bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of Active Biomolecules in the High‐Yield Synthesis of Single‐Crystalline Gold Nanoplates in Algal Solutions
Authors: Xie Jianping , Lee Jim Yang , Wang Daniel I. C. , Ting Yen Peng 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn this work, single‐crystalline gold nanoplates were produced by treating an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid with the extract of the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris at room temperature. The results suggest proteins as the primary biomolecules involved in providing the dual function of AuIII reduction and the size‐ and shape‐controlled synthesis of the nanogold crystals. A protein with a molecular weight of approximately 28 kDa was isolated and purified by reversed‐phase HPLC; this protein tested positive for the reduction of chloroauric acid in aqueous solution. The isolated protein (named gold shape‐directing protein, or GSP for convenience) was then used to produce gold nanoplates with distinctive triangular and hexagonal shapes in high yields (≈90 %). The kinetics of the reduction reaction could be manipulated through changes in the GSP concentration to produce plates with lateral sizes ranging from nanometers to micrometers. The growth of gold nanoplates in the GSP solution with time was monitored by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, thereby allowing the detection of several key intermediates in the growth process.
Starch Derivatives of High Degree of Functionalization. 13. Novel Amphiphilic Starch Products
Authors: Heinze Thomas , Rensing Stephan , Koschella Andreas 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAmphiphilic starch derivatives of high degree of substitution (DS) were prepared by benzylation of pea, potato and waxy maize starch followed by the introduction of hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium and carboxymethyl moieties. The conversions were carried out under heterogeneous conditions leading to products with a total DS of up to 1.8. The starch composition regarding amylose and amylopectin influences the DS value.The structure of the products was characterized by means of elemental analysis, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, and, in case of benzyl carboxymethyl starch by means of HPLC after complete chain degradation. The tensioactive properties depend on the DS values of hydrophilic and lipophilic groups and can be adjusted by controlling the molar ratio anhydroglucose unit to reagent during the synthesis. Surface tensions as low as 48.6 mN/m were found for benzyl hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium starch and 38.6 mN/m for benzyl carboxymethyl starch. The lowest critical micelle concentration determined is 2.1 mmol/L.
Interaction of methylmercury and selenium on the bioaccumulation and histopathology in medaka (Oryzias latipes)
Authors: Liao Chun‐Yang , Zhou Qun‐Fang , Fu Jian‐Jie , Shi Jian‐Bo , Yuan Chun‐Gang , Jiang Gui‐Bin 
Published: February 2007

AbstractInteraction of methylmercury and selenium in medaka (Oryzias latipes) on bioaccumulation of pollutants and histopathological changes in liver and gill were studied. Juvenile medaka fish were submitted to a series of waterborne methylmercury chloride (MMC), sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and their mixture for 210 days, respectively. The methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium contents in the whole body of medaka were determined. The dose‐ and time‐dependent increase of MeHg and selenium contents in medaka were observed. Histopathological changes, such as edema, vacuoles, pyknotic nucleus, and telangiectasis, could clearly be observed in the slices from the exposed medaka's liver and gill. Concurrent exposure to MMC and Na2SeO3 showed the increased selenium accumulation. When the exposure molar ratio of MeHg:Se was about 1, the interaction between MeHg and selenium offered a limited protection against the serious intoxication of both MMC and Na2SeO3 to medaka. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 69–77, 2007.
