bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of the bronchoalveolar lavage procedure on lung function in horses with clinical exacerbation of recurrent airway obstruction
Authors: Léguillette Renaud , Lavoie Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2006

Objective—To evaluate whether bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) alters respiratory mechanics of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (ie, heaves) over a 48-hour period.

Animals—6 horses affected with heaves.

Procedures—Horses were subjected to a complete BAL procedure, which included sedation with xylazine and butorphanol, intratracheal administration of lidocaine, and instillation and aspiration of two 250-mL boluses of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution through an endoscope (study 1). To evaluate the effects of saline solution, horses were subjected to the same procedure without saline solution instillation and aspiration (study 2). Lastly, the endoscope was similarly introduced into the lower airways, without sedation or saline instillation and aspiration (study 3). Respiratory mechanics were performed at baseline (time 0) and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after each procedure.

Results—In study 1, BAL induced a significant decrease in pulmonary resistance lasting up to 6 hours. This may have resulted from clearance of mucus in large airways. We also observed a significant increase in lung elastance and transpulmonary pressure at 12 hours after BAL in all 3 studies, which may be attributed to a circadian effect.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Our results indicate that the temporal effects of BAL procedures on lung mechanics should be taken into account when designing research protocols involving horses with heaves. Future studies should address the immediate effects of BAL on lung function.
The effects of revisionism on remembered emotion: the valence of older, voluntary immigrants' pre‐migration autobiographical memories
Authors: Schrauf Robert W. , Hoffman Lesa
Published: October 2006

Prior research on remembered emotion demonstrates effects of revisionism in memory. The positivity bias describes preferential recall for positive emotions and the fading affect bias describes greater fading of negative versus positive emotion over time. Such effects predict that older adults would remember childhood and youth more positively than later adulthood. However, economic immigrants, whose childhood and youth reflect experiences of poverty and unemployment, may not show the effects of such revisionism. This study examined the remembered emotion of immigrant and non‐immigrant older Puerto Ricans whose early years corresponded to hard times on the island. Multilevel modelling showed that both groups exhibited the effects of the positivity and fading affect biases, but immigrants remembered childhood and youth more negatively than non‐immigrants. This suggests both accurate memory for a more negative past as well the effects of additional revisionism whereby a valued and chosen present is preferentially compared to the past. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flow instabilities, energy levels, and structure in stirred tanks
Authors: Kilander Jesper , Svensson Fredrik J. E. , Rasmuson Anders
Published: October 2006

In this study, the spatial distribution and significance of macro instabilities in two cylindrical tanks of different size, and one square tank, stirred with standard six bladed Rushton impellers, are investigated. The instabilities of the flow structure are investigated by searching for significant frequencies using the Lomb algorithm on instantaneous velocity data collected using laser Doppler anemometry at various locations in the tanks. The investigation of the energy levels shows that the harmonics of the blade passage differ in both magnitude and spatial distribution for different tank sizes, geometries, and energy input. Several significant dimensionless frequencies, that is, frequency Strouhal numbers, are detected and identified both in relative magnitude and spatial range. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) and starch composite films: Study of their physicomechanical, thermal, and swelling properties
Authors: Ramaraj B.
Published: October 2006

Crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) was blended with 10, 20, 40, and 50 wt % starch by a solution‐casting process. The solution‐cast films were dried, and then their physicomechanical properties including tensile strength, tensile elongation, tensile modulus, tear strength and density, and burst strength and density were tested. Thermal analysis was performed by differential scanning calorimetry. A moisture analysis of the PVA/starch films was performed and their moisture content determined. Also investigated were the films'resistance to solubility in water, 5% acetic acid, 50% ethanol, and sunflower oil and their swelling characteristics in 50% ethanol and sunflower oil. The prepared PVA/starch blends showed significant improvement in tensile modulus and in resistance to solubility in water, 5% acetic acid, and 50% ethanol. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1127–1132, 2007
Solution properties of triphenylsilyl cellulose
Authors: Bontea Danut
Published: October 2006

Five samples of triphenylsilyl cellulose (TPSC) are characterized in solution by osmometry, viscometry, and size exclusion chromatography. The isolated and purified cellulose ethers are prepared in a N,N‐dimethylformamide and pyridine medium under heterogeneous starting conditions and a nitrogen atmosphere by silylation of activated celluloses with triphenylchlorosilane at 115–120°C. TPSCs are characterized by their polydispersities and degrees of substitution by osmometry and viscometry in various solvents. The Mark–Houwink–Sakurada equation coefficients are evaluated in 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, chloroform, and o‐xylene at 30°C and in o‐xylene over a temperature range of 30–70°C. Values of 2.12–2.18 are obtained for exponent a. This indicates, in combination with low values of the preexponential factor (on the order of 10−12), strong stiffness of the macromolecular chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1257–1261, 2007
Preparation and thermal, electrical, and morphological properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubeand epoxy composites
Authors: Yuen Siu‐Ming , Ma Chen‐Chi M. , Wu Hsin‐Ho , Kuan Hsu‐Chiang , Chen Wei‐Jen , Liao Shu‐Hang , Hsu Chia‐Wen , Wu Han‐Lang
Published: October 2006

