bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liquid‐phase microextraction by solidification of floating organic microdrop and GC‐MS detection of trihalomethanes in drinking water
Authors: Farahani Hadi , Norouzi Parviz , Dinarvand Rassoul , Ganjali Mohammad Reza 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA simple and sensitive methodology based on liquid‐phase microextraction (LPME) followed by GC‐MS, was developed for the determination of trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water. A microdrop of organic solvent was floated on the surface of the aqueous sample and it was agitated for a desired time. Then, the sample vial was cooled by inserting it into an ice bath for 4 min. The solidified solvent was transferred into a suitable vial and immediately melted. The extract was directly injected into the GC. Microextraction efficiency factors were investigated and optimized: 7 μL 1‐undecanol microdrop exposed for 15 min floated on the surface of a 10.0 mL aqueous sample with the temperature of 60°C containing 3 M of NaCl and stirred at 750 rpm. Under the selected conditions, enrichment factors (EFs) up to 482‐fold, LOD of 0.03–0.08 μg/L (S/N = 3) and dynamic linear ranges of 0.10–100 μg/L were obtained. A reasonable repeatability (RSD < 8.6%, n = 8) with satisfactory linearity (r2 ⪈ 0.9947) of results illustrated a good performance of the present method. The protocol proved to be rapid, cost‐effective, and is a green procedure for the screening purposes.
Extraction of antioxidants from plants using ultrasonic methods and their antioxidant capacity
Authors: Adam Martin , Dobiáš Petr , Eisner Aleš , Ventura Karel 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe analytical method based on the HPLC coupled with UV detection (HPLC‐UV) for the determination of selected antioxidants (i.e. esculetin, scopoletin, 7‐hydroxycoumarine, rutin, xanthotoxin, 5‐methoxypsoralen and quercetin) in plant material was developed. Two ultrasonic extraction methods for the isolation of these compounds from the plants such as Mentha longifolia L., Mentha spicata L., Ruta graveolens L., Achyllea millefolium L., Plantago lanceolata L. and Coriandrum sativum L. were used. Both of these methods, i.e. ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic bath, were optimised and compared to each other. For the proposed HPLC‐UV method LOQ values in the range from 22.7 (xanthotoxin) up to 97.2 ng/mL (rutin) were obtained. For all extracts the antioxidant capacity based on the reduction of free 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical was also determined. Obtained results ranged from 10.11 up to 73.50% of DPPH radical inhibition.
Preparative isolation of pseudolaric acids A and B, and their glucosides from the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi using high‐speed counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Han Quan‐Bin , Wong Lina , Lai Fanny , Yang Nian‐Yun , Song Jing‐Zheng , Qiao Chun‐Feng , Xu Hong‐Xi 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn order to provide the chemical markers for the quality control of herbal medicines, four diterpenoids, pseudolaric acids A and B (PAA and PAB), and their glucosides were isolated from the methanol extract of the Chinese herb Pseudolarix kaempferi using high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC). The diphase solvent system was n‐hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H2O which was used at two ratios (5:5:5:5 and 1:9:4:6 by volume) in the separation of pseudolaric acids and their glycosides, respectively. As a result, PAA (14 mg), PAB (129 mg), PAA‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (8 mg, PAAG), and PAB‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (42 mg, PABG) were obtained from 0.5 g of the crude extract. Their purities were determined to be above 97% by HPLC analysis. Their chemical structures were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR analysis or HPLC comparison with the reference compounds.
