bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Madecassoside induces apoptosis of keloid fibroblasts via a mitochondrial‐dependent pathway
Authors: Song Jie , Dai Yue , Bian Difei , Zhang Haofang , Xu Xianxiang , Xia Yufeng , Gong Zhunan 
Published: December 2010

AbstractCentella asiatica herb is a frequently prescribed drug in southeastern Asia and China that can simultaneously facilitate wound healing and prevent scar formation. The active constituents and underlying mechanisms responsible for these biphasic actions remain unknown. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that madecassoside, the main active triterpene saponin in C. asiatica herbs, was able to treat trauma‐caused scars in rabbit ear and facilitate burn wound healing in mice. As the formation and progression of keloid scars is closely related to the excessive proliferation and insufficient apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts, the effects of madecassoside on the proliferation and apoptosis of keloid fibroblasts (KFs) were examined in the present study. Primary KFs, originating from human earlobe keloids, were purified and cultured, and then treated with increasing concentrations of madecassoside (10, 30, and 100 µM) for 48 h. Madecassoside inhibited the proliferation of KFs in a time‐and concentration‐dependent manner, and induced KF apoptosis as revealed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, madecassoside activated caspase‐9 and caspase‐3 rather than caspase‐8, depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential, and regulated expression of Bcl‐2 family members in KFs. These findings suggest that madecassoside induced the apoptosis of KFs through a mitochondrial‐dependent pathway. Drug Dev Res 72: 315–322, 2011.  © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of hepatoprotective efficacy of Majoon‐e‐Dabeed‐ul‐ward against acetaminophen‐induced liver damage: A Unani herbal formulation
Authors: Shakya Arvind Kumar , Shukla Sangeeta 
Published: December 2010

AbstractA Unani herbal formulation known as Majoon‐e‐Dabeed‐ul‐ward (MD) was evaluated for hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen (APAP; 2 g/kg p.o.)‐induced liver damage. The latter was evidenced by elevated levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline transaminase (SALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, albumin, urea, and creatinine in experimental animals. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation were associated with a concomitant decline in reduced glutathione levels, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G‐6‐Pase) caused by APAP treatment. Treatment with MD (250,500, and 1,000 mg/kg p.o.) reverse the altered levels of AST, ALT, SALP, LDH, bilirubin, albumin, urea, and creatinine in a dose‐dependent manner. Significant restoration was found in LPO, GSH content and metabolic enzymes (ATPase and G‐6‐pase) were seen after therapy. The herbal formulation, MD showed hepatoprotective efficacy against APAP‐induced liver damage. Drug Dev Res 72: 346–352, 2011.   © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Optically Active cis‐ and trans‐2‐(1H‐Imidazol‐1‐yl)cycloalkanamines
Authors: Alatorre‐Santamaría Sergio , Gotor‐Fernández Vicente , Gotor Vicente 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe preparation of enantiopure 2‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cycloalkanamines has been studied by independent chemoenzymatic approaches. We first explored a route involving the enzymatic resolution of racemic cycloalkanol analogs for the preparation of the corresponding optically active amines by diverse substitution methodologies including (a) the formation of a mesylated intermediate that could be later substituted by an amine group and (b) the combination of Mitsunobu inversion of the hydroxy group followed by a deprotection step. In order to overcome low isolated yields of the desired optically active amines, racemic‐trans‐2‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cycloalkanamines were prepared, and their lipase‐catalyzed enzymatic resolutions were studied. These efforts revealed that lipase from Candida antarctica type B was an efficient biocatalyst. A combination of both chemoenzymatic methodologies has allowed us to obtain the four different enantiopure cis‐ and trans‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cycloalkanamine isomers.
Insights into the Reaction Behaviour of Stannylated Allylic Substrates
Authors: Bukovec Christian , Wesquet Alexander O. , Kazmaier Uli 
Published: December 2010

