bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimentally induced citrinin and endosulfan toxicity in pregnant Wistar rats: histopathological alterations in liver and kidneys of fetuses
Authors: Singh Nittin D. , Sharma Anil K. , Dwivedi Prabhaker , Patil Rajendra D. , Kumar Manoj
Published: May 2008

In the present investigation, citrinin (CIT) (10 mg kg−1 feed) and endosulfan (1 mg kg−1 body weight) were administered orally alone and in combination to pregnant Wistar rats from gestational day 6 to 20 and their fetuses were collected to evaluate the histopathological alterations in hepatic and renal tissues. In CIT‐fed group fetal liver, the changes were less marked, showing only sinusoidal dilation and mild vacuolar degeneration, whereas the consistent changes in the fetal kidney included tubular degeneration, medullary tubular necrosis, cystic dilatation of tubules, distortion of glomerulur capillary tuft and interstitial fibroblastic proliferation which separated clusters of tubules. In the endosulfan group, the liver was predominantly affected, showing vacuolar degeneration, karyomegaly and severe sinusoidal dilation, whereas the renal changes were mainly confined to tubular degeneration and varying degree of interstitial fibrosis. In the combination group, the hepatic and renal histopathological alterations in the fetus, though of similar nature to those of the individual groups, were more severe. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teriparatide (1‐34 human PTH) regulation of osterix during fracture repair
Authors: Kaback Lee A. , Soung Do Y. , Naik Amish , Geneau Graziello , Schwarz Edward M. , Rosier Randy N. , O'Keefe Regis J. , Drissi Hicham
Published: May 2008

Based on remarkable success of PTH as an anabolic drug for osteoporosis, case reports of off‐label use of teriparatide (1‐34 PTH) in patients with complicated fractures and non‐unions are emerging. We investigated the mechanisms underlying PTH accelerated fracture repair. Bone marrow cells from 7 days 40 µg/kg of teriparatide treated or saline control mice were cultured and Osx and osteoblast phenotypic gene expression assessed by real‐time RT‐PCR in these cells. Fractured animals injected daily with either saline or 40 µg/kg of teriparatide for up to 21 days were X‐rayed and histological assessment performed, as well as immunohistochemical analyses of the Osx expression in the fracture callus. Osx, Runx2 and osteoblast or chondrocyte phenotypic gene expression was also assessed in fracture calluses. Our data shows that Osx and Runx2 are up‐regulated in marrow‐derived MSCs isolated from mice systemically treated with teriparatide. Furthermore, these MSCs undergo accelerated osteoblast maturation compared to saline injected controls. Systemic teriparatide treatments also accelerated fracture healing in these mice concomitantly with increased Osx expression in the PTH treated fracture calluses compared to controls. Collectively, these data suggest a mechanism for teriparatide mediated fracture healing possibly via Osx induction in MSCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 219–226, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl selenite mineral marthozite Cu[(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2]·8H2O
Authors: Frost Ray L. , Čejka Jiří , Keeffe Eloise C. , Dickfos Marilla J.
Published: May 2008

The mineral marthozite, a uranyl selenite, has been characterised by Raman spectroscopy at 298 K. The bands at 812 and 797 cm−1 were assigned to the symmetric stretching modes of the (UO2)2+ and (SeO3)2− units, respectively. These values gave the calculated UO bond lengths in uranyl of 1.799 and/or 1.814 Å. Average UO bond length in uranyl is 1.795 Å, inferred from the X‐ray single crystal structure analysis of marthozite by Cooper and Hawthorne. The broad band at 869 cm−1 was assigned to the ν3 antisymmetric stretching mode of the (UO2)2+ (calculated UO bond length 1.808 Å). The band at 739 cm−1 was attributed to the ν3 antisymmetric stretching vibration of the (SeO3)2− units. The ν4 and the ν2 vibrational modes of the (SeO3)2− units were observed at 424 and 473 cm−1. Bands observed at 257, and 199 and 139 cm−1 were assigned to OUO bending vibrations and lattice vibrations, respectively. OH···O hydrogen bond lengths were inferred using Libowiztky's empirical relation. The infrared spectrum of marthozite was studied for complementation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman spectroscopy of synthetic organic pigments used in 20th century works of art
Authors: Schulte Franziska , Brzezinka Klaus‐Werner , Lutzenberger Karin , Stege Heike , Panne Ulrich
Published: May 2008

Raman microscopy allows a non‐destructive characterisation of inorganic and organic painting materials such as pigments and organic dyestuffs. The objectives of this study are the more recent organic pigments typically present in paintings and other art works from the 20th century. More than 20 organic synthetic pigments from different chemical classes could be identified by Raman spectroscopy using different excitation wavelengths (457.9, 476.5, 487.9, 514.5, 632.8, and 1064 nm). To evaluate the performance for real paint samples, varying paint mixtures of the Hansa Yellow pigment PY 3 and the binding medium Mowilith, a polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) compound, were characterised; PY 3 was determined at a 1 wt% level in the binder. In addition, commercial tube paints containing the quinacridone violet PV 19 were studied. The pigment was clearly identified in all of these more complex oil and acrylic paints. Finally, alizarin (PR 83) and a green copper phthalocyanine pigment (PG 7) could unambiguously be identified by Raman microscopy in the painting ‘Woman with mandolin in yellow and red’ of Max Beckmann dating 1950. The discovery of a red naphthol AS pigment by Raman spectroscopy in a sample from the ‘Three field workers’ by Georg Baselitz (1964/1965) demonstrated that in some cases complementary chromatographic methods are needed for a comprehensive identification of the organic pigments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of grape skin hardness by a puncture test
Authors: Letaief Hend , Rolle Luca , Zeppa Giuseppe , Gerbi Vincenzo
Published: May 2008

