bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Simulations of Clusters: Quantum Methods in Flat and Curved Spaces. By Emanuele Curotto, CRC Press, 2010; 696 pages, Hard Cover. Price:159.95 / CHF 257.00 ISBN 978-1-4200-8225-8
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: October 2009

Clusters hold the key to our understanding of intermolecular forces and how these affect the physical properties of bulk condensed matter. They can be found in a multitude of important applications, including novel fuel materials, atmospheric chemistry, semiconductors, nanotechnology, and computational biology. Focusing on the class of weakly bound substances known as van derWaals clusters or complexes, Stochastic Simulations of Clusters: Quantum Methods in Flat and Curved Spaces presents advanced quantum simulation techniques for condensed matter. [...]
2-[4-(Hexadecyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl]-1,3-benzothiazole
Authors: Ha Sie-Tiong , Koh Teck-Ming , Ong Siew-Teng , Win Yip-Foo
Published: October 2009

A new heterocycle, 2-[4-(hexadecyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl]-1,3-benzothiazole, was prepared and its IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, elemental analysis and MS spectroscopic data are reported.
Structural Investigation of Biologically Active Phenolic Compounds Isolated from European Tree Species
Authors: Redzynia Izabela , Ziółkowska Natasza  E. , Majzner Wiesław  R. , Willför Stefan , Sjöholm Rainer , Eklund Patrik , Bujacz Grzegorz  D.
Published: October 2009

X-ray structures of two compounds isolated from wood knots of coniferous trees, namely dihydrokaempferol (3,5,8,13-tetrahydroxyflavanon) and lariciresinol (3,14-dimetoxy-7,10-epoxylignan-4,15,19-triol), are presented here. Diffraction data for the Dihydrokaempferol crystals were collected on a CAD4 diffractometer and on a synchrotron for the lariciresinol crystal. The investigated compounds inhibit lipid peroxidation and lariciresinol is additionally a good scavenger of superoxide radicals. The structural data presented in this work provide a useful basis for designing more active compounds with potential use as antioxidants.
Trametes sp. as a Source of Biopolymer Cross-Linking Agents: Laccase Induced Gelation of Ferulated Arabinoxylans
Authors: Castillo Alva , Rascón-Chu Agustín , Vargas Georgina , Carvajal-Millán Elizabeth , Valenzuela-Soto Elisa , Sotelo-Mundo Rogerio R. , Martínez Ana Luisa
Published: October 2009

This study examined the feasibility of using Trametes sp. grown under drought conditions to catalyze the covalent cross-linking of ferulated arabinoxylans. The rate of polymerization of ferulated arabinoxylans solutions at 0.5% (w/v) was dose dependent on the laccase concentration in the system. Above 1.2 nkat laccase/mg ferulated arabinoxylan, the rate of cross-linking reached a plateau, suggesting that the reaction reached saturation. For 2% (w/v) ferulated arabinoxylans treated with laccase (1.6 nkat/mg ferulated arabinoxylan), stable gels were formed after 4 h at 25 °C, with cross-linking contents (diferulic and triferulic acid) contents of 0.03 and 0.015 μg/mg ferulated arabinoxylan, respectively. This study demonstrated that Trametes sp. can be a source of biopolymer cross-linking enzymes like laccase.
Development of Rabbit Meat Products Fortified With n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Authors: Petracci Massimiliano , Bianchi Maurizio , Cavani Claudio
Published: October 2009

Rabbit meat is a highly digestible, tasty, low-calorie food, often recommended by nutritionists over other meats. Currently research in the rabbit sector is interested in developing feeding strategies aiming to further increase the nutritional value of rabbit meat as a “functional food” by including n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), vitamins and antioxidants in rabbit diets and assessing their effects on both raw and stored/processed meat quality properties. Our recent studies indicate that the dietary inclusion from 3 to 6% of linseed might be considered as a way to achieve the enrichment of the meat with α-linolenic acid and to guarantee satisfactory product stability during further processing and storage. Considering that 6% dietary linseed corresponds to a n-3 PUFA content of 8.5% of the total fatty acids and a lipid content of 4.7 g/100 g of leg meat, a content of 396 mg n-3 PUFA/100g meat can be estimated, which represents about 19% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for n-3 PUFA.
Automatic Vegetation Identification and Building Detection from a Single Nadir Aerial Image
Authors: Shorter Nicholas , Kasparis Takis
Published: October 2009

A novel, automatic tertiary classifier is proposed for identifying vegetation, building and non-building objects from a single nadir aerial image. The method is unsupervised, that is, no parameter adjustment is done during the algorithm’s execution. The only assumption the algorithm makes about the building structures is that they have convex rooftop sections. Results are provided for two different actual data sets.
Guest Editor’s Concluding Remarks―Advances in Usage of ANN, Discussion of an Unsolved Problem, and Some Differences between Papers Written by Engineers and by Physicians
Authors: Retsky Michael W.
Published: October 2009

