bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Modulated Tyrosinase Enzyme‐Based Biosensor for Application to the Detection of Dichlorvos and Atrazine Pesticides
Authors: Vidal Juan C. , Bonel Laura , Castillo Juan R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA study was been made of tyrosinase amperometric biosensors for the determination of organophosphorus (dichlorvos) and triazine (atrazine) pesticides. The biosensors are based on the competitive inhibition of tyrosinase (Tyr) by the pesticides. Tyr becomes active when the reduced form of the charge‐transfer mediator (1,2‐naphthoquinone‐4‐sulfonic acid (NQS), 1,2‐naphthoquinone (NQ) and 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐benzoquinone (t‐BQ) were tested) are electrochemically generated onto the working electrode surface, which permits modulation of the enzymatic activity. The inhibition is reversible as there is a complete recovery of the current due to enzyme activity without the studied pesticides. The charge‐transfer mediators (the quinonic molecules) and the enzyme were co‐immobilized on the working electrode to obtain reagentless biosensors. Kinetic studies in solution were carried out to compare the efficiency of the measurement mechanism.
Separation and Detection of Narcotic Drugs on a Microchip Using Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography and Electrochemiluminescence
Authors: Du Yan , Wang Erkang 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA new approach for fast and sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of narcotic drugs on a microchip after separation by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) is presented, taking the cocaine and its hydrolysate ecgonine as the test analytes. The mixture of hydrophilic BMIMBF4 ionic liquid (IL) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used directly as the buffer of MEKC with less noisy baselines, lower electrophoretic current and satisfactory separation performance. This developed microchip MEKC–ECL system was successfully applied to the determination of two very similar narcotics, heroin and codeine, within 100s in urine sample and was demonstrated as a promising method in clinical and forensic analysis.
High‐resolution modeling of isotachophoresis and zone electrophoresis
Authors: Yu Jia‐Wei , Chou Yin , Yang Ruey‐Jen 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe space–time conservation element and solution element (CESE) method is applied to simulate the ITP and zone electrophoresis (ZE) separation phenomena. The CESE method expresses the governing equation in the integral form of the conservation law, and has a second‐order accuracy in both space and time. The current results show that the CESE solutions for the ITP and ZE phenomena are more accurate than those obtained using conventional numerical schemes, which are characterized by serious numerical diffusion and oscillation. Furthermore, the CESE method suppresses the numerical oscillations or peaks observed in the results obtained using traditional second‐order finite difference schemes. Finally, the results reveal that the CESE method accurately models the sharp boundaries between adjacent ITP samples under steady‐state conditions. Overall, the results presented in this study demonstrate the numerical accuracy of the CESE method and confirm its applicability to the modeling of a range of electrophoretic phenomena.
Effects of Stern layer conductance on electrokinetic energy conversion in nanofluidic channels
Authors: Davidson Christian , Xuan Xiangchun 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA thermo‐electro‐hydro‐dynamic model is developed to analytically account for the effects of Stern layer conductance on electrokinetic energy conversion in nanofluidic channels. The optimum electrokinetic devices performance is dependent on a figure of merit, in which the Stern layer conductance appears as a nondimensional Dukhin number. Such surface conductance is found to significantly reduce the figure of merit and thus the efficiency and power output. This finding may explain why the recently measured electrokinetic devices performances are far below the theoretical predictions where the effects of Stern layer conductance have been ignored.
