bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of reference intervals for plasma biochemical values in clinically normal adult domestic shorthair cats by use of a dry-slide biochemical analyzer
Authors: Reynolds Brice S. , Boudet Karine G. , Germain Claude A. , Braun Jean-Pierre D. , Lefebvre Herve P.
Published: April 2008

Objective—To establish reference intervals of plasma biochemical values in healthy adult domestic shorthair (DSH) cats by use of controlled conditions.

Animals—95 healthy client-owned cats.

Procedures—Food was withheld from the cats overnight. All blood samples were obtained on the same day, at the same location, and by the same investigator. Blood samples were collected from a cephalic vein into lithium heparin tubes. After centrifugation of blood samples, plasma supernatants were harvested and stored at −20°C until assayed for total proteins, albumin, creatinine, urea, glucose, calcium, phosphates, sodium, chloride, potassium, and CO2 concentrations and alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities.

Results—Reference intervals in healthy adult DSH cats were 65 to 85 g/L for total proteins, 27 to 39 g/L for albumin, 89 to 207 μmol/L for creatinine, 6.6 to 11.3 mmol/L for urea, 4.1 to 8.2 mmol/L for glucose, 2.4 to 2.9 mmol/L for calcium, 1.1 to 2.1 mmol/L for phosphates, 153 to 161 mmol/L for sodium, 120 to 127 mmol/L for chloride, 3.3 to 4.2 mmol/L for potassium, 15 to 21 mmol/L for CO2, 32 to 147 U/L for alkaline phosphatase, and 34 to 123 U/L for alanine aminotransferase.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—This study provided reference intervals for plasma analytes in adult DSH cats. The influence of potential confounding factors was minimized through use of controlled preanalytic and analytic conditions. However, these results cannot be extrapolated to other feline breeds or used to interpret results from other biochemical analyzers.
Spectral waveform analysis of intranodal arterial blood flow in abnormally large superficial lymph nodes in dogs
Authors: Santa Daniele Della , Gaschen Lorrie , Doherr Marcus G. , Citi Simonetta , Marchetti Veronica , Lang Johann
Published: April 2008

Objective—To evaluate pulsed-wave Doppler spectral parameters as a method for distinguishing between neoplastic and inflammatory peripheral lymphadenopathy in dogs.

Sample Population—40 superficial lymph nodes from 33 dogs with peripheral lymphadenopathy.

Procedures—3 Doppler spectral tracings were recorded from each node. Spectral Doppler analysis including assessment of the resistive index, peak systolic velocity-to-end diastolic velocity (S:D) ratio, diastolic notch velocity-to-peak systolic velocity (N:S) ratio, and end diastolic velocity-to-diastolic notch velocity ratio was performed for each tracing. Several calculation methods were used to determine the Doppler indices for each lymph node. After the ultrasonographic examination, fine needle aspirates or excisional biopsy specimens of the examined lymph nodes were obtained, and lymphadenopathy was classified as either inflammatory or neoplastic (lymphomatous or metastatic) via cytologic or histologic examination. Results of Doppler analysis were compared with cytologic or histopathologic findings.

Results—The Doppler index with the highest diagnostic accuracy was the S:D ratio calculated from the first recorded tracing; a cutoff value of 3.22 yielded sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 100%, and negative predictive value of 89% for detection of neoplasia. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 95%. At a sensitivity of 100%, the most accurate index was the N:S ratio calculated from the first recorded tracing; a cutoff value of 0.45 yielded specificity of 67%, positive predictive value of 81%, and overall diagnostic accuracy of 86.5%.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that noninvasive Doppler spectral analysis may be useful in the diagnosis of neoplastic versus inflammatory peripheral lymphadenopathy in dogs.
Effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil on in vivo production of inflammatory mediators in clinically normal dogs
Authors: LeBlanc Casey J. , Horohov David W. , Bauer John E. , Hosgood Giselle , Mauldin Glenna E.
Published: April 2008

Objective—To evaluate the effect of diets enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on in vivo production of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in dogs.