Hilbert spaces expanded with a unitary operator
Authors: Argoty Camilo , Berenstein Alexander 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWe study Hilbert spaces expanded with a unitary operator with a countable spectrum. We show that the theory of such a structure is ω ‐stable and admits quantifier elimination. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On the category of hyper MV‐algebras
Authors: Ghorbani Shokoofeh , Eslami Esfandiar , Hasankhani Abbas 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn this paper we study the category of hyper MV‐algebras and we prove that it has a terminal object and a coequalizer. We show that Jia's construction can be modified to provide a free hyper MV‐algebra by a set. We use this to show that in the category of hyper MV‐algebras the monomorphisms are exactly the one‐to‐one homomorphisms. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Turning decision procedures into disprovers
Authors: Rognes André 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA class of many‐sorted polyadic set algebras is introduced. These generalise structure and model in a way that is relevant in regards to the Entscheidungsproblem and to automated reasoning.A downward Löwenheim‐Skolem property is shown in that each satisfiable finite conjunction of purely relational first‐order prenex sentences has a finite generalised model. This property does, together with a construction related to doubling the size of a finite structure, provide several strict generalisations of the strategy of finite model search for disproving. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dietary exposure to total and toxic arsenic in Belgium: Importance of arsenic speciation in North Sea fish
Authors: Baeyens Willy , Gao Yue , De Galan Sandra , Bilau Maaike , Van Larebeke Nicolas , Leermakers Martine 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTotal and toxic (sum of As(III), As(V), monomethylarsenic (MMA), and dimethylarsenic (DMA)) As concentrations were assessed in 19 respectively 4 different fish and shellfish species from the North Sea. Following results were obtained: (i) for fish an average total As concentration of 12.8 μg/g ww and a P90 value of 30.6 μg/g ww; (ii) for shellfish an average total As concentration of 21.6 μg/g ww and a P90 value of 40.0 μg/g ww; (iii) for fish an average toxic As concentration of 0.132 μg/g ww and a P90 value of 0.232 μg/g ww; (iv) for shellfish an average toxic As concentration of 0.198 μg/g ww and a P90 value of 0.263 μg/g ww. For the Belgian consumer the average daily intake of total arsenic from fish, shellfish, fruit, and soft drinks (the main food carriers of As in Belgium) amounts to 285 μg/day with more than 95% coming from fish and shellfish, while for a high level consumer it amounts to 649 μg/day, more than twice the average value. Using the same daily consumption pattern for the selected food products as for total As, we find that the average daily intake of toxic As amounts to 5.8 μg/day, with a 50% contribution of fish and shellfish and the high level intake to 9.5 μg/day. When considering the FOA/WHO Expert Committee's recommendation for inorganic As intake of 2 μg/kg bw/day or 140 μg/day for a 70 kg person, the toxic dose in Belgium is thus an order of magnitude lower.
Mycotoxins and the kidney: Modes of action for renal tumor formation by ochratoxin A in rodents
Authors: Mally Angela , Dekant Wolfgang 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent renal carcinogen in rodents. OTA is only slowly eliminated due to high affinity to plasma proteins and inefficient biotransformation. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to account for renal tumor formation. DNA adduct formation, mainly based on the32P‐postlabeling assay, was postulated as a mode of action (MoA). However, studies using radiolabeled OTA or MS failed to demonstrate formation of OTA‐derived DNA‐adducts. While some studies have demonstrated generation of oxidative stress by OTA, the oxidative stress response appears to be not very pronounced and therefore may not explain the high potency of OTA in rodents. A number of recent investigations support the hypothesis that OTA causes disruption of mitosis resulting in blocked or asymmetric cell division. This may present an increased risk of aneuploidy acquisition and may play a critical role in OTA‐induced tumor formation. The absence of DNA‐adducts derived from OTA supports a thresholded MoA, and a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 120 ng OTA/kg bw has been derived by the European Food Safety Authority. The estimated intake of OTA in Europe is below this TWI for most of the population.
Anthocyanins as lipoxygenase inhibitors
Authors: Knaup Bastian , Oehme Anett , Valotis Anagnostis , Schreier Peter 
Published: December 2008

AbstractHealth benefits associated with diets rich in anthocyanins are ascribed to multilevel biological activities including antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory effects. The present study addresses lipoxygenase inhibition as a mechanism by which anthocyanins may exert health promoting effects. The inhibitory potential of delphinidin (Dp), cyanidin (Cy), peonidin (Pn), and malvidin (Mv) glycosides, i.e., 3‐O‐glucosides, 3‐O‐galactosides, and 3‐O‐arabinosides as well as their aglycons was analyzed by using soybean lipoxygenase‐1 and human neutrophil granulocyte 5‐lipoxygenase. The determined IC50 values comprised a wide range, i.e., from the sub‐μM level until practically no effect of inhibition (Mv and its glycosides). With IC50 values of 0.43 and 0.49 μM Dp 3‐O‐glucoside (Dp3glc) and Dp 3‐O‐galactoside (Dp3gal) were found to be the most effective soybean lipoxygenase‐1 inhibitors; their strong inhibitory potential was also reflected by the IC50 values determined for these anthocyanins in the 5‐lipoxygenase inhibition exhibiting 2.15 and 6.9 μM, respectively. As to the mechanism of inhibition, experiments carried out with lipoxygenase‐1 revealed the uncompetitive type. Considering the powerful inhibitory properties of Dp glycosides in relation to their currently known availability in human metabolism, in vivo prevention of inflammatory diseases by these anthocyanins could be envisaged.