BACKGROUND: The release of grape components during wine making might be related to the mechanical properties of the skin, in particular its hardness. Samples from three varieties collected during the 2005 vintage season in Piedmont, Italy, were tested for their skin hardness using a texture analyser. The goal was to understand the statistical interactions between three factors—variety, cluster position and puncture point—and their influence on the grape skin hardness. A discussion on the relationship between the size of the sample used and the confidence level is also provided.

RESULTS: Results of the ANOVA test showed that there is an interaction between the variety and the puncture point when measuring the skin hardness with the break energy. The position of the berry on the cluster does not affect the berry skin break energy. We also show that a sample size depend on the variety tested.

CONCLUSION: The break energy is more useful in understanding the effect of the three factors on the skin hardness. Other factors that might affect the puncture test applied to grapes need to be studied in the future and the usefulness of the test in winemaking will need to be further developed. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Medical management of thyroid cancer: a risk adapted approach
Authors: Tuttle R. Michael , Leboeuf Rebecca , Shaha Ashok R.
Published: May 2008

Risk adapted treatment recommendations are dependent on accurate predictions of the risk of recurrence, risk of death, and likely sites of recurrence. When combined with response to therapy assessments and secondary risk stratification during follow‐up, this risk adapted approach will allow the clinician to tailor the aggressiveness of therapy and follow up to the risk of recurrence and death in individual patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:712–716. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer
Authors: Forastiere Arlene A.
Published: May 2008

Three decades of collaborative research have led to the integration of platinum‐based chemotherapy into the curative management of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and gains in local‐regional control, organ preservation and survival endpoints. Concomitant cisplatin‐based chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the strategy that has proven most effective for organ preservation for larynx and oropharynx cancers, the treatment of unresectable disease, nasopharyngeal cancer and the post‐operative adjuvant treatment of patients at high risk of recurrence. The evolution of current indications for this multimodality approach is reviewed and current areas of investigation discussed. Nearly all patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer receive chemotherapy as part of initial curative treatment. The focus of future trials should be on survival improvement, toxicity reduction and risk stratification for treatment decision making. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:701–707. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Frontiers in free flap reconstruction in the head and neck
Authors: Cordeiro Peter G.
Published: May 2008

This chapter describes the state of the art in head and neck free flap reconstruction and will stress some of its major deficits. It will also discuss some of the most promising frontiers in reconstruction, including tissue engineering and composite allotransplantation. The true frontiers of reconstruction need to be refined at the cellular level where tissue engineered from the individual cells and manipulation of the patient's immune system will potentially allow allotransplantation without affecting rates of cancer cure. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:669–673. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current status of FDG‐PET for head and neck cancer
Authors: Wong Richard J.
Published: May 2008

18‐FDG‐PET has utility for the identification of the unknown primary head and neck squamous carcinoma, distant metastases or second primary carcinomas, and recurrent HNSCC in the post‐treatment setting. PET has a high negative predictive value in the detection of recurrent HNSCC. Standardized uptake values have demonstrated prognostic value. Limitations of PET include a lower utility for identifying occult nodal metastases and false positive readings from inflammation, infection, muscle activity, and radiation effect. Novel radioactive tracers may enable PET to identify sites of DNA replication, protein metabolism, and hypoxia. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:649–652. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current status of biomarkers in head and neck cancer
Authors: Chang Steven S. , Califano Joseph
Published: May 2008

As our understanding of HNSCC increases so has biomarker development. HPV16 integration is a significant marker of favorable prognosis and response to therapy for HNSCC. EGFR‐amplification and overexpression is a poor‐prognostic indicator. For premalignant lesions, LOH of 3p&9p21 loci confers an elevated risk of malignant transformation. As molecular targets are identified, these will be candidates for biomarkers for detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Validation of these biomarkers requires demonstration of independence of significance beyond known biomarkers. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:640–643. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular pathogenesis of head and neck cancers
Authors: Singh Bhuvanesh
Published: May 2008

Head and neck cancers represent a progressive genetic malady, with genetic aberrations accumulating in response to carcinogen exposure. Although individual genomic aberrations develop at specific time points in the progression axis, the precise role of these abnormalities in tumor progression and cancer behavior remain to be elucidated. This article will give an overview of the current knowledge on the molecular basis for the development of head and neck cancers. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:634–639. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Macromol. Chem. Phys. 10/2008
Authors: Themistou Efrosyni , Patrickios Costas S.
Published: May 2008