I take this opportunity to discuss a few things that I have learned from being Guest Editor of this special issue of Sensors devoted to Neural Networks and Sensors. The advancement in artificial neural network (ANN) technology is very impressive. The wide variety of fields in which this technology applies in the form of practical applications to clearly identifiable real problems demonstrates that ANNs are being routinely used to solve non-trivial problems. I mention that because A. K. Dewdney wrote in 1997 that while ANNs have been used to solve a few toy problems, he was surprised that anyone takes them seriously as general problem-solving tools [1]. The ANN applications reported by Yu Liu et al. [2], Erkan Beşdok [3], Guillermo Zatorre et al. [4], Amir Jabbari et al. [5], Mohamed Lamine Hafiane et al. [6], Kai-Wei Chiang et al. [7], Raúl Vicen-Bueno et al. [8], Juan L. Pedreño-Molina et al. [9], and P. B. Garcia-Allende et al. [10] are far more than toy applications. The lesson to be learned here is that it is a bad idea to publically bet against technological progress in computer applications. [...]
Magnetic Nanoparticle Sensors
Authors: Koh Isaac , Josephson Lee
Published: October 2009

Many types of biosensors employ magnetic nanoparticles (diameter = 5–300 nm) or magnetic particles (diameter = 300–5,000 nm) which have been surface functionalized to recognize specific molecular targets. Here we cover three types of biosensors that employ different biosensing principles, magnetic materials, and instrumentation. The first type consists of magnetic relaxation switch assay-sensors, which are based on the effects magnetic particles exert on water proton relaxation rates. The second type consists of magnetic particle relaxation sensors, which determine the relaxation of the magnetic moment within the magnetic particle. The third type is magnetoresistive sensors, which detect the presence of magnetic particles on the surface of electronic devices that are sensitive to changes in magnetic fields on their surface. Recent improvements in the design of magnetic nanoparticles (and magnetic particles), together with improvements in instrumentation, suggest that magnetic material-based biosensors may become widely used in the future.
Biomimetic Yeast Cell Typing—Application of QCMs
Authors: Seidler Karin , Polreichová Miroslava , Lieberzeit Peter A. , Dickert Franz L.
Published: October 2009

Artificial antibodies represent a key factor in the generation of sensing systems for the selective detection of bioanalytes of variable sizes. With biomimetic surfaces, the important model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and several of its growth stages may be detected. Quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) with 10 MHz fundamental frequency and coated with polymers imprinted with synchronized yeast cells are presented, which are able to detect duplex cells with high selectivity. Furthermore, a multichannel quartz crystal microbalance (MQCM) was designed and optimized for the measurement in liquids. This one-chip system based on four-electrode geometry allows the simultaneous detection of four analytes and, thus, provides a monitoring system for biotechnology and process control. For further standardization of the method, synthetic stamps containing plastic yeast cells in different growth stages were produced and utilized for imprinting. Mass-sensitive measurements with such MIPs resulted in the same sensor characteristics as obtained for those imprinted with native yeast cells.
Semiconducting Metal Oxide Based Sensors for Selective Gas Pollutant Detection
Authors: Kanan Sofian  M. , El-Kadri Oussama  M. , Abu-Yousef Imad  A. , Kanan Marsha  C.
Published: October 2009

A review of some papers published in the last fifty years that focus on the semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) based sensors for the selective and sensitive detection of various environmental pollutants is presented.
Visitors' Objectives for Trade Exhibition Attendance: A Case Study on the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT)
Authors: Kozak Nazmi , Kayar Cagil Hale
Published: October 2009

This article takes a brief look at visitors' objectives for attending the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition held in Turkey, in February 2006. The empirical data was collected via questionnaires from a sample of 295 visitors. Findings of the study indicated
that visitors' objectives had four dimensions, which were called "entertainment," "developments," "exhibition facilities," and "vacationing." Significant differences were observed across the four dimensions. Results also showed that visitors' most important objective when attending the exhibition
was to learn about the recent developments in products and services. Significant differences were observed among the objectives based on the demographic pro les of visitors in the sample. This study highlights the importance of deeply understanding visitors' objectives in order to enhance
trade exhibitions' effectiveness.
The Ample Cone of the Kontsevich Moduli Space
Authors: Coskun Izzet , Harris Joe , Starr Jason
Published: October 2009

Abstract.We produce ample (resp. NEF, eventually free) divisors in the Kontsevich space of n-pointed, genus 0, stable maps to ℙr, given such divisors in We prove that this produces all ample (resp. NEF, eventually free) divisors in As a consequence, we construct a contraction of the boundary analogous to a contraction of the boundary first constructed by Keel and McKernan.
Global Units Modulo Circular Units: Descent Without Iwasawa’s Main Conjecture
Authors: Belliard Jean-Robert
Published: October 2009

Iwasawa's classical asymptotical formula relates the orders of the p-parts Xn of the ideal class groups along a ℤp-extension F∞/F of a number field F to Iwasawa structural invariants ƛ and μ attached to the inverse limit X∞ = . It relies on “good” descent properties satisfied by Xn. If F is abelian and F∞ is cyclotomic, it is known that the p-parts of the orders of the global units modulo circular units Un/Cn are asymptotically equivalent to the p-parts of the ideal class numbers. This suggests that these quotientsUn/Cn, so to speak unit class groups, also satisfy good descent properties. We show this directly, i.e., without using Iwasawa's Main Conjecture.
Fundamental Tone, Concentration of Density, and Conformal Degeneration on Surfaces
Authors: Girouard Alexandre
Published: October 2009

