bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa
Authors: Collin Paula , Power Kevin , Karatzias Thanos , Grierson David , Yellowlees Alex
Published: September 2010

Objective

The inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa lacks a clear evidence base. We sought to determine the effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, a specialist inpatient programme for adults with anorexia nervosa, and to survey satisfaction with the same.

Method

Demographic and clinical data were collected, at three time points, for 90 consecutive admission episodes over a three‐year period.

Results

Both a completers and an intention‐to‐treat analysis indicated the effectiveness of the programme. A longer length of hospital stay was associated with a greater degree of change in BMI, but no other predictors of treatment outcome were detected. Participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with the programme.

Conclusion

Adults suffering from anorexia nervosa improved significantly with a specialist programme delivered in an inpatient setting. Future research should investigate the potential role of factors other than obvious demographic and clinical history variables in determining treatment outcome. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Melatonin decreases delirium in elderly patients: A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Al‐Aama Tareef , Brymer Christopher , Gutmanis Iris , Woolmore‐Goodwin Sarah M. , Esbaugh Jacquelin , Dasgupta Monidipa
Published: September 2010

Background

Disturbance in the metabolism of tryptophan and tryptophan‐derived compounds (e.g., melatonin) may have a role in the pathogenesis of delirium.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of low dose exogenous melatonin in decreasing delirium.

Design

A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study.

Setting

An Internal Medicine service in a tertiary care centre in London, Ontario, Canada.

Participants

145 individuals aged 65 years or over admitted through the emergency department to a medical unit in a tertiary care hospital.

Intervention

Patients were randomized to receive either 0.5 mg of melatonin or placebo every night for 14 days or until discharge.

Measurements

The primary outcome was the occurrence of delirium as determined by Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) criteria.

Results

Of a total of 145 individuals (mean age (standard deviation): 84.5 (6.1) years) 72 were randomly assigned to the melatonin group and 73 to the placebo group. Melatonin was associated with a lower risk of delirium (12.0% vs. 31.0%, p = 0.014), with an odds ratio (OR), adjusted for dementia and co‐morbidities of 0.19 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.06–0.62). Results were not different when patients with prevalent delirium were excluded.

Limitation

An intention to treat analysis was not possible due to loss to follow‐up.

Conclusion

Exogenous low dose melatonin administered nightly to elderly patients admitted to acute care may represent a potential protective agent against delirium. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of crown ether–containing N‐phosphorylated thioureas RC(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)2 (R = 1‐aza‐15‐crown‐5, 1‐aza‐12‐crown‐4) and their Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes
Authors: Babashkina Maria G. , Safin Damir A. , Bolte Michael , Klein Axel
Published: September 2010

The reaction of the lithium salts of N‐phosphorylated thioureas RC(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)2 (R = 1‐aza‐15‐crown‐5, HLI; 1‐aza‐12‐crown‐4, HLII) with Co(II) or Ni(II) leads to the chelate complexes [MLI,II2]. The metal center is found in a tetrahedral ([CoLI,II2]) or square planar ([NiLI,II2]) O2S2 environment formed by the CS sulfur atoms and the PO oxygen atoms of two deprotonated ligands L. The molecular structure of [CoLI2] was elucidated by X‐ray diffraction and the extraction properties of HLI,II and [MLI,II2] toward alkali metal and ammonium picrates were investigated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:486–491, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.20637
Innovative macroporous granules of nanostructured‐hydroxyapatite agglomerates: Bioactivity and osteoblast‐like cell behaviour
Authors: Laranjeira M. S. , Fernandes M. H. , Monteiro F. J.
Published: September 2010

To modulate the biological response of implantable granules, two types of bioactive porous granules composed of nanostructured‐hydroxyapatite (HA) agglomerates and microstructured‐HA, respectively, were prepared using a polyurethane sponge impregnation and burnout method. The resulting granules presented a highly porous structure with interconnected porosity. Both types of granules were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Results showed that nanostructed‐HA granules presented higher surface area and porosity than microstructured‐HA granules. In vitro testing using MG63 human osteoblast‐like cells showed that on both types of surfaces cells were able to adhere, proliferate, and migrate through the macropores, and a higher growth rate was achieved on nanostructured‐HA granules than on microstructured‐HA granules (76 and 40%, respectively). In addition, these cells maintained similar expression levels of osteoblastic‐associated markers namely collagen type I, alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein‐2, macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, and osteoprotegerin. These innovative nanostructured‐HA granules may be considered as promising bioceramic alternative matrixes for bone regeneration and drug release application. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2010.
Particulate gold as an anti‐inflammatory mediator in bone allograft—An animal study
Authors: Zainali Kasra , Baas Jorgen , Jakobsen Thomas , Danscher Gorm , Soballe Kjeld
Published: September 2010

