bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Stegobinone and Stegobiol, Components of the Natural Sex Pheromone of the Drugstore Beetle (Stegobium paniceum L.) (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 1/2012)
Authors: Kalaitzakis Dimitris , Smonou Ioulia 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe cover picture shows drugstore beetles (Stegobium paniceum) abandoning their wooden tunnel nests to urgently follow the female‐produced sex pheromone. The chemoenzymatic stereoselective synthesis of the two components of the natural sex pheromone of the drugstore beetle was achieved by using ketoreductases in the key steps. Crystalline stegobinone was obtained free of its 1′‐epimer, which is strongly repellent to Stegobium paniceum. The authors thank the young architect George Orfanopoulos for the graphical design. The photographs of the drugstore beetle were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drugstore_beetle_03.jpg under permission of http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐sa/3.0/deed.en. Details of the chemoenzymatic synthesis of the sex pheromone are discussed in the Short Communication by D. Kalaitzakis and I. Smonou on p. 43 ff. magnified image
Characterization and Analytical Applications of a Coenzyme‐A Chemically Modified Gold Electrode
Authors: Merli Daniele , Zavarise Francesca , Tredici Ilenia , Pesavento Maria , Profumo Antonella 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA gold electrode modified by chemisorption of Coenzyme A (CoA‐CME) has been prepared. Exploiting its complexation properties towards heavy metal ions usually present in natural waters, it was shown that CoA has a stronger interaction with Cu than with the Pb and Cd; the complexation constants of bounded CoA with these ions were calculated by a novel approach. The metal ions can be determined in natural waters at the CoA‐CME by open circuit preconcentration followed by medium exchange in citrate buffer before the anodic stripping voltammetry. The presence in solution of competing ligands and important aspects regarding the complexation were investigated.
New Immunosensors Operating in Organic Phase (OPIEs) for Analysis of Triazinic Pesticides in Olive Oil
Authors: Tomassetti Mauro , Martini Elisabetta , Campanella Luigi 
Published: December 2011

