bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Field efficacy of azadirachtin‐A, tetrahydroazadirachtin‐A, NeemAzal® and endosulfan against key pests of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Authors: Dhingra Swaran , Walia Suresh , Kumar Jitendra , Singh Shivendra , Singh Gyanendra , Parmar Balraj S 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND Unlike synthetic pesticides, azadirachtin‐based neem pesticides are environmentally friendly and are well known for their diverse pest control properties. Their use is, however, limited by the instability of azadirachtin, necessitating application at short intervals. The efficacy of relatively stable tetrahydroazadirachtin‐A, therefore, needed to be established under field conditions.RESULTS: Azadirachtin‐A (Aza‐A), its stable derivative tetrahydroazadirachtin‐A (THA) and other neem pesticides have been evaluated for their field efficacy against major insect pests of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench., during summer (kharif) 2003 and 2004. The optimum doses of Aza‐A and THA against the fruit borer, Earias vittella F., were also established. Reductions in population of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), and leafhopper (jassid), Amrasca biguttulla biguttulla Ishida, after application of THA or endosulfan was evident up to 10 days after treatment (DAT), whereas with Aza‐A and NeemAzal® (NZ) the effect was observed up to 7 DAT only. Endosulfan and THA also caused higher reduction in the larvae of shoot and fruit borer E. vittella and E. insulana Boisd., and recorded the highest yields of 4600 and 4180 kg ha−1. The efficacy of THA (0.05 g L−1 emulsion) was comparable with that of 0.5 g L−1 endosulfan emulsion in reducing fruit borer infestation, the reduction over the control being 86.0 and 87.3%, 84.9 and 94.1% and 90.2 and 92.6% at first, second and third picking. THA 0.02 g L−1 and Aza–A 0.05 g L−1 were on a par. Laboratory‐made neem oil emulsifiable concentrate was the least effective, but was superior to untreated check.CONCLUSION: Three consecutive sprays of THA, a neem‐based biopesticide, and endosulfan have been found to be superior in controlling field pests of okra to Aza‐A and NZ, which were on a par. THA thus holds potential as a component of pest management strategies against okra pests. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Metabolite identification of a new antitumor agent icotinib in rats using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Guan Zhongmin , Chen Xiaoyan , Wang Yinxiang , Zhong Dafang 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIcotinib, 4‐[(3‐ethynylphenyl)amino]‐6,7‐benzo‐12‐crown‐4‐quinazoline, is a new antitumor agent. The metabolic pathway of icotinib in rats was studied using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MSn) analysis. Full scan and selected ion monitoring modes were used to profile the possible metabolites of icotinib in rat urine, feces and bile samples. Four phase I metabolites (M1–M4) and two phase II metabolites (M5, M6) were detected and characterized. Multiple‐stage mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry were employed to elucidate structures of metabolites. Icotinib was metabolized to open the crown ether ring to form the main phase I metabolites. During metabolism, a reactive metabolite was formed. Using semicarbazide as a trapping agent, an intermediate arising from opening of the crown ether ring was detected as an aldehyde product by LC/MS/MS. These data indicated that ring opening of the crown ether was triggered by hydroxylation at the 8″‐position of the ring to form a hemiacetal intermediate, which was further oxidized or reduced. Finally, the metabolic pathway of icotinib in rats was proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observation of vanadyl porphyrins and sulfur‐containing vanadyl porphyrins in a petroleum asphaltene by atmospheric pressure photonionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
Authors: Qian Kuangnan , Mennito Anthony S. , Edwards Kathleen E. , Ferrughelli Dave T. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractVanadyl (VO) porphyrins and sulfur‐containing vanadyl (VOS) porphyrins of a wide carbon number range (C26 to C52) and Z‐number range (−28 to −54) were detected and identified in a petroleum asphaltene by atmospheric pressure photonionization (APPI) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR‐MS). APPI provides soft ionization of asphaltene molecules (including VO and VOS porphyrins), generating primarily molecular ions (M+.). The ultra‐high mass resolving power (m/ΔmFWHM ∼500 K) of FTICR‐MS enabled resolution and positive identification of elemental formulae for the entire family of VO and VOS porphyrins in a complicated asphaltene matrix. Deocophylerythro‐etioporphyrin (DPEP) is found to be the most prevalent structure, followed by etioporphyrins (etio)‐ and rhodo (benzo)‐DPEP. The characteristic Z‐distribution of VO porphyrins suggests benzene and naphthene increment in the growth of porphyrin ring structures. Bimodal carbon number distributions of VO porphyrins suggest possible different origins of low and high molecular weight species. To our knowledge, the observation of VOS porphyrins in a petroleum product has not previously been reported. The work is also the first direct identification of the entire vanadyl porphyrin family by ultra‐high resolution mass spectrometry without chromatographic separation or demetallation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidation of Methyl Linoleate in Oil‐in‐Water Micro‐ and Nanoemulsion Systems
Authors: Imai Haruka , Maeda Tetsuzo , Shima Motohiro , Adachi Shuji 
Published: June 2008

AbstractOxidation of methyl linoleate in O/W emulsions having droplets of median diameters ranging from 17 nm to 8.0 μm was carried out at 40°C. The oxidation process was analyzed on the basis of a kinetic equation of the autocatalytic type. The induction period was found to be shorter and the oxidation rate constant lower for emulsions with smaller oil droplets. The stoichiometry between methyl linoleate and oxygen was observed to be independent of both the size of oil droplet and the type of the surfactant and was found to be unity during the early stage of the oxidation. However, more oxgen was consumed in the oxidation of the methyl linoleate in the later half of the oxidation process.
Calicium sequoiae, a new lichen species from north-western California, USA
Authors: WILLIAMS Cameron B. , TIBELL Leif 
Published: June 2008

Abstract:We describe Calicium sequoiae as a new species of lichenized Ascomycota from north-western California, USA. The species is distinguished morphologically from other known members of Calicium by its stalks that react I+ blue, mature ascospores that are ornamented with spiral ridges, and apothecia that produce prominent white pruina. It is also the only Calicium known to produce thamnolic acid as a major secondary substance. Sequences from the ITS-region showed C. sequoiae to be unique among calicioid Physciaceae, and phylogenetic analysis positioned it close to C. adspersum, C. chlorosporum, C. lenticulare, Cyphelium notarisii, and C. tigillare. Thus far, Calicium sequoiae has been collected only from old-growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests, where it occurred on thick, fibrous bark of large redwood trees. A key to the 12 species of Calicium known from the Pacific Northwest is provided.
Epiphytic lichen biomass in a boreal Norway spruce forest
Authors: GAUSLAA Yngvar , LIE Marit , OHLSON Mikael 
Published: June 2008

Abstract:Alectorioid and foliose lichens were weighed from full-size branches of Picea abies cut at two canopy heights in 100 trees in an old subalpine forested area in eastern Norway. The mean lichen biomass per branch decreased from 46 to 37 g moving upwards from 2–3 to 5–6 m canopy height. The lichen biomass correlated strongly with branch size variables, branch diameter alone explaining 48 of the variation in lichen biomass per branch (n=200). The alectorioid/foliose biomass ratio increased from 0·149 at 2–3 m to 0·316 at 5–6 m. Site factors reflecting openness of the canopy were computed for the branch at 2–3 m in all trees. The alectorioid/foliose biomass ratio increased significantly with the indirect site factors, suggesting that light, or factors associated with light, determine the balance between these two growth forms in tree canopies. Within the alectorioid biomass component, genera with usnic acid (Alectoria, Usnea) decreased with height, whereas the genus Bryoria with melanic pigments increased. According to the literature, dark melanic pigments have higher visible light screening efficiency than the yellowish usnic acid. Such patterns suggest a functional role for cortical pigments in the niche differentiation of alectorioid lichens.
Hyperbolic SOM-based clustering of DNA fragment features for taxonomic visualization and classification
Authors: Martin Christian , Diaz Naryttza N. , Ontrup Jörg , Nattkemper Tim W. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Motivation: Modern high-throughput sequencing technologies enable the simultaneous analysis of organisms in an environment. The analysis of species diversity and the binning of DNA fragments of non-sequenced species for assembly are two major challenges in sequence analysis. To achieve reasonable binnings and classifications, DNA fragment structure has to be represented appropriately, so it can be processed by machine learning algorithms.
