bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of bacterial protease activity
Authors: Władyka Benedykt , Pustelny Katarzyna 
Published: November 2007

AbstractProteases, also referred to as peptidases, are the enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in polipeptides. A variety of biological functions and processes depend on their activity. Regardless of the organism’s complexity, peptidases are essential at every stage of life of every individual cell, since all protein molecules produced must be proteolytically processed and eventually recycled. Protease inhibitors play a crucial role in the required strict and multilevel control of the activity of proteases involved in processes conditioning both the physiological and pathophysiological functioning of an organism, as well as in host-pathogen interactions. This review describes the regulation of activity of bacterial proteases produced by dangerous human pathogens, focusing on the Staphylococcus genus.
Carvedilol modifies antioxidant status of patients with stable angina
Authors: Kowalski Jan , Banach Maciej , Barylski Marcin , Irzmanski Robert , Pawlicki Lucjan 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carvedilol on the enzymatic antioxidative defence and plasma antioxidative activity in patients with stable angina. The study comprised 30 patients, aged 37–49 years with stable angina. Patients received carvedilol in escalating doses of 12.5 mg/24 h, 25 mg/24 h, and 50 mg/24 h for 4 weeks each. The control group was matched for age and gender, and consisted of 12 healthy volunteers, aged 39-49 years. Blood samples were collected from the cubital vein before and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the therapy from the patients and once from the control group. For all the subjects, the superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities in the erythrocytes and the antioxidant activity of the blood plasma were determined. The enzymatic antioxidative defence was significantly decreased in patients with stable angina in comparison to the healthy subjects. During the carvedilol therapy, an increase in the SOD-1, GSH-Px and CAT activities was observed. Moreover, 8 and 12 weeks after carvedilol therapy, the GSH-Px activity did not differ significantly from that observed in the group of healthy subjects. Carvedilol also increased the plasma antioxidative activity in patients with stable angina, but its level remained significantly lower than in the control group. In conclusion, carvedilol enhances antioxidant defense mechanisms in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris.
Analysis of anticipated performance of 650-nm GaInP/AlGaInP quantum-well GaAs-based VCSELs at elevated temperatures
Authors: Piskorski Ł. , Sarzała R. , Nakwaski W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe possibility of application of the 650-nm oxide-confined GaInP/AlGaInP quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) at elevated temperatures as sources of the carrier 650-nm wave in the fibre optical communication using POFs has been investigated with the aid of the comprehensive self-consistent model. An increase in the VCSEL threshold current at higher temperatures has been found to be mostly associated with both the carrier leakage from the valley of the Ga0.43In0.57P quantum-well material to the X-valley of the (Al0.67Ga0.33)0.52In0.48P barriers and the band-to-band absorption within the Ga0.52In0.48P layer of the band-gap comparable with the energy of emitted radiation. Nevertheless, the AlGaInP VCSELs exhibit encouraging thermal behaviour with the characteristic temperature T0 equal to as much as 134 K for the active-region temperatures up to 357 K. For the 5-μm devices, the maximal achievable output has been determined to decrease from a quite high value of 1.0 mW for 293 K to 0.6 mW for 320 K and to still high 0.33 mW for 340 K. However, an efficient operation of the above VCSEL at elevated temperatures requires still some structure modifications leading to a reduction of both the above effects, the electron leakage from the valley and the band-to-band absorption within GaInP layers.
The “Cocktail Party Syndrome” in children with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida
Authors: TEW BRIAN 
Published: November 2007

SummaryThis paper reviews the literature on the “cocktail party” syndrome, a language disorder apparently specific to children with hydrocephalus. The results of detailed psychological testing at the age of five showed that children with the cocktail party syndrome can be distinguished from other cases of spina bifida, as having significantly lower Wechsler Intelligence Test scores and very retarded social skills. Visual perceptual abilities were also significantly poorer. The reported verbal fluency of children with the cocktail party syndrome did not, however, lead to superior scores on the Reynell Expressive Language Scales, for these children found difficulty in using language creatively in spite of good syntax. Further assessment at the age of seven revealed these children to be significantly poorer than other cases of spina bifida in reading, spelling, arithmetic, and they had shorter concentration spans and slightly more behaviour problems in school according to their teachers. There was evidence that the cocktail party syndrome declines with age and its presence at the age of ten is diagnostically significant of a subnormal level of intelligence. Children with this syndrome are more likely to be female and to have more severe physical handicaps. It is suggested that the results of this survey explain certain controversies in the literature.
