bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A furanquinone from Paulownia tomentosa stem for a new cathepsin K inhibitor
Authors: Park Youmie , Kong Jae Yang , Cho Heeyeong 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn the search for novel inhibitors of cathepsin K, a new furanquinone compound, methyl 5‐hydroxy‐dinaphtho[1,2‐2′3′]furan‐7,12‐dione‐6‐carboxylate (1a), showed in vitro inhibitory activities for cathepsin K. Compound 1a was isolated originally from Paulownia tomentosa stem and its derivatives were synthesized. Furanquinone compounds (1a, 1b, 1c and 1d) were also found to be capable of inhibiting cathepsin L, which is closely related to cathepsin K. The inhibitory activity of the parent compound 1a (IC50 = 21 µm) for cathepsin K was slightly higher than those of the other three derivatives that have a methoxy (1b), propoxy (1c) or acetoxy (1d) group (IC50 = 33–66 µm) in the 5‐position of compound 1a. This implies that the 5‐hydroxyl functional group of 1a may have favorable effects on the reduction potential which are related to the cathepsin K inhibitory activities of furanquinone compounds. Therefore, the cathepsin K inhibitory activity of a new furanquinone compound is proposed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ocimum sanctum induces apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells and suppresses the in vivo growth of lewis lung carcinoma cells
Authors: Magesh Venkataraman , Lee Jang‐Choon , Ahn Kwang Seok , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Lee Hyo‐Jeong , Lee Eun‐Ok , Shim Bum Sang , Jung Hee Jae , Kim Jin Sung , Kim Dae Keun , Choi Seung‐Hoon , Ahn Kyoo‐Seok , Kim Sung‐Hoon 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAlthough Ocimum sanctum has been used extensively for its medicinal values in India and China, its antitumor activity against human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) A549 cells has not been investigated until now. Therefore, the antitumor mechanism of ethanol extracts of Ocimum sanctum (EEOS) was elucidated in A549 cells in vitro and the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) animal model. EEOS exerted cytotoxicity against A549 cells, increased the sub‐G1 population and exhibited apoptotic bodies in A549 cells. Furthermore, EEOS cleaved poly(ADP‐ribose)polymerase (PARP), released cytochrome C into cytosol and simultaneously activated caspase‐9 and ‐3 proteins. Also, EEOS increased the ratio of proapoptotic protein Bax/antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in A549 cancer cells. In addition, it was found that EEOS can suppress the growth of LLC inoculated onto C57BL/6 mice in a dose‐dependent manner. Overall, these results demonstrate that EEOS induces apoptosis in A549 cells via a mitochondria caspase dependent pathway and inhibits the in vivo growth of LLC, suggesting that EEOS can be applied to lung carcinoma as a chemopreventive candidate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aboriginal principles for sustainable development as told in traditional law stories
Authors: Sveiby Karl‐Erik 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSustainable development has become an arena where people bring already existing political and philosophical outlooks to a debate characterized by fundamental dichotomies. This paper presents an analysis of ten Australian Aboriginal law stories to derive a range of principles for how the Nhunggabarra people of Australia sustained their society against three such dichotomies: holism versus fragmentation, ‘strong’ versus ‘weak’ SD and growth versus no‐growth economy. The Aboriginal sustainability model is possibly the oldest we have some evidence of, with a successful track record of several tens of thousands of years. It is a surprisingly ‘realistic’ model: neither representative of strong SD, nor giving arguments to no‐growth proponents. The paper argues against a common perception that modern industrialized societies cannot learn from indigenous societies: it is a matter of perspective. Although many practices and solutions are not viable for our time, we can learn from the principles and the governance models as a whole. The Nhunggabarra society model provides a set of such principles, with a sustainability track record. Australia, therefore, has two models, the Aboriginal and the industrial, both implemented on a continent, which can be seen as a bellwether for the planet as a whole – a unique learning opportunity for the discourse on sustainable development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Reviewing the arguments for market based approaches to water distribution: a critical assessment for sustainable water management in Spain
