bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantication of Aconitum alkaloids in aconite roots by a modied RP‐HPLC method
Authors: Jiang Zhi‐Hong , Xie Ying , Zhou Hua , Wang Jing‐Rong , Liu Zhong‐Qiu , Wong Yuen‐Fan , Cai Xiong , Xu Hong‐Xi , Liu Liang 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe three Aconitum alkaloids, aconitine (1), mesaconitine (2) and hypaconitine (3), are pharmacologically active but also highly toxic. A standardised method is needed for assessing the levels of these alkaloids in aconite roots in order to ensure the safe use of these plant materials as medicinal herbs. By optimising extraction, separation and measurement conditions, a reliable, reproducible and accurate method for the quantitative determination of all three Aconitum alkaloids in unprocessed and processed aconite roots has been developed. This method should be appropriate for use in the quality control of Aconitum products. The three Aconitum alkaloids were separated by a modied HPLC method employing a C18 column gradient eluted with acetonitrile and ammonium bicarbonate buffer. Quantication of Aconitum alkaloids, detected at 240 nm, in different batches of samples showed that the content of 1, 2 and 3 varied signicantly. In general, the alkaloid content of unprocessed roots was higher than that of processed roots. These variations were considered to be the result of differences in species, processing methods and places of origin of the samples. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence of different confinement regimes in site‐controlled pyramidal InGaN structures
Authors: Pérez‐Solórzano V. , Gröning A. , Schweizer H. , Jetter M. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractWe deposited InGaN on GaN micropyramids, which were grown by selective metal‐organic vapor phase epitaxy on sapphire. We expected the formation of a quantum well on the side‐walls of the pyramids, a quantum wire on the edges, and a quantum dot on its apex. We studied the emission properties of these structures using low‐temperature time‐resolved	photoluminescence. Our measurements showed three regions of different confinement within the emission in the wavelength range between 2.12 eV and 2.40 eV. By analyzing the decay behavior, the characteristics of the luminescence was determined to originate from localized states. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Fluorescent Nanocrystals as Colloidal Probes in Complex Fluids Measured by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
Authors: Liedl Tim , Keller Simon , Simmel Friedrich C. , Rädler Joachim O. , Parak Wolfgang J. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe diffusion properties of fluorescent colloidal CdSe and CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals (QDs) with different hydrophilic coatings were characterized in complex fluids such as actin solutions using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The hydrodynamic radii of the QDs were determined both in organic solvents and water. Attention was given to the potential artifacts arising from the fluorescence properties of the QDs. With increasing excitation intensities, the apparent particle concentration and diffusion times are overestimated if using a simple diffusion model. This can be explained by a numerical simulation. The diffusion behavior of QDs in actin networks of different concentrations was determined to demonstrate the potential use of nanocrystals as probes in soft biological matter. The decreasing diffusion coefficient of the nanocrystals with increasing actin concentration results in an intrinsic polymer viscosity of 0.12±0.02 ml mg−1, in accordance with literature values.
Role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in direct interactions between tumour cell spheroids and endothelial cell monolayer
Authors: Paduch Roman , Walter‐Croneck Adam , Zdzisińska Barbara , Szuster‐Ciesielska Agnieszka , Kandefer‐Szerszeń Martyna 
Published: August 2005

AbstractMetastasis is a multistep process involving a variety of direct cell—cell, cell—matrix and paracrine interactions. In the present study, we examined some consequences of direct interaction between tumour cells and endothelial cells in vitro. When multicellular spheroids of two human tumour cell lines (HeLa and Hep‐2) were transferred onto a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayer, a peri‐spheroidal zone of damaged endothelial cells was observed after 24 h co‐culture. To determine the cause of this damage, the production levels of superoxide anion (O2
−), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) were measured both in co‐culture and in monocultures of the tumour cell spheroids and endothelial cells. Attachment of HeLa and Hep‐2 cellular spheroids to the HUVEC monolayer resulted in 1.6‐fold and 2.1‐fold increases in O2
− release, respectively. Also, the MMP‐2 level was five times greater in the co‐culture than in the tumour spheroid monoculture. The increase of IL‐6 in the co‐culture model, on the other hand, was only slight. However, a 2 h preincubation of endothelial cells with LPS (10 μg/ml) prior to the transfer of spheroids induced a significant increase in the production of this cytokine compared to an appropriate control (an LPS‐activated endothelial cell monolayer). These results strongly suggest that both ROS and MMP‐2 are involved in endothelial cell injury when tumour cells cross the endothelial barrier. Moreover, IL‐6, which participates in the inflammatory response, may also be involved in the extravasation of tumour cells.