Does Eulemur cinereiceps exist? Preliminary evidence from genetics and ground surveys in southeastern Madagascar
Authors: Johnson Steig E. , Lei Runhua , Martin Sara K. , Irwin Mitchell T. , Louis Edward E. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAlthough appearing in the literature as early as 1890, the brown lemur form Eulemur cinereiceps has recently resurfaced as a potentially valid taxon, distinct from neighboring, presumably closely related species such as white‐collared lemurs (Eulemur albocollaris). We propose two scenarios for the potential separation of E. cinereiceps and E. albocollaris: (1) coastal and interior populations represent two distinct taxa and (2) the coastal population north of the Manampatrana River (the locality for purported museum specimens of E. cinereiceps) represents a distinct species from E. albocollaris found south of the river and in the interior escarpment forests. We tested these hypotheses using data from ground surveys and genetic sampling. Surveys were conducted in coastal forest fragments both north and south of the Manampatrana River in July–August 2006. Genetic samples were collected at two coastal sites and one interior forest. We used maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor‐joining analyses on mitochondrial DNA regions to determine if populations from different sites clustered into diagnosable clades. Results from field surveys confirmed the presence of forms commonly referred to as E. albocollaris at the two southern coastal forests; no consistent phenotypic differences across sites were observed. All genetic analyses yielded identical results: coastal and interior populations do not cluster into separate groups, thus rejecting the first hypothesis. Eulemur species and all other day‐active lemurs have apparently been extirpated from coastal forests north of the Manampatrana. Owing to the absence of lemurs from the northern coastal localities, we could not conclusively support or reject the second scenario. However, based on examination of the original plates and museum specimens, as well as the biogeographic patterns typical of this region, we strongly suspect that all populations from this area belong to a single species. We conclude with remarks regarding the apparent priority of E. cinereiceps for this taxon. Am. J. Primatol. 70:372–385, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Baboons (Papio papio) spontaneously process the first‐order but not second‐order configural properties of faces
Authors: Parron Carole , Fagot Joël 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA two‐alternative forced‐choice discrimination task was used to assess whether baboons (N=7) spontaneously process qualitative (i.e., first‐order) or quantitative (i.e., second‐order) variations in the configural arrangement of facial features. Experiment 1 used as test stimuli second‐order pictorial faces of humans or baboons in which the mouth and the eyes were rotated upside down relative to the normal face. Baboons readily discriminated two different normal faces but did not discriminate a normal face from its second‐order modified version. Experiment 2 used human or baboon faces for which the first‐order configural properties had been distorted by reversing the location of the eyes and mouth within the face. Discrimination was prompt with these stimuli. Experiment 3 replicated some of the conditions and the results of experiment 1, thus ruling out possible effects of learning. It is concluded that baboons are more adept at spontaneously processing first‐ than second‐order configural facial properties, similar to what is known in the human developmental literature. Am. J. Primatol. 70:415–422, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perception of the electromagnetic field emitted by a mobile phone
Authors: Kwon Myoung Soo , Koivisto Mika , Laine Matti , Hämäläinen Heikki 
Published: November 2007

AbstractElectromagnetic sensibility refers to the ability to perceive the electromagnetic field (EMF) without necessarily developing health symptoms attributed to EMF exposure. A large sample of young healthy adults (n = 84) performed two forced‐choice tasks on the perception of the GSM mobile phone EMF (902 MHz pulsed at 217 Hz), “Was the field on?” and “Did the field change?” (3 conditions × 100 trials for each task, n = 600 trials in total). A monetary prize was announced for good performance (correct response rate ≥75%, n = 600 trials). The performance was no better than expected by chance, and thus none of the participants won the prize. Two participants showed extraordinary performance in one of the task conditions (“Was the field on?”, n = 100 trials), with correct response rates of 97% (P = 1.28 × 10−25) and 94% (P = 9.40 × 10−22), but they failed to replicate the result in the retest of six blocks of the same condition 1 month later. Six participants had reported being able to perceive the mobile phone EMF in the preliminary inquiry, but they performed no better than the others. This study provides empirical evidence against the existence of electromagnetic sensibility to the mobile phone EMF, demonstrating the necessity for replication in EMF studies. Bioelectromagnetics 29:154–159, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The denitrification capability of cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus‐related glycogen‐accumulating organisms