Cover: Sequential group transfer polymerizations of monomer, hydrolyzable crosslinker and again monomer and hydrolyzable crosslinker lead to the successive formation of linear polymers, “arm‐first” star polymers, “in‐out” star polymers, and finally crosslinked star polymer networks. The last three polymers can readily be cleaved into linear block copolymers: AB diblocks, ABA triblocks and ABAB tetrablocks, respectively. Further details can be found in the article by E. Themistou and C. S. Patrickios* on page 1021.
Decreased clearance of von Willebrand factor in a patient with type 2B von Willebrand disease following development of immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Wang Zhihong J. , Onwuzurike Nkechi , Callaghan Michael U. , Rajpurkar Madhvi , Chitlur Meera , Lusher Jeanne M.
Published: May 2008

We report a case of concurrent type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The patient had characteristic loss of von Willebrand factor (VWF) high molecular weight multimers (HMWM) but a normal platelet count in the initial 8 years after diagnosis of type 2B VWD. When he developed severe thrombocytopenia, however, both his VWD indices and VWF HMWM normalized. As his platelet count increased, he again lost the HMWM and his VWD indices decreased. These results suggest that the severe thrombocytopenia led to decreased clearance of VWF, especially the HMWM. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:416–418. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rosai–Dorfman disease following bone marrow transplantation for pre‐B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Ambati S. , Chamyan G. , Restrepo R. , Escalon E. , Fort J. , Pefkarou A. , Khatib Z.A. , Dehner Louis P.
Published: May 2008

A child with acute pre‐B cell lymphoblastic leukemia underwent haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) after first relapse. Approximately 8 months after the BMT, he developed a soft tissue mass overlying a defect in the left frontal bone. He was found to have several additional osteolytic lesions but no evidence of lymphadenopathy or organomegaly. A biopsy of the presenting lesion demonstrated a polymorphous infiltrate composed predominantly of S‐100 protein and CD68 immunoreactive histiocytic cells. Together with the presence of emperipolesis, the process was interpreted as Rosai–Dorfman (R–D) disease. He received chemotherapy with vinblastine, prednisone, 6‐mercaptopurine and methotrexate and has been in remission for over 4 years. Only one previous example of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood has been reported with R–D disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:433–435. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mobilization of PML‐RARA negative blood stem cells and salvage with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in children with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Termuhlen Amanda M. , Klopfenstein Kathryn , Olshefski Randall , Rosselet Robin , Yeager Nicholas D. , Soni Sandeep , Gross Thomas G.
Published: May 2008

Background

Relapsed acute promyleocytic leukemia (APL) is treated with re‐induction chemotherapy, commonly arsenic trioxide, and stem cell transplantation (SCT). The effect of arsenic trioxide on autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection is unknown.

Procedure

Five pediatric patients with relapsed APL had PML‐RARA negative peripheral blood stem cells mobilized (four after arsenic trioxide) and underwent autologous SCT after cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg × 2) and total body irradiation (TBI‐fractionated 1,200 cGy) conditioning.

Results

All five patients remain in molecular remission a median of 20 months post‐transplant.

Conclusion

Autologous SCT performed during molecular remission is a treatment option for pediatric patients with relapsed APL and may provide durable leukemia‐free survival without the complications of allogeneic transplantation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:521–524. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The prescribing practices of nurse independent prescribers caring for patients with diabetes
Authors: Courtenay M , Carey N
Published: May 2008

The aim of this study was to examine the prescribing practices of nurse independent prescribers caring for patients with diabetes.

Medication management is an area of care in which nurses, caring for patients with diabetes, are involved. Prescribing should optimise the role of these nurses. Although nurses in the United Kingdom have virtually the same independent prescribing rights as doctors, there is limited evidence concerning the extent to which nurse prescribing is used to treat diabetic patients, the medicines and conditions for which these nurses prescribe, and nurses' level of experience or training.

In this study, data were derived from a national questionnaire survey. The findings were based on replies from a random sample of 409 nurse independent prescribers who self‐completed a written questionnaire.

The results showed that the majority (62.6%) of participants worked in general practice. Nurses with specialist training prescribed more frequently (p = 0.015). The majority (51.8%) of nurses prescribed between one and five items a week for patients with diabetes. Monitoring equipment, oral antidiabetic drugs, and insulins were the products most often prescribed. A lack of continuing professional development and clinical knowledge were the biggest factors which hampered prescribing.

It was concluded that nurses are using independent prescribing to prescribe medicines for patients with diabetes. However, in order that this role is optimised, it is important that nurse independent prescribers have the appropriate specialist knowledge and are able to access continuing professional development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons.
Benzodiazepine use in all alcohol consumers predicts use of opioids in patients 20 years later—a follow‐up study of 13 390 men and women aged 40–42 years
Authors: Skurtveit Svetlana , Furu Kari , Bramness Jørgen G. , Tverdal Aage
Published: May 2008

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of the consumption of benzodiazepines at age 40–42 years on prescription of opioids later in life.