We study the effect of two types of degeneration of a Riemannian metric on the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator on surfaces. In both cases we prove that the first eigenvalue of the round sphere is an optimal asymptotic upper bound. The first type of degeneration is concentration of the density to a point within a conformal class. The second is degeneration of the conformal class to the boundary of the moduli space on the torus and on the Klein bottle. In the latter, we follow the outline proposed by N. Nadirashvili in 1996.
Square Integrable Representations and the Standard Module Conjecture for General Spin Groups
Authors: Kim Wook
Published: October 2009

In this paper we study square integrable representations and L -functions for quasisplit general spin groups over a p-adic field. In the first part, the holomorphy of L -functions in a half plane is proved by using a variant formof Casselman's square integrability criterion and the Langlands–Shahidi method. The remaining part focuses on the proof of the standard module conjecture. We generalize Muić's idea via the Langlands–Shahidimethod towards a proof of the conjecture. It is used in the work of M. Asgari and F. Shahidi on generic transfer for general spin groups.
Interfacial adhesion between polymer separation layer and ceramic support for composite membrane
Authors: Wei Wang , Xia Shanshan , Liu Gongping , Gu Xuehong , Jin Wanqin , Xu Nanping
Published: October 2009

An in situ characterization method for mechanical and adhesive properties of organic/ceramic composite membranes is built on the basis of nanoindentation technique in this work. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as the separation layer with the support of porous ZrO2/Al2O3 ceramic tubes. The effects of roughness of the ceramic support and the viscosity of PDMS solution on the mechanical properties of the PDMS separation layer and the interfacial adhesion at the interface were investigated in detail. It was found that when the roughness of the ceramic support increased and the viscosity of PDMS solution decreased, the interfacial adhesion strength of PDMS/ceramic composite membrane increased, but these two variables had little effect on the mechanical properties of the PDMS separation layer. Our results indicate that the mechanical interlocking dominates the adhesion between the PDMS separation layer and the porous ceramic support. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010
Childhood conditions and education as determinants of adult height and obesity among Greenland Inuit
Authors: Bjerregaard P. ,   The Greenland Population Study Group
Published: October 2009

Height and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other physical and mental health conditions. Their association with childhood socioeconomic position has been demonstrated in studies among European and a few third world populations. In a random sample of adult Greenland Inuit (N = 2302) we studied the association between childhood socioeconomic conditions and height as well as prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in a cross sectional design. In block recursive graphical independence models, height was associated with mother's place of birth, birth cohort, childhood residence, alcohol problems in childhood home, and education among both men and women. Obesity was associated with mother's place of birth (for men) and with alcohol problems (for women). In General Linear Models, men with an all rural background and no education beyond primary school measured on average 165.1 cm compared with 172.1 cm for men with an all urban background (P < 0.001); women measured 153.9 and 161.1 cm (P < 0.001). Rural‐urban differences in prevalence of obesity were not statistically significant. The height differences were considerably larger than between educational groups in European countries and of the same order of magnitude as those reported between men from the 17th century and men from 400 BC in the European and Mediterranean region. The rural‐urban gradient in height follows the socioeconomic gradient and may negatively affect cardiovascular risk among the rural Greenlanders, while their physically active lifestyle and high consumption of n‐3 fatty acids may counteract this. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does second‐to‐fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) predict age at menarche in women?
Authors: Helle Samuli
Published: October 2009

Prenatal steroid levels, estimated as the ratio of second‐to‐fourth digit length (2D:4D), have been related to reproductive success in women, but direct associations between 2D:4D and physiological measures of fertility remain rare. A recent study reported that lower, masculinized right hand 2D:4D was correlated with delayed age at menarche in women. We addressed this question by investigating whether 2D:4D was associated with recalled age at menarche in 282 post‐reproductive Finnish women, using Cox regression model that controlled for a woman's sibling composition, urban or rural residence and temporal trend in menarcheal age. We found no evidence that neither the 2D:4D of the right nor the left hand were related to a woman's age at menarche among these Finnish women. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Discrimination, psychosocial stress, and health among Latin American immigrants in Oregon
Authors: McClure Heather H. , Snodgrass J. Josh , Martinez Charles R. , Eddy J. Mark , Jiménez Roberto A. , Isiordia Laura E.
Published: October 2009

Chronic psychosocial stress related to discrimination has been shown to be associated with biological measures such as elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP), increased body fat, and higher fasting glucose levels. Few studies have examined these relationships in immigrant populations. The present study recruited a sample of 132 Oregon Latino immigrant adults to investigate the relationships between perceived discrimination and several health measures (blood pressure, body mass index [BMI], and fasting glucose). Results indicate that perceived discrimination stress predicted elevated SBP among men but not among women. Perceived discrimination was significantly higher among obese women than among women of normal BMI. The same pattern was not observed for men. Further, a strong trend relationship was detected: the higher women's reported discrimination stress, the higher their fasting glucose levels. Again, this pattern was not observed for men. These results suggest that chronic psychosocial stress plays an important role in disease risk among Latin American immigrants, and that male and female immigrants may have distinctive physiological responses. If confirmed, these findings may have important clinical and public health implications for chronic disease prevention among Latinos. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Technical note: Efficiency of total demineralization and ion‐exchange column for DNA extraction from bone
Authors: Seo Seung Bum , Zhang Aihua , Kim Hye Yeon , Yi Jin A , Lee Hye Young , Shin Dong Hoon , Lee Soong Deok
Published: October 2009