Authors: Honey‐Rosés Jordi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractCountries in dry climates need to find more efficient water management practices to meet growing water demand. Traditional command‐and‐control water policies are associated with inefficiencies and have motivated the exploration of market based approaches, including water trading. Water trading has its intellectual origin with the theory of Pareto optimality and the Coase theorem, which asserts that resources will be allocated efficiently given well defined property rights and no transaction costs. This research reviews the case for water trading and finds that, in the Spanish context, institutional innovations and reforms are needed to address externalities in the water market and lower transaction costs before water trading can become viable. Policies based purely on market incentives are unlikely to produce desirable results. The challenge for Spanish policy‐makers will be to create the appropriate mix of market incentives and institutional conditions that will promote an efficient distribution of water resources. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: Design rules for complex goal‐orientated systems
Authors: Nechansky Helmut 
Published: March 2009

AbstractFeedback systems have often been considered as relevant for an understanding of the brain. But obviously most biological systems have a much more complicated structure. Surprisingly the functional and structural necessities determining the route from simple feedback systems to complex goal‐orientated systems like the brain have never been investigated. Therefore this paper studies systematically the possibilities for adding functional elements like sensors, memory, effectors etc. to a feedback system. Then it investigates which combinations of functional elements are necessary to get to working goal‐orientated systems. Based on that necessities and options of data organization and the resulting cognitive possibilities are analysed. This abstract analysis delivers design rules for complex—technical and biological—goal‐orientated systems and basic epistemological facts how additional functional elements can add to their cognitive abilities. Finally, a ‘design for a simple brain’ illustrates the application of these design rules. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lokale Lithiumfluktuationen mit niedriger Aktivierungsenergie in zwei Festkörperphasen des Lithiumsilylamids [(Me2SiNtBuLi)2O]2
Authors: Veith Michael , Zimmer Michael , Huch Volker 
Published: March 2009

AbstractLocal Lithium Fluctuations with low Activation Energies in two solid Phases of the Lithiumsilylamide [(Me2SiNtBuLi)2O]2The dilithium silylamide [(Me2SiNtBuLi)2O]2 shows in the temperature range between ambient temperature and 150 K three solid state phases with transition points at 253 K and 163 K which were characterised by means of X‐ray diffraction andsolid state NMR spectroscopy. In the high temperature phase the dimeric molecules of [(Me2SiNtBuLi)2O]2 crystallize in the tetragonal space group P42/nmc. It can be deducted from X‐ray diffraction studies that, at room temperature, the four lithium atoms in [(Me2SiNtBuLi)2O]2 are statistically distributed on two split positions at a distance of 0.89(1) Å. By cooling below 253 K the crystal transforms into an intermediate phase with space group P42/n. The symmetry of the molecule ist reduced from point symmetry 2m (D2d) to (S4). The split positions of the lithium atoms are found in different planes and their distance is slightly reduced from0.89 Å to 0.81 Å. Solid state NMR spectroscopic measurements and powder diffraction analysis reveal the existence of a monoclinic low temperature phase below 163 K. From 7Li MAS and 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopic measurements follows furthermore that the disorder of the lithium atoms in the two higher temperature phases (above 163 K) is due to a local dynamic exchange of the four lithium atoms over eight possible positions in the molecule. 7Li NMR measurements at variable MAS rates reveal a very small activation energy of 11 KJ/mol for the dynamic process with exchange rates of the lithium atoms in the order of 5 to 15 KHz. With respect to the lithium motions, the dynamics are intramolecular with an intermolecular coupling process due to van‐der‐Waals forces.