Methods

A cohort of 6707 men and 6683 women aged 40–42 years reported no use of analgesics in health surveys in 1985–1989. This cohort was linked to the Norwegian prescription database (NorPD) and their prescriptions of opioids during 2004–2006 were analysed. Low–high, moderate–high and high prescription frequency of opioids were defined as at least 6, 12 or 16 prescriptions during January 2004–December 2006. Non‐steroid anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used as comparators.

Results

The unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) for low–high prescription frequency of opioids for men and women using benzodiazepines were 3.8 (95%CI 2.5–5.7) and 3.4 (2.6–4.4), respectively, as compared with non‐users. After adjustment for alcohol, smoking habits and socio‐economic variables, the ORs were lowered for both sexes: 2.6 (1.7–4.0) in men and 2.5 (1.9–3.3) in women. The adjusted OR for those with high prescription of opioids was higher for both sexes: 4.5 (2.4–8.5) in men and 3.7 (2.4–5.7) in women. A stratified analysis revealed no relationship between benzodiazepine use and later low and moderate prescription frequency of opioids among teetotallers. The adjusted ORs for low–high prescription frequency NSAID use for men and women using benzodiazepines were 1.6 (1.1–2.4) and 1.6 (1.3–2.0), respectively.

Conclusion

In this study population, a history of benzodiazepine use raised the chance of being prescribed opioids later in life among those who also used alcohol. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Procedures conditioning the absorption/desorption behavior of cold‐cured epoxy resins
Authors: Frigione Mariaenrica , Lettieri Mariateresa
Published: May 2008

The absorption/desorption behavior of a commercial cold‐cured bisphenolic epoxy resin, subjected to different treatments prior to exposure to water, was analyzed. The epoxy system has been already used as both matrix and adhesive for the manufacture and application, respectively, of fiber reinforced polymers composites employed for rehabilitation procedures. The effects of different curing, conditioning, and storing conditions on the water absorption/desorption process taking place in the cured resin were evaluated. The different conditioning procedures used to dry the specimens before their exposure to water caused a different extent of physical aging and of curing on each system, influencing the amount and the rate of diffusion of the water molecules inside the specimens. Moreover, if the specimens are subjected to thermohygrometric cycles prior to immersion in water, the rate of diffusion and the amount of water also depends on the presence of water molecules inside the cured resins not easy to remove by any drying treatment. During all the hygrometric treatments performed, a deaging process took place. The kinetic of this deaging process for the not‐fully cured systems depends on the additional crosslinking taking place in the samples. The different procedures used to condition the specimens also affect the variations in glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured systems during and after immersion in water. Finally, the different drying procedures employed proved to be not equally appropriate for cold‐cured epoxy resins. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1320–1336, 2008
Structural recovery (physical ageing) of the friction coefficient of polymers
Authors: Charrault Eric , Gauthier Christian , Marie Pascal , Schirrer Robert
Published: May 2008

Most of the mechanical properties of the polymers are subject to structural recovery (physical ageing). The aim of this work was, therefore, to evaluate the sensitivity of the friction coefficient to physical ageing. The apparent friction coefficient is the ratio of the tangential force to the normal load applied to a moving tip in contact with the surface of a material. This coefficient includes a “true friction” at the interface and a “geometrical friction,” which is the lowing and bulk dissipative effect. In the case of solid polymers, the material underneath the moving tip may display various types of behavior: elastic, viscoelastic, elastoplastic (elastic and plastic strains are present in the contact area), or fully plastic. Scratching and sliding experiments were performed on PMMA to determine the true friction coefficient over a wide range of contact deformations. An analysis of the true friction coefficient as a function of the physical ageing (structural recovery) showed that the friction decreases with increasing structural recovery of the polymer in the case of sliding. Whatever the level of physical ageing, at a high contact strain (fully plastic contact), the true friction coefficient tended to a unique and high value independent of the thermal history of the polymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1337–1347, 2008
Solid state blending of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with polystyrene: Extent of PET amorphization and compositional effects on crystallizability
Authors: Schexnaydre Ryan J. , Mitchell Brian S.
Published: May 2008

Polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were blended together in the solid state via cryogenic mechanical attrition (CMA) and in the melt through conventional twin‐screw extrusion. CMA PS/PET blend morphologies were characterized both qualitatively and quantitatively through microscopy and thermal analysis. Specifically, CMA reduced the dispersed‐phase domain size and its distribution relative to simple melt extrusion, although not to the extent attained with added chemical compatibilizers. CMA also amorphized the PET phase and depressed the PET cold crystallization rate, which was measured by post‐CMA nonisothermal MDSC analysis. The PET amorphization efficiency and crystallizability for CMA PS/PET blends were the highest and lowest, respectively, at the PS/PET phase inversion. These concomitant phenomena are known to be caused by CMA‐induced PET crystal defect formation and subsequent entropic stabilization. Such behaviors are linked to the enhanced presence of an uncrystallizable rigid amorphous PET phase, and the weight fraction of this rigid amorphous fraction (RAF PET) was quantified and also maximized near the PS/PET phase inversion. Moreover, the increased compatibilization and amorphization efficiencies and reduced PET crystallizability were determined to be interdependent. These studies have verified that CMA of PET with PS is more efficient than extrusion due to the formation of nonequilibrium, metastable morphologies that can be more precisely controlled and better stabilized with an interesting, composition‐dependent interplay between PET crystallizability and the extent of PS/PET compatibilization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1348–1359, 2008
Preface: phys. stat. sol. (c) 5/7
Authors: Girlanda R. , Savona V. , Quattropani A. , Savasta S.
Published: May 2008

