Prospective memory in Parkinson disease across laboratory and self-reported everyday performance.

Prospective memory is a complex cognitive construct ubiquitous in everyday life that is thought to sometimes rely on executive skills commonly affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). The present study investigated the effect of PD on prospective memory tasks with varying demand on executive control processes, namely on the amount of strategic attentional monitoring required for intention retrieval. Individuals with PD but without dementia and healthy adults performed laboratory event-based prospective memory tasks that varied in whether strategic attentional monitoring (nonfocal condition) or spontaneous processes (focal condition) were primarily involved in intention retrieval. Participants also completed a questionnaire rating their frequency of prospective memory failures in everyday life for both self-cued and environment-cued tasks. PD participants performed worse than non-PD participants in the nonfocal, but not focal, condition of the laboratory task. They also reported more everyday failures than non-PD participants for self-cued, but not environment-cued, prospective memory tasks. Thus, nondemented individuals with PD are preferentially impaired on prospective memory tasks for which higher levels of executive control are needed to support intention retrieval. This pattern is consistent across laboratory and reported real-world performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improved Stabilization of Genetically Modified Penicillin G Acylase in the Presence of Organic Cosolvents by Co‐ Immobilization of the Enzyme with Polyethyleneimine

Penicillin G acylase (PGA) is an enzyme that hardly interacts with polycationic polymers (e.g., polyethyleneimine, PEI) and thus the enzyme cannot be stabilized against the action of organic solvents by its co‐immobilization with the polymer in the same support, neither covalently attached to the support nor adsorbed on the already immobilized enzyme. However, a new mutant PGA bearing eight additional Glu residues homogenously distributed throughout the enzyme surface may interact with the polymer. The co‐immobilization of the enzyme and PEI on glyoxyl‐agarose allows one to fully take advantage of the stabilization produced by the multipoint covalent attachment and by the protective hydrophilic micro‐environment generated by the polycationic polymer, enabling a significant stabilization of the immobilized PGA in the presence of organic solvents.     

Nitrogen contributions from decomposing cover crop residues to maize in a tropical derived savanna

In cover cropping systems in the tropics with herbaceous legumes, plant residues are expected to supply nitrogen (N) to non-legume crops during decomposition. Field experiments were carried out to (i) determine the effects of residue quality on decomposition and N release patterns of selected plants in cover cropping systems, (ii) relate the pattern of residue N release to N uptake by maize in cover cropping systems. To study decomposition, litter bags were used and monitored over two maize growing seasons. The residues studied were mucuna (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis (Wright) Bruck), lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet), and leaves and rhizomes of imperata (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raueschel). Mucuna and lablab decomposed rapidly losing more than 60% of their dry weight within 28 days. In contrast, imperata decomposed slowly with only 25% of its dry matter lost in 56 days. At 28 days, mucuna had released 154 kg N ha^-1 in in-situ mulch systems and 87 kg N ha^-1 in live- mulch systems representing more than 50% of its N. More than 64% of N in lablab was released within 28 days amounting to 21 to 174 kg N ha^-1. Imperata rhizomes mineralized 4 to 14 kg N ha^-1 within 14 days, and subsequently immobilized N until 112 days whereas imperata leaves immobilized N throughout the study period. Decomposition and N release rates from the plant residues were most strongly correlated with the (lignin+polyphenol)/N ratio, N content, lignin/N ratio, polyphenol/N ratio, C/N ratio and lignin content of the residues. Relative to the controls, herbaceous legume residues increased maize dry matter yield and N uptake during the two cropping seasons. At 84 days, the maize crop had utilized 13 to 63 kg N ha^-1from mucuna representing 13 to 36% of N released, whereas 16 to 25% of N released from mucuna was recovered by the maize crop at 168 days. The first maize crop recovered 9 to 62 kg N ha^-1 or 28 to 35% of N released from lablab. However, at 168 days, N uptake by maize in antecedent live-mulched lablab was 32% higher than the quantity of N released, whereas imperata residues generally, resulted in net reduction of maize N uptake.     