Habitat differences affect life history tactics of a pulsed resource consumer, the edible dormouse (Glis glis)
Authors: Bieber Claudia , Ruf Thomas 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe studied flexibility of life history tactics, in terms of habitat‐dependent survival and reproduction, in a pulsed resource consumer, the edible dormouse (Glis glis). We compared capture–mark–recapture data from three subpopulations of dormice: one in a homogeneous beech forest (Forest), and two in patches of woodland (Grove/Hedge), with more constant but less energy‐rich food availability (e.g., fleshy fruits), over a period of 5 years. The general seasonal pattern of hibernation and reproduction was similar in all three subpopulations. Juveniles were born in only 3 out of 5 years at all study sites, which was paralleled by the occurrence of strong seed production in beech. Reproductive output (number of juveniles/female) was lower at the two sites with low seed tree abundance (Grove: 1.3; Hedge: 2.0) than in the Forest (4.4). Yearly survival probability of adults was significantly lower in the Forest (0.57, CI = 0.42–0.70) than in the areas Grove and Hedge (0.83, CI = 0.70–0.91). Despite their shortened lifespan, estimated lifetime reproductive success of females in the Forest was higher (6.2 young) than in the areas Grove/Hedge (4.8 young). Together, these data indicate that, in more constant habitats (Grove/Hedge), lower reproductive investment was associated with increased longevity. However, dormice apparently maximise lifetime reproductive success by a ‘sit tight’ strategy that synchronises reproduction with energy rich seed pulses in deciduous forests.
Threshold facilitations of interacting species
Authors: Økland Bjørn , Skarpaas Olav , Kausrud Kyrre 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe dynamics of species interactions are of central importance for the understanding of ecological coexistence, community structure and the effects of biological invasions. Using bark beetles that colonize the same habitat as an example, we explore species interactions in a resource‐based model system with positive feedback between insect abundance and resource availability. The net interspecies interaction was found to be highly dynamic and may alternate in time between competition and mutualism. When both bark beetle species were able to kill trees (“aggressive”), our simulations showed strong facilitations between beetle species. This may lead to escape from control by competition, and increase the frequency of outbreaks of tree‐killing. The frequency of net positive interactions varied with interaction strengths and the relative aggressiveness of the species and was highest when both species were strongly aggressive; which predicts disastrous outbreaks if, e.g., the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus and the North American spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis should become interacting species due to introductions. In imbalanced pairs, the relatively less aggressive species was facilitated more often than the aggressive species. Net positive interactions did not occur for strongly inferior species, but their survival was an increasing function of interaction strength with aggressive species and availability of resources. The benefits for the inferior species in the model are consistent with the structure of one aggressive and several less aggressive or non‐aggressive species, which is common in bark beetle communities in many parts of the world.
Dynamic capabilities through continuous improvement infrastructure
Authors: Anand Gopesh , Ward Peter T. , Tatikonda Mohan V. , Schilling David A. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe examine the content of continuous improvement strategies and identify infrastructure decision areas that are important for continuous improvement initiatives. We present a framework of infrastructure based on the idea that continuous improvement can serve as a dynamic capability when it includes a comprehensive organizational context. Further, we study continuous improvement initiatives in five companies to investigate the practices used by them in each of the decision areas of our framework. This research adds to the conceptual understanding of continuous improvement and results in grounded propositions about critical areas of infrastructure for continuous improvement.
B‐RAF V600E mutational analysis of fine needle aspirates correlates with diagnosis of thyroid nodules
Authors: Bentz Brandon G. , Miller Brian T. , Holden Joseph A. , Rowe Leslie R. , Bentz Joel S. 
Published: March 2009

ObjectiveA mutation of B‐type RAF kinase (B‐RAF) represents the most common genetic alteration in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), possibly signifying a more aggressive biology. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) represents the most useful initial diagnostic tool of thyroid nodules. Molecular analysis of the mutation status of B‐RAF in thyroid nodule FNAs may provide guidance for treatment planning.Study DesignCross‐sectional study.Subjects and MethodsA retrospective chart review was undertaken for clinically relevant data of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), follicular variant of PTC (FV‐PTC), and nonmalignant goiters. After blinded pathologic review, histologic and cytologic samples were analyzed by LightCycler PCR (LCPCR) with allele‐specific fluorescent probe melting curve analysis (FMCA) for the V600E mutation of B‐RAF.ResultsOf the 45 patient samples analyzed, B‐RAF mutation was found to be significantly higher in papillary carcinomas when compared to follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas (55.6% vs 14.3%, P = 0.05). Pathologic B‐RAF mutational status significantly correlated with cytologic B‐RAF mutational status (P < 0.0001), cytologic interpretation (P = 0.012), and histologic diagnosis (P = 0.011).ConclusionsDetermination of B‐RAF V600E mutation of thyroid nodule FNAs by LCPCR may be a useful tool to guide treatment planning. These data support investigating the utility of this molecular marker in a prospective manner.