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/epoxy composites are prepared, and the characteristics and morphological properties are studied. Scanning electron microscopy microphotographs show that MWCNTs are dispersed on the nanoscale in the epoxy resin. The glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of MWCNT/epoxy composites is dramatically increased with the addition of 0.5 wt % MWCNT. The Tg increases from 167°C for neat epoxy to 189°C for 0.5 wt % CNT/epoxy. The surface resistivity and bulk resistivity are decreased when MWCNT is added to the epoxy resins. The surface resistivity of CNT/epoxy composites decreases from 4.92 × 1012 Ω for neat epoxy to 3.03 × 109 Ω for 1 wt % MWCNT/epoxy. The bulk resistivity decreases from 8.21 × 1016 Ω cm for neat epoxy to 6.72 × 108 Ω cm for 1 wt % MWCNT/epoxy. The dielectric constant increases from 3.5 for neat epoxy to 5.5 for 1 wt % MWCNT/epoxy. However, the coefficient of thermal expansion is not affected when the MWCNT content is less than 0.5 wt %. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1272–1278, 2007
Conducting blends obtained from maleic acid/dodecylhydrogensulfate‐doped polyaniline and polyvinyl chloride by solution processing
Authors: Amarnath Chellachamy A. , Palaniappan Srinivasan , Rannou Patrice , Pron Adam
Published: October 2006

Solution processible polyaniline, obtained by our newly developed method via emulsion polymerization in the presence of maleic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate with benzoyl peroxide as the oxidizing/polymerizing agent, has been used for the fabrication of conductive blends with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), covering the conductivity range from 10−5 to 5 × 10−3 S/cm and showing the percolation threshold for the electrical conductivity fp = 0.039. The fabricated blends combine good mechanical properties with enhanced electrical conductivity, since up to conducting phase content f = 0.231, their mechanical properties remain essentially the same and characteristic of pure PVC. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements show a single glass‐transition temperature (Tg) increasing with growing content of the rigid conductive phase in the blend. This effect can be taken as an evidence of good miscibility of both components of the blend with phase separation at a submicrometric level. The latter has been confirmed by scanning electron microscopy studies showing a necklace‐like morphology which assures the continuity of the conductive phase. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1113–1119, 2007
Polyacrylic acid grafting onto isotactic polypropylene fiber: Methods, characterization, and properties
Authors: Bhattacharya S. D. , Inamdar M. S.
Published: October 2006

The graft copolymerization of acrylic acid onto isotactic polypropylene has been investigated. The grafting was carried out using benzoyl peroxide initiator. Grafting is essentially a surface phenomenon and takes place, mostly, in amorphous region of the fiber. Emphasis, therefore, was placed on various pretreatment techniques for swelling of the fiber, viz, pretreatment with toluene and 1,1′2,2′tetrachloroethane, ultrasound, and photoirradiation. Process parameters, characterization study such as IR spectroscopy, TGA, and DTA, and properties such as tensile properties, melting temperature, dyeability towards basic dyes, and ion exchange properties were investigated. Benzene was found to be the most suitable solvent for initiator as against the acetone. Tenacity was found to be increased with increase in graft yield and reached to maximum at about 5% graft add‐on, and then decreased with further increase in graft add‐on. Proportionally, a converse effect was reported in the study of elongation to break. Thermal stability of polypropylene was found to be improved because of grafting. The grafted polypropylene also showed satisfactory dyeability toward basic dyes and also exhibits very good ion exchange properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1152–1165, 2007
Characterization by dilute solution and rheological methods of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) produced with a tetrafunctional peroxide initiator
Authors: Scorah M. J. , Tzoganakis C. , Dhib R. , Penlidis A.
Published: October 2006

Polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples produced by the bulk homopolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate with a tetrafunctional peroxide initiator (JWEB50) are characterized in detail by various solution and rheological methods. For comparison purposes, “linear” PS and PMMA samples were produced under similar conditions with a monofunctional initiator (TBEC). The four sample types were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) setups to determine molecular weight, radius of gyration, and intrinsic viscosity distributions. Contraction factors were calculated and indicated evidence of branching for polystyrene produced with JWEB50 while no such effects were observed with PMMA. The rheological behavior of the samples was subsequently investigated by performing oscillatory shear and creep experiments. Compared to the “linear” material, samples produced with JWEB50 exhibited a reduction in zero‐shear viscosity that was attributed to long‐chain branching. Retardation spectra were calculated based on creep data and converted to dynamic compliances that were then combined with the oscillatory data. This provided master curves spanning a much wider frequency range than could be obtained experimentally. Examination of various viscoelastic functions showed evidence of long‐chain branching for both polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) samples produced with JWEB50. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1340–1355, 2007
Hydroxychloroquine in lupus pregnancy
Authors: Clowse Megan E. B. , Magder Laurence , Witter Frank , Petri Michelle
Published: October 2006

Objective

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is often needed to manage disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine lupus activity and pregnancy outcomes in women with SLE treated or not treated with HCQ during pregnancy.