We investigated whether a combination of recently introduced methods, total demineralization and ion‐exchange columns, would increase DNA recovery from old bone. Ten bone samples taken after a burial period of ∼60 years were used in this study. Bone powder was digested using total or incomplete demineralization. DNA was extracted by the standard organic method. The DNA extract was purified with ion‐exchange columns or QIAquick® spin columns. The efficiency of different DNA extraction methods was compared in terms of DNA concentration, inhibitors generated by real‐time PCR, and conventional STR typing results. The mean DNA concentration using the total demineralization method is ∼3 times higher than that using the incomplete demineralization method. For DNA purification, the method using QIAquick® spin columns appeared to yield approximately double the DNA than the method using ion‐exchange columns. Furthermore, 2 out of 10 samples showed higher levels of inhibition with CT values of IPC ≥30 cycles when using only ion‐exchange columns. In STR results, total demineralization yielded more locus profiles by 4.2 loci than incomplete demineralization, and QIAquick® spin columns also yielded more locus profiles by 3.5 loci than ion‐exchange columns. Total demineralization of bone powder significantly increased DNA yield and improved STR typing results. However, the use of ion‐exchange columns was not efficient when compared with the method using QIAquick® spin columns. It is suggested that the combination of total demineralization and QIAquick® spin columns lead to greatly improved STR typing results. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Binding to dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 determines the disposition of linagliptin (BI 1356) – investigations in DPP‐4 deficient and wildtype rats
Authors: Retlich Silke , Withopf Barbara , Greischel Andreas , Staab Alexander , Jaehde Ulrich , Fuchs Holger
Published: October 2009

Linagliptin (BI 1356) is a novel dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It exhibits non‐linear pharmacokinetics and shows concentration‐dependent plasma protein binding to its target, DPP‐4. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of saturable binding of linagliptin to plasma and tissue DPP‐4 by comparing the pharmacokinetics of linagliptin in wildtype and DPP‐4 deficient Fischer rats using non‐compartmental and model‐based data analysis. The non‐compartmental analysis revealed a significantly reduced AUC in DPP‐4 deficient rats compared with wildtype rats when single intravenous doses ⩽1 mg/kg were administered, but the exposure was similar in both strains at higher doses. The terminal half‐lives were significantly shorter in DPP‐4 deficient rats compared with wildtype rats. For doses ⩽1 mg/kg, DPP‐4 deficient rats exhibited linear pharmacokinetics, whereas the pharmacokinetics of wildtype rats was non‐linear. In the model‐based analysis these differences could be accounted for by assuming concentration‐dependent protein binding in the central and one peripheral compartment in wildtype rats. In the model, disposition parameters for unbound linagliptin were assumed to be identical in both rat strains. Simulations with different doses of linagliptin and different concentrations of binding sites further illustrated that the interdependence of linagliptin and DPP‐4 in plasma and in the periphery has a major influence on the disposition of linagliptin in wildtype rats. In conclusion, the study showed that the concentration‐dependent binding of linagliptin to its target DPP‐4 has a major impact on the plasma pharmacokinetics of linagliptin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A food safety control low mass‐range proteomics platform for the detection of illicit treatments in veal calves by MALDI‐TOF‐MS serum profiling
Authors: Della Donna Lorenza , Ronci Maurizio , Sacchetta Paolo , Di Ilio Carmine , Biolatti Bartolomeo , Federici Giorgio , Nebbia Carlo , Urbani Andrea
Published: October 2009

Performance enhancing agents (PEAs) are illegally used in cattle and other meat producing species to increase food conversion and lean meat production. Due to the very short breeding cycle, veal calves represent the meat producing bovine category mostly subjected to illicit treatments. These chemical agents are difficult to detect by conventional analytical approaches due to the employment of synergistic formulations at very low dosage and given the use of uncharacterized novel compounds. Such a scenario has fostered a strong interest in the discovery of functional molecular biomarkers for the detection of growth promoting agents in meat producing species. A multivariate MALDI‐TOF‐MS proteomics platform has been developed using bovine serum samples. Analytical performances have been thoroughly evaluated in order to enable reproducible profiles from 10 μL sera samples. We propose univariate and multivariate discrimination models capable to identify calves undergoing illicit treatments. In particular, we found a strong discrimination power associated with a polypeptide fragment from β2‐glycoprotein‐I. We provide a fundamental proof of concept in the potential application of MALDI‐TOF‐MS proteomics profiling in the food safety control.
Industrial biotechnology: Tools and applications
Authors: Tang Weng Lin , Zhao Huimin
Published: October 2009