AbstractSeveral tests were carried out on the possibility of fabricating immunosensors working in organic solvents or solvent mixtures and aimed at developing new immunosensors for the analysis of triazinic pesticides present in hydrophobic matrices such as olive oil. Initially, an immunosensor for atrazine was tested in which a hydrogen peroxide electrode was used as transducer and peroxidase enzyme as marker. The competitive process took place in a chloroform–hexane 50 % (V/V) mixture, while the subsequent enzymatic measurement was performed in an aqueous buffer solution. A linear response of between about 50 nM and 5.0 µM was obtained versus atrazine in presence of oil. Subsequently, attempts were also made using a Clark electrode as transducer and performing not only the competition but also the final enzymatic measure in organic solvent. The latter enzymatic measurement was thus carried out in several different organic solvents, such as decane, hexane, chloroform and chloroformhexane mixture. The best analytical results were obtained using decane as solvent and tert‐butylhydroperoxide as substrate of the enzymatic reaction.
Nonlimiting Hydrogen Electrosorption Properties of Asymmetric Palladium Nanoparticle‐Modified Porous Carbon Electrodes
Authors: Xiao Xiaoyin , Brozik Susan M. , Montaño Gabriel A. , Washburn Cody M. , Wheeler David R. , Burckel D. Bruce , Polsky Ronen 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHydrogen electrosorption is studied on 3D porous carbon electrodes fabricated by interferometric lithography. Mixed acetonitrile/water solutions provided a route to electrodeposit Pd nanoparticles homogeneously throughout the structures. These monoliths exhibit hydrogen electrosorption profiles typical for limited volume electrodes and consequently are promising candidates for micro‐hydrogen based fuel cells. In contrast, aqueous solutions resulted in asymmetric Pd depositions due to the hydrophobic nature of the carbon electrode and its unique 3D porous structure. These electrodes exhibited unusual nonlimiting hydrogen electrosorption profiles.
Stabilised Biosensing Using Needle‐Based Recess Electrodes
Authors: Anastasova Salzitsa , Spehar‐Délèze Anna‐Maria , Bickham Dale , Uebel Patrick , Schmidt Markus , Russell Philip , Vadgama Pankaj 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA recess disk electrode for amperometric monitoring of oxygen and glucose is reported. The basic design of sensor is a needle structure for easy implantation, embodying a gold filled silica capillary with a 80 µm inner diameter working electrode. Recess and inlaid disc electrodes, placed inside stainless steel tubes which served as a counter/reference electrode, were compared. The working electrode surface was modified with different treatments and barrier membranes to achieve selectivity for the analytes of interest. The basic needle format is ideal for in vivo use, and the format is easily extendable to other analyte targets. The sensors show linear working range for oxygen up to 160 mmHg partial pressure of oxygen, and for glucose from 1 to 10 mM. Bio‐fouling, as assessed by exposure to bovine serum albumin, was significantly reduced. Response times for the recess construct was increased but remained within the acceptable range for physiological monitoring. The operational stability of the sensors is demonstrated as well as the interference‐free detection of peroxide in the presence of physiologically relevant levels of ascorbic acid, uric acid, acetaminophen, and catechol. Preliminary in vivo tests showed excellent response towards glucose.
Electrochemistry of Zirconium Tetrachloride in the Ionic Liquid N‐Butyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide: Formation of Zr(III) and Exploitation of ZrCl4 as a Facile Ionic Liquid Drying Agent
Authors: Fu Chaopeng , Aldous Leigh , Manan Ninie S. A. , Compton Richard G. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe electrochemistry of zirconium tetrachloride in the ionic liquid N‐butyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide has been studied, and the one electron reduction is proved by chronoamperometry. Furthermore, we report the application of ZrCl4 as a facile and general ionic liquid drying agent for use in voltammetry.
Story‐by‐story estimation of the stiffness parameters of laterally‐torsionally coupled buildings using forced or ambient vibration data: I. Formulation and verification
Authors: Omrani Roshanak , Hudson Ralph E. , Taciroglu Ertugrul 
Published: December 2011

SUMMARYA new parameter estimation algorithm is described for identifying the stiffness properties of torsionally coupled shear buildings from their linear response due to ambient excitations or during low‐amplitude forced‐vibration tests. The algorithm is based on the time‐domain equations of motion, and yields estimates of the stiffness properties using a measure of the equilibrium of forces acting on each floor over a time interval. The banded structure of the stiffness matrix — a property intrinsic to torsion‐shear buildings — is exploited to decompose the initial inverse problem into several problems of reduced size. This decomposition allows the identification of lateral and torsional stiffnesses of individual stories, independent of the others. The algorithm utilizes vibration data where input excitation is known/measured, which is typical for forced‐vibration tests and earthquakes. If the ambient vibrations of the structure are adequately uncorrelated to the (unknown) external forces that induce such vibrations, then the algorithm can also be modified for output‐only system identification. The proposed algorithm is verified — and its various attributes are investigated — using simulation data from the ‘Analytical Phase I’ of the IASC (International Association for Structural Control)‐ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) benchmark studies. The companion article is devoted to the algorithm's application to experimental data, using data from the ‘Experimental Phase’ of the same benchmark studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Story‐by‐story estimation of the stiffness parameters of laterally‐torsionally coupled buildings using forced or ambient vibration data: II. Application to experimental data
Authors: Omrani Roshanak , Hudson Ralph E. , Taciroglu Ertugrul 
Published: December 2011