This issue contains the Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on the Optics of Excitons in Confined Systems. OECS‐10 is the tenth of a very successful series of conferences that started in 1987 in Rome, Italy, and has been addressed to scientists who lead fundamental and applied research on the optical properties of excitons in novel condensed‐matter nanostructures. The 2007 meeting brought together a large representative of the world leading actors in this domain, with the aim of stimulating the exchange of ideas, promoting international collaborations, and coordinating research on the newest exciton‐related issues such as quantum information science and exciton quantum‐collective phenomena. The main topics treated were: heterostructures of low dimensionality, quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots, polaritons, quantum optics with excitons and polaritons, quantum coherence and quantum‐phase manipulation, Bose–Einstein condensation and other collective phenomena, excitons in novel materials.

The success of the conference has also been possible thanks to the invaluable help of Giovanna Martino, Giuseppe Pistone, and Omar Di Stefano, who undertook all the local organization tasks. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the financial and

technical support of

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Fondazione Umberto Bonino & Maria Sofia Pulejo

Dipartimento di Fisica della Materia e Tecnologie Fisiche Avanzate, Universita' degli Studi di Messina

Dottorato di Ricerca in Tecnologie Avanzate per l'Optoelettronica e la Fotonica e Modellizzazione Elettromagnetica

The success of this event has motivated the continuation of the series of OECS conferences. The 11th International Conference on the Optics of Excitons in Confined Systems will be organized in Spain in September 2009 and will be chaired by Prof. Luis Viña.

Messina, Patti, September 2007
Carrier dynamics of straininduced quantum dots and THz radiation‐induced exciton cooling
Authors: Boxberg Fredrik , Tulkki Jukka
Published: May 2008

The cover picture of this issue of physica status solidi (c) has been taken from the article [1]. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Study of the structure‐activity relationship for theoretical molecular descriptors using density functional theory and chemometric methods in cannabinoid metabolites
Authors: e Silva Tânia B. , Pereira Mariano A. , Malta Valéria S. , Bento Edson S. , San‐Miguel Miguel A. , Ziolli Roberta L. , Martins João B. L. , Sih Andre , Taft Carlton A.
Published: May 2008

A set of 30 cannabinoid metabolites has been investigated from a combination of electronic and chemometric methods. Density functional calculations have been carried out to obtain optimized geometries, energies, and selected molecular properties. These molecular descriptors take into account steric effects, electronic properties, and chemical reactivity. The use of statistical methods including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and nonhierarchical cluster analysis (K‐means), nearest neighbor (KNN) and artificial neural networks (ANN) has enabled to classify the compounds into psychoactive, moderately psychoactive and psychoinactive groups in good agreement with experimental evidences. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
New benchmarks for the second‐order correlation energies of Ne and Ar through the finite element MP2 method
Authors: Flores Jesús R.
Published: May 2008

The finite element second‐order Møller–Plesset method has been employed to improve the accuracy of the second‐order correlation energies of symmetry‐adapted electron pairs and to provide values for the coefficient of the leading term of their asymptotic expansions (AEs). The use of multigrid procedures in combination with radial extrapolation techniques and the improvement of angular extrapolation procedures through the use of AE coefficients obtained from the Hartree–Fock wave function (K. Jankowski et al., Mol. Phys. 2006, 104, 2213) have lead to a considerable improvement over previous results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Factors in random graphs
Authors: Johansson Anders , Kahn Jeff , Vu Van
Published: May 2008

Let H be a fixed graph on v vertices. For an n‐vertex graph G with n divisible by v, an H‐factor of G is a collection of n/v copies of H whose vertex sets partition V (G).

In this work, we consider the threshold thH(n) of the property that an Erdős‐Rényi random graph (on n points) contains an H‐factor. Our results determine thH(n) for all strictly balanced H.

The method here extends with no difficulty to hypergraphs. As a corollary, we obtain the threshold for a perfect matching in random k‐uniform hypergraph, solving the well‐known “Shamir's problem.” © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008
A location‐based service advertisement algorithm for pervasive service discovery in wireless mobile networks
Authors: Yang Kun , Todd Chris , Li Jie , Georgalas Nektarios , Azmoodeh Manooch
Published: May 2008

