bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atrazine‐induced alterations in rat erythrocyte membranes: Ameliorating effect of vitamin E
Authors: Singh Mohan , Sandhir Rajat , Kiran Ravi
Published: October 2008

Erythrocytes are a convenient model to understand oxidative damage to the membranes induced by various xenobiotics. The objective of the present study was to investigate the propensity of atrazine to induce oxidative stress and its possible attenuation by vitamin E. Experimental animals were orally administered atrazine (300 mg kg−1 body weight, daily) and vitamin E (100 mg kg−1 body weight, daily) for a period of 7, 14, and 21 days. Erythrocyte membranes were prepared and analyzed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and lipid composition. Susceptibility of erythrocytes to atrazine exposure was further investigated in terms of morphological alterations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicate that atrazine exposure caused a significant inhibition of AChE activity and induction of oxidative stress in terms of increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Atrazine treatment significantly decreased total lipid, cholesterol, and phospholipid content of erythrocyte membranes. SEM revealed varying degrees of distortion depending on duration of atrazine exposure. However, administration of vitamin E ameliorated the oxidative stress and changes in the erythrocyte membranes induced by atrazine. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 22:363–369, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20249
Synthesis of 2‐(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐Icosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenamidoethyl‐d4 dihydrogen phosphate, tetra‐deuterated pAEA
Authors: Cheng Kejun , Saha Bijali , Mahadevan A. , Razdan Raj K. , Kunos George , Jacobson Arthur E. , Rice Kenner C.
Published: October 2008

A labile intermediate phospho‐anandamide (2‐(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐icosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenamidoethyl dihydrogen phosphate, pAEA) has been identified in mouse brain and macrophages, but its precise quantitation was difficult because of its low concentration and chemical instability. We report the synthesis of tetra‐deuterated pAEA from 2‐aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate‐1,1,2,2‐d4 and (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐2,5‐dioxopyrrolidin‐1‐yl icosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenoate. The compound will be used to quantitate the pAEA necessary for a novel biosynthetic pathway. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inflow quantification in three‐dimensional cardiovascular MR imaging
Authors: Nezafat Reza , Herzka Daniel , Stehning Christian , Peters Dana C. , Nehrke Kay , Manning Warren J.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To investigate blood inflow enhancement (or lack thereof) in three‐dimensional (3D) cardiovascular MR for both single phase whole‐heart and cine biventricular functions.

Materials and Methods

A 3D imaging sequence is proposed in which radiofrequency excitation gradient is changed without modifying image acquisition or phase/slice encoding. This imaging sequence enables direct inflow measurement while retaining static voxel signal‐to‐noise ratio. Inflow measurements were performed for both spoiled gradient‐echo (GRE) imaging and balanced steady‐state free precession (SSFP) in 18 healthy subjects.

Results

For single phase imaging, increasing slab thickness from 3 to 10 cm lead to 73% and 59% reductions in contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) with GRE and SSFP, respectively. For cine acquisitions, systolic CNR was reduced by 85% and 50% for the GRE and SSFP acquisitions, respectively, while diastolic CNR was reduced by 64% and 42%.

Conclusion

There is significant loss of CNR between blood and myocardium when using larger 3D slabs due to saturation of inflowing spins. The loss of contrast is less pronounced for SSFP than for GRE, though both acquisition techniques suffer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1273–1279. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flow in porous metallic materials: A magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Xu Shoujun , Harel Elad , Michalak David J. , Crawford Charles W. , Budker Dmitry , Pines Alexander
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To visualize flow dynamics of analytes inside porous metallic materials with laser‐detected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods

We examine the flow of nuclear‐polarized water in a porous stainless steel cylinder. Laser‐detected MRI utilizes a sensitive optical atomic magnetometer as the detector. Imaging was performed in a remote‐detection mode: the encoding was conducted in the Earth's magnetic field, and detection is conducted downstream of the encoding location. Conventional MRI (7T) was also performed for comparison.

Results

Laser‐detected MRI clearly showed MR images of water flowing through the sample, whereas conventional MRI provided no image.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the viability of laser‐detected MRI at low‐field for studying porous metallic materials, extending MRI techniques to a new group of systems that is normally not accessible to conventional MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1299–1302. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
k‐t‐space accelerated myocardial perfusion
Authors: Jung Bernd , Honal Matthias , Hennig Jürgen , Markl Michael
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To investigate the performance of the recently introduced spatiotemporal parallel imaging technique called parallel MRI with extended and averaged generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) kernels (PEAK‐GRAPPA) for myocardial perfusion measurements.

Materials and Methods

A study with 11 patients with myocardial infarction was performed to compare nonaccelerated perfusion imaging, i.e., fully acquired k‐space data, with the results of conventional GRAPPA and PEAK‐GRAPPA with a net acceleration factor of 2.4 to 3.4. Signal time courses reflecting the passage of the contrast agent bolus in different regions of the heart were evaluated for these different reconstruction methods.

Results

Reconstruction with PEAK‐GRAPPA demonstrated considerably improved image quality compared to conventional GRAPPA. In addition, signal time courses for PEAK‐GRAPPA demonstrated an excellent agreement compared to full k‐space data, which is necessary for an accurate qualitative and quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion.

