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Research Articles (research + article)
Kinds of Research Articles Selected AbstractsRESEARCH ARTICLE: RPD3 and ROM2 are required for multidrug resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiaeFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008Silvia Borecka-Melkusova Abstract The PDR5 gene encodes the major multidrug resistance efflux pump in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In drug-resistant cells, the hyperactive Pdr1p or Pdr3p transcriptional activators are responsible for the PDR5 upregulation. In this work, it is shown that the RPD3 gene encoding the histone deacetylase that functions as a transcriptional corepressor at many promoters and the ROM2 gene coding for the GDP/GTP exchange protein for Rho1p and Rho2p participating in signal transduction pathways are required for PDR5 transcription under cycloheximide-induced and noninduced conditions. Transposon insertion mutations in ROM2, RPD3 and some other genes encoding specific subunits of the large Rpd3L protein complex resulted in enhanced susceptibility of mutant cells to antifungals. In the rpd3, and rom2, mutants, the level of PDR5 mRNA and the rate of rhodamine 6G efflux were reduced. Unlike rpd3,, in rom2, mutant cells the drug hypersensitivity and the defect in PDR5 expression were suppressed by PDR1 or PDR3 overexpressed from heterologous promoters and by the hyperactive pdr3-9 mutant allele. The results indicate that Rpd3p histone deacetylase participating in chromatin remodeling and Rom2p participating in the cell integrity pathway are involved in the control of PDR5 expression and modulation of multidrug resistance in yeast. [source] RESEARCH ARTICLE: Fungicidal activity of amiodarone is tightly coupled to calcium influxFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008Sabina Muend Abstract The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has microbicidal activity against fungi, bacteria and protozoa. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, amiodarone triggers an immediate burst of cytosolic Ca2+, followed by cell death markers. Ca2+ transients are a common response to many forms of environmental insults and toxic compounds, including osmotic and pH shock, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and high levels of mating pheromone. Downstream signaling events involving calmodulin, calcineurin and the transcription factor Crz1 are critical in mediating cell survival in response to stress. In this study we asked whether amiodarone induced Ca2+ influx was beneficial, toxic or a bystander effect unrelated to the fungicidal effect of the drug. We show that downregulation of Ca2+ channel activity in stationary phase cells correlates with increased resistance to amiodarone. In actively growing cells, extracellular Ca2+ modulated the size and shape of the Ca2+ transient and directly influenced amiodarone toxicity. Paradoxically, protection was achieved both by removal of external Ca2+ or by adding high levels of CaCl2 (10 mM) to block the drug induced Ca2+ burst. Our results support a model in which the fungicidal activity of amiodarone is mediated by Ca2+ stress, and highlight the pathway of Ca2+ mediated cell death as a promising target for antifungal drug development. [source] RESEARCH ARTICLE: Farysizyma gen. nov., an anamorphic genus in the Ustilaginales to accommodate three novel epiphytic basidiomycetous yeast species from America, Europe and AsiaFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008João Inácio Abstract Among many isolates that resulted from four independent surveys of yeasts associated with plants in Brazil, the USA, Portugal and Taiwan, we have characterized eighteen basidiomycetous strains, two of which were conspecific with the type strain of Rhodotorula acheniorum, whereas the remaining sixteen isolates appeared not to correspond to any previously described species. Microsatellite-PCR fingerprinting with primers M13 and (GTG)5 confirmed that the latter strains formed three genetically distinct groups. Each group was considered to represent a distinct species based on nucleotide sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data placed the putative novel species in a clade with R. acheniorum and the dimorphic smut fungus Farysia chardoniana. A novel anamorphic genus, Farysizyma, is created to accommodate the three undescribed species, which were named Farysizyma itapuensis, Farysizyma setubalensis and Farysizyma taiwaniana. A new combination, Farysizyma acheniorum, is proposed for R. acheniorum, which may represent the yeast-phase anamorph of Farysia thuemenii. [source] RESEARCH ARTICLE: Myelin Abnormalities without Oligodendrocyte Loss in Periventricular LeukomalaciaBRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Saraid S. Billiards Abstract The cellular basis of myelin deficits detected by neuroimaging in long-term survivors of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that oligodendrocyte lineage (OL) cell density is reduced in PVL, thereby contributing to subsequent myelin deficits. Using computer-based methods, we determined OL cell density in sections from 18 PVL and 18 age-adjusted control cases, immunostained with the OL-lineage marker Olig2. Myelination was assessed with myelin basic protein (MBP) immunostaining. We found no significant difference between PVL and control cases in Olig2 cell density in the periventricular or intragyral white matter. We did find, however, a significant increase in Olig2 cell density at the necrotic