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Very Interesting (very + interesting)
Selected AbstractsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Lip: Exact Location Match in SiblingsDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2005Dogan Tuncali MD Background. In recent years, genetic contribution to the development of skin cancers is under the magnifying glass of several authors and is now regarded as the main initial etiology in carcinogenesis. Objective. Two siblings who had squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip showing an exact location match are presented. Patients. They did not share common environmental factors, and there was no history of tobacco and/or alcohol abuse. Conclusions. It would be scientifically deceptive to draw generous conclusions for the cases here, other than being a very interesting and unusual coincidence, because further evaluation could not be done to scientifically prove a possible genetic contribution. DOGAN TUNCALI, MD, NURTEN YAVUZ, MD, AHMET TERZIOGLU, MD, AND GÜRCAN ASLAN, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS. [source] Fast immobilization of probe beads by dielectrophoresis-controlled adhesion in a versatile microfluidic platform for affinity assayELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 19 2005Janko Auerswald Dr. Abstract The use of probe beads for lab-on-chip affinity assays is very interesting from a practical point of view. It is easier to handle and trap beads than molecules in microfluidic systems. We present a method for the immobilization of probe beads at defined areas on a chip using dielectrophoresis (DEP)-controlled adhesion. The method is fast, i.e., it takes between 10 and 120,s , depending on the protocol , to functionalize a chip surface at defined areas. The method is versatile, i.e., it works for beads with different types of probe molecule coatings. The immobilization is irreversible, i.e., the retained beads are able to withstand high flow velocities in a flow-through device even after the DEP voltage is turned off, thus allowing the use of conventional high-conductivity analyte buffers in the following assay procedure. We demonstrate the on-chip immobilization of fluorescent beads coated with biotin, protein,A, and goat,antimouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). The number of immobilized beads at an electrode array can be determined from their fluorescence signal. Further, we use this method to demonstrate the detection of streptavidin and mouse IgG. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of the parallel detection of different analyte molecules on the same chip. [source] A survey of the behavior of the hydroxybisphosphonic function in crystallized acids, metallic salts, and some related compoundsHETEROATOM CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2001J.-P. Silvestre The flexibility and the different degrees of ionization of the hydroxybisphosphonic function provide numerous possibilities for the complexation of metallic and organic cations to molecules possessing these functions. The properties of this class of compounds are very interesting for different industrial and medical applications. They depend in a large part on the nature of the hydrocarbonated chain substituted to CH3 in hydroxyethylidenebisphosphonic acid and of the number and the position of the bisphosphonic groups grafted on this chain. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 12:73,89, 2001 [source] Resolution of the flow in clarifiers by using a stabilized finite element methodINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 2 2004P. Vellando Abstract The description of the flow that takes place in clarifiers and other wastewater treatment basins may be a powerful tool to attain an optimum design of these structures, in order to make the most of the wastewater treatment plant resources. Some authors have attempted so by making use of the potential flow or the Stokes equations. When these simplifications are used, an approximation of the flow for slow creeping conditions is obtained, but only the resolution of the all-term-including Navier,Stokes equations will allow us to detect the real streamlines and the vortices that show up for even very slow water flows. The use of the Navier,Stokes formulae as the governing equations involves the appearance of complex stability problems that do not show up for the previously mentioned simplifications. In the present work a stable finite element method for the resolution of the Navier,Stokes equations is presented, verified, and used in the resolution of some wastewater treatment flow problems with very interesting results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A genetic-based neuro-fuzzy controller for blind equalization of time-varying channelsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 7 2008Siba Prasada Panigrahi Abstract This paper presents a neuro-fuzzy network (NFN) where all its parameters can be tuned simultaneously using genetic algorithms (GAs). The approach combines the merits of fuzzy logic theory, neural networks and GAs. The proposed NFN does not require a priori knowledge about the system and eliminates the need for complicated design steps such as manual tuning of input,output membership functions, and selection of fuzzy rule base. Although, only conventional GAs have been used, convergence results are very encouraging. A well-known numerical example derived from literature is used to evaluate and compare the performance of the network with other equalizing approaches. Simulation results show that the proposed neuro-fuzzy controller, all parameters of which have been tuned simultaneously using GAs, offers advantages over existing equalizers and has improved performance. From the perspective of application and implementation, this paper is very interesting as it provides a new method for