AbstractStannylated allylic substrates are versatile building blocks for organic synthesis. Pd0‐catalysed coupling reactions of 2‐stannylated allylic carbonates, acetates and phenoxides with amines, malonates, phenoxides, imides and distannanes provide the corresponding substituted allylic compounds, which are suitable for subsequent modifications including Stille coupling reactions. The reaction mechanisms are dependent on the temperature and the nucleophiles used. Tsuji–Trost allylic substitution takes place with organic nucleophiles at low temperature. When distannane is employed at higher temperature, on the other hand, Pd0‐catalysed bismetallation of allenes formed in situ by elimination of tributyltin methoxide predominates.
Cell activity analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis combined with specific cell staining
Authors: Ding Jinmei , Zhang Lu , Qu Feng , Ren Xiaomin , Zhao Xinying , Liu Qingsheng 
Published: December 2010

AbstractCapillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used to determine Hela cells activity with Hela treated by 0–46 μM methylmercury (MeHg) as the apoptosis model. The treated and untreated cells were stained by four different dyes (Janus Green B, Rhodamine 123, Neutral Red and Trypan Blue) and analyzed by CZE with UV/Vis detection. The absorbance of cells at 214 nm could indicate the degree of cell shrinkage and component leakage induced by MeHg. The intensity of cell absorbance at maximum visible absorption wavelength of dyes represented mitochondrial activity, lysosome phagocytosis ability and cell membrane integrity. For different concentrations of MeHg treatment, the change of cell activity was in good agreement with Janus Green B uptake colorimetric assay (R2=0.914) and 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐di‐phenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (R2=0.892). 80% of RSD (n=3) values were in the range of 0.5–15.0%. The established CZE method could be used to analyze intact cells with only UV‐Vis detector. The CZE method has some features equivalent to the existing universal method, and it has the potential to be a universal tool for cell activity determination.
A SNaPshot assay for genotyping 44 individual identification single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Lou Chunguang , Cong Bin , Li Shujin , Fu Lihong , Zhang Xiaojing , Feng Ting , Su Shanshan , Ma Chunling , Yu Feng , Ye Jian , Pei Li 
Published: December 2010

AbstractSingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have relatively low mutation rates and can be genotyped after PCR with shorter amplicons compared with short tandem repeats (STRs), are being considered as potentially useful markers in forensic DNA analysis. Those SNPs with high heterozygosity and low Fst (F‐statistics) in human populations are described as individual identification SNPs, which perform the same function as STRs used in forensic routine work. In the present study, we developed a multiplex typing method for analyzing 44 selected individual identification SNPs simultaneously by using multiplex PCR reaction in association with fluorescent labeled single base extension (SBE) technique. PCR primers were designed and the lengths of the amplicons ranged from 69 to 125 bp. The population genetics data of 79 unrelated Chinese individuals for the 44 SNP loci were investigated and a series of experiments were performed to validate the characteristic of the SNP multiplex typing assay, such as sensitivity, species specificity and the performance in paternity testing and analysis of highly degraded samples. The results showed that the 44‐SNPs multiplex typing assay could be applied in forensic routine work and provide supplementary data when STRs analysis was partial or failed.
Capillary electrophoresis combining three‐step multiplex polymerase chain reactions for diagnosing α‐thalassemia
Authors: Chen Yen‐Ling 
Published: December 2010