Authors: Wang Xiaolian , Zeng Raymond J. , Dai Yu , Peng Yongzhen , Yuan Zhiguo 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe denitrification capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus‐related glycogen‐accumulating organisms (DvGAOs) is investigated. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with acetate as the sole carbon source was operated under alternating anaerobic–aerobic conditions to enrich Cluster 1 DvGAOs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that more than 85% of the bacterial population present in the reactor bound to the probes previously designed for Cluster 1 DvGAOs. A series of batch tests were performed to evaluate the capability of the community to reduce nitrate and nitrite. The tests were carried out both before and after the adaptation of the culture to anoxic conditions, and with both the intracellularly stored carbon and acetate as the electron donors. It was found that Cluster 1 DvGAOs were able to reduce nitrate but most likely unable to reduce nitrite. When un‐adapted Cluster 1 DvGAOs were exposed to nitrate for the first time, a lag phase of approximately 4 h occurred, which was likely required for the synthesis of the necessary enzymes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 1329–1336. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of rubber‐like materials using meshless local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) method
Authors: Batra R. C. , Porfiri M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractLarge deformations of rubber‐like materials are analyzed by the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) method. The method does not require shadow elements or a background mesh and therefore avoids mesh distortion difficulties in large deformation problems. Basis functions for approximating the trial solution and test functions are generated by the moving least‐squares (MLS) method. A local mixed total Lagrangian weak formulation of non‐linear elastic problems is presented. The deformation gradient is split into deviatoric and dilatational parts. The strain energy density is expressed as the sum of two functions: one is a function of deviatoric strains and the other is a function of dilatational strains. The incompressibility or near incompressibility constraint is accounted for by introducing the pressure field and penalizing the part of the strain energy density depending upon the dilatational strains. Unlike in the mixed finite element formulation, in the MLPG method there is no need for different sets of basis functions for displacement and pressure fields. Results computed with the MLPG method for a few sample problems are found to compare very well with the corresponding analytical solutions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface smoothing and quality improvement of quadrilateral/hexahedral meshes with geometric flow
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Bajaj Chandrajit , Xu Guoliang 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper describes an approach to smooth the surface and improve the quality of quadrilateral/hexahedral meshes with feature preserved using geometric flow. For quadrilateral surface meshes, the surface diffusion flow is selected to remove noise by relocating vertices in the normal direction, and the aspect ratio is improved with feature preserved by adjusting vertex positions in the tangent direction. For hexahedral meshes, besides the surface vertex movement in the normal and tangent directions, interior vertices are relocated to improve the aspect ratio. Our method has the properties of noise removal, feature preservation and quality improvement of quadrilateral/hexahedral meshes, and it is especially suitable for biomolecular meshes because the surface diffusion flow preserves sphere accurately if the initial surface is close to a sphere. Several demonstration examples are provided from a wide variety of application domains. Some extracted meshes have been extensively used in finite element simulations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Remote Hydrogen Microwave Plasma CVD of Silicon Carbonitride Films from a Tetramethyldisilazane Source. Part 1: Characterization of the Process and Structure of the Films
Authors: Wrobel A. M. , Blaszczyk‐Lezak I. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSilicon carbonitride (Si:C:N) films are produced by hydrogen remote microwave plasma (RP)CVD using a 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisilazane precursor. The effect of the substrate temperature on the rate and yield of the hydrogen RPCVD process, chemical composition, chemical structure, and surface morphology of the resulting film are investigated. The Arrhenius plots of the substrate temperature dependencies of the mass‐ and thickness‐based growth rate and growth yield of Si:C:N film imply that RPCVD is controlled by the adsorption of film‐forming precursors onto the growth surface. The results of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) examinations reveal that the increase in substrate temperature from 35 °C to 400 °C involves the elimination of organic groups from the film and the formation of a silicon carbonitride network structure with a predominant content of Si‐C carbidic bonds. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the films are morphologically homogeneous materials of surface roughness varying in a narrow range of small values (0.9 – 2.0 nm).
