bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uptake of prostate‐specific antigen testing for early prostate cancer detection in Sweden
Authors: Jonsson Håkan , Holmström Benny , Duffy Stephen W. , Stattin Pär
Published: December 2010

The aim of our study was to estimate uptake of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) testing in an entire country, including time trends and geographical differences. Data from the Swedish Cancer Register on prostate cancer incidence between 1980 and 2007 and published data from the Gothenburg branch of the European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer (ERSPC), a population‐based PSA screening study, were used in two models of changes in incidence of prostate cancer as a proxy for uptake of PSA testing in all 24 Swedish counties. The estimated annual PSA testing, irrespective of previous years' exposure, reached a peak of 12% of all men in 2004 and decreased thereafter to 6% in 2007 and varied from less than 5 to 20% between counties. Under the assumption that men who underwent annual PSA testing were previously unexposed to PSA testing, the cumulated uptake of PSA testing in men aged 55–69 years in Sweden increased from zero in 1997 to 56% in 2007. Our study shows that it is possible to estimate uptake of PSA testing in the population from the prostate cancer incidence pattern. There were large geographical variations in uptake of PSA testing despite a uniform health care system in Sweden and there was a substantial increase in the uptake of PSA testing during the study period, despite that there were no national recommendations for PSA‐based prostate cancer screening.
Sessile serrated adenomas and classical adenomas: An epigenetic perspective on premalignant neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Dhir Mashaal , Yachida Shinichi , Neste Leander Van , Glöckner Sabine C. , Jeschke Jana , Pappou Emmanouil P. , Montgomery Elizabeth A. , Herman James G. , Baylin Stephen B. , Iacobuzio‐Donahue Christine , Ahuja Nita
Published: December 2010

The diagnosis of sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) is challenging, and there is a great deal of interobserver variability amongst pathologists in differentiating SSAs from hyperplastic polyps (HPPs). The aim of this study was (i) to assess the utility of epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation in differentiating SSAs from HPPs and (ii) to identify common methylation based molecular markers potentially useful for early detection of premalignant neoplastic lesions of gastrointestinal tract. A total of 97 primary patient adenoma samples were obtained from The Johns Hopkins Hospital pathology archive with IRB approval and HIPAA compliance. We analyzed the promoter associated CpG island methylation status of 17 genes using nested multiplex methylation specific PCR (MSP). Methylation of CDX2, hMLH1 and TLR2 was detected in SSAs and SSAs with dysplasia but not in HPPs. A subset of genes including EVL, GATAs (4 and 5), HIN‐1, SFRPs (1, 2, 4 and 5), SOX17 and SYNE1 were methylated frequently in all premalignant gastrointestinal adenomas including tubular adenomas, villous adenomas, SSAs and SSAs with dysplasia but infrequently in non‐premalignant polyps such as HPPs. Methylation of CDX2, hMLH1 and TLR2 may be of diagnostic utility in differentiating, histologically challenging cases of SSAs from HPPs. Genes such as EVL, GATAs, HIN‐1, SFRPs, SOX17 and SYNE1, which are frequently methylated in all types of tested premalignant adenomas, may be useful as biomarkers in stool‐based strategies for early detection of these adenomas and CRCs in future.
Inactivation of CHEK1 and EI24 is associated with the development of invasive cervical carcinoma: Clinical and prognostic implications
Authors: Mazumder (Indra) Dipanjana , Mitra Sraboni , Singh Ratnesh Kumar , Dutta Sankhadeep , Roy Anup , Mondal Ranajit Kumar , Basu Partha Sarathi , Roychoudhury Susanta , Panda Chinmay Kumar
Published: December 2010

To understand the importance of frequent deletion of chromosomal 11q23.3‐24.3 region in cervical carcinogenesis, alterations (deletion/methylation/mutation/expression) of the candidate genes LOH11CR2A, EI24 and CHEK1 located in the region were analyzed in 29 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 112 cervical carcinoma (CACX) samples and two CACX cell lines. The deletion frequency of these genes was low in CIN than in CACX [CIN: CHEK1: 28%, EI24: 21%, LOH11CR2A: 15% and CACX: CHEK1: 51%, EI24: 41%, LOH11CR2A: 36%]. Similar trend was seen in promoter methylation of these genes [CIN: CHEK1: 10%, EI24: 3%, LOH11CR2A: 3% and CACX: CHEK1: 55%, EI24: 31%, LOH11CR2A: 14%]. Mutations of the genes are a rare event. Overall alterations (deletion and methylation) of CHEK1 and EI24 were associated with progression of CACX. Quantitative mRNA expression analysis showed reduced expression of the three genes in concordance to their molecular alterations. A shorter isoform of CHEK1 lacking exon 8, hence impaired in substrate binding capacity, was found in two samples. Immunohistochemical analysis showed nuclear expression of Chek1, p‐Chek1 and Ei24 in tumor tissues, whereas the cell lines exhibited both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of Chek1 and Ei24, as is also evident from Western blot analysis suggesting differential localization of the proteins. Alterations of CHEK1 and EI24 coupled with tumor stage and early sexual debut (≤19 years) predicted worst prognosis. Thus, our data suggest that inactivation of EI24 and CHEK1 through two independent mechanisms contributes to the development of CACX.
Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against ovarian cancer‐initiating cells
Authors: Weng Desheng , Song Baizheng , Durfee John , Sugiyama Valerie , Wu Zhengrong , Koido Shigeo , Calderwood Stuart K. , Gong Jianlin
Published: December 2010