Conclusion

Qualitative and quantitative results of patient measurements illustrate that the temporal fidelity of nonperiodic processes such as myocardial perfusion are preserved with PEAK‐GRAPPA up to net acceleration factors of more than 3 while showing a superior image quality compared to conventional GRAPPA and a sliding‐window reconstruction. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1080–1085. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pulmonary artery size and function after Fontan operation at a young age
Authors: Robbers‐Visser Daniëlle , Helderman Frank , Strengers Jan L. , van Osch‐Gevers Lennie , Kapusta Livia , Pattynama Peter M. , Bogers Ad J. , Krams Rob , Helbing Willem A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To assess pulmonary artery (PA) size, flow variables, and wall shear stress (WSS) in patients after Fontan operation at a young age.

Materials and Methods

Flow in the branch PA was obtained with phase contrast velocity‐encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in 14 patients before and after low‐dose dobutamine stress (7.5 μg/kg/min) and in 17 healthy controls at rest.

Results

At rest, stroke index, total flow, average, and peak flow rate were all statistically significantly lower in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). With stress‐testing, all variables increased in patients (P < 0.001), apart from stroke index, which did not change. At rest, branch PA area did not differ between patients and controls. Distensibility was lower in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). With stress‐testing, area and distensibility did not change. At rest, WSS was lower in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). WSS increased with stress‐testing (P < 0.001), but not to the same levels as during resting conditions of the control group.

Conclusion

PA size is normal long‐term after Fontan operation at a young age. Flow variables, distensibility, and WSS are significantly lower compared to healthy controls, and do not show adequate reactions with stress‐testing, which is suggestive of pulmonary artery endothelial and/or vascular dysfunction. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1101–1107. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Consideration of physiological response in numerical models of temperature during MRI of the human head
Authors: Wang Zhangwei , Lin James C. , Vaughan J. Thomas , Collins Christopher M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To examine the thermal effects of the physiological response to heating during exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a head‐specific volume coil.

Materials and Methods

Numerical methods were used to calculate the temperature elevation in MRI of the human head within volume coils from 64–400 MHz at different power levels both with and without consideration of temperature‐induced changes in rates of metabolism, perspiration, radiation, and perfusion.

Results

At the highest power levels currently allowed in MRI for head volume coils, there is little effect from the physiological response as predicted with existing methods. This study does not rule out the possibility that at higher power levels or in different types of coils (such as extremity or whole‐body coils) the physiological response may have more significant effects.

Conclusion

In modeling temperature increase during MRI of the human head in a head‐sized volume coil at up to 3.0 W/kg head‐average specific energy absorption rates, it may not be necessary to consider thermally induced changes in rates of metabolism, perfusion, perspiration, and radiation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1303–1308. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Compliance and pulse wave velocity assessed by MRI detect early aortic impairment in young patients with mutation of the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain
Authors: Lalande A. , Khau Van Kien P. , Walker P.M. , Zhu L. , Legrand L. , Claustres M. , Jeunemaître X. , Brunotte F. , Wolf J.E.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To evaluate aortic elasticity with MRI on young asymptomatic individuals with mutation of the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain in whom aortic enlargement is not present.

Materials and Methods

Aortic compliance, aortic distensibility, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were semiautomatically measured from MRI in 8 asymptomatic subjects having a mutation of the MYH11 gene (M+) and 21 nonmutated relatives (M−) of similar age, sex, and blood pressure characteristics.

Results

Despite a similar aortic diameter in both groups, the aortic compliance and distensibility were significantly lower in M+ subjects compared with M− (0.84 ± 0.33 versus 2.03 ± 0.54 mm2/mmHg, 1.18 ± 0.62 10−3 versus 5.11 ± 1.58 10−3 mmHg−1, respectively), and PWV was significantly higher (5.35 ± 1.53 versus 3.60 ± 0.64 m.s−1). A threshold aortic compliance value of 1.3 mm2/mmHg separated the two groups. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis indicated an optimal threshold of 2.9 10−3 mmHg−1 for aortic distensibility (sensitivity: 87.5%, specificity: 90%), and of 4.4 m.s−1 for PWV (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 100%).

Conclusion

Young asymptomatic adults with MYH11 mutation have an aortic compliance impairment which is not detectable by the sole measurement of the aortic size. Aortic compliance measurement might be part of routine examination in patients suspected of inherited aortic disease even with a normal aortic diameter. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1180–1187. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effective motion‐sensitizing magnetization preparation for black blood magnetic resonance imaging of the heart
Authors: Nguyen Thanh D. , de Rochefort Ludovic , Spincemaille Pascal , Cham Matthew D. , Weinsaft Jonathan W. , Prince Martin R. , Wang Yi
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To investigate the effectiveness of flow signal suppression of a motion‐sensitizing magnetization preparation (MSPREP) sequence and to optimize a 2D MSPREP steady‐state free precession (SSFP) sequence for black blood imaging of the heart.

Materials and Methods

Using a flow phantom, the effect of varying field of speed (FOS), b‐value, voxel size, and flow pattern on the flow suppression was investigated. In seven healthy volunteers, black blood images of the heart were obtained at 1.5T with MSPREP‐SSFP and double inversion recovery fast spin echo (DIR‐FSE) techniques. Myocardium and blood signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and myocardium‐to‐blood contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were measured. The optimal FOS that maximized the CNR for MSPREP‐SSFP was determined.