SUMMARYHerein, an attempt is made to apply the method developed and verified in the companion paper (Part I) to physical data. To this end, stiffness parameters of the IASC‐ASCE test structure are identified using data from the experimental phase of the benchmark studies. The physical specimen is a quarter‐scale, four‐story, braced‐frame, steel structure. Ambient vibration and free vibration data induced by hammer strikes from various configurations of the structure are used to identify stiffness parameters of individual stories. These configurations had been created by removing various members from the test structure in an effort to mimic damage. Results indicate that the proposed method is successful in identifying even the minor changes (damage) introduced to the structure. An additional study on the method's sensitivity to structure's assumed mass distribution reveals that it is fairly robust to mass uncertainties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retinoic acid receptor–related orphan receptor α–induced activation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase results in attenuation of hepatic steatosis
Authors: Kim Eun-Jin , Yoon Young-Sil , Hong Suckchang , Son Ho-Young , Na Tae-Young , Lee Min-Ho , Kang Hyun-Jin , Park Jinyoung , Cho Won-Jea , Kim Sang-Gun , Koo Seung-Hoi , Park Hyeung-geun , Lee Mi-Ock 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that the retinoic acid receptor–related orphan receptor α (RORα) plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic pathways, particularly of fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism; however, the role of RORα in the regulation of hepatic lipogenesis has not been studied. Here, we report that RORα attenuates hepatic steatosis, probably via activation of the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and repression of the liver X receptor α (LXRα). First, RORα and its activator, cholesterol sulfate (CS), induced phosphorylation of AMPK, which was accompanied by the activation of serine–threonine kinase liver kinase B1 (LKB1). Second, the activation of RORα, either by transient transfection or CS treatment, decreased the TO901317-induced transcriptional expression of LXRα and its downstream target genes, such as the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and fatty acid synthase. RORα interacted physically with LXRα and inhibited the LXRα response element in the promoter of LXRα, indicating that RORα interrupts the autoregulatory activation loop of LXRα. Third, infection with adenovirus encoding RORα suppressed the lipid accumulation that had been induced by a free-fatty–acid mixture in cultured cells. Furthermore, we observed that the level of expression of the RORα protein was decreased in the liver of mice that were fed a high-fat diet. Restoration of RORα via tail-vein injection of adenovirus (Ad)-RORα decreased the high-fat-diet–induced hepatic steatosis. Finally, we synthesized thiourea derivatives that activated RORα, thereby inducing activation of AMPK and repression of LXRα. These compounds decreased hepatic triglyceride levels and lipid droplets in the high-fat-diet–fed mice.

Conclusion :

We found that RORα induced activation of AMPK and inhibition of the lipogenic function of LXRα, which may be key phenomena that provide the beneficial effects of RORα against hepatic steatosis. (Hepatology 2012;)
Prevalence and risk factors of infections by multiresistant bacteria in cirrhosis: A prospective study
Authors: Fernández Javier , Acevedo Juan , Castro Miriam , Garcia Orlando , de Lope Carlos Rodríguez , Roca Daria , Pavesi Marco , Sola Elsa , Moreira Leticia , Silva Anibal , Seva-Pereira Tiago , Corradi Francesco , Mensa Jose , Ginès Pere , Arroyo Vicente 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical effect of infections by multiresistant bacteria in cirrhosis are poorly known. This work was a prospective evaluation in two series of cirrhotic patients admitted with infection or developing infection during hospitalization. The first series was studied between 2005 and 2007 (507 bacterial infections in 223 patients) and the second between 2010 and 2011 (162 bacterial infections in 110 patients). In the first series, 32% of infections were community acquired (CA), 32% healthcare associated (HCA), and 36% nosocomial. Multiresistant bacteria (92 infections; 18%) were isolated in 4%, 14%, and 35% of these infections, respectively (

P

< 0.001). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing

Enterobacteriaceae

(ESBL-
E

; n = 43) was the main multiresistant organism identified, followed by

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

(n = 17), methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus

(n = 14), and

Enterococcus faecium

(n = 14). The efficacy of currently recommended empirical antibiotic therapy was very low in nosocomial infections (40%), compared to HCA and CA episodes (73% and 83%, respectively;

P

< 0.0001), particularly in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary tract infection, and pneumonia (26%, 29%, and 44%, respectively). Septic shock (26% versus 10%;

P

< 0.0001) and mortality rate (25% versus 12%;

P

= 0.001) were significantly higher in infections caused by multiresistant strains. Nosocomial origin of infection (hazard ratio [HR], 4.43), long-term norfloxacin prophylaxis (HR, 2.69), recent infection by multiresistant bacteria (HR, 2.45), and recent use of β-lactams (HR, 2.39) were independently associated with the development of multiresistant infections. Results in the second series were similar to those observed in the first series.