Methods

This was a prospective study of pregnancies in women with SLE who were evaluated between 1987 and 2002. The pregnancies were divided into 3 groups: no HCQ exposure during pregnancy (163 pregnancies), continuous use of HCQ during pregnancy (56 pregnancies), or cessation of HCQ treatment either in the 3 months prior to or during the first trimester of pregnancy (38 pregnancies). The pregnancy outcomes, fetal outcomes, and lupus activity during pregnancy were compared among these groups.

Results

The rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and congenital abnormality were not statistically different among the 3 groups. The degree of lupus activity during pregnancy, however, was significantly higher in women who stopped taking HCQ. These women had a higher degree of lupus activity, as measured by the physician's estimate of lupus activity and the SLE Disease Activity Index, as well as an increased rate of flare, during pregnancy. More serious lupus complications, such as proteinuria and thrombocytopenia, were not significantly higher in women who stopped taking HCQ. Women who continued taking HCQ were maintained on a lower average dose of prednisone during pregnancy.

Conclusion

We recommend the continuation of HCQ treatment during pregnancy. Our findings are consistent with prior reports of the absence of fetal toxicity. Similar to studies of nonpregnant women, the cessation of HCQ treatment during pregnancy increases the degree of lupus activity.
Overexpression of phosphorylated STAT‐1α in the labial salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Wakamatsu Ei , Matsumoto Isao , Yasukochi Takanori , Naito Yusuke , Goto Daisuke , Mamura Mizuko , Ito Satoshi , Tsutsumi Akito , Sumida Takayuki
Published: October 2006

Objective

To clarify the molecular mechanisms of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), we analyzed the functional role of the STAT‐1 gene, one of the interferon‐γ (IFNγ)–inducible genes, in labial salivary glands (LSGs) from SS patients.

Methods

The expression of STAT‐1 messenger RNA (mRNA) was examined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, and the phosphorylation of STAT‐1 protein (Tyr701 and Ser727 pSTAT‐1) was investigated by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. The expression of IFNγ‐inducible 10‐kd protein (IP‐10), IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF‐1), and Fas was also examined by real‐time PCR and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

STAT‐1α and STAT‐1β mRNA were highly expressed in LSGs from SS patients. The level of STAT‐1α protein in SS LSGs was higher than that in 3 control LSGs, whereas STAT‐1β protein was not clearly detected by Western blot analysis. Moreover, Tyr701 and Ser727 pSTAT‐1α proteins were specifically detected in SS LSGs. Immunohistochemical analysis showed localization of Tyr701 pSTAT‐1 in infiltrating lymphocytes and the adjacent ductal epithelium from SS patients. Ser727 pSTAT‐1 was localized only in the ductal epithelium of SS LSGs. The STAT‐1–inducible genes IP‐10 and IRF‐1 and the Fas genes were highly expressed in SS LSGs and were colocalized with Ser727 pSTAT‐1–positive, but not Tyr701 pSTAT‐1–positive, cells.

Conclusion

We found evidence of the up‐regulation of STAT‐1α mRNA and protein in LSGs from SS patients, as well as the presence of pSTAT‐1α in ductal epithelium from SS patients. Our findings suggest that STAT‐1α, especially Ser727 pSTAT‐1, may function as a key molecule in the pathogenesis of SS.
Identification of immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitopes in patients with Yersinia‐induced reactive arthritis by cytometric cytokine secretion assay
Authors: Thiel Andreas , Wu Peihua , Lanowska Malgorzata , Dong Jun , Radbruch Andreas , Sieper Joachim
Published: October 2006

Objective

In reactive arthritis (ReA), a bacteria‐specific T cell response to the triggering microbe is detected in synovial fluid. So far, direct characterization of bacteria‐specific T cells and identification of the immunodominant fine specificities remain difficult due to the lack of appropriate techniques. The aim of the present study was to directly determine the fine specificity of CD4+ T cells specific to ReA‐associated bacteria‐derived protein.

Methods

In 2 patients with Yersinia‐induced ReA, live Yersinia Hsp60–specific CD4+ T cells were directly isolated from synovial fluid after stimulation with Yersinia‐derived protein Hsp60 using a cytometric cytokine secretion assay. Generated short‐term T cell lines were then tested in vitro for their peptide epitope specificity. Also, direct cross‐reactivity of one line with Chlamydia‐ and human‐derived Hsp60 was assessed.

