bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Separation of hexahistidine fusion proteins with immobilized metal ion affinity chromatographic (IMAC) sorbents derived from MN+‐tacn and its derivatives
Authors: Jiang Wei , Prescott Mark , Devenish Rodney J. , Spiccia Leone , Hearn Milton T.W. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe capabilities of a new class of immobilized (im) metal ion chelate complexes (IMCCs), derived from 1,4,7‐triazacyclononane (tacn), bis(1,4,7‐triazacyclononyl) ethane (dtne) and bis(1,4,7‐triazacyclononyl)propane (dtnp) complexed with the borderline metal ions Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Cr3+, for the purification of proteins have been investigated. In particular, the binding behavior of a model protein, the C‐terminal hexahistidine tagged recombinant fusion protein Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S‐transferase‐Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial ATP synthase δ‐subunit (GST‐δATPase‐His6), with these new immobilized metal ion affinity chromatographic (IMAC) sorbents was compared to the properties of a conventional sorbent, derived from immobilized Ni(II)‐nitrilotriacetic acid (im‐Ni2+‐NTA). Investigations using the recombinant GST‐δATPase‐His6 and recombinant S. japonicum glutathione S‐transferase (GST) lacking a hexahistidine tag have confirmed that the C‐terminal tag hexahistidine residues were required for the binding process to occur with these IMAC systems. The results also confirm that recombinant fusion proteins such as GST‐δATPase‐His6 can be isolated in high purity with these IMAC systems. Moreover, these new macrocyclic systems manifest different selectivity features as a function of pH or ionic strength when compared to the conventional, unconstrained iminodiacetic acid (IDA) or NTA chelating ligands, complexed with borderline metal ions such as Cu2+ or Ni2+, as IMAC systems. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 747–756. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cultivar Variations of Australian‐Grown Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza): Bioactive Markers and Root Yields
Authors: Li Chun Guang , Sheng Shu Jun , Pang Edwin C. K. , Marriott Philip , May Brian , Zhou Shufeng , Story David , Xue Charlie Chang Li 
Published: February 2009

AbstractDanshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Lamiaceae) is a commonly used and highly valued Chinese medicinal herb grown widely in China. In the present work, we studied cultivar variations of Australian‐grown Danshen in order to select optimal cultivars for local herbal production. Root yields of seven cultivars, V1–V7, were monitored in a one‐year field trial, and bioactive markers, including cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and salvianolic acid B, were quantitatively determined using a validated RP‐HPLC method. Significant variations were found in root yields, root production efficiencies, and contents of the bioactive marker compounds. Linear correlations were observed among the contents of three tanshinones but not among those of tanshinones and salvianolic acid B. Among the cultivars, V6 was the best cultivar for production of tanshinones, and V4 and V5 were best for production of salvianolic acid B. The findings indicate that it is possible to achieve optimal root yields, and high contents of tanshinones and salvianolic acid B by selecting specific Danshen cultivars.
Anti‐Androgen Effects of Extracts and Compounds fromGanoderma lucidum
Authors: Liu Jie , Tamura Sadaaki , Kurashiki Kenji , Shimizu Kuniyoshi , Noda Kiyoshi , Konishi Fumiko , Kumamoto Shoichiro , Kondo Ryuichiro 
Published: February 2009

Abstractmagnified imageThe 30% EtOH extracts ofGanoderma lucidumFr.Karst(Ganodermateceae) showed weak 5α‐reductase inhibitory activity and binding ability to androgen receptor. When LNCaP (lymph‐node carcinoma of the prostate) cells were treated with the EtOH extracts, cell proliferation was inhibited. Treatment with the extracts significantly inhibited the testosterone‐induced growth of the ventral prostate in castrated rats. These results showed thatG. lucidummight be a useful ingredient in the treatment of androgen‐induced diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. From the 30% EtOH extracts, we isolated ganoderiol F, which showed binding activity to androgen receptor and inhibited LNCaP cell proliferation, as one of the active compounds in the 30% EtOH extracts.