The majority of patients with stage III/IV ovarian carcinoma that respond initially to standard therapies ultimately undergo relapse due to the survival of small populations of cells with tumor‐initiating potential. These ovarian cancer (OVCA)‐initiating cells (OCIC) are sometimes called cancer stem cells (CSC) because they express stem cell markers, and can survive conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, which usually target rapidly replicating tumor cells, and give rise to recurrent tumors that are more chemo‐resistant and more aggressive. Thus, it would be desirable to develop a therapy that could selectively target OCIC and be used to complement the conventional therapies. In this study, we isolated a subset of OVCA cells with a CD44+ phenotype in samples from patients with OVCA that possess CSC properties including the formation of spheroids in culture, self‐renewal and the ability to be engrafted in immune‐compromised mice. We next explored the use of immunotherapy using fusions of dendritic cells and OCIC to specifically target the OCIC subpopulations. Fusion cells (FCs) prepared in this way activated T cells to express elevated levels of IFN‐γ with enhanced killing of CD44+ OVCA cells. We envision a combined approach where conventional therapies such as chemotherapy kill the bulk of tumor cells, whereas OCIC‐reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes target the resistant OCIC fraction. A combined therapy such as this may represent a promising approach for the treatment of OVCA.
GC‐MS‐based metabolomics reveals mechanism of action for hydrazine induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Bando Kiyoko , Kunimatsu Takeshi , Sakai Jun , Kimura Juki , Funabashi Hitoshi , Seki Takaki , Bamba Takeshi , Fukusaki Eiichiro
Published: December 2010

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) has great advantages for analyzing organic/amino acids, which are often targets in efficacy and/or toxicity studies. Although GC‐MS has been used for the detection of many metabolic disorders, applications of GC‐MS‐based metabolomics in pharmacology/toxicology are relatively underdeveloped. We intended to investigate applicability of a GC‐MS‐based metabolomics approach for toxicological evaluation, and tried to elucidate the mechanism of hydrazine‐induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were administered hydrazine chloride orally (120 and 240 mg kg−1), and urine, plasma and liver samples were collected at 24 or 48 h post‐dosing. Conventional clinical chemistry and liver histopathology were performed, urine and plasma were analyzed by GC‐MS, and metabolic profiles were assessed using chemometric techniques. Principal component analysis score plots showed clear separation of the groups, indicating dose‐dependent toxicity and recovery. The mechanism of toxicity was investigated based on semi‐quantification data of identified metabolites. Amino acid precursors of glutathione (cystein, glutamate and glycine) and a product of glutathione metabolism (5‐oxoproline) were elevated dose‐dependently, accompanied with elevation of ascorbate levels. In addition, intermediates of the TCA cycle were decreased, whereas participants of the urea cycle and other amino acids were increased. These alterations were associated with histopathological changes such as fatty degeneration and glycogen accumulation. Application of GC‐MS‐based metabolomics revealed that oxidative stress and GSH consumption play important roles in the etiology of hydrazine‐induced hepatotoxicity, demonstrating that this approach is a useful tool in pharmacology and toxicology for screening, elucidating mode of action and biomarker discovery. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Presence of pores and hydrogel composition influence tensile properties of scaffolds fabricated from well‐defined sphere templates
Authors: LaNasa Stephanie M. , Hoffecker Ian T. , Bryant Stephanie J.
Published: December 2010

Sphere templating is an attractive method to produce porous polymeric scaffolds with well‐defined and uniform pore structures for applications in tissue engineering. While high porosity is desired to facilitate cell seeding and enhance nutrient transport, the incorporation of pores will impact gross mechanical properties of tissue scaffolds and will likely be dependent on pore size. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effect of pores, pore diameter, and polymer composition on gross mechanical properties of hydrogels prepared from crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). Sphere templates were fabricated from uncrosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) spheres sieved between 53–63 and 150–180 μm. Incorporating pores into hydrogels significantly decreased the quasi‐static modulus and ultimate tensile stress, but increased the ultimate tensile strain. For pHEMA, decreases in gel crosslinking density and increases in pore diameters followed similar trends. Interestingly, the mechanical properties of porous PEG hydrogels were less sensitive to changes in pore diameter for a given polymer composition. Additionally, pore diameter was shown to affect skeletal myoblast adhesion whereby many cells cultured in porous hydrogels with smaller pores were seen spanning across multiple pores, but lined the inside of larger pores. In summary, incorporation of pores and changes in pore diameter significantly affect the gross mechanical properties, but in a manner that is dependent on gel chemistry, structure, and composition. Together, these findings will help to design better hydrogel scaffolds for applications where gross mechanical properties and porosity are critical. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
An efficient synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinolin‐5(6H)‐one derivatives in ionic liquid
Authors: Shi Da‐Qing , Yang Fang
Published: December 2010