Effect of Ce4+ pretreatment on swelling properties of cellulosic superabsorbents
Authors: Kim Byoung‐Suhk , Mun Sung‐Phil 
Published: December 2008

AbstractCellulosic superabsorbents are prepared by pretreating the wood pulp (WP) with Ce4+ initiator, followed by the graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer onto Ce4+‐pretreated WP (Ce4+ · WP) in acidic medium and in the presence of N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAM) cross‐linker. The rate of AM copolymerization of Ce4+ · WP is significantly faster than that of the untreated WP. The obtained polyAM (PAM)‐grafted cellulosic copolymers (PAM‐g‐Ce4+ · WP copolymers) are alkaline‐hydrolyzed to produce the water‐absorbents. As PAM grafting yield increases, the absorbency increases rapidly and reaches the maximum value at a yield of 210–240%. The maximum water and saline absorbencies are around 2500 and 50 g g−1, respectively. The optimum feed concentration of Ce4+ pretreatment on the maximum water and saline absorbencies is 5.0 × 10−3 mol L−1. The water and saline absorbencies of the PAM‐g‐Ce4+ · WP water‐absorbents are remarkably higher in comparison with that of the untreated WP (with a similar grafting yield) due to uniform PAM‐grafting onto Ce4+ · WP specimen. In addition, as the amount of cross‐linker increases, the grafting yield is not changed whereas the water and saline absorbencies are remarkably decreased. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hierarchy of the non‐covalent interactions in the alanine‐based secondary structures. DFT study of the frequency shifts and electron‐density features
Authors: Vener M. V. , Egorova A. N. , Fomin D. P. , Tsirelson V. G. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe alanine (Ala)‐based cluster models of C5, C7, and C10 H‐bonds are studied at the DFT/B3LYP level. CPMD/BLYP simulations of the infinite polyalanineα‐helix (C13 H‐bond) and the two‐strandedβ‐sheets are performed. Combined use of frequency shifts and electron‐density features enable us to detect and describe quantitatively the non‐covalent interactions (H‐bonds) defining the intrinsic properties of Ala‐based secondary structures. The energies of the primary NH$\cdots $O H‐bonds are decreasing in the following way: C13 > C5 ≥ C7 > C10. The energies of the secondary NH$\cdots $O, N−H$\cdots $N, and H$\cdots $H interactions are comparable to those of the primary H‐bonds (∼4.5 kcal/mol). Side chain–backbone CH$\cdots $O interaction is found to be the weakest non‐covalent interaction in the considered species. Its energy is ∼0.5 kcal/mol in the infinite polyalanineα‐helix. Quantum‐topological electron‐density analysis is found to be a powerful tool for the detection of secondary non‐covalent interactions (CO$\cdots $HC and H$\cdots $H) and bifurcated H‐bonds, while the frequency shift study is useful for the identification and characterization of primary or secondary H‐bonds of the NH$\cdots $O type. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous characterization of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and N‐oxides in Gynura segetum by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry
Authors: Qi Xueyong , Wu Bin , Cheng Yiyu , Qu Haibin 
Published: December 2008

AbstractGynura segetum (Lour.) Merr. (Jusanqi) is a traditional herbal product used for hemostasis and detumescence in Chinese folk medicine. However, its hepatic toxicity should not be ignored. In this study, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and their corresponding N‐oxides (PANOs) were extracted from the whole plant of G. segetum and analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). Identification of eluted peaks as PANOs was indicated by virtue of their MS and MSn analysis, in addition to the [M+H]+ adduct ion, characteristically showed a significant (usually 100% abundance) dimer adduct [2M+H]+ that is not observed in the MS of the parent PAs. A total of 20 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized based on their mass spectra and possible biosynthetic pathways, of which three PAs and one PANO, namely seneciphylline, senecionine, seneciphylline and seneciphyllinine N‐oxide, were unequivocally characterized, while other PAs and PANOs were tentatively assigned. Sixteen constituents were reported for the first time from G. segetum and tetrahydrosenecionine has not been previously reported as a natural product. Our results are the first comprehensive analysis of PAs and PANOs in G. segetum constituents and will be helpful for the quality control of the herb of G. segetum and its related preparations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maple syrup urine disease due to a new large deletion at BCKDHA caused by non‐homologous recombination