foci, compared with distant areas. Although no significant difference was found in the degree of MBP immunostaining, we observed qualitative abnormalities of MBP immunostaining in both the diffuse and necrotic components of PVL. Abnormal MBP immunostaining in PVL despite preserved Olig2 cell density may be secondary to arrested OL maturation, damage to OL processes, and/or impaired axonal-OL signaling. OL migration toward the "core" of injury may occur to replenish OL cell number. This study provides new insight into the cellular basis of the myelin deficits observed in survivors of PVL. [source] RESEARCH ARTICLES: Traces of a Lost Language and Number System Discovered on the North Coast of PeruAMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 3 2010Jeffrey Quilter ABSTRACT, Sometime in the early 17th century, at Magdalena de Cao, a community of resettled native peoples in the Chicama Valley on the North Coast of Peru, a Spaniard used the back of a letter to jot down the terms for numbers in a local language. Four hundred years later, the authors of this article were able to recover and study this piece of paper. We present information on this otherwise unknown language, on numeracy, and on cultural relations of ethnolinguistic groups in pre- and early-post-Conquest northern Peru. Our investigations have determined that, while several of the Magadalena number terms were likely borrowed from a Quechuan language, the remainder record a decimal number system in an otherwise unknown language. Historical sources of the region mention at least two potential candidate languages, Pescadora and Quingnam; however, because neither is documented beyond its name, a definite connection remains impossible to establish. RESUMEN, En los inicios del siglo diecisiete, en el sitio de Magdalena de Cao, una comunidad de indígenas reducidos en el valle de Chicama en la costa norte del Perú, un español usó el reverso de una carta para anotar las palabras que traducían números en un idioma local. Cuatrocientos años después, la carta fue recuperada y estudiada por los autores de este artículo. Presentamos información acerca de este idioma desconocido, tanto como sobre los conceptos numéricos, y sobre las relaciones culturales de grupos etnolinguísticos en la costa norte del Perú antes y después de la conquista español. Nuestras investigaciones habían determinado que, mientras algunas de las palabras numéricas son probablemente prestadas de un idioma quechua, los demás vienen de un sistema numérico decimal de un idioma hasta ahora desconocido. Las fuentes históricas en la región mencionan al menos dos idiomas como candidatos potenciales, o sea Pescadora y Quingnam, pero como no sabemos sino esos dos nombres, es imposible identificar a que idiomas pertenecieron. [source] Research Article: The Cysteine Pairs in CLV2 are Not Necessary for Sensing the CLV3 Peptide in Shoot and Root MeristemsJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Xiufen Song Receptor-like proteins (RLPs) are involved in both plant defense and developmental processes. Previous genetic and biochemical studies show that the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like protein CLAVATA2 (CLV2) functions together with CLAVATA1 (CLV1) and CORYNE (CRN) in Arabidopsis to limit the stem cell number in shoot apical meristem, while in root it acts with CRN to trigger a premature differentiation of the stem cells after sensing the exogenously applied peptides of CLV3p, CLE19p or CLE40p. It has been proposed that disulfide bonds might be formed through two cysteine pairs in the extracellular LRR domains of CLV1 and CLV2 to stabilize the receptor complex. Here we tested the hypothesis by replacing these cysteines with alanines and showed that depletions of one or both of the cysteine pairs do not hamper the function of CLV2 in SAM maintenance. In vitro peptide assay also showed that removal of the cysteine pairs did not affect the perception of CLV3 peptides in roots. These observations allow us to conclude that the formation of disulfide bonds is not needed for the function of CLV2. [source] Research Article: Fingerprinting Analysis of Saposhnikovia divaricata using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid ChromatographyJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Yue-Yang Xin The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) fingerprints of fractionated non-polar and polar extracts (control substance for plant drug [CSPD] A and B) from the roots of 12 specimens of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk were achieved with Fourier Transform (FT)-NMR spectrometer and assigned by comparison to each other and to the 1H NMR spectra of the isolated individual compounds. These fingerprints were found to be uniform in terms of the specificity for the implication of all 12 specimens being systematically of the same origin. The uniformity was further affirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which also revealed exactly identical specificity for the identified S. divaricata species with the 1H NMR appearances of corresponding CSPD on the part of the composition of characteristic constituents when comparing to corresponding individual compounds. This investigation unambiguously shows that the specific signals from the chemotaxonomically significant compounds of chromones and coumarins in S. divaricata are exhibited distinctively in the composite features of both 1H NMR fingerprints and HPLC profiles. The 1H NMR and HPLC profiles established can successfully be used as reference