Results

Generated short‐term CD4+ T cell lines were highly antigen‐specific and revealed single immunodominant peptide epitopes that were confirmed by direct testing with single peptides in both peripheral blood and synovial fluid cells. Yersinia Hsp60–specific T cells of one patient cross‐reacted directly with human Hsp60.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate the feasibility of direct assessment of live, potentially pathogenic, antigen‐specific interferon‐γ+ CD4+ T cells taken from inflammatory lesions of patients with rheumatic diseases such as ReA. This might have implications not only regarding pathogenesis, but also in the design of new immunotherapies.
Phase II study of lenalidomide in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Choueiri Toni K. , Dreicer Robert , Rini Brian I. , Elson Paul , Garcia Jorge A. , Thakkar Snehal G. , Baz Rachid C. , Mekhail Tarek M. , Jinks Holly A. , Bukowski Ronald M.
Published: October 2006

BACKGROUND.

Lenalidomide (LEN) is a structural and functional analogue of thalidomide that has demonstrated enhanced immunomodulatory properties and a more favorable toxicity profile. A Phase II, open‐label study of LEN in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was conducted to determine its safety and clinical activity.

METHODS.

Patients with metastatic RCC received LEN orally at a dose of 25 mg daily for the first 21 days of a 28‐day cycle. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Time to treatment failure, safety, and survival were secondary endpoints.

RESULTS.

In total, 28 patients participated in the trial and were included in the current analysis. Three of 28 patients (11%) demonstrated partial responses and continued to be progression‐free for >15 months. Eleven patients (39%) had stable disease that lasted >3 months, including 8 patients who had tumor shrinkage. In total, 6 patients (21%) remained on the trial, and 5 additional patients continued to be followed for survival. The median follow‐up for those 11 patients was 13.5 months (range, 8.3–17.0 months). The median survival had not been reached at the time of the current report. Serious adverse events included fatigue (11%), skin toxicity (11%), and neutropenia (36%).

CONCLUSIONS.

LEN demonstrated an antitumor effect in metastatic RCC, as evidenced by durable partial responses. LEN toxicities were manageable. Further studies will be required to assess the overall activity of LEN in patients with metastatic RCC. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Nanostructured WO3 Thin‐Film Electrodes: The Oxidation of Formic Acid
Authors: Monllor‐Satoca Damián , Borja Luis , Rodes Antonio , Gómez Roberto , Salvador Pedro
Published: October 2006

Nanostructured tungsten trioxide thin‐film electrodes are prepared on conducting glass substrates by either potentiostatic electrodeposition from aqueous solutions of peroxotungstic acid or direct deposition of WO3 slurries. Once treated thermally in air at 450 °C, the electrodes are found to be composed of monoclinic WO3 grains with a particle size around 30–40 nm. The photoelectrochemical behavior of these electrodes in 1 M HClO4 apparently reveals a low degree of electron–hole recombination. Upon addition of formic acid, the electrode showed the current multiplication phenomenon together with a shift of the photocurrent onset potential toward less positive values. Photoelectrochemical experiments devised on the basis of a kinetic model reported recently [I. Mora‐Seró, T. Lana‐Villarreal, J. Bisquert, A. Pitarch, R. Gómez, P. Salvador, J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 3371] showed that an interfacial mechanism of inelastic, direct hole transfer takes place in the photooxidation of formic acid. This behavior is attributed to the tendency of formic acid molecules to be specifically adsorbed on the WO3 nanoparticles, as evidenced by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy.
Characterization of Xenopus digits and regenerated limbs of the froglet
Authors: Satoh Akira , Endo Tetsuya , Abe Masahiro , Yakushiji Nayuta , Ohgo Shiro , Tamura Koji , Ide Hiroyuki
Published: October 2006

Xenopus has 4 and 5 digits in a forelimb and hindlimb, respectively. It is thought that their limbs and digits develop in Xenopus by mechanisms that are almost conserved from amphibians to higher vertebrates. This is supported by some molecular evidence. The 5′hoxd genes are convenient marker genes for characterizing digits in the chick and mouse. The anteriormost digit is characterized by being hoxd13‐positive and hoxd12 (hoxd11)‐negative in the chick and mouse. In this study, we revealed that the anteriormost digit of the Xenopus forelimb is hoxd13‐positive and hoxd11‐positive, that is, a more posterior character than digit I. The order of formation of digit cartilages also suggested that Xenopus forelimb digit identity is II to V, not I to IV. We have also been interested in the relationship between digit identity and shh. The anteriormost digit develops in a shh‐independent way. A limb treated with cyclopamine (a shh inhibitor) has a gene expression pattern (hoxd11‐negative) similar to that in shh‐deficient mice, suggesting that a hindlimb treated with cyclopamine has a digit I character. However, a Xenopus froglet regenerate (spike), which lacks shh expression during its regeneration process, does not have such an expression pattern, being hoxd11‐positive. We investigated hoxd11 transcriptions in blastemas that formed in the anteriormost and posteriormost digits, and we found that the blastemas have different hoxd11 expression levels. These findings suggest that the froglet limb blastema does not have a mere digit I character in spite of shh defectiveness and that the froglet limb blastema recognizes its positional differences along the anterior‐posterior axis. Developmental Dynamics 235:3316–3326, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anti‐cytokine vaccines and the immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases
Authors: Wraith David C.
Published: October 2006

Three papers in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology describe the use of cytokine vaccines to prevent autoimmune disease in experimental animals. The vaccines are based on interleukin 17 (IL‐17), a cytokine that has recently been shown to play a central role in inflammation.