Industrial biotechnology involves the use of enzymes and microorganisms to produce value‐added chemicals from renewable sources. Because of its association with reduced energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation, industrial biotechnology is a rapidly growing field. Here we highlight a variety of important tools for industrial biotechnology, including protein engineering, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, systems biology, and downstream processing. In addition, we show how these tools have been successfully applied in several case studies, including the production of 1, 3‐propanediol, lactic acid, and biofuels. It is expected that industrial biotechnology will be increasingly adopted by chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural industries.
Biosynthesis of Sb2O3 nanoparticles: A low‐cost green approach
Authors: Jha Anal K. , Prasad Kamlesh , Prasad K.
Published: October 2009

A low‐cost green and reproducible microbe (Lactobacillus sp.)‐mediated biosynthesis of Sb2O3 nanoparticles is reported. The synthesis was performed at around room temperature. X‐ray and transmission electron microscopy analyses were performed to ascertain the formation of Sb2O3 nanoparticles. X‐ray analysis indicated that Sb2O3 nanoparticles had a face‐centered cubic unit cell structure. Individual nanoparticles as well as a few aggregates of 3–12 nm were found. A possible mechanism for the synthesis of nano Sb2O3 is proposed.
Statistical aspects of design and validation of microtitre‐plate‐based linear and non‐linear parallel in vitro bioassays
Authors: Zimmermann Hanne , Gerhard Daniel , Dingermann Theo , Hothorn Ludwig A.
Published: October 2009

Assay validation was performed using four consecutive experiments with the related statistical evaluation. A cell‐based assay on microtitre plates measured repeatedly within 1 day and on consecutive days was chosen as the model. The following problems were addressed: (i) choosing an appropriate design on a plate to avoid heterogeneities, (ii) quantification of all sources of variability and (iii) selecting between linear and non‐linear parallel line assays. A mixed model was used with the random factors: rows, columns and plates and fixed effect factors with either linear or non‐linear parallel line models.
The Effect of Confined Space on the Growth of Naphthalenic Species in a Chabazite‐Type Catalyst: A Molecular Modeling Study
Authors: Hemelsoet Karen , Nollet Arno , Vandichel Matthias , Lesthaeghe David , Van Speybroeck Veronique , Waroquier Michel
Published: October 2009

Methylation reactions of naphthalenic species over the acidic microporous zeolite with chabazite topology have been investigated by means of two‐layered ab initio computations. Large cluster results combined with van der Waals contributions provide thermodynamic and kinetic results of successive methylation steps. The growth of fused bicyclic species is important as these can act as hydrocarbon pool species within the methanol‐to‐olefin (MTO) process, but ultimately leads to the deactivation of the catalyst. The influence of the confined space of the zeolite pore on the resulting transition state or product shape selectivity is investigated in detail.
Oligothiophenes Nano‐organized on a Cyclotetrasiloxane Scaffold as a Model of a Silica‐Bound Monolayer: Evidence for Intramolecular Excimer Formation
Authors: Mróz Wojciech , Bombenger Jean Philippe , Botta Chiara , Orbelli Biroli Alessio , Pizzotti Maddalena , De Angelis Filippo , Belpassi Leonardo , Tubino Riccardo , Meinardi Francesco
Published: October 2009

Excimer formation in a new class of terthiophene‐based fluorophores covalently bonded to a cyclotetrasiloxane scaffold has been demonstrated and the photophysical process ruling it has been investigated in detail and modeled theoretically. In contrast to the conventional systems in which long‐living fluorophores such as pyrene are linked in the same molecule, an excimer is formed only when two terthiophene‐based branches nano‐organized on the same cyclotetrasiloxane scaffold are close enough together when excitation takes place. In such a case, excimer formation is extremely efficient, and the new bound excited states are quite stable.
A new color image space HRU related to the CIEL*a*b* color space
Authors: Kuo Wen‐Guey
Published: October 2009

The color image space with one kind of merit color image scales (WIP) is derived using the psychophysical method of magnitude estimation method, usually used in visual assessment of color appearance, which can be used to describe the color image meanings of colors of works of art in parallel with those of people. The results show that a new color image space HRU is developed, and the relativity between this space and the CIEL*a*b* color space is also discussed. And, a good relationship between the HRU color image space and the CIEL*a*b* color space can be found. This may be of great advantage to the new color image space HRU in predicting the color image for single color based on the color space CIEL*a*b*. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 452–457, 2009
Deducing ink thickness variations by a spectral prediction model
Authors: Hersch Roger D. , Brichon Mathieu , Bugnon Thomas , Amrhyn Peter , Crété Frederique , Mourad Safer , Janser Hebert , Jiang Yufan , Riepenhoff Matthias
Published: October 2009

Most existing techniques for regulating the ink flow in offset presses rely on density measurements carried out on specially printed patches. In the present contribution, we develop a methodology to deduce ink thickness variations from spectral measurements of multichromatic halftone patches located within the printed page. For this purpose, we extend the Clapper‐Yule spectral reflectance prediction model by expressing the transmittance of the colorants composed of superposed inks as a function of the ink transmittances and of fitted ink layer thicknesses. We associate to each ink an ink thickness variation factor. At print time, this ink thickness variation factor can be fitted to minimize a difference metric between predicted reflection spectrum and measured reflection spectrum. The ink thickness variations deduced from multichromatic halftones allow to clearly distinguish between normal ink volume, reduced ink volume, or increased ink volume. This information can then be used for performing control operations on the printing press. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 432–442, 2009
Energy Transport along Conjugated Polymer Chains with Extended Radiative Lifetimes: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Van Averbeke Bernard , Beljonne David
Published: October 2009