Dutch translation of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire: Factor structure, reliability and validity
Authors: van Wijk Arjen J. , Hoogstraten Johan 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackground The Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ‐III) is a 30‐item self‐report instrument measuring fear of a variety of pain‐related stimuli.Aim The present study was undertaken to develop a Dutch version of the FPQ‐III, to assess the instrument's psychometric qualities, to examine the suggested factor structure, and to relate the FPQ‐III to other general psychological constructs in order to assess its construct validity.Method The questionnaire was translated following the forward‐backward method. The final version was filled out by (n = 274) psychology freshmen. A random half of the subjects was re‐tested after five weeks.Results Satisfactory psychometric qualities were obtained (average α = 0.90 and test‐retest reliability = 0.71). Factor analysis supported the three‐factor structure and also the results concerning divergent and convergent validity show strong similarity with the results from other studies.Conclusions The Dutch translation of the FPQ‐III appears to be a valid equivalent of the original English version and does represent a unique construct.
Craving and other characteristics of the comorbidity of alcohol and nicotine dependence
Authors: Hertling Ines , Ramskogler Katrin , Dvorak Alexander , Klingler Anton , Saletu-Zyhlarz Gerda , Schoberberger Rudolf , Walter Henriette , Kunze Michael , Lesch Otto Michael 
Published: August 2005

AbstractPurposeIn this cross-sectional study we compared alcohol-dependent smokers and non-alcohol-dependent smokers with respect to intensity of nicotine dependence, craving conditions, sleep disturbances, comorbidity with major depression, reasons for smoking, accompanying somatic diseases and patients' prolonged abstinence from smoking during the 3 years preceding the study.Subjects and methodsFifty-one alcohol-dependent smokers and 327 non-alcohol-dependent smokers diagnosed as ICD-10 and DSM-IV-nicotine dependent, were investigated by means of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, the Lübeck Craving-Recurrence Risk Questionnaire and the Lesch Alcohol Dependence Typology (both adapted to smoking).ResultsThe intensity of nicotine dependence was more enhanced in alcohol-dependent smokers compared to non-alcohol-dependent smokers. Several variables of all factors of craving (“depressive mood”, “stimulation”, “relaxation”, “socially triggered tension”) were significantly increased in alcohol-dependent patients (P < 0.05). Alcohol-dependent smokers showed depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances, whilst non-alcohol-dependent individuals mainly smoked for stress release and weight control.DiscussionOur study demonstrates that the intensity of nicotine dependence, several conditions of craving for nicotine, sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression appear to be enhanced in alcohol-dependent smokers compared with non-alcohol-dependent smokers.ConclusionsIt is hoped that the factors of craving and reasons for smoking identified in this study will contribute to a better understanding of smoking temptation in alcohol-dependent smokers and non-alcohol-dependent smokers in future.
Do the changes in energy balance that occur during pregnancy predispose parous women to obesity?