See accompanying articles: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200636484; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200636658; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200636662
The moderation of ambivalence on attitude–intention relations as mediated by attitude importance
Authors: Costarelli Sandro , Colloca Pasquale
Published: October 2006

Attitudinal ambivalence has been found to moderate attitude–intention relations. However, no prior work has investigated the mechanisms by which this moderation effect occurs. The present research attempted to address this issue. Across two studies, there was evidence that an Ambivalence × Attitude interaction was mediated through judgements about attitude importance. Additionally, the present research ruled out the possibility that attitude certainty, a factor that is often found to be positively related to attitude importance, was not responsible for the observed mediating effects of this latter variable. While replicating previous evidence supporting the moderating properties of ambivalence on attitude–intention relations, the current research sheds light on the critical role that attitude importance plays in this relationship. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in sand fractions of Binggou section and the expansion and contraction of the Tengger desert during 50–30 ka
Authors: Shu‐Jian Xu , Bao‐Tian Pan , Hong‐Shan Gao , Guang‐Jie Cao , Huai Su
Published: October 2006

Signs of the evolutionary process are well preserved in the aeolian deposits of desert margins and enable reconstruction of desert expansion and contraction. The sand content (percentage >63 µm) of loess in the loess–desert transitional zone was used as a proxy indicator for determining the proximity of the desert margin. According to the dominant wind direction, generally NW–SE in the northwest Chinese Loess Plateau, a transect was projected to observe spatial changes in sedimentological characteristics of aeolian deposits during the Last Glacial Period. The transect consists of 12 loess sections, starting at Shapotou in the transitional region between the Loess Plateau and the Tengger Desert and ending at Tianshui, which is located at the north foot of the Western Qinling Mountains in the southernmost part of the Loess Plateau. It shows the properties of temporal and spatial distribution of the Malan loess, with reduced sand content from northwest to southeast. A linear correlation model of sand content and distance was obtained, which was similar to the east of the Chinese Loess Plateau. According to this model, and on the basis of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating from Binggou section, a detailed and quantificational expansion and contraction for the Tengger Desert was established. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment for combat‐related posttraumatic stress disorder: Two‐year follow‐up
Authors: Creamer Mark , Elliott Peter , Forbes David , Biddle Dirk , Hawthorne Graeme
Published: October 2006

This study reports on outcomes 2 years following completion of specialist veteran posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs in 2,223 (reduced to 1,508 at 24 months) consecutive admissions. Self‐report measures of PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger, alcohol use, and general functioning were obtained at admission, 6, 12, and 24 months after admission. Significant improvements were demonstrated at 6 months, with smaller gains continuing through to 24‐month assessment. Within subject effect sizes of around 0.8 were obtained for PTSD and around 0.5 for anxiety and depression. Although lack of a control group limits the extent to which improvements can be attributed to the treatment program, the data suggest that specialized treatment programs for combat‐related PTSD continue to be of value.
Reliability and validity of an Internet traumatic stress survey with a college student sample
Authors: Fortson Beverly L. , Scotti Joseph R. , Ben Kevin S. Del , Chen Yi‐Chuen
Published: October 2006

The reliability and validity of Internet‐based questionnaires were assessed in a sample of undergraduates (N = 411) by comparing data collected via the Internet with data collected in a more traditional format. A 2 × 2 × 2 repeated measures factorial design was used, forming four groups: Paper–Paper, Paper–Internet, Internet–Paper, and Internet–Internet. Scores on measures of trauma exposure, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms formed the dependent variables. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the psychometric properties of Internet‐based questionnaires are similar to those established via formats that are more traditional. Questionnaire format and presentation order did not affect rates of psychological symptoms endorsed by participants. Researchers can feel comfortable that Internet data collection is a viable—and reliable—means for conducting trauma research.
New Methods for Anionic Polymerizations at Elevated Temperatures: ‘Retarded Anionic Polymerizations’
Authors: Bowden Ned B.
Published: October 2006

Summary: Living anionic polymerizations are one of the most important methods for the synthesis of well‐defined homo‐ and block copolymers, but these polymerizations are typically carried out at low temperatures, which limits their applications. Deffieux et al. recently reported new methods to lower, or retard, the rate of polymerization using different additives. He called this collection of different methods ‘retarded anionic polymerizations’. In addition to lowering the rate of propagation, these methods also stabilize the polymer chain end such that the rate of self‐termination is lowered. These polymerizations require elevated temperatures to reach reasonable rates of polymerization while still allowing the chain ends to remain active. This emergent area points at new directions to allow anionic polymerizations to be carried out under conditions that are more amenable to industrial synthesis and to synthesize new polymer architectures.