A series of 4‐aryl‐3,7,7‐trimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐7,8‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinolin‐5(6H)‐ones were synthesized via the three‐component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexandione and 5‐amino‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole in ionic liquid without using any catalyst. This protocol has the advantages of easier work‐up, milder reaction conditions, short reaction time, and environmentally benign procedure. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).
Efficient preparation of 3‐substituted quinazolinediones directly from anthranilic acids and isocyanates
Authors: Koay Natalie , Campeau Louis‐Charles
Published: December 2010

An efficient and practical synthesis of 3‐substituted quinazolinediones is described. The protocol uses readily available isocyanates and anthranilic acids as precursors in a one‐pot operation and has been demonstrated on >50 g scale. Isolation of the products via filtration directly from the reaction media is facile, affording high‐purity material. This procedure was then applied to the synthesis of Zenarestat. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).
Oogenesis of microlecithal oocytes in the viviparous teleost Heterandria formosa
Authors: Uribe Mari Carmen , Grier Harry J.
Published: December 2010

Viviparous teleosts exhibit two patterns of embryonic nutrition: lecithotrophy (when nutrients are derived from yolk that is deposited in the oocyte during oogenesis) and matrotrophy (when nutrients are derived from the maternal blood stream during gestation). Nutrients contained in oocytes of matrotrophic species are not sufficient to support embryonic development until term. The smallest oocytes formed among the viviparous poeciliid fish occur in the least killifish, Heterandria formosa, these having diameters of only 400 μm. Accordingly, H. formosa presents the highest level of matrotrophy among poeciliids. This study provides histological details occurring during development of its microlecithal oocytes. Five stages occur during oogenesis: oogonial proliferation, chromatin nucleolus, primary growth (previtellogenesis), secondary growth (vitellogenesis), and oocyte maturation. H. formosa, as in all viviparous poeciliids, has intrafollicular fertilization and gestation. Therefore, there is no ovulation stage. The full‐grown oocyte of H. formosa contains a large oil globule, which occupies most of the cell volume. The oocyte periphery contains the germinal vesicle, and ooplasm that includes cortical alveoli, small oil droplets and only a few yolk globules. The follicular cell layer is initially composed of a single layer of squamous cells during early previtellogenesis, but these become columnar during early vitellogenesis. They are pseudostratified during late vitellogenesis and reduce their height becoming almost squamous in full‐grown oocytes. The microlecithal oocytes of H. formosa represent an extreme in fish oogenesis typified by scarce yolk deposition, a characteristic directly related to matrotrophy. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wintertime radiation and energy budget along an urbanization gradient in Montreal, Canada
Authors: Bergeron Onil , Strachan Ian B.
Published: December 2010

This study reports on the radiation and energy balance of three sites (rural, suburban, and urban) located along an urbanization gradient in the Montreal, QC, region for two winters (December–March) with contrasting snow regimes. The urban and suburban sites had similar albedo which was about half that at the rural site during the snow‐cover period. Temporal variability in albedo was attributable to the presence of snow on rooftops at the urban site and to a site‐specific response to cloudiness at the suburban site. As compared to the suburban site, the urban site showed higher albedo inducing lower net radiation (Q*) which was compensated for by greater anthropogenic heat flux (QF), so that the urban site had highest total available energy (Q* + QF). Hourly QF estimates were a significant term in the winter energy budget analysis. QF was dominated by building heating at both urbanized sites, while vehicular traffic contributed to rush hour peaks. Daytime total available energy was mostly dissipated as sensible heat flux (QH) at the beginning of the winter season and mostly stored (ΔQS) towards the end of the winter at both urbanized sites. Daytime energy partitioning into QH and ΔQS was correlated with air temperature with no significant differences between urbanized sites. On a daily time scale, available energy was mostly stored before noon and dissipated as QH in the afternoon at both urbanized sites. Urbanized sites showed differences in diurnal variability of QH and ΔQS occurring in the afternoon and evening. Latent heat flux (QE) was low throughout winter and accounted for 10% of the total available energy during daytime at the urbanized sites. Water vapour emissions showed intra‐urban differences in their response to wintertime climatic conditions. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Development and analysis of a 50‐year high‐resolution daily gridded precipitation dataset over Spain (Spain02)
Authors: Herrera S. , Gutiérrez J. M. , Ancell R. , Pons M. R. , Frías M. D. , Fernández J.
Published: December 2010