Results: Hierarchically growing hyperbolic Self-Organizing maps (H 2SOMs) are trained to cluster small variable-length DNA fragments (0.2–50 kb) of 350 prokaryotic organisms at six taxonomic ranks Superkingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus and Species in the Tree of Life. DNA fragments are mapped to three different types of feature vectors based on the genomic signature: basic features, features considering the importance of oligonucleotide patterns as well as contrast enhanced features. The H 2SOM classifier achieves high classification rates while at the same time its visualization allows further insights into the projected data and has the potential to support binning of short sequence reads, because DNA fragments can be grouped into phylogenetic groups.
Availability: An implementation of the H 2HSOM classifier in Matlab is provided at www.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/ags/ani/projects/HHSOMSeqData
Contact: christian.martin@uni-bielefeld.de
Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Femoral nerve block using ropivacaine 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%: effects on the rehabilitation programme following total knee arthroplasty: a pilot study
Authors: Paauwe J. J. , Thomassen B. J. , Weterings J. , Van Rossum E. , Ausems M. E. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryFemoral nerve blockade is recommended for analgesia following total knee arthroplasty. Following implementation of this type of postoperative analgesia in our hospital we found that active mobilization the day after surgery, may be difficult due to insufficient quadriceps muscle strength. We therefore designed a pilot study comparing the effect of ropivacaine 0.1%, 0.05% or 0.025% on the patient’s postoperative rehabilitation and analgesia. Three groups of 12 patients received bolus doses of ropivacaine via their femoral nerve catheters for postoperative analgesia. The ability to actively mobilize, quadriceps muscle strength, pain VAS‐scores and patient’s satisfaction were measured during in the first three postoperative days. There were no significant differences in the patient’s ability to actively mobilize and the pain VAS‐scores. The overall satisfaction of the patients with the pain treatment was significantly better (p = 0.049) in the 0.1% compared with the 0.025% group. This pilot‐study demonstrated no advantage associated with the use of a ropivacaine concentration less than 0.1%.
Deep‐seated rectal/anal basaloid carcinoma: useful immunocytochemistry in rare squamous cell carcinoma variants
Authors: Ghigna M. R. , Drak Alsibai K. , Porras J. , Palazzo L. , Godchaux J. M. , Fabre M. 
Published: June 2008

Objectives:  To report the cytological aspects of ano‐rectal basaloid carcinoma (BC) variant in endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) conventional and liquid‐based cytology (LBC), in a series of 10 cases of deep‐seated squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and to discuss the diagnostic difficulties in interpreting the morphology and immunocytochemical findings.Methods:  Ten cases of EUS‐FNA smears and LBC specimens of deep‐seated pelvic masses were retrospectively collected from January 2001 to November 2006.Results:  Ten EUS‐FNA specimen cases were SCC, eight corresponding to usual SCC and two to BC‐variant. Of these two cases, only one was correctly diagnosed by EUS‐FNA specimen, whereas in the second case, the initial cytological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and the final diagnosis of basaloid carcinoma variant was established on surgical resection. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) using CK7, CK20 and CK34βe12 on FNA specimens confirmed the diagnosis retrospectively.Conclusion:  The diagnosis of basaloid variant of SCC in a rectal location can be very difficult, both on account of the uncommon location and because of the low specificity of morphological aspects on EUS‐FNA smears. The immunocytochemical technique, including a limited spectrum of keratins (CK7, CK20, CK34βe12, and p63) is necessary to avoid this diagnostic pitfall.