High‐Molar‐Mass Hyaluronan Behavior During Testing Its Radical Scavenging Capacity in Organic and Aqueous Media: Effects of the Presence of Manganese(II) Ions
Authors: Rapta Peter , Valachová Katarína , Gemeiner Peter , Šoltés Ladislav 
Published: February 2009

Abstractmagnified imageThis study compares the radical scavenging capacity of high‐molar‐mass hyaluronan (HA) using standardized methods applying 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2′‐azinobis[3‐ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate] (ABTS) radical cations as oxidants. Additionally, spin‐trapping technique combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was used to evaluate the ability of HA to scavenge reactive radicals. The thermal decomposition of K2S2O8 in pure H2O or in a H2O/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixture at 333 K was used as a source of reactive paramagnetic species. We found that HA does not exhibit radical‐scavenging activity when DPPH radicals or ABTS.+ radical cations are used as oxidant, but that HA is an effective radical scavenger at low concentrations, if the oxidation reactions are initiated by the decomposition of K2S2O8. At higher HA concentrations, a more complex behavior and prooxidant HA action was observed. The influence of MnII ions on the reaction mechanisms of radical generation and termination in the K2S2O8/H2O/DMSO system in the presence of HA was studied in detail.
Essential Oil Variability in Natural Populations of Picea omorika, a Rare European Conifer
Authors: Nikolić Biljana , Tešević Vele , Ðorđević Iris , Marin Petar D. , Bojović Srdjan 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis study is the first report on the composition and variability of essential oil in the relic, endemic, and vulnerable tree species Serbian spruce, Picea omorika, in its natural populations. In the needles of 108 trees of four natural populations, 49 components of essential oils were identified. The main compounds were bornyl acetate (29.2%), camphene (18.7%), and α‐pinene (12.9%). Fourteen additional components had the contents of up to 0.5%: α‐cadinol (6.1%), limonene (5.8%), santene (3.5%), (E)‐hex‐2‐enal (2.9%), T‐cadinol (2.9%), δ‐cadinene (2.3%), tricyclene (2.1%), myrcene (1.6%), β‐pinene (1.2%), borneol (0.9%), germacrene D (0.9%), α‐muurolene (0.6%), and two unidentified compounds. Population IV from Mileševka Canyon had a much higher content of bornyl acetate (42.9%). Populations I–III from Mt. Tara were more abundant in sesquiterpenes (up to 18.2%). The content of bornyl acetate, the multi‐variation analyses according to seven selected components, especially the cluster analysis and genetic analysis of α‐cadinol, which suggested the monogenic type of heredity, showed a clear differentiation of the two geographic areas, the similarity of populations I–III from the area of Mt. Tara, and the separation of the population IV from Mileševka Canyon.
Differences of platelet adhesion and thrombus activation on amorphous silicon carbide, magnesium alloy, stainless steel, and cobalt chromium stent surfaces
Authors: Hansi Christopher , Arab Amina , Rzany Alexander , Ahrens Ingo , Bode Christoph , Hehrlein Christoph 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground: Coronary stenting is considered to be the gold standard of percutaneous coronary interventions, because stents are able to reduce early and late elastic recoil (negative remodeling) and restenosis in comparison with balloon angioplasty alone. Objective: It is known that stent thrombogenicity and neointimal formation are determined by the surface characteristics of the stent platform, electrochemical features of the stent surface, and the degree of degradation after implantation. Metallic stents coated with amorphous silicon carbide and biodegradable stents made of magnesium alloy have been introduced clinically, but there are no data available comparing the biocompatibility of these novel stent materials with conventional stents. Methods: We demonstrate simple and reproducible in vitro methods assessing the rate of platelet adhesion and thrombus activation for biocompatibility tests of different stent surfaces. Results: We show that amorphous silicon carbide and magnesium alloy stent surfaces markedly lower the rate of platelet adhesion and platelet/fibrin activation when compared with uncoated stainless steel or cobalt chromium alloy surfaces. Semiconductor materials on the stent surface reduce platelet and fibrin activation by increasing the critical electron gap to greater than 0.9 eV resulting in a lower electron transfer out of the stent material. Conclusion: Passive stent coatings with specific semiconducting properties such as amorphous silicon carbide or magnesium alloy reduce thrombogenicity and may improve biocompatibility of a stent platform. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Simultaneous stent implantation to treat bifurcation stenoses in the pulmonary arteries: Initial results and long‐term follow up
