bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of a dysmenorrhea Chinese medicinal prescription on uterus contractility in vitro
Authors: Hsu Chun‐Sen , Yang J‐Kay , Yang Ling‐Ling 
Published: August 2003

AbstractDysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic complaint. After their ﬁrst menstrual period, 30%–60% of American women suffer from some level of discomfort. It is estimated that 6 billion work hours are lost in this manner every year in the United States which equals an economic loss of nearly US$200 million. Dysmenorrhea is not only a problem for women but also one which affects quality of life and even reduces productivity in general.Dysmenorrhea is directly related to elevated levels of PGF2α (prostaglandins F2α) and is treated using nonsteroid anti‐inﬂammatory drugs in Western medicine. Though efﬁcacy of the latter is rapid, there are many side effects to the liver, kidney, and digestive system. The anti‐inﬂammatory effect is temporary, and such drugs are unable to provide a long‐term cure. Because of this, Chinese medicinal therapy is being considered as a feasible alternative medicine.In this study, Wen‐Jing Tang (one of the dysmenorrhea Chinese medicinal prescriptions) was selected. A 50% alcoholic solution was used to extract active ingredients and create a freeze‐dried product. At ﬁrst, Wen‐Jing Tang was used to suppress spontaneous contractions and prostaglandins F2α‐induced contractions of rat uterine smooth muscle in vitro. Then, an assessment was performed to determine the mechanism of the prescription. Acetylcholine, ergonovine, propranolol, oxytocin, and KCl were used to analyze the physiological mechanisms of WJT. The results show that antagonism of both PGF2α and ACh are the major mechanisms for treating dysmenorrhea by Wen‐Jing Tang. Furthermore, the antagonistic effect of KCl‐depolarization contractions may be an auxiliary mechanism of the curative effect. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicological analysis and effectiveness of oral Kalanchoe pinnata on a human case of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Torres‐Santos E. C. , Da Silva S. A. G. , Costa S. S. , Santos A. P. P. T. , Almeida A. P. , Rossi‐Bergmann B. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractLeishmaniasis is an extremely dif.cult disease to treat. Previously, it was shown that oral Kalanchoe pinnata (Kp) leaf extract is strongly effective against murine leishmaniasis. Here, it is shown that the serum levels of alanine‐aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate‐aminotransferase (AST), urea and alkaline phosphatase were unchanged in mice orally treated with supraoptimal Kp doses for 30 days, indicating the absence of chronic toxicity to the liver, heart or kidney. Additionally, evidence is presented that human leishmaniasis may also be controlled with oral Kp. A 36‐year‐old man with an active cutaneous leishmaniasis was orally treated with 30 g wet weight of Kp leaves/day for 14 days. During the Kp treatment, the lesion stopped growing and slightly decreased. No adverse reactions or toxicity was observed. This study reports for the first time that Kalanchoe pinnata contains substances potentially active and safe for the oral treatment of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of antitussive potential of Ionidium suffruticosam Ging. (Violaceae) extract in albino mice
Authors: Boominathan R. , Parimala Devi B. , Mandal Subhash C. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe present study was carried out to evaluate the antitussive potential of methanol extract of Ionidium suffruticosam Ging. (Violaceae) which was investigated for its effect on a cough model induced by sulfur dioxide gas in albino mice. It exhibited signi.cant dose‐dependent antitussive activity when compared with the control, 250 and 500 mg/kg (p.o.) of the extract showing 28.37% and 54.16% inhibition of the cough with respect to control group. The antitussive activity of the extract was comparable to that of codeine phosphate, a prototype antitussive agent. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallel and Mixture Combined Approach: Rapid Cheap Synthesis and Characterization of a 4096‐Tripeptides Library
Authors: Subra Gilles , Soulère Laurent , Hoffmann Pascal , Enjalbal Christine , Aubagnac Jean‐Louis , Martinez Jean 
Published: August 2003