Conclusions :

Multiresistant bacteria, especially ESBL-producing

Enterobacteriaceae

, are frequently isolated in nosocomial and, to a lesser extent, HCA infections in cirrhosis, rendering third-generation cephalosporins clinically ineffective. New antibiotic strategies tailored according to the local epidemiological patterns are needed for the empirical treatment of nosocomial infections in cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2012)
Hepatic endothelin-1 and endocannabinoids-dependent effects of hyperleptinemia in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-cirrhotic rats
Authors: Yang Ying-Ying , Tsai Tung-Hu , Huang Yi-Tsau , Lee Tzung-Yan , Chan Che-Chang , Lee Kuei-Chuan , Lin Han-Chieh 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Leptin, the

ob

gene product, is a protein released from adipocytes and has been detected in fibrotic and cirrhotic livers. Leptin in brain has an inhibitory effect on food intake. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by hyperleptinemia. This study explores the possible mechanisms of hyperleptinemia in relation to increased intrahepatic resistance (IHR) and portal hypertension in NASH cirrhotic rats. NASH cirrhotic rats with hyperleptinemia were induced in Zucker (

fa/fa

) and lean rats by feeding the animals a high fat/methionine-choline-deficient (HF/MCD) diet with and without exogenous administration of recombinant leptin. Portal venous pressure (PVP), IHR, plasma and hepatic levels of various substances, histopathology of the liver, the hepatic hydroxyproline content, and the expression of various hepatic protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) were measured. Hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction and the vasoconstrictive response to endothelin-1 were also observed using a liver perfusion system and intravital microscopy. Finally, the effect of leptin on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was evaluated. Both in HF/MCD-Zucker and HF/MCD+leptin lean rats, significant hepatic fibrogenesis and cirrhosis, marked portal hypertension, microcirculatory dysfunction, an enhanced vasoconstrictive response to endothelin-1, and an increased IHR were found to be associated with higher levels of hepatic endothelin-1 and endocannabinoids, expression levels of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor, endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR), activator protein-1, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)1, osteopontin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), leptin, and the leptin receptor (OBRb). Interestingly, acute incubation of leptin directly increases the expression of ETAR, OBRb and activator protein-1 in HSCs.

Conclusion :