Coping with health‐care costs: implications for the measurement of catastrophic expenditures and poverty
Authors: Flores Gabriela , Krishnakumar Jaya , O'Donnell Owen , van Doorslaer Eddy 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn the absence of formal health insurance, we argue that the strategies households adopt to finance health care have important implications for the measurement and interpretation of how health payments impact on consumption and poverty. Given data on source of finance, we propose to (a) approximate the relative impact of health payments on current consumption with a ‘coping’‐adjusted health expenditure ratio, (b) uncover poverty that is ‘hidden’ because total household expenditure is inflated by financial coping strategies and (c) identify poverty that is ‘transient’ because necessary consumption is temporarily sacrificed to pay for health care. Measures that ignore coping strategies not only overstate the risk to current consumption and exaggerate the scale of catastrophic payments but also overlook the long‐run burden of health payments. Nationally representative data from India reveal that coping strategies finance as much as three‐quarters of the cost of inpatient care. Payments for inpatient care exceed 10% of total household expenditure for around 30% of hospitalized households but less than 4% sacrifice more than 10% of current consumption to accommodate this spending.Ignoring health payments leads to underestimate poverty by 7–8% points among hospitalized households; 80% of this adjustment is hidden poverty due to coping. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Partially wrong? Partial equilibrium and the economic analysis of public health emergencies of international concern
Authors: Beutels P. , Edmunds W. J. , Smith R. D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe argue that traditional health economic analysis is ill‐equipped to estimate the cost effectiveness and cost benefit of interventions that aim at controlling and/or preventing public health emergencies of international concern (such as pandemic influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome). The implicit assumption of partial equilibrium within both the health sector itself and – if a wider perspective is adopted – the economy as a whole would be violated by such emergencies. We propose an alternative, with the specific aim of accounting for the behavioural changes and capacity problems that are expected to occur when such an outbreak strikes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein expression and amplification of AIB1 in human urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and overexpression of AIB1 is a new independent prognostic marker of patient survival
Authors: Luo Jun‐Hang , Xie Dan , Liu Meng‐Zhong , Chen Wei , Liu Yong‐Dong , Wu Guo‐Qing , Kung Hsiang‐Fu , Zeng Yi‐Xin , Guan Xin‐Yuan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAIB1, a candidate oncogene in human breast cancer, is frequently amplified and overexpressed in several types of human cancers, but the status of AIB1 amplification and expression in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC) and its clinical/prognostic significance is unclear. In our study, the methods of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization were utilized to examine protein expression and amplification of AIB1 in 163 primary UCs and in 30 samples of normal bladder mucosa. Overexpression of AIB1 and amplification of AIB1 was found in 32.5 and 7.0% of UCs, respectively. In univariate survival analysis of the UC cohorts, a highly significant association of overexpression of AIB1 with shortened patient survival (mean: 45.6 months vs. 59.0 months, p < 0.001, log rank test) was demonstrated. In different subsets of UC patients, overexpression of AIB1 was also a prognostic indicator in grade 1 (p = 0.007), grade 2 (p = 0.010) and grade 3 (p = 0.015) tumor patients, and in pTa (p = 0.025), pT2–4 (p = 0.004), pN0 (p < 0.001) and pT2–4/pN0 (p = 0.040) tumor patients. Importantly, AIB1 expression (p < 0.001) together with pT and pN status (p < 0.05) provided significant independent prognostic parameters in multivariate analysis. In addition, a significant correlation (p < 0.05) of overexpression of AIB1 with an increased UC labeling index of Ki‐67 (a cell proliferation marker) was observed in these UCs. Thus, these findings provide evidence that an overexpression of AIB1, as detected by immunohistochemistry, is an independent molecular marker for poor prognosis (shortened survival time) of patients with UC. