bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Experimental Method for the Determination of Emittable Initial VOC Concentrations in Building Materials and Sorption Isotherms for IVOCs
Authors: Smith James F. , Gao Zhi , Zhang Jensen S. , Guo Beverly
Published: June 2009

This paper describes a new experimental method for determining the initial concentrations of emittable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from building materials and sorption isotherms for individual VOCs (IVOCs), which are required for modeling the VOC emission rates of building materials and assemblies. The method is also useful for the rapid screening of materials, enabling manufacturers to compare different production processes in order to reduce VOC emissions from their products. In this experimental method, material specimens were first ground into powder form in a sealed container and then allowed to emit in a recirculation loop to measure equilibrium concentrations at different levels, as well as the accumulated emission mass. Test results for particle board are presented, and compared to those obtained from a 30 day small chamber emission test for the same material. Results showed that the extraction method significantly increased the release of VOCs from the material and can be used to determine the total emittable initial VOC concentrations and the sorption isotherms for acetaldehyde and hexanal. For formaldehyde, the residual amount after the extraction test was found to be significant, and requires further investigation. Further studies are needed to shorten the test time and determine the accuracy and repeatability of the extraction method.
An Experimental Study for Examining the Effects of Environmental Conditions on Diffusion Coefficient of VOCs in Building Materials
Authors: Farajollahi Yashar , Chen Zhi , Haghighat Fariborz
Published: June 2009

The diffusion coefficients (diffusivity) of five different volatile organic carbon compounds (VOCs), i. e., octane, isopropanol, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and hexane, were experimentally determined for a building ceiling tile. The effects of typical indoor environmental conditions on the diffusivity of the VOCs in the tile were evaluated over a range of temperatures (15, 23, 31 and 39°C) and at three relative humidity percentages (0, 20, and 40%). Three novel methods were developed during the course of this study: (i) a two‐chamber experimental apparatus for diffusivity testing of building materials, (ii) a GC/MS method for determining the above VOCs, and (iii) a two‐factor method for analyzing the statistical significance effects of temperature and humidity on VOC diffusivity. The results showed that the diffusion coefficients of the VOCs were positively related to their vapor pressure, but not to their boiling point, molecular weight or polarity index. No difference was observed between the diffusion coefficient of a VOC present alone or as part of a mixture of VOCs. Temperature and humidity (in the range of a typical indoor environment) had minor significant effects on the diffusion coefficient, with temperature being more important than humidity. It is hypothesized that water vapor molecules may occupy the pores of the ceiling tile material under conditions of high relative humidity and prevent the VOC molecules from diffusing through the pores.
A Study on the Similarities between Water Vapor and VOC Diffusion in Porous Media by a Dual Chamber Method
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhang Jianshun , Grunewald John , Zhao Jianhua , Plagge Rudolf , Ouali Amiri , Allard Francis
Published: June 2009

To better understand the similarities and differences between moisture and volatile organic compound (VOC) diffusion through porous media, a dual chamber experimental system was developed. The diffusion and partition coefficients of moisture and selected VOCs in materials were compared. A pilot test with gypsum wallboard and oriented strand board (OSB) showed similar diffusion kinetics between moisture and VOC. To further establish the similarity relationship between VOC and water vapor transport, calcium silicate was used as a reference material to develop the concept of a similarity coefficient and its application in combined heat, air, moisture and pollutant simulation (CHAMPS) in buildings. The diffusion resistance factor calculated for moisture from the dual chamber tests agreed well with that from the conventional dry cup test method. The diffusion behavior of each particular VOC in porous media is predictable as long as the similarity coefficient of the VOC is known. Future experiments will extend this to materials with significant VOC emissions in buildings.
Chemistry and Pharmacology of Nicotinic Ligands Based on 6‐[5‐(Azetidin‐2‐ylmethoxy)pyridin‐3‐yl]hex‐5‐yn‐1‐ol (AMOP‐H‐OH) for Possible Use in Depression
Authors: Kozikowski Alan P. , Eaton J. Brek , Bajjuri Krishna Mohan , Chellappan Sheela K. , Chen Yihua , Karadi Sudhakar , He Rong , Caldarone Barbara , Manzano Michael , Yuen Po‐Wai , Lukas Ronald J.
Published: June 2009

