Some aspects of citation indexes in Spain: A comparative analysis

This paper studies the main characteristics of the citation indexes currently developed in Spain. The paper compares the impact factors offered by Spanish citation indexes with the impact factor of Spanish journals also collected by the JCRs of the ISI (SCI and SSCI) over a five-year period (2001–2005). Spanish journals published in English have higher impact factor scores in the JCR databases of the ISI than in Spanish citation indexes.     

Preservation of exponential stability for linear non-autonomous functional differential systems

We consider preservation of exponential stability for a system of linear equations with a distributed delay under the addition of new terms and a delay perturbation. As particular cases, the system includes models with concentrated delays and systems of integrodifferential equations. Our method is based on Bohl–Perron type theorems.     

Haloperidol induced microcatalepsy differs in CD-1, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice.

The degree of arrest of movement (microcatalepsy) induced by haloperidol at doses equipotent for operant rate suppression was measured with computerized instrumentation. The inbred C57BU6 mouse strain displayed more susceptibility to microcatalepsy than the CD-1 and BALB/c strains. In addition, the C57BL/6 strain exhibited a greater degree of sensitization to repeated dosing than did the other 2 strains. The results were consistent with the C57BL/6 mouse's hypodopaminergic profile reported in the literature but were at odds with results reported for conventional catalepsy testing. The C57BL/6 mouse may serve as a model for genetic vulnerability to extrapyramidal motor side effects and may be useful in quantifying the mild extrapyramidal motor side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Skeletal System Biology and Smoke Damage: From Basic Science to Medical Clinic

Cigarette smoking has a negative impact on the skeletal system, as it reduces bone mass and increases fracture risk through its direct or indirect effects on bone remodeling. Recent evidence demonstrates that smoking causes an imbalance in bone turnover, making bone vulnerable to osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Moreover, cigarette smoking is known to have deleterious effects on fracture healing, as a positive correlation between the daily number of cigarettes smoked and years of exposure has been shown, even though the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. It is also well known that smoking causes several medical/surgical complications responsible for longer hospital stays and a consequent increase in the consumption of resources. Smoking cessation is, therefore, highly advisable to prevent the onset of bone metabolic disease. However, even with cessation, some of the consequences appear to continue for decades afterwards. Based on this evidence, the aim of our review was to evaluate the impact of smoking on the skeletal system, especially on bone fractures, and to identify the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the impairment of fracture healing. Since smoking is a major public health concern, understanding the association between cigarette smoking and the occurrence of bone disease is necessary in order to identify potential new targets for intervention.     

Serotonin Promotes Serum Albumin Interaction with the Monomeric Amyloid β Peptide

Prevention of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) deposition via facilitation of Aβ binding to its natural depot, human serum albumin (HSA), is a promising approach to preclude Alzheimer’s disease (AD) onset and progression. Previously, we demonstrated the ability of natural HSA ligands, fatty acids, to improve the affinity of this protein to monomeric Aβ by a factor of 3 (BBRC, 510(2), 248–253). Using plasmon resonance spectroscopy, we show here that another HSA ligand related to AD pathogenesis, serotonin (SRO), increases the affinity of the Aβ monomer to HSA by a factor of 7/17 for Aβ₄₀/Aβ₄₂, respectively. Meanwhile, the structurally homologous SRO precursor, tryptophan (TRP), does not affect HSA’s affinity to monomeric Aβ, despite slowdown of the association and dissociation processes. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde and dynamic light scattering experiments reveal that, compared with the TRP-induced effects, SRO binding causes more marked changes in the quaternary structure of HSA. Furthermore, molecular docking reveals distinct structural differences between SRO/TRP complexes with HSA. The disintegration of the serotonergic system during AD pathogenesis may contribute to Aβ release from HSA in the central nervous system due to impairment of the SRO-mediated Aβ trapping by HSA.     

Optimal Selection of Wavelet Coefficients for Electrocardiograph Compression

This paper presents a simple method to implement a complete on‐line portable wireless holter including an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, processing, and communication protocol. The proposed algorithm significantly reduces the hardware resources of threshold estimation for ECG compression, using the standard deviation updated with each new input signal sample. The new method achieves superior performance in terms of hardware complexity, channel occupation and memory requirements, while keeping the ECG quality at a clinically acceptable level.     

Surface functionalization of cotton cellulose with glycidyl methacrylate and its application for the adsorption of aromatic pollutants from wastewaters

Cellulose material C1 was prepared by grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of Fenton-type reagent. This one-pot procedure provided C1 with glycidyl isobutyrate branches. Glycidyl epoxide ring opening with water turned C1–C2 material branched with glycerol isobutyrate. So, C1 surface bears hydrophobic branches ending with the glycidyl group, while C2 surface presents hydrophilic branches ending with the glycerol group. The adsorption of aromatic polluting substances like phenol (Ph), 4-nitrophenol (pNPh), 2,4-dinitrophenol (dNPh), 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid, tNPh) and 2-naphtol (BN) from their water solutions was tested with C1, C2 and with the untreated cellulose material C0. Phenol adsorption did not occur. All the other aromatic molecules were removed in different amount both by C1 and C2. C1 and C2 showed different affinities towards nitrophenols and 2-naphtol. While C1 was much more effective for removing the hydrophobic 2-naphtol, C2 had higher adsorption capacity towards the hydrophilic nitrophenols, in agreement with their branches polarity, respectively.     

Survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in canned bivalves and investigation of their potential sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the marine environment derived from uncontrolled petroleum spills, marine transports, discharges from ships, and urban runoff. The NW coast of Spain (Galicia) has a characteristic hydrography, defined by a continuous suite of estuarine systems called “Rías Gallegas”. Some of these estuaries support important industrial and urban centres while others are preserved from human influence. The PAH contents in invertebrate organisms, such as bivalves, have been widely investigated because they are good bioindicators of pollution due to their ability to filter the water. 12 PAHs were determined in canned mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), clams (Venerupis pullastra), cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and knives (Ensis ensis) from the Galician “Rías Gallegas” to perform a possible risk assessment on these contaminants. Pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene were detected in all the selected samples by liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence spectroscopy. With regard to benzo[a]pyrene, which represents the most potentially carcinogenic PAHs, European Regulation 1881/2006/EC fixed at 10 μg/kg of wet weight the MRL (maximum residual level) in bivalve molluscs. None of these marine invertebrates showed values higher than the MRL and therefore, they do not suppose risk for human health. Mussels hydrocarbon body burden levels were highest than exhibited by others bivalves. Some factors may determine this feature, as lipid content or habitat. Lower PAH levels of five and six benzene rings were detected in canned mussels in pickle sauce (vegetable oil, vinegar, paprika, salt and other spices) than in mussels in natural sauce (water, salt and other spices). PAHs migration from mussels to the vegetable oil in pickle sauce was verified to be the reason.