bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitive determination of norepinephrine, synephrine, and isoproterenol by capillary electrophoresis with indirect electrochemiluminescence detection
Authors: Liu Yan‐Ming , Cao Jun‐Tao , Zheng Yan‐Li , Chen Yong‐Hong 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA new and sensitive method for the determination of norepinephrine (NE), synephrine, and isoproterenol was developed by CE separation and indirect electrochemiluminescence detection (ECL) based on their quenching effects on the tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐ruthenium(II)/tripropylamine (TPA) system. The conditions for CE separation and ECL detection were investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the three analytes were well separated within 9 min. The LODs (S/N = 3) in standard solution are 2.6×10–8 mol/L for NE, 6.6×10–9 mol/L for synephrine and 8.4×10–8 mol/L for isoproterenol, respectively. The precisions of intraday and interday are less than 4.4 and 6.1%, respectively. The LOQs (S/N = 10) in real human urine samples are 2.6×10–7 mol/L for NE, 8.8×10–8 mol/L for synephrine, and 8.8×10–7 mol/L for isoproterenol, respectively. The applicability of the proposed method was illustrated in the determination of 20 human urine samples from diabetic patients and healthy persons. The results obtained indicated that the level of NE in patients (mean value 0.41 μmol/L) was higher than that in healthy persons (mean value 0.24 μmol/L).
Use of 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium‐based ionic liquids as background electrolytes in capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of inorganic anions
Authors: Mo Hongbing , Zhu Linying , Xu Weijian 
Published: July 2008

AbstractSeparation of inorganic anions in CE is often a challenging task because the electrophoretic mobilities of inorganic anions are comparable to or even greater than the EOF mobility. In this study, we present the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as background electrolytes (BGEs) in CE of inorganic anions. The 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium‐based ILs as BGEs dynamically coated the capillary wall and induced a reversed EOF. This allowed the anions to comigrate with the EOF and yielded a rapid separation. Increasing the alkyl chain length of the ILs and BGE concentration can significantly improve the separation resolution. With 40 mM 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as BGE, good separations of five model anions (Br–, I–, NO2–, NO3–, and SCN–) were achieved in a range of buffer pH values. The separation efficiency was as high as 34 600–155 000, and the RSDs of the migration times were less than 0.8% (n = 5).
Syntheses of Special Monomers for π‐Conjugated Polymers
Authors: Výprachtický Drahomír , Cimrová Věra , Pavlačková Petra , Kmínek Ivan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractSummary: Tailored monomers based on the activated esters of 2,5‐dibromo‐benzoic and 2,5‐dibromobenzene‐1‐sulfonic acids or 3‐substituted 2,5‐dibromothiophene suitable for the Suzuki, Yamamoto or Grignard metathesis (GRIM) coupling reactions were synthesized and characterized by the melting point, elemental analysis, 1H NMR, FT IR, and TLC. The Horner‐Wadsworth‐Emmons reaction was utilized for the preparation of 3‐(arylvinyl)‐2,5‐dibromothiophenes and the 4‐nitrophenol or N‐hydroxysuccinimide for the preparation of activated esters. A monomer with β‐diketone active structure was prepared and characterized as well.