In this paper, we present a new publicly available high‐resolution daily precipitation gridded dataset developed for peninsular Spain and the Balearic islands using 2756 quality‐controlled stations (this dataset is referred to as Spain02). The grid has a regular 0.2° (approx. 20 km) horizontal resolution and spans the period from 1950 to 2003. Different interpolation methods were tested using a cross‐validation approach to compare the resulting interpolated values against station data: kriging, angular distance weighting, and thin plane splines. Finally, the grid was produced applying the kriging method in a two‐step process. First, the occurrence was interpolated using a binary kriging and, in a second step, the amounts were interpolated by applying ordinary kriging to the occurrence outcomes. This procedure is similar to the interpolation method used to generate the E‐OBS gridded data—the state‐of‐the‐art publicly available high‐resolution daily dataset for Europe—which was used in this study for comparison purposes. Climatological statistics and extreme value indicators from the resulting grid were compared to those from the 25 km E‐OBS dataset using the observed station records as a reference. Spain02 faithfully reproduces climatological features such as annual precipitation occurrence, accumulated amounts and variability, whereas E‐OBS has some deficiencies in the southern region. When focusing on upper percentiles and other indicators of extreme precipitation regimes, Spain02 accurately reproduces the amount and spatial distribution of the observed extreme indicators, whereas E‐OBS data present serious limitations over Spain due to the sparse data used in this region. As extreme values are more sensitive to interpolation, the dense station coverage of this new data set was crucial to get an accurate reproduction of the extremes. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
A test for network‐wide trends in rainfall extremes
Authors: Burauskaite‐Harju Agne , Grimvall Anders , Brömssen Claudia von
Published: December 2010

Temporal trends in meteorological extremes are often examined by first reducing daily data to annual index values, such as the 95th or 99th percentiles. Here, we report how this idea can be elaborated to provide an efficient test for trends at a network of stations. The initial step is to make separate estimates of tail probabilities of precipitation amounts for each combination of station and year by fitting a generalised Pareto distribution (GPD) to data above a user‐defined threshold. The resulting time series of annual percentile estimates are subsequently fed into a multivariate Mann‐Kendall (MK) test for monotonic trends. We performed extensive simulations using artificially generated precipitation data and noted that the power of tests for temporal trends was substantially enhanced when ordinary percentiles were substituted for GPD percentiles. Furthermore, we found that the trend detection was robust to misspecification of the extreme value distribution. An advantage of the MK test is that it can accommodate non‐linear trends, and it can also take into account the dependencies between stations in a network. To illustrate our approach, we used long time series of precipitation data from a network of stations in The Netherlands. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Building effective virtual teams: How to overcome the problems of trust and identity in virtual teams
Authors: Kimble Chris
Published: December 2010

This article explores some of the challenges faced when managing virtual teams, in particular the role played by trust and identity in virtual teams. It outlines why teams and virtual teams have become a valuable part of the modern organization and presents ten short case studies that illustrate the range of activities in which virtual teams can be found. Following this, the article examines some of the common problems encountered in virtual team working. It discusses two broad classes of solutions. The first are solutions that are essentially technical in nature (i.e., where changes to or improvements in technology would help to solve or ameliorate the problem); the second are more organizationally based (i.e., where the root of the problem is in people and how they are managed). The article concludes that both the technical and the organizational solutions need to be considered in parallel if an attempt to build an effective virtual team is to be successful. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Scripting a holistic Rx for process improvement at Palmetto Health imaging centers
Authors: Ahire Sanjay L. , Malhotra Manoj K.
Published: December 2010

Constrained by the technical nature of patient treatment, the special physician‐patient relationship, and the general lack of broader perspectives of performance improvement, the health‐care sector has generally lagged behind the manufacturing industry and other service sectors, such as banking, in the systematic application of process‐improvement approaches. This article details a systemwide project to improve Palmetto Health Richland's network of imaging centers in the Columbia, South Carolina, metropolitan area. Begun as a narrowly focused, internal process‐improvement project, it concluded with strategic decisions affecting the hospital's marketing and capacity management. The lessons from this case should alert hospital administrators and process‐improvement specialists about the critical importance of identifying the correct goals and scope of a specific project; listening to the voice of the customer, the business, the process, and the resources; encouraging fact‐based solutions through holistic and creative thinking; and using the right analytic tools to gauge and ensure real performance improvements. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The surgical management of goiter: Part II. Surgical treatment and results
Authors: Randolph Gregory W. , Shin Jennifer J. , Grillo Hermes C. , Mathisen Doug , Katlic Mark R. , Kamani Dipti , Zurakowski David
Published: December 2010

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Surgery for goiter embodies a unique challenge. Our objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of cervical and substernal goiter data in two paired articles. This second article focuses on surgical management. The following null hypotheses regarding goiter excision have been tested: 1) there are no goiter‐associated risk factors for difficult intubation; 2) there are no predictive risk factors for recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLN) or postoperative hypocalcemia; 3) there is no difference in RLN injury with neural monitoring versus without.

Study Design:

A retrospective review of 200 consecutive thyroidectomies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for cervical or substernal goiter.

Results:

Temporary RLN paralysis occurred in 1.8% of nerves at risk and was significantly lower with recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring than without. Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 3% overall. Bilateral cervical goiter emerged as a definitive risk factor for difficult intubation (P = .05, univariate), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (P = .002), and postoperative hypocalcemia (P = .001). Female patients (P = .04) or patients with positive family history (P = .01) were more likely to need repeat surgery. There were no cases of tracheomalacia, and sternotomy was required in 1%.

