bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel approach to the design of unequal power divider with high‐dividing ratio
Authors: Yang Tan , Chen Jian‐Xin , Xue Quan 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis letter presents the design of an unequal Wilkinson power divider with a high‐dividing ratio. By proportionally reducing the impedances in both arms and employing T‐shaped structure to replace quarter wavelength transmission lines with very low characteristic impedances, the proposed circuit can be constructed by microstrip lines with reasonable characteristic impedances, and therefore is easy to be fabricated and has planar structure. Furthermore, the value of isolating resistor can be flexibly adjusted to an available one. To verify our proposed idea, a 4:1 microstrip unequal power divider operating at 1.9 GHz is fabricated and tested. The ratio of highest to lowest characteristic impedances is only 2.2:1 in this 4:1 unequal power divider, compared with the ratio of 4.5:1 in conventional divider. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1240–1243, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24337
Effects of simvastatin, acetylsalicylic acid, and rosiglitazone on proliferation of normal and cancerous prostate epithelial Cells at therapeutic concentrations
Authors: Murtola Teemu J. , Pennanen Pasi , Syvälä Heimo , Bläuer Merja , Ylikomi Timo , Tammela Teuvo L.J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDNon‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and cholesterol‐lowering statins have been reported to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth suggesting their chemopreventive potential within the prostate. However, the effect has been demonstrated only with advanced prostate cancer cell lines and with drug concentrations above the clinical therapeutic range. In this study we compared the effect of therapeutic concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid, simvastatin and rosiglitazone on the growth of a set of prostatic primary cultures and various prostate epithelial cell lines.METHODSTwo primary epithelial cell lines isolated from surgical resecates of normal prostate tissue (P96E, P97E), a primary cell line isolated from untreated prostate carcinoma (ESTO1), two transformed prostate epithelial cell lines (PWR1‐E, RWPE‐1) and advanced cancer cell lines LNCaP and VCaP were used in the study. Cells were treated for seven days with therapeutic concentrations of acetylsalisylic acid, simvastatin, rosiglitazone or their combination. Cellular growth rate was measured by crystal violet staining method.RESULTSAcetylsalicylic acid (0.5 mM) and simvastatin (10 nM) inhibited the growth of prostate epithelial cells of normal and primary cancer origin, whereas advanced cancer cell lines were resistant to the effect. Rosiglitazone at the therapeutic level of 1 µM did not reduce the growth of any cell type studied.CONCLUSIONSOur results demonstrate that acetylsalicylic acid and simvastatin inhibit prostate epithelial cell growth at clinically relevant doses. This should be acknowledged when designing possible prostate cancer chemopreventive trials. Prostate 69: 1017–1023, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prediction of protein‐glucose binding sites using support vector machines
Authors: Nassif Houssam , Al‐Ali Hassan , Khuri Sawsan , Keirouz Walid 
Published: March 2009

AbstractGlucose is a simple sugar that plays an essential role in many basic metabolic and signaling pathways. Many proteins have binding sites that are highly specific to glucose. The exponential increase of genomic data has revealed the identity of many proteins that seem to be central to biological processes, but whose exact functions are unknown. Many of these proteins seem to be associated with disease processes. Being able to predict glucose‐specific binding sites in these proteins will greatly enhance our ability to annotate protein function and may significantly contribute to drug design. We hereby present the first glucose‐binding site classifier algorithm. We consider the sugar‐binding pocket as a spherical spatio‐chemical environment and represent it as a vector of geometric and chemical features. We then perform Random Forests feature selection to identify key features and analyze them using support vector machines classification. Our work shows that glucose binding sites can be modeled effectively using a limited number of basic chemical and residue features. Using a leave‐one‐out cross‐validation method, our classifier achieves a 8.11% error, a 89.66% sensitivity and a 93.33% specificity over our dataset. From a biochemical perspective, our results support the relevance of ordered water molecules and ions in determining glucose specificity. They also reveal the importance of carboxylate residues in glucose binding and the high concentration of negatively charged atoms in direct contact with the bound glucose molecule. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antibacterial activity of sophoraflavanone G Isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cha Jeong‐Dan , Moon Sang‐Eun , Kim Ji‐Young , Jung Eun‐Kyung , Lee Young‐Soo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn this study, sophoraflavanone G obtained from Sophora flavescens was evaluated against 10 clinical isolates of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), either alone or in combination with ampicillin or oxacillin, via checkerboard assay. At the end point of an optically clear well, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.5 to 8 µg/ml for sophoraflavanone G, from 64 to 1024 µg/ml for ampicillin, and from 256 to 1024 µg/ml for oxacillin. The combination of sophoraflavanone G and ampicillin or oxacillin yielded a fractional inhibitory concentration index ranging from 0.188 to 0.375, thereby indicating a principally synergistic effect. The synergistic interaction was verified by time‐kill studies using sophoraflavanone G and/or antibiotics. Thirty minutes of treatment with sophoraflavanone G with ampicillin or oxacillin resulted in an increase in the rate of killing in units of CFU/ml to a greater degree than was observed with Sophoraflavanone G alone. These findings indicated that the application of the tested sophoraflavanone G alone or in combination with antibiotics might prove useful in the control and treatment of MRSA infections. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genistein and curcumin suppress epidermal growth factor‐induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Heo Ho Jin , Lee Su Yel , Lee Mi Nam , Lee Hyun Jae , Seok Jeong Ho , Lee Choong Jae 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis study investigated whether genistein and curcumin affect epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI‐H292 cells were pretreated with each agent for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The results were as follows: (1) genistein and curcumin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, dose‐dependently; (2) genistein and curcumin also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF. This result suggests that genistein and curcumin can regulate mucin gene expression and production of mucin protein induced by EGF, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytogenetic investigation of chromosomal aberrations in cells treated with plantamajoside from Plantago asiatica
Authors: Koo Yun‐Chang , Jung Sung‐Hoon , Yang Ji‐Hee , Ryu Yung‐sun , Kim Eun‐jin , Lee Kwang‐Won 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPlantago asiatica is a member of the Plantaginaceae family, and is widely distributed in East Asia. In our previous work, a single active compound, plantamajoside was isolated and confirmed to have glycation inhibitory activity, and did not possess toxicity during a 90 day repeated oral toxicity test in rats. In the present study, a chromosomal aberration test was performed to investigate the genotoxicity of plantamajoside. From the results of the cytotoxicity test, plantamajoside proved to be less toxic when it was treated combined with S9 cell fractions. However, there was a significant increase in structural aberrations during the short‐term treatment of plantamajoside at its highest dose (5000 µg/mL) even when combined with S9. This seems to have been a natural phenomenon due to the very high dose of plantamajoside that was used. However, to confirm the safety of plantamajoside for its potential use as a phytochemical agent in health products, additional mutagenicity tests are necessary. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amelioration of adjuvant induced arthritis by apocynin
Authors: Pandey Anjali , Kour Kiranjeet , Bani Sarang , Suri Krishna Avtar , Satti Naresh Kumar , Sharma Punita , Qazi Ghulam Nabi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe premise of the study was to investigate the antiarthritic potential of apocynin (APO) in Balb/c mice (in vivo). The experiment showed a dose‐dependent decrease in oedema and showed a suppression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF‐α and IL‐1β and mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and LTB4. At oral doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg once daily during the course of the experiment, APO induced an inhibition of T cell mediated immune response causing suppression of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and of intracellular interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) by flow cytometry in arthritic mice. In parallel there was a dose‐dependent inhibition in vascular permeability causing an inhibition in the migration of leucocytes and exudate volume at the site of the inflammatory reaction. These observations validate the immunoregulatory potential of apocynin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative clinical trial of castor oil and diclofenac sodium in patients with osteoarthritis
Authors: Medhi B. , Kishore K. , Singh U. , Seth S. D. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA randomized, double‐blind, comparative clinical study was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of castor oil with diclofenac sodium in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Subjects with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis were given a castor oil capsule 0.9 mL (n= 50) thrice daily for 4 weeks or a capsule of diclofenac sodium (n= 50), 50 mg thrice daily for 4 weeks. The subjects completed an overall evaluation of symptom relief at 2 weeks and 4 weeks of completed treatment. The subjects were evaluated by clinical, routine laboratory and radiographic investigations for improvement of disease conditions and also for adverse drug reaction. On completion of 4 weeks treatment it was observed that both drugs were significantly effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (p< 0.001) and adverse drug reactions were high with diclofenac sodium, whereas with castor oil there were no adverse effects reported. The present study indicates that castor oil can be used as an effective therapy in primary knee osteoarthritis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of rainfall and beaver dams on upstream movement of spawning Atlantic salmon in a restored brook in Nova scotia, Canada