AMOP‐H‐OH (sazetidine‐A; 6‐[5‐(azetidin‐2‐ylmethoxy)pyridin‐3‐yl]hex‐5‐yn‐1‐ol) and some sulfur‐bearing analogues were tested for their activities in vitro against human α4β2‐, α4β4‐, α3β4*‐ and α1*‐nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). AMOP‐H‐OH was also assessed in an antidepressant efficacy model. AMOP‐H‐OH and some of its analogues have high potency and selectivity for α4β2‐nAChRs over other nAChR subtypes. Effects are manifested as partial agonism, perhaps reflecting selectivity for high sensitivity (α4)3(β2)2‐nAChRs. More prolonged exposure to AMOP‐H‐OH and its analogues produces inhibition of subsequent responses to acute challenges with full nicotinic agonists, again selectively for α4β2‐nAChRs over other nAChR subtypes. The inhibition is mediated either via antagonism or desensitization of nAChR function, but the degree of inhibition of α4β2‐nAChRs is limited by the partial agonist activity of the drugs. Certain aspects of the in vitro pharmacology suggest that AMOP‐H‐OH and some of its analogues have a set of binding sites on α4β2‐nAChRs that are distinct from those for full agonists. The in vitro pharmacological profile suggests that peripheral side effects of AMOP‐H‐OH or its analogues would be minimal and that their behavioral effects would be dominated by central nAChR actions. AMOP‐H‐OH also has profound and high potency antidepressant‐like effects in the forced swim test. The net action of prolonged exposure to AMOP‐H‐OH or its analogues, as for nicotine, seems to be a selective decrease in α4β2‐nAChR function. Inactivation of nAChRs may be a common neurochemical endpoint for nicotine dependence, its treatment, and some of its manifestations, including relief from depression.
Survival disparities among African American women with invasive bladder cancer in Florida
Authors: Brookfield Kathleen F. , Cheung Michael C. , Gomez Christopher , Yang Relin , Nieder Alan M. , Lee David J. , Koniaris Leonidas G.
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND:

The authors sought to understand the effect of patient sex, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes for bladder cancer.

METHOD:

The Florida Cancer Data System and the Agency for Health Care Administration data sets (1998‐2003) were merged and queried. Survival outcomes for patients with bladder cancer were compared between different races, ethnicities, and community poverty levels.

RESULTS:

A total of 31,100 people with bladder cancer were identified. Overall median survival time was 62.7 months. Statistically significantly longer survival times were observed in men (62.8 months vs 62.3 months for women), whites (63.0 months vs 39.6 months for African Americans [AAs], P < .001), non‐Hispanics (62.9 months vs 56.4 months for Hispanics, P < .001), and patients from more affluent communities (74.0 months where <5% live in poverty vs 53.0 months where >15% live in poverty, P < .001). Surgery was associated with dramatically improved survival. AA women diagnosed with bladder cancer were significantly less likely to have endoscopic surgical resection compared with white women (P < .001). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of poorer outcomes were older age, AA race, female sex, degree of community poverty, histologic tumor grade, advanced tumor stage, and lack of surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Racial and SES disparities in bladder cancer survival were not fully explained by late‐stage presentation and undertreatment. Although earlier diagnosis and greater access to surgery would likely yield some improvement in outcomes for AA women, more research is needed to understand the remaining survival gap for this population. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Complications of radiotherapy in laryngopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Zevallos Jose P. , Mallen Michael J. , Lam Cho Y. , Karam‐Hage Maher , Blalock Jan , Wetter David W. , Garden Adam S. , Sturgis Erich M. , Cinciripini Paul M.
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND:

Radiotherapy (XRT) is effective as the primary treatment modality for laryngopharyngeal cancer; however, complications of XRT can result in significant morbidity. Few previous studies have examined the effect of continued smoking on complications of XRT. The authors of this report hypothesized that patients with laryngopharyngeal cancer who successfully quit smoking would have fewer complications of primary XRT.

METHODS:

All patients with head and neck cancer who were smokers at the time of diagnosis were referred prospectively to the Tobacco Treatment Program (TTP). From this group, the patients with laryngopharyngeal cancer who received XRT as the primary treatment modality were retrospectively selected and studied.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐six patients were identified and were divided into 3 groups: Seventeen patients attended TTP and quit smoking before the start of XRT (Group 1), 33 patients attended TTP but continued to smoke during XRT (Group 2), and 37 patients refused TTP (Group 3). On the basis of a review of medical records for patients in Group 3, 20 patients quit smoking before starting XRT and were included in Group 1 (abstainers), 11 patients continued to smoke and were included in Group 2 (continued smokers), and 6 patients had incomplete data and were omitted from further analysis. Analyses both with and without Group 3 patients yielded similar results. Abstainers and continued smokers had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. With the exception of skin changes, all complications (mucositis, need for feeding tube, duration of feeding tube, need for hospitalization, pharyngeal stricture, and osteoradionecrosis) were more common in the patients who continued to smoke, although the only complications that were significantly more common were the need for hospitalization (P = .04) and osteoradionecrosis (P = .03). Patients who continued to smoke were more likely to develop osteoradionecrosis (relative risk [RR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09‐1.6; P = .03) and to require hospitalization during treatment (RR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.05‐2.02; P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS:

Continued smoking during treatment appeared to increase the risk for complications of XRT for patients with laryngopharyngeal cancer and possibly increased hospitalizations. This hypothesis‐generating study emphasized the importance of smoking cessation programs in the management of patients with head and neck cancer patients who receive XRT. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
The impact of cytomorphology, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and immunophenotyping in a comprehensive diagnostic workup of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Bacher Ulrike , Haferlach Torsten , Kern Wolfgang , Weiss Tamara , Schnittger Susanne , Haferlach Claudia
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND:

Because of limited reproducibility of morphologic features, the morphological categorization of initial myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) cases remains a major task in a diagnostic setting.