Assessment of the potential toxicity of herbicides and their degradation products to nontarget cells using two microorganisms, the bacteria Vibrio fischeri and the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Bonnet J.‐L. , Bonnemoy F. , Dusser M. , Bohatier J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe potential toxicity of several herbicides—alachlor, diuron and its photo and biotransformation products, glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA)—to nontarget cells was assessed using two microorganisms frequently used in ecotoxicology, Vibrio fischeri and Tetrahymena pyriformis. Toxicity assays involved the Microtox® test, the T. pyriformis population growth impairment test employing three different processes (flasks, tubes, microplates), and the T. pyriformis nonspecific esterase activities test. Several IC50 or EC50 values are reported for each molecule. Alachlor exerted a toxic effect on the two nontarget cells used. The results for diuron and its photo and biotransformation products indicated that most of the metabolites presented nontarget toxicity higher than that of diuron. Glyphosate and AMPA had a less negative effect on T. pyriformis than on V. fischeri. Nevertheless, in all cases, glyphosate was found to be more toxic than AMPA. Comparison analysis of the sensitivity of the different tests showed that, in general, tests using the eukaryotic cell (T. pyriformis) were more sensitive than test using the prokaryotic cell (V. fischeri), and that a population growth criterion is more sensitive than an enzymatic criterion. The three different processes that could be used to evaluate effects on population growth rate were equally sensitive for the herbicides tested. A significant correlation between toxicity data and the hydrophobicity of the chemicals could only be established with the growth population test. This study demonstrates that it is essential to assess the toxicity of the metabolites formed to complete a more comprehensive study of the environmental impact of a polluting agent. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 78–91, 2007.
Long-term weight maintenance and cardiovascular risk factors are not different following weight loss on carbohydrate-restricted diets high in either monounsaturated fat or protein in obese hyperinsulinaemic men and women
Authors: Keogh Jennifer B. , Luscombe-Marsh Natalie D. , Noakes Manny , Wittert Gary A. , Clifton Peter M. 
Published: February 2007

The aim of this study was to determine after 52 weeks whether advice to follow a lower carbohydrate diet, either high in monounsaturated fat or low fat, high in protein had differential effects in a free-living community setting. Following weight loss on either a high monounsaturated fat, standard protein (HMF; 50 % fat, 20 % protein (67 g/d), 30 % carbohydrate) or a high protein, moderate fat (HP) (40 % protein (136 g/d), 30 % fat, 30 % carbohydrate) energy-restricted diet (6000 kJ/d) subjects were asked to maintain the same dietary pattern without intensive dietary counselling for the following 36 weeks. Overall weight loss was 6·2 (sd 7·3) kg (P < 0·01 for time with no diet effect, 7·6 (sd 8·1) kg, HMF v. 4·8 (sd 6·6) kg, HP). In a multivariate regression model predictors of weight loss at the end of the study were sex, age and reported percentage energy from protein (R2 0·22, P < 0·05 for the whole model). Fasting plasma insulin decreased (P < 0·01, with no difference between diets), 13·9 (sd 4·6) to 10·2 (sd 5·2) mIU/l, but fasting plasma glucose was not reduced. Neither total cholesterol nor LDL-cholesterol were different but HDL was higher, 1·19 (sd 0·26) v. 1·04 (sd 0·29) (P < 0·001 for time, no diet effect), while TAG was lower, 1·87 (sd 1·23) v. 2·22 (sd 1·15) mmol/l (P < 0·05 for time, no diet effect). C-reactive protein decreased (3·97 (sd 2·84) to 2·43 (sd 2·29) mg/l, P < 0·01). Food records showed that compliance to the prescribed dietary patterns was poor. After 1 year there remained a clinically significant weight loss and improvement in cardiovascular risk factors with no adverse effects of a high monounsaturated fat diet.
Homocysteine levels in children and adolescents are associated with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C>T genotype, but not with physical activity, fitness or fatness: The European Youth Heart Study
Authors: Ruiz Jonatan R. , Hurtig-Wennlöf Anita , Ortega Francisco B. , Patterson Emma , Nilsson Torbjörn K. , Castillo Manuel J. , Sjöström Michael 
Published: February 2007

To examine the associations of total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) with physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness in children and adolescents, a cross-sectional study of 301 children (9–10 years old) and 379 adolescents (15–16 years old) was conducted. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a maximal ergometer bike test. Body fat was derived from the sum of five skinfold thicknesses. Genotyping for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T polymorphism was done by DNA sequencing. Fasting tHcy level was the outcome variable. Multiple regressions were used to determine the degree to which variance in tHcy was explained by physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and body fat, after controlling for potential confounders including MTHFR 677C>T genotype. tHcy levels were neither associated with any measure of level and pattern of physical activity nor with data on cardiorespiratory fitness, or body fat, in any age group after controlling for potential confounders including MTHFR 677C>T and even when subgroups 677TT and 677CC+CT were analysed separately. Mean values of tHcy were significantly higher in the TT subgroup compared with CC and CT subgroups in children (TT 7·4 μmol/l, CC 6·3 μmol/l, CT 6·6 μmol/l,P < 0·001 andP = 0·019, respectively) and adolescents (TT 16·9 μmol/l, CC 8·3 μmol/l, CT 9·0 μmol/l, bothP < 0·001). The results suggest that physical activity, fitness and body fat are not associated with tHcy levels in children and adolescents, even after controlling for presence of the MTHFR 677C>T genotype, the main influence on tHcy levels in these subjects.