Morselized allograft is widely used when increased bone stock is needed in implant surgery. Gold ions liberated from metallic gold surfaces act in an anti‐inflammatory manner by inhibiting cellular NF‐κB‐DNA binding and suppressing I‐κ B‐kinase activation. This study investigated the effect of 45–63 μm sized gold particles mixed in morselized allograft. It was hypothesized that bio‐released gold ions would influence allograft reabsorption, increase mechanical stability, and further stimulate osseointegration. A pair of 10 mm long implants surrounded by a 2.5‐mm gap was inserted in proximal part of each humerus in 10 sheep. Each gap was filled with morselized allograft with 1.29 mg gold particles or nothing. Observation time was 12 weeks. The gold ion liberation was visualized by autometallographic tracing and showed liberation of gold ions. Biomechanical push‐out tests and stereological histomorphometric analyses showed no statistically significant differences in the two groups. Although particulate gold was primarily observed surrounded by bone marrow tissue, no obvious clinically relevant short‐term effects could be measured using gold as an anti‐inflammatory mediator. These findings show that the released gold ions have only influenced cells adjacent to the particles without influencing the fixation and illustrates gold ions' limited field of effect. We suggest a new design for orthopedic implants by introducing gold dots on the prosthesis surface. This aims at suppressing the inflammatory foci along the implant–bone zone and reduces the risk of chronic inflammation before aseptic loosening without affecting bone remodeling. This implant model will be investigated in further studies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2010.
MIBPB: A software package for electrostatic analysis
Authors: Chen Duan , Chen Zhan , Chen Changjun , Geng Weihua , Wei Guo‐Wei
Published: September 2010

The Poisson–Boltzmann equation (PBE) is an established model for the electrostatic analysis of biomolecules. The development of advanced computational techniques for the solution of the PBE has been an important topic in the past two decades. This article presents a matched interface and boundary (MIB)‐based PBE software package, the MIBPB solver, for electrostatic analysis. The MIBPB has a unique feature that it is the first interface technique‐based PBE solver that rigorously enforces the solution and flux continuity conditions at the dielectric interface between the biomolecule and the solvent. For protein molecular surfaces, which may possess troublesome geometrical singularities, the MIB scheme makes the MIBPB by far the only existing PBE solver that is able to deliver the second‐order convergence, that is, the accuracy increases four times when the mesh size is halved. The MIBPB method is also equipped with a Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann mapping technique that builds a Green's function approach to analytically resolve the singular charge distribution in biomolecules in order to obtain reliable solutions at meshes as coarse as 1 Å — whereas it usually takes other traditional PB solvers 0.25 Å to reach similar level of reliability. This work further accelerates the rate of convergence of linear equation systems resulting from the MIBPB by using the Krylov subspace (KS) techniques. Condition numbers of the MIBPB matrices are significantly reduced by using appropriate KS solver and preconditioner combinations. Both linear and nonlinear PBE solvers in the MIBPB package are tested by protein–solvent solvation energy calculations and analysis of salt effects on protein–protein binding energies, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011
Implicit measures of consumer cognition: A review
Authors: Dimofte Claudiu V.
Published: September 2010

In line with recent methodological advances from the cognitive and social psychology literature, consumer researchers have shown strong interest in addressing the nonconscious nature of consumer information processing, attitude formation, and behavioral response. The related use of implicit measures in the study of a variety of marketing effects has offered novel insights into consumer perception of, and response to, marketing stimuli. This paper highlights conceptual issues and empirical findings on the topic of implicit consumer cognition and examines the incremental value that implicit measures may bring to the field. The review suggests that while the use of implicit measures in consumer research is still in its infancy, it shows significant promise as a methodological tool. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Consumer persuasion: Indirect change and implicit balance
Authors: Horcajo Javier , Briñol Pablo , Petty Richard E.
Published: September 2010

The present research examines two main issues relevant to consumer persuasion: (1) whether automatic evaluations can change (both directly and indirectly) in response to verbal ads that engage deliberative information processing activity, and (2) whether such messages can result in spreading activation of implicit change that is consistent with balance principles. The first study showed that automatic evaluations of vegetables were more favorable after people read a health ad than a control message. The results of Study 2 showed that automatic associations toward Heineken (a brand associated with the color green) were also more favorable as a result of processing a message advocating the color green than a neutral control message. Consistent with the idea that automatic changes can be consequential not only for brands but also for consumer identity, participants of Study 3 showed more automatic self–vegetable associations after thinking about the benefits (rather than the negative consequences) of consuming vegetables. A final study revealed that false feedback increasing (vs. decreasing) self–product identity led to more favorable automatic attitudes toward the product, but only for those with relatively high scores on the implicit measure of self‐esteem. Taken together, this series of studies suggests that automatic changes that result from consumer persuasion are consequential in terms of spreading activation and that they seem to respond to balance principles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement of implicit and explicit attitudes toward Barack Obama
Authors: Nevid Jeffrey S. , McClelland Nate
Published: September 2010