Results

Phantom data demonstrated that the flow suppression was induced primarily by the velocity encoding effect. In humans, FOS = 10–20 cm/s was found to maximize the CNR for short‐axis (SA) and four‐chamber (4C) views. Compared to DIR‐FSE, MSPREP‐SSFP provided similar blood SNR efficiency in the SA basal and mid‐views and significantly lower blood SNR efficiency in the SA apical (P = 0.02) and 4C (P = 0.01) views, indicating similar or better blood suppression.

Conclusion

Velocity encoding is the primary flow suppression mechanism of the MSPREP sequence and 2D MSPREP‐SSFP black blood imaging of the heart is feasible in healthy subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1092–1100. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison and reproducibility of ADC measurements in breathhold, respiratory triggered, and free‐breathing diffusion‐weighted MR imaging of the liver
Authors: Kwee Thomas C. , Takahara Taro , Koh Dow‐Mu , Nievelstein Rutger A.J. , Luijten Peter R.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To compare and determine the reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements of the normal liver parenchyma in breathhold, respiratory triggered, and free‐breathing diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).

Materials and Methods

Eleven healthy volunteers underwent three series of DWI. Each DWI series consisted of one breathhold, one respiratory triggered, and two free‐breathing (thick and thin slice acquisition) scans of the liver, at b‐values of 0 and 500 s/mm2. ADCs of the liver parenchyma were compared by using nonparametric tests. Reproducibility was assessed by the Bland–Altman method.

Results

Mean ADCs (in 10−3 mm2/sec) in respiratory triggered DWI (2.07–2.27) were significantly higher than mean ADCs in breathhold DWI (1.57–1.62), thick slice free‐breathing DWI (1.62–1.65), and thin slice free‐breathing DWI (1.57–1.66) (P < 0.005). Ranges of mean difference in ADC measurement ± limits of agreement between two scans were −0.02–0.05 ± 0.16–0.24 in breathhold DWI, −0.14–0.20 ± 0.59–0.60 in respiratory triggered DWI, −0.03–0.03 ± 0.20–0.29 in thick slice free‐breathing DWI, and −0.01–0.09 ± 0.21–0.29 in thin slice free‐breathing DWI.

Conclusion

ADC measurements of the normal liver parenchyma in respiratory triggered DWI are significantly higher and less reproducible than in breathhold and free‐breathing DWI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1141–1148. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of spectral presaturation attenuated inversion‐recovery fat‐suppressed T2‐weighted MR imaging in active inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Udayasankar Unni K. , Martin Diego , Lauenstein Thomas , Rutherford Robin , Galloway John , Tudorascu Dana , Sitaraman Shanthi V.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of spectral presaturation attenuated inversion‐recovery (SPAIR) fat‐suppressed (FS) partial Fourier single shot (SSH) T2‐weighted (T2W) and gadolinium‐enhanced (Gd) FS 3D‐gradient echo (3DGRE) T1‐weighted (T1W) delayed phase MRI to differentiate active bowel inflammation from fibrotic disease in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Materials and Methods

MRI studies of 81 patients (mean age, 43 years; range, 22–77 years; M:F ratio 33:48) had T2W and T1W imaging including SPAIR‐SSH and delayed Gd‐3DGRE. The ability to assess disease activity in bowel segments affected were retrospectively evaluated by a grading scheme based on subjective analysis of signal intensities. These results were compared against the standard clinical parameters of disease activity.

Results

SPAIR‐SSH images correlated better (r = 0.74, P < 0.0001) with activity than delayed Gd‐3DGRE (r = 0.39, P = 0.0003), with a significant difference between the two techniques (P < 0.0001). SPAIR‐SSH images showed higher specificity in detection of severely active disease in per patient (98%) and segmental (98%) analysis compared to Gd‐3DGRE (57%, 70%). Gd‐3DGRE technique showed significantly higher sensitivity (P = 0.01) in identifying active disease in per patient (83%) and segmental (85%) analysis compared to SPAIR‐SSH (70%, 64%).

Conclusion

SPAIR‐SSH detects actively diseased CD bowel segments with a high level of specificity. Noninflammatory bowel fibrosis corresponds to abnormal uptake on delayed phase Gd‐3DGRE images but without associated elevated abnormal signal on SPAIR‐SSH. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1133–1140. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐resolution 7T MRI of the human hippocampus in vivo
Authors: Thomas Bradley P. , Welch E. Brian , Niederhauser Blake D. , Whetsell William O. , Anderson Adam W. , Gore John C. , Avison Malcolm J. , Creasy Jeffrey L.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To describe an initial experience imaging the human hippocampus in vivo using a 7T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and a protocol developed for very high field neuroimaging.

Materials and Methods

Six normal subjects were scanned on a 7T whole body MR scanner equipped with a 16‐channel head coil. Sequences included a full field of view T1‐weighted 3D turbo field echo (T1W 3D TFE: time of acquisition (TA) = 08:58), T2*‐weighted 2D fast field echo (T2*W 2D FFE: TA = 05:20), and susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI: TA = 04:20). SWI data were postprocessed using a minimum intensity projection (minIP) algorithm. Total imaging time was 23 minutes.