Influence of acceleration setting reaction by halogen light‐curing on GIC–dentin interface: Qualitative analysis by SEM

The aim of this study was to evaluate by scanning electron microscope (SEM) photomicrographs the influence of application of halogen light‐curing for fastening the set reaction of high‐viscosity glass ionomer cements (GIC) by assessing the material/dentin interface. Twelve human primary canines were assigned in four groups (n = 3) according to the GIC (Fuji IX, GC or Maxxion R, FGM) and application of halogen light‐curing (60 sec or control—no external energy). Blocks with approximately 6 mm of height were buildup on previously pre‐treated dentin surface in according to the experimental group. After storage at 37 °C, 100% humidity for 48 h, the specimens were then sectioned in slices with 1‐mm thick. The slices were qualitative analyzed using SEM to evaluate possible structural changes. Two examiners independently evaluated the images in order to observe the spherical hollow spaces of each tooth. The photomicrographs revealed the presence of spherical hollow spaces in all experimental groups. However, in both groups that received halogen light‐curing application, it was possible to observe that the presence of these hollow spaces decreased in size and quantity. It can be concluded that the halogen light‐curing application positively decreases in size and quantity in the presence of spherical hollow spaces in GIC.     

Planar defect of the nano-structured zinc oxide as the site for stabilization of the copper active species in Cu/ZnO catalysts

The catalytic activity of CuZn catalysts in the synthesis of methanol is related to those reduced Cu species, which originate from the Cu_xZn_1−xO solid solution of wurtzite-like structure. Copper cations in the Cu_xZn_1−xO solid solution are localized in the extended stacking faults of the ZnO lattice. Copper sites could be supposedly described as the product of introducing (OH)Cu(OH) to the planar defects of zinc oxide structure. Hydroxyl groups stabilize the planar defects of ZnO. The process of the samples reduction leads to the formation of flat Cu⁰ particles over the surface of zinc oxide. The planar defects of ZnO structure are preserved in the reduced state. During the reoxidation, copper atoms return back to the extended stacking faults of ZnO as the tape-like clusters of flat-square coordinated copper cations.     

Discovery of 5′′‐Chloro‐N‐[(5,6‐dimethoxypyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐2,2′:5′,3′′‐terpyridine‐3′‐carboxamide (MK‐1064): A Selective Orexin 2 Receptor Antagonist (2‐SORA) for the Treatment of Insomnia

The field of small‐molecule orexin antagonist research has evolved rapidly in the last 15 years from the discovery of the orexin peptides to clinical proof‐of‐concept for the treatment of insomnia. Clinical programs have focused on the development of antagonists that reversibly block the action of endogenous peptides at both the orexin 1 and orexin 2 receptors (OX₁R and OX₂R), termed dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), affording late‐stage development candidates including Merck’s suvorexant (new drug application filed 2012). Full characterization of the pharmacology associated with antagonism of either OX₁R or OX₂R alone has been hampered by the dearth of suitable subtype‐selective, orally bioavailable ligands. Herein, we report the development of a selective orexin 2 antagonist (2‐SORA) series to afford a potent, orally bioavailable 2‐SORA ligand. Several challenging medicinal chemistry issues were identified and overcome during the development of these 2,5‐disubstituted nicotinamides, including reversible CYP inhibition, physiochemical properties, P‐glycoprotein efflux and bioactivation. This article highlights structural modifications the team utilized to drive compound design, as well as in vivo characterization of our 2‐SORA clinical candidate, 5′′‐chloro‐N‐[(5,6‐dimethoxypyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐2,2′:5′,3′′‐terpyridine‐3′‐carboxamide (MK‐1064), in mouse, rat, dog, and rhesus sleep models.     

Genotoxic potential of aqueous extracts of Artemisia verlotorum on the cell cycle of Allium cepa

Artemisia verlotorum, popularly ‘infalivina’, is a medicinal herb used for respiratory, circulatory and digestive treatments. Antiproliferative and genotoxic effects of A. verlotorum aqueous extracts in three different concentrations (6, 32 and 48 g/L) were evaluated on the Allium cepa cell cycle. Results clearly showed a significant difference using the χ² test (p = 0.05) among treatments with a decrease in the mitotic index as the concentration of the extract increased. Extracts of A. verlotorum proved to be genotoxic and showed antiproliferative potential on the A. cepa cell cycle. This study suggests the use of infusions of A. verloturum for medicinal purposes only after selecting suitable concentrations.     