CONDITIONAL FEYNMAN INTEGRAL AND SCHRÖDINGER INTEGRAL EQUATION ON A FUNCTION SPACE
Authors: CHO DONG HYUN 
Published: March 2009

AbstractLet Cr[0,t] be the function space of the vector-valued continuous paths x:[0,t]→ℝr and define Xt:Cr[0,t]→ℝ(n+1)r by Xt(x)=(x(0),x(t1),…,x(tn)), where 0<t1<⋯<tn=t. In this paper, using a simple formula for the conditional expectations of the functions on Cr[0,t] given Xt, we evaluate the conditional analytic Feynman integral Eanfq[Ft∣Xt] of Ft given by where θ(s,⋅) are the Fourier–Stieltjes transforms of the complex Borel measures on ℝr, and provide an inversion formula for Eanfq[Ft∣Xt]. Then we present an existence theorem for the solution of an integral equation including the integral equation which is formally equivalent to the Schrödinger differential equation. We show that the solution can be expressed by Eanfq[Ft∣Xt] and a probability distribution on ℝr when Xt(x)=(x(0),x(t)).
STRICT INEQUALITIES FOR MINIMAL DEGREES OF DIRECT PRODUCTS
Authors: SAUNDERS NEIL 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe minimal faithful permutation degree μ(G) of a finite group G is the least non-negative integer n such that G embeds in the symmetric group Sym(n). Work of Johnson and Wright in the 1970s established conditions for when μ(H×K)=μ(H)+μ(K), for finite groups H and K. Wright asked whether this is true for all finite groups. A counter-example of degree 15 was provided by the referee and was added as an addendum in Wright’s paper. Here we provide two counter-examples; one of degree 12 and the other of degree 10.
Maternal low-protein diet programmes offspring growth in association with alterations in yolk leptin deposition and gene expression in yolk-sac membrane, hypothalamus and muscle of developing Langshan chicken embryos
Authors: Rao Kaiqing , Xie Jingjing , Yang Xiaojing , Chen Lei , Grossmann Roland , Zhao Ruqian 
Published: March 2009

The present study was aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the influence of maternal low-protein (LP) diet on offspring growth in the chicken. One hundred and twenty Chinese inbred Langshan breeder hens were allocated randomly into two groups fed diets containing low (10 %, LP) or normal (15 %) crude protein levels. Low dietary protein did not affect the body weight of hens, but significantly decreased the laying rate and egg weight. The yolk leptin content was significantly lower in eggs laid by LP hens, while no differences were detected for yolk contents of corticosterone, tri-iodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine. Despite significantly lower hatch weight, the LP offspring demonstrated obviously higher serum T3 concentration, which is in accordance with the faster post-hatch growth rate achieving significantly heavier body weight and pectoralis major muscle weight 4 weeks post-hatching. Expression of 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD) mRNA in the yolk-sac membrane was significantly down-regulated at embryonic day 14, whereas that of transthyretin and leptin receptor (LepR) was not altered. Moreover, hypothalamic expression of 20-HSD, glucocorticoid receptors, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and LepR mRNA was significantly up-regulated in the LP group compared with their control counterparts. In the pectoralis major muscle, significantly higher expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-I receptor mRNA was observed in LP embryos. The present study provides evidence that maternal LP diet programmes post-hatch growth of the offspring. The associated alterations in yolk leptin deposition as well as in yolk-sac membrane, fetal hypothalamus and muscle gene expression may be involved in mediating such programming effect in the chicken.