Patterns of liver infiltration in lymphoproliferative disease
Authors: Baumhoer D , Tzankov A , Dirnhofer S , Tornillo L , Terracciano L M 
Published: June 2008

Aims:  Liver involvement is a common finding in patients suffering from lymphoproliferative disease, and histopathological patterns of infiltration vary according to lymphoma subtype. Data correlating the form of liver involvement with distinct lymphoma subtypes is, however, scarce. The aim was to review 89 liver biopsies diagnosed with lymphoma infiltration and evaluate the infiltration patterns.Methods and results:  In equivocal cases, additional immunohistochemical and molecular pathology analyses were performed to differentiate between neoplastic and reactive cell infiltrates and to classify the lymphoma subtypes. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL) were the most prevalent subtypes in our series, which included 14 different lymphoma entities in total. Whereas DLBCL and BL predominantly demonstrated tumour nodules deranging the normal hepatic architecture, CLL and HL mostly showed infiltration of the portal fields. Interestingly, distinct lymphoma entities, particularly marginal zone B‐cell lymphomas (MZL) and HL, commonly revealed lympho‐epithelial lesions of bile ducts, which were observed in 10% of all investigated cases. Four cases, initially interpreted as T‐cell lymphomas, proved to be reactive T‐cell lesions.Conclusions:  Distinct lymphoma subtypes show characteristic patterns of liver infiltration. Additional molecular analyses can support diagnosis by verification of clonality or detection of characteristic genetic aberrations.
Massive interleukin‐12‐induced interferon‐γ production by interleukin‐15‐stimulated lamina propria lymphocytes followed by down‐regulation of the interleukin‐12 receptor
Authors: Ebert Ellen C. , Jabri Bana 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe intestinal mucosal immune response must differentiate between harmless foreign antigens and pathogens, a distinction that may depend upon changes in the cytokine milieu. A key cytokine in the adaptive immune response is interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), secreted by antigen‐presenting cells (APC) immediately after encounter with a pathogen. IL‐12 is important in the priming and polarization of naïve T cells. Here, we show that IL‐12 and IL‐15 direct human intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) in the absence of T‐cell receptor engagement to secrete extremely high amounts of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), greater than with any other stimulus. The functional synergy of IL‐12 with IL‐15 surprisingly operates independently of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), STAT3, STAT4, or STAT5 phosphorylation and occurs during transcription. Four‐colour immunofluorescence showed that IL‐12 receptor β1 is found on the CD4+ T cells expressing intracytoplasmic IFN‐γ. Importantly, IL‐12 receptors β1 and β2 are not up‐regulated by IL‐12, unlike findings using antigen‐specific T cells, and are lost over time. This study demonstrates the early and massive IFN‐γ response of LPL to IL‐12 and IL‐15, providing the tools to deal with a pathogen. The down‐regulation of IL‐12 receptors may curtail any excess damaging inflammation.
Gamma‐linolenic extraction from seed by SCF and several solvent systems
Authors: Guil‐Guerrero José Luis , López‐Martínez Juan Carlos , Campra‐Madrid Pablo 
Published: June 2008

SummarySeveral oil sources of gamma‐linolenic acid (GLA) were extracted from their corresponding seeds using several extracting systems: A, supercritical fluid extraction (CO2‐SFE); B, methanol/acetyl chloride/hexane (1:0.05:0.5, v/v/v); C, chloroform/methanol/water (1:2:0.8, v/v); D, hexane/diethyl ether (1:1.5, v/v); E, hexane/ethanol (96%) (1:0.9, v/v); F, hexane/ethanol (96%) (1:2.5, v/v); G, 1‐butanol; H, ethanol (96%); I, ethanol (96%)/water (1:1, v/v); J, potassium hydroxide/ethanol (96%) (0.0223:1, p/v). It is noticeable that the total fatty acids extracted by the solvent system I was significantly lower than the amounts obtained by the other extracting systems (P < 0.05), while the highest GLA purity for the majority of the seeds was obtained by using the system J.
Freezing‐thawing effects on the colour and texture of European catfish flesh
Authors: Hallier Arnaud , Chevallier Sylvie , Serot Thierry , Prost Carole 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe freezing‐thawing effect on the colour of raw fillets and on the texture of cooked fillets of European catfish (Silurus glanis) was studied. European catfish coming from two rearing conditions occurring in France were analysed by sensory and instrumental measurements. Fillets of European catfish became lighter, yellower and less bright after a freezing‐thawing cycle. An increase in hardness and a decrease in resilience, disintegration and shear resistance were also highlighted after a freezing‐thawing cycle. We could make the hypothesis that these variations of colour and texture were due either to mechanical damage or muscle protein denaturation. Fillets also became less juicy after a freezing‐thawing cycle because of a loss of water‐holding capacity.