Growth of Hafnium Dioxide Thin Films by MOCVD Using a New Series of Cyclopentadienyl Hafnium Compounds
Authors: Carta G. , El Habra N. , Rossetto G. , Torzo G. , Crociani L. , Natali M. , Zanella P. , Cavinato G. , Matterello V. , Rigato V. , Kaciulis S. , Mezzi A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThin films of HfO2 are grown by metal‐organic (MO)CVD on Si(001) and fused quartz substrates in the temperature range 400–500 °C, using a new series of bis‐cyclopentadienyl bis‐amino‐alkoxide hafnium precursors, namely [(C5H5)2Hf{OC(CH3)2CH2N(CH3)2}2] and [(C5H5)2Hf{OCH(CH3)CH2N(CH3)2}2], stable in air because of their strong coordination to the metal center. The films obtained are investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Monoclinic phase HfO2 (baddeleyite) films, characterized by a correct stoichiometric ratio and a granular surface morphology with a roughness/thickness ratio that decreases with increasing deposition rate, are obtained.
Octahedral Alkylbis(phenoxy‐imine)tin(IV) Complexes: Effect of Substituents on the Geometry of the Complexes and Their Reactivity Toward Ionizing Species and Ethylene
Authors: Annunziata Liana , Pappalardo Daniela , Tedesco Consiglia , Pellecchia Claudio 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe synthesis and characterization of the organo‐tin compounds L2SnR2 [L = N‐(3,5‐dichlorosalicylidene)aniline; R = CH3 (1), R = CH2Ph (2)] and L′2SnR2 [3: L′ = N‐(3‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)aniline, R = CH2Ph] are described herein. NMR studies showed a highly symmetric structure for complex 1, with the alkyl groups in a trans configuration, and thepresence of at least two isomers in fluxional equilibrium for compounds 2 and 3. Single‐crystal X‐ray characterization for compound 2 showed an octahedral geometry with the alkyl groups in trans relationship. The reactivity of the synthesized compounds toward ionizing agents was studied by NMR spectroscopy. For compounds 1 and 2 formation of cationic species through alkyl abstraction by B(C6F5)3 was observed. For compound 3, a cationic species was obtained by reaction with 1 equiv. of [C(C6H5)3]+[B(C6F5)4]–; in this species a ηn coordination of the benzyl group with the metal centre was recognized by NMR solution study. All the obtained cationic species promoted ethylene oligomerization under mild conditions, producing oligomers with saturated end groups and methyl branches. Oligoethylene end‐group NMR analysis and deuteriolysis experiments excluded the migratory‐insertion mechanism. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
pH‐Induced Luminescence Changes of Chromophore‐Quencher Tricarbonylpolypyridylrhenium(I) Complexes with 4‐Pyridinealdazine (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 34/2007)
Authors: Cattaneo Mauricio , Fagalde Florencia , Katz Néstor E. , Borsarelli Claudio D. , Parella Teodor 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe cover picture shows that consecutive protonation of the pyridine N and imine N atoms of 4‐pyridinealdazine (PCA) in the complex [Re(4,4′‐CO2Me‐bpy)(CO)3(PCA)]+ (bpy = 2,2′‐bipiridine) lead to bell‐shaped curves for both the absorbance and the emission intensity vs. pH; the latter property can be employed to devise novel luminescent pH sensors of the on‐off‐on type. Details are discussed in the article by N. E. Katz et al. on p. 5323 ff.