The Mediterranean diet protects against waist circumference enlargement in 12Ala carriers for the PPARγ gene: 2 years' follow-up of 774 subjects at high cardiovascular risk
Authors: Razquin Cristina , Alfredo Martinez J. , Martinez-Gonzalez Miguel A. , Corella Dolores , Santos José Manuel , Marti Amelia 
Published: March 2009

The PPARγ gene regulates insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis. The Pro12Ala polymorphism of this gene has been related to fat accumulation. Our aim was to analyse the effects of a 2-year nutritional intervention with Mediterranean-style diets on adiposity in high-cardiovascular risk patients depending on the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ gene. The population consisted of a substudy (774 high-risk subjects aged 55–80 years) of the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED) randomised trial aimed at assessing the effect of the Mediterranean diet for CVD prevention. There were three nutritional intervention groups: two of them of a Mediterranean-style diet and the third was a control group advised to follow a conventional low-fat diet. All the participants were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The results showed that carriers of the 12Ala allele allocated to the control group had a statistically significant higher change in waist circumference (adjusted difference coefficient = 2·37 cm; P = 0·014) compared with wild-type subjects after 2 years of nutritional intervention. This adverse effect was not observed among 12Ala carriers allocated to both Mediterranean diet groups. In diabetic patients a statistically significant interaction between Mediterranean diet and the 12Ala allele regarding waist circumference change was observed ( − 5·85 cm; P = 0·003). In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet seems to be able to reduce waist circumference in a high-cardiovascular risk population, reversing the negative effect that the 12Ala allele carriers of the PPARγ gene appeared to have. The beneficial effect of this dietary pattern seems to be higher among type 2 diabetic subjects.
Prediction of empty body weight and composition from live weight and other live animal measurements in lactating dairy cows
Authors: YAN T. , PATTERSON D. C. , MAYNE C. S. , AGNEW R. E. , PORTER M. G. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEmpty body (EB) composition data from 146 lactating Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were analysed, with cows selected from a large herd to represent a wide range of animal factors including parity, live weight (LW), body condition score (BCS), milk yield and stage of lactation. The objectives of the study were to examine possible relationships between EB composition and live animal characteristics and to develop prediction equations for EB weight (EBW) and EB composition. EBW was strongly related to LW with a R2 of 0·90, and addition of BCS and stage of lactation increased the R2 to 0·93 and reduced the s.e. value from 19·8 to 16·8. There was a strong relationship between LW and EB mass of crude protein (CP) or water (R2=0·89 or 0·85), and addition of BCS, milk yield and stage of lactation as supporting predictors gave little improvement in the relationship between LW and EB mass of CP or water. Similar results were also obtained for the prediction of EB ash mass, but the relationship between EB ash mass and LW or a combination of LW and parity was relatively poor (R2=0·59 or 0·63). However, including BCS and milk yield as supporting predictors in the linear relationship between LW and EB masses of lipid (0·51 v. 0·79) and dry matter (DM) (0·79 v. 0·91) and total gross energy (GE) content (0·66 v. 0·85) considerably increased the R2 values. Similar linear and multiple relationships were also developed to predict EB component proportions of lipid, CP, GE, DM and water, and the R2 values were much smaller than those for EB component masses. The equations for prediction of EB component masses were evaluated through internal validation, by developing a range of similar new equations from two-thirds of the present data and then validating these new equations with the remaining one-third of data. The validation indicated that addition of other live animal factors to support LW to predict EBW and EB masses of lipid, GE and DM considerably increased the prediction accuracy, but had little effect on the prediction accuracy for EB masses of CP, water and ash. It is concluded that in lactating dairy cows, LW is a very good predictor of EB masses of CP and water. Accurate prediction of EBW and EB masses of lipid, GE and DM can be obtained using LW together with BCS, milk yield and stage of lactation.
The social consequences of writing Louisiana French
Authors: Brown Becky 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTStudies on language shift often refer to the demise of the ousted variety by detailing various stages of language decay and extinction. Problematic for these accounts are well-documented cases of intervening social phenomena, such as language revival movements, which can alter in some way the stages of decline. French Louisiana's situation illustrates language shift interacting with a strong revival movement. In the wake of the revival and in spite of continued shift, another trend is apparent – the writing of Louisiana French. Whereas shift clearly represents a stage of language decline, the creation of a written code functions as a key ingredient for language maintenance. A sociolinguistic analysis of these forces reveals the complexity and the conflict involved in the choice of the written word. (Sociolinguistics, Louisiana French, Cajun, Louisiana French Creole, variation in writing, ethnography, literacy, language maintenance)