The practical success of pervasive services running in mobile wireless networks relies largely on its flexibility in providing adaptive and cost‐effective services. Service discovery is an essential mechanism to achieve this goal. As an enhancement to our previous work for service discovery, that is, model‐based service discovery (MBSD), this paper proposes a location‐based service advertisement (SA) algorithm named as MBSD‐sa. MBSD‐sa advocates the importance of service location to the service availability and integrates the service location information together with the service semantic information into service information for advertisement. MBSD‐sa utilizes prediction to estimate the service location so as to reduce the number of SA messages (SAMs). Two complementary types of SA mechanisms (Types 1 and 2) are employed by MBSD‐sa to strike the balance between the SAM overhead and the accuracy of service information. The performance of MBSD‐sa is analyzed both numerically and using simulations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Localized power‐aware alternate routing for wireless ad hoc networks
Authors: Zhang Baoxian , Mouftah Hussein T. , Zhao Zhuang , Ma Jian
Published: May 2008

In this paper, we design a localized power‐aware alternate routing (LPAR) protocol for dynamic wireless ad hoc networks. The design objective is to prolong the lifetime of wireless ad hoc networks wherein nodes can adaptively adjust their transmission power based on communication ranges. LPAR achieves this goalviatwo phases. In the first phase, energy draining balancing is achieved by identifying end‐to‐end paths with high residual energy. The second phase is designed to effectively reduce the power consumed for packet forwarding. This is achieved by iteratively performing adaptive localized power‐aware alternate rerouting to bypass each (potentially) high‐power link along the end‐to‐end path identified in the first phase. Further, the design of LPAR enables nodes to collect their neighborhood information ‘on‐demand’, which can effectively reduce the overhead for gathering such information. LPAR is suitable for both homogeneous and non‐homogeneous networks. Simulation results demonstrate that LPAR achieves improved performance in reducing protocol overhead and also in prolonging network lifetime as compared with existing work. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae type 1-induced haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Mark Taylor C.
Published: May 2008

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) can be classified according to the aetiology of the different disorders from which it is composed. The most prevalent form is that induced by shigatoxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and, in some tropical regions, by Shigella dysenteriae type 1. STEC cause a zoonosis, are widely distributed in nature, enter the food chain in different ways, and show regional differences. Not all STEC are human pathogens. Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli usually cause attachment and effacing lesions in the intestine. This is not essential, but production of a shigatoxin (Stx) is. Because Stx are encoded by a bacteriophage, this property is transferable to naïve strains. Laboratory methods have improved by identifying STEC either via the toxin or its bacteriophage. Shigella dysenteriae type 1 produces shigatoxin, identical to Stx-1, but also has entero-invasive properties that enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) do not. Shigella patients risk bacteremia and benefit from early antibiotic treatment, unlike those with EHEC.
Importance of the understory stratum to entomofaunal diversity in a temperate deciduous forest
Authors: Hirao Toshihide , Murakami Masashi , Kashizaki Akira
Published: May 2008

The vertical stratification of lepidopteran and coleopteran communities in a cool‐temperate deciduous forest in Japan was examined to evaluate the hypothesis of an expected uniform distribution of mobile flying insects between the canopy and understory of temperate forests. Lepidopteran and coleopteran insects were trapped using light traps at three sites in each of the canopy and understory for three consecutive nights each month from April to October 2001. For Lepidoptera, species richness, abundance, and family richness were significantly higher in the understory than in the canopy. For Coleoptera, only abundance was larger in the canopy relative to the understory; species and family richness did not differ between the strata. The beta diversity of the lepidopteran community was larger between the strata than among sites, but the coleopteran community showed an inverse pattern. These results imply the presence of vertical stratification within the lepidopteran community, but not within the coleopteran community, in the temperate forest. The understory contributes more than the canopy to lepidopteran diversity in the temperate forest, although this stratification may be relatively weak because, in contrast to the situation in tropical forests, the canopy and understory assemblages share many species.
Surface Morphological and Nanomechanical Properties of PLD-Derived ZnO Thin Films
Authors: Jian Sheng-Rui , Teng I-Ju , Yang Ping-Feng , Lai Yi-Shao , Lu Jian-Ming , Chang Jee-Gong , Ju Shin-Pon
Published: May 2008

This study reports the surface roughness and nanomechanical characteristics of ZnO thin films deposited on the various substrates, obtained by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques. ZnO thin films are deposited on (a- and c-axis) sapphires and (0001) 6H-SiC substrates by using the pulsed-laser depositions (PLD) system. Continuous stiffness measurements (CSM) technique is used in the nanoindentation tests to determine the hardness and Young’s modulus of ZnO thin films. The importance of the ratio (H/E
film) of elastic to plastic deformation during nanoindentation of ZnO thin films on their behaviors in contact-induced damage during fabrication of ZnO-based devices is considered. In addition, the friction coefficient of ZnO thin films is also presented here.
Hydroxy Radical, Hexanal, and Decadienal Generation by Autocatalysts in Autoxidation of Linoleate Alone and with Eleostearate
Authors: Morita Makio , Tokita Masako
Published: May 2008