METHODS:

To further evaluate the role of additional diagnostic methods for suspected early MDS, the authors analyzed 1965 cases with unclear cytopenia where at least cytomorphology and immunophenotyping were performed in parallel, combined with cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

RESULTS:

In 353 patients, both methods diagnosed malignant/nonmalignant disease other than MDS, and 557 patients had MDS‐refractory anemia with excess of blasts/chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The remaining 1055 patients (53.7%), where early MDS/reactive cytopenia had to be assumed, were categorized into 6 groups depending on cytomorphology/immunophenotyping results for or against MDS. In 659 of 1055 cases (62.4%) with suspected initial MDS, cytomorphology and immunophenotyping were concordant in the categorization of MDS/non‐MDS. Cytogenetics, available in 951 of 1055 patients, revealed the highest frequency of aberrant karyotypes when both cytomorphology and immunophenotyping proposed MDS (63 of 227; 27.8%). But also in the groups where either cytomorphology or immunophenotyping showed evidence of MDS, aberrant karyotypes were found in 6% to 14% of patients. Even when both morphology and immunophenotyping showed no MDS, 11 of 208 (5.3%) had cytogenetic aberrations. RUNX1/AML1 mutation screening was positive in 15% in the latter group. NRAS, MLL‐PTD, NPM1, and JAK2V617F were detected in low frequencies, confirming MDS diagnosis in the respective cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

This report outlines the power of a combined diagnostic approach for suspected initial cases of MDS including immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics with selected markers in addition to cytomorphology. Diagnostic algorithms should be developed, and immunophenotyping should be further validated for this specific indication. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic impact of extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer
Authors: Buergy Daniel , Fuchs Tina , Kambakamba Patryk , Mudduluru Giridhar , Maurer Gabriele , Post Stefan , Tang Yi , Nakada Marian T. , Yan Li , Allgayer Heike
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND:

Extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (EMMPRIN) induces matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, tumor‐stroma cell interaction, and invasion/angiogenesis. The objectives of the current study were to find the first evidence of a prognostic impact of total and relative EMMPRIN expression in colorectal cancer cells and to analyze EMMPRIN in bone marrow‐disseminated tumor cells and normal cells from 2 different gastrointestinal cancer entities.

METHODS:

Tumors and normal tissues from 40 patients with colorectal cancer who were followed prospectively (median follow‐up, 31 months) were analyzed for EMMPRIN by immunohistochemistry. Bone marrow from 51 patients (13 patients with gastric cancer and 38 patients with colorectal cancer) with evidence of disseminated tumor cells was screened for EMMPRIN in tumor cells and normal cells (cytokeratin 18/EMMPRIN double immunocytochemistry).

RESULTS:

A significant correlation between poor disease‐specific survival (P = .037; Kaplan‐Meier method; Mantel‐Cox log‐rank tests) and an increased ratio of EMMPRIN in tumor cells versus corresponding normal epithelial cells were observed. Furthermore, the relative increase of EMMPRIN was associated with a trend toward poor overall and recurrence‐free survival. High relative EMMPRIN expression was associated significantly with positive metastasis status (M1) (P = .001) and with a trend towards advanced pathologic tumor classification. Sixteen percent of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow samples from patients with colorectal cancer and 48.5% of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow samples from patients with gastric cancer stained positive for EMMPRIN, and EMMPRIN on micrometastatic cells was associated significantly with parameters of tumor progression (M status, noncurative resectability). A minority of normal bone marrow cells were stained for EMMPRIN, suggesting their suitability for molecular targeting.

CONCLUSIONS:

To the authors' knowledge, this study was the first to indicate that increased relative EMMPRIN protein in tumor‐specific cells compared with normal cells predicts poor disease‐specific survival in patients with colorectal cancer and that EMMPRIN in primary and bone marrow‐disseminated tumor cells is associated with clinical markers of tumor progression in patients with colorectal/gastric cancer. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Temozolomide for recurrent intracranial supratentorial platinum‐refractory ependymoma
Authors: Chamberlain Marc C. , Johnston Sandra K.
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND:

To the authors' knowledge, there currently is no standard therapy for platinum‐resistant ependymoma; hence, a need exists for new therapies. In the current study, a retrospective evaluation of temozolomide (TMZ) in adults with recurrent, supratentorial, platinum‐refractory, World Health Organization grade 2 ependymoma was performed, with an objective of determining 6‐month progression‐free survival (PFS).

METHODS:

A total of 25 patients, ages 28 to 63 years, with recurrent ependymoma were treated. All patients had previously been treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and platinum‐based chemotherapy (cisplatin in 15 patients and carboplatin in 10 patients). Nine patients underwent repeat surgery. Patients were treated at the time of second recurrence with TMZ (5 consecutive days), once every 4 weeks, which was defined as a single cycle. Neurologic evaluation was performed every 4 weeks and neuroradiographic assessment every 8 weeks.