for the authentication of the origin of S. divaricata species as well as for chemotaxonomic studies. [source] Research Article: Determinants of ambulatory ability after hip fracture surgery in Japan and the USANURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 3 2010Akiko Kondo rn Abstract We examined the relationship of the length of stay and the day of initiating partial weight bearing to patients' level of ambulatory ability at 3 months after hip fracture surgery in Japan and the USA. The participants were patients aged , 65 years who had undergone hip fracture surgery between August 2005 and September 2007. The data were collected from three hospitals in Japan and two hospitals in the USA. The participants received questionnaires pertaining to patient health outcomes after discharge. One-hundred-and-forty-nine patients in Japan and 88 patients in the USA completed the questionnaire. In Japan, the length of stay before surgery was longer and partial weight bearing after surgery was initiated later, compared to the USA. This independently predicted a lower level of ambulatory ability at 3 months after surgery. Assessing the reasons for delaying surgery and partial weight bearing is important in Japan. Encouraging ambulation with weight bearing at the earliest possible time is essential for patients to maintain their ambulatory ability after hip fracture surgery. Prospective studies using a large sample and/or intervention studies are required to determine the causal effect on ambulatory ability. [source] Research Article: Participation of patients with chronic illness in nursing care: An Iranian perspectiveNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 3 2010Mohsen Soleimani rn, phd (Cand.) Abstract The increasing number of chronically ill people has served as an impetus for the promotion of patient participation in nursing care. However, little is known about patient participation in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that are relevant to patient participation and the nature of that participation, as experienced by chronically ill patients and registered nurses in Iran. Grounded theory was used as the method. Twenty-two participants were recruited by using purposeful and theoretical sampling. The data were generated by semistructured interviews and participant observations. Constant comparison was used for the data analysis. This study indicated that participation is an interactive process between nurses, patients, and family members in the caregiving context. Participation occurred when the caring agents worked together. The core category of "convergence of the caring agents" emerged. The subcategories emerged as the levels of participation and included "adhering", "involving", "sharing", and "true participation". The factors related to the caring agents and caregiving context could be considered as predictors of the level of participation when caring for these patients. [source] Award of Excellence , Outstanding Research Article , 2002PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003Article first published online: 5 MAR 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Research Article: Effective and Specific Inhibition of the CD40,CD154 Costimulatory Interaction by a Naphthalenesulphonic Acid DerivativeCHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 4 2010Emilio Margolles-Clark Costimulatory interactions are important regulators of T-cell activation and, hence, promising therapeutic targets in autoimmune diseases as well as in transplant recipients. Following our recent identification of the first small-molecule inhibitors of the CD40,CD154 costimulatory protein,protein interaction (J Mol Med 87, 2009, 1133), we continued our search within the chemical space of organic dyes, and we now report the identification of the naphthalenesulphonic acid derivative mordant brown 1 as a more active, more effective, and more specific inhibitor. Flow cytometry experiments confirmed its ability to concentration-dependently inhibit the CD154(CD40L)-induced cellular responses in human THP-1 cells at concentrations well below cytotoxic levels. Binding experiments showed that it not only inhibits the CD40,CD154 interaction with sub-micromolar activity, but it also has considerably more than 100-fold selectivity toward this interaction even when compared to other members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily pairs such as TNF-R1,TNF-,, BAFF-R(CD268),BAFF(CD257/BLys), OX40(CD134),OX40L(CD252), RANK(CD265),RANKL(CD254/TRANCE), or 4-1BB(CD137),4-1BBL. There is now sufficient structure-activity relationship information to serve as the basis of a drug discovery initiative targeting this important costimulatory interaction. [source] Research Article: pso@autodock: A Fast Flexible Molecular Docking Program Based on Swarm IntelligenceCHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 6 2007Vigneshwaran Namasivayam On the quest of novel therapeutics, molecular docking methods have proven to be valuable tools for screening large libraries of compounds determining the interactions of potential drugs with the target proteins. A widely used docking approach is the simulation of the docking process guided by a binding energy function. On the basis of the molecular docking program autodock, we present pso@autodock as a tool for fast flexible molecular docking. Our novel Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms varCPSO and varCPSO-ls are suited for rapid docking of highly flexible ligands. Thus, a ligand with 23 rotatable