A combination of NaH and i‐Bu3Al initiates and tempers the living/controlled anionic polymerization of styrene. The growing polystyrene chain ends can hypothetically be in different environments, but only the one with a square around it is active.

magnified image

A combination of NaH and i‐Bu3Al initiates and tempers the living/controlled anionic polymerization of styrene. The growing polystyrene chain ends can hypothetically be in different environments, but only the one with a square around it is active.
Sulfasalazine‐induced cystine starvation: Potential use for prostate cancer therapy
Authors: Doxsee Daniel W. , Gout Peter W. , Kurita Takeshi , Lo Maisie , Buckley Arthur R. , Wang Yuwei , Xue Hui , Karp Cristina M. , Cutz Jean‐Claude , Cunha Gerald R. , Wang Yu‐Zhuo
Published: October 2006

BACKGROUND

Certain cancers depend for growth on uptake of cystine/cysteine from their environment. Here we examined advanced human prostate cancer cell lines, DU‐145 and PC‐3, for dependence on extracellular cystine and sensitivity to sulfasalazine (SASP), a potent inhibitor of the x cystine transporter.

METHODS

Cultures were evaluated for growth dependence on exogenous cystine, x transporter expression, response to SASP (growth and glutathione content). In vivo, effect of SASP was determined on subrenal capsule xenograft growth.

RESULTS

Cystine omission from culture medium arrested DU‐145 and PC‐3 cell proliferation; both cell lines expressed the x transporter and were growth inhibited by SASP (IC50s: 0.20 and 0.28 mM, respectively). SASP‐induced growth inhibition was associated with vast reductions in cellular glutathione content—both effects based on cystine starvation. SASP (i.p.) markedly inhibited growth of DU‐145 and PC‐3 xenografts without major toxicity to hosts.

CONCLUSIONS

SASP‐induced cystine/cysteine starvation leading to glutathione depletion may be useful for therapy of prostate cancers dependent on extracellular cystine. Prostate © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Elementary energy bands in isovalent IV–VI orthorhombic and cubic crystals and their solid solutions
Authors: Slipukhina I. V. , Bercha D. M.
Published: October 2006

It is shown that elementary energy bands concept can be applied to complex systems like solid solutions. As in the case of single crystals, the symmetry of elementary energy bands in the valence band of such systems is related to the actual Wyckoff positions in their unit cells, where accumulation of valence electrons is observed. These results are predicted in the empty‐lattice approximation and confirmed byab initiocalculations of electronic properties of SnS, PbS and Pb0.5Sn0.5S systems. It is suggested that the presented application of the elementary energy bands concept together with the empty‐lattice approximation can be used as a simple method for obtaining charge localization centers in the crystalline lattice and thus for the construction of the well‐localized Wannier functions. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ultrabroadband THz spectroscopy using rapid scanning method
Authors: Shimosato H. , Katashima T. , Saito S. , Ashida M. , Itoh T. , Sakai K.
Published: October 2006

We applied rapid scanning method to ultrabroadband terahertz detection using photoconductive antennas. Measurement time was reduced to one tenth of the conventional method. Ultrabroadband terahertz spectrum from 0.1 to 15 THz was observed. This technique provides significant improvement in THz time‐domain spectroscopy. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry validated method for the simultaneous quantification of sibutramine and its primary and secondary amine metabolites in human plasma and its application to a bioequivalence study
Authors: Jain Deepak S. , Subbaiah Gunta , Sanyal Mallika , Shrivastav Pranav S. , Pal Usha , Ghataliya Shailesh , Kakad Abhijeet , Patel Heena , Shah Sapna
Published: October 2006

A high‐throughput and sensitive bioanalytical method using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) has been developed for the estimation of sibutramine and its two metabolites (M1 and M2). The extraction of sibutramine, its metabolites and imipramine (internal standard (IS)) from the plasma involved treatment with phosphoric acid followed by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) using a hydrophilic‐lipophilic balanced HLB cartridge. The SPE eluate without drying and reconstitution was analyzed by LC/MS/MS, equipped with a with turbo ion spray (TIS) source, operating in the positive and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition mode. Sample preparation by this method yielded extremely clean extracts with quantitative and consistent mean recoveries; 95.12% for sibutramine, 92.74% for M1, 95.97% for M2 and 96.60% for the IS. The total chromatographic run time was 3.0 min with retention times of 2.51, 2.13, 2.09 min for sibutramine, M1, M2 and imipramine, respectively. The developed method was validated in human plasma matrix, with a sensitivity of 0.1 ng/mL (coefficient of variance (CV), 2.07%) for sibutramine, 0.1 ng/mL (CV, 3.59%) for M1 and 0.2 ng/mL (CV, 4.93%) for M2. Validation of the method for its accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effect and stability was carried out especially with regard to real subject sample analysis. The response was linear over the dynamic range 0.1 to 8.0 ng/mL for sibutramine and M1, and 0.2 to 16.0 ng/mL for M2 with correlation coefficients of r ≥ 0.9959 (sibutramine), 0.9935 (M1) and 0.9943 (M2). The method was successfully applied for bioequivalence studies in 40 human subjects with 15 mg capsule formulations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Approaches in modelling long‐term survival: an application to breast cancer
Authors: Perperoglou Aris , Keramopoullos Antonis , van Houwelingen Hans C.
Published: October 2006