AbstractAs part of a project that aims to discover novel inhibitors of the enzymes iron‐ superoxide dismutases (FeSODs), a library of 4096 Nter‐acetylated Cter‐amidated tripeptides was designed. To quickly and efficiently synthesize this library without any automation or expensive techniques, an original approach combining “sort and combine” and mixture syntheses was set up. For this purpose, rink amide SynphaseTM Lanterns were chosen as pellicular solid support equipped with colour tagging systems. 512 discrete mixtures of eight tripeptides were prepared with only 64 Synphase D‐Lanterns as starting materials. All the 512 mixtures were analyzed by ESI mass spectrometry Q‐Tof in the positive mode showing that all the 4096 expected members of the library were present in comparable abundances with no trace of side‐products. This paper demonstrates the usefulness of tagged and divisible Synphase lanterns allowing rapid and cheap generation of large organized discrete mixture libraries with high reliability.
Two‐step Multivariate Classification of the Mechanisms of Toxic Action of Phenols
Authors: Ren Shijin 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA two‐step classification algorithm was developed for the classification and prediction of the mechanisms of toxic action of phenols. The mechanisms considered were polar narcosis, weak acid respiratory uncoupling, pro‐electrophilicity, and soft electrophilicity. The classification algorithm was based on linear discriminant analysis using molecular descriptors as discriminating variables. Polar narcosis/pro‐electrophilicity was separated from weak acid respiratory uncoupling/soft electrophilicity in the first step. In the second step, polar narcosis was separated from pro‐electrophilicity and weak acid respiratory uncoupling was separated from soft electrophilicity. Different molecular descriptors were involved as discriminating variables at different steps of the classification algorithm. This algorithm classified any given phenol as acting by one and only one of the four mechanisms considered. Compared to one‐step classification models, the prediction accuracy of the two‐step algorithm was higher for all four mechanisms involved.
Rheological Properties of Wheat (Halberd) Amylopectin
Authors: Tako Masakuni , Hizukuri Susumu 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe non‐Newtonian flow behavior and dynamic viscoelasticity of wheat (Halberd) amylopectin in aqueous solution were investigated. The flow curves of Halberd amylopectin at 25 °C showed shear‐thinning behavior at various concentrations (2.0, 4.0 and 6.0%).The viscosity decreased gradually with increase in temperature at all concentrations investigated. The storage modulus of Halberd amylopectin was rather small and decreased gradually during increase in temperature even in 6.0% solution. The tan δ showed a value of 1.8 at 6.0% even at low temperature (0 °C) and increased slightly with increase in temperature. The storage modulus of Halberd amylopectin (6.0%) increased slightly upon addition of urea (4.0 M) and decreased gradually with increase in temperature. The storage modulus was higher in 0.05 M aqueous NaOH solution (6.0%) than in pure water. However, for tan δ almost the same values were observed in aqueous urea (tan δ = 1.7) and in alkaline (tan δ = 1.6) solution as in pure water (tan δ = 1.8). The storage modulus had a very large value in 85% DMSO. However, the tan δ value in DMSO was almost identical to that in aqueous solution. The results obtained led to the suggestion that in aqueous solution the wheat (Halberd) amylopectin molecules might be involved to a little extent in secondary associations. The structure of wheat (Halberd) amylopectin molecules seems to be different from that of rice amylopectin molecules.
Effects of Growth Temperature on Some Structural Properties of Crystalline Lamellae in Starches Extracted from Sweet Potatoes (Sunnyred and Ayamurasaki)
Authors: Genkina Natalia K. , Noda Takahiro , Koltisheva Galina I. , Wasserman Luybov A. , Tester Richard F , Yuryev Vladimir P. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThermodynamic characteristics defining gelatinisation (modelled as ‘melting’) processes for starches extracted from two sweet potato cultivars (Ayamurasaki and Sunnyred) grown in soil at different temperatures (15, 21, 27 or 33 °C) were studied using high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The gelatinisation temperatures for all starches were elevated significantly with increasing growth temperature. A linear correlation between growth temperature and gelatinisation temperature of extracted starches was found for both cultivars. The increase of gelatinisation temperatures was associated with almost constant or slightly increased enthalpy (Ayamurasaki) but with moderate elevation of crystalline lamellae thickness (Sunnyred). Elevation of gelatinisation temperatures by 8‐9 °C by DSC for starches heated in 1.5 M aqueous KCl were found in comparison with aqueous starch dispersions. The crystalline polymorphic form was confirmed as A‐type using wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS). The values of the thermodynamic surface parameters characterising the faces of crystalline lamellae of these starches were calculated. Two endothermic peaks were observed by DSC for starches grown at 15 °C when suspended in 1.5 M KCl solution. The first peak was ascribed to the melting of B‐type structure while the second one was attributed to the melting of A‐type structure. As a conclusion it was suggested that these starches contain C‐type polymorphic structures.
Cartilage injury by ramp compression near the gel diffusion rate
Authors: Morel Véronique , Quinn Thomas M. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe mechanics of cartilage injuries have implications for repair strategies. We examined the role of strain rate in cartilage injury under compression near the “gel diffusion” rate (the inherent tissue mechanical relaxation rate). Bovine osteochondral explant disks were subjected to one radially unconfined axial compression at approximately 0.1, 1, 10, 100, or 1000 times the gel diffusion rate to a peak stress of 3.5, 7, or 14 MPa. Effects were monitored in terms of axial strain, changes in water content, superficial cracks, chondrocyte viability, and proteoglycan release. Injury worsened monotonically with peak stress, but varied substantially with strain rate. High strain rates resulted in significant matrix fluid pressurization and impact‐like surface cracking with cell death near the superficial zone. Below the gel diffusion rate, cells died throughout the tissue depth during extensive matrix consolidation without cracks. At approximately the gel diffusion rate, no measurable injury occurred, even for peak stresses of 14 MPa and axial compressive strains near 0.8. The gel diffusion rate therefore represented a threshold separating different biomechanical regimes of injury, but at which cartilage was relatively “safe” from injury. Findings may help identify strategies for prevention and treatment of cartilage injury and suggest loading guidelines for tissue engineering. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Inference of biological and physical parameters in an internal wave using multiple-frequency, acoustic-scattering data
Authors: Warren Joseph D. , Stanton Timothy K. , Wiebe Peter H. , Seim Harvey E. 
Published: August 2003