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High expression of Ran GTPase is associated with local invasion and metastasis of human clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Abe Hideyuki , Kamai Takao , Shirataki Hiromichi , Oyama Tetsunari , Arai Kyoko , Yoshida Ken‐ichiro 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe Ran small GTPase (Ran) is involved in the regulation of nuclear transport, microtubule nucleation and dynamics, and spindle assembly. To address the question of whether Ran protein is associated with the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we compared by Western blotting the Ran protein levels in surgical RCC specimens from 180 consecutive Japanese patients with those in the corresponding nontumor tissue from the same patient. We also examined the Ran protein levels in tumors of different grades and stages. Ran proteins were more abundant in RCC tumor tissues than in nontumor tissues (p < 0.0001). High Ran expression was associated with higher grade, local invasion, and metastasis (p < 0.0001). Kaplan‐Meier plots linked high Ran protein expression to a shorter overall survival in all cases (p < 0.0001) and a shorter disease‐free survival in those without metastasis at radical or partial nephrectomy (M0; 131 cases, p < 0.0001). Ran protein expression was an independent factor influencing overall survival univariate analysis (p < 0.0001) and disease‐free survival by multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that Ran is associated with the progression of RCC. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Breast cancer‐associated mutations in metalloprotease disintegrin ADAM12 interfere with the intracellular trafficking and processing of the protein
Authors: Dyczynska Emilia , Syta Emilia , Sun Danqiong , Zolkiewska Anna 
Published: February 2008

AbstractADAM12 has recently emerged as a Candidate Cancer Gene in a comprehensive genetic analysis of human breast cancers. Three somatic mutations in ADAM12 were observed at significant frequencies in breast cancers: D301H, G479E and L792F. The first 2 of these mutations involve highly conserved residues in ADAM12, and our computational sequence analysis confirms that they may be cancer‐related. We show that the corresponding mutations in mouse ADAM12 inhibit the proteolytic processing and activation of ADAM12 in NIH3T3, COS‐7, CHO‐K1 cells and in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells. The D/H and G/E ADAM12 mutants exert a dominant‐negative effect on the processing of the wild‐type ADAM12. Immunofluorescence analysis and cell surface biotinylation experiments demonstrate that the D/H and G/E mutants are retained inside the cell and are not transported to the cell surface. Consequently, the D/H and G/E mutants, unlike the wild‐type ADAM12, are not capable of shedding Delta‐like l, a ligand for Notch receptor, at the cell surface, or of stimulating cell migration. Our results suggest that the breast cancer‐associated mutations interfere with the intracellular trafficking of ADAM12 and result in loss of the functional ADAM12 at the cell surface. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing the Ecological Integrity of a Major Transboundary Mediterranean River Based on Environmental Habitat Variables and Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Aoos‐Vjose River, Greece‐Albania)
Authors: Chatzinikolaou Yorgos , Dakos Vasilis , Lazaridou Maria 
Published: February 2008

AbstractEcological integrity has become a primary objective in monitoring programs of surface waters according to the European Water Framework Directive. For this reason we propose a scheme for assessing the ecological integrity of a major transboundary river, the Aoos‐Vjose (Greece‐Albania), by analysing the effects of physicochemical, hydromorphological and habitat structure variables on benthic macroinvertebrates. Benthos and water samples were obtained from 17 sites, during high and low flow season. Physical habitat structure was determined using the River Habitat Survey method. In all but one of the surveyed habitats no anthropogenic change was evident. Macrobenthos assemblages were mainly influenced by seasonality and river section, whereas the water quality index was negatively correlated to habitat modification. Consequently, a large part of the river is considered of high ecological integrity and as such it may be used as baseline information for the management of other major rivers in the eastern Mediterranean basin. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Seven Decades of Change in the Zooplankton (s.l.) of the Nile Delta Lakes (Egypt), with Particular Reference to Lake Borullus