An HF/MCD diet and hyperleptinemia increase hepatic endocannabinoids production, promote hepatic fibrogenesis, enhance the hepatic vasoconstrictive response to endothelin-1, and aggravate hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction; these events subsequently increase IHR and portal hypertension in NASH cirrhotic rats. (Hepatology 2012)
Local‐ and field‐scale infiltration into vertically non‐uniform soils with spatially‐variable surface hydraulic conductivities
Authors: Govindaraju Rao S. , Corradini C. , Morbidelli R. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractWe studied the problem of local‐ and field‐scale infiltration over a particular class of heterogeneous soils. At the local scale, the soils are described as being vertically non‐uniform, with the saturated hydraulic conductivity continuously decreasing with depth according to a power law function. Analogous to the Green–Ampt model, analytical expressions are first developed for local‐scale infiltration using a sharp front approximation, and model results are compared with numerical solutions of the Richards equation. These results show that saturation does not occur from below in soils with such vertical non‐uniformity, thereby allowing for the use of a sharp front approximation. Because of vertical non‐uniformity, ponding conditions are achieved locally even for rainfall rates less than the surface saturated hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, infiltration rates asymptotically approach zero at long times. To determine field‐scale infiltration properties, the spatial variability in the surface saturated hydraulic conductivity is represented by a log‐normal random field. Using cumulative infiltration as the independent variable, expressions are developed for the ensemble mean of field‐scale infiltration and the expected time for a given depth of water to infiltrate over the field. Surface horizontal heterogeneity is found to control field‐scale infiltration at small times, whereas local vertical non‐uniformity exerts a strong control at long times. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PIG: a numerical index for dissemination of groundwater contamination zones
Authors: Subba Rao N. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA pollution index of groundwater (PIG) is proposed for quantification of water contamination. PIG quantifies the status of concentrations of water quality measures with respect to their drinking water quality standards. The validity of the proposed index is verified by choosing the data of groundwater quality of the Varaha River Basin (Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India) as a case study. The computed index from the study area varies from 0.83 to 2.55. The index disseminates the area into zones of insignificant (PIG <1.0), low (PIG: 1.0 to 1.5), moderate (PIG: 1.5 to 2.0), high (PIG 2.0 to 2.5) and very high (PIG >2.5) pollution. Insignificant pollution zone is observed from the upstream area, where the groundwater is dominated by , and very high pollution zone from the downstream area, where the groundwater is associated with Cl−. This indicates that the quality of groundwater in the study area is mainly influenced by the source of geogenic origin, but it is subsequently modified by the effects of anthropogenic and marine sources. Geochemical ratios (Na+ : Cl−,  : Cl−, Na+ : Ca2+ and Mg2+ : Ca2+) also form the quantitative basis of the index. The present study paves the way to implement appropriate management strategies at a specific site to circumvent the pollution. As the classification of the pollution zones with PIG depends upon the drinking water quality standards, it becomes a universal assessment tool for groundwater contamination at any test area. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temporal trends and spatial characteristics of drought and rainfall in arid and semiarid regions of Iran
Authors: Tabari Hossein , Abghari Hirad , Hosseinzadeh Talaee P. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractDrought, a normal recurrent event in arid and semiarid lands such as Iran, is typically of a temporary nature usually leaving little permanent aftermath. In the current study, the rainfall and drought severity time series were analyzed at 10 stations in the eastern half of Iran for the period 1966–2005. The drought severity was computed using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for a 12‐month timescale. The trend analyses of the data were also performed using the Kendall and Spearman tests. The results of this study showed that the rainfall and drought severity data had high variations to average values in the study period, and these variations increased with increasing aridity towards the south of the study area. The negative serial correlations found in the seasonal and annual rainfall time series were mostly insignificant. The trend tests detected a significant decreasing trend in the spring rainfall series of Birjand station at the rate of 8.56 mm per season per decade and a significant increasing trend in the summer rainfall series of Torbateheydarieh station at the rate of 0.14 mm per season per decade, whereas the rest of the trends were insignificant. Furthermore, the 12‐month values of the standardized precipitation index decreased at all the stations except Zabol during the past four decades. During the study period, all of the stations experienced at least one extreme drought which mainly occurred in the winter season. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EVALUATION OF THE TRANSFERABILITY OF A SVAT MODEL––RESULTS FROM FIELD AND GREENHOUSE APPLICATIONS
Authors: Walser Sabine , Schütze Niels , Marcus Guderle , Susanne Liske , Schmidhalter Urs 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTSoil–Vegetation–Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) models are commonly used to describe crop‐seasonal dynamics including the prediction of crop yield and water balance. In the case of absent detailed information, a straightforward application of the model using given parameter sets may take place against rather different soil and/or climate conditions. The objective of this study was (i) to calibrate and validate a SVAT model utilizing data of two sites and two crops, (ii) to evaluate the model's ability to employ plant parameters determined on the basis of field data against greenhouse data, and (iii) to estimate optimal irrigation schedules for maximizing water productivity. Irrigation experiments were conducted on a field rain‐out shelter (wheat and barley) and in a container greenhouse experiment (barley). In the case of barley which was only grown in 2009, inverse calibration of plant data was carried out using field data, whereas the DAISY model was validated against independent greenhouse data. For validation, the specific condition in a container greenhouse experiment was taken into account. The study shows that DAISY performed well with simulating lightly drought‐stressed crop growth and water balance. For both crops and sits, optimal irrigation schedules were determined in a simulation‐optimization study which led to considerable irrigation water savings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.