Conclusions:

In this series of patients with extensive goiter, primary and revision surgery were associated with low rate of complications. Surgical complications were associated with bilateral and large goiters suggesting increased caution in these patients. Laryngoscope, 2011
Towards Highly Substituted Starburst Macromolecular Semiconductors: Microwave Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Lai Wen‐Yong , Liu Dong , Huang Wei
Published: December 2010

As part of a strategy to explore highly functionalized macromolecular semiconductors, a series of highly substituted twelve‐armed macromolecules F1CzTr‐F3CzTr consisting of truxene, 9‐phenylcarbazole and oligofluorene units were synthesized. To accomplish the synthesis of twelve‐armed targets, a high yield microwave enhanced synthesis method for direct twelve‐fold Suzuki couplings was developed. The resulting materials exhibited high purity and good monodispersity (PDI 1.01–1.03). The molecular weight of the compound F3CzTr achieved 14 266 g · mol−1, representing one of the largest well‐defined starburst conjugated molecules. The thermal, photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated.

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Fyn is induced by Ras/PI3K/Akt signaling and is required for enhanced invasion/migration
Authors: Yadav Vipin , Denning Mitchell F.
Published: December 2010

Src family kinases (SFKs) are frequently over‐expressed and/or activated in human cancers, and play key roles in cancer cell invasion, metastasis, proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. Allosteric activation of SFKs occurs through well‐defined post‐translational mechanisms, however the SFK member Fyn is over‐expressed in multiple human cancers (prostate, melanoma, pancreatic, glioma, chronic myelogenous leukemia) and the mechanism of increased Fyn expression is unclear. Since activation of Ras oncogenes is a common oncogenic event leading to the activation of multiple effector pathways, we explored if Ras could induce Fyn expression. Retroviral transduction of the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT with oncogenic H‐Ras dramatically up‐regulated Fyn mRNA (>100‐fold, P < 0.001), protein, and kinase activity without affecting Src levels or activity. Activation of Akt, but not MAPK or EGFR, was necessary and sufficient for induction of Fyn by H‐Ras. Expression of active Fyn was sufficient to increase HaCaT cell migration and invasion, and the enhanced migration and invasion induced by H‐Ras could be significantly blocked (70% reduction, P < 0.01) by knockdown of Fyn with a specific siRNA or inhibition of SFKs with PP2. In addition, expression of Fyn in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells was dependent on PI3K activity and was involved in their invasive phenotype. Thus, the Ras/PI3K/Akt pathway can account for Fyn over‐expression in cancers, and Fyn is a critical mediator of the Ras‐stimulated invasive cell phenotype. These results support the development of therapeutic strategies targeting Akt/Fyn pathway to block migration and invasion of tumor cells. Mol. Carcinog. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A low‐cost, goal‐oriented ‘compact proper orthogonal decomposition’ basis for model reduction of static systems
Authors: Carlberg Kevin , Farhat Charbel
Published: December 2010

A novel model reduction technique for static systems is presented. The method is developed using a goal‐oriented framework, and it extends the concept of snapshots for proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to include (sensitivity) derivatives of the state with respect to system input parameters. The resulting reduced‐order model generates accurate approximations due to its goal‐oriented construction and the explicit ‘training’ of the model for parameter changes. The model is less computationally expensive to construct than typical POD approaches, since efficient multiple right‐hand side solvers can be used to compute the sensitivity derivatives. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated on a parameterized aerospace structure problem. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A finite element method based on C0‐continuous assumed gradients
Authors: Wolff S. , Bucher C.
Published: December 2010

This article presents an alternative approach to assumed gradient methods in FEM applied to three‐dimensional elasticity. Starting from nodal integration (NI), a general C0‐continuous assumed interpolation of the deformation gradient is formulated. The assumed gradient is incorporated using the principle of Hu‐Washizu. By dual Lagrange multiplier spaces, the functional is reduced to the displacements as the only unknowns. An integration scheme is proposed where the integration points coincide with the support points of the interpolation. Requirements for regular finite element meshes are explained. Using this interpretation of NI, instabilities (appearance of spurious modes) can be explained. The article discusses and classifies available strategies to stabilize NI such as penalty methods, SCNI, α‐FEM. Related approaches, such as the smoothed finite element method, are presented and discussed. New stabilization techniques for NI are presented being entirely based on the choice of the assumed gradient interpolation, i.e. nodal‐bubble support, edge‐based support and support using tensor‐product interpolations. A strategy is presented on how the interpolation functions can be derived for various element types. Interpolation functions for the first‐order hexahedral element, the first‐order and the second‐order tetrahedral elements are given. Numerous examples illustrate the strengths and limitations of the new schemes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive and negative effects of external influences on program design
Authors: Hetling Andrea , Botein Hilary
Published: December 2010

Program fidelity to initial design is a critical measure in implementation research and often considered an important element of program success. This approach assumes that a program's initial design is immune to the influence of external forces and is based entirely on sound evidence, theory, and practice. Using a permanent supportive housing program for domestic violence victims as a case study, this research examines how external influences may affect program theory and design and evaluates whether such influences are perceived as opportunities or barriers by program administrators. Findings, based on document review, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups, reveal that funding and physical site characteristics, and to a lesser degree, community support and professional standards, were important external influences. Both opportunities and barriers affected program design, but these effects differed in timing and degree.
Parental adjustment to the completion of their child's cancer treatment
Authors: Wakefield Claire E. , McLoone Jordana K. , Butow Phyllis , Lenthen Kate , Cohn Richard J.
Published: December 2010