The formation of hydroxy radicals, hexanal, and 2,4‐decadienal was demonstrated from the autocatalytic dimer peroxide which had been reported by us in autoxidizing linoleate (Morita and Tokita in Lipids 41:91–95, 2006). Then, autoxidizing linoleate containing eleostearate was investigated for new autocatalytic substances. The substances obtained were identified as peroxide‐linked polymers consisting of both linoleate‐ and eleostearate‐origin units with one hydroperoxy group, and also revealed activity of hydroxy‐radical generation. The background of this study is as follows: the above paper reported this autocatalytic dimer peroxide as one of the real radical generators in linoleate autoxidation; this is a peroxide‐linked dimer consisting of two linoleate moieties with two hydroperoxy groups, and was much more important than the main‐product hydroperoxide in autocatalytic radical supply; its proposed decomposition mechanism has suggested the generation of hydroxy radicals, hexanal, and 2,4‐decadienal; on the other hand, analogy to the formation mechanism of this dimer peroxide has predicted the formation of similar polymeric products from conjugated polyene components in lipids. In this study, these two predictions were successfully verified and a discussion is presented in connection with them.
Genetik und Klinik der seltenen autosomal rezessiven hämorrhagischen Diathesen
Authors: Ivaskevicius V.
Published: May 2008

Blutfluss und Integrität des Gefäßsystems werden von einem komplexen Netzwerk von Hämostaseproteinen aufrechterhalten. Mittels molekularbiologischer Techniken wurden die dazugehörigen Gene identifiziert und kloniert. Dies stellte die Grundlage für die Entwicklung verschiedener rekombinanter Gerinnungsfaktorenkonzentrate dar. Eine Analyse dieser Gene ermöglicht eine Phänotyp-Genotyp-Korrelation bei Patienten mit hämorrhagischen oder thromboembolischen Erkrankungen und auch die Untersuchung von Struktur-Wirkungs-Beziehungen der betroffenen Proteine. Abgesehen von den Gerinnungsfaktoren VIII und IX werden mit einer Blutungsneigung einhergehende Mangelzustände der Gerinnungsfaktoren Fibrinogen, FII, FV, FVII, FX, FXI und FXIII (außer einer Dysfibrinogenämie) autosomal rezessiv vererbt und repräsentieren 3–5% aller hereditären Gerinnungsfaktorenmängel. Die Prävalenzen der homozygoten Formen in der Gesamtbevölkerung schwanken zwischen 1:500.000 für den Faktor-VII- und 1:1.000.000 z. B. für den Faktor-V-Mangel.
The effect of Crataegus oxycantha special extract WS 1442 on clinical progression in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of heart failure☆
Authors: Zick Suzanna M. , Gillespie Brenda , Aaronson Keith D.
Published: May 2008

Aim

To examine whether hawthorn (Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442 {CSE}) inhibits progression in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the HERB CHF study in which patients with mild to moderate HF were randomised to either CSE 900 mg or placebo for 6months. The primary outcome was time to progression of HF (HF death, hospitalisation, or sustained increase in diuretics) as assessed by log‐rank tests and by Cox modelling.

Results

Progression of HF occurred in 46.6% of the CSE and 43.3% of the placebo groups (OR 1.14, 95% CI=0.56, 2.35: p=0.86). Patients receiving CSE were 3.9 times (95% CI=1.1−13.7: p=0.035) more likely to experience HF progression at baseline. In adjusted analysis, the risk of having early HF progression in the CSE group increased to 6.4 (95% CI=1.5, 26.5: p=0.011). In patients with LVEF≤35%, those taking CSE were at significantly greater risk (3.2, 95% CI=1.3, 8.3: p=0.02) than the placebo group.

Conclusions

CSE does not reduce heart failure progression in patients who have HF. CSE appears to increase the early risk of HF progression.
A population‐based survey of beliefs about neck pain from whiplash injury, work‐related neck pain, and work‐related upper extremity pain
Authors: Bostick Geoff P. , Ferrari Robert , Carroll Linda J. , Russell Anthony S. , Buchbinder Rachelle , Krawciw Donald , Gross Douglas P.
Published: May 2008

Background: Beliefs about pain conditions appear to influence recovery in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Little is known about population beliefs about neck and arm pain.

Aims: To evaluate population beliefs of three common musculoskeletal conditions: work‐related neck and arm pain and whiplash injury (WAD).

Methods: Mail‐out surveys were delivered to 2000 adult residents of two Canadian provinces cross‐sectionally. To evaluate beliefs about the three conditions, the back beliefs questionnaire was modified yielding three comparable 10‐item measures. In addition, we inquired about the belief about how quickly the condition settles. Respondents indicated their level of agreement on a 5‐point Likert scale with lower scores interpreted as negative or pessimistic. Overall and item specific descriptive statistics are reported. A one‐way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to compare beliefs across conditions.

Results: Three hundred (15%) surveys were returned. Overall belief scores were different across conditions (p<0.001). Post‐hoc tests revealed beliefs about whiplash injury were more negative compared to the other conditions (p<0.017). There were moderate levels of uncertainty in the responses, especially in regard to whiplash injury. For items related to active coping, over 55% of respondents agreed that remaining active and exercising was important. The sample was pessimistic in regard to recovery and resuming usual activities for all conditions, but more so in the case of WAD.