bonds was successfully docked within as few as 100 000 computing steps (rmsd = 0.87 Å), which corresponds to only 10% of the computing time demanded by autodock. In comparison to other docking techniques as gold 3.0, dock 6.0, flexx 2.2.0, autodock 3.05, and sodock, pso@autodock provides the smallest rmsd values for 12 in 37 protein,ligand complexes. The average rmsd value of 1.4 Å is significantly lower then those obtained with the other docking programs, which are all above 2.0 Å. Thus, pso@autodock is suggested as a highly efficient docking program in terms of speed and quality for flexible peptide,protein docking and virtual screening studies. [source] Introduction to the Research ArticlesJOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009Introduction to the research articles [source] Introduction to Research ArticlesJOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2009Introduction to research articles [source] Systematic review of early intervention programmes for children from birth to nine years who have a physical disabilityAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010Jenny Ziviani Aim:, To systematically review the literature on the effectiveness of early intervention programmes for children with physical disabilities. Methods:, Twelve electronic databases were searched for articles published between 1990 and April 2008. The quality of articles was appraised using an adapted version of the Checklist for the Evaluation of Research Articles and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Results:, Ten studies were included in the review. Cross-sectional and interrupted time-series studies were of moderate methodological quality, whereas the non-randomised control trial was of moderate-to-high methodological quality. Studies differed considerably with respect to participants, types of intervention and outcomes measured. Conclusions:, Positive outcomes for both children and families have resulted from early intervention. However, methodological limitations hamper a more rigorous analysis of findings across studies. [source] Why Research on Women Entrepreneurs Needs New DirectionsENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 5 2006Helene Ahl Research articles on women's entrepreneurship reveal, in spite of intentions to the contrary and in spite of inconclusive research results, a tendency to recreate the idea of women as being secondary to men and of women's businesses being of less significance or, at best, as being a complement. Based on a discourse analysis, this article discusses what research practices cause these results. It suggests new research directions that do not reproduce women's subordination but capture more and richer aspects of women's entrepreneurship. [source] The information trail of the ,Freshman 15',a systematic review of a health myth within the research and popular literatureHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008Cecelia Brown Question: ,How does health misinformation become part of the American and Canadian vernacular? Data sources and selection: ,Twenty-three databases were searched for articles discussing university freshmen weight gain. Research articles were examined for methodology, number and gender of the participants and weight gain. Popular press articles were reviewed for the types of information published: expert/anecdotal, weight gain, nutrition, exercise, health and alcohol. A timeline of article publication dates was generated. Results: ,Twenty peer-reviewed, 19 magazine, 146 newspaper, and 141 university newspaper articles were discovered. Appearance of media articles about the ,Freshman 15' mirrored the peer-reviewed articles, yet the information did not reliably depict the research. Research indicated a weight gain of less than five pounds (2.268 kg), while half of the popular press publications claimed a 15-pound (6.804 kg) weight gain. The misinformation was frequently accompanied by information about achieving weight control through diet, exercise, stress reduction and alcohol avoidance. Conclusion: ,Understanding of how the concept of the ,Freshman 15' developed indicates that remediation efforts are needed. Collaborative efforts between health science and academic librarians, faculty and journalists to construct new paradigms for the translation of scientific evidence into information that individuals can use for decisions about health and well-being is suggested. [source] Integrating the transtheoretical model into the management of overweight and obese adultsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 2 2007Judy Gainey Seals NP, MSN (Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner) Abstract Purpose: To show how the nurse practitioner (NP) can incorporate stage-specific interventions from the transtheoretical model in the management of overweight and obese adults. Data sources: Research articles, clinical articles, and government guidelines pertaining to the management of overweight and obesity in adults. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are complex and chronic conditions that require lifelong management. The NP can help clients to safely and successfully lose weight by developing stage-specific interventions, by using an expert multidisciplinary team, and by providing ongoing monitoring and motivation. Implications for practice: The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase at an alarming rate and is a major public health concern. The NP has an important role in the assessment and management of clients with this condition. [source] Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: Management issues in primary practiceJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 6 2006FNP (Instructor), Tiwaporn Pongmarutani MSN Abstract Purpose: To provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with an update on pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with an emphasis on management considerations for primary care practitioners. Data sources: An extensive literature review was conducted using both Medline and CINAHL databases. Research articles reflecting the most compelling findings were included in this review. Conclusions: NPs who care for children with SLE may be able to prevent or delay the morbidities associated with this disease and its treatments, if they keep abreast of the new information evolving in this realm of rheumatologic diseases. Implications for practice: As more is learned about pediatric SLE, better treatments have evolved such that the survival rates have increased. The primary care of pediatric SLE patients that is focused on preventing or delaying SLE morbidities may help to restore, maintain, or improve the quality of life for these patients. [source] Stemming the tide: Cognitive aging theories and their implications for continuing education in the health professionsTHE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS, Issue 3 2003Dr. Kevin W. Eva PhD Assistant Professor Abstract As demographic drift among health care providers mimics that of the larger population, it becomes increasingly clear that theory pertaining to the impact of aging on cognitive processing should inform the continuing education efforts designed for health care professionals. The purpose of this article is to offer a critical review of the major theories in this area and outline a sample of the implications that can be derived from these views. Research articles examining the relationship between age and physician performance were identified using MEDLINE, PsychLit, and ERIC. In addition, the psychology literature on age-related changes in cognitive processing was reviewed. Evidence from the medical education literature and psychological theory suggest the importance of increased environmental supports, decreased time demands, and peer review programs as barriers against the impact of aging. The implications of these findings include the potential to tailor continuing education (and physician remediation) efforts toward the age-related abilities/deficiencies of individual physicians. [source] International Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Literature from 2006ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2007Adam C. Levine MD The field of international emergency medicine (IEM) has grown rapidly over the past several decades, with a rise in the number of IEM fellowship positions, sustained growth in the international sections of major emergency medicine organizations, and an increase in the range of topics included under its rubric. One of the greatest obstacles to the continued growth of IEM remains the lack of a high-quality, consolidated, and easily accessible evidence base of literature. In response to this perceived need, members of the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association IEM Committee, in conjunction with members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine International Health Interest Group, embarked on the task of creating a recurring review of IEM literature. This article reviews 25 IEM research articles published in 2006. Research articles were selected for the review according to explicit, predetermined criteria that included both methodological quality and perceived impact of the research. It is the authors' hope that this annual review will act as a forum for disseminating best practices while also stimulating further research in the field of IEM. [source] Ethnic Entrepreneurship Among Indian Women in New Zealand: A Bittersweet ProcessGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 5 2007Edwina Pio This research article explores the lived-in and lived-through experiences of Indian women entrepreneurs in New Zealand in the context of ethnic entrepreneurship. Through a four-stage model emerging from qualitative interviews, the article illuminates the bittersweet entrepreneurial process of ethnic minority migrant women. The four stages are: the low permeability for entry into the job market for ethnic minority migrant women; underemployment; setting up a micro-enterprise and expanding the business and creating employment for others, primarily co-ethnics as well as an expanding customer base. A combination of factors ranging from perceived discrimination, low self esteem and feelings of being devalued, to ethnic networks and lack of access/knowledge of government resources and the entry of women from Indian business families feed into each of the four stages of this model. The article offers an analysis of minority voices, along with implications for future research. [source] The self and the others: polyphonic visibility in research articlesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, Issue 1 2005Kjersti Fløttum This article will focus on the self (I/we) perspective in combination with the other (you/they) perspective as manifested through polyphonic expressions within the genre of the research article. The materials are taken from the KIAP project based at the University of Bergen. Four points will be discussed: 1) The notion of linguistic polyphony can handle the combination of the