Stripping Voltammetry of Cerium(IIl) with a Chemically Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Containing Functionalized Nanoporous Silica Gel
Authors: Javanbakht Mehran , Khoshsafar Hamid , Ganjali Mohammad Reza , Norouzi Parviz , Badei Alireza , Hasheminasab Abed 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis research introduces the design of an adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the cerium(III) determination at a carbon paste electrode, chemically modified with dipyridyl‐functionalized nanoporous silica gel (DPNSG‐CPE). The electroanalytical procedure comprised two steps: the Ce(III) chemical accumulation at −200 mV followed by the electrochemical detection of the Ce(III)/dipyridyl complex, using anodic stripping voltammetry. The factors, influencing the adsorptive stripping performance, were optimized including the modifier quantity in the paste, the electrolyte concentrations, the solution pH and the accumulation potential or time. The resulting electrode demonstrated a linear response over a wide range of Ce(III) concentration (1.0–28 ng mL−1). The precision for seven determinations of 4 and 10 ng mL−1 Ce(III) was 3.2% and 2.5% (relative standard deviation), respectively. The prepared electrode was used for the cerium determination in real samples and very good recovery results were obtained.
A novel fibre design strategy for simultaneously introducing ultra small dispersion and dispersion slope using genetic algorithm
Authors: Oskouei Morteza Savadi , Rostami Ali , Makouei Somayeh 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this paper, design of the WII triple‐clad structure as a dispersion flattened optical fibre applicable for high bit rate optical communications such as DWDM and OTDM is considered. The presented technique is based on the genetic algorithm (GA) method including a weighted fitness function. In the foregoing strategy what we believe to be a novel design methodology, a multivariables design problem is reduced to a two‐dimensional design process (σ, λ0) and this reduction is so excellent from designing point of view. The suggested weighted fitness function is capable of gathering optimal values for the dispersion and its slope simultaneously. The achieved results for the dispersion and slope at [1.5–1.6] µm wavelength interval were in [(−0.510)–(0.191)] ps/km/nm and [0.0137–0.0007] ps/km/nm2 ranges, respectively. We show that by increasing the Gaussian parameter (σ) of the weighted fitness function the dispersion reduces and becomes flattened in the wide wavelength interval. For example, in the case of σ=4.9467e‐8 the dispersion flattened broadness is larger than 120 nm. The proposed technique based on the weighted fitness function includes another design parameter, called central wavelength (λ0), which introduces additional capability to shift the zero dispersion wavelength at the arbitrary λ0 precisely. So, this fibre structure can be designed to work in each standard communication bands (S, C, and L bands). The technique put forward is capable of minimising the pulse broadening factor over the predefined interval of wavelength that is essential for large bandwidth applications. It should be mentioned that the dispersion and its slope are evaluated analytically and then the presented results have supreme precision compared to the traditional methods. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Visual hallucinations and symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinsonian tauopathies
Authors: Diederich Nico J. , Leurgans Sue , Fan Wenqing , Chmura Teresa A. , Goetz Christopher G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackgroundIn Parkinsonism, visual hallucinations (VH) and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have been thought to indicate underlying synucleinopathy.ObjectivesWe tested the validity of this hypothesis by searching for VH and RBD symptoms in Parkinsonism related to tauopathies.MethodsPatients with progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration were identified via a clinical data bank.ResultsOf 53 patients who expressed study interest by telephone, 44 returned questionnaires. VH occurred in 16% of patients. Similarly, acting out of dreams occurred in 16% of patients. Neither VH nor RBD symptoms were linked to disease duration or dopaminergic medication and there was no mutual association.ConclusionVH and RBD symptoms also occur in Parkinsonism related to tauopathies, thus refuting the initial hypothesis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.