Conclusions: Population beliefs related to neck pain, arm pain, and WAD in the two Canadian provinces sampled were consistent with the literature in regard to remaining active, but appeared misinformed relating to the prognosis of these conditions. Strategies for reeducating the public are indicated.
Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanicaL.) rich in α-linolenic acid improves adiposity and normalises hypertriacylglycerolaemia and insulin resistance in dyslipaemic rats
Authors: Chicco Adriana G. , D'Alessandro Maria E. , Hein Gustavo J. , Oliva Maria E. , Lombardo Yolanda B.
Published: May 2008

The present study investigates the benefits of the dietary intake of chia seed (Salvia hispanicaL.) rich in α-linolenic acid and fibre upon dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance (IR), induced by intake of a sucrose-rich (62·5 %) diet (SRD). To achieve these goals two sets of experiments were designed: (i) to study the prevention of onset of dyslipidaemia and IR in Wistar rats fed during 3 weeks with a SRD in which chia seed was the dietary source of fat; (ii) to analyse the effectiveness of chia seed in improving or reversing the metabolic abnormalities described above. Rats were fed a SRD during 3 months; by the end of this period, stable dyslipidaemia and IR were present in the animals. From months 3–5, half the animals continued with the SRD and the other half were fed a SRD in which the source of fat was substituted by chia seed (SRD+chia). The control group received a diet in which sucrose was replaced by maize starch. The results showed that: (i) dietary chia seed prevented the onset of dyslipidaemia and IR in the rats fed the SRD for 3 weeks – glycaemia did not change; (ii) dyslipidaemia and IR in the long-term SRD-fed rats were normalised without changes in insulinaemia when chia seed provided the dietary fat during the last 2 months of the feeding period. Dietary chia seed reduced the visceral adiposity present in the SRD rats. The present study provides new data regarding the beneficial effect of chia seed upon lipid and glucose homeostasis in an experimental model of dislipidaemia and IR.
Eosinophil infiltration of nasal polyps in patients with nasal polyposis: role in clinical evolution after medical and surgical treatment
Authors: Bonfils P , Badoual C , Bonfils N A , Gallas D , Malinvaud D
Published: May 2008

Objective:

In patients with severe nasal polyposis resistant to strict medical treatment, surgery is indicated, but no prognostic factors for surgery efficacy have yet been determined. Some authors suggest that eosinophilic infiltration of nasal polyps could indicate a risk of surgical ineffectiveness.

Methods:

Surgical plus medical treatment was evaluated over a mean follow-up period of 64 months. One hundred and forty-four subjects were separated into two groups: those with eosinophilic infiltration of >50 per cent (n = 73); and those with ≤50 per cent infiltration (n = 71).

Results:

Combined surgery and corticosteroid therapy was effective in the treatment of severe nasal polyposis. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of control of nasal obstruction and sense of smell loss. However, a significant difference was found in terms of control of posterior rhinorrhoea (p = 0.01).

Conclusion:

Eosinophilic infiltration influences the outcome of nasal polyposis surgery, mainly regarding control of posterior rhinorrhoea. It could be considered as a risk factor for surgery in patients with nasal polyposis.
Long-term complications of bone-anchored hearing aids: a 14-year experience
Authors: Badran K , Arya A K , Bunstone D , Mackinnon N
Published: May 2008

Objectives:

To report cases of long-term surgical complications, implant failure and revision surgery, within a large bone-anchored hearing aid programme.

Study design:

Retrospective, case–cohort study.

Setting:

Tertiary referral centre.

Patients:

One hundred and sixty-five adults and children who had undergone a total of 177 bone-anchored hearing aid implantations.

Intervention:

Diagnosis and explanation of adverse events and device failure.

Main outcome measures:

Operative complications and survival analysis, surgical challenges related to revisions, and causes of failure.

Results:

Twenty-one per cent of patients (3.4 per cent of those observed) suffered from skin reactions; this rate did not increase over time. Seventeen per cent had loss of osseointegration at a median interval of 6.3 months. Loss of osseointegration was observed more frequently in patients with a 3 mm compared with a 4 mm fixture (p < 0.001). Intra-operatively, the only complication was bleeding, occurring in 3 per cent of patients. Post-operative complications included: primary bleeding (2 per cent); severe skin reactions requiring intravenous antibiotics, cautery or grafting (8 per cent); thickening or overgrowth of skin requiring excision (8 per cent); failure of osseointegration requiring a new fixture (18 per cent); and graft necrosis requiring revision (1 per cent). In two patients, it was necessary to explore the area to remove overgrowth of bone. In 16 patients (10 per cent), the bone-anchored hearing aid had to be abandoned due to failure of osseointegration (n = 4), dissatisfaction with the aid (n = 6), intolerable pain (n = 4), hair growth around the abutment (n = 1) or recurrent infections (n = 1). In 12 of these patients, the bone-anchored hearing aid was removed surgically. Overall, 57 patients (34 per cent) underwent revision surgery.

Conclusion:

Awareness of complications is becoming increasingly important in bone-anchored hearing aid programme. A substantial workload of device maintenance should be anticipated, and patients should be appropriately counselled beforehand. Ninety per cent of our patients chose to persevere with this form of hearing rehabilitation.