The ability to improve exciton diffusion lengths is a key issue in optimizing many opto‐electronic devices based on conjugated polymers. On the basis of quantum‐chemical calculations, we investigate a strategy consisting of extending the radiative lifetime of energy carriers through incorporation along the polymer backbone of repeating units with forbidden optical transition. The results obtained for poly(p‐phenylenebutadiyne), PPE, and poly(p‐triphenylenebutadiyne), PTPE, show that the larger number of hops performed by the electronic excitations during their lifetime in PTPE is compensated by the smaller hopping length (associated with the reduced conjugation length), so that similar on‐chain diffusion lengths are predicted in both polymers.
Two cases of intracranial germinoma showing a cell arrangement mimicking carcinoma
Authors: Ohta Yoshiki , Suzuki Takao , Tonoike Takahiko , Hamatani Shigeharu , Ohike Nobuyuki , Shiokawa Akira , Kushima Miki , Ota Hidekazu
Published: October 2009

Tumors of germ cell origin uncommonly arise in extragonadal sites. We report two cases of intracranial germinoma, in which it was necessary to distinguish between intracranial germinoma and metastatic carcinoma in cytological specimens. Cytologically, not only single tumor cells or loosely connective tumor cells but also closely packed clusters of cells and pair cells were recognized. Immunocytochemically, almost all tumor cells were immunoreactive for M2A, placental alkaline phosphatase, and c‐kit. Closely packed clusters were also immunoreactive for pan‐cytokeratin. Therefore, Cytopathologists should be aware that tumor cell clusters, mimicking carcinoma might appear in cytological specimens of intracranial germinomas. Although immunocytochemical analysis assists in correct diagnosis, some cell clusters showing cytokeratin immunoreactivity does not become the basis for the diagnosis of metastaticcarcinoma. A panel of antibodies including D2‐40, PLAP, and c‐kit should be used. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pulmonary crystal‐storing histiocytosis diagnosed by computed tomography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration
Authors: Todd William U. , Drabick Joseph J. , Benninghoff Michael G. , Frauenhoffer Elizabeth E. , Zander Dani S.
Published: October 2009

Crystal‐storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a rare process most often occurring in conjunction with an underlying hematopoietic neoplasm, usually multiple myeloma or low‐grade B‐cell lymphoma. We report the first case of pulmonary CSH diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration biopsy. A patient with a history of urothelial carcinoma developed a lung nodule, which was evaluated by fine‐needle aspiration biopsy. Cytologic examination revealed macrophages with abundant cytoplasmic crystals diagnostic of CSH. Based on this cytologic interpretation, additional clinical laboratory evaluation was pursued and revealed a previously unknown monoclonal serum protein. CSH must be differentiated from other non‐neoplastic and neoplastic lesions and when diagnosed, should trigger a search for an underlying lymphoproliferative disorder. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytopathologist‐performed ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration of parathyroid lesions
Authors: Lieu David
Published: October 2009

The gold standard to determine the cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is bilateral neck exploration. As most cases are caused by parathyroid adenoma, there is a movement toward preoperative localization of the abnormal gland by ultrasound and/or Tc99‐sestamibi scan and minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Nonpalpable thyroid nodules are common and cannot be differentiated from parathyroid lesions by imaging alone. This study examines cytopathologist‐performed ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (UG‐FNA) in diagnosis of parathyroid lesions. Between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008, seven patients with PHPT or other parathyroid lesions with one or more sonographically‐visible thyroid masses underwent cytopathologist‐performed UG‐FNA with immediate cytological evaluation (ICE). One mass was palpable and nine were nonpalpable. Three parathyroid adenomas, two benign colloid nodules, one papillary carcinoma, three parathyroid cysts, and one thyroid cyst were diagnosed. The nodules in three patients with parathyroid adenomas were identified as follicular lesion/neoplasm on ICE. Additional UG‐FNA passes were made to obtain tissue for immunohistochemistry stains, which confirmed parathyroid origin. Two of these patients had a separate benign colloid nodule and one had a thyroid cyst diagnosed by UG‐FNA. The PHPT patient with papillary carcinoma on UG‐FNA had the malignancy confirmed at surgery and a sonographically occult parathyroid adenoma. The three patients with thyroid cysts identified by radiology were suspected of being parathyroid cysts on the basis of real‐time sonographic features at the biopsy table. The clear cyst fluid obtained by UG‐FNA had markedly elevated PTH. Cytopathologist‐performed UG‐FNA can distinguish between parathyroid and thyroid nodules in patients with suspected parathyroid lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nephroblastoma is a success of paediatric oncologic therapy. How further can we go?: Results of a cyto‐histologic correlation study
Authors: Barroca Helena
Published: October 2009

Nephroblastoma is a success of paediatric oncologic therapy, yet, there are still some cases where favourable response to preoperative chemotherapy is not achieved. Fine needle biopsy has the role of diagnostic confirmation and, idyllically of predicting a response to preoperative chemotherapy.