Serum selenium concentrations and dietary selenium intake of New Zealand children aged 5–14 years
Authors: Thomson Christine D. , McLachlan Sarah K. , Parnell Winsome R. , Wilson Noela , Wohlers Mark , Scragg Robert , Schaaf David , Fitzgerald Eljon D. 
Published: February 2007

Serum Se concentrations and dietary Se intakes have been determined in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, region and index of deprivation in a nationally representative sample of New Zealand children aged 5–14 years from the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey. Dietary intake was assessed from computer-assisted, multiple-pass 24 h diet recall interviews (n3275). Serum Se concentrations were obtained from a subset of urban-based children (n1547). Mean (95 % CI) serum Se concentration in children was 0·96 (0·93, 1·00) μmol/l. Males (1·00 μmol/l) had higher serum Se levels than females (0·93 μmol/l;P = 0·027). Mäori children had lower serum Se than Pacific Islands children (P = 0·038) and New Zealand European and Other children (P = 0·005). Children in the Upper North Island (1·06 μmol/l) had higher mean serum Se values than those in the Lower North Island (0·98 μmol/l,P < 0·0005) and South Island (0·79 μmol/l,P < 0·0005), and serum Se in the Lower North Island was higher than that in the South Island (P < 0·0005). Mean dietary Se intake was 36 (34, 37) μg/d. The intakes of children aged 5–6 years (31 μg/d) were lower than those of children aged 7–10 and 11–14 years (35 and 38 μg/d, respectively;P < 0·00 005) and the intakes of 7–10-year-olds were lower than those of 11–14-year-olds (P = 0·002). Serum Se was associated with dietary Se after adjusting for all variables, including region (P = 0·006). The Se status of our children falls in the middle of the international range of serum Se concentrations, but that for children in the South Island is among the lowest values reported and may be a cause for concern.
Comparative assessment of feeding damage by pod-sucking bugs (Heteroptera: Coreoidea) associated with cowpea, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata in Nigeria
Authors: Soyelu O.L. , Akingbohungbe A.E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractFeeding trials were conducted on three (young, mid-fill and mature) developmental stages of cowpea Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata pods in the screenhouse using fourth instar nymphs and adults of Anoplocnemis curvipes (Fabricius), Riptortus dentipes (Fabricius), Mirperus jaculus (Thunberg), Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stål and C. shadabi Dolling. Anoplocnemis curvipes was observed to be the most damaging coreoid species causing a yield reduction of 26.4–51.7% followed by R. dentipes (24.4–29.4%), M. jaculus (21.9–26.9%), C. tomentosicollis (17.9–22.4%) and C. shadabi (15.9–20.4%). The fourth instar nymphs of each pod-sucking bug species caused a significantly higher cowpea yield reduction than their respective adults. Similarly, infestation on young pods compared to mid-fill and mature stages resulted in significantly higher yield reduction. The results suggest that infestation levels of two fourth instar nymphs of A. curvipes or three fourth instar nymphs of the other four pod-sucking bug species per young pod should be adequate for screening of cowpea varieties for resistance to the coreoid bugs.