Authors: Dumont Henri J. , El Shabrawy Gamal M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAround the 1930s, the zooplankton (and benthos) of the Nile delta lakes, and Lake Borullus in particular, had a mixed, eutrophic facies, with marine and mesohaline elements dominant for about eight months per year, and freshwater species taking over during the four months of the Nile flood. After the Aswan dam became operational, this regime changed: a steady supply of agricultural drainage water of Nilotic origin consistently freshened the delta. Thus, except in the immediate vicinity of their outlet to the sea, the lakes became almost fresh. Only during the rare and short‐lived (one‐three weeks) occasions when Aswan closes in winter, marine water is sucked in, and along with it, a saline fauna temporarily becomes re‐established in the east and centre of lake Borullus, and presumably of the other delta lakes as well. This marine fauna remained the same over 70+ years of observations. The freshwater component, in contrast, partly nilotic, partly mediterranean, changed deeply over time. First, the fraction of species from temporary waters disappeared, as well as (among copepods and cladocerans) all large‐bodied species. Several cladocerans and copepods with a euro‐mediterranean range appeared and diluted the pre‐existing Afrotropical fauna. The abundance of small cladocerans and, especially, rotifers increased by a factor ten or more. This latter change is believed to reflect two pressures. In a first phase, a re‐arrangement of the lake's fish fauna (a top down force) occurred. Freshwater fish replaced marine diadromic species, and their predation pressure on the zooplankton preferentially removed large‐bodied prey. In a second phase, increased agricultural drainage caused eutrophication (a bottom‐up force) and larger filtrators (cladocerans, some copepods) began to be replaced by small filtrators (rotifers). (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Relative Role of Interference Competition in Regulation of a Rotifer Community during Spring Development in a Eutrophic Reservoir
Authors: Devetter Miloslav , Seďa Jaromír 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe relative importance of interference and exploitative competition from Daphnia was tested in contrast to known role of Cyclops vicinus predation, influencing the rotifer community in Římov Reservoir during spring period. The abundances of five dominant rotifer species and their birth and death rates were analysed, together with changes in chl‐a concentration, HNF, bacteria biomass and the abundances of predator and competitor species, from high frequency sampling. Development of loricated species (Keratella cochlearis, K. quadrata and Kellicottia longispina) was driven predominantly by food availability. The dominant soft‐bodied species Polyarthra spp. and Synchaeta lakowitziana were affected predominantly through C. vicinus predation. The role of mechanical interference from D. galeata, although may be important in a limited periods was overclouded by predation and exploitative competition in general. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparison of Fish Assemblage Diversity in Natural and Artificial Rip‐Rap Habitats in the Littoral Zone of a Large River (River Danube, Hungary)
Authors: Erős Tibor , Tóth Balázs , Sevcsik András , Schmera Dénes 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe studied day‐night patterns in fish diversity in natural, gravel‐sand stretches and boulder covered rip‐rap habitats in the littoral zone of the River Danube. Sample‐based rarefaction indicated marked differences in species richness between day and night, and smaller differences between habitats for both day and night. Whereas, individual‐based rarefaction indicated no such substantial differences in species richness. However, distinct fish assemblages were found based on relative abundance data, and species of great conservation concern tended to link to natural habitats. The diversity of biological traits/attributes were generally higher in rip‐rap habitats. The differences in fish assemblage characteristics between habitats revealed the importance of gravel‐sand habitats in maintaining natural assemblages and that rip‐rap sections increase compositional beta diversity at the mesohabitat scale. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Significance and Interspecific Variability of Accumulated Trace Metal Concentrations in Antarctic Benthic Crustaceans
Authors: Keil Steffen , De Broyer Claude , Zauke Gerd‐Peter 
Published: February 2008