Authors: Harris H. E. , Ellison G. T. H. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe aim of this review was to re-assess whether the changes in energy balance that accompany pregnancy predispose parous women to obesity. A number of cross-sectional studies have sought to answer this question by examining the relationship between parity and maternal body weight. However, these studies were unable to control for the large number of sociobehavioural confounders that might be responsible for the apparent effect of parity on body weight. Longitudinal studies that examine changes in maternal body weight before and after regnancy avoid these problems by using each mother as her own control. Nevertheless, these studies have to overcome three methodological constraints: They must obtain an accurate measure of prepregnant body weight, they must give each mother sufficient time to lose any weight retained following delivery, and they must take into account the effect of ageing on maternal weight gain during pregnancy and the follow-up period. More than 90% of the studies reviewed found body weight to be greater after pregnancy than it was before (by 0.2–10.6kg). and previous researchers who have examined the evidence for pregnancy-related weight gains suggest that body weight increases by an average of 04–4.8kg following pregnancy. However, only three of the 71 longitudinal studies examined in the present review complied with the three methodological criteria. These studies concluded that mothers gain, on average, 0.9–3.3kg more weight following pregnancy than nonpregnant controls, and that mean body weight remained 0.4–3.0kg higher, even after controlling for a number of sociobehavioural confounders. This apparently modest increase in mean maternal body weight for women having one or two children conceals the fact that some mothers experience a substantial increase in body weight and become obese following pregnancy. It remains unclear whether these increases are simply the result of changes in energy metabolism during pregnancy and lactation, or whether they are influenced by inherent changes in lifestyle that accompany pregnancy and motherhood. Understanding the relative importance of these alternatives might help to explain the aetiology of maternal obesity.“Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal”George Well (1945) Animal Farm. London: Secker and Warburg.
The principles, practices and some future applications of near infrared spectroscopy for predicting the nutritive value of foods for animals and humans
Authors: Givens D. I. , De Boever J. L. , Deaville E. R. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe current application and future potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the evaluation of foods for domesticated animals and humans is enormous. Where used, NIR spectroscopy has revolutionized the analysis and nutritional evaluation of animal feeds and human foods by providing a rapid means of examination. The availability of accurate and rapid methods of evaluation is becoming increasingly important to meet the nutritional requirements of animals for meat, milk, wool and egg production. This is essential for efficient and economic animal production, to maintain animal health and to minimize environmental impact. Accurate evaluation methods are also needed in relation to national and international legislation that regulates the circulation, trade and inspection of foods and feeds, aids effective functioning of the market and guards the safety of animals and humans. The aim of this review is to outline the theory and principles of NIR spectroscopy and to focus primarily on its application in the field of animal nutrition. The vital role NIR spectroscopy is playing in the prediction of biologically meaningful feed characteristics, including data derivedin vivo, is demonstrated particularly through its application to forage evaluation, but also in the examination of raw materials and compound feeds. While the applications of NIR spectroscopy to different foods and drinks are extensive, this review gives an overview only of selected reported applications including its use for predicting nutritive value (mainly water, protein, fat, sucrose and starch content), monitoring food processing and for food authentication. The review provides clear evidence that the future application of NIR spectroscopy will undoubtedly increase, playing a vital role in the authentication of the quality and origin of foods and feeds and enabling the complex methods of feed evaluation required in the future to be put into widespread use.
Integrative models of nutrient balancing: application to insects and vertebrates
Authors: Raubenheimer D. , Simpson S. J. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractWe present and apply to data for insects, chickens and rats a conceptual and experimental framework for studying nutrition as a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The framework enables the unification within a single geometrical model of several nutritionally relevant measures, including: the optimal balance and amounts of nutrients required by an animal in a given time (the intake target), the animal's current state in relation to these requirements, available foods, the amounts of ingested nutrients which are retained and eliminated, and animal performance. Animals given a nutritionally balanced food, or two or more imbalanced but complementary foods, can satisfy their nutrient requirements, and hence optimize performance. However, animals eating noncomplementary imbalanced foods must decide on a suitable compromise between overingesting some nutrients and underingesting others. The geometrical models provide a means of measuring nutritional targets and rules of compromise, and comparing these among different animals and within similar animals at different developmental stages or in different environments. They also provide a framework for designing and interpreting experiments on the regulatory and metabolic mechanisms underlying nutritional homeostasis.