Less is more, or almost as much: A 15‐item quality‐of‐life instrument for myasthenia gravis
Authors: Burns Ted M. , Conaway Mark R. , Cutter Gary R. , Sanders Donald B. ,   The Muscle Study Group
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe describe the process whereby a recently developed myasthenia gravis (MG)‐specific quality‐of‐life (QOL) instrument was reduced from 60 items to 15 items while maintaining potential usefulness in the clinic and in prospective treatment trials. In data from a recently completed prospective trial of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in MG, the MG‐QOL15 correlated as highly as the 60‐item MG‐QOL for physical and social domains of the 36‐item health survey of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF‐36). Correlation coefficients for the MG‐QOL15 were similar to the 60‐item MG‐QOL for the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG), MG‐specific Manual Muscle Testing (MG‐MMT), and the MG‐specific Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) scores at week 0 and for change in scores from week 0 to week 12 in the MMF trial. Using the physician global impression at week 12 of the trial as the “gold standard,” the MG‐QOL15 demonstrated high sensitivity. Because the MG‐QOL15 instrument can be quickly and easily administered and interpreted, it is a potential QOL measure for treatment trials and the clinical evaluation of patients with MG. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Structure–activity relationships of αIIb 313–320 derived peptide inhibitors of human platelet aggregation
Authors: Stanica Ruxandra Maria , Benaki Dimitra , Rodis Foteini I. , Mikros Emmanuel , Tsoukatos Dimokritos , Tselepis Alexandros , Tsikaris Vasilios 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe αIIbβ3 receptor, which is the most abundant receptor on the surface of platelets, can interact with a variety of adhesive proteins including fibrinogen, fibronectin and the von Willebrand factor. Fibrinogen binding on αIIbβ3 is an event essential for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Mapping of the fibrinogen‐binding domains on αIIb subunit suggested the sequence 313–332 as a possible binding site. This region was restricted to sequence αIIb 313–320 (Y313MESRADR320) using synthetic octapeptides overlapping by six residues. The YMESRADR octapeptide inhibits ADP‐stimulated human platelets aggregation and binds to immobilized fibrinogen. In this study, we used the Ala scanning methodology within the sequence 313–320 aiming to evaluate the contribution of each amino acid in inhibiting platelet aggregation. It was found that the substitution of Y313, M314, E315 or S316 by A does not affect the activity of the parent octapeptide. The–RADR‐motif seems to be the most essential for the biological activity of the αIIb 313–320 site. The conformational analysis of the YAESRADR, YMESAADR and YMESRAAR analogs by using NMR spectroscopy and distance geometry calculations revealed significant differences in their conformational states in DMSO‐d6. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth mechanisms of silicon oxide nano‐layers grown onto polymeric substrates for flexible electronics applications
Authors: Georgiou D. , Laskarakis A. , Koidis C. , Goktsis N. , Logothetidis S. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractSilicon oxide (SiOx) thin films are used as protective layers on flexible electronic devices in order to protect them from permeation of atmospheric O2 and H2O that induce corrosion effects to the active layers of these devices. In this work in‐situ and real‐time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) was used to monitor the SiOx deposition onto the polymeric substrates. The analysis of the real‐time SE measurements revealed information about the growth mechanism and showed that SiOx follows an island type growth mechanism onto Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)‐PET substrate and a layer‐by‐layer mechanism onto Poly(Ethylene Naphthalate)‐PEN substrate. Also, SE provides information about the evolution of the optical response during the deposition of SiOx nano‐layers and of SiOx stoichiometry and how it is affected by substrate's surface. Furthermore the realization of sequential SE measurements onto different sites onto the sample surface led to the spatial distribution of the SiOx nano‐layers optical properties. Finally the investigation of SiOx bonding structure has been performed by Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (FTIRSE) and led to the determination of the different vibrational modes of SiOx nano‐layers and its relation to the SiOx growth mechanisms and the substrates (PET and PEN). (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Identifying hERG Potassium Channel Inhibitors by Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Wang Min , Yang Xue‐Gang , Xue Ying 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe human Ether‐a‐Go‐Go‐Related Gene (hERG) potassium ion channel plays a crucial role in cardiac repolarization. The inhibition of this channel by marketed drug may prolong the length of time between the start of Q wave and end of the T wave on an electrocardiogram (QT interval) and then possibly leads to fatal cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore, it is vital to predict the potential hERG inhibitors in early stages of drug discovery. This work explored the identifying of hERG inhibitors by different machine learning methods including C4.5 Decision Tree (C4.5 DT), multilayer perceptron, Radial Basis Function Network (RBFNetwork), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), a feature selection method, was used to select molecular descriptors appropriate for distinguishing hERG inhibitors and noninhibitors. For Data_91 classification system with 91 compounds, the prediction accuracies of those methods are 72.1–92.3% for hERG inhibitors and 81.7–98.1% for noninhibitors in a five‐fold crossvalidation calculation. For an independent validation set of 47 compounds of Data_91, these methods gave an overall accuracy of 72.3–80.9% using the selected descriptors. This suggests that the combination of the machine learning methods and the feature selection method can provide an effective way to filter the hERG inhibitors in the drug discovery process.