AbstractCapillary electrophoresis (CE) is the most useful tool for DNA separation because of its high resolution. In this study, different kinds of polymers were used to evaluate the separation efficiency by analyzing a 200‐bp DNA ladder. Under optimized CE conditions, the CE separation was performed by DB‐17 capillary. The running buffer was a 1× TBE buffer containing 0.6% w/v poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (Mw: 8 000 000) and 1 μM YO‐PRO‐1; applied voltage was −10 kV (detector at anode side) and the separation temperature was 25°C. Under these optimal conditions, 15 DNA fragments with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 kb were resolved within 11.5 min and the RSD of migration time were less than 0.55% (n=3). This method, combined with three‐step multiplex PCR, was applied to detect five α‐thalassemia deletions, including ‐α3.7, ‐α4.2, ‐ ‐SEA, ‐ ‐FIL and ‐ ‐THAI. A total of 21 patients diagnosed with α‐thalassemia were analyzed using this developed method and all results agreed with those already obtained by gel electrophoresis.
Isoelectric focusing of small non‐covalent metal species from plants
Authors: Köster Jessica , Hayen Heiko , von Wirén Nicolaus , Weber Günther 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIEF is known as a powerful electrophoretic separation technique for amphoteric molecules, in particular for proteins. The objective of the present work is to prove the suitability of IEF also for the separation of small, non‐covalent metal species. Investigations are performed with copper–glutathione complexes, with the synthetic ligand ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐bis(o‐hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid (EDDHA) and respective metal complexes (Fe, Ga, Al, Ni, Zn), and with the phytosiderophore 2′‐deoxymugineic acid (DMA) and its ferric complex. It is shown that ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐bis(o‐hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid and DMA species are stable during preparative scale IEF, whereas copper–glutathione dissociates considerably. It is also shown that preparative scale IEF can be applied successfully to isolate ferric DMA from real plant samples, and that multidimensional separations are possible by combining preparative scale IEF with subsequent HPLC‐MS analysis. Focusing of free ligands and respective metal complexes with di‐ and trivalent metals results in different pIs, but CIEF is usually needed for a reliable estimation of pI values. Limitations of the proposed methods (preparative IEF and CIEF) and consequences of the results with respect to metal speciation in plants are discussed.
Topology, parameter, and measurement error processing using synchronized phasors
Authors: Abur Ali , Chen Jian , Zhu Jun , Korkali Mert 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of the methods developed for processing errors in network topology, parameters, and measurements, using synchronized phasors. These methods facilitate placement decisions for phasor measurements for a range of considerations. The presented overview is primarily concerned with maintaining network observability and filtering gross errors appearing in network model and measurements. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wide area monitoring in the Italian power system: architecture, functions and experiences
Authors: Cirio D. , Lucarella D. , Giannuzzi G. , Tuosto F. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe paper reports the main features of the Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) in operation at the Italian power system. First, the architecture of the WAMS platform is described; then, the visualisation functions are presented. The latter provide the data measured by the phasor measurement units, together with the results of real time monitoring functions for enhanced operational awareness. Functions have been developed for oscillatory stability analysis, network separation detection, voltage stability margin evaluation, load shedding intervention evaluation, line thermal estimation. Application examples are shown, drawn from real cases. The WAMS platform, running in real time in the control room, has proved useful in normal and especially in critical operating conditions, when the limitations of traditional SCADA systems and analysis tools are most apparent. The development of real‐time functions is still ongoing, also in view of implementing Wide Area Control/Protection System solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wide‐area monitoring and control using the real time digital simulator and a synchrophasor vector processor
Authors: Srivastava Anurag , Ravikumar Krishnanjan Gubba , Zweigle Greg 
Published: December 2010

AbstractSeveral major blackouts in the past have shown the need for advanced wide‐area monitoring and control (WAMC) techniques. Advanced synchrophasor visualization and monitoring can be realized with time‐referenced power system data that are collected by phasor measurement units (PMUs) using synchronized clocks. Presently, PMUs are being deployed around the world at a rapid rate for various power system applications. When a necessary number of PMUs are installed at optimal locations throughout the network, the complete state of the system can be observed. PMUs take real‐time measurements to determine the state of the power system and can be used to enhance state estimation efficiency. With PMUs in place, there are many control and protection schemes that can be implemented successfully to take preventive and corrective actions. These remedial action schemes (RASs) are classified by the IEEE Power System Relaying Committee (PSRC) as system integrity protection schemes (SIPSs). This work involved the development of a real‐time hardware test bed in order to analyze the transient stability of a simulated power system by using synchrophasors to visualize system stress across a transmission line with and without load‐shedding schemes. The real time digital simulator (RTDS®) was used to model the power system in real time. PMUs, a satellite‐synchronized clock, and a synchrophasor vector processor (SVP) were used to test the synchrophasor application. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal coordinated control of multiple HVDC links for power oscillation damping based on model identification
Authors: Eriksson Robert , Söder Lennart 
Published: December 2010