Results

T1W 3D TFE images with 700 μm isotropic voxels provided excellent anatomic depiction of macroscopic hippocampal structures. T2*W 2D FFE images with 0.5 mm in‐plane resolution and 2.5 mm slice thickness provided clear discrimination of the Cornu Ammonis and the compilation of adjacent sublayers of the hippocampus. SWI images (0.5 mm in‐plane resolution, 1.0 mm slice thickness) delineated microvenous anatomy of the hippocampus.

Conclusion

In vivo 7T MR imaging can take advantage of higher signal‐to‐noise and novel contrast mechanisms to provide increased conspicuity of hippocampal anatomy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1266–1272. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Gd‐DTPA‐BMA on choline signals of HT29 tumors detected by in vivo 1H MRS
Authors: Madhu Basetti , Robinson Simon P. , Howe Franklyn A. , Griffiths John R.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To study the impact of Gd‐DTPA‐BMA on choline signals of HT29 colon carcinomas determined by localized 1H MRS in vivo at 4.7T.

Materials and Methods

PRESS 1H MR spectra (2‐second repetition time and echo times of 20–272 msec) were acquired from HT29 xenografts prior to and following intravenous administration of 0.1 or 0.2 mmol/kg Gd‐DTPA‐BMA. The magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data were analyzed by 1) normalizing choline and water peak areas to their precontrast values; and 2) estimating absolute choline concentration relative to tissue water.

Results

Changes in the T1 and T2 of choline and water were apparent following administration of Gd‐DTPA‐BMA. Administration of 0.1 mmol/kg Gd‐DTPA‐BMA induced significant increases in the choline peak area, concomitant with enhancements of the water peak area, whereas 0.2 mmol/kg Gd‐DTPA‐BMA induced no enhancement of choline peak area but significant increases in water peak area at short echo times.

Conclusion

The effect of Gd‐DTPA‐BMA on estimation of tumor choline concentration varied with the dose of contrast agent, the echo time, and the time after contrast agent administration. These data highlight the potential pitfalls associated with the modulation of choline and water signals post‐Gd‐DTPA‐BMA and may account for the apparently contradictory results previously reported. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1201–1208. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging and quantitative tractography of the rat spinal cord during long‐term recovery from moderate spinal contusion
Authors: Ellingson Benjamin M. , Kurpad Shekar N. , Schmit Brian D.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To characterize DTI metric changes throughout the length of the entire spinal cord from the acute through chronic stages of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Materials and Methods

Ex vivo DTI was performed at 9.4 Tesla to examine changes in water diffusion throughout the entire spinal cord (7‐cm) up to 25 weeks after injury in a rat model of contusive SCI. Animals were grouped according to recovery times after injury (2, 5, 15, 20, or 25 weeks), and various DTI metrics were evaluated including transverse and longitudinal apparent diffusion coefficient (tADC and lADC), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA).

Results

An overall decrease in lADC throughout the cord and decreases in MD remote from the lesion site were observed, along with an increase in tADC within fiber tracts throughout the recovery period. These trends were statistically significant atP< 0.05 and were found in both white and gray matter regions. tADC and lADC distributions in fiber bundles extracted using DTI tractography were well fit by an exponential model (R = 0.998) with time constants of 4.6 and 3.3 days, respectively.

Conclusion

Results from the current study support the hypothesis that the spinal cord undergoes continual changes during recovery from SCI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1068–1079. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Limitations of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in monitoring radiation‐induced changes in the fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells in human melanoma xenografts
Authors: Benjaminsen Ilana C. , Melås Elin A. , Mathiesen Berit S. , Rofstad Einar K.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To investigate the potential of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd‐DTPA)‐based dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) in detecting radiation‐induced changes in the fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells in A‐07 human melanoma xenografts.

Materials and Methods

A‐07 tumors were randomly assigned to an unirradiated control group or a group given a single radiation dose of 20 Gy. DCE‐MRI and measurement of fraction of hypoxic cells were performed immediately before and 24 h after the radiation exposure. Tumor images of E · F (E is the initial extraction fraction of Gd‐DTPA and F is blood perfusion) and λ (λ is proportional to extracellular volume fraction) were produced by subjecting DCE‐MRI series to Kety analysis. Fraction of hypoxic cells was measured by using a radiobiological assay based on the paired survival curve method.

Results

Fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells was higher in irradiated tumors (26.2 ± 5.8%) than in unirradiated tumors (7.5 ± 2.7%) by a factor of 3.5 ± 1.5 (P = 0.0093), whereas only minor radiation‐induced changes in E · F and λ could be detected.