two perspectives of self and other in a fruitful way; 2) There are some polyphonic phenomena which seem to constitute a common feature or core of the research article within different languages; 3) The linguistic theory of polyphony offers an important methodological insight into the study of scientific discourse; 4) The polyphonic perspective may represent a different approach to the pedagogy of genre teaching which calls for more critical awareness of how discourse works. [source] The rhetoric of conference presentation introductions: context, argument and interactionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, Issue 1 2005Elizabeth Rowley-Jolivet The process of socialisation into the academic discourse community involves acquiring mastery of its established genres. While written academic genres have been intensively studied, spoken genres are relatively under-researched. This study focuses on one such spoken research genre, the scientific conference presentation (CP) in English, and specifically on the introduction section, a sub-genre which often poses particular problems for presenters. A move analysis of the CP introductions shows that their rhetorical structure is markedly different from that of the research article, and that these differences are closely related to the contextual and epistemological characteristics of the genre. The interpersonal relations set up by the allocation of speaker and addressee roles through the use of personal pronouns are also discussed. Through a contrastive analysis of the CP introductions and those of the corresponding proceedings papers, the article examines how speakers facilitate information processing and create rapport with the audience. The data comprise video recordings of 44 CPs from 3 scientific fields (geology, medicine, and physics) and a smaller corpus of 13 corresponding articles from the physics conference proceedings. [source] Removing bias from solvent atoms in electron density mapsJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008Eric N. Brown Atomic structures of proteins determined via protein crystallography contain numerous solvent atoms. The experimental data for the determination of a water molecule's O-atom position is often a small contained blob of unidentified electron density. Unfortunately, the nature of crystallographic refinement lets poorly placed solvent atoms bias the future refined positions of all atoms in the crystal structure. This research article presents the technique of omit-maps applied to remove the bias introduced by poorly determined solvent atoms, enabling the identification of incorrectly placed water molecules in partially refined crystal structures. A total of 160 protein crystal structures with 45,912 distinct water molecules were processed using this technique. Most of the water molecules in the deposited structures were well justified. However, a few of the solvent atoms in this test data set changed appreciably in position, displacement parameter or electron density when fitted to the solvent omit-map, raising questions about how much experimental support exists for these solvent atoms. [source] A Novel Method for Air Drying Aloe Leaf Slices by Covering with Filter Papers as a Shrink-Proof LayerJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2009S.A. Kim ABSTRACT:, To prevent the shrinkage of aloe vera slices during air drying, a method utilizing a shrink-proof layer was developed. The sample was configured of whole leaf aloe slices, where 1 side or both sides were covered with filter papers as shrink-proof layers. After air drying by varying the air temperature and the slice thickness, the drying characteristics, as well as several quality factors of the dried aloe vera leaf slices, were analyzed. In the simulation of the drying curves, the modified Page model showed the best fitness, representing a diffusion-controlled drying mechanism. Nonetheless, there was a trace of a constant-rate drying period in the samples dried by the method. Shrinkage was greatly reduced, and the rehydration ratios increased by approximately 50%. Scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that the surface structure of original fibrous form was well sustained. FT-IR characteristics showed that the dried samples could sustain aloe polysaccharide acetylation. Furthermore, the functional properties of the dried slices including water holding capacity, swelling, and fat absorption capability were improved, and polysaccharide retention levels increased by 20% to 30%. Therefore, we concluded that application of shrink-proof layers on aloe slices provides a novel way to overcome the shrinkage problems commonly found in air drying, thereby improving their functional properties with less cost. Practical Application: This research article demonstrates a novel air drying method using shrink-proof layers to prevent the shrinkage of aloe slices. We analyzed extensively the characteristics of shrinkage mechanism and physical properties of aloe flesh gels in this drying system. We concluded that this method can be a beneficial means to retain the functional properties of dried aloe, and a potential alternative to freeze drying, which is still costly. [source] Packaging handling evaluation methods in the grocery retail industryPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 1 2001Mazen Saghir Abstract The grocery retail industry, with its large product volumes, low margins and fierce competition, is constantly seeking efficiency improvements in its supply chain. The grocery retail