Several modelling techniques have been proposed for non‐proportional hazards. In this work we consider different models which can be classified into three wide categories: models with time‐varying effects of the covariates; frailty models and cure rate models. We present those different extensions of the proportional hazards model on an application of 2433 breast cancer patients with a long follow‐up. We comment on the differences and similarities among the models and evaluate their performance using survival and hazard plots, Brier scores and pseudo‐observations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shareholder valuation of foreign investment and expansion
Authors: Berry Heather
Published: October 2006

This study analyzes when different foreign investment location choices are value creating for firms at different stages of international expansion. I argue that because direct investment in developing countries is riskier than in advanced countries, shareholders may not value a firm's investment in developing countries until that firm has experience from previous international investments and capabilities to better manage and hedge the higher levels of risk and uncertainty. Using a panel of 191 U.S. manufacturing firms and their foreign investments over a 20‐year period (1981–2000), the empirical results show that firm investments in advanced and developing countries are valued differently by shareholders, depending on the firm's prior international expansion, the firm's capabilities and experiences, and the knowledge intensity of the firm's industry. These results highlight the importance of considering firm location decisions, prior experiences, and resources when analyzing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tools and resources for Sz. pombe: a report from the 2006 European Fission Yeast Meeting
Authors: Wixon Jo , Wood Valerie
Published: October 2006

Schizosaccharomyces pombe has always suffered from a relative paucity of tools and resources, particularly when compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The European Fission Yeast Meeting, held in March 2006, brought together a significant proportion of the Sz. pombe research community, so it was an ideal opportunity to hold a discussion session on the future needs of those working on this model organism. While the session generated a consensus on the most essential requirements, it also demonstrated the frustrations and concerns of those working with Sz. pombe. The community was also briefed regarding the future transition of the current database (Sz. pombe GeneDB) to a fully‐fledged Model Organism Database (MOD) to support the needs of both fission yeast and the broader scientific community. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mating disruption or mass trapping? Numerical simulation analysis of a control strategy for lepidopteran pests
Authors: Yamanaka Takehiko
Published: October 2006

I have constructed a simulation model applicable to both mass trapping and mating disruption for lepidopteran insect pests. The basic structure of the model is based on mass trapping model proposed by Knipling and McGuire (Agric Info Bull 308:1–20 1966), but this was modified to include mechanistic competition among females and lures. Several new implications are derived from the model. (1) Long‐living pests are hard to control. (2) Protandry does not improve control efficiency for pests with low survival rates. (3) Sexual communication across large distances is more difficult to control than that across a short range. (4) There is an upper limit to improvement which can be achieved by increasing the number of pheromone traps. (5) Improving the catching efficiency of traps does not improve mating suppression although improvement of lure efficiency does substantially. The last implication, in particular, has practical importance. If an efficient lure attracts males or inhibits their ability to locate females and mate, mating disruption works as well as mass trapping with the same number of lures. In such circumstances mating disruption should be preferred to mass trapping because the former does not incur the cost of the trapping devices. Mass trapping should, however, be considered in preference to mating disruption if the lure is not efficient enough and no other methods are available.
Second-Phase Defects in Ni-Mn-Ga Based Ferromagnetic Shape-Memory Alloys
Authors: Richard ML , Feuchtwanger J , Peterson B , Allen SM , O'Handley RC
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2006
Advantages and Objectives of High-throughput Data Collection in Single-particle Cryo-EM
Authors: Glaeser RM , Lee J , Typke D
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2006
Monchromatic Photo-Field Electron Emission Sources
Authors: Vecchione T , Weierstall U , Edgcombe C , Spence J
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2006
Examination of Minor Phases in Martensitic 12% Cr-Mo-W-V Steel
Authors: Manilova E
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005
Fate of Nanoparticles in Biological Systems - Quantum Dot Behavior in Bacterial Cells and Biofilms
Authors: Holbrook RD , Morrow J , Maugel T
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2006
Immobilization and Removal of Hydrocarbon Contamination Using the Evactron De-Contaminator
Authors: Vane R
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005
Morphology and Phase Ordering in Polymer-Derived Nanoceramics
Authors: Taylor S , Wan J , Malenfant P , Alizadeh A , Manoharan M
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005
A Correlative Study of an Iron-Base Superalloy Using Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atom Probe Tomography
Authors: Larson D , Prosa T , Kostrna S , Moe A , Kelly T , Stallybrass C , Schneider A , Sauthoff G , Degas J
Published: October 2006