Vincent Alexander Bochdalek (1801–1883)
Authors: Loukas Marios , El‐Sedfy Abraham , Shane Tubbs R. , Gribben Walter B. , Shoja Mohammadali M. , Cermakova Andrea 
Published: July 2008

AbstractVincent Alexander Bochdalek, Czech anatomist and professor, was one of the pioneers in describing congenital diaphragmatic hernias in newborns. Interestingly, there is very little in the literature and almost nothing in the English literature regarding this important medical figure. A dedicated individual, Bochdalek had great perseverance, which allowed him to surpass obstacles in both his personal life and career. He is recognized for his accurate description of posterior diaphragmatic herniation, for which during his lifetime, there was no treatment. In addition, Bochdalek has multiple eponyms in his honor: ganglion Bochdalecki, Bochdalek’s basket, and the valves of Bochdalek. Always steadfast in his beliefs, Bochdalek fought for the creation of anatomy labs in Prague against society pressures. His devoted study of anatomy, especially of congenital diaphragmatic hernias, laid the foundation for the successful surgical correction of this once lethal anomaly.
A two-loop frequency-domain electromagnetic induction system for detection of anomalous objects
Authors: Chelovechkov A.I. , Chistoserdov B.M. , Baidikov S.V. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
We discuss a two-loop frequency-domain electromagnetic induction sounding system which allows vertical focussing of the primary magnetic field thus reducing the disturbance from shallow subsurface. The frequency dependence of apparent resistivity estimated from the real part of the measured magnetic field turns out to be more sensitive than that found from the absolute total field. The advantage of the suggested FD EMI system has been validated by experiments.
Construction and evaluation of a maize (Zea mays) chimaeric promoter with activity in kernel endosperm and embryo
Authors: Shepherd Colin T. , Scott M. Paul 
Published: July 2008

Chimaeric promoters contain DNA sequences from different promoters. Chimaeric promoters are developed to increase the level of recombinant protein expression, to precisely control transgene activity or to combat homology‐based gene silencing. Sets of chimaeric promoters, each containing different lengths of DNA from maize (Zea mays) 27zn (27 kDa γ‐zein) endosperm‐specific promoter and the Glb1 (Globulin‐1) embryo‐specific promoter were created and tested in a transient expression assay of GFP (green fluorescent protein). Promoter fragments with the highest activity were combined to create the chimaeric promoter A27znGlb1. In the context of the chimaeric promoter, the selected Glb1 promoter fragment was necessary and sufficient to activate expression in embryo tissue and was functionally equivalent to the native Glb1 promoter. Similarly, the selected 27zn promoter fragment in the chimaeric promoter was necessary and sufficient to activate expression in endosperm tissue and was functionally equivalent to the native 27zn promoter. Maize transgenic plants containing the A27znGlb1 chimaeric promoter fused to GFP were produced to characterize this promoter in vivo. Quantitative reverse‐transcriptase PCR was used to determine that the promoter was active in the embryo, endosperm, pericarp and immature leaf tissues. GFP activity in plants containing the chimaeric promoter was not significantly different in endosperm than the activity of GFP fused to the full‐length 27zn promoter, nor was it different in embryo from the activity of GFP fused to the full‐length Glb1 promoter. Transgene copy numbers were shown to be between 4 and 12 copies in different events.
The protein information and property explorer: an easy-to-use, rich-client web application for the management and functional analysis of proteomic data
Authors: Ramos H. , Shannon P. , Aebersold R. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Motivation: Mass spectrometry experiments in the field of proteomics produce lists containing tens to thousands of identified proteins. With the protein information and property explorer (PIPE), the biologist can acquire functional annotations for these proteins and explore the enrichment of the list, or fraction thereof, with respect to functional classes. These protein lists may be saved for access at a later time or different location. The PIPE is interoperable with the Firegoose and the Gaggle, permitting wide-ranging data exploration and analysis. The PIPE is a rich-client web application which uses AJAX capabilities provided by the Google Web Toolkit, and server-side data storage using Hibernate.