The present study evaluated implicit and explicit attitudes toward Barack Obama in a student sample assessed during the 2008 election season. Implicit measurement was based on the Single Category Implicit Association Test (SC‐IAT), in which participants categorized photographs of Obama as target objects associated with positive and negative evaluation categories. The relative darkness of Obama's image in the photographs was manipulated to accentuate racial cues. The results showed significant differences in implicit and explicit attitudes toward Obama between self‐identified conservative and liberal students, as well as significant relationships between implicit and explicit measures and between implicit measures and modern racist attitudes. A stronger negative associational bias was found for conservative students, but not their liberal counterparts, to darker images of Obama in the implicit association test. The results underscore the importance of taking individual differences into account in measuring implicit responses to target stimuli. The results also support the convergent validity of implicit measures of attitudes toward a prominent political figure, as well as the construct validity of the SC‐IAT. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Probing the stereo‐electronic properties of cationic rhodium complexes bearing chiral diphosphine ligands by 103Rh NMR
Authors: Fabrello Amandine , Dinoi Chiara , Perrin Lionel , Kalck Philippe , Maron Laurent , Urrutigoity Martine , Dechy‐Cabaret Odile
Published: September 2010

103Rh NMR represents a powerful tool to assess the global electronic and steric contribution of diphosphine ligands on [Rh(COD)(diphosphine)]+ complexes. In the case of DIOP, BINAP and MeDUPHOS, this approach proved to be more informative than classical CO‐stretching frequency measurements. After validation, this method has been extended to a set of seven diphosphines. 103Rh NMR measurements on [Rh(COD)(diphosphine)]PF6 lead to the following order of donor properties: dppe > MeBPE > MeDUPHOS > dppb > DIOP > BINAP > Tol‐BINAP. This trend has been validated by DFT in the case of DIOP, BINAP and MeDUPHOS. In conjunction, 31P NMR chemical shift has been shown to reflect the ring constraints of the Rh‐diphosphine scaffold. This contribution is a step towards a mechanistic investigation of the catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated substrates by 103Rh NMR and DFT. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen bonds and local symmetry in the crystal structure of gibbsite
Authors: Vyalikh Anastasia , Zesewitz Konrad , Scheler Ulrich
Published: September 2010

First‐principles quantum mechanical calculations of NMR chemical shifts and quadrupolar parameters have been carried out to assign the 27Al MAS NMR resonances in gibbsite. The 27Al NMR spectrum shows two signals for octahedral aluminum revealing two aluminum sites coordinated by six hydroxyl groups each, although the crystallographic positions of the two Al sites show little difference. The presence of two distinguished 27Al NMR resonances characterized by rather similar chemical shifts but quadrupolar coupling constants differing by roughly a factor of two is explained by different character of the hydrogen bonds, in which the hydroxyls forming the corresponding octahedron around each aluminum site, are involved. The Al‐I site characterized by a CQ = 4.6 MHz is surrounded by OHgroups participating in four intralayer and two interlayer hydrogen bonds, while the Al‐II site with the smaller quadrupolar constant (2.2 MHz) is coordinated by hydroxides, of which two point toward the intralayer cavities and four OH‐bonds are aligned toward the interlayer gallery. In high‐resolution solid‐state 1H CRAMPS (combination of rotation and multiple‐pulse spectroscopy) four signals with an intensity ratio of 1:2:2:1 are resolved which allow to distinguish six nonequivalent hydrogen sites reported in the gibbsite crystal structure and to ascribe them to two types of structural OH groups associated with intralayer and interlayer hydrogen bonds. This study can be applied to characterize the gibbsite‐like layer—intergallery interactions associated with hydrogen bonding in the more complex systems, such as synthetic aluminum layered double hydroxides. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tetraspanins in human epithelial malignancies
Authors: Romanska Hanna M , Berditchevski Fedor
Published: September 2010

Transmembrane proteins of the tetraspanin superfamily are implicated in a broad spectrum of cellular processes in many biological systems in both health and disease. Tetraspanins form specialized membrane microdomains on the cell surface which control cell proliferation and migration through various adhesion and growth factor receptors. Recent extensive research has shown that expression of various tetraspanins and their associated partners is deregulated in human malignancies. Although, for the most part, the degree of involvement of tetraspanins in carcinogenesis remains to be established, increasing evidence suggests that these proteins might be of clinical significance in at least some malignancies. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the existing data on expression of tetraspanins in breast cancer and other human epithelial tumours, with an emphasis on their value as potential prognostic markers. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality check of spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting forms of different countries
Authors: Bandekar M. S. , Anwikar S. R. , Kshirsagar N. A.
Published: September 2010