Conclusion

DCE‐MRI does not seem to offer insight into the changes in fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells occurring in A‐07 tumors within 24 h after irradiation with 20 Gy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1209–1218. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alkali‐hydroxide‐doped matrices for structural characterization of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides by MALDI time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Tzeng Yan‐Kai , Zhu Zhiqiang , Chang Huan‐Cheng
Published: October 2008

We report new approaches using alkali‐hydroxide‐doped matrices to facilitate structural characterization of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time‐of‐flight (TOF) MS. The approaches involved pretreatment of the analytes with NaOH or LiOH in aqueous solution, followed by mixing them with MALDI matrices prior to MS analysis. It was found that for open‐ended neutral underivatized oligosaccharides partial alkaline degradation occurred upon laser desorption and ionization of the hydroxide‐pretreated analytes in 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). The effect intensified when nonacidic compounds such as 2,4,6‐trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) and 5‐amino‐2‐mercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (AMT) were used as matrix. The degradation allowed facile identification of the reducing end residue of the analyte and facilitated its structural characterization by postsource decay TOF‐MS. Applying the same technique using matrices composed of LiOH and THAP or AMT led to the production of singly as well as multiple lithiated ions of oligosaccharides containing hexoses with free 3‐OH groups. Extensive lithiation through multiple hydrogen‐lithium exchanges up to 6 Li atoms was observed for maltoheptaose, β‐cyclodextrin, and dextran 1500. Such a ‘lithium tagging’ technique makes it possible to differentiate positional isomers of milk‐neutral oligosaccharides, lacto‐N‐difucohexaose I and II (LNDFH‐I and LNDFH‐II), without the need of chemical derivatization or tandem MS analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solid‐phase extraction of ursolic acid from herb using β‐cyclodextrin‐based molecularly imprinted microspheres
Authors: Liu Hanmao , Liu Chunhai , Yang Xiaojing , Zeng Songjun , Xiong Yuanqin , Xu Weijian
Published: October 2008

A new method was employed to solid‐phase extract ursolic acid from Ilex kudingcha C. J. Tseng using molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs) as the sorbent. Using a surface molecular imprinting technique, MIMs for ursolic acid were prepared with bonded β‐CD and acrylamide in combination based on functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres (F‐PGMA). Compared with non‐MIMs (NIMs), MIMs showed high adsorption capacity, significant selectivity, and good site accessibility for ursolic acid. The maximum static adsorption capacities of the MIMs and NIMs for ursolic acid were 42.5 and 4.9 μmol/g, respectively. Chromatographic analysis shows that ursolic acid and oleanolic acid could be separated well when MIMs were used as the stationary phase of HPLC. The conditions of molecularly imprinted SPE (MISPE) of ursolic acid from the herb extract were optimized using different concentrations of ethanol solutions as loading, washing, and eluting solutions. The successful extraction of ursolic acid by MIMs provided a possible innovative approach to separate ursolic acid from herb.
An ethical judgment framework for corporate political actions
Authors: Gao Yongqiang
Published: October 2008

Despite the popularity of businesses' involvement in politics, little discussion has been conducted on the ethics of corporate political actions (CPAs) in the business, corporate social responsibility, business ethics and ‘business and society’ literatures. The sporadic studies on ethics of CPA mainly focus on one or two aspects of the CPA in judging its ethics, such as its goal or means or consequences, very little has been done in a systematic way to analyse and articulate ethical standards for those corporations and industries who proactively seek to influence government officials. This study attempts to make up this gap. By applying three basic ethical principles including Utilitarian theory, theory of rights and theory of justice into the CPAs, I propose an ethical judgment framework for CPAs. The ethical judgment framework focuses on and judged by four issues/attributes of a CPA, including the goals/purposes of the CPA, the means taken to achieve the goals, the consequences resulted from the CPA, and the process of the CPA. The ‘means’ and ‘consequences’ are the core criteria in the framework, but ‘goals’ and ‘process’ also contribute to the ethical judgment of a CPA.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The political advantage of a volatile market: the relationship between Presidential popularity and the ‘investor fear gauge’
Authors: Schwartz Joe , Hoover Scott , Schwartz Adam
Published: October 2008

The Chicago Board Options Exchange's (CBOE) Volatility Index (VIX) is the premier established benchmark of near‐term market volatility. It is also referred to as the ‘investor fear gauge’ because it provides a consistent measure of market turmoil. We examine the VIX as it relates to Presidential popularity as indicated by the Gallup Organization's ongoing poll of US Presidential approval ratings. Our analysis indicates that the expected volatility of the market is highly related to Presidential approval. We then examine the strength and implications of this relationship in order to further establish the link between the economy and Presidential approval.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public affairs enters the US President's subcabinet: creating the first assistant secretary for public affairs (1944 –1953) and subsequent developments
Authors: Lee Mordecai
Published: October 2008

A majority of US cabinet departments now have an assistant secretary for public affairs. As a subcabinet office, such appointments are presidential nominations and require Senate confirmation. Given Congress's general hostility to public affairs in the US executive branch, how did such a position first come into being, thereby creating the precedent and a template for other departments? This historical inquiry identifies the US State Department as the first with an assistant secretary for public affairs. However, the office only gradually emerged as a staff position, with Congress never having an opportunity to vote on the principle of creating such a subcabinet office. Once established, other cabinet departments gradually followed suit, to the point that such positions are now routine in Washington, DC.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maintenance therapy with dose‐adjusted 6‐mercaptopurine in idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
Authors: Luo Xue‐Qun , Ke Zhi‐Yong , Huang Li‐Bin , Guan Xiao‐Qing , Zhang Xiao‐Li , Zhu Jia , Zhang Ying‐Chuang
Published: October 2008