Availability: http://pipe.systemsbiology.net
Contact: pshannon@systemsbiology.org
Osmolality of elemental and semi‐elemental formulas supplemented with nonprotein energy supplements
Authors: Pereira‐da‐Silva L. , Pitta‐Grós Dias M. , Virella D. , Serelha M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackground  Elemental and semi‐elemental formulas are used to feed infants with short bowel syndrome, who may not be able to tolerate feeds of more than 310 mOsm kg−1. The present study aimed to measure the osmolality of elemental and semi‐elemental formulas at different concentrations, with and without the addition of nonprotein energy supplements.Methods  The osmolality of one elemental and three semi‐elemental formulas was measured by the freezing point depression method at concentrations of 10, 12, 14 and 16 g per 100 mL, with and without 10% or 20% of additional calories, in the form of glucose polymers and medium chain triglycerides. Inter‐analysis and intra‐analysis coefficients of variation of the measurements were less than 3.9%.Results  The mean osmolalities of formulas reconstituted up to 12 g per 100 mL did not exceed 305.3 mOsm kg−1, even with added energy supplements. The mean osmolalities of formulas at 14 and 16 g per 100 mL, with or without added energy supplements varied between 205.8 and 421.6 mOsm kg−1.Conclusions  A comprehensive list of elemental and semi‐elemental formulas at different concentrations, enriched or not with calories, is made available. This will enable professionals to customize feeds with the optimum composition, without exceeding the osmolality suggested for infants with short bowel syndrome.
Supply of nitrogen can reverse senescence processes and affect expression of genes coding for plastidic glutamine synthetase and lysine‐ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase
Authors: Schildhauer J. , Wiedemuth K. , Humbeck K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNitrogen availability has a strong influence on developmental processes in plants. We show that the time of nitrogen supply regulates the course of leaf senescence in flag leaves of Hordeum vulgare. The senescence‐specific decrease in chlorophyll content and photosystem II efficiency is clearly delayed when plants are fertilised with nitrate at the onset of leaf senescence. Concurrently, the additional supply of nitrate affects expression patterns of two marker genes of nitrogen metabolism. As shown by quantitative RT‐PCR analyses, senescence‐specific downregulation of plastidic glutamine synthetase (GS2) and senescence‐specific upregulation of lysine‐ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) are both clearly retarded. Depletion of nitrogen in experiments using hydroponic growth systems results in premature primary leaf senescence. The already started senescence processes can be even reversed by later nitrogen addition, as proved by a further increase in photosystem II efficiency and chlorophyll content, returning to the high values of controls which had not been deprived of nitrogen. Although both addition of nitrate or ammonium effectively reversed nitrogen depletion‐induced primary leaf senescence, addition of urea did not. Additionally, effects of nitrogen supply on the course of leaf senescence were analysed in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Leaves of A. thaliana show the same reversion of senescence processes after receiving additional nitrogen supply, indicating that the nitrogen response of leaf development is conserved in different plant species.
The control of chlorophyll catabolism and the status of yellowing as a biomarker of leaf senescence
Authors: Ougham H. , Hörtensteiner S. , Armstead I. , Donnison I. , King I. , Thomas H. , Mur L. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe pathway of chlorophyll catabolism during leaf senescence is known in a fair amount of biochemical and cell biological detail. In the last few years, genes encoding a number of the catabolic enzymes have been characterized, including the key ring‐opening activities, phaeophorbide a oxygenase (PaO) and red chlorophyll catabolite reductase (RCCR). Recently, a gene that modulates disassembly of chlorophyll–protein complexes and activation of pigment ring‐opening has been isolated by comparative mapping in monocot species, positional cloning exploiting rice genomics resources and functional testing in Arabidopsis. The corresponding gene in pea has been identified as Mendel’s I locus (green/yellow cotyledons). Mutations in this and other chlorophyll catabolic genes have significant consequences, both for the course of leaf senescence and senescence‐like stress responses, notably hypersensitivity to pathogen challenge. Loss of chlorophyll can occur via routes other than the PaO/RCCR pathway, resulting in changes that superficially resemble senescence. Such ‘pseudosenescence’ responses tend to be pathological rather than physiological and may differ from senescence in fundamental aspects of biochemistry and regulation.