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are considered as one of the leading causes of death among hospitalized patients. Thus reporting of adverse drug reactions become an important phenomenon. Spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting form is an essential component and a major tool of the pharmacovigilance system of any country. This form is a tool to collect information of ADRs which helps in establishing the causal relationship between the suspected drug and the reaction. As different countries have different forms, our aim was to study, analyze the suspected adverse drug reaction reporting form of different countries, and assess if these forms can capture all the data regarding the adverse drug reaction. For this analysis we identified 18 points which are essential to make a good adverse drug reaction report, enabling proper causality assessment of adverse reaction to generate a safety signal. Adverse drug reaction reporting forms of 10 different countries were collected from the internet and compared for 18 points like patient information, information about dechallenge–rechallenge, adequacy of space and columns to capture necessary information required for its causality assessment, etc. Of the ADR forms that we analyzed, Malaysia was the highest scorer with 16 out of 18 points. This study reveals that there is a need to harmonize the ADR reporting forms of all the countries because there is a lot of discrepancy in data captured by the existing ADR reporting forms as the design of these forms is different for different countries. These incomplete data obtained result in inappropriate causality assessment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Catastrophe optics of caustics in single and bilayer graphene: Fine structure of caustics
Authors: Péterfalvi Csaba , Pályi András , Rusznyák Ádám , Koltai János , Cserti József
Published: September 2010

We theoretically study the scattering of a plane wave of a ballistic electron on a circular n–p junction (NPJ) in single and bilayer graphene. We compare the exact wave function inside the junction to that obtained from a semiclassical formula developed in catastrophe optics. In the semiclassical picture short wavelength electrons are treated as rays of particles that can get reflected and refracted at the NPJ according to Snell's law with negative refraction index. We show that for short wavelength and close to caustics this semiclassical approximation gives good agreement with the exact results in the case of single‐layer graphene. We also verify the universal scaling laws that govern the shrinking rate and intensity divergence of caustics in the semiclassical limit. It is straightforward to generalize our semiclassical method to more complex geometries, offering a way to efficiently design and model graphene‐based electron–optical systems.
Scanning probe lithography on graphene
Authors: Neubeck Soeren , Freitag Frank , Yang Rui , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: September 2010

In this paper, we want to outline the principles of how scanning probe lithography on graphene is performed. We will show several examples of structures etched in graphene using this technique, including an example of a nanoelectronic device. In the last part, we present data regarding the oxidation kinetics when performing scanning probe lithography on graphite (HOPG).

magnified image

Two lines oxidized in graphene using scanning probe lithography. The left line (indicated by the arrow) is only 30 nm wide, indicating that this technique has good enough resolution to create nanoelectronic device structures.
Infrared and Raman investigation of carbon nanotube‐polyallylamine hybrid systems
Authors: Tóháti Hajnalka‐Mária , Botka Bea , Németh Katalin , Pekker Áron , Hackl Rudi , Kamarás Katalin
Published: September 2010

Non‐covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by polymers or aromatic systems is a rapidly emerging field. Its importance originates in the possibility of combining special (optical, electric, or dispersive) properties of the added molecules with the mechanical stability of nanotubes. A special application is to use the polymers as interfaces between nanotubes and metallic nanoparticles (“molecular glue”). Crucial to all applications is an experimental tool to characterize the interaction strength between the nanotubes and the associated species. In this paper, we study hybrids of single‐walled nanotubes (SWNT) and polyallylamine obtained from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) at high pH. We use attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to understand how polyallylamine covers the surface of the nanotubes. The interaction of the evanescent field on the surface of the nanotube with the vibrations of the adsorbed species invokes surface selection rules and, hence, surface‐attenuated infrared absorption (SAIRA). Raman spectra prove diameter‐selective solubilization of the polymer‐covered nanotubes.
The effect of nitric acid doping on the optical properties of carbon nanotube films
Authors: Kamarás K. , Pekker Á. , Botka B. , Hu H. , Niyogi S. , Itkis M. E. , Haddon R. C.
Published: September 2010

Treatment of carbon nanotubes by oxidizing acids is extensively used to dissolve metal residues from raw nanotube samples. The effect of acid treatment on the tubes themselves is twofold: it introduces uniform carboxylic sidegroups on the tube ends and defects, and it increases the overall charge concentration on the nanotube walls, thereby p‐doping the material. Wide‐range optical spectroscopy is an ideal tool to characterize both effects from one type of measurement: vibrational signatures indicate the presence of the sidegroups, the increase in far‐infrared absorption signals the presence of free carriers, and the disappearance of interband transitions is the consequence of the depletion of Van Hove singularities when introducing holes. We have subjected carbon nanotube samples to two kinds of acid treatment: mild (in HNO3 vapor at room temperature) and aggressive (high‐temperature reflux). We found that on mild treatment, electronic doping occurs without defect oxidation to carboxylic groups, while the aggressive procedure leads to both doping and defect oxidation. Our spectroscopic data unambiguously prove that the changes in electrical conductivity on acid doping are intrinsic, and not just a result of improving the contact between nanotubes.
Preface: phys. stat. sol. (c) 7/10
Authors: Bhattacharya Pallab , Mishra Umesh K. , Keller Stacia , Dora Yuvaraj
Published: September 2010

The 36th International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors (ISCS 2009) was held from August 30 to September 2, 2009, in Santa Barbara, California. As in previous symposia, ISCS united researchers investigating III–V and II–IV compound semiconductors as well as SiGe, SiC and carbon related materials and devices.