To advance in this aim, we retrieved a total of 14 nephroblastomas, (seven male patients and seven female with a mean age of 44.4 months), diagnosed in our department by fine needle biopsy and submitted afterward to chemotherapy and nephrectomy, in the last 10 years.

Correlation between cytologic features, (morphology, cell death, and proliferation (Ki‐67 labelling index), and post chemotherapy tumour evaluation was done. Cytologic pattern per se was not predictive of histologic tumour classification (P = 0.6061). We did not find any correlation between the percentage of necrosis and apoptosis (P = 0.682) in cytologic smears and histologic regressive changes but when both these two criteria coexisted in cytologic blastemal component of nephroblastomas, this fact seemed to lead to a favourable response of the tumour to chemotherapy. When evaluation of Ki‐67 labelling index was done in the blastematous component present in the smears, divergent results were obtained. The small number of cases prevented any firm conclusions.

By summing up, our results support the idea that there are probably two types of blastema in nephroblastoma with different “suicide” potential and chemotherapeutic response. Further studies should be performed to stratify the influence of necrosis, apoptosis, and proliferation in chemosensivity of nephroblastomas. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DNA damage and oxidative stress in human liver cell L‐02 caused by surface water extracts during drinking water treatment in a waterworks in China
Authors: Xie Shao‐Hua , Liu Ai‐Lin , Chen Yan‐Yan , Zhang Li , Zhang Hui‐Juan , Jin Bang‐Xiong , Lu Wen‐Hong , Li Xiao‐Yan , Lu Wen‐Qing
Published: October 2009

Because of the daily and life‐long exposure to disinfection by‐products formed during drinking water treatment, potential adverse human health risk of drinking water disinfection is of great concern. Toxicological studies have shown that drinking water treatment increases the genotoxicity of surface water. Drinking water treatment is comprised of different potabilization steps, which greatly influence the levels of genotoxic products in the surface water and thus may alter the toxicity and genotoxicity of surface water. The aim of the present study was to understand the influence of specific steps on toxicity and genotoxicity during the treatment of surface water in a water treatment plant using liquid chlorine as the disinfectant in China. An integrated approach of the comet and oxidative stress assays was used in the study, and the results showed that both the prechlorination and postchlorination steps increased DNA damage and oxidative stress caused by water extracts in human derived L‐02 cells while the tube settling and filtration steps had the opposite effect. This research also highlighted the usefulness of an integrated approach of the comet and oxidative stress assays in evaluating the genotoxicity of surface water during drinking water treatment. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Broadening the mission of an RNA enzyme
Authors: Marvin Michael C. , Engelke David R.
Published: October 2009

The “RNA World” hypothesis suggests that life developed from RNA enzymes termed ribozymes, which carry out reactions without assistance from proteins. Ribonuclease (RNase) P is one ribozyme that appears to have adapted these origins to modern cellular life by adding protein to the RNA core in order to broaden the potential functions. This RNA‐protein complex plays diverse roles in processing RNA, but its best‐understood reaction is pre‐tRNA maturation, resulting in mature 5' ends of tRNAs. The core catalytic activity resides in the RNA subunit of almost all RNase P enzymes but broader substrate tolerance is required for recognizing not only the diverse sequences of tRNAs, but also additional cellular RNA substrates. This broader substrate tolerance is provided by the addition of protein to the RNA core and allows RNase P to selectively recognize different RNAs, and possibly ribonucleoprotein (RNP) substrates. Thus, increased protein content correlated with evolution from bacteria to eukaryotes has further enhanced substrate potential enabling the enzyme to function in a complex cellular environment. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 1244–1251, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Counseling children at a helpline: chatting or calling?
Authors: Fukkink Ruben , Hermanns Jo
Published: October 2009

In a quantitative content analysis, the telephone‐based and Web‐based support of the Dutch child helpline were studied. Both adult judges and the children themselves indicated that the quality of chat conversations was better than that of telephone conversations. Both the chat and telephone service succeeded in improving children's well‐being and decreasing the perceived burden of their problems. The findings lend support to offer a combined telephone‐based and Web‐based support for child helplines. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Community attitudes towards culture‐influenced mental illness: scrupulosity vs. nonreligious OCD among orthodox jews
Authors: Pirutinsky Steven , Rosmarin David H. , Pargament Kenneth I.
Published: October 2009

Culture may particularly influence community attitudes towards mental illness, when the illness itself is shaped by a cultural context. To explore the influence of culture‐specific, religious symptoms on Orthodox Jewish community attitudes, the authors compared the attitudes of 169 Orthodox Jews, who randomly viewed one of two vignettes describing either religious or nonreligious obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Results indicate that though participants were equally likely to perceive both vignettes as mental illness, they were less likely to endorse psychological/medical explanatory models and help‐seeking, and conversely more likely to endorse social–religious explanations, religious help‐seeking, and stigma in relation to religious OCD. Nevertheless, psychological/medical models and help‐seeking were more strongly endorsed for both religious and nonreligious OCD. Beyond implications for Orthodox Jewish community actions, these findings suggest that attitudes towards mental illness may depend on how symptoms relate to community culture. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interpersonal mediators linking acculturation stressors to subsequent internalizing symptoms and self‐esteem in latino adolescents
Authors: Smokowski Paul Richard , Bacallao Martica , Buchanan Rachel Lee
Published: October 2009