Childhood cancer treatment completion is a significant milestone. However, coming off treatment may be a time of psychological vulnerability for parents. This review assesses published research (1979–2009) on the psychosocial impact of treatment completion on parents. Fifteen articles met all inclusion criteria and demonstrated that while they celebrate treatment completion, parents (particularly mothers) can experience significant distress, including fear of recurrence, fatigue, and loneliness. Distress appears to ease with time, possibly as the perceived risk of relapse declines. Continued psychosocial support specifically targeting parents' risk perceptions, physical and emotional fatigue, social isolation, and parenting concerns post‐treatment is warranted. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:524–531. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
One‐source peptide/phosphopeptide standards for accurate phosphorylation degree determination
Authors: Hahn Bettina , Böhm Martin , Raia Valentina , Zinn Nico , Möller Peter , Klingmüller Ursula , Lehmann Wolf‐Dieter
Published: December 2010

Reversible protein phosphorylation is a key mediator for intracellular signal transduction. Here we report an innovative method for accurate, site‐specific protein phosphorylation degree determination by nanoLC‐ESI‐MS/MS. A stable isotope‐labeled pair of peptide/phosphopeptide standards with volumetrically defined molar ratio is used as reference, providing an internal standard for both the analyte peptide and the phosphopeptide. For the preparation of one‐source peptide/phosphopeptide standards, an aliquot of the labeled phosphopeptide standard is quantitatively dephosphorylated, yielding an equimolar solution of the peptide standard. Subsequently, the two solutions are mixed at a 1:1 or other volumetric ratio, which equals the molar ratio. This procedure assures a defined concentration ratio of both components that is independent from their absolute concentration. We demonstrate the applicability of the one‐source peptide/phosphopeptide standard method by determining the phosphorylation degree of the signalling proteins STAT5A/B and STAT6.
Doubly labeled water analysis using cavity ring‐down spectroscopy
Authors: Thorsen Thomas , Shriver Timothy , Racine Natalie , Richman Bruce A. , Schoeller Dale A.
Published: December 2010

The doubly labeled water method provides an objective and accurate measure of total energy expenditure in free‐living subjects and is considered the gold‐standard method for this measurement. Its use, however, is limited by the need to employ isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to obtain the high‐precision isotopic abundance analyses needed to optimize the dose of expensive 18O‐labeled water. Recently, cavity‐ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) instruments have become commercially available and may serve as a less expensive alternative to IRMS. We compared the precision and accuracy of CRDS with those of IRMS for the measurement of total energy expenditure from urine specimens in 14 human subjects. The relative accuracy and precision (SD) for total body water was 0.5 ± 1% and for total energy expenditure was 0.5 ± 6%. The CRDS instrument displayed a memory between successive specimens of 5% for 18O and 9% for 2H. The memory necessitated carefully ordering of specimens to reduce isotopic disparity, performance of several injections of each specimen to condition the analyzer, and use of a mathematical memory correction on subsequent injections. These limited the specimen throughput to about one urine specimen per hour. CRDS provided accuracy and precision for isotope abundance measurements of urine that were comparable with those of IRMS. The memory problems were easily recognized by our experienced laboratory staff, but future efforts should be aimed at reducing the memory of the CRDS so that it would be less likely to result in poor reproducibility in laboratories using doubly labeled water for the first time. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of the dissociation pathways of metolachlor, acetochlor and alachlor under electron ionization – application to the identification of ozonation products
Authors: Bouchonnet Stéphane , Kinani Said , Souissi Yasmine , Bourcier Sophie , Sablier Michel , Roche Pascal , Boireau Véronique , Ingrand Valérie
Published: December 2010

With the future aim of using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to characterize the transformation products of ozonated herbicides: metolachlor, acetochlor and alachlor, an interpretation of their electron ionization mass spectra is presented. Fragmentation mechanisms are proposed on the basis of isotopic labelling and multiple‐stage mass spectrometry experiments carried out on an ion trap mass spectrometer. We also give examples in order to demonstrate how the elucidation of such fragmentation mechanisms for herbicides may simplify the characterization of their ozonation products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo Biodistribution and Urinary Excretion of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Effects of Particle Size and PEGylation
Authors: He Qianjun , Zhang Zhiwen , Gao Fang , Li Yaping , Shi Jianlin
Published: December 2010