Leaf senescence and nutrient remobilisation in barley and wheat
Authors: Gregersen P. L. , Holm P. B. , Krupinska K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractExtensive studies have been undertaken on senescence processes in barley and wheat and their importance for the nitrogen use efficiency of these crop plants. During the senescence processes, proteins are degraded and nutrients are re‐mobilised from senescing leaves to other organs, especially the developing grain. Most of the proteins degraded reside in the chloroplasts, with Rubisco constituting the most dominant protein fraction. Despite intensive studies, the proteases responsible for Rubisco degradation have not yet been identified. Evidence for degradation of stromal proteins outside of chloroplasts is summarised. Rubisco is thought to be released from chloroplasts into vesicles containing stroma material (RCB = Rubisco‐containing bodies). These vesicles may then take different routes for their degradation. Transcriptome analyses on barley and wheat senescence have identified genes involved in degradative, metabolic and regulatory processes that could be used in future strategies aimed at modifying the senescence process. The breeding of crops for characters related to senescence processes, e.g. higher yields and better nutrient use efficiency, is complex. Such breeding has to cope with the dilemma that delayed senescence, which could lead to higher yields, is correlated with a decrease in nutrient use efficiency. Pinpointing regulatory genes involved in senescence might lead to tools that could effectively overcome this dilemma.
Detection of quantitative trait loci affecting non‐return rate in French dairy cattle
Authors: Ben Jemaa S. , Fritz S. , Guillaume F. , Druet T. , Denis C. , Eggen A. , Gautier M. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing female fertility estimated by non‐return rate (NRR) in the French dairy cattle breeds Prim’Holstein, Normande and Montbeliarde. The first step was a QTL detection study on NRR at 281 days after artificial insemination on 78 half‐sib families including 4993 progeny tested bulls. In Prim’Holstein, three QTL were identified on Bos taurus chromosomes BTA01, BTA02 and BTA03 (p < 0.01), whereas one QTL was identified in Normande on BTA01 (p < 0.05). The second step aimed at confirming these three QTL and refining their location by selecting and genotyping additional microsatellite markers on a sub‐sample of 41 families from the three breeds using NRR within 56, 90 and 281 days after AI. Only the three QTL initially detected in Prim’Holstein were confirmed. Moreover, the analysis of NRR within 56, 90 and 281 days after AI allowed us to distinguish two FF QTL on BTA02 in Prim’Holstein, one for NRR56 and one for NRR90. Estimated QTL variance was 18%, 14%, 11.5% and 14% of the total genetic variance, respectively, for QTL mapping to BTA01, BTA02 (NRR90 and NRR56) and BTA03.
Autoimmune diabetes in adults: lessons from the UKPDS
Authors: Desai M. , Clark A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractLatent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is characterised by a relatively mild diabetes onset, autoantibody positivity and eventual requirement for insulin therapy. Twelve per cent of newly diagnosed, UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) patients were positive for autoantibodies to GAD65 (GADA) and/or insulinoma‐associated antigen‐2A (IA‐2A) and managed as if they had Type 2 diabetes according to the UKPDS protocol. Here, we compare data from UKPDS LADA patients with that from other cohorts. In common with other groups, UKPDS LADA patients required insulin therapy earlier post‐diagnosis than non‐LADA patients. Reduction of islet function was similar in UKPDS LADA groups randomised to oral glucose‐lowering agents or insulin replacement therapy, contesting the current hypothesis of reduced decline of insulin secretion in LADA by immediate insulin therapy. Disease progression was not predicted by post‐diagnosis GADA levels or epitope specificities as has been suggested. Slowly progressing insulitis and pancreatic β‐cell loss at post‐mortem are consistent with sustained retention of residual C‐peptide secretion in LADA. Genetic association patterns at the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and insulin gene (INS) regions are similar in UKPDS LADA patients and individuals with adult and childhood‐onset Type 1 diabetes. The combined evidence suggests that LADA is an adult‐onset form of Type 1 diabetes, rather than a separate condition or an intermediate state in a continuum of phenotype from Type 1 to Type 2 diabetes.