Exogenous enzymes for pigs and poultry
Authors: Bedford M. R. , Schulze H. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractMany feed ingredients in use in monogastric diets contain significant quantities of antinutritional factors (ANF) which limit both their feed value and their use. Almost all enzymes currently being used address such factors to varying degrees, allowing for more economic utilization of raw materials. However, animal response to xylanase, β-glucanase and even phytase utilization reported in the literature tends to vary. Factors such as enzyme source, ingredient variety and environment under which the ingredient was grown, stored and processed into animal feed, age of animal, interaction with other dietary ingredients, and health status are shown to affect significantly the response obtained. As a result, the mode of action of xylanases and β-glucanases is still debated due to too much emphasis being placed on interpretation of individual trial results without regard to the interactive factors or the literature dataset as a whole. Better understanding of such factors will improve data interpretation. While results with phytase are not subject to such extreme variation, they are nevertheless inconsistent in the degree to which inorganic phosphorus can be replaced by this enzyme. Greater understanding of the ANF and factors which interact to govern the response to added exogenous enzymes will undoubtedly improve the economic return and confidence in their use. Improved knowledge of ANF structure will result in development of enzymes directed towards far more specific targets, which enhances the likelihood of success and should reduce the overall enzyme usage.
Does the study of feeding behaviour benefit from a teleonomic framework?
Authors: Kyriazakis Ilias , Day Jon E. L. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIn this paper we respond to the criticisms of Provenza et al. (1998) that our framework of learning and feeding motivation (Day et al. 1998) resorts to higher order goals, which cannot be falsified by experimentation. We assert that in order to be able to predict the feeding behaviour of animals we first need to understand what they are trying to achieve (i.e. invoke teleonomy). We then detail our framework in such terms that one could envisage experiments that could quantitatively test its predictions. We contend that the framework of ‘the self-organization of behaviour’ proposed by Provenza et al. (1998) cannot lead to such quantitative predictions, since it is invoked to describe feeding behaviour of animals a posteriori. It is our own desire, by contrast, to assess feeding behaviour a priori, which leads us to propose and defend our framework of learning and feeding motivation.
Effects of reduced-fat diets with different fatty acid compositions on serum lipoprotein lipids and apolipoproteins
Authors: Aro Antti , Pietinen Pirjo , Valsta Liisa M , Turpeinen Anu M , Ehnholm Christian , Dougherty Rita M , Iacono James M 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective:To compare the effects on serum lipoproteins of three isocaloric diets with reduced total fat and saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents but with different proportions of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).Design:A low-fat diet (LF) provided 20 en% fat, 7.9% SFA, 7.8% MUFA, 3.0% PUFA; a high-PUFA diet (HP) 26 en% fat, 7.5% SFA, 8.2% MUFA, 8.1% PUFA; and a high-MUFA diet (HM) 26 en% fat, 7.3% SFA, 14.1% MUFA, 3.2% PUFA. Diets were consumed for 8 weeks in a parallel design, after 2 weeks on a habitual diet with 33–34 en% fat, 13–14% SFA, 12% MUFA, 6% PUFA, and followed by an 8-week period on habitual diet. Compliance to diet was monitored by repeated food records and weekly visits to a nutritionist.Subjects:45 free-living, middle-aged couples who were randomly allocated into the three diet groups; 43 men and 44 women completed the study.Results:During the diet periods, a small but significant reduction in body weight of 0.4–1.0kg was observed in all groups. Similar and significantreductions of mean weight-adjusted serum total cholesterol (4–8%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (7–11%), and high-densitylipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (8–11%) were observed during the diets. HDL2-cholesterol and apoprotein (apo) A-I levels were reduced whereas HDL3-cholesterol and apoA-II increased. ApoB was significantly decreased during the HM diet only. Serum triglycerides increased significantly during diets LF (25%,P< 0.01) and HP (19%,P< 0.05) but not during diet HM (5%, NS).Conclusions:Reduction in the intake of total fat and saturated fatty acids reduced serum LDL-cholesterol and HDL2-cholesterol concentrations irrespective of the relative proportions of MUFA and PUFA in the diets. The results suggest that there might be some advantage in increasing the proportion of MUFA in low-fat diets, since the HM diet rich in MUFA reduced apoB and slightly attenuated the increase in serum triglycerides that is commonly associated with dietary fat reduction.