AbstractTrace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were analysed in crustaceans collected on Polarstern cruises ANT XVI/2 (1999) and ANT XXI/2 (2003/04, BENDEX) to the Weddell Sea. Our study provides further evidence for the frequently reported “Cd anomaly” in polar crustaceans, with data ranging from 1.2 (Ceratoserolis trilobitoides) to 6.2 mg Cd kg–1 DW (Notocrangon antarcticus) in 1999 and from 1.2 (Waldeckia obesa) to 20.3 mg Cd kg–1 (Tryphosella murrayi) in 2003. Pb concentrations well below 1 mg kg–1 in most of the samples analysed might serve as a regional or even global background value for comparison in biomonitoring studies. Increasing Cu concentrations from eggs of decapods (e.g., 5 vs. 51 mg kg–1 in N. antarcticus) or juveniles in the brood pouch of an amphipod species to adult females indicate that the enzymatic requirements and haemocyanin component demand for Cu in early life‐history stages is probably not met without a distinct bioaccumulation of this essential element after hatching. Most interestingly, Cd also increases (<0.1 vs. 6.2 mg kg–1 in N. antarcticus). This could be the consequence of efficient uptake mechanisms for Cu that cannot discriminate between this element and Cd. Cu and Zn concentrations in decapods of this study are largely within the range reported worldwide (40–90 mg Cu kg–1 and 40–80 mg Zn kg–1), indicating that these elements are regulated. The enormous heterogeneity of Cd and Zn in many amphipod species investigated (e.g., from 0.6 in Gnathiphimedia mandibularis to 34.4 mg Cd kg–1 in Orchomenopsis acanthura and from 41 in Eusirus antarcticus to 1244 mg Zn kg–1 in Iphimediella bransfieldi) supports the hypothesis of the “Cd anomaly” and suggests that there is probably no consistent metabolic demand for the essential element Zn in this taxonomic group. The heterogeneity of Cu in amphipods is less pronounced. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Blocking of intracellular ROS production by phytoglycoprotein (30 kDa) causes anti‐proliferation in bisphenol A‐stimulated Chang liver cells
Authors: Oh Phil‐Sun , Lim Kye‐Taek 
Published: February 2008

AbstractDioscorea batatas Decne (DBD) is traditionally used to heal inflammatory disease as a folk medicine. It was reported that a glycoprotein (DBD glycoprotein) with a molecular weight of 30 kDa was isolated from DBD and consists of carbohydrate (83.75%) and protein (16.25%) moieties. The previous results showed that it has a strong scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals without any pro‐oxidant activity in the cell‐free system. The purpose of the present study was to show whether or not the DBD glycoprotein inhibits cell proliferation‐related signal transduction stimulated by bisphenol A (BPA, an environmental hormone) in Chang liver cells. The results in this study indicated that DBD glycoprotein (200 µg ml−1) has suppressive effects on abnormal cell viability, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in BPA (50 µm)‐induced Chang liver cells by blocking the phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and activating protein‐1 (AP‐1) activity. In addition, DBD glycoprotein (200 µg ml−1) normalized the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Consequently, DBD glycoprotein inhibits the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, cell proliferation maker) stimulated by BPA. Therefore, it is speculated that DBD glycoprotein protects against carcinogenic events caused by BPA in Chang liver cells. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of a [18F]fluorobenzothiazole as potential amyloid imaging agent
Authors: Berndt Ursula , Stanetty Christian , Wanek Thomas , Kuntner Claudia , Stanek Johann , Berger Michael , Bauer Martin , Henriksen Gjermund , Wester Hans‐Jürgen , Kvaternik Herbert , Angelberger Peter , Noe Christian 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis study describes the synthesis of a fluoroethylated derivative of [N‐methyl‐11C]2‐(4′‐methylaminophenyl)‐6‐hydroxybenzothiazole ([11C]6‐OH‐BTA‐1; Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB)), an already established amyloid imaging agent. The [11C]methylamino group of [11C]6‐OH‐BTA‐1 was formally replaced by a fluoroethyl group in a cold synthesis via N‐alkylation of N‐Boc‐2‐(4′‐aminophenyl)‐6‐(methoxyethoxymethoxy)benzothiazole with fluoroethyl tosylate. Subsequent deprotection gave the target compound 2‐[4′‐(2‐fluoroethyl)aminophenyl]‐6‐hydroxybenzothiazole (FBTA). In a radioligand competition assay on aggregated synthetic amyloid fibrils using N‐[3H‐methyl]6‐OH‐BTA‐1, 100 nM FBTA inhibited binding with 93 ± 1 and 83 ± 1% efficiency for Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42, respectively. For the radiosynthesis a precursor carrying a tosylethyl moiety was prepared allowing the introduction of [18F]fluoride via nucleophilic substitution with [18F]tetra‐n‐butyl‐ammonium fluoride (TBAF). Subsequent removal of all protecting groups was performed in a one‐pot procedure followed by semi‐preparative HPLC, delivering the target compound [18F]FBTA in good radiochemical yield of 21% on average and radiochemical purity of ⩾98% at EOS. In vitro autoradiography on human postmortem AD brain tissue slices showed intense cortical binding of [18F]FBTA (1 nM), which was displaced in presence of 6‐OH‐BTA‐1 (1 µM). Brain up‐take was evaluated in wild‐type (wt) mice with microPET imaging. Based on these results, [18F]FBTA appears to be a suitable candidate tracer for amyloid imaging in humans. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.