RESULTS:

A total of 68 cycles of TMZ (median, 2 cycles; range, 1‐6 cycles) was administered. TMZ‐related toxicity included leukopenia (7 patients; 1 with grade 3 [grade was determine according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 3.0]), constipation (6 patients; none with grade 3), fatigue (5 patients; none with grade 3), anemia (2; none with grade 3), thrombocytopenia (2; none with grade 3), and deep vein thrombosis (2; none with grade 3). One patient (4%) demonstrated a partial radiographic response, 9 (36%) had stable disease, and 15 (60%) developed progressive disease after 2 cycles of TMZ. Time to tumor progression ranged from 1 to 7 months (median, 2 months). Survival ranged from 2 to 8 months (median, 3 months). The 6‐month and 12‐month PFS were 2% and 0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

TMZ in this dose schedule demonstrated little efficacy in a cohort of adults with recurrent, intracranial, platinum‐refractory ependymoma. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
The morphology and spatial arrangement of astrocytes in the optic nerve head of the mouse
Authors: Sun Daniel , Lye‐Barthel Ming , Masland Richard H. , Jakobs Tatjana C.
Published: June 2009

We evaluated the shapes, numbers, and spatial distribution of astrocytes within the glial lamina, an astrocyte‐rich region at the junction of the retina and optic nerve. A primary aim was to determine how the population of astrocytes, collectively, partitions the axonal space in this region. Astrocyte processes labeled with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) compartmentalize ganglion cell axons into bundles, forming “glial tubes,” and giving the glial architecture of the optic nerve head in transverse section a honeycomb appearance. The shapes of individual astrocytes were studied by using transgenic mice that express enhanced green fluorescent protein in isolated astrocytes (hGFAPpr‐EGFP). Within the glial lamina the astrocytes were transverse in orientation, with thick, smooth primary processes emanating from a cytoplasmic expansion of the soma. Spaces between the processes of neighboring astrocytes were spatially aligned, to form the apertures through which the bundles of optic axons pass. The processes of individual astrocytes were far‐reaching—they could span most of the width of the nerve—and overlapped the anatomical domains of other near and distant astrocytes. Thus, astrocytes in the glial lamina do not tile: each astrocyte participates in ensheathing approximately one‐quarter of all of the axon bundles in the nerve, and each glial tube contains the processes of about nine astrocytes. This raises the mechanistic question of how, in glaucoma or other cases of nerve damage, the glial response can be confined to a circumscribed region where damage to axons has occurred. J. Comp. Neurol. 516:1–19, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spectroscopic Characteristics of Differently Produced Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Li Zhongrui , Zheng Liqiu , Yan Wensheng , Pan Zhiyun , Wei Shiqiang
Published: June 2009

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) synthesized with different methods are investigated by using multiple characterization techniques, including Raman scattering, optical absorption, and X‐ray absorption near edge structure, along with X‐ray photoemission by following the total valence bands and C 1s core‐level spectra. Four different SWNT materials (produced by arc discharge, HiPco, laser ablation, and CoMoCat methods) contain nanotubes with diameters ranging from 0.7 to 2.8 nm. The diameter distribution and the composition of metallic and semiconducting tubes of the SWNT materials are strongly affected by the synthesis method. Similar sp2 hybridization of carbon in the oxygenated SWNT structure can be found, but different surface functionalities are introduced while the tubes are processed. All the SWNTs demonstrate stronger plasmon resonance excitations and lower electron binding energy than graphite and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These SWNT materials also exhibit different valence‐band X‐ray photoemission features, which are considerably affected by the nanotube diameter distribution and metallic/semiconducting composition.
Density Functional Characterization of the Electronic Structure and Visible‐Light Absorption of Cr‐Doped Anatase TiO2
Authors: Yang Kesong , Dai Ying , Huang Baibiao
Published: June 2009

To evaluate the electronic and optical properties of Cr‐doped anatase TiO2, three possible Cr‐doped TiO2 models, including Cr at a Ti site (model I), Cr at a Ti site with an oxygen vacancy compensation (model II), and an interstitial Cr site (model III), are studied by means of first principles density functional theory calculations. In model I, the splitting behavior of the Cr 3d states and the insulating properties are successfully depicted by the GGA+U method, from which it is proposed that Cr at a Ti site should exist as Cr4+ instead of the generally believed Cr3+. As a result, the electron transitions between these impurity states, the conduction band (CB), and the valence band (VB), as well as the d–d transitions between occupied and unoccupied Cr 3d states, provide a reasonable explanation for the experimentally observed major and minor absorption bands. In models II and III, the impurity states and associated optical transition processes—as well as the corresponding electron configurations—are examined.
Intrinsic Activity and Poisoning Rate for HCOOH Oxidation at Pt(100) and Vicinal Surfaces Containing Monoatomic (111) Steps
Authors: Grozovski Vitali , Climent Víctor , Herrero Enrique , Feliu Juan M.
Published: June 2009