There are challenges for diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH). This clinical trial was to review the diagnosis and evaluate the efficacy of maintenance therapy with dose‐adjusted 6‐mercaptopurine (6MP) in IPH children. Fifteen children were enrolled. Prednisone was administered at 2 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks in acute phase of the disease followed by taper. 6MP was also started at 60 mg/m2/day simultaneously and continued for 3 years in outpatient. The delay in diagnosis of IPH is common and probably due to a lack of classical triad of IPH in most children. All the patients exhibited response to the initial treatment. Only one of eight patients with relative leukopenia on 6MP maintenance recurred while 5 of 7 others recurred (P < 0.05) during median 4.5‐year follow‐up. Of the latter five patients who recurred, 4 remained recurrence‐free after adjusting the dose of 6MP upwards to keep relative leucopenia. It suggests that children with IPH could achieve steroid‐free long term remission on 6MP maintenance therapy, and relative lekopenia on 6MP might be a simple maker of predicting clinical response in most IPH children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1067–1071. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nasal nitric oxide in infants before and after extubation
Authors: Chang Chun‐Cheng , Lien Shao‐Hung , Liu Tao‐Yuan , Hua Yi‐Ming , Lee Chuen‐Ming , Yuh Yeong‐Seng
Published: October 2008

The endogenous production of nitric oxide (NO) in the upper airways is known to be high, but reports of the exact level vary, especially in newborn infants. Currently there is still no standard methodology for nasal NO measurements in neonates. In this study, we compared the levels of NO from the nasal cavity, and from the lower respiratory tracts in intubated infants together with the differences in nasal NO before and after extubation. A total of 35 intubated infants were enrolled in the study. The sampling was conducted with a fast‐response chemoluminescence analyzer using the on‐line tidal breathing techniques. The levels of NO in the nasal cavity were sampled using two different methods, namely nasal catheterization (Group 1), and nasal occlusion (Group 2). In both groups, the NO levels in the nasal cavity were found to be significantly higher than in the lower airway (P < 0.001). After extubation, the concentration of nasal NO in Group 1 was found to be significantly lower than before extubation (P < 0.05). There was no difference found between the levels of nasal NO in Group 2 before and after extubation (P = 0.95). Generally speaking, the concentrations of nasal NO in Group 2 were significantly higher than in Group 1 after extubation (P < 0.05). For the sample that used nasal occlusion, the nasal NO levels were more stable before and after extubation and the concentration was not affected by the breathing pattern or crying. The infants were more comfortable as well. We therefore conclude that nasal occlusion is a better method for measuring the levels of nasal NO in infants and neonates. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1072–1077. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bronchial provocation testing with dry powder mannitol in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Minasian Caro , Wallis Colin , Metcalfe Chris , Bush Andrew
Published: October 2008

Background/Aim

There has been recent interest in dry powder inhaled mannitol as a therapeutic agent in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is has been shown to increase mucociliary clearance (MCC) by rehydrating the airway. To date there have been no studies exclusively in children with CF examining the effect of dry powder mannitol on the airways. The aim of this study was to determine acute tolerability of inhaled mannitol in children with CF.

Methods

Thirty‐nine children (aged 8–18 years) with CF underwent a bronchial provocation challenge with incrementally increasing doses of dry powder mannitol (up to a maximum cumulative dose of 475 mg). A positive challenge was defined as a drop in FEV1 of ≥15% from baseline.

Results

Nine out of 38 subjects (24%; 95% confidence interval 10–38%) had a positive challenge. Only two of these nine subjects had a PD15 (dose of mannitol required to cause a 15% reduction in FEV1) prior to the 315 mg dose, the remaining seven children dropping their FEV1 by ≥15% on the 315 or 475 mg (final) cumulative dose. We found no association between patient characteristics and a positive challenge. Although cough was common during the challenge, other adverse events were infrequent.

Conclusions

We report that 24% of children with CF had a positive airway challenge with inhaled mannitol. This compares with a previously reported 12% of subjects in a study including both adults and children. We could not identify factors predictive of a positive mannitol challenge in our children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1078–1084. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sputum eosinophil apoptotic rate is positively correlated to exhaled nitric oxide in children
Authors: Pontin Jennifer , Blaylock Morgan G. , Walsh Garry M. , Turner Stephen W.
Published: October 2008

Rationale for Study

Exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), a potential biomarker for asthma, is positively correlated with eosinophilic airway inflammation. Eosinophil apoptotic rate (AR) may be increased by NO but the relationship between eosinophil AR and NO has not been studied in vivo. This study tested the hypothesis that eosinophil AR will be positively related to FENO.

Methods

Children with and without asthma were recruited and participated in an assessment that included FENO measurement, skin prick reactivity, spirometry, and sputum induction. The absolute sputum eosinophil count and eosinophil AR were determined by morphology under light microscope after staining.