performing blind equalization. The main contribution of this paper is the use of learning algorithms to train a feed-forward neural network for M-ary QAM and PSK signals. This paper also provides a platform for researchers of the area for further development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Constructivist Implications of Material Power: Military Engagement and the Socialization of States, 1972,2000INTERNATIONAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2006CAROL ATKINSON The research presented in this article examines one aspect of state socialization, the extent to which transnational military-to-military interactions have served as an effective mechanism of the democratic political socialization of states. Military organizations are very interesting when we consider avenues by which state socialization might occur because military organizations are an influential part of governments, and members share common beliefs and values as soldiers and officers that transcend borders. Thus, it would seem that a state's military structure is one likely channel whereby politically relevant individuals might learn new ideas and have the capability to reform existing institutional structures. The socialization process described in this study is three level: (1) individuals acquire new ideas; (2) coercion, incentives, and persuasion aid in institutionalizing these ideas in the underlying political structure of the state; and (3) once institutionalized, these new ideas/identity of the state influence the material and ideational structure of international society. Using Cox Proportional Hazard models and an original data set encompassing over 160 states during the years 1972,2000, the analyses find U.S. military-to-military contacts to be positively and systematically associated with liberalizing trends. This finding provides evidence that constructivist mechanisms do have observable effects, and that ideationally based processes play an important role in U.S. national security. [source] Modification of cellulose fabrics with reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes to improve their shape-memory performanceJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Kongliang Xie Abstract Reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (R-POSS) containing multi- N -methylol is a functional and attractive staring monomer for new reinforcement materials. R-POSS has excellent potential as a nanosized core for starburst dendrimers and highly reactive multi- N -methylol. R-POSS can be used for cellulose fabric finishing to improve its shape-memory performance. Factors affecting the crosslinking reaction of the cellulose with R-POSS were investigated. The physical properties and morphological structure of the cellulose fabrics modified with R-POSS are discussed with respect to the crease recovery angle, the whiteness index, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the crease recovery angle of the fabric modified with R-POSS obviously increased. With increasing R-POSS concentration, the crease recovery angle of the modified fabric sharply increased. R-POSS readily crosslinked to cellulose and improved the elastic recovery of the cellulose fabrics. The surfaces of the cellulose fibers modified with R-POSS were smooth and full. The inclusion of R-POSS with dimethylol dihydroxyl ethylene urea to modify the cellulose showed very interesting results. It showed a good combination of an increase of crease recovery angle and a decrease in tensile strength. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Optimization of C:N ratio and minimal initial carbon source for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Bacillus megateriumJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Débora Jung Luvizetto Faccin Abstract BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was the optimization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate),P(3HB),production in submerged cultures of Bacillus megaterium in a mineral medium using sucrose as carbon source and nitrogen as the limiting substrate. Small-scale experiments were carried out in shake flasks at 30 °C and 160 rpm in order to evaluate the best initial sucrose concentration and carbon:nitrogen ratio to maximize biomass accumulation and biopolymer production. An objective function in terms of residual sucrose and P(3HB) production was proposed in order to optimize the amount of carbon source used and the production of P(3HB). RESULTS: High production of P(3HB) was obtained, with approximately 70% (CDW) accumulation in cells without nitrogen limitation and strongly correlated with the pH of the culture. Scaling-up the system to cultures in a bioreactor, with or without pH control, a reduction of P(3HB) accumulation (around 30% CDW) was observed when compared with shaker cultures, suggesting a possible role of oxygen limitation as a stress signaling for P(3HB) synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our experiments showed that Bacillus megaterium was able to produce P(3HB) at one of the highest production rates so far reported for this bacterium, making this microorganism very interesting for industrial applications. Comparisons of shaker and bench-scale bioreactor experiments show both the importance of pH and aeration strategies. It is likely that complex aeration strategies linked to cell metabolism will be necessary for further developments using this bacterium. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Evaluation of a novel Bacillus strain from a north-western Spain hot spring as a source of extracellular thermostable lipaseJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2009Francisco J. Deive Abstract BACKGROUND: Thermophilic microorganisms are receiving significant attention as a source of useful thermostable enzymes. However, the number of known strains is still limited, and very often their most interesting biocatalysts are intracellular or membrane-bound and produced at low levels. Thus, the isolation and study of novel extracellular enzyme-producing thermophilic microorganisms is very interesting. Moreover, the assessment of bioreactor performance is crucial, given the scarce information on the large-scale culture of these strains. RESULTS: The production of a thermostable extracellular lipase in submerged cultures of a thermophilic microorganism, recently isolated in north-west Spain, was investigated. The strain was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as belonging to genus Bacillus. The influence of operating variables (i.e. pH, temperature, aeration) on lipase biosynthesis was analysed. Enzyme production at bioreactor scale was investigated, special attention being paid to the effect of aeration and agitation rates. CONCLUSION: The best conditions for the studied process were determined in shake flasks as pH 7.0, 55 °C and high aeration levels. Also, the non-association between lipase production and cell growth was ascertained. The culture of this novel strain was successfully carried out in laboratory-scale bioreactors, thus proving its potential for further applications. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Production of delta-endotoxin by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp kurstaki and overcoming of catabolite repression by using highly concentrated gruel and fish meal media in 2- and 20-dm3 fermentersJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2002Nabil Zouari Abstract Delta-endotoxin production by a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp kurstaki exhibiting larvicidal toxicity towards lepidoptera was investigated in 2- and 20-dm3 fermenters, using gruel- and fish meal-based media. The results show clearly that in such complex media, aeration plays an important role in bioinsecticide production. Optimal aeration led to improvement of delta-endotoxin concentrations with decreases of final spore count and proteolytic activity. Moreover, in order to use high gruel concentrations, a fermenter configuration with an efficient aeration system should be used. In a 20-dm3 Biolafite fermenter, 59,g,dm,3 or 75,g,dm,3 gruel was used to produce bioinsecticides with a significant reduction of carbon catabolite repression of delta-endotoxin synthesis. This result is very interesting in order to produce high final delta-endotoxin concentrations in the culture broth. It was also concluded, by considering the key role of oxidative pathways in delta-endotoxin synthesis, that oxygen supply must be adequate for bioinsecticide production at high substrate concentrations. Moreover, the role of sodium chloride in improving delta-endotoxin production is dependent not only on protease synthesis and its effect on crystal stability, but also on the aeration level of the production medium. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Ultrastructure of the protonephridial system in Neodasys chaetonotoideus (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida) and in the ground pattern of Gastrotricha,JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 7 2007Alexander Kieneke Abstract The taxon Neodasys has a basal position within Gastrotricha. This makes it very interesting for phylogenetic considerations in this group. To complete the reconstruction of the nephridial system in the stem species of Gastrotricha started earlier, we have studied the whole protonephridial system of Neodasys chaetonotoideus by means of complete sets of ultrathin sections and TEM. In many characters, protonephridia of N. chaetonotoideus resemble those of macrodasyidan gastrotrich species. For example, each of the six protonephridia, arranged in three pairs, consists of three distinct cells that constitute the continuous protonephridial lumen. Especially, the terminal cell of the protonephridia of N. chaetonotoideus shows a striking pattern: The perforation of the filter region is a meandering cleft that is continuous with the seam of the enfolded lumen of that cell. With the results presented here and that of former TEM studies, we give a comprehensive idea of the excretory organs in the ground pattern of Gastrotricha. Moreover, we can elaborate on the hypothesized protonephridial system in the stem species of Bilateria. We suggest that a meandering filtration cleft is a feature of the ground pattern of the Bilateria. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Extremely interesting, very interesting, or only quite interesting?JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 3 2002Adverbs, social class An earlier study, based on interviews with a socially stratified sample showed a difference in the use of adverbs, with the middle,class speakers using derived adverbs in ,ly more than twice as frequently as the working,class speakers. An examination of interactions in peer,group same,sex dyads shows a similar socially stratified pattern in both adults and adolescents. There are similar differences in the use of some other adverbs and certain adjectives. The consistency of the results suggests that there is a stable difference in speech styles between the two social classes and that this difference reflects a different attitude on the part of the speakers to their audience. [source] EFFECTS OF INULIN AND BULKING AGENTS ON SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL, TEXTURAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF MILK CHOCOLATEJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 5 2009HANNANEH FARZANMEHR ABSTRACT Chocolates are favorite foodstuffs with high sugar contents. Therefore, in the present study, the production of a low-sugar milk chocolate with prebiotic properties is evaluated. Various ratios of inulin (IN), polydextrose (PD) and maltodextrin (MD) along with sucralose (0.04% w/w) were used instead of sugar. Fifteen formulations were examined to determine some physicochemical, mechanical and sensory properties in order to find their optimum ratios. In general, formulations with high ratios of PD and MD were moister and softer than control. The lowest moisture content and highest hardness were observed for the moderate ratios. In addition, MD induced the least desirable sensorial effects, whereas PD and IN pronouncedly improved the overall acceptability. The optimum applicable range for IN, PD and MD were 14,32% and 71,84%, 7,26% and 67,77%, and 0,20% of sugar substitutes, respectively. Our findings on simultaneous fat and sugar reductions also indicated the possibility of fat cut up to 5% in comparison to previous fat content. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In this paper, we have reported the influences of inulin (IN) as a prebiotic as well as polydextrose (PD) and maltodextrin (MD) as bulking agents on physicochemical, energy content, texture and sensory properties of milk chocolate using simplex lattice mixture design. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in this field with very interesting results and practical applicability. Moreover, our findings showed that the use of aforementioned ingredients instead of sugar could lead to production of low-calorie milk chocolate without having the undesirable textural and physiological effects on the product and consumers. Moreover, the simplex lattice mixture design was found a very useful technique for finding optimum ratios of sugar replacers in formulation. [source] Loading of Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels with Bioactive Compounds by Antisolvent Precipitation with Supercritical Carbon DioxideMACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 2 2010Emmerich Haimer Abstract Bacterial cellulose aerogels overcome the drawback of shrinking during preparation by drying with supercritical CO2. Thus, the pore network of these gels is fully accessible. These materials can be fully rewetted to 100% of its initial water content, without collapsing of the structure due to surface tension of the rewetting solvent. This rehydration property and the high pore volume of these material rendered bacterial cellulose aerogels very interesting as controlled release matrices. Supercritical CO2 drying, the method of choice for aerogel preparation, can simultaneously be used to precipitate solutes within the cellulose matrix and thus to load bacterial cellulose aerogels with active substances. This process, frequently termed supercritical antisolvent precipitation, is able to perform production of the actual aerogel and its loading in one single preparation step. In this work, the loading of a bacterial cellulose aerogel matrix with two model substances, namely dexpanthenol and L-ascorbic acid, and the release behavior from the matrix were studied. A mathematical release model was applied to model the interactions between the solutes and the cellulose matrix. The bacterial cellulose aerogels were easily equipped with the reagents by supercritical antisolvent precipitation. Loading isotherms as well as release kinetics indicated no specific interaction between matrix and loaded substances. Hence, loading and release can be controlled and predicted just by varying the thickness of the gel and the solute concentration in the loading bath. [source] Gold compounds as anticancer agents: chemistry, cellular pharmacology, and preclinical studiesMEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS, Issue 3 2010Stefania Nobili Abstract Gold compounds are a class of metallodrugs with great potential for cancer treatment. During the last two decades, a large variety of gold(I) and gold(III) compounds are reported to possess relevant antiproliferative properties in vitro against selected human tumor cell lines, qualifying themselves as excellent candidates for further pharmacological evaluation. The unique chemical properties of the gold center confer very interesting and innovative pharmacological profiles to gold-based metallodrugs. The primary goal of this review is to define the state of the art of preclinical studies on anticancer gold compounds, carried out either in vitro or in vivo. The available investigations of anticancer gold compounds are analyzed in detail, and particular attention is devoted to underlying molecular mechanisms. Notably, a few biophysical studies reveal that the interactions of cytotoxic gold compounds with DNA are generally far weaker than those of platinum drugs, implying the occurrence of a substantially different mode of action. A variety of alternative mechanisms were thus proposed, of which those involving either direct mitochondrial damage or proteasome inhibition or modulation of specific kinases are now highly credited. The overall perspectives on the development of gold compounds as effective anticancer drugs with an innovative mechanism of action are critically discussed on the basis of the available experimental evidence. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 30, No. 3, 550,580, 2010 [source] Impacts of Shewanella oneidensis c -type cytochromes on aerobic and anaerobic respirationMICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Haichun Gao Summary Shewanella are renowned for their ability to utilize a wide range of electron acceptors (EA) for respiration, which has been partially accredited to the presence of a large number of the c -type cytochromes. To investigate the involvement of c -type cytochrome proteins in aerobic and anaerobic respiration of Shewanella oneidensis Mr -1, 36 in-frame deletion mutants, among possible 41 predicted, c -type cytochrome genes were obtained. The potential involvement of each individual c -type cytochrome in the reduction of a variety of EAs was assessed individually as well as in competition experiments. While results on the well-studied c -type cytochromes CymA(SO4591) and