Animals—15 young healthy dogs.

Procedures—Dogs were randomly allocated to receive an isocaloric ration supplemented with sunflower oil (n = 5), fish oil (5), or fish oil plus vitamin E (5) for 12 weeks. At week 12, in vivo production of inflammatory mediators was evaluated in serum at multiple time points for 6 hours following stimulation with IV administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Results—Serum activity or concentration (area under the curve) of IL-1, IL-6, and PGE2 significantly increased after LPS injection in all groups but to a lesser extent in dogs receiving the fish oil diet, compared with results for dogs receiving the sunflower oil diet. Serum activity of TNF-α and PAF concentration also increased significantly after LPS injection in all groups but did not differ significantly among groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A fish oil–enriched diet consisting of 1.75 g of EPA/kg of diet and 2.2 g of DHA/kg of diet (dry-matter basis) with an n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio of 3.4:1 was associated with significant reductions in serum PGE2 concentrations and IL-1 and IL-6 activities. Results supported the use of EPA- and DHA-enriched diets as part of antiinflammatory treatments for dogs with chronic inflammatory diseases. Additional studies in affected dogs are warranted to further evaluate beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of EPA- and DHA-enriched diets.
Effects of inhaled fine dust on lung tissue changes and antibody response induced by spores of opportunistic fungi in goats
Authors: Purdy Charles W. , Layton Robert C. , Straus David C. , Ayers J. R.
Published: April 2008

Objective—To investigate the effects of sterile fine dust aerosol inhalation on antibody responses and lung tissue changes induced by Mucor ramosissimus or Trichoderma viride spores following intratracheal inoculation in goats.

Animals—36 weanling Boer-Spanish goats.

Procedures—6 goats were allocated to each of 2 M ramosissimus–inoculated groups, 2 T viride–inoculated groups, and 2 control (tent or pen) groups. One of each pair of sporetreated groups and the tent control group were exposed 7 times to sterilized fine feedyard dust (mean ± SD particle diameter, < 7.72 ± 0.69 μm) for 4 hours in a specially constructed tent. Goats in the 4 fungal treatment groups were inoculated intratracheally 5 times with a fungal spore preparation (30 mL), whereas tent control goats were intratracheally inoculated with physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (30 mL). Pen control goats were not inoculated or exposed to dust. Goats received an IV challenge with equine RBCs to assess antibody responses to foreign antigens. Postmortem examinations were performed at study completion (day 68) to evaluate lung tissue lesions.

Results—5 of 7 deaths occurred between days 18 and 45 and were attributed to fine dust exposures prior to fungal treatments. Fine dust inhalation induced similar lung lesions and precipitating antibodies among spore-treated goats. Following spore inoculations, dust-exposed goats had significantly more spores per gram of consolidated lung tissue than did their nonexposed counterparts.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Fine dust inhalation appeared to decrease the ability of goats to successfully clear fungal spores from the lungs following intratracheal inoculation.
Effect of body position on intraocular pressure in dogs without glaucoma
Authors: Broadwater Joshua J. , Schorling Jamie J. , Herring Ian P. , Elvinger François
Published: April 2008

Objective—To determine the effects of body position on intraocular pressure (IOP) in dogs without glaucoma.

Animals—24 healthy dogs with no evidence of glaucoma.

Procedures—Dogs underwent ophthalmic examinations to ensure that no IOP-affecting ocular diseases were present. Each dog was sequentially placed in dorsal recumbency, sternal recumbency, and sitting position. For each of the 3 positions, IOP in the right eye was measured by use of an applanation tonometer immediately after positioning (0 minutes) and after 3 and 5 minutes had elapsed. The initial body position was randomly assigned; each position followed the other positions an equal number of times, and IOP measurements were initiated immediately after moving from one body position to the next. Proparacaine hydrochloride (0.5%) was applied to the right eye immediately prior to IOP measurements.