Pulsed voltammetry is used to study formic acid oxidation on Pt(2n−1,1,1) surfaces and determine the effects of the size of the (100) terrace and the (111) step density on the reaction mechanism. The intrinsic activity of the electrode through the active intermediate reaction path (jθ=0), as well as the rate constant for the CO formation (kads), are calculated from the current transients obtained at different potentials. For surfaces with wide terraces, jθ=0 and kads are almost insensitive to the step density, which suggests that step and terrace sites have a similar activity for this reaction. For narrow terraces (n<6), the intrinsic activity diminishes. The dependence of the reaction rates on the electrode potential is also elucidated. The CO formation only takes place in a narrow potential window, very close to the potential of zero total charge, while the direct oxidation takes place even when the surface is covered by anions. The different behavior for both reactions suggests that the adsorption mode of formic acid is different for each path.
Depression and eating pathology: Prospective reciprocal relations in adolescents
Authors: Presnell Katherine , Stice Eric , Seidel Anke , Madeley Mary Clare
Published: June 2009

The association between disordered eating and depression has been established, but less is known about the temporal relations between these two disturbances. Accordingly, the current study examined the reciprocal relations between depressive and bulimic symptoms over an 8‐year period, with longitudinal data from a community sample of 496 female adolescents. Depressive symptoms predicted future increases in bulimic symptoms, and bulimic symptoms likewise predicted increases in depressive symptoms, controlling for earlier levels of symptoms for each outcome. These results provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the two disorders contribute reciprocally to each other, and indicate that successful prevention or treatment of one disorder may yield effects for the other. However, the relatively small predictive effect sizes imply that some third variable may contribute to both conditions (e.g., temperamental negative affectivity). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

• Depression and bulimia contribute reciprocally to each other.

• Successful treatment or prevention of one disorder may yield effects for the other.

• Third variable may also contribute to both conditions.
An exploration of emotion regulation in psychosis
Authors: Livingstone Karen , Harper Sean , Gillanders David
Published: June 2009

The emotional experience of individuals who experience psychosis has historically been neglected, possibly due to the divide between the psychoses and neuroses. This study examined emotional experience and regulation in individuals who had experienced psychosis, individuals experiencing anxiety or mood disorders, and non‐patient controls. Participants completed validated measures of emotional experience and emotion regulation. Both clinical groups were found to experience similar levels of emotions, and in comparison to the non‐patient controls, they experienced greater levels of negatively valenced emotions and lower levels of happiness. Both clinical groups also used similar emotion regulation strategies, and in comparison to non‐patient controls, they used significantly more dysfunctional and less functional strategies, suggesting that the emotional experience and emotion regulation strategies of people who have experienced psychosis are more similar to non‐psychotic disorders than have previously been thought to be the case. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

• Individuals with psychosis experience similar emotions as individuals with anxiety and mood disorders, namely more unhappiness, fear and less happiness.

• People with psychosis attempt to regulate these emotions in similar ways to people with mood and anxiety problems, by using more dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies such as ruminating.

• Clinicians may want to pay closer attention to assessing the emotion regulation strategies of those who experience psychosis and consider the implications of these in therapy.

• They may also want to consider the role emotional dysregulation may play in the development, maintenance and course of psychosis.

• An emotion regulation approach to psychosis may be characterised by focussing on emotional experiences and the individual's response to these, as opposed to psychotic symptoms.
Noninsulin‐Dependent diabetes mellitus in black and white Americans
Authors: Harris Maureen I.
Published: June 2009

This report presents an overview of the prevalence, characteristics, morbidity, mortality, and risk factors for noninsulin‐dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in Blacks and Whites in the United States. Data are drawn primarily from national surveys, but the report also includes the few clinical studies that have differentiated the two races. NIDDM constitutes 90‐95% of all diabetes in the United States and is more prevalent in Black Americans than in Whites. Diabetes prevalence increases with age for both races and reaches 26% among Blacks aged 65‐74 years compared with 18% among Whites. Rates of diabetes among persons aged 20‐74 years are 30% higher in White women, 70% higher in Black men, and 100% higher in Black women, compared with White men. Approximately half of diabetes is undiagnosed in both races. White and Black diabetics are similar with regard to age, duration of diabetes, and diabetes therapies, although Blacks of both sexes are more obese than their White counterparts. Rates of vision loss, amputations, and renal disease are 1.5‐4 times higher in Blacks than in Whites, although prevalence of hypertension is about equal in the two races. Blacks and Whites see the same physician specialists for their diabetes, but Whites have approximately 40% more visits to office‐based physicians each year. Diabetes‐specific mortality has declined significantly in the past decade and may now be lower in Black than in White diabetics. Risk factors for diabetes, including age, sex, obesity, and family history of diabetes, all operate within both race groups and probably interact with each other. The effect of gender and family history on rates of diabetes is similar in Blacks and Whites. Blacks have higher rates of diabetes at each obesity level, indicating that obesity alone cannot explain the differential in prevalence between the races. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a strong risk factor for development of diabetes, increases with age in all race/sex groups except for Black women older than 54 years in whom rates of IGT decline, possibly because of conversion of IGT to diabetes.
Intervention at diagnosis of type I diabetes using either antioxidants or photopheresis
Authors: Ludvigsson Johnny
Published: June 2009

Two main hypotheses support the contention that type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease, namely “the cytokine hypothesis” and “the T‐lymphocyte hypothesis”. Various strategies can be used at diagnosis with a view to stopping β‐cell destruction or at least attenuating the process. This review discusses the use of antioxidants based on the idea that free oxygen radicals are important mediators. Experimental animal models have indicated that several antioxidants may prevent diabetes, although in humans only nicotinamide has been shown to have some effect on preventing the disease in high‐risk individuals and to produce a slight effect on residual insulin secretion in newly diagnosed patients. Bearing in mind these considerations, we tried a cocktail of several antioxidants at high dosage. As the code of this randomized double‐blind study is not broken, results cannot be given, but preliminary observation indicates that there has been no dramatic increase of complete remission.