Abstract
High-frequency sound (>10 kHz) is scattered in the ocean by many different processes. In the water column, marine organisms are often assumed to be the primary source of acoustic backscatter. Recent field experiments and theoretical work suggest that the temperature and salinity microstructure in some oceanic regions could cause acoustic scattering at levels comparable to that caused by marine life. Theoretical acoustic-scattering models predict that the scattering spectra for microstructure and organisms are distinguishable from each other over certain frequency ranges. A method that uses multiple-frequency acoustic data to exploit these differences has been developed, making it possible to discriminate between biological and physical sources of scattering under some conditions. This method has been applied to data collected in an internal wave in the Gulf of Maine. For regions of the internal wave in which the dominant source of scattering is either biological or physical in origin, it is possible to combine the acoustic-scattering data and temperature and salinity profiles with acoustic-scattering models to perform a least-squares inversion. Using this approach, it is possible to estimate the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy for some regions of the internal wave, and the length and numerical abundance of the dominant biological scatterer, euphausiids, in others.
Wasting Away: Stress response keeps aging cells from fattening up (Fat cell formation)
Authors: Strauss Evelyn 
Published: August 2003

BOSTON
--Many people battle fat for years, only to find at the end of their lives that they're losing it in all the wrong places. Sunken eyes, inability to control body temperature, and susceptibility to infection plague elderly people as their fat pads shrink. New work, presented 16 February at the AAAS meeting here, fills in some molecular steppingstones that mark the path to a decrease in fat cell formation.

