method produced a detection limit for Sn(IV) of 1.9 μg L−1 (S/N=3) and generated linear calibration data (minimum R2 of 0.991) between 25–250 μg L−1 and 5–50 μg L−1 with deposition times of 45 s and 120 s respectively. A 25 μg L−1 Sn(IV) signal was clearly resolved in the presence of a 20 fold excess of Pb(II) and the successful determination of tin in the presence of lead was performed in a fruit juice matrix.
Determination of Diazepam, Temazepam and Oxazepam at the Lead Film Electrode by Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry
Authors: Tyszczuk Katarzyna
Published: May 2010

The determination of psychoactive 1,4‐benzodiazepine drugs is of relevant interest in clinical, biomedical areas. Therefore a highly sensitive and simple voltammetric method for the determination of temazepam, diazepam and oxazepam at an in situ plated lead film electrode was developed. The method was successfully applied to the determination of diazepam and temazepam in pharmaceutical formulations with minimum sample manipulation and oxazepam in human urine samples without any separation steps. The determinations of oxazepam in human urine samples were performed in a flow system. Therefore a previous extraction procedure was not necessary to separate the active compound before its determination.
Mutations for the people
Authors: Kristensen Vessela , Borresen‐Dale Anne‐Lise
Published: May 2010

Similar cancer types may nevertheless differ widely in the genetic mutations they carry. In this Closeup, Kristensen and Borresen‐Dale discuss how identifying these mutations can define which therapy is most likely to succeed in eliminating the cancerous cells and how the methodology developed by Dias‐Santagata et al and described in this issue, is an important step in making mutation screening a reality in the clinical practice worldwide.

See related article by Dias‐Santagata D et al DOI 10.1002/emmm.201000070
Continuous sequential infusion of fludarabine and cytarabine for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia secondary to a previously diagnosed myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Ferrara Felicetto , Palmieri Salvatore , Izzo Tiziana , Criscuolo Clelia , Riccardi Cira
Published: May 2010

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is characterized by poor prognosis, namely in older patients. The combination of fludarabine (F) with cytarabine (ARA‐C) ± G‐CSF was proven as effective in patients with poor risk AML. The efficacy and toxicity of a regimen including F + ARA‐C as sequential continuous infusion (CI‐FLA) in 64 untreated patients aged >60 years, in which AML arose after a previous MDS, was investigated. Median age was 67 years (61–81). In patients achieving CR, an additional course, followed by G‐CSF to mobilize CD34+ cells and subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) were programmed. Overall, 43 patients (67%) achieved complete remission (CR). There were 10 induction deaths (16%), while 11 patients (17%) were refractory to induction treatment. Thirty‐four patients (79% of remitters) were eligible for the consolidation and 30 were monitorized for the mobilization of CD34+ cells, collection being successful in 20 of them (67%). Median number of CD34+ cells/kg collected was 6.8 × 10E6. Thirteen patients (20% of the whole population) received ASCT. Median disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10 and 9 months, respectively. Survival at 5 years is projected to 15%. The only parameter significantly related to either DFS duration or OS duration was unfavourable cytogenetics, which did significantly influence also CR achievement. CI‐FLA is effective in elderly patients with AML secondary to previously diagnosed MDS. Best results are achievable in the subgroup of patients with diploid karyotype. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resistance of Fusarium sp spores to solar TiO2 photocatalysis: influence of spore type and water (scaling‐up results)
Authors: Polo‐López M I , Fernández‐Ibáñez P , García‐Fernández I , Oller I , Salgado‐Tránsito I , Sichel C
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND: Common irrigation water disinfection methods, which may be unable to inactivate all types of pathogens or even become phytotoxic themselves, are not very effective in controlling phytopathogens. Water disinfection by photocatalysis is a promising irrigation‐water treatment for destroying phytopathogens without the drawbacks of conventional disinfection methods. Previous research has shown that solar photocatalytic technology can be used in the disinfection treatment of bacteria, protozoa and fungi, either through solar disinfection only. The purpose of this work was evaluate the TiO2 photocatalysis process to inactivate Fusarium spores in distilled and well water.

RESULTS: This paper reports on the ability of solar photocatalysis to inactivate Fusarium spores in a solar bottle reactor and in a new 60 L compound parabolic collector (CPC) prototype reactor. Inactivation of Fusarium sp spores by titanium dioxide (Degussa P25) was evaluated in distilled and natural well water. The experiments were carried out using 5 or 6 h exposure to natural sunlight at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria (Southeast Spain). The highest Fusarium spore inactivation rate during experiments was achieved with a 30 L min−1 flow rate and 100 mg L−1 TiO2 concentration. Three different Fusarium spores (microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores) were individually evaluated to determine whether there were differences in resistance to the photocatalytic treatment. The results showed that chlamydospores were the most resistant, followed by macroconidia, and finally microconidia were the most sensitive.

CONCLUSIONS: Microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores in distilled and well water were inactivated with TiO2 slurry in a 60 L CPC photoreactor, demonstrating for the first time that it is possible to scale‐up photocatalytic treatment for use and reuse of water for irrigation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Limestone dissolution in flue gas desulfurization—experimental and numerical study
Authors: Guelli U. Souza Selene M. A. , Santos Fabiane B. F. , Ulson de Souza Antonio Augusto , Vidal Barrero Fernando
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND: Wet FGD technologies account for around 87% of such systems worldwide, particularly those that use limestone as the absorbent. This technique is widely used in large thermal power stations. Limestone reactivity is one of the parameters that most influence the yield of the FGD process. With the aim of improving the design and operation of desulfurization units, many studies have been carried out to investigate the rate of limestone dissolution.