The in vivo biodistribution and urinary excretion of spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are evaluated by tail‐vein injection in ICR mice, and the effects of the particle size and PEGylation are investigated. The results indicate that both MSNs and PEGylated MSNs of different particle sizes (80–360 nm) distribute mainly in the liver and spleen, a minority of them in the lungs, and a few in the kidney and heart. The PEGylated MSNs of smaller particle size escape more easily from capture by liver, spleen, and lung tissues, possess longer blood‐circulation lifetime, and are more slowly biodegraded and correspondingly have a lower excreted amount of degradation products in the urine. Neither MSNs nor PEGylated MSNs cause tissue toxicity after 1 month in vivo.
Combinatorial effects of mechanical activation and chemical stimulation on the microwave assisted acetylation of corn (Zea mays) starch
Authors: Diop Cherif Ibrahima Khalil , Li Hai Long , Xie Bi Jun , Shi John
Published: December 2010

The changes in the physical characteristics of ball milled corn starch (BMS) after chemical modification were investigated. The SEM and XRD analysis of BMS granules showed a fragmented aspect with a total loss of their initial crystallinity and an increase of their potential hydroxyl substitution sites. This morphology facilitated the access of the esterifying solvents into the starch molecule as corroborated by the spectacular increase of the water solubility index (WSI) and water absorption index (WAI). Following the acetylation, the degree of substitution (DS) increased up to 2.83 with the augmentation of the iodine catalyst content (p = 0.011). However, under the same condition of esterification, the DS of the BMS was slightly lower in comparison to the control, due to an increase in the number of free hydroxyl groups. Consequently to the modification, a reduction in the Tg, strong hydrophobicity and important exo‐corrosion affecting the granules were noticed.
In situ Raman microscopy of starch granule structures in wild type and ae mutant maize kernels
Authors: Wellner Nikolaus , Georget Dominique M. R. , Parker Mary L. , Morris Victor J.
Published: December 2010

A method developed for in situ imaging of starch granule structure in dry seeds has been applied to compare the starch granule structures found in wild type and ae mutant maize kernels. In the isogenic ae mutant the activity of the starch branching enzyme IIb is inhibited, which gives rise to a high amylose starch. The granule structures in the wild type samples have been found to be homogeneous, whereas those in the ae mutant are grossly heterogeneous within individual granules, between granules within individual cells, and between cells across the endosperm. The level of heterogeneity observed in situ appears to be more marked than that previously reported for studies on isolated ae mutant starches. Iodine/potassium iodide staining and polarised light microscopy have been used together with Raman microscopy, which has allowed high‐resolution mapping of the composition and physical state of the structures within the granules, to probe the origins of the heterogeneity of the starch structures. Although the mutation inhibits the activity of the branching enzyme within the granules, and both the composition and level of crystallinity within and between granules is variable, the major origin of the heterogeneity of the granule architecture appears to result from significant changes in the assembly and packaging of the crystalline structures within the granule. It is suggested that this arises due to the mutation of the starch branching enzyme introducing defects into the self‐assembly of the crystalline structure, resulting in an accumulation of defects and increased randomisation of the granule structure.
Performance of tall buildings in Santiago, Chile during the 27 February 2010 offshore Maule, Chile earthquake
Authors: Naeim Farzad , Lew Marshall , Carpenter Lauren D. , Youssef Nabih F. , Rojas Fabian , Saragoni G. Rodolfo , Adaros Macarena Schachter
Published: December 2010

There are many modern tall buildings in Santiago that were subjected to the 27 February 2010 earthquake in Chile. Although there was not widespread damage in Santiago, there was notable damage to some tall concrete buildings that may have resulted from lack of proper detailing, the absence of 135? seismic hooks and inadequate confinement of walls in the boundary zones. These caused buckling of the main bars and tension compression failure of the walls. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new non‐invasive method for measuring uterine vascular resistance and its relationship to uterine artery Doppler indices: a longitudinal study
Authors: Flo K. , Wilsgaard T. , Acharya G.
Published: December 2010

Objectives

To describe a new method for measuring uterine vascular resistance (Ruta), establish longitudinal reference ranges and explore the relationship between uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices and Ruta.

Methods

This was a longitudinal study of 53 low‐risk pregnancies. Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure UtA velocities, and the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic velocity (S/D) ratio were calculated. Ruta was calculated as a ratio between maternal mean arterial pressure and UtA time‐averaged maximum velocity.

Results

At 22 + 0 to 39 + 6 weeks of gestation, the mean Ruta decreased from 1628 to 1180 dyne.s/cm3 (P < 0.0001). UtA velocities increased (P < 0.0001), whereas the PI (0.79–0.56), RI (0.51–0.40) and S/D ratio (2.0–1.7) decreased (P < 0.0001). Ruta and the UtA Doppler indices were positively associated (P = 0.003–0.001).

Conclusion

We describe a non‐invasive method for measuring Ruta and provide reference ranges for serial evaluation of UtA velocities, Doppler indices and Ruta. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kohlenstoffbasierte Beschichtungen
Authors: Becker Jürgen , Grischke Martin
Published: December 2010

Beschichtete Komponenten finden sich in vielen Anwendungen in Kraftfahrzeugen. Die ersten Anwendungen hatten überwiegend das Ziel, den Verschleiß zu reduzieren. Aktuell rückt die Reibungsreduktion immer mehr in den Vordergrund. Beschichtungen werden dabei gezielt als Konstruktionselement entwickelt und eingesetzt.