As people age, they lose fat where it should be--under the skin, for instance--and gain it where it shouldn't be--in tissues such as bone marrow and muscle. This redistribution occurs in part because precursor cells destined to store fat lose their bearings. Over the past several years, scientists have established that two key proteins--whose concentrations decline with age--activate a set of genes required for precursor cells to mature into fat cells. Replacing the regulator proteins restores precursor cells to their destinies, indicating that the genes are still able to guide maturation if prompted. Researchers are therefore trying to figure out what regulates the regulators.
James Kirkland, a cell biologist at Boston University, has been picking his way upstream of the regulators. CUG triplet repeat binding protein (CUGBP) cranks up production of another protein that in turn blocks output of both regulators. Kirkland reported at the meeting that precursor fat cells from old rats produce more CUGBP than do similar cells from young rats. Swelling CUGBP concentrations in older animals probably contribute to the decline in the two key regulators, he says.
Going back one more step, Kirkland's team examined a protein called TNFα, which is produced in response to stress, accumulates in fat tissues with age, and thwarts production of the two maturation regulators--but the molecular underpinnings of these events have been unclear. Now Kirkland's team has found that treating precursor fat cells with TNFα causes their CUGBP concentrations to double. Other cellular events might similarly stunt precursor cells' maturation. When the researchers stimulated production of reactive oxygen species--destructive molecules implicated in aging--in cultured fat precursor cells from young rats, CUGBP concentrations shot up.
Together, Kirkland says, the results suggest that cellular events associated with aging activate stress pathways, which operate through a string of regulator proteins to stem fat cell formation. The emerging molecular details might provide the basis for future therapies, he says: "In fat tissue, there might be points where you can intervene." Success at restoring specialized functions to old fat cells might provide a model for rejuvenating other tissues, he adds.
Kirkland's approach is unusual, says Huber Warner, associate director for the Biology of Aging Program at the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland: "He's looking at a phenomenon we're all familiar with--the changes in amounts and location of fat--but he's kind of alone in investigating the molecular basis for it."
--Evelyn Strauss
Transient field solution for a layer of finite thickness on a resistive basement
Authors: Singer Bension Sh. , Green Andrew 
Published: August 2003

A closed‐form asymptotic solution is derived for the magnetic field of the currents induced by a transient airborne magnetic source in a conductive layer of finite thickness. The conductive layer rests on top of a resistive half‐space. Like the well‐known solution found by J. C. Maxwell for a thin conductive sheet surrounded by an insulator, the secondary magnetic field is expressed in terms of an image source receding from the layer. However, the new solution also accounts for the layer thickness h and the conductivity of the half‐space. One of the conclusions from the new solution is that the mirror plane that specifies the position of the image is located below the upper interface of the conductive layer at depth h/3. This indicates the correct position at which the equivalent thin sheet should be placed when Maxwell's solution is applied to a layer of finite thickness. If the basement that underlies the layer is highly resistive, Maxwell's solution becomes accurate when induced currents are almost uniformly spread across the layer. It remains accurate as long as currents induced in the basement can be neglected. Eventually, the secondary magnetic field of these currents will prevail over the field of currents in the layer. Maxwell's solution loses its accuracy long before this occurs. Depending on parameters of the model, the validity time range of Maxwell's solution may be narrow or even nonexistent. The generalized image solution is applicable in the time range h/vs < t < (σs/σb)(h/vs), where vs is the image recession speed, and σs and σb are the layer and basement conductivities, respectively. This range is significantly wider than that of Maxwell's solution. At early times, the secondary magnetic field is controlled by the position of the nearest interface of the conductive layer. Accounting for this observation, a simple modification of the new solution may be used to extend the applicability range towards even earlier times. The generalized solution is faster by several orders of magnitude than a numeric solution based on successive wavenumber‐to‐space and frequency‐to‐time domain fast Hankel transforms.
Load compensation in targeted limb movements of an insect
Authors: Matheson Tom , Dürr Volker 
Published: August 2003