The specific aim of this study was to examine pathways leading to internalizing symptoms and self‐esteem in Latino adolescents. Adolescent feelings of interpersonal humiliation, family conflict and commitment, and friendships with peers were investigated as potential mediators linking acculturation stress to subsequent adolescent self‐esteem and internalizing symptoms. Path analyses on data from a sample of 288 Latino adolescents (average age 15 years; 66% foreign‐born) showed that acculturation conflicts and perceived discrimination were risk factors for both internalizing problems at baseline and parent–adolescent conflict 6 months later. Baseline internalizing problems, and Time 2 variables (humiliation, parent–adolescent conflict, negative peer relationships, and changes in familism) mediated the effects of acculturation stress on Time 3 (T3) internalizing symptoms and self‐esteem. Latino cultural involvement was a key cultural asset, impacting T3 internalizing symptoms and self‐esteem by decreasing feelings of humiliation and by promoting familism. Familism was also a critical cultural asset associated with lower parent–adolescent conflict and higher self‐esteem. Study limitations and implications for practice with Latino families were discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
C‐perfect hypergraphs
Authors: Bujtás Csilla , Tuza Zsolt
Published: October 2009

Let \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{H}}=({{X}},{\mathcal{E}})$\end{document} be a hypergraph with vertex set X and edge set
\documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{E}}$\end{document}. A C‐coloring of \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{H}}$\end{document} is a mapping ϕ:X→ℕ such that |ϕ(E)|<|E| holds for all edges \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${{E}}\in{\mathcal{E}}$\end{document} (i.e. no edge is multicolored). We denote by \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar{\chi}({\mathcal{H}})$\end{document} the maximum number |ϕ(X)| of colors in a C‐coloring. Let further \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\alpha({\mathcal{H}})$\end{document} denote the largest cardinality of a vertex set S⊆X that contains no \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${{E}}\in{\mathcal{E}}$\end{document}, and \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\tau({\mathcal{H}})=|{{X}}|-\alpha({\mathcal{H}})$\end{document} the minimum cardinality of a vertex set meeting all \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $E \in {\mathcal{E}}$\end{document}. The hypergraph \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} ${\mathcal{H}}$\end{document} is called C‐perfect if \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\bar{\chi}({\mathcal{H}}\prime)=\alpha({\mathcal{H}}\prime)$\end{document} holds for every induced subhypergraph
\documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{H}}\prime\subseteq{\mathcal{H}}$\end{document}. If \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{H}}$\end{document} is not C‐perfect but all of its proper induced subhypergraphs are, then we say that it is minimally C‐imperfect. We prove that for all r, k∈ℕ there exists a finite upper bound h(r, k) on the number of minimally C‐imperfect hypergraphs \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\mathcal{H}}$\end{document} with \documentclass{article}\footskip=0pc\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\tau({\mathcal{H}})\le {{k}}$\end{document} and without edges of more than r vertices. We give a characterization of minimally C‐imperfect hypergraphs that have τ=2, which also characterizes implicitly the C‐perfect ones with τ=2. From this result we derive an infinite family of new constructions that are minimally C‐imperfect. A characterization of minimally C‐imperfect circular hypergraphs is presented, too. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 64: 132–149, 2010
Cycle length parities and the chromatic number
Authors: Löwenstein Christian , Rautenbach Dieter , Schiermeyer Ingo
Published: October 2009

In 1966 Erdös and Hajnal proved that the chromatic number of graphs whose odd cycles have lengths at most l is at most l+1. Similarly, in 1992 Gyárfás proved that the chromatic number of graphs which have at most k odd cycle lengths is at most 2k+2 which was originally conjectured by Bollobás and Erdös. Here we consider the influence of the parities of the cycle lengths modulo some odd prime on the chromatic number of graphs. As our main result we prove the following: Let p be an odd prime, k∈ℕ and I⊆{0, 1, …, p−1} with |I|≤p−1. If G is a graph such that the set of cycle lengths of G contains at most k elements which are not in I modulo p, then χ(G)≤(1+|I|/(p−|I|))k+p(p−1)(r(2p, 2p)+1)+1 where r(p, q) denotes the ordinary Ramsey number. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 64: 210–218, 2010
Rhinophyma
Authors: New Gordon B.
Published: October 2009

(Original Communications are received with the understanding that they are contributed exclusively to The Laryngoscope.)
Vincent's infection of the mouth, throat and larynx. Report of a case
Authors: Wagers A. J.
Published: October 2009

Vincent's angina as commonly seen is neither of very frequent occurrence nor very serious, is easily diagnosed and in the average case responds readily to treatment; but when we see a case in which the local lesions are extensive and at first not only resist all treatment, but tend to spread and to so undermine the patient's vitality that life hangs by a thread, we believe such a case is worthy of bringing to your attention, particularly since the patient did recover.