Authors: Quental S. , Martins E. , Vilarinho L. , Amorim A. , João Prata M. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryMaple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare disorder of branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism caused by the defective function of branched‐chain α‐ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKD). Many MSUD‐causing mutations have already been described in genes that encode the complex (BCKDHA, BCKDHB and DBT), but up to now only four large deletions are known, all located in the DBT gene. In a previous study we identified a Portuguese MSUD patient with a homozygous deletion of exons 2, 3 and 4 at the BCKDHA gene; however, the corresponding breakpoints and, consequently, the exact deletion extension were not identified. Here, using long‐range PCR and sequencing methodologies we were able to refine the characterization of this gross rearrangement. A genomic DNA loss of about 13.8 kb was detected, starting at intron 1 and ending at intron 4, thus encompassing exons 2, 3 and 4. Molecular characterization showed that the deletion junction contained a short sequence whose motif was CGGG. Since this motif is present in introns 1 and 4 of normal genomic DNA, we have hypothesized that non‐homologous recombination was the mechanism underlying the identified large deletion, within which the CGGG could be derived either from intron 1 or from intron 4.
Synthesis of Porous NiO and ZnO Submicro- and Nanofibers from Electrospun Polymer Fiber Templates
Authors: Qiu Yejun , Yu Jie , Zhou Xiaosong , Tan Cuili , Yin Jing 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Porous nickel oxide (NiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) submicro- and nanofibers were synthesized by impregnating electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber templates with corresponding metal nitrate aqueous solutions and subsequent calcination. The diameter of the NiO and ZnO fibers was closely related to that of the template fibers and larger diameters were obtained when using the template fibers with larger diameter. SEM results showed that the NiO and ZnO fibers have a large amount of pores with diameters ranging from 5 nm to 20 nm and 50 nm to 100 nm, respectively. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns testified that the obtained materials were NiO and ZnO with high purity.
Synthesis and Characterization of Core-shell ZrO2/PAAEM/PS Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang J , Shi TJ , Jiang XC 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
This work demonstrates the synthesis of core-shell ZrO2/PAAEM/PS nanoparticles through a combination of sol–gel method and emulsifier-free emulsion polymerizaiton. By this method, the modified nanometer ZrO2cores were prepared by chemical modification at a molecular level of zirconium propoxide with monomer of acetoacetoxyethylmethacrylate (AAEM), and then copolymerized with vinyl monomer to form uniform-size hybrid nanoparticles with diameter of around 250 nm. The morphology, composition, and thermal stability of the core-shell particles were characterized by various techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal-gravimetry analyzer (TGA). The results indicate that the inorganic–organic nanocomposites exhibit good thermal stability with the maximum decomposition temperature of ~447 °C. This approach would be useful for the synthesis of other inorganic–organic nanocomposites with desired functionalities.
Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanorods and Nanodisks from Zinc Chloride Aqueous Solution
Authors: Long Tengfa , Yin Shu , Takabatake Kouta , Zhnag Peilin , Sato Tsugio 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
ZnO nanorods and nanodisks were synthesized by solution process using zinc chloride as starting material. The morphology of ZnO crystal changed greatly depending on the concentrations of Zn2+ion and ethylene glycohol (EG) additive in the solution. The effect of thermal treatment on the morphology was investigated. Photocatalytic activities of plate-like Zn5(OH)8Cl2 · H2O and rod-like ZnO were characterized. About 18% of 1 ppm NO could be continuously removed by ZnO particles under UV light irradiation.