Based on the hypothesis that type I diabetes is a T‐lymphocyte‐mediated disease, lymphocyte photopheresis may be useful. Photopheresis, comprising the treatment of lymphocytes by a combination of the light‐activated drug methoxyp‐soralen and UVA irradiation, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of some other autoimmune disease. One hypothesis regarding its efficacy holds that the method causes changes in the antigenicity of the treated lymphocyte clones which cause a vaccination‐like effect when these cell lines are retransfused at repeated intervals into the patient. Nothing to date is known about its effect in diabetes, although a double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled study has been commenced.
Facile Synthesis of High‐Quality, Water‐Soluble, Near‐Infrared‐Emitting PbS Quantum Dots
Authors: Deng Dawei , Zhang Wenhao , Chen Xinyang , Liu Fei , Zhang Jian , Gu Yueqing , Hong Jianming
Published: June 2009

PbS quantum dots (QDs) with strong near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence have been prepared directly in aqueous solution, by using dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) as a stabilizer. The photoluminescence (PL) emission maximum could be tuned conveniently over a wide range (from ca. 870 nm to 1010 nm) by manipulating the experimental conditions, such as the Pb/S or DHLA/Pb molar ratios. Under optimized conditions, the maximum PL quantum yield was approximately 10 %. These resultant PbS QDs were highly stable when stored in the dark at 4 °C. After one month of storage, the PL emission intensity decreased by only about 20 %, and no obvious spectral redshift was observed. We scaled up further the synthesis of PbS QDs in the lab, where the concentration of QDs was increased to 8 mM from the usual 1 mM. The experimental results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and powder X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) analyses indicated that the as‐prepared PbS QDs had an extremely small diameter (less than 4 nm) and exhibited a face‐centered cubic crystal structure. Such aqueous quantum dots are considered to have tremendous applications in biomedical imaging and the fabrication of nanoscaled devices because of their low toxicity, strong fluorescence, excellent water‐solubility, stability, and biological compatibility relative to other highly toxic thiol (3‐mercaptopropionic acid) stabilized NIR‐emitting QDs (such as CdTe, CdHgTe, HgTe). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Phosphane‐ and Phosphite‐Substituted Diiron Diselenolato Complexes as Models for [FeFe]‐Hydrogenases
Authors: Harb Mohammad K. , Windhager Jochen , Daraosheh Ahmad , Görls Helmar , Lockett L. Tori , Okumura Noriko , Evans Dennis H. , Glass Richard S. , Lichtenberger Dennis L. , El‐khateeb Mohammad , Weigand Wolfgang
Published: June 2009

The displacement of terminal CO ligands in Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)6 (1) by triphenylphosphane, trimethyl phosphite, and bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane (dppe) ligands is investigated. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv. of triphenylphosphane afforded Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)5(PPh3) (2). The mono‐ and disubstituted phosphite complexes Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)5P(OMe)3 (3) and Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)4[P(OMe)3]2 (4) were obtained from the reaction of 1 with excess P(OMe)3 at reflux in toluene. In contrast, the reaction of 1 with 1 equiv. of dppe in the presence of Me3NO·2H2O gave a mixture of Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)4(κ2‐dppe) (5) and [Fe2(μ‐Se2C3H5CH3)(CO)5]2(μ‐dppe) (6). The newly synthesized complexes 2–6 were fully characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 77Se{1H} NMR, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Complex 2 has proved to be a catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of the weak acid, acetic acid, to give molecular hydrogen. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Water‐Soluble (Phosphane)gold(I) Complexes – Applications as Recyclable Catalysts in a Three‐Component Coupling Reaction and as Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
Authors: Elie Benelita T. , Levine Chaya , Ubarretxena‐Belandia Iban , Varela‐Ramírez Armando , Aguilera Renato J. , Ovalle Rafael , Contel María
Published: June 2009

Water‐soluble compounds of the type [AuCl(PR3)] with alkyl‐bis(m‐sulfonated‐phenyl) (mC6H4SO3Na)2 and dialkyl‐(m‐sulfonated‐phenyl) (mC6H4SO3Na) (R = nBu, Cp) phosphanes have been prepared. Dialkylphosphane compounds generate water‐soluble nanoparticles of 10–15 nm radius when dissolved in water. These air‐stable complexes have been evaluated as catalysts in the synthesis of propargylamines by a three‐component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water. The antimicrobial activity of the new complexes against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria and yeast has been evaluated. The new compounds display moderate to high antibacterial activity. The more lipophilic compounds are also potent against fungi. Their cytotoxic properties have been analyzed in vitro by utilizing human Jurkat T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Compounds with dialkyl‐(m‐sulfonated‐phenyl) (mC6H4SO3Na) phosphanes displayed moderate to high cytotoxicity on this cell line. The cell death mechanism involves mainly early apoptosis. The catalytic/biological activity of the previously described compound with commercial m‐trisulfonated‐triphenylphosphane [AuCl(TPPTS)] (6) has also been evaluated to compare the effects of the higher basicity and lipophilicity of the alkyl‐ and dialkyl‐(m‐sulfonated‐phenyl)phosphanes on these new compounds. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Chiral Lewis Base Catalyzed Enantioselective Acetylcyanation of α‐Oxo Esters
Authors: Li Fei , Widyan Khalid , Wingstrand Erica , Moberg Christina
Published: June 2009