MtrC(SO1778) were consistent with previous findings, collective observations were very interesting: the responses of S. oneidensis Mr -1 to low and highly toxic metals appeared to be significantly different; CcoO, CcoP and PetC, proteins involved in aerobic respiration in various organisms, played critical roles in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration with highly toxic metals as EA. In addition, these studies also suggested that an uncharacterized c -type cytochrome (SO4047) may be important to both aerobiosis and anaerobiosis. [source] Photoreaction Between Benzoylthiophenes and N -BOC-Tryptophan Methyl Ester,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Julia Pérez-Prieto ABSTRACT Drug-induced photoallergy requires as the first step formation of covalent drug-protein photoadducts. One of the key amino acids involved in this process is tryptophan (Trp). In this context, several diaryl ketones, including 2-benzoylthiophene (BT), [2-(5-benzoyl-5-thienyl)]-2-methylpropanoic methyl ester (TPA methyl ester) and 4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropanoic methyl ester (SUP methyl ester) have been irradiated in the presence of N -BOC-(L)-tryptophan methyl ester. Laser flash photolysis has allowed to detect three neutral radicals (ketyl, indolyl and skatolyl radicals) resulting from formal hydrogen-atom abstraction. This correlates well with the isolation of homodimers, as well as with cross-coupling products, in the preparative irradiation. The main cross-coupling products were in all cases lactones arising from the reaction of the Trp-derived skatolyl radicals with the corresponding ketyl radicals. These lactones were obtained as the (4R) stereoisomers with remarkable diasteroselectivity. No coupling products through the phenyl p -position of BT or TPA methyl ester were found. By contrast, ketone homodimers and cross-coupling products arising from reaction through the thienyl 5-position were obtained when using BT and SUP methyl ester; this is very interesting, because stable LAT-derived products are difficult to isolate. [source] Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Hypericum sp. on brine shrimps and human cancer cell linesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2002M. Couladis Abstract Ten different samples of five Hypericum sp. were tested on brine shrimps, human colon carcinoma and human hepatoma cell lines for their cytotoxic activities. H. triquetrifolium Turra. (Rafina) showed the highest activity (LC50,=,22,mg/mL) on brine shrimps, while the extracts of the other nine samples showed significant to moderate activities (LC50 from 37 to 107,mg/mL). H. empetrifolium Wild. (Parnon) showed the highest activity in human colon carcinoma and human hepatoma cell lines, with LC50 values 29 and 25.1,mg/mL, respectively, while the LC50 values of the other samples were more than 45,mg/mL. It is very interesting to observe that most Hypericum samples showed good antioxidant activity in vitro. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Strategic Localization of Toll-like Receptor 4 in the Digestive Tract of Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 6 2009G. Y. Zhang Summary This study was performed to determine the localization strategies of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) in digestive tract (oesophagus, bulbodium, foregut, midgut and hindgut) of Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) using immunohistochemical staining method. TLR4 positive cells were observed throughout the digestive tract. In the oesophagus, some positive reactions in lamina propria were found around small blood vessels and there were also some positive cells within the stratified squamous epithelium. Lots of positive cells were observed in the muscular layer of the oesophagus. In bulbodium, foregut and hindgut, the expression of TLR4 was mainly restricted to the apical surface of epithelial cells located at the bottom of the mucosal folds and the mesenchymal cells in lamina propria. It was very interesting that epithelial cells in the midgut, but none in other parts, had many TLR4 positive cytoplasmic granular structures which were also periodic acid Schiff positive. These findings suggested that TLR4 was expressed in a compartmentalized manner in the Blunt snout bream (M. amblycephala) digestive tract and provided novel information about the in vivo localization of pattern recognition receptors. [source] Using budding yeast to screen for anti-prion drugsBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006Déborah Tribouillard Abstract Prions are misfolded proteins capable of propagating their altered conformation which are commonly considered as the causative agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, a class of fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, no treatment for prion-based diseases is available. Recently we have developed a rapid, yeast-based, two-step assay to screen for anti-prion drugs [1]. This new method allowed us to identify several compounds that are effective in vivo against budding yeast [PSI+] and [URE3] prions but also able to promote mammalian prion clearance in three different cell culture-based assays. Taken together, these results validate our method as an economic and efficient high-throughput screening approach to identify novel prion inhibitors or to carry on comprehensive structure-activity studies for already isolated anti-mammalian prion drugs. These results suggest furthermore that biochemical pathways controlling prion formation and/or maintenance are conserved from yeast to human and thus amenable to pharmacological and genetic analysis. Finally, it would be very interesting to test active drugs isolated using the yeast-based assay in models for other diseases (neurodegenerative or not) involving amyloid fibers like Huntington's, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||