Authors: Taylor Barry R. , MacInnis Charles , Floyd Trevor A. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn a restored, third‐order stream in northern Nova Scotia, Canada, we used redd counts over 12 years to examine the influence of beaver dams and the timing and intensity of autumn rains on spawning activity of Atlantic salmon. Most beaver dams in most years had no detectable effect on the distribution of spawning redds, but in 2004 the density of redds downstream from a three‐dam complex was significantly greater than that above, suggesting the dams were a barrier to many fish. A second complex of dams blocked salmon passage completely in 2003 and 2004 until they were notched to provide access upstream. The length of stream used by salmon for spawning was linearly correlated with total precipitation in the basin in October plus November (R2 = 0.60), to a ceiling of 325 mm, above which the fish had access to the entire brook, if beaver dams were notched. Number of redds in the whole brook was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.94) with the coefficient of variation (CV) of daily rainfall in October, but only for 7 of 11 years. This relationship disappeared when the impassable beaver dam complex failed in 2005, allowing salmon free access to 4 km of the upper brook. Variation in rainfall, and hence discharge, in this flashy brook evidently influences migration and spawning of Atlantic salmon in conjunction with channel blocking by beaver dams. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decay state and inundation history control assemblage structure of log‐dwelling invertebrates in floodplain forests
Authors: Ballinger Andrea , Nally Ralph Mac , Lake P. Sam 
Published: March 2009

AbstractFallen timber (logs, large boughs) is recognized as having high ecological significance on forest floors. In floodplain forests, fallen timber potentially has even higher value for supporting biodiversity than upland forests because distinct faunal elements use the timber in the flooded and unflooded conditions. Invertebrates were sampled in logs of the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) that had been inundated 1 year earlier and compared with invertebrates in logs that had not been inundated for many years. The invertebrate fauna in river red gum logs was relatively depauperate, probably reflecting the variable, sub‐humid conditions on the floodplain. The abundance and taxon richness of invertebrates was highest in logs with greater structural complexity and heterogeneity due to extensive decay. Recent inundation slightly reduced taxon richness. The succession of log‐dwelling invertebrates was tracked though transitions between terrestrial fauna and aquatic fauna in a spring/summer flood cycle. Transition between the two faunae was rapid. Logs were colonized by aquatic invertebrates within 2 weeks of immersion by floodwaters and recolonized by terrestrial invertebrates within 4 weeks of emersion. This faunal dynamism highlights the need to consider the entire flood cycle in decisions about the management of fallen timber on floodplains for biodiversity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo [123I]CNS‐1261 binding toD‐serine‐activated and MK801‐blocked NMDA receptors: A storage phosphor imaging study in rats
Authors: Knol Remco J.J. , De Bruin Kora , Van Eck‐Smit Berthe L.F. , Pimlott Sally , Wyper David J. , Booij Jan 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDisturbances of activity of the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system in the brain are present in many neuropsychiatric disorders. TheN‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor is the most abundant receptor of the glutamatergic system. In the neurodegenerative events of Alzheimer's disease, excessive activation of NMDA receptors may contribute to neuronal death. Inhibition of NMDA receptor activation may have neuroprotective effects and (semi)quantitative imaging of the activated system may help in the selection of patients for such inhibition therapies. In this study we evaluated [123I]CNS‐1261 binding in the rat brain. This radiotracer binds in vivo to the MK801 binding site of activated NMDA receptors. To determine the optimal time point for ex vivo assessments after bolus injection [123I]CNS‐1261 binding in rats, we performed a time course biodistribution study using dissection techniques. [123I]CNS‐1261 binding was also studied in the rat brain using autoradiography by means of storage phosphor imaging, with prior facilitation of NMDA receptor activation by injection of the potent coagonistD‐serine and after blocking of the NMDA receptor binding site by MK801 injection inD‐serine pretreated rats. Measurements of [123I]CNS‐1261 uptake matched the distribution of similar tracers for the MK801 binding site of the NMDA receptor and revealed an optimal time point of 2 h post injection for the assessment of tracer distribution in the rat brain. The blocking experiments indicated specific binding of [123I]CNS‐1261 to NMDA receptors but also a considerable amount of nonspecific binding. Facilitation of NMDA receptor activation byD‐serine did not result in an enhancement of binding of the radiotracer in the NMDA receptor‐rich rat hippocampus compared to the untreated group, as measured by autoradiography. In conclusion, our study has shown that [123I]CNS‐1261 binding is influenced by NMDA receptor availability. However, high nonspecific binding limits quantification and small changes in receptor availability are unlikely to be detected. Synapse 63:557–564, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reported childhood abuse is associated with low serotonin transporter binding in vivo in major depressive disorder