Results—Intraocular pressure was affected by body position. During the 5-minute examination, IOP decreased significantly in dogs that were dorsally recumbent or sitting but did not change significantly in dogs that were sternally recumbent. For the 3 positions, overall mean IOP differed significantly at each time point (0, 3, and 5 minutes). Mean IOP in dorsal recumbency was significantly higher than that in sternal recumbency at 0 and at 3 minutes; although the former was also higher than that in sitting position at 3 minutes, that difference was not significant.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Body position affects IOP in dogs. When IOP is measured in dogs, body position should be recorded and consistent among repeat evaluations.
Evaluation of an endoscopically assisted gastropexy technique in dogs
Authors: Dujowich Mauricio , Reimer S. Brent
Published: April 2008

Objective—To evaluate the use of endoscopy in conjunction with a gastropexy technique in dogs as a potential means to aid prevention of gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Animals—12 healthy adult medium- and large-breed dogs.

Procedures—12 adult research dogs that had no abnormal physical examination findings each underwent an endoscopically assisted gastropexy procedure. On completion of the procedure, the dogs were euthanized and exploratory laparotomies were performed to evaluate the surgical site. Data recorded included anatomic location of the gastropexy, gastropexy length, and duration of procedure as well as any complications.

Results—Mean ± SD gastropexy length was 3.3 ± 0.25 cm, and mean duration of surgery was 18 ± 7 minutes. In each dog, the stomach was located in its normal anatomic position and all gastropexies were sutured to the abdominal wall at the level of the pyloric antrum. The only complications during the procedure were needle bending and breakage at the time of stay suture placement.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—On the basis of these findings, it appears that endoscopically assisted gastropexy is a simple, fast, safe, and reliable method of performing a prophylactic gastropexy in dogs when undertaken by a person who is skilled in endoscopy. Such a procedure maximizes the benefits of decreased morbidity and shorter duration of anesthesia associated with minimally invasive surgery. Further clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this procedure in dogs at risk for development of gastric dilatation-volvulus.
Ventral abdominal approach for screw fixation of sacroiliac luxation in cadavers of cats and dogs
Authors: Borer Luc R. , Voss Katja , Montavon Pierre M.
Published: April 2008

Objective—To investigate a technique for repair of sacroiliac luxation with positional screw insertion from the ventral surface of the sacral wing via a ventral abdominal approach.

Sample Population—Hemipelvis specimens from cadavers of 5 small- to large-breed dogs and 9 European shorthair cats.

Procedures—An optimal entry point and a safe drill corridor for implant placement were determined (4 hemipelvis specimens). Anatomic landmarks were identified, and the surgical technique for a ventral abdominal approach was described. Single positional screw placement was performed across the sacroiliac joint in 23 hemipelvis specimens. Screws were aimed at 25°(n = 2), 35° (2), and 45° (19) angles to the vertical axis in a transverse plane (α angles) and at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis in a dorsal plane (β angle). Implant placement was assessed by radiographic evaluation of the cadavers and of the hemipelvis specimens devoid of soft tissue.

Results—By use of α angles of 35° and 45°, 20 of 21 implants were placed adequately; screws crossed the sacroiliac joint and penetrated the wing of the ilium without damaging adjacent nerves. The measured median α angle was 38°, and the median β angle was 88°. One complication was recorded.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cortical positional screw placement from the ventral aspect of the sacral wing by use of a ventral abdominal approach could be an alternative to conventional techniques. This novel technique may be useful for repair of bilateral sacroiliac luxation, treatment of concomitant soft tissue injuries of the caudal portion of the abdominal cavity or abdominal wall, and repair of pelvic floor fractures in a single approach.
Ventral abdominal approach for screw fixation of sacroiliac luxation in clinically affected cats
Authors: Borer Luc R. , Voss Katja , Montavon Pierre M.
Published: April 2008

Objective—To investigate sacroiliac luxation repair with positional screw insertion from the ventral surface of the sacral wing via a ventral abdominal approach in cats.

Animals—18 European shorthair cats.