Magnitude, determinants and impact of under-reporting of energy intake in a cohort study in Greece
Authors: Gnardellis Charalambos , Boulou Chariklia , Trichopoulou Antonia 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjectives:To investigate the frequency and the determinants of under-reporting in a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire used in the Greek segment of the European Prospective Study on Nutrition, Cancer and Health (EPIC study).Design:A food frequency questionnaire was completed by 9262 adult men and women. The questions included in this questionnaire covered the average intake of approximately 150 food items and beverages over 1 year. Evaluation of under-reporting was conducted on an individual basis taking into account the expected daily variation of nutritional intakes during the time period of recording. Individuals whose energy intake was lower than 1.14*BMR (basal metabolic rate) were defined as under-reporters.Setting:Urban and rural population of Greece.Results:The data indicated underestimation of energy intake by 11.8% of individuals enrolled. Results from a logistic regression model indicated that body mass index (BMI), gender, age and educational level were significant predictors of under-reporting. The proportion of overweight participants (BMI>30) who tend to under-report energy intake was more than twice that of normal-weight individuals. Men were significantly more prone to under-reporting compared to women, while low education individuals under-report more often than others. Exclusion of under-reporters generated, as expected, mean nutrient values that were significantly higher (by about 6%) than those derived from the total number of participants. When the nutrient values were energy-adjusted, however, or were expressed as percentages of energy intake for macronutrients or as nutrient densities for micronutrients, the emerging differences were minimal and generally statistically not significant.Conclusions:Under-reporting does exist and it is more extensive among men, those with low education levels and the overweight participants. Adjustment for energy intake minimizes the bias generated by under-reporting with respect to particular nutrients and their association with various disease outcomes in the cohort.
Plasma fibrinogen of black South Africans: the BRISK study
Authors: Vorster HH , Jerling JC , Steyn K , Badenhorst CJ , Slazus W , Venter CS , Jooste PL , Bourne LT 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective:To describe the distribution of plasma fibrinogen and relationships with other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in the black population of the Cape Peninsula.Design:A cross-sectional survey of a stratified proportional sample of randomly selected black men and women.Setting:Households in Gugulethu, Langa, Nyanga, New Crossroads, KTC, Old Crossroads and Khayelitsha in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.Subjects:One subject per household (352 men and 447 women), aged 15–64 years, voluntarily participated. Visitors, pregnant, lactating, ill, mentally retarded and intoxicated subjects were excluded.Results:Mean fibrinogen (thrombin time coagulation method) of men and women were higher than published data for Europeans but slightly lower than values of black Americans. Women aged 45–54 years had the highest level (3.13 ± 0.89g1−1) and men aged 15–24 years had the lowest (2.13 ± 0.88g1−1). Fifteen per cent of the men and 12% of the women had a level greater than 1 standard deviation of the mean for their age group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant (P< 0.05) positive correlations of fibrinogen with smoking habit, age, body mass index (BMI), total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and white blood cell count, and significant negative correlations with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum iron and ferritin. The correlations with BMI, serum lipoproteins, iron, ferritin, and GGT suggest that nutritional status and therefore diet influences plasma fibrinogen.Conclusions:Relatively high fibrinogen levels, tending to cluster with other, including diet-related, risk factors for CHD and stroke, were observed in black South Africans. It is suggested that fibrinogen may contribute to the high stroke incidence of this population group.