Characterization of rat bone marrow dendritic cells initially primed by Trichinella spiralis antigens
Authors: ILIC N. , COLIC M. , GRUDEN‐MOVSESIJAN A. , MAJSTOROVIC I. , VASILEV S. , SOFRONIC‐MILOSAVLJEVIC LJ. 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARY Pathogen‐derived products have the capacity to induce maturation of bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) into populations of effectors cells that polarize Th cells toward Th1 or Th2 phenotype via different mechanisms. Since those mechanisms are not entirely clear for helminths, and almost completely unknown for Trichinella spiralis (TS), we started an investigation of the effects of TS antigens (four different antigens isolated from all three life‐cycle stages of parasite) on maturation of BMDCs and their potential to present TS antigens. The expression of MHC class II, costimulatory molecules CD86, CD54, IL‐10 and IL‐12p70 cytokine production were measured after 2 days of BMDCs cultivation with TS antigens. While parasitic antigens did not significantly alter the expression of MHC II, most of them, except crude muscle larvae antigens, up‐regulated the expression of costimulatory molecules. BMDCs, primed with all TS antigens, released increased amounts of IL‐10 and decreased amounts of IL‐12 p70. BMDCs, primed with TS antigens, induced significant proliferation of syngeneic TS sensitized lymph nodes cells and also stimulated the production of IL‐4 by T cells purified from of TS infected DA rats. The results indicate that TS stimulated BMDCs leads to the polarization of the immune response towards regulatory and Th2 type.
Genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese people
Authors: Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung , Tsang Steven Woon‐Choi , Hui Alex Yui , Chan Anthony Wing‐Hong , Choi Paul Cheung‐Lung , So Wing‐Yee , Tse Ada Mei‐Ling , Chan Francis Ka‐Leung , Sung Joseph Jao‐Yiu , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hypoadiponectinemia and high tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) levels are associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and TNF‐α in Chinese NAFLD patients and their association with disease severity.Methods:  Seventy‐nine patients with histology‐proven NAFLD (61 with simple steatosis and 18 with stage 2–4 fibrosis) and 40 controls were tested for the nucleotide polymorphisms at adiponectin −11 391, −11 377, +45, and +276 and TNF‐α promoters −863, −308, and −238.Results:  There was no significant deviation in the adiponectin and TNF‐α gene polymorphisms between NAFLD patients and controls, or between patients with simple steatosis and those with stage 2–4 fibrosis. NAFLD patients with −11377G and +45G at the adiponectin gene were more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia. On multivariate analysis, older age, higher body mass index, and higher fasting glucose were independent factors associated with stage 2–4 fibrosis in NAFLD patients.Conclusions:  Adiponectin and TNF‐α gene polymorphisms were not shown to be associated with NAFLD or significant fibrosis in Chinese people. The adiponectin −11377G and +45G alleles were associated with hypertriglyceridemia in NAFLD patients. Since the current study is not adequately powered to detect smaller differences in allele frequencies, larger‐sized studies in different ethnic groups are required.
Understanding the immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B virus: An Asian prospective
Authors: Tan Anthony Tanoto , Koh Sarene , Goh Vera , Bertoletti Antonio 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunity has been mainly focused on understanding the differences between subjects who are able to control HBV infection and patients with persistent infection. These studies have been instrumental in increasing our knowledge on the pathogenesis of the disease caused by HBV. However, it is possible that heterogeneity of host and virus factors which segregate in ethnically distinct HBV infected populations might modify important aspects of the immune response against HBV. In this review, we reexamine the kinetics and the pattern of HBV‐specific immunity associated with control or persistence of infection. We then discuss how the epidemiological, genetic and viral characteristics peculiar to Asian patients can impact the profile of HBV‐specific immunity.