Results

There were 31 children recruited, mean age 11 years, 21 were asthmatic and 19 were boys. The median FENO (range) was 15.6 parts per billion (3.1–102.6), 17 were atopic and the mean (SD)% FEV1 was 85 (10)%. Sputum eosinophil AR was determined in 19 children (16 asthmatics), mean (SD) value 0.49 (0.13). There were positive relationships between eosinophil AR and FENO (Spearman rho = 0.46, P = 0.046), eosinophil AR and % eosinophil count (Spearman rho = 0.45, P = 0.050) and also FENO and % eosinophil count (Spearman rho = 0.49, P = 0.024).

Conclusion

There is a positive relationship between FENO and eosinophil AR. Nitric oxide may be involved in regulation of eosinophil AR in the airways. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1130–1134. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Outcome measures in physiotherapy management of patients with stroke: a survey into self‐reported use, and barriers to and facilitators for use
Authors: Van Peppen Roland P.S. , Maissan Francois J.F. , Van Genderen Frank R. , Van Dolder Rob , Van Meeteren Nico L.U.
Published: October 2008

Objective. To investigate physiotherapists' self‐reported use of outcome measures as recommended in the Dutch Clinical Practice Guideline on Physiotherapy Management of Patients with Stroke (CPGPS) and to assess perceived barriers to and facilitators for the use of outcome measures in everyday practice. Method. A 41‐item survey, including the barriers and facilitators questionnaire (BFQ), was sent by post to 400 physiotherapists in each of the following settings in the Netherlands: acute care hospitals (ACH; n = 100), rehabilitation centres (RC; n = 100), nursing homes (NH; n = 100) and private physiotherapy practices (PPP; n = 100). Results. One hundred and eighty‐nine physiotherapists returned the survey (47%; ACH, n = 57; RC, n = 67; NH, n = 26 and PPP, n = 39) and the surveys of 167 physiotherapists involved in stroke settings were analysed. These physiotherapists reported regularly using three (median; range 0–7) of the seven recommended outcome measures, with those working in RC or ACH reporting a significantly higher use than their colleagues in PPP (4 vs. 0 and 3 vs. 0; p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively). The BFQ revealed that there were setting‐specific facilitators, such as ‘a positive attitude towards outcome measures’ (as mentioned by 93% of the physiotherapists) and ‘acquaintance with outcome measures’ (90%), and barriers such as ‘changing routines’ (32%), ‘time investment’ (29%) and ‘financial compensation’ (21%). Conclusion. Despite an almost uniformly positive attitude, physiotherapists infrequently use the outcome measures recommended in the CPGPS. Robust setting‐specific tailored implementation strategies based on the reported barriers and facilitators are needed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use root cause analysis to understand and improve process safety culture
Authors: Sutton Ian S.
Published: October 2008

This article describes the topics of root cause analysis and company culture. An evaluation of the root causes of incidents can help identify areas where the culture requires improvement. In addition, an analysis of the nature of root cause can help companies understand their culture.

Following an incident, root cause analysis can be conducted for at least four levels of management, (a) line supervision, (b) facility management, (c) executive management, and (d) professionals who write and then implement regulations and standards.

This article makes a distinction between root causes for occupational losses and for major process accidents; it emphasizes the teachings that improve one does not automatically improve the other. In other words, a root cause analysis program that addresses the behaviors that correct occupational safety problems may not help correct those behaviors that cause process safety incidents.

Examples of how root cause analysis can help a company understand and improve its culture are provided. For instance, companies should recognize the need for both training and education. If process risk is to be reduced, employees need to be educated as well as trained because education creates new behaviors that allow for improved root cause analysis and the aversion of major events. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2008
Ontology driven certification of pressure equipments
Authors: Camossi Elena , Giannini Franca , Monti Marina , Bragatto Paolo , Pittiglio Paolo , Ansaldi Silvia
Published: October 2008

Standards and engineering codes rule design, construction and operation of chemical plant equipments to ensure reliability and safety. In this article, we exploit knowledge‐based methodologies and technologies to guarantee safety rules compliance of pressure equipments. Specifically, we describe a knowledge‐based tool defined on top of a knowledge‐based computer‐aided design system, which can serve inspection bodies, i.e., for certification purposes, and pressure equipment designers for the verification of the appropriate safety normative (i.e., the pressure equipment directive). The article focuses on the knowledge base of the tool, which has been formalized through the PED&I (Pressure Equipment Design and Inspection) ontology. The ontology has been enriched by logical axioms, which ensure the consistency of the knowledge base, and by reasoning rules, which enable to infer new relationships among the class instances stored in the ontology. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2008
Identification of Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP) suspected as possible contaminant in recycled cellulose for take‐away pizza boxes
Authors: Bononi Monica , Tateo Fernando
Published: October 2008

The above article (DOI:10.1002/pts.805) was published online on 19 November 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). An error was subsequently identified. In this paper, the word ‘regenerated’ was incorrectly used and should be corrected to ‘virgin’ (as opposed to ‘recycled’).