Authors: Stapleton Gary E. , Hamzeh Rabih , Mullins Charles E. , Zellers Thomas M. , Justino Henri , Nugent Alan , Nihill Michael R. , Grifka Ronald G. , Ing Frank F. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground: Balloon angioplasty of bifurcating pulmonary artery (PA) stenoses is often inadequate, and stent treatment often requires simultaneous implantation of two stents. This study evaluates initial results and long‐term follow up of transcatheter stent placement in bifurcating PAs. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients (pts) who had bifurcating PA stents placed in main and lobar branches from 1993 to 2007. Results: Forty‐nine pts had bifurcating PA stents placed at a median age of 10.9 years (range 1–43 years). The mean minimum vessel diameter increased from 5.7 ± 2.5 mm to 11.0 ± 3.6 mm (P < 0.001), the mean gradient across the stenoses decreased from 37.0 ± 26.9 to 9.2 ± 13 mm Hg (P < 0.001), whereas the mean RV:FA ratio decreased from 0.76 ± 0.29 to 0.53 ± 0.24 (P < 0.001). There was one death due to severe pulmonary hemorrhage. F/U data were available in 38 pts (mean duration 6.3 ± 4.1 years, range 1.2–13.1 years). Thirty pts underwent repeat catheterizations (mean 2.3 ± 2.2 years poststent), with 26 requiring further interventions: Fifteen had balloon angioplasty alone and 11 had additional stents placed. There were no complications at f/u catheterization. Six pts underwent further palliative surgeries, although none for repair of branch PA stenoses. Conclusions: Simultaneous transcatheter placement of bifurcating PA stents provides immediate gradient relief of bifurcating stenoses in the proximal or lobar branch PAs and reduces RV systolic pressure. Further interventions can be safely performed in future procedures, and the presence of stents does not complicate future surgeries. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An update on pain physiology: the relevance of Craig's and Jänig's hypotheses for hypnotic analgesia
Authors: Carli Giancarlo 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe aim of the present review is to discuss two interesting hypotheses that explain the pathophysiology of pain: (1) Arthur Craig's hypothesis that the experience of pain, elicited by specific sensors projecting into the central nervous system through afferent pathways, is relevant for homeostasis and represents a specific emotion related to a homeostatic behavioural drive; and (2) Wilfrid Jänig's hypothesis that, in functional chronic pain syndromes, specific changes occur in autonomic, endocrine and somatic motor systems interactions which, then, result in dysregulation involving peripheral, spinal and brain mechanisms. Theoretically, on the basis of these two hypotheses, hypnotic suggestions for analgesia can affect pain at multiple levels, including its generation at the periphery, secondary sensory neurons sensitization, and modulation of endocrine/immune responses through the modulation of autonomic activity. Copyright © 2009 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gemcitabine‐based doublets versus single‐agent therapy for elderly patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Russo Antonio , Rizzo Sergio , Fulfaro Fabio , Adamo Vincenzo , Santini Daniele , Vincenzi Bruno , Gebbia Nicola , Carreca Ignazio 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Although platinum‐based combinations are considered the best option of care for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), single‐agent therapy is the preferred treatment for older patients. Since the late 1990s, various combinations of third‐generation agents (gemcitabine [G], vinorelbine, docetaxel, and paclitaxel) have been tested, yielding contradictory results. The authors of this report performed a literature‐based meta‐analysis to assess the efficacy and tolerability of G‐based doublets compared with single‐agent chemotherapy for elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS:Data from all published, randomized, phase 3 trials that compared a G‐based doublet with a third‐generation single agent in elderly patients were collected from electronic databases (Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), relevant reference lists, and abstract books. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the 1‐year survival rate, the overall response rate (ORR), and grade 3 and 4 toxicities.RESULTS:Four eligible trials (1436 patients) were selected from 442 studies that initially were identified. A significant difference in ORR favoring G‐based doublets over single agents was observed (OR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.51‐0.82 [P < .001]), whereas the trend toward an improved 1‐year survival rate was not significant (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57‐1.06 [P = .169]). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities did not differ significantly except for thrombocytopenia (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.12‐2.76 [P = .014]).CONCLUSIONS:G‐based doublets appeared to be effective and feasible compared with single agents in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC who were not suitable for full‐dose, platinum‐based chemotherapy. Further prospective, elderly specific, phase 3 trials will be necessary. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Afferents to the GABAergic tail of the ventral tegmental area in the rat