SUMMARYThis paper deals with optimal coordinated control of several high voltage direct current (HVDC) links based on an estimated model of large power systems. The model of the power system is estimated by using subspace system identification techniques. An optimal controller is designed based on the estimated model with the aim to improve the damping in the system. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a new method which uses global Phasor measurement units (PMUs) signals for coordinated damping control of multiple HVDC links. The input signals are the controllable set‐points of the HVDC links, the output signals are the speed signals of selected generators obtained from PMU. The PMU signals are used to estimate the current state of the model, i.e., the state of the system, an appropriate control action can then be applied to dampen the system. The benefit of the method is that the used output signals, i.e., the used PMU signals, are independent of the system equilibrium and therefore makes it possible to use state‐feedback control, i.e., coordinated control. The method is applied to the Cigré Nordic 32‐bus system including two HVDC links. The consistent results show that the damping can be significantly increased. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Active length of cable lines with uncoated metal sheaths as long grounding conductors
Authors: Popović Ljubivoje M. 
Published: December 2010

SUMMARYPower cables that have sheaths, usually lead, and are manufactured with bitumen impregnated hessian which degrades over time, act as long grounding electrodes or inject fault current directly into the surrounding soil. As a consequence of this, the MV lines made of this type of cable spontaneously form a very large and complex grounding system around the high‐voltage/medium‐voltage (HV/MV) distribution substations. The area encompassed by this type of grounding system is much larger than the area occupied by the HV/MV substation itself. Due to this, the grounding system exhibits excellent performance, including a very low value of impedance to ground. The problem with this type of grounding system appears only at the design stage of the HV/MV substation, when safety conditions inside and in the vicinity of this substation should be confirmed by calculation. This paper provides improvements in accuracy to the only existing practical method developed for the analysis of this type of grounding system. The proposed improvement enables a more accurate estimation of active cable line length, grounding impedance of the cable line, the urban area covered by this type of grounding system, as well as grounding impedance of the entire grounding system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The last meal of the Late Ordovician mollusc ‘Helminthochiton’ thraivensis Reed, 1911, from the Lady Burn Starfish Beds, southwest Scotland
Authors: Donovan Stephen K. , Sutton Mark D. , Sigwart Julia D. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAn exceptional specimen of the Late Ordovician mollusc ‘Helminthochiton’ thraivensis Reed, from the Katian of the Lady Burn Starfish Beds, southwest Scotland, preserves gut contents that include nine pelmatozoan ossicles. These are interpreted as including two nodal and five internodal columnals, and two radice ossicles from the attachment structure. The stem was cyclocyclic and heteromorphic, possibly N212. Radice ossicles were wider than the height of nodals, so radice scars must have encroached onto the latera of adjacent internodals. These features were compared with the 26 known pelmatozoan taxa from the Lady Burn Starfish Beds. Paracrinoids (one species) and glyptocystitid rhombiferans (six species) were discounted as prey because of their cemented attachment, and incorrect columnal morphology and lack of attachment, respectively. Of 19 species of crinoids, eight are discounted in which the column is pentagonal, tetragonal or unknown. Of the remaining 11 species, only the monobathrid camerate Macrostylocrinus cirrifer Ramsbottom satisfies all criteria for identification of the prey, including heteromorphy and radice scars encroaching adjacent internodals. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The climate of cloud forests
Authors: Jarvis Andy , Mulligan Mark 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis chapter analyses the climatic conditions prevailing at sites where tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) have been reported. Spatial data‐sets of climate were used to describe the climate at 477 cloud forest sites identified by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)‐WCMC. Some 85% of the sites are found at altitudes between 400 and 2800 m a.s.l., with an average altitude of 1700 m. The range of altitudes at which cloud forests are found is extensive (220–5005 m). The climate of cloud forests is highly variable from site to site, with an average rainfall of ∼2000 mm year−1 and an average temperature of 17·7 °C. In addition, cloud forests are found in seasonal and aseasonal environments alike, both in terms of rainfall and temperature. There are some clear differences in the climates of cloud forests found in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and those in Asia. Cloud forests are found to be wetter (with incident rainfall being 184 mm year−1 higher on average), cooler (by 4·2 °C on average), and less seasonally variable than other montane forests not affected significantly by fog and low cloud. Cloud forests are also almost completely confined to a zone within 350 km from the nearest coast. Finally, the climatic representativity of 14 intensively studied cloud forest sites (ISS) was analysed, as a group, the sites provided a fair representation of the climates found in cloud forests, evenly covering the ranges in temperature and rainfall. The majority of cloud forest sites occur in regions with 2000–2600 mm of rainfall and annual mean temperatures (Tmean) of 14–18 °C. Relatively dry cloud forest sites (<1000 mm of rain year−1) are under‐represented in the UNEP‐WCMC data‐base. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of WASMOD and SWAT on hydrological simulation in Yingluoxia watershed in northwest of China
Authors: Li Zhanling , Xu Zongxue , Li Zhanjie 
Published: December 2010