SUMMARYThe task of a multi-jointed limb making an aimed movement towards a target requires that the movement is regulated against external perturbations such as changing load. In particular, loading one part of a limb leads to altered static forces on all proximal segments, and to additional dynamic joint interaction forces when the limb moves. We have addressed the question of load compensation in an insect preparation in which a locust makes aimed scratching movements with a hind leg in response to tactile stimulation of a wing.We show that loading the femur or tibia with the equivalent of 8.5 times the mass of the tibia (corresponding to an increase of up to 11.6 times the rotational moment of inertia at the femur–tibia joint) does not impair the animal's ability to make well-coordinated, aimed movements of that leg towards different targets. The kinematics of the movements are the same, and animals aim the same part of their distal tibia at the target, regardless of loading. The movements are carried out with equal accuracy and at the same initial velocity under all load conditions. Because loading of the leg does not change the behavioural performance, there is no indication of a change in aiming strategy. This implies high leg joint stiffness and/or the existence of high gain proprioceptive control loops. We have previously shown that in the unloaded condition, movements elicited by stimuli to different places on the wing are driven by a single underlying movement pattern that shifts depending on stimulus location along the wing surface. Our present data show that leg proprioceptive inputs are also integrated into the leg motor networks,rendering hind limb targeting robust against large changes in moment of inertia.
The effect of colour vision status on the detection and selection of fruits by tamarins (Saguinusspp.)
Authors: Smith Andrew C. , Buchanan-Smith Hannah M. , Surridge Alison K. , Osorio Daniel , Mundy Nicholas I. 
Published: August 2003

SUMMARYThe evolution of trichromatic colour vision by the majority of anthropoid primates has been linked to the efficient detection and selection of food,particularly ripe fruits among leaves in dappled light. Modelling of visual signals has shown that trichromats should be more efficient than dichromats at distinguishing both fruits from leaves and ripe from unripe fruits. This prediction is tested in a controlled captive setting using stimuli recreated from those actually encountered by wild tamarins (Saguinus spp.). Dietary data and reflectance spectra of Abuta fluminum fruits eaten by wild saddleback (Saguinus fuscicollis) and moustached(Saguinus mystax) tamarins and their associated leaves were collected in Peru. A. fluminum leaves, and fruits in three stages of ripeness,were reproduced and presented to captive saddleback and red-bellied tamarins(Saguinus labiatus). Trichromats were quicker to learn the task and were more efficient at selecting ripe fruits than were dichromats. This is the first time that a trichromatic foraging advantage has been demonstrated for monkeys using naturalistic stimuli with the same chromatic properties as those encountered by wild animals.
A regulatory role for cortisol in muscle glycogen metabolism in rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykissWalbaum
Authors: Milligan C. Louise 
Published: August 2003

SUMMARYTo test the hypothesis that cortisol has a regulatory role in fish muscle glycogenesis post-exercise, rainbow trout were treated 1 h prior to exercise with either saline (control) or metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2-di-3-pyridyl-1-propanone) to block cortisol synthesis. Following exercise(time 0), half of the metyrapone-treated fish received a single injection of cortisol, to mimic the post-exercise rise usually observed. Muscle glycogen and the relative activities of glycogen phosphorylase a (Phos a) and glycogen synthase I (GSase I), regulatory enzymes for glycogen resynthesis, were monitored 4 h post-exercise. Metyrapone treatment succeeded in blocking the post-exercise rise in plasma cortisol(17±2 vs 118±13 ng ml–1 in controls at time 0), and cortisol injection resulted in a larger and more prolonged cortisol increase than in controls (159±22 vs 121±14 ng ml–1 in controls at 1 h). Muscle glycogen was completely restored in the metyrapone-treated fish within 2 h after exercise(8.3±0.6 vs 8±0.7 μmol g–1pre-exercise), only partially restored in control fish at 4 h (5.4±01.4 vs 8.8±1.3 μmol g–1 pre-exercise), and not at all in cortisol-treated fish (1.0±0.5 μmol g–1at 4 h). The rapid glycogen resynthesis in the metyrapone-treated fish was associated with a more rapid inactivation of Phos a and stimulation of GSase I compared to controls. In cortisol-treated fish, Phos a activity persisted throughout 4 h post-exercise; there was also a significant stimulation of GSase I activity. As a consequence of dual activation of Phos a and GSase I, glycogen cycling probably occurred, thus preventing net synthesis. This explains why the post-exercise elevation of cortisol inhibits net glycogen synthesis in trout muscle.