Acetyl cyanide adds to alkyl benzoylformates and to 2‐oxoalkanoates to yield enantioenriched acylated cyanohydrins in one step in the presence of a catalytic amount of a chiral base. The reaction is accelerated by Lewis acids and by the addition of a catalytic amount of methanol. Under optimized conditions, 94 % of a 94:6 mixture of the O‐acetylated and non‐protected cyanohydrins was formed from methyl benzoylformate in the presence of cinchonidine; from this mixture the acylated compound with 66 % ee was isolated in 77 % yield. Ethyl pyruvate and tert‐butyl 2‐oxobutanoate were more reactive, and essentially full conversion to the products with 69 and 82 % ee, respectively, was achieved. The reaction proceeds by a non‐selective addition of cyanide ion to give the non‐protected cyanohydrin followed by a dynamic kinetic resolution to provide the enantioenriched acetylated product. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
The Influence of Different Spacer Lengths on the Selectivity of Self‐Assembly Processes of Bis(bipyridine)‐BINOL Helicates
Authors: Bunzen Jens , Hapke Marko , Lützen Arne
Published: June 2009

The synthesis and self‐assembly behaviour of a series of enantiomerically pure bis(chelating) ligands is reported. The ligands differ in the spacer unit between a BINOL core and two bipyridyl groups as the chelating entities and were found to undergo completely diastereoselective self‐assembly to dinuclear double‐stranded helicates with silver(I) salts, as demonstrated by NMR and CD spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. Upon coordination to iron(II) or zinc(II) ions, however, a dramatic loss in the diastereoselectivity of the self‐assembly of dinuclear triple‐stranded helicates was observed as a result of increasing spacer length. In the case of zinc(II), the self‐assembly processes were even found to be nonselective with regard to the composition of the helicates.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Efficient Synthesis of Hybrid (Hydroquinone–Schiff base)cobalt Oxidation Catalysts
Authors: Johnston Eric V. , Karlsson Erik A. , Tran Lien‐Hoa , Åkermark Björn , Bäckvall Jan‐E.
Published: June 2009

Hybrid catalysts A and B have recently been found to efficiently transfer electrons from a metal catalyst to molecular oxygen in biomimetic oxidations. In the present work hybrid catalysts A and B were synthesized in high yield from inexpensive starting materials. The key step is an efficient Suzuki cross‐coupling, which allows the use of unprotected aldehyde 5. The new synthesis of the title hybrid catalysts is easy to carry out and can be scaled up. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Natural Product Synthesis Featuring Intramolecular Diels–Alder Approaches – Total Syntheses of Tubelactomicins and Spiculoic Acid A
Authors: Tadano Kin‐ichi
Published: June 2009

We have recently accomplished the total syntheses of the antimicrobial tricyclic 16‐membered macrolides (+)‐tubelactomicin A, B, D, and E by common synthetic approaches based on intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) reactions. These total syntheses established the relative and absolute configurations of three antibiotics – (+)‐tubelactomicins B, D, and E – for which only planar structures had been previously reported. In addition, we have very recently accomplished the total synthesis of a marine natural product, (+)‐spiculoic acid A, by an IMDA strategy. This Microreview summarizes our total syntheses of the four tubelactomicns and the total synthesis of (+)‐tubelactomicin A by Tatsuta et al. Both approaches were based on the use of stereoselective IMDA reactions for the construction of the lower‐half segments of the antibiotics. Total syntheses of the unnatural (–) and natural (+) enantiomers of spiculoic acid A, the former achieved by Baldwin and Lee's group and the latter achieved by the author's group, are also summarized. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Reaction of the Electrogenerated Cyanomethyl Anion with Carbonyl Compounds: A Clean and Safe Synthesis of β‐Hydroxynitriles
Authors: Bianchi Gabriele , Feroci Marta , Rossi Leucio
Published: June 2009

The electrogenerated cyanomethyl anion reacts with carbonyl compounds to yield the corresponding β‐hydroxynitriles in moderate to high yields. The reported methodology is very clean and safe, avoiding the use of any classical base or catalyst. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Assay of bradykinin metabolites in human body fluids by CE‐LIF coupled with transient ITP preconcentration
Authors: Chen Ying , Zhang Lan , Xu Liangjun , Lin Jin‐Ming , Chen Guonan
Published: June 2009