AbstractTwo hydrological models with different structures and spatial capabilities are selected to simulate the runoff and actual evapotranspiration (AET) in Yingluoxia watershed, the upper reaches of Heihe River basin in northwest of China, to validate their performances in simulating hydrological processes. They are calibrated against the observed runoff at the watershed outlet (Yingluoxia station) for the period from 1990 to 1996 and validated for the period from 1997 to 2000. Results show that in terms of the simulated hydrograph against observations and the two selected objective functions, the conceptual, lumped Water And Snow balance MODeling system (WASMOD) with simple model structure could give the same, even better results than the semi‐distributed Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) with complex structure. Compared with other model applications to the watershed, simulation for monthly runoff made in this study seems better. With regard to AET, results calculated from both models are comparable as well. Both WASMOD and SWAT are proved to be suitable and satisfactory tools in simulating hydrological processes in the study area, although both of them have strengths and limitations in applications. WASMOD model may be one of the promising alternatives in hydrological modelling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Folic acid improves acetylcholine‐induced vasoconstriction of coronary vessels isolated from hyperhomocysteinemic mice: An implication to coronary vasospasm
Authors: Qipshidze Natia , Metreveli Naira , Lominadze David , Tyagi Suresh C. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractHuman atherosclerotic coronary vessels elicited vasoconstriction to acetylcholine (Ach) and revealed a phenomenon of vasospasm. Homocysteine (Hcy) levels are elevated in the atherosclerotic plaque tissue, suggesting its pathological role in endothelial damage in atherosclerotic diseases. Accordingly, we examined the role hyperhomocysteinemia in coronary endothelial dysfunction, vessel wall thickness, lumen narrowing, leading to acute/chronic coronary vasospasm. The therapeutic potential and mechanisms of folic acid (FA) using hyperhomocysteinemic cystathionine beta synthase heterozygote (CBS−/+) and wild type (CBS+/+) mice were addressed. The CBS−/+ and CBS+/+ mice were treated with or without a Hcy lowering agent FA in drinking water (0.03 g/L) for 4 weeks. The isolated mouse septum coronary artery was cannulated and pressurized at 60 mmHg. The wall thickness and lumen diameters were measured by Ion‐Optic. The vessels were treated with Ach (10−8–10−5 M) and, for comparison, with non‐endothelial vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (10−5 M). The endothelium‐impaired arteries from CBC−/+ mice constricted in response to Ach and this vasoconstriction was mitigated with FA supplementation. The level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was lower in coronary artery in CBS−/+ than of CBS+/+ mice. Treatment with FA increased the levels of Ach‐induced NO generation in the coronary artery of CBS−/+ mice. The results suggest that Ach induced coronary vasoconstriction in CBS−/+ mice and this vasoconstriction was ameliorated by FA treatment. The mechanisms for the impairment of vascular function and therapeutic effects of FA may be related to the regulation of eNOS expression, NO availability and tissue homocysteine. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2712–2720, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.