industry uses an immense amount of packaging and is directly affected by packaging logistics activities. There is, therefore, a potential for efficiency improvements in the grocery retail supply chain through the integration and development of new systems of packaging and logistics. Packaging handling is identified as one of the main activities that has a strong impact on the overall logistical cost of a grocery chain. This research article investigates packaging handling evaluation methods and discusses how these are employed to benefit the industry. Case studies, involving six major companies from the Swedish grocery retail industry, have been used to evaluate packaging and logistics activities. This work, together with a literature review, was used to identify the need for evaluative methods and the present availability of such methods. The results indicated a lack of sufficient and usable packaging handling evaluation methods in today's grocery and packaging industry especially from a logistical point of view. The paper also highlights the lack of systematization among the few methods used and discusses how these can be used to build a systematic and multifunctional evaluation model in order to utilize the information from different studies to build a knowledge base for the future. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chemomodulatory effects of Azadirachta indica on the hepatic status of skin tumor bearing micePHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Ashwani Koul Abstract The liver plays an important role in the modulation of the process of carcinogenesis, as it is the primary site for the biotransformation of xenobiotics including carcinogens as well as anticancer drugs. The present study was designed to evaluate the biochemical alterations occurring in the liver of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin tumor bearing male Balb/c mice and their modulation by aqueous Azadirachta indica leaf extract (AAILE). It was observed that skin tumor induction caused hepatic damage characterized by a decreased hepatosomatic index and significantly increased (p < 0.001) activities of the hepatic tissue injury marker enzymes, namely alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. However, upon treatment with AAILE, the above-mentioned alterations, including the increased activities of hepatic tissue injury marker enzymes, were significantly reversed, which signified the hepato-protective efficacy of Azadirachta indica. Increased oxidative stress was also observed in the hepatic tissue of skin tumor bearing mice as revealed by a significant increase (p < 0.001) in lipid peroxidation levels and a decrease in reduced glutathione contents and activities of various antioxidant enzymes studied, namely glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. The AAILE treatment reduced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation levels and enhancing the reduced glutathione contents and activities of various antioxidant enzymes. The activities of the xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes, namely cytochrome P450, cytochrome b5 and glutathione-S-transferase, were found to be decreased in the hepatic tissue of tumor bearing mice. Treatment with AAILE further caused a decrease in the activity of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5, whereas it up-regulated the activity of glutathione-S-transferase. The significance of these observations with respect to the progress of the process of carcinogenesis is explained in the present research article. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Flame retarding effects of nanoclay on wood,fiber compositesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007G. Guo This research article focuses on investigating the effects of nanoclay particles on the flame retarding characteristics of wood,fiber/plastic composites (WPC) using ASTM D635. The processing aspects of nanocomposites with WPC are presented. The processing techniques for controlling the degree of exfoliation and the cost aspect are also described. It turns out that the coupling agent used for wood,fibers is also effective for the exfoliation of clay, and therefore, no additional cost is required. This research indicates that the structure of nanocomposites (i.e., the degree of exfoliation) and the clay content used have a large impact on the flame retardancy of WPC. The flame retardancy is investigated as a function of these parameters. Based on this, a cost-effective way to improve flame retardancy of WPC is presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:308,313, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Retracted: Determination of dextra,methylprednisolone conjugate with glycine linker in rat plasma and liver by high-performance liquid chromatography and its application in pharmacokineticsBIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2010Shuang-Qing Zhang The following article from Biomedical Chromatography, Determination of dextra-methylprednisolone conjugate with glycine linker in rat plasma and liver by high-performance liquid chromatography and its application in pharmacokinetics by Shuang-Qing Zhang and Reza Mehvar, published online on June 1st 2009 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor in Chief, Dr Chang Kee Lim and John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. The retraction has been agreed as the research article was submitted without Dr. Mehvar's knowledge or consent. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||