Für die Wahl einer geeigneten Beschichtung bzw. eines geeigneten Schichtsystems muss das gesamte tribologische System betrachtet werden. Reibungsreduktion ist in der Regel nur unter Misch‐ bzw. Grenzreibung möglich. Die Rauheit von Körper und Gegenkörper und deren Einlaufverhalten setzen einer möglichen Reibungsreduktion Grenzen.

Die Kompatibilität von Schmierstoffen und Beschichtungen gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung. Ein exemplarisch betrachtetes MoDTC‐additiviertes Motorenöl führt bei DLC‐beschichteten Ventiltriebkomponenten zu erhöhter Reibung in bestimmten Geschwindigkeitsbereichen. Ein speziell hierfür angepasstes metallhaltiges DLC (CrC/a‐C:H) verhindert diesen Effekt.
PVD Produktion optimieren
Authors: Esser Stefan
Published: December 2010

PVD Schichten haben sich heute in verschiedensten Anwendungen etabliert z. B. Beschichtungen auf Werkzeugen, Motorenkomponenten und Beschlägen. Jede Anwendung stellt auch andere Anforderungen an die Halterung der Substrate in der PVD Anlage, um die Schicht auf den Funktionsflächen zu verteilen und ihr Wachstum zu steuern. Um konkurrenzfähig zu sein, müssen gleichzeitig möglichst viele Substrate in der Beschichtungszone angeordnet werden und die Halterung sollte möglichst für alle Fertigungsschritte geeignet sein. Mit optimierten Halterungssystemen kann hier die Qualität der Schicht gesteigert und die Herstellkosten können gesenkt werden.
A lightweight and extensible platform for processing personal information at global scale
Authors: Duller Michael , Alonso Gustavo
Published: December 2010

Advances in digital devices, computing, and networking have led to an ever increasing number of personal information being exchanged across the globe. Typically, this is done through centralized, web-based applications like Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook. In this paper we propose an alternative architecture for the dissemination of personal information at a global scale. Our solution runs both within a data center as well as on a pool of personal devices such as mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers, or Internet gateways. Our approach leverages idle resources available in millions of devices, allows for much more flexible applications than the predefined services available on the web, and permits users to exchange personal information in a peer-to-peer manner with the possibility but not the requirement to store the personal data in a data center.
Operations management, entrepreneurship, and value creation: Emerging opportunities in a cross‐disciplinary context
Authors: Kickul Jill R. , Griffiths Mark D. , Jayaram Jayanth , Wagner Stephan M.
Published: December 2010

Cross‐disciplinary research at the intersection of operations management and entrepreneurship offers the potential to generate new knowledge leading to tangible value for the firm. Likewise, themes such as the reliance on firm‐external partnerships, the strong technology and innovation orientation, and the nurturing of dynamic capabilities, just to name a few, are on the agenda of both ‘camps.’ However, research at the nexus between the two disciplines is scarce. Over and above synthesizing the insights presented in the papers comprising this special issue, it is our intent to motivate richer and deeper explorations into this promising field of research.
Coalition-directed Voting in Multiparty Democracies
Authors: DUCH RAYMOND M. , MAY JEFF , ARMSTRONG DAVID A.
Published: December 2010

Ideology is widely considered to be an important factor in shaping policy outcomes and in influencing election outcomes. We propose a theory of the coalition-directed vote. The argument suggests that voters anticipate the postelection bargains negotiated among potential members of the governing coalition and that these anticipated policy agreements inform their vote choice. Our analysis, based on 86 voter preference surveys from 23 countries and over a 25-year period, confirms that coalition-directed voting occurs with considerable frequency in contexts with multiparty coalition governments.
Lack of synergistic interaction between quercetin and catechin in systemic and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle
Authors: Menendez Carmen , Jimenez Rosario , Moreno Laura , Galindo Pilar , Cogolludo Angel , Duarte Juan , Perez-Vizcaino Francisco
Published: December 2010

Due to their ubiquitous distribution, flavonoids from different classes are commonly present together in foods. However, little is known about the interactions between them. The flavonol quercetin and the flavan-3-ol (+)-catechin are among the most abundant flavonoids in the diet. In the present study, we have analysed the interactions between these two flavonoids on vascular function using two pure compounds and mixtures of these flavonoids in 1:0·1, 1:1 or 1:10 proportions. Quercetin induced a more potent concentration-dependent relaxant effect than catechin in the isolated rat aorta, and the isobolographic analysis of the mixtures showed no synergistic or antagonistic effects between them, i.e. their effects were additive. Quercetin was more potent in mesenteric than in pulmonary arteries. Catechin had weak effects in these vessels and did not modify the effects of quercetin. Endothelial dysfunction induced by increased oxidative stress by the superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate was prevented by quercetin, whereas catechin showed a weak effect and the 1:1 mixture an intermediate effect compared with the pure compounds. Quercetin but not catechin showed a pro-oxidant and NO-scavenging effect, which was not prevented by catechin. In conclusion, catechin was less potent than quercetin as a vasodilator, pro-oxidant or to prevent endothelial dysfunction, and there were no synergistic interactions between quercetin and catechin.