Water remediation by micelle-clay system: case study for tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics

Removal of tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics from water by micelles pre-adsorbed on montmorillonite was studied. Micelles of benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (BDMHDA) were used. Batch experiments demonstrated that the micelle-clay complexes (1% w/w) removed 96-99.9% of antibiotics from their water solutions containing from 5 to 50 mg/L of pharmaceuticals. Column filters (25 cm) made of a mixture of quartz sand and BDMHDA micelle-clay complex at 100:1 w/w ratio removed 94-99.9% of above pharmaceuticals from initial solutions containing 10mg/L and 89% of sulfamethizole from an initial solution containing 10 microg/L of this antibiotic. These filters were also very efficient in the removal of antibiotics in the presence of dissolved soil organic matter removing 89-99% of tetracycline and sulfamethizol from initial solutions containing 10 mg/L of antibiotic in the presence of 8 mg/L of humic acid, or 9 mg/L of fulvic acid. These data indicate that micelle-clay complexes are very efficient for water purification from tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics.     

Meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the northern Adriatic Sea during the period June 1999-July 2002: influence on the mucilage phenomenon

Mucilage events (formation of very large organic aggregates and gelatinous surface layers) have been documented several times during the past two centuries in the northern Adriatic Sea (NA), while their frequency has significantly increased since 1988. In this work, meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the NA during the period June 1999-July 2002 are described and their relation to the outbreak and fate of the mucilage phenomenon was investigated. Salinity and temperature data were collected during approximately monthly cruises along three transects in the NA. Relevant meteorological situations (air temperature, rainfall, wind) were selected from large-scale ECMWF analyses and from the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS; Emilia Romagna Meteorological Service), while sea conditions (waves) were analysed by means of the Wave Adriatic Model (WAM). Data for air temperature, rainfall, and wind from several meteorological stations in the region were used. Average seasonal cycles of sea temperature and salinity simulated with statistical models, based on historical data collected in the NA since 1972, were used to determine thermal and haline anomalies. The monthly anomaly variability of maximum and minimum air temperatures, rainfall amount and number of rainy days did not appear to be relevant for the mucilage phenomenon outbreak. In contrast, both vertical and horizontal thermohaline gradients in the region were more developed during late spring and summer of 2000 and particularly of 2002, when the mucilage events were of greatest extent in space and time, compared to 2001 (short-lived event) and 1999 (no event). These more pronounced gradients were due to a combination of several unusual conditions: sharp heating of the sea surface in May-June, domination of eastwards transport of freshened waters formed in the Po Delta area, and intrusion of very high salinity intermediate waters originating in the eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, in winter of both 2000 and 2002 very dense and cold water formed and remained in the bottom layer until spring, contributing to increase the stratification degree of the water column. The duration of the mucilage events and their spatial distribution in the region depend strongly on meteorological changes. Recurrent anticyclonic conditions, characterized by low wind and calm sea, favour extended events in time (up 2 months in 2002). In contrast, highly perturbed weather, particularly due to strong "bora" wind, can be determined in sharp decay of the event (e.g. in July 2000).     

Relationship between dissolved organic and inorganic compounds in tributaries of the Lake Baikal

It was shown that the balance between organic and inorganic compounds is mostly conditioned by watershed size and relief, rather than chemistry. The rise and fall of dissolved organic carbon concentration are irreversely proportional to those of acid neutralizing capacity and follow the changes in water flowpaths. This relationship was used to distinguish between dissolved matter sources, and to characterize quantitatively and qualitatively their contribution to surface water chemistry. The proposed approach has restricted applicability to the watersheds composed of sedimentary materials and to the watersheds with high percentage of wetlands. The applicability of the approach is also limited to a variety of environmental conditions. Big watersheds should be divided into lower order subcatchments to reduce uncertainty in interpretation of results. In small and medium watersheds, the proposed approach can be used for predicting water chemistry under different environmental conditions and for tracing contaminants.