The ISCS series looks upon a long history, which begun in 1966 with the first “International Symposium on GaAs and Related Compounds” in Reading, England. Since then, the conference has been held annually, rotating between Asia, Europe and North America. The conference selects eminent scientists for three prestigious awards, namely the Welker Award, the Quantum Device Award and the Young Scientist Award.

The 36th symposium in Santa Barbara was attended by 215 scientists from 19 countries, with 28% from Asia, 16% from Europe, 2% from Australia, and 54% from America.

The agenda consisted of 4 plenary talks, 16 invited talks, and 96 contributing talks that were presented together with 65 posters. The plenary talks highlighted advances in various areas: Hideo Ohno from Tohoku University spoke on “Ferromagnetism in III–V Semiconductors”, Peidong Yang from the University of California Berkeley on “Semiconductor Nanowires for Photonics and Energy Conversion”, Hari Manoharan from Stanford University discussed “Spin‐Atom Spintronics of Graphene”, and John Bowers from the University of California Santa Barbara “Ge/Si PIN and APD Photodetectors.”

The 37th symposium, held from May 31 to June 4, 2010 in Takamatsu, Japan, is organized by Prof. Yoshiro Hirayama from Tohoku University.

We would like to thank Yasuhiko Arakawa, Oliver Ambacher and Pallab Bhattacharya, who served as Regional Program Chairs and the Technical Program Committee for reviewing the abstracts and generating the program. In addition we would like to thank Ben Streetman who served as the chair of the Awards Committee, the session chairs, and all those who helped with arrangements (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sulfur isotope analysis of cinnabar from Roman wall paintings by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry – tracking the origin of archaeological red pigments and their authenticity
Authors: Spangenberg Jorge E. , Lavrič Jošt V. , Meisser Nicolas , Serneels Vincent
Published: September 2010

The most valuable pigment of the Roman wall paintings was the red color obtained from powdered cinnabar (Minium Cinnabaris pigment), the red mercury sulfide (HgS), which was brought from mercury (Hg) deposits in the Roman Empire. To address the question of whether sulfur isotope signatures can serve as a rapid method to establish the provenance of the red pigment in Roman frescoes, we have measured the sulfur isotope composition (δ34S value in ‰ VCDT) in samples of wall painting from the Roman city Aventicum (Avenches, Vaud, Switzerland) and compared them with values from cinnabar from European mercury deposits (Almadén in Spain, Idria in Slovenia, Monte Amiata in Italy, Moschellandsberg in Germany, and Genepy in France). Our study shows that the δ34S values of cinnabar from the studied Roman wall paintings fall within or near to the composition of Almadén cinnabar; thus, the provenance of the raw material may be deduced. This approach may provide information on provenance and authenticity in archaeological, restoration and forensic studies of Roman and Greek frescoes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intramolecular stable carbon isotopic analysis of archaeal glycosyl tetraether lipids
Authors: Lin Yu‐Shih , Lipp Julius S. , Yoshinaga Marcos Y. , Lin Shao‐Hsuan , Elvert Marcus , Hinrichs Kai‐Uwe
Published: September 2010

Glycolipids are prominent constituents in the membranes of cells from all domains of life. For example, diglycosyl‐glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (2Gly‐GDGTs) are associated with methanotrophic ANME‐1 archaea and heterotrophic benthic archaea, two archaeal groups of global biogeochemical importance. The hydrophobic biphytane moieties of 2Gly‐GDGTs from these two uncultivated archaeal groups exhibit distinct carbon isotopic compositions. To explore whether the isotopic compositions of the sugar headgroups provide additional information on the metabolism of their producers, we developed a procedure to analyze the δ13C values of glycosidic headgroups. Successful determination was achieved by (1) monitoring the contamination from free sugars during lipid extraction and preparation, (2) optimizing the hydrolytic conditions for glycolipids, and (3) derivatizing the resulting sugars into aldononitrile acetate derivatives, which are stable enough to withstand a subsequent column purification step. First results of δ13C values of sugars cleaved from 2Gly‐GDGTs in two marine sediment samples, one containing predominantly ANME‐1 archaea and the other benthic archaea, were obtained and compared with the δ13C values of the corresponding biphytanes. In both samples the dominant sugar headgroups were enriched in 13C relative to the corresponding major biphytane. This 13C enrichment was significantly larger in the putative major glycolipids from ANME‐1 archaea (∼15‰) than in those from benthic archaea (<7‰). This method opens a new analytical window for the examination of carbon isotopic relationships between sugars and lipids in uncultivated organisms. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vacuo reduction of silver orthophosphate with graphite for high‐precision oxygen isotope analysis
Authors: Pelc Andrzej , Halas Stanislaw
Published: September 2010