The Heavens Inscribed: the instrumental poetry of the Virgin in early modern France
Authors: WINTROUB MICHAEL 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe expert in the early modern period was frequently looked upon with suspicion. Though expertise was associated with specialized knowledge and skill, it was also associated with cunning, deception and social climbing. Indeed, such knowledge threatened well-defined and time-honoured social and disciplinary boundaries. This was certainly the case with practical mathematics, which was considered by many to be an inferior grade of knowledge, especially when compared with natural philosophy and theology. This spawned numerous attempts to elevate the status of practical mathematics and to lend legitimacy to its practitioners. This article focuses on one such attempt, that of an early sixteenth-century French cosmographer–explorer–poet named Pierre Crignon. Crignon participated in voyages of exploration and was renowned as a cosmographer and navigator, but his contemporaries perhaps best knew him as a poet. The paper examines how Crignon attempted to bring together and legitimate the disparate forms of his expertise as a navigator, cosmographer, humanist poet and theologian through the multivalent medium of his poetry, and in particular through a poem comparing the Virgin Mary to the astrolabe.
Inflammatory markers in a randomised soya intervention among men
Authors: Maskarinec Gertraud , Oum Robert , Chaptman Ann K. , Ognjanovic Simona 
Published: December 2008

The present analysis investigated the effect of soya foods on serum levels of six inflammatory markers, leptin, adiponectin, monocyte attractant protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1b (MIP-1b), IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP), and their relationship with BMI and lifetime soya intake. We randomised twenty-four men to a high- (two daily servings with 30–35 mg isoflavones per serving) or a low-soya diet for 3 months. After a 1-month washout period, the men crossed over to the other treatment. We used a multiplex bead immunoassay to measure leptin, adiponectin, MCP-1 and MIP-1b and ELISA assays for IL-6 and CRP. The statistical analysis applied mixed models that incorporated the four repeated measurements. The men had a mean age of 58·7 (sd 7·2) years and a mean BMI of 28·4 (sd 4·9) kg/m2. We observed no significant intervention effect of the soya treatment on any of the six markers. After adjustment for age and ethnicity, highly significant associations of BMI and body weight with leptin and MCP-1 emerged. Men with high soya intake early in life also had higher levels of leptin and MCP-1, whereas no association was seen for soya intake during adulthood. MIP-1b, adiponectin, IL-6 and CRP were not related to BMI, body weight or soya intake at any time in life. No intervention effect of soya foods on markers of inflammation was observed in this small study, but adiposity and early-life soya intake were related to higher leptin and MCP-1 levels.
Parasitic helminths: a pharmacopeia of anti-inflammatory molecules
Authors: JOHNSTON M. J. G. , MacDONALD J. A. , McKAY D. M. 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYInfection with parasitic helminths takes a heavy toll on the health and well-being of humans and their domestic livestock, concomitantly resulting in major economic losses. Analyses have consistently revealed bioactive molecules in extracts of helminths or in their excretory/secretory products that modulate the immune response of the host. It is our view that parasitic helminths are an untapped source of immunomodulatory substances that, in pure form, could become new drugs (or models for drug design) to treat disease. Here, we illustrate the range of immunomodulatory molecules in selected parasitic trematodes, cestodes and nematodes, their impact on the immune cells in the host and how the host may recognize these molecules. There are many examples of the partial characterization of helminth-derived immunomodulatory molecules, but these have not yet translated into new drugs, reflecting the difficulty of isolating and fully characterizing proteins, glycoproteins and lipid-based molecules from small amounts of parasite material. However, this should not deter the investigator, since analytical techniques are now being used to accrue considerable structural information on parasite-derived molecules, even when only minute quantities of tissue are available. With the introduction of methodologies to purify and structurally-characterize molecules from small amounts of tissue and the application of high throughput immunological assays, one would predict that an assessment of parasitic helminths will yield a variety of novel drug candidates in the coming years.