Procedures—All cats underwent clinical examination including orthopedic and neurologic examination and assessment of lameness and pain before and immediately after surgery and 6 and 16 weeks after surgery. All sacroiliac luxations were stabilized with a single positional 2.4-mm cortical titanium self-tapping screw. The pelvic floor was also repaired in selected cats. Screw entry points and angles determined in a prior study of cadavers were used. Radiographs were taken before surgery and during follow-up evaluations to assess postoperative sacroiliac luxation reduction, implant placement, and repair stability.

Results—All implants were placed correctly. Iatrogenic sciatic nerve injuries occurred in 2 cats. Median time to ambulation was 1.5 days for cats with sacroiliac luxation as the sole injury. Radiographic outcome of sacroiliac luxation repair was excellent in 15 of 17 repairs, good in 1 of 17 repairs, and poor in 1 of 17 repairs. Clinical outcome was excellent in 11 of 15 cats and good in 4 of 15 cats.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Insertion of a positional screw across the sacroiliac joint via a ventral abdominal approached can be an alternative to conventional techniques of sacroiliac luxation repair in cats. This novel technique allowed repair of bilateral sacroiliac luxation, repair of pelvic floor fractures, and treatment of soft tissue injuries of the abdominal cavity or abdominal organs with a single approach.
Bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy for surgical management of caudal colonic and rectal masses in six dogs and a cat
Authors: Yoon Hun-Young , Mann F. A.
Published: April 2008

Case Description—6 dogs and a cat were evaluated because of caudal colonic and rectal masses.

Clinical Findings—Tumors were identified in the caudal portion of the colon (n = 2), in the area of the colorectal junction (2), or in the rectum (3).

Treatment and Outcome—In all 7 animals, bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy was performed to provide exposure of the rectum and associated tumor. Masses were successfully removed, and all 7 animals were able to ambulate normally within 3 days after surgery. No complications associated with the osteotomy procedure were identified.

Clinical Relevance—Findings suggested that bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy provided sufficient exposure for resection of intrapelvic tumors in dogs and a cat with minimal complications.
Esophageal foreign body obstruction caused by a dental chew treat in 31 dogs (2000–2006)
Authors: Leib Michael S. , Sartor Laura Lee
Published: April 2008

Objective—To evaluate the signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome associated with esophageal obstruction caused by a dental chew treat in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—31 dogs.

Procedures—Medical records were contributed from 19 hospitals via responses to a questionnaire that was developed for veterinarians who managed the cases.

Results—Esophageal obstructions with the dental chew treat occurred primarily in small dogs (26/31 [83.9%]). The most common clinical signs were gagging, regurgitation, vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy. Diagnosis was usually made via survey thoracic radiography. Obstructions were most commonly located in the distal portion of the esophagus (23/31; 74.2%). Esophageal lesions were moderate or severe in 86.7% (26/30) of the dogs. Orad endoscopic removal of the foreign bodies was uncommon (8/31 [25.8%]); most were pushed into the stomach. Thoracotomy was necessary in 6 dogs. Esophageal strictures developed in 6 of 25 (24%) dogs that survived initial hospitalization. Overall mortality rate was 25.8%.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Esophageal obstructions with a dental chew treat were difficult to remove orally via endoscopy, resulted in moderate or severe esophageal damage, frequently were associated with stricture formation, and were associated with a high mortality rate.
The effects of the trematode Bucephalus polymorphus on the reproductive cycle of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha in the Drava River
Authors: Lajtner Jasna , Lucić Andreja , Marušić Miljenko , Erben Radovan
Published: April 2008

The effects of the trematode Bucephalus polymorphus on the reproductive cycle of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha were examined in mussel populations from the Drava River. The reproductive cycle was studied by histological examination of the gonads and quantified by an image analysing system to determine changes in volume of the entire visceral mass, gonads, digestive glands and in particular the volume of trematodes. Results confirmed that (1) gonads of D. polymorpha were affected by B. polymorphus infection more than any other organ and (2) development of cercariae in sporocysts of B. polymorphus coincides with host gonad maturation. This is the first study in which the image analysing system was used to determine the effect of trematodes on the reproductive cycle of D. polymorpha. Also, this is the first record of sporocysts of B. polymorphus in D. polymorpha in this part of Europe.
Quality of Life in the Nursing Home: Perspectives of Younger and Older Residents
Authors: Watt Ashli , Konnert Candace
Published: April 2008