RESULTS: In this study, experimental equipment was set up to evaluate the limestone reactivity. In addition, a model to simulate the dissolution of limestone particles was developed. The proposed model considers the particle size distribution and composition, along with the pH of the liquid matrix where dissolution occurs. The average relative error between the experimental and numerically calculated results is 5%, after 10 min of experiment.

CONCLUSION: A model based on film theory predicts with precision limestone dissolution as a function of the particle size distribution, chemical and physical composition of the limestone, pH and the solution composition. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
An efficient one‐pot three‐component synthesis of 4‐phenyl hexahydro‐1H‐pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐2(8aH)‐one derivatives
Authors: Vuppalapati Srinivasu V. N. , Bantu Lingaiah Rajashekar , Kantevari Srinivas
Published: May 2010

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An efficient method for the synthesis of a series of 4‐phenylhexahydro‐1H‐pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐2(8aH)‐one derivatives via the one‐pot three‐component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, urea or thiourea and 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran in DMF/CH3CN using p‐TSA catalyst is described. Although three chiral centers are created, only one diastereomer is formed in a highly selective way. This method has several advantages such as higher yield, lower cost, and shorter reaction times. J. Heterocyclic Chem. (2010)
NbCl5 as an efficient catalyst for rapid synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives
Authors: Hou Jun‐Tao , Liu Yong‐Hui , Zhang Zhan‐Hui
Published: May 2010

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A series of quinoxaline derivatives have been synthesized in excellent yields by the condensation of 1,2‐diketones and 1,2‐phenylenediamines in the presence of a catalytic amount of NbCl5 at room temperature in short times. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).
δ‐Catenin/NPRAP: A new member of the glycogen synthase kinase‐3β signaling complex that promotes β‐catenin turnover in neurons
Authors: Bareiss Sonja , Kim Kwonseop , Lu Qun
Published: May 2010

Through a multiprotein complex, glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) phosphorylates and destabilizes β‐catenin, an important signaling event for neuronal growth and proper synaptic function. δ‐Catenin, or NPRAP (CTNND2), is a neural enriched member of the β‐catenin superfamily and is also known to modulate neurite outgrowth and synaptic activity. In this study, we investigated the possibility that δ‐catenin expression is also affected by GSK‐3β signaling and participates in the molecular complex regulating β‐catenin turnover in neurons. Immunofluorescent light microscopy revealed colocalization of δ‐catenin with members of the molecular destruction complex: GSK‐3β, β‐catenin, and adenomatous polyposis coli proteins in rat primary neurons. GSK‐3β formed a complex with δ‐catenin, and its inhibition resulted in increased δ‐catenin and β‐catenin expression levels. LY294002 and amyloid peptide, known activators of GSK‐3β signaling, reduced δ‐catenin expression levels. Furthermore, δ‐catenin immunoreactivity increased and protein turnover decreased when neurons were treated with proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that the stability of δ‐catenin, like that of β‐catenin, is regulated by proteasome‐mediated degradation. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that δ‐catenin overexpression promoted GSK‐3β and β‐catenin interactions. Primary cortical neurons and PC12 cells expressing δ‐catenin treated with proteasome inhibitors showed increased ubiquitinated β‐catenin forms. Consistent with the hypothesis that δ‐catenin promotes the interaction of the destruction complex molecules, cycloheximide treatment of cells overexpressing δ‐catenin showed enhanced β‐catenin turnover. These studies identify δ‐catenin as a new member of the GSK‐3β signaling pathway and further suggest that δ‐catenin is potentially involved in facilitating the interaction, ubiquitination, and subsequent turnover of β‐catenin in neuronal cells. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Potential roles of D‐serine and serine racemase in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Ryu H.J. , Kim J.‐E. , Yeo S.‐I. , Kim D.‐S. , Kwon O.‐S. , Choi S.Y. , Kang T.‐C.
Published: May 2010

To confirm the roles of D‐serinergic gliotransmission in epilepsy, we investigated the relationship between spatiotemporally specific glial responses and the D‐serine/serine racemase system in mesial temporal structures following status epilepticus (SE). In control animals, D‐serine and serine racemase immunoreactivities were detected mainly in astrocytes. After SE, D‐serine and serine racemase immunoreactivities were increased in astrocytes. Double‐immunofluorescence study revealed that up‐regulation of serine racemase immunoreactivity was relevant not to D‐serine immunoreactivity but to nestin or vimentin immunoreactivity. Neither D‐serine nor serine racemase was found in naïve or reactive microglia. In addition, phosphorylated N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 (pNR1‐Ser896) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus was increased compared with controls. Increased D‐serine immunoreactivity showed direct correlation with the phosphorylation of Ser896 of NR1. Given the findings of our previous study, these findings suggest that D‐serine and serine racemase in astrocytes may play roles in neuronal hyperexcitability via a cooperative activation of NMDA receptors. Furthermore, serine racemase may be involved in migration and differentiation of immature astrocytes, which is relevant to reactive astrogliosis. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long‐Chain Branches in Syndiotactic Polypropene Induced by Vinyl Chloride
Authors: Stadler Florian J. , Arikan Burçak , Kaschta Joachim , Kaminsky Walter
Published: May 2010

Syndiotactic polypropene was synthesized using a metallocene catalyst system and traces of VC. The use of VC was found to decrease the molar mass $\overline M _{\rm w} $ of the samples distinctly and linearly, while retaining the molar mass distribution, the crystallinity, and the syndiotacticity. The VC, however, initiates the formation of long‐chain branches, which were detected by GPC‐MALLS and rheology. Besides their effect on the viscosity and modulus functions, a thermorheologic complexity can be observed. Also the flow activation energy Ea was found to be increased. The modified samples did not obey the $\eta _0 /\overline M _{\rm w} $ relation for linear sPP, indicating the presence of LCBs.

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