The reduction of silver phosphate with graphite under vacuum conditions was studied at final reaction temperatures varying from 430 to 915°C to determine: (i) the CO2 extraction yield, and (ii) the oxygen isotopic composition of CO2. The CO2 yield and oxygen isotopic composition were determined on a calibrated dual inlet and triple collector isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We observed the following three stages of the reduction process. (1) At temperatures below 590°C only CO2 is formed, while silver orthophosphate decays to pyrophosphate. (2) At higher temperatures, 590–830°C, predominantly CO is formed from silver pyrophosphate which decays to metaphosphate; this CO was always converted into CO2 by the glow discharge method. (3) At temperatures above 830°C the noticeable sublimation of silver orthophosphate occurs. This observation was accompanied by the oxygen isotope analysis of the obtained CO2. The measured δ18O value varied from −11.93‰ (at the lowest temperature) to −20.32‰ (at the highest temperature). The optimum reduction temperature range was found to be 780–830°C. In this temperature range the oxygen isotopic composition of CO2 is nearly constant and the reaction efficiency is relatively high. The determined difference between the δ18O value of oxygen in silver phosphate and that in CO2 extracted from this phosphate is +0.70‰. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel software for data analysis of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectra applied to natural organic matter
Authors: Grinhut Tzafrir , Lansky Dedy , Gaspar Andras , Hertkorn Norbert , Schmitt‐Kopplin Philippe , Hadar Yitzhak , Chen Yona
Published: September 2010

Natural organic matter (NOM) occurs as an extremely complex mixture of large, charged molecules that are formed by secondary synthesis reactions. Due to their nature, their full characterization is an important challenge to scientists specializing in NOM as well as analytical chemistry. Ultra‐high‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR MS) analysis enables the identification of thousands of masses in a single measurement. A major challenge in the data analysis process of NOM using the FT‐ICR MS technique is the need to sort the entire data set and to present it in an accessible mode. Here we present a simple targeted algorithm called the David Mass Sort (DMS) algorithm which facilitates the detection and counting of consecutive series of masses correlated to any selected mass spacing. This program searches for specific mass differences among all of the masses in a single spectrum against all of the masses in the same spectrum. As a representative case, the current study focuses on the analysis of the well‐characterized Suwannee River humic and fulvic acid (SRHA and SRFA, respectively). By applying this algorithm, we were able to find and assess the amount of singly and doubly charged molecules. In addition we present the capabilities of the program to detect any series of consecutive masses correlated to specific mass spacing, e.g. COO, H2, OCH2 and O2. Under several limitations, these mass spacings may be correlated to both chemical and biochemical changes which occur simultaneously during the formation and/or degradation of large mixtures of compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A preliminary matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight approach for the characterization of Italian lentil varieties
Authors: Caprioli Giovanni , Cristalli Gloria , Ragazzi Eugenio , Molin Laura , Ricciutelli Massimo , Sagratini Gianni , Seraglia Roberta , Zuo Yanting , Vittori Sauro
Published: September 2010

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) was used in this study to obtain protein fingerprints of seven different lentil varieties, to characterize their differences and similarities. Two different matrices have been tested in order to obtain reproducible and significant mass spectra. Extraction with water containing 0.1% of trifluoroacetic acid has been used as preparative step to obtain hydrophilic protein samples of lentil seeds. The obtained MALDI protein profiles identified clear differences between the seven studied lentil varieties. Moreover, considering the high complexity of the obtained MALDI spectra, multivariate techniques of data analysis were employed to find further classification details. These multivariate analyses confirmed the possibility of a clear classification of the seven lentil varieties, indicating that the proposed procedure can be a valid taxonomic tool, and a method to certify the origin of lentils, useful for high added value lentils (Italian lentils). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Essential methodological improvements in the oxygen isotope ratio analysis of N‐containing organic compounds
Authors: Sieper Hans‐Peter , Kupka Hans‐Joachim , Lange Lutz , Roßmann Andreas , Tanz Nicole , Schmidt Hanns‐Ludwig
Published: September 2010

The quantitative conversion of organically bound oxygen into CO, a prerequisite for the 18O/16O analysis of organic compounds, is generally performed by high‐temperature conversion in the presence of carbon at ∼1450°C. Since this high‐temperature procedure demands complicated and expensive equipment, a lower temperature method that could be utilized on standard elemental analyzers was evaluated. By substituting glassy carbon with carbon black, the conversion temperature could be reduced to 1170°C. However, regardless of the temperature, N‐containing compounds yielded incorrect results, despite quantitative conversion of the bound oxygen into CO. We believe that the problems were partially caused by interfering gases produced by a secondary decomposition of N‐ and C‐containing polymers formed during the decomposition of the analyte. In order to overcome the interference, we replaced the gas chromatographic (GC) separation of CO and N2 by reversible CO adsorption, yielding the possibility of collecting and purifying the CO more efficiently. After CO collection, the interfering gases were vented by means of a specific stream diverter, thus preventing them from entering the trap and the mass spectrometer. Simultaneously, a make‐up He flow was used to purge the gas‐specific trap before the desorption of the CO and its subsequent mass spectrometric analysis. Furthermore, the formation of interfering gases was reduced by the use of polyethylene as an additive for analytes with a N:O ratio greater than 1. These methodological modifications to the thermal conversion of N‐containing analytes, depending on their structure or O:N ratio, led to satisfactory results and showed that it was possible to optimize the conditions for their individual oxygen isotope ratio analysis, even at 1170°C. With these methodological modifications, correct and precise δ18O results were obtained on N‐containing analytes even at 1170°C. Differences from the expected standard values were below ±1‰ with standard deviations of the analysis <0.2‰. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of a peptide family from the skin secretion of the Middle East Tree Frog Hyla savignyi by composition‐based de novo sequencing
Authors: Langsdorf Markus , Ghassempour Alireza , Römpp Andreas , Spengler Bernhard
Published: September 2010