Effect of storage temperature and duration on viability of eggs of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Dhillon M.K. , Sharma H.C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe ability to store different insect stadia for prolonged periods provides considerable flexibility and ability to conduct experiments properly. Therefore, studies were undertaken to determine the effect of storage temperature and duration on viability of eggs of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). The percentage egg hatch and incubation period were significantly (P=0.01) influenced by egg age, storage temperature, and storage duration. Egg hatch ranged from 0.0 to 96.8% across temperatures and storage durations. None of the eggs hatched when stored at −20 and 0°C. The regression model with the optimum Mallow Cp statistic for any of the identified linear and quadratic terms did not improve the precision of prediction in egg hatch beyond 67.0%. Forecasting of incubation period based on egg age, storage duration, and duration×temperature was quite effective (R2=84.2%). Day degrees required for egg hatching decreased with an increase in temperature from 10 to 27°C, and egg age from 0 to 3 days. The day degree requirements were highest for 0-day-old eggs at 10°C, and lowest at 27°C. Although the incubation period was higher, the hatchability was lower for 0- and 1-day-old eggs stored at constant 10°C, these eggs can be stored for 10 days at 10°C, with a hatchability of >75.0%. It was safer to store the H. armigera eggs for 10 days at 10°C, which will hatch within 1.6 to 2.0 days after restoration at 27°C with a hatchability of >75.0%. This information will be useful in planning and execution of experiments involving H. armigera on various aspects of research in entomology.
Phenotypic plasticity of pigmentation and morphometric traits inPnigalio soemius(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
Authors: Bernardo U. , Pedata P.A. , Viggiani G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSpecies of the genusPnigalioSchrank are ectoparasitoids on several pest insects. Most species are polyphagous parasitoids of lepidopteran and dipteran leafminers. Despite their potential economic importance, information on intraspecific phenotypic variability is insufficient.Pnigalio soemius(Walker) was reared at five different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30°C) on mature larvae of one of its natural hosts,Cosmopterix pulchrimellaChambers (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae), to investigate the influence of temperature on size, colour and other morphological traits, and to measure the range of variation of several characters. Thermal developmental reaction norms, which represent the effect of temperature during growth and development on the value of some adult traits, were produced. The results confirmed the influence of temperature on numerous characters and that these characters had a larger range of variation than realized previously in the construction of taxonomic keys to species. In particular, the number and position of the costulae on the propodeum and colour of the gaster were affected by rearing temperature.
A novel automatic cooking robot for Chinese dishes
Authors: Yan W. X. , Fu Z. , Liu Y. H. , Zhao Y. Z. , Zhou X. Y. , Tang J. H. , Liu X. Y. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYUp to now, most people are still cooking in the kitchen, which makes them feel fatigued and also makes the air polluted. With the development of the numerical control technology, it becomes more and more urgent to apply the related technology to the automatic cooking field. In this paper, the cooking technique for the Chinese dishes is introduced and China's first cooking robot, named AI Cooking Robot (AIC), is presented. The robot mainly consists of four parts: the wok mechanism, the stirring-fry and dispersing mechanism, the feeding mechanism, and the mechanism of leaving the material in the middle process. In order to adjust the temperature, the fire control system is also given in this paper. Experiments show that the new robot will be a milestone in the cooking automation science because of its cooking technique.
Wigner–von Neumann perturbations of a periodic potential: spectral singularities in bands
Authors: KURASOV PAVEL , NABOKO SERGUEI 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWigner–von Neumann type perturbations of the periodic one-dimensional Schrödinger operator are considered. The asymptotics of the solution to the generalized eigenfunction equation is investigated. It is proven that a subordinated solution and therefore an embedded eigenvalue may occur at the points of the absolutely continuous spectrum satisfying a certain resonance (quantization) condition between the frequencies of the perturbation, the frequency of the background potential and the corresponding quasimomentum.
Zeros of differences of meromorphic functions
Authors: BERGWEILER WALTER , LANGLEY J. K. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractLet f be a function transcendental and meromorphic in the plane, and define g(z) by g(z) = Δf(z) = f(z + 1) − f(z). A number of results are proved concerning the existence of zeros of g(z) or g(z)/f(z), in terms of the growth and the poles of f. The results may be viewed as discrete analogues of existing theorems on the zeros of f' and f'/f.
Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia in German adults: the impact of children in the household
Authors: SCHNOOR M. , KLANTE T. , BECKMANN M. , ROBRA B. P. , WELTE T. , RASPE H. , SCHÄFER T. ,   The CAPNETZ Study Group
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYThe objective of this case-control study was to identify the main risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a German adult population. A self-administered questionnaire was given to CAP cases provided by the German competence network CAPNETZ and population-based, randomly selected controls (sex- and age-matched). Multivariate analysis showed that in addition to known risk factors such as previous CAP [odds ratio (OR) 1·6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·3–2·1], more than one respiratory infection during the previous year (OR 3·6, 95% CI 2·9–4·5), chronic pulmonary diseases (OR 2·3, 95% CI 1·7–3·0), number of comorbidities (OR 1·6, 95% CI 1·4–1·9), and number of children in the household (2 children: OR 2·2, 95% CI 1·5–3·4; ⩾3 children: OR 3·2, 95% CI 1·5–7·0) were independent risk factors for CAP. This was pronounced in particular in people aged ⩽65 years. The most likely explanation for this finding is higher exposure to infectious agents.
Status of non‐cultivated food plants in Bulamogi County, Uganda
Authors: Tabuti J. R. S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study was carried out to document the non‐cultivated food plants (NCFPs) of Bulamogi County, Uganda. It formed part of a wider study meant to document all edible plant species in the county with the general aim of strengthening food security. The study was conducted using semi‐structured interviews. Fifty‐nine NCFPs were recorded in the county. These grow as weeds, wild plants and semi‐cultivated crops. They are equally distributed between herbaceous (54%) and woody (46%) growth habits. They yield fruits (31, n = 59), leaves (11, n = 59) or leaves and stems (10, n = 59) for consumption. A short list of 27 NCFPs with potential for domestication is suggested here for further study.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an uncommon cause of ST segment elevation in Intensive Care*
Authors: Bennett J. R. , McCarty D. , Wilson C. M. , O'Neill F. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryA 63‐year‐old female developed respiratory failure and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for non‐invasive ventilation, inotropic support and antibiotic therapy. The patient was initially stable but then suddenly deteriorated with acute pulmonary oedema requiring mechanical ventilation. An electrocardiogram showed an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction and the patient subsequently had an urgent coronary angiogram which revealed normal coronary arteries but apical ballooning characteristic of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. A short review is provided of this relatively newly described heart syndrome which has the potential to present in numbers of intensive care patients. This case emphasises the importance of being aware of uncommon causes of acute ECG changes in the critically ill.
Effect of light and predator abundance on the habitat choice of plant‐attached zooplankton
Authors: NURMINEN LEENA , HORPPILA JUKKA , PEKCAN‐HEKIM ZEYNEP 
Published: February 2007

Summary1. The diurnal variations in the habitat choice of the periodically plant‐attached cladoceran Sida crystallina together with light environment and predator abundance were studied.2. The density of S. crystallina attached to floating leaves of Nuphar lutea increased between 18:00 and 20:00 hours, when light intensity underneath the leaves was temporarily increased, and decreased again when light intensity declined. A proportion of S. crystallina remained in the swimming mode underneath the leaves even during daylight, indicating that the water column sheltered by the leaves is safer than the open water.3. In the water adjacent to the leaves, the density of S. crystallina increased steeply in the dark. The increase was not accompanied by a decrease in S. crystallina attached to plant leaves, indicating that the nocturnal increment in the open water density of S. crystallina was due to migration from daytime refuges other than floating leaves.4. Sida crystallina was most intensively consumed by perch (Perca fluviatilis). Predation threat by fish had weaker effects on the density of S. crystallina attached to plant leaves than on cladocerans in the adjacent water. Cladocerans underneath floating plant leaves, whether attached or not, are probably less vulnerable to fish predation than those outside the leaf cover.5. The results suggested that light intensity is the proximate factor regulating the attachment of zooplankton to the lower surfaces of floating macrophyte leaves. Light intensity has a positive effect on the density of S. crystallina attached to the floating leaves and a negative effect on density in the water. Predation threat by fish has a strong effect on the migration of zooplankters into the open water habitat.