Adults aged 65 and younger make up a significant proportion of nursing-home residents. To date, however, there is no research examining their quality of life (QOL), including how their perceptions of QOL compare to those of older nursing-home residents. This study used a multidimensional approach to (a) assess the QOL of younger nursing-home residents and its relationship to health, social support, and leisure activities; and (b) compare the QOLs of younger and older residents. The sample consisted of 43 younger residents (M = 53.7 years) and 38 older residents (M = 79.92 years). Results indicate that there were no age differences in QOL, suggesting the need for a broad conceptualization of QOL in the nursing-home population.
Improved quality of beneath‐canopy grass in South African savannas: Local and seasonal variation
Authors: Treydte Anna C. , Looringh van Beeck F.A. , Ludwig F. , Heitkönig I.M.A.
Published: April 2008

Questions:

Do large trees improve the nutrient content and the structure of the grass layer in savannas? Does the magnitude of this improvement differ with locality (soil nutrients) and season (water availability)? Are grass structure and species composition beneath tree canopies influenced by soil fertility and season?

Location:

South Africa.

Methods:

We compared grass leaf nutrient contents and grass sward structure beneath and outside tree canopy areas in three savannas of different soil fertility during the dry and the wet seasons.

Results:

Grass nitrogen contents were twice as high during the wet season as compared to the dry season, being more strongly elevated underneath tree canopies during the wet season. Grasses had significantly less stem material and provided less dead material underneath trees on the high soil fertility site. Grass species composition differed significantly beneath and outside tree canopies, with more nutritious grass species found sub‐canopy. Grass species richness was significantly lower beneath than outside of trees at the site of high soil fertility.

Conclusions:

Trees improve overall quality of savanna grasses by enhancing grass growth and nutrient uptake during the wet season, and by delaying grass wilting in the dry season. The positive effect of trees on the grass layer might attract grazing herbivores in otherwise nutrient‐poor savannas. Hence, single standing large trees should be maintained to sustain high grass quality and, consequently, grazer populations in savanna habitats.
Firm, market, and regulatory factors influencing innovation and commercialization in Canada's functional food and nutraceutical sector
Authors: Herath Deepananda , Cranfield John , Henson Spencer , Sparling David
Published: April 2008

Factors influencing the development and commercialization of functional food and nutraceutical (FFN) products are explored. Count data models are developed to relate firm, market, and regulatory covariates to the number of FFN product lines firms have under development, on the market, and in total. Canadian firm‐level innovation data were taken from Statistics Canada (2003) Functional Food and Nutraceutical Survey. Firms involved in product development/scale‐up had more product lines in total and on the market. Firms with a strong and positive perception of the impact of regulatory reform related to generic health claims and harmonization of Canadian regulations with U.S. regulations had fewer product lines in total and on the market. Firms with more positive perceptions of the business impact of structure and function health claims had more product lines on the market. One implication of the study is the importance of developing policies and reforming regulations which better enable use of generic health claims on FFN products. Further, policies which better enable or foster development/scale‐up of product lines would increase the Canadian FFN sector's ability to develop new products. [EconLit: O130, L500, Q180]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Serum ferritin concentrations and body iron stores in a multicenter, multiethnic primary‐care population
Authors: Gordeuk Victor R. , Reboussin David M. , McLaren Christine E. , Barton James C. , Acton Ronald T. , McLaren Gordon D. , Harris Emily L. , Reiss Jacob A. , Adams Paul C. , Speechley Mark , Phatak Pradyumna D. , Sholinsky Phyliss , Eckfeldt John H. , Chen Wen‐Pin , Passmore Leah , Dawkins Fitzroy W.
Published: April 2008