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005
Cloud property retrievals for climate monitoring: Implications of differences between Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on METEOSAT‐8 and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA‐17
Authors: Roebeling R. A. , Feijt A. J. , Stammes P.
Published: October 2006

In the framework of the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM‐SAF) an algorithm was developed to retrieve Cloud Physical Properties (CPP) from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on board the Meteosat Second Generation (METEOSAT−8) and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites. This paper presents the CPP algorithm and determines if SEVIRI can be used together with AVHRR to build a consistent and accurate data set of cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud liquid water path (CLWP) over Europe for climate research purposes. After quantifying the differences in 0.6 and 1.6 μm operational calibrated reflectances of SEVIRI and AVHRR, a recalibration procedure is proposed to normalize and absolutely calibrate these reflectances. The effects of recalibration, spatial resolution, and viewing geometry differences on the SEVIRI and AVHRR cloud property retrievals are evaluated. The intercomparison of 0.6 and 1.6 μm operationally calibrated reflectances indicates ∼6 and ∼26% higher reflectances for SEVIRI than for AVHRR. These discrepancies result in retrieval differences between AVHRR and SEVIRI of ∼8% for COT and ∼60% for CLWP. Owing to recalibration these differences reduce to ∼5%, while the magnitude of the median COT and CLWP values of AVHRR decrease ∼2 and ∼60% and the SEVIRI values increase ∼10 and ∼55%, respectively. The differences in spatial resolution and viewing geometry slightly influence the retrieval precision. Thus the CPP algorithm can be used to build a consistent and high‐quality data set of SEVIRI and AVHRR retrieved cloud properties for climate research purposes, provided the instrument reflectances are recalibrated, preferably guided by the satellite operators.
Solar cycle variation of stratospheric ozone: Multiple regression analysis of long‐term satellite data sets and comparisons with models
Authors: Soukharev B. E. , Hood L. L.
Published: October 2006

Previous multiple regression analyses of the solar cycle variation of stratospheric ozone are improved by (1) analyzing three independent satellite ozone data sets with lengths extending up to 25 years and (2) comparing column ozone measurements with ozone profile data during the 1992–2003 period when no major volcanic eruptions occurred. Results show that the vertical structure of the tropical ozone solar cycle response has been consistently characterized by statistically significant positive responses in the upper and lower stratosphere and by statistically insignificant responses in the middle stratosphere (∼28–38 km altitude). This vertical structure differs from that predicted by most models. The similar vertical structure in the tropics obtained for separate time intervals (with minimum response invariably near 10 hPa) is difficult to explain by random interference from the QBO and volcanic eruptions in the statistical analysis. The observed increase in tropical total column ozone approaching the cycle 23 maximum during the late 1990s occurred primarily in the lower stratosphere below the 30 hPa level. A mainly dynamical origin for the solar cycle total ozone variation at low latitudes is therefore likely. The amplitude of the solar cycle ozone variation in the tropical upper stratosphere derived here is somewhat reduced in comparison to earlier results. Additional data are needed to determine whether this upper stratospheric response is or is not larger than model estimates.
Aerosol radiative forcing during clear, hazy, and foggy conditions over a continental polluted location in north India
Authors: Ramachandran S. , Rengarajan R. , Jayaraman A. , Sarin M. M. , Das Sanat K.
Published: October 2006

From the simultaneous measurements of aerosol optical, physical, and chemical characteristics over Hisar, a semiurban location in northern India, aerosol radiative (shortwave (SW), longwave (LW), and net) forcings are estimated using a radiative transfer model. The submicron aerosol mass concentrations are found to be similar, while the supermicron mass concentrations on hazy and foggy days are found to be higher than those found during clear days. Aerosol optical depths are found to be high on foggy days, and they decrease on hazy and clear days. Black carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentration is found to be low during clear and hazy periods and increases by about a factor of 5 during foggy days. Single‐scattering albedo (ω) values at 0.5 μm are found to be 0.88, 0.86, and 0.76 for clear, hazy, and foggy conditions, quite in agreement with varying BC amounts. The ω values over Hisar are found to exhibit close correspondence with ω derived from other locations in India in winter. SW atmospheric (ATM) forcing is found to increase from 16 W m−2 during clear periods to 49 W m−2 for foggy days. LW cooling of the ATM increases from about −2 W m−2 for clear conditions to about −3 W m−2 during foggy periods. LW ATM forcings are found to contribute 11–14% to the net ATM forcing. As the LW ATM forcings are negative, they partially cancel the large SW ATM warmings. Sensitivity study shows that LW ATM cooling becomes more prominent with an increase in the amount of absorbing aerosols and decrease in water vapor, while LW forcings are found to vary only by 1% for differing ozone amounts.