Authors: Miller Jeffrey M. , Kinnally Erin L. , Ogden R. Todd , Oquendo Maria A. , Mann J. John , Parsey Ramin V. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Physical or psychological adversity in childhood is associated with a higher risk for depression in adulthood, and with persistent serotonergic abnormalities in humans and in animal models. We hypothesized that reported childhood abuse would be associated with lower brain serotonin transporter (5‐HTT) binding potential (BPP, proportional to the number of available transporters) in adults. We examined healthy volunteers and subjects with major depressive disorder, a sample enriched for childhood abuse. Methods: Regional brain 5‐HTT BPP was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) with [11C]McN 5652 and a metabolite‐corrected arterial input function in 43 healthy volunteers and 23 subjects in a major depressive episode, ten of whom reported a history of sexual and/or physical abuse before age 15, and 13 of whom did not. As only two healthy volunteers reported childhood abuse, primary analyses were restricted to the depressed sample, with healthy controls presented as comparators. Results: Depressed subjects reporting childhood abuse had lower 5‐HTT BPP than nonabused depressed subjects across all brain regions examined (P = 0.017). The groups did not differ in relevant demographic or clinical variables. Genotype frequencies of a functional polymorphism in the 5‐HTT gene promoter (5‐HTTLPR) did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Reported childhood abuse is associated with lower 5‐HTT BPP in this sample of subjects with major depression, consistent with other reports that childhood adversity can lower serotonergic function permanently. Lower 5‐HTT BPP may represent a biological pathway through which early life stress predisposes to the development of subsequent psychiatric illness, including major depressive disorder. Synapse 63:565–573, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coalescence Behavior of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Y. Q. , Liang W. S. , Geng C. Y. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB)-stabilized gold nanoparticles have been successfully fabricated. After an annealing of the as-synthesized nanoparticles at 300 °C for 30 min, the coalescence behavior of gold nanoparticles has been investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy in detail. Two types of coalescence, one being an ordered combination of two or more particles in appropriate orientations through twinning, and the other being an ordered combination of two small particles with facets through a common lattice plane, have been observed.
Pre‐adipocytes commitment to neurogenesis 1: Preliminary localisation of cholinergic molecules
Authors: Aluigi Maria Grazia , Coradeghini Rosella , Guida Chiara , Scanarotti Chiara , Bassi Anna Maria , Falugi Carla , Santi PierLuigi , Raposio Edoardo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA great effort has recently been made to obtain human stem cells able to differentiate into cholinergic neurons, as a number of diseases are associated to the cholinergic neuron loss, degeneration or incorrect function (Alzheimer's disease and motor neuron disease). A stem cell population (i.e. pre‐adipocytes) is present in the adipose stromal compartment. Pre‐adipocytes, like the mesodermic derivative cells, retain high plasticity and potentiality to convert in vitro from one phenotype into many others, and they can be isolated from adult adipose tissue. Pre‐adipocytes committed in vitro to neural differentiation were followed up to the acquisition of neural morphology. Acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase are expressed from the native cell stage, with different localisations and roles during neural commitment. Western blots show the beginning of a new synthesis of these enzymes at 4 weeks of culture of neurogenic pre‐adipocytes, in parallel with neural morphology. The passage of the choline‐acetyltransferase immunoreactivity from cytoplasmic to membrane localisation shows the possible onset of catalytic activity and the histochemical reaction confirms the activity of acetylcholinesterase. This explains the possibility of obtaining cholinergic‐like phenotype from pre‐adipocytes.
Striatum is more vulnerable to oxidative damage induced by the metabolites accumulating in 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency as compared to liver
Authors: Leipnitz Guilhian , Seminotti Bianca , Fernandes Carolina G. , Amaral Alexandre U. , Beskow Ana Paula , da Silva Lucila de B. , Zanatta Ângela , Ribeiro César A.J. , Vargas Carmen R. , Wajner Moacir 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe present work investigated the in vitro effects of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutarate, 3‐methylglutarate, 3‐methylglutaconate and 3‐hydroxyisovalerate, which accumulate in 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric aciduria, on important parameters of oxidative stress in striatum and liver of young rats, tissues that are injured in this disorder. Our results show that all metabolites induced lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances increase) and decreased glutathione levels in striatum, whereas 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutarate, besides inducing the strongest effect, also altered thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and glutathione levels in the liver. Furthermore, 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutarate, 3‐methylglutarate and 3‐methylglutaconate oxidized sulfhydryl groups in the striatum, but not in the liver. Our data indicate that 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutarate behaves as a stronger pro‐oxidant agent compared to the other metabolites accumulating in 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric aciduria and that the striatum present higher vulnerability to oxidative damage relatively to the liver.