Reference 2 is corrected to the following link: http://www.ministerosalute.it/imgs/C_17_comunicati_909_testo.rtf [accessed 1 October 2008]
Spin polarization of field‐emitted electrons from ferromagnetic half‐metallic Heusler alloy Co2MnSi
Authors: Nagai Shigekazu , Fujiwara Yuji , Hata Koichi
Published: October 2008

To develop a spin‐polarized field emitter with high brightness available at room temperature, spin polarization of Heusler alloy Co2MnSi thin film deposited onto a chromium buffer layer on a polycrystalline tungsten needle tip surface was measured with Mott polarization analyzer. Typical electron emission pattern of Co2MnSi thin film displayed a mosaic pattern, which consisted of small bright spots, and the substrate plane of the brightest spot was a W(001) facet. Polarization direction obtained from the brightest spot was < 110> direction of substrate tungsten which corresponded to a magnetic easy axis of Co2MnSi, if the film grew epitaxially on the W(001) plane via the chromium buffer layer. About 30% of spin polarization was obtained from Co2MnSi film annealed at 600 K for 2 h. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feasibility study of SR‐TXRF‐XANES analysis for iron contaminations on a silicon wafer surface
Authors: Meirer F. , Streli C. , Pepponi G. , Wobrauschek P. , Zaitz M. A. , Horntrich C. , Falkenberg G.
Published: October 2008

The ability to chemically characterize the contamination on silicon wafers is of critical importance to the semiconductor industry. It provides information on possible unwanted chemical processes taking place on the wafer surface and helps in determining the true source of the contamination problem. This type of information is not readily accessible with standard laboratory equipment. Synchrotron radiation‐induced total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (SR‐TXRF) was combined with X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) to determine the chemical state of Fe contaminations on a silicon wafer surface. Main purpose of the study was to test the method for a contamination issue as it could appear in a microelectronic VLSI production fab. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment and prediction of daylight performance in high‐rise office buildings
Authors: Ko Dong‐Hwan , Elnimeiri Mahjoub , Clark Raymond J.
Published: October 2008

Effective use of daylighting is an essential component to achieve a sustainable building design. In a tall building, the amount of useable space with a potential for the use of daylight is the space between the exterior wall and the core. This is commonly referred to as the ‘lease span’. Class A office buildings in the USA have typically utilized lease spans of around 45 ft (13·7 m), primarily due to efficiency of space usage. In Europe, however, lease spans in high‐rise office buildings have typically been shortened due to concerns of natural light penetrations and views. For instance, in Germany, the amount of leasable space per floor is less than in the USA. The maximum allowable depth of space in Germany is typically about 18 ft (5·5 m), whereas in the USA, as much as 50 ft (15 m) is no rarity. The lease span also has an impact on other items, such as the aspect ratio, floor‐to‐floor height, total height and total floor area. In this study, to assess and predict daylight performance, two different requirements were analysed: daylight factor (DF) and the daylight requirement of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2.2 green‐building rating system. The recommended average DF (DFave) ranges from 2 to 5% and LEED 2.2 requires that a minimum daylight illumination of 25 footcandles be achieved in at least 75% of all regularly occupied areas. This study conducted a series of computer simulations using RADIANCE to first show the effects of each of the fenestration parameters and then to provide an optimum effective aperture to meet the two daylight requirements in four lease span types ranging from 20 to 50 ft. As a final step, regression models and simple evaluation tools were developed to correlate the DF, daylight requirement in LEED 2.2 and the various fenestration parameters, such as window area, visible transmittance and lease span in four different cities (London, Chicago, Dubai and Bangkok). This paper provides a simplified method for evaluating indoor daylight performance to meet the two daylight requirements. This can be used as a pre‐design tool, not only to achieve more credits in LEED 2.2 green‐building rating systems, but also to evaluate based on DFave to ensure that the building meets the recommended level. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction Different between Japan and Western Countries? The Incidence and Clinicopathological Features at a Japanese High‐Volume Cancer Center
Authors: Hasegawa Shinichi , Yoshikawa Takaki , Cho Haruhiko , Tsuburaya Akira , Kobayashi Osamu
Published: October 2008

Background

We clarified the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) at a Japanese high‐volume cancer center and its clinicopathological features between the Siewert subtypes.

Methods

Patients with AEG were selected from a prospective database of gastric and esophageal tumors established by Kanagawa Cancer Center. The Siewert subtypes were determined retrospectively by examining pathological pictures of the resected specimens and by evaluating the pathology and endoscopy findings.

Results

From January 1986 to December 2005, 147 (4.0%) patients were determined to have AEG; 2,794 (75.8%) were diagnosed to be true gastric cancer, whereas 745 (20.2%) were true esophageal cancer. Of these 147 patients with AEG, 5 (3.4%) were classified as type I, 82 (55.8%) as type II, and 60 (40.8%) as type III tumors. The depth of tumor invasion was deeper and the nodal metastases were more frequent in type III compared with type II. The risk factors for nodal metastases included the depth and size of the tumor, but not the Siewert subtypes itself. Mediastinal nodal metastases were strongly influenced by a thoracotomy and the extent of the dissection. The pathological grade was higher in type III than in type II. Although the 5‐year survival rate was significantly higher in type II than in type III tumors, the survival difference disappeared when the patients were restricted to an R0 resection, even though type III patients demonstrated a more advanced stage.

Conclusions

The proportions of AEG were strikingly different between Japan and western countries. Although each Siewert subtype had some different characteristics, nodal metastases were determined by both the tumor progression and the extent of the nodal dissection. An R0 resection was a key for the survival in AEG.