A new tryptophyllin‐like peptide family was found in the skin secretion of the tree frog Hyla savignyi. Peptides were characterized by database‐independent sequencing strategies and specific ion fragmentation features were investigated. Skin secretions from specimens of Hyla savignyi were collected by mild electrical stimulation. Peptides were separated by reversed‐phase nano‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (nanoHPLC) and mass spectra were acquired online by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR‐MS). Peptides were characterized by manual de novo sequencing and by composition‐based sequencing (CBS), appearing mostly as C‐terminal free acids and as their acid amide analogs. Amide peptides yielded lower intensities of y‐type ions after collision‐induced dissociation (CID) than their acid analogs. A mechanism of internal b‐ion formation (positive ion mode) and of CO2 elimination (negative ion mode) is proposed. We also exemplified phenomena such as the proline effect and formation of non‐direct sequence ions after sequence rearrangements. The occurrence of rearrangement products, of internal ions and of the proline effect made the CID spectra highly complex. CBS analysis nevertheless resulted in successful and highly reliable sequence analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ASTRA model for strategic assessment of transport policies
Authors: Fiorello Davide , Fermi Francesca , Bielanska Dorota
Published: September 2010

ASTRA is a system dynamics model for the strategic assessment of policy scenarios at the European level. Over recent years, ASTRA has been extensively used in many European research projects, sometimes in linkage with other strategic tools, to provide simulations of scenarios concerning energy scarcity, high oil prices, technological investments in the transport sector and application of measures included in European transport policy. ASTRA is built in Vensim® and consists of nine interlinked modules. With respect to a traditional transport model, ASTRA is less detailed in geographical terms, but simulates the linkages between transport demand, the economy, the vehicle fleet and environmental effects, thus allowing an integrated multidimensional assessment of alternative scenarios. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A history of international climate change policy
Authors: Gupta Joyeeta
Published: September 2010

This article presents an overview of the history of international climate change policy over the last 30 years, divided into five periods. It examines the pre‐1990 period, the period leading up to the adoption of the Climate Change Convention, the period of the Kyoto Protocol until US withdrawal, the period thereafter focusing on the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, and the post‐2008 period that coincides with the financial crisis. For each period, it discusses the relevant science, actors, and coalitions, the agreements emerging in that period, and the key issues and the major trends. In doing so, it examines the evolving articulation of the leadership paradigm, which is the centerpiece of the discussion on how climate change should be addressed. The article shows (1) the increasing complexity of the definition of the climate change issue from an environmental to a development issue; (2) the inability of the developed countries to reduce their own emissions and raise funds commensurate with the nature of the problem and their initial commitments; (3) the increasing engagement of different social actors in the discussion and, in particular, the gradual use of market mechanisms in the regime; (4) the increasing search for alternative solutions within the formal negotiations—such as the identification of nationally appropriate mitigation actions for the developing world, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the use of geo‐engineering solutions; and (5) the search for solutions outside the regime—the mobilization of sub‐national policies on climate change, litigation, and markets on biofuels. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > International Policy Framework
Dynamics and kinetics of nucleo‐cytoplasmic mRNA export
Authors: Mor Amir , Shav‐Tal Yaron
Published: September 2010

Activation of the gene expression pathway in eukaryotic cells results in the nuclear transcription of mRNA molecules, many of which are destined for translation into protein by cytoplasmic ribosomes. mRNA transcripts are exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm via passage through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), ∼125 MDa supramolecular complexes set in the double‐membraned nuclear envelope. Understanding the kinetics of mRNA translocation, from the point of transcription through export, localization, translation, and degradation, is of fundamental interest since gene expression is regulated at all the different levels of this pathway. In this review, we delineate the steps taken by an mRNA molecule in transit to the nuclear envelope and during mRNA export, with specific focus on the dynamic aspects of nucleo‐cytoplasmic mRNA transport as revealed by electron microscopy and live‐cell imaging. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Export and Localization > Nuclear Export/Import
Management of Penetrating Abdominal Trauma in the Conflict Environment: The Role of Computed Tomography Scanning
Authors: Morrison Jonathan J. , Clasper Jon C. , Gibb Iain , Midwinter Mark
Published: September 2010

Background

Computed tomography (CT) scanning is a vital imaging technique in selecting patients for nonoperative management of civilian penetrating abdominal trauma. This has reduced the rate of nontherapeutic laparotomies and associated complications. Battlefield abdominal injuries conventionally mandate laparotomy, and with the advent of field deployable CT scanners it is unclear whether some ballistic injuries can be managed conservatively.