How often elevated serum ferritin in primary‐care patients reflects increased iron stores (normally 0.8 g in men, 0.4 g in women) is not known. The Hereditary Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) study screened 101,168 primary‐care participants (44% Caucasians, 27% African‐Americans, 14% Asians/Pacific Islanders, 13% Hispanics, 2% others). Follow‐up clinical evaluation was performed in 302 of 333 HFE C282Y homozygotes regardless of iron measures and 1,375 of 1,920 nonhomozygotes with serum ferritin >300 μg/L (men), >200 μg/L (women) and transferrin saturation >50% (men), >45% (women). Quantitative phlebotomy was conducted in 122 of 175 C282Y homozygotes and 122 of 1,102 nonhomozygotes with non‐transfusional serum ferritin elevation at evaluation. The estimated prevalence in the Caucasian population of C282Y homozygotes with serum ferritin >900 μg/L at evaluation was 20 per 10,000 men and 4 per 10,000 women; this constellation was predictive of iron stores >4 g in men and >2 g in women. The estimated prevalence per 10,000 of non‐C282Y homozygotes with serum ferritin >900 μg/L at evaluation was 7 among Caucasians, 13 among Hispanics, 20 among African Americans, and 38 among Asians and Pacific Islanders, and this constellation was predictive of iron stores >2 g but <4 g. In conclusion, serum ferritin >900 μg/L after initial elevations of both serum ferritin and transferrin saturation is predictive of mildly increased iron stores in multiple ethnic populations regardless of HFE genotype. Serum ferritin >900 μg/L in male C282Y homozygotes is predictive of moderately increased iron stores. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CPR's weekly IDN podcast looks at India's booming legal outsourcing
Authors: Bleemer Russ
Published: April 2008

The latest CPR International Dispute Negotiation podcasts; a new online training partnership with West LegalEdcenter debuts with four sessions from January's Annual Meeting; registration has opened for next month's Fourth Annual European Business Mediation Congress, and more.
Back to med‐arb: Survey indicates process concerns are decreasing
Authors: Phillips Gerald F.
Published: April 2008

Gerald F. Phillips, of Los Angeles, polled dozens of leading arbitrators and mediators in an attempt to gauge the profession's current comfort level with med‐arb. In this month's cover story at right–Part I of II–he analyzes how providers view the occasional use of the mediator for an arbitration to finalize agreement terms.
Cycloisomerization of 1,n‐Enynes: Challenging Metal‐Catalyzed Rearrangements and Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Michelet Véronique , Toullec Patrick Y. , Genêt Jean‐Pierre
Published: April 2008

Metal‐catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions of 1,n‐enynes have appeared as conceptually and chemically highly attractive processes as they contribute to the highly demanded search for atom economy and allow the discovery of new reactions. Since the pioneering studies with palladium by the research group of Barry Trost in the mid‐1980s, several other metals have been identified as excellent catalysts for the rearrangement of enyne skeletons. Moreover, the behavior of 1,n‐enynes may be influenced by other functional groups such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, alkenes, or alkynes, thus enhancing the molecular complexity of the synthesized products. Apart from the intrinsic rearrangements of 1,n‐enynes, several tandem reactions incorporating intramolecular trapping agents or intermolecular partners have been discovered. This Review aims to highlight the main contributions in this field of catalysis and to propose and comment on the mechanistic insights of the recent discoveries.
Soluble rigid poly(imide‐siloxane)s: Synthesis, characterization, and structure‐property relations
Authors: Srividhya M. , Reddy B. S. R.
Published: April 2008