A CE with LIF detection was developed for the separation and determination of three bradykinin (BK) metabolites: BK2‐9, BK1‐7 and BK1‐5. BK fragments were derivatized with 5‐(4, 6‐dichloro‐s‐triazin‐2‐ylamino) fluorescein before CE‐LIF analysis. Eighty millimolar of Tris‐H3PO4 (pH 9.0) was selected as the derivatization media. Three BK fragments were baseline separated within 10 min by using 0.2 M TAPS‐Tris buffer (pH 8.5) as the running buffer. Meanwhile we have also developed a simple, quick, and sensitive on‐column transient ITP preconcentration for CE‐LIF detection of three BK fragments. Ten millimolar of Tris‐HCl (pH 9.0) was chosen as the leading electrolyte and 0.2 M TAPS‐Tris (pH 8.5) containing 10 mM 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as the terminating electrolyte and also served as the running buffer during CZE separation. By using this transient ITP coupled with CE‐LIF, concentration detection limits (S/N=3) for BK2‐9, BK1‐7 and BK1‐5 were 0.3, 0.1 and 0.1 pmol/L, respectively. This method has been applied to the assay of human saliva and plasma samples with satisfactory results.
Chiral ligand‐exchange CE assays for separation of amino acid enantiomers and determination of enzyme kinetic constant
Authors: Qi Li , Qiao Juan , Yang Gengliang , Chen Yi
Published: June 2009

This paper deals with studies on the use of Zn(II)‐L‐ornithine complex as a chiral selecting system for the enantioseparation and UV detection of amino acids (AAs) by using the principle of ligand‐exchange CE. Successful enantioseparation of three pairs of label‐free aromatic AAs and four pairs of labeled AA enantiomers have been achieved with a buffer of 100.0 mM boric acid, 5.0 mM ammonium acetate, 3.0 mM ZnSO4and 6.0 mML‐Orn at pH 8.2. This new method was shown to be applicable to the quantitative analysis ofD‐ andL‐aromatic AAs, with a linear range between 12.5 and 800.0 μg/mL, and a correlation coefficient above 0.99. Thus this assay, which is facile and relatively rapid, allows us to measure the enzyme catalytic activity in the incubation ofD,L‐AAs withD‐AA oxidase. Using this new method, we can determine the enzyme kinetic constant, lending insight into potential enzyme mechanism.
Hydroxyethylcellulose‐graft‐poly (4‐vinylpyridine) as a novel, adsorbed coating for protein separation by CE
Authors: Yang Runmiao , Liu Yuhai , Wang Yanmei
Published: June 2009

A novel graft copolymer, hydroxyethylcellulose‐graft‐poly (4‐vinylpyridine), used as a physically adsorbed coating of the fused‐silica (FS) capillaries, was synthesized by using ceric ammonium nitrate initiator in aqueous nitric acid solution. EOF measurements showed that the above graft copolymer coating of the FS capillaries could suppress EOF effectively compared with the bare FS capillaries. The adsorbed coating exhibited minimal interactions with proteins, providing efficient protein separations with excellent repeatability. Interestingly, the electrical charge of the coated capillary wall could be modulated by varying the pH of the running buffer, which makes possible the analysis of basic and acidic proteins in the same capillary. The effects of pH on suppressing EOF and protein separation were investigated in detail. The results demonstrated that the hydroxyethylcellulose‐graft‐poly (4‐vinylpyridine) copolymer coatings have great potential in the diagnosis and proteomics.
Rayleigh time‐varying channel complex gains estimation and ICI cancellation in OFDM systems
Authors: Hijazi Hussein , Ros Laurent
Published: June 2009

In this paper, we consider an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) mobile communication system operating in downlink mode in a time‐varying multipath Rayleigh channel scenario. We present a mean square error (MSE) theoretical analysis for a multipath channel complex gains estimation algorithm with inter‐sub‐carrier interference (ICI) reduction using a comb‐type pilot. Assuming the presence of delay‐related information, the time average of the multipath complex gains, over the effective duration of each OFDM symbol, are estimated using LS criterion. After that, the time‐variation of the multipath complex gains within one OFDM symbol are obtained by interpolating the time‐averaged symbol values using low‐pass interpolation. Hence, the channel matrix, which contains the channel frequency response and the coefficients of ICI, can be computed and the ICI can be reduced by using successive interference suppression (SIS) in data symbol detection. The algorithm's performance is further enhanced by an iterative procedure, performing channel estimation and ICI suppression at each iteration. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show a significant performance improvement for high normalised Doppler spread (especially after the first iteration) in comparison to conventional methods. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The variance ratio and trend stationary model as extensions of a constrained autoregressive model
Authors: Zilca Shlomo
Published: June 2009

This paper shows that a constrained autoregressive model that assigns linearly decreasing weights to past observations of a stationary time series has important links to the variance ratio methodology and trend stationary model. It is demonstrated that the proposed autoregressive model is asymptotically related to the variance ratio through the weighting schedules that these two tools use. It is also demonstrated that under a trend stationary time series process the proposed autoregressive model approaches a trend stationary model when the memory of the autoregressive model is increased. These links create a theoretical foundation for tests that confront the random walk model simultaneously against a trend stationary and a variety of short‐ and long‐memory autoregressive alternatives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.