Authors: Kaufling Jennifer , Veinante Pierre , Pawlowski Sophie A. , Freund‐Mercier Marie‐Jose , Barrot Michel 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe previously showed that chronic psychostimulant exposure induces the transcription factor DeltaFosB in γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons of the caudal tier of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This subregion was defined as thetail of the VTA(tVTA). In the present study, we showed that tVTA can also be visualized by analyzing FosB/DeltaFosB response following acute cocaine injection. This induction occurs in GABAergic neurons, as identified by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) expression. To characterize tVTA further, we mapped its inputs by using the retrograde tracers Fluoro‐Gold or cholera toxin B subunit. Retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral septum, the ventral pallidum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the substantia innominata, the medial and lateral preoptic areas, the lateral and dorsal hypothalamic areas, the lateral habenula, the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus, the dorsal raphe, the periaqueductal gray, and the mesencephalic and pontine reticular formation. Projections from the prefrontal cortex, the hypothalamus, and the lateral habenula to the tVTA were also shown by using the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA). We showed that the central nucleus of the amygdala innervates the anterior extent of the VTA but not the tVTA. Moreover, the tVTA mainly receives non‐aminergic inputs from the dorsal raphe and the locus coeruleus. Although the tVTA has a low density of dopaminergic neurons, its afferents are mostly similar to those targeting the rest of the VTA. This suggests that the tVTA can be considered as a VTA subregion despite its caudal location. J. Comp. Neurol. 513:597–621, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The flow‐field downstream of a collapsible tube during oscillation onset
Authors: Truong N. K. , Bertram C. D. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe flow‐field immediately downstream of a collapsible tube during oscillation onset starting from the collapsed state was measured using two‐dimensional high‐speed particle image velocimetry. Both tube and fluid were chosen to produce oscillation at the lowest possible Reynolds number, of just over 300. The flow was examined in the plane formed by the tube axis extended into the downstream pipe and the major axis of the tube collapse cross‐section. The resulting time‐series of spatial fields of 2D velocity vectors was analysed by frequency content and by proper orthogonal decomposition. Areas of the flow where oscillation initially occurs were identified. Flow disturbances centred at various frequencies were identified, some associated with the growing oscillation arising from the instability of the fluid–structure interaction between the main flow and the tube and others associated with the instability of the confined twin jets emanating from the collapsed‐tube throat. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparative study of Java and C performance in two large‐scale parallel applications
Authors: Shafi Aamir , Carpenter Bryan , Baker Mark , Hussain Aftab 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn the 1990s the Message Passing Interface Forum defined MPI bindings for Fortran, C, and C++. With the success of MPI these relatively conservative languages have continued to dominate in the parallel computing community. There are compelling arguments in favour of more modern languages like Java. These include portability, better runtime error checking, modularity, and multi‐threading. But these arguments have not converted many HPC programmers, perhaps due to the scarcity of full‐scale scientific Java codes, and the lack of evidence for performance competitive with C or Fortran. This paper tries to redress this situation by porting two scientific applications to Java. Both of these applications are parallelized using our thread‐safe Java messaging system—MPJ Express. The first application is the Gadget‐2 code, which is a massively parallel structure formation code for cosmological simulations. The second application uses the finite‐domain time‐difference method for simulations in the area of computational electromagnetics. We evaluate and compare the performance of the Java and C versions of these two scientific applications, and demonstrate that the Java codes can achieve performance comparable with legacy applications written in conventional HPC languages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermoelectric properties of RE2−xMxCuO4 oxide sintering bulks