Three different poly(imide‐siloxane)s (PIS) containing rigid imide groups were synthesized by the reaction of amine end‐capped imides to the siloxane backbone. These highly soluble amine terminated imides were synthesized by reacting fluorinated anhydride and three different amines (DDBP, DDM, DBP). The imides were grafted to the siloxane backbone by the epoxy group cleavage. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with the inherent viscosities ranging from 0.32 to 0.45 dL/g. The polymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, and their thermal properties were studied. The DSC results showed two distinct glass transition temperatures demonstrating the existence of phase separation between the hard imide and soft siloxane groups. Polymeric membranes were prepared employing the coupling reaction between PIS and the polydimethylsiloxane matrix by varying the amount of incorporation of PIS. The membranes showed a high tensile strength of 82 MPa. The contribution of polar and dispersion component towards the total surface energy was studied by the contact angle measurements, and a reduction in surface tension of 15 mN/m was achieved with the fluorine containing PIS membrane. The study of the surface morphology was studied which confirmed the existence of phase separation in these systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Thermal properties and flame retardancy of polycarbonate/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite
Authors: Dong Quan‐Xiao , Chen Qian‐Jin , Yang Wei , Zheng Yi‐Lei , Liu Xin , Li Yuan‐Li , Yang Ming‐Bo
Published: April 2008

The thermal degradation of polycarbonate (PC) and polycarbonate/hydroxyapatite (PC/HAP) composite was investigated by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the decomposition activation energy was calculated by Kissinger method. It was found that the first step decomposition activation energy (Ea1) was higher than that of pure PC while the second step decomposition (Ea2) decreased a little. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of PC/HAP composite with 0.5 wt % HAP reached 34. The carbon char of PC and PC/HAP composite after combustion was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and flourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and similar morphology, components, and the same functional groups were found in the char residues. Based on these results, it can be concluded that a low content of HAP in PC matrix can significantly improve the thermal properties and flame retardancy of the composite. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Surface nanostructures and dynamic contact angles of functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers
Authors: Wei Qufu , Tao Dan , Du Zhaofang , Cai Yibing , Wu Ning , Chen Lei
Published: April 2008

An approach (a combination of techniques) to studying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers metal‐coated by the sputtering of copper is reported. The effects of copper coatings on the surface morphology, surface chemistry, and surface energy were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, and dynamic contact angle measurements. Functional nanostructures formed by sputter coating on the fiber surface were revealed with AFM. The introduction of copper onto the fiber surface was also detected by EDX analysis. The fibers functionalized by the sputter coating resulted in changes in the surface energy measured with the advancing and receding contact angles. Both the advancing and receding contact angles were reduced after sputter coating by copper, but the contact angle hysteresis was significantly increased as the coating was applied. The surface resistivity measurements revealed that sputter coating by copper considerably improved the surface conductivity of the PET fibers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Elementary determination of the superficial amount of OH on poly(vinyl alcohol) film by titration and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Ma Kai , Xi Cai Shao , Ping Dang Ying
Published: April 2008

The hydroxyl group (OH) is the exclusive functional group of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and there must be abundant hydroxyl groups on its surface. This study determined the superficial hydroxyl group amount of PVA (degree of polymerization = 1700 ± 50, degree of alcoholysis ⩾ 99.0%) by a chemical method (titration) and an instrumental method [X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)]. The results showed the following: (1) the order of magnitude of its superficial hydroxyl group amount was about 3.8 × 10−5 mol/cm2 by the acylation method with a single functional group reagent (acetic anhydride); (2) the hydroxyl group amount outcome by the esterification method with a bifunctional group reagent (toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate) was much lower than that by the acylation method (ca. 7.74 × 10−7 mol/cm2); and (3) the relative content of oxygen on the PVA surface given by XPS surface analysis was 22% of the total, which was lower than that of the theoretical amount (36%). On the basis of the results, it was shown that the number of available or free hydroxyl groups was less than theoretical amounts. Although there was a difference among the outcomes, it could be useful for providing a quantitative reference when the hydroxyl group on a solid PVA surface is used for surface modification; moreover, the outcomes and differences also offer us knowledge of the surface modification efficiency. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Effect of accelerated aging on the structure and properties of monolayer and multilayer packaging films
Authors: Tarantili P. A. , Kiose V.
Published: April 2008