Methods

A retrospective 12 month cohort of patients admitted to a forward surgical facility in Afghanistan who sustained penetrating abdominal injury severe enough to warrant laparotomy or CT scan were studied. Patient details were retrieved from a prospectively maintained operative log and CT logs. Case notes were then reviewed and data pertaining to injury pattern, operative intervention, and survival were collected.

Results

A total of 133 patients were studied: 73 underwent immediate laparotomy (Lap group) and 60 underwent CT scanning (CT group). Of those undergoing CT scanning 17 underwent laparotomy and 43 were selected for nonoperative management. There were 15 deaths in the Lap group and none in the CT group. The median New Injury Severity and Revised Trauma Score was 29 and 7.55 in the Lap group and 9 and 7.8408 in the CT group, which is statistically significantly different (p < 0.001). Five patients in the CT‐Lap group had nontherapeutic laparotomies and 1 patient failed nonoperative management.

Conclusions

Computed tomography scanning can be used in stable patients who have sustained penetrating battlefield abdominal injury to exclude peritoneal breach and identify solid abdominal organ injury that can be safely managed nonoperatively.
Dietary t10,c12‐CLA but not c9,t11 CLA Reduces Adipocyte Size in the Absence of Changes in the Adipose Renin–Angiotensin System in fa/fa Zucker Rats
Authors: DeClercq Vanessa , Zahradka Peter , Taylor Carla G.
Published: September 2010

In obesity, increased activity of the local renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and enlarged adipocytes with altered adipokine production are linked to the development of obesity‐related health problems and cardiovascular disease. Mixtures of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have been shown to reduce adipocyte size and alter the production of adipokines. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding individual CLA isomers on adipocyte size and adipokines associated with the local adipose RAS. Male fa/fa Zucker rats received either (a) control, (b) cis(c)9,trans(t)11‐CLA, or (c) t10,c12‐CLA diet for 8 weeks. The t10,c12‐CLA isomer reduced adipocyte size and increased cell number in epididymal adipose tissue. RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that neither CLA isomer altered mRNA or protein levels of angiotensinogen or AngII receptors in adipose tissue. Likewise, levels of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐6 or the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 were unchanged in adipose tissue. Similarly, neither CLA isomer had any effect on phosphorylation nor DNA binding of NF‐κB. Our results suggest that although the t10,c12‐CLA isomer had beneficial effects on reducing adipocyte size in obese rats, this did not translate into changes in the local adipose RAS or associated adipokines.
Idealism and Religion in the Philosophy of T.L.S. Sprigge
Authors: Almond Brenda
Published: September 2010

Although T.L.S. Sprigge described idealist philosophy as the stage beyond religion, his pantheistic idealism, while not itself a religion, offers a conception of God that seeks to meet the aspiration of human beings to understand their own place in the universe. While he shared with most mid twentieth century British philosophers a basic assumption of the primacy of experience, Sprigge took this strong empiricist assumption in a Berkeleyian rather than a Humean direction. This enabled him to find a place for the phenomenon of religious consciousness, which he saw as the source of a yearning that can be met by absolute idealism's conception of a ‘Whole’ that encompasses ourselves and all aspects of our world. He describes this recognition as the faltering adumbration of a truth – one that is sometimes encountered in aesthetic experience, and sometimes more directly in the lives of mystics. The metaphysical basis for this form of absolute idealism is provided by a concept of time in which each fleeting ‘now’ has a fixed and permanent place, and by a theory of identity according to which personal individuality is dissolved in a unitary ‘Whole’.
Assessment of occupational exposure to leptospirosis in a sheep-only abattoir
Authors: DORJEE S. , HEUER C. , JACKSON R. , WEST D. M. , COLLINS-EMERSON J. M. , MIDWINTER A. C. , RIDLER A. L.
Published: September 2010

This study estimated the frequency of exposure of meat workers to carcasses infected with Leptospira serovars Hardjobovis or Pomona in a sheep-only abattoir in New Zealand. A stochastic spreadsheet model was developed to assess the daily risk of exposure of eviscerators, meat inspectors and offal handlers to live leptospires in sheep carcasses from May to November 2004 (high-risk period), and from December 2004 to June 2005 (low-risk period). The average sheep processed per day were 225 for an eviscerator, 374 for a meat inspector, and 1123 for an offal handler. The median daily exposures during high- and low-risk periods were 11 [95% distribution interval (DI) 5–19] and three (95% DI 1–8) infected carcasses/day for eviscerators, 18 (95% DI 9–29) and six (95% DI 2–12) for meat inspectors, and 54 (95% DI 32–83) and 18 (95% DI 8–31) for offal handlers, respectively. Stochastic risk modelling provided evidence that processing of sheep carcasses exposed meat workers regularly to live leptospires with substantial seasonal variation.