Authors: Ichino Yusuke , Nonoyama Tomoaki , Kaikawa Mayuho , Takagi Atsushi , Yoshida Yutaka , Takai Yoshiaki 
Published: February 2009

AbstractLa2−xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) and Sm2−xCexCuO4 (SCCO) polycrystal bulks with x=0 to 0.10 were made by solid‐phase reaction method. From the X‐ray diffraction patterns, LSCO and SCCO were confirmed single phase. Seebeck coefficient, resistivity, and heat conductivity decreased with increasing amount of Sr2+ and Ce2+ substitution. We estimated ZT from these values and found that the highest value of ZT=0.034 at 323 K was achieved in the LSCO with x=0.02. As a result, we conclude that LSCO and SCCO showed high thermoelectric properties around room temperature. We can expect RE2−xMxCuO4 will be a very useful material for thermoelectric module operating at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(12): 24–28, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10003
Controller design for human‐assist robots with force filtering process
Authors: Tsuji Toshiaki , Ohnishi Kouhei 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis paper describes a controller design method for robots supporting humans in real environments. Such robots must deal with various interactions between robots and the human environment. Furthermore, they also must autonomously classify the interactions from sensor information and select their actions according to the tasks and situations. This study introduces the idea of a spatial filter, a filter in the spatial domain, to construct such a control system. The method decomposes sensor information into function modes, spatial information essential for control. The force filtering process based on function modes makes the controller design simple and explicit. Some experimental results are presented in order to verify the validity of the proposed method. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(12): 46–55, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10186
Right‐wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation and prejudice against threatening and competitive ethnic groups
Authors: Cohrs J. Christopher , Asbrock Frank 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis research rests on the assumption that individual differences approaches to prejudice benefit from an integration of intergroup factors. Following Duckitt (2001), we assumed that two prominent individual differences variables, right‐wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO), would differentially predict majority members' levels of ethnic prejudice depending on specific factors of the intergroup context: RWA as an index of motivational concerns about social cohesion, stability and security should drive prejudice against outgroups perceived as socially threatening, and SDO as an index of concerns about ingroup superiority and dominance should predict prejudice against outgroups perceived as potential competitors for power‐status. Across two studies (Ns = 82, 176), using between‐participants and within‐participants experimental designs, the effects of RWA on prejudice were particularly powerful when the outgroup was manipulated to be socially threatening, but the effects of SDO on prejudice appeared not to increase when the outgroup was manipulated to be competitive. In Study 2, presenting the outgroup as having low status also increased the effect of RWA, but not the effect of SDO. These results support the differential prediction assumption for RWA, but not for SDO. Implications for the conceptualisation of RWA and SDO are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Production of paramylon, a β‐1,3‐glucan, by heterotrophic cultivation of Euglena gracilis on a synthetic medium
Authors: Šantek Boz̆idar , Felski Michael , Friehs Karl , Lotz Martin , Flaschel Erwin 
Published: February 2009

AbstractEuglena gracilis was cultivated on a synthetic medium of well‐defined components. Biomass and paramylon (β‐1,3‐glucan) concentrations were the most important variables monitored. Mass production in the bioreactor was carried out following studies of operating conditions in shaken flasks. E. gracilis grew best at about 30°C and at a low pH of 3. A pH control was not necessary, although the pH increased considerably at the end of the cultivation processes. Aeration could be performed at low stirrer frequency. Biomass concentrations of about 13–14 g/L were obtained with paramylon mass fractions of 50–60%, by starting with a synthetic medium containing 15 g/L of glucose as the main carbon source.