The effect of accelerated aging on the structure and properties of single, metalized, and multilayer films used in food packaging was studied through the exposure of specimens of those films to repeated aging cycles in a weather meter under the combined action of ultraviolet, humidity, and heat. The aged specimens were tested for their mechanical properties and water vapor transmission characteristics, and the results were compared to those obtained from the original specimens. The property changes introduced into the films by aging were further explored by attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry in an attempt to correlate the changes in the properties with structural characteristics. The results showed that the films made of polypropylene (PP) underwent severe chain scission upon irradiation and lost mechanical properties but still retained their impermeability to water vapor. The metallic coating could not prevent PP from degrading, as it seemed to oxidize under the aging conditions. Therefore, the metalized film showed the same mechanical response as PP, but its water impermeability dropped dramatically. Polyethylene (PE) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films showed modest decreases in their mechanical properties, which could be attributed to crosslinking reactions taking place with PE and to the increased ultraviolet stability of PET, respectively. On the other hand, the multilayer films presented a decrease in their mechanical properties according to those of their weak component, which would be expected for a composite structure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Influence of the use of recycled polyols obtained by glycolysis on the preparation and physical properties of flexible polyurethane
Authors: Molero C. , de Lucas A. , Romero F. , Rodríguez J. F.
Published: April 2008

Polyurethanes (PUs) represent one of the most important groups of plastics, and so the increasing quantity of wastes makes their recycling an urgent task. The general purpose of PU chemical recycling is to recover constituent polyol, a valuable raw material. Among the suitable processes, glycolysis in two phases allows better quality products. The objective of this work is the evaluation of the option to apply the recovered polyols to obtain PU with identical characteristics to the starting raw material, and so several foaming tests were carried out according to the evaluation method employed in free expansion foaming of conventional flexible slabstock foams. To achieve this objective, a formulation recipe for flexible foams was selected, in which the raw polyol was totally or partially replaced for recovered polyol. The foaming formulations were modified because of the different amount of active hydrogens in the recovered polyols and the virgin polyol. Amounts up to 50% could be applied without relevant changes in rising profiles and the physical properties of the foams. The foams were characterized, and according to its appropriate characteristics they can be employed in the same applications where a commercial one made with raw polyol is used. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Identification of olfactory stimuli as reinforcers in individuals with autism: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Wilder David A. , Schadler John , Higbee Thomas S. , Haymes Linda K. , Bajagic Verdrana , Register Martisa
Published: April 2008

Preference for six olfactory stimuli was assessed via paired preference assessments with three adults with autism. Using a combination multielement and reversal design, a reinforcer assessment was then conducted to determine the extent to which three (high preference, medium preference, and low preference) of the six olfactory stimuli evaluated in the preference assessment functioned as reinforcers for responding in the context of a sorting task. Relative to baseline, all of the participants exhibited increased responding for access to their high preference olfactory stimulus. The utility of olfactory stimuli as components of behavior intervention plans is discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Violent’ deaths of children in England and Wales and the major developed countries 1974–2002: possible evidence of improving child protection?
Authors: Pritchard Colin , Sharples Ann
Published: April 2008

Child protection services are criticised for failing to prevent abuse but demonstrating successful prevention is impossible as it is trying to prove a ‘negative’. The alternative is to examine ‘failures’, i.e. the ‘violent’ deaths of children (0–14 years) to indicate whether matters are improving or deteriorating. This paper uses the latest World Health Organisation data to compare children's ‘violent’ deaths in England and Wales with those in other major developed countries.

To account for possible ‘hidden’ under‐reported abuse deaths, undetermined, i.e. ‘other external causes of death’ (OECD) and fatal accidents and adverse events (AAE), deaths are also analysed along with homicides, to compare all ‘violence‐related’ deaths between 1974–76 and 2000–02.

England and Wales infant (<1 year) homicide rates were annually 57 per million but fell to 17 per million, a 74% fall. Infant AAE deaths fell in every country with England and Wales falling from 341 per million to 71 per million, a 76% reduction. Both these results were significantly better than those of eight other major developed countries, although England and Wales infant OECD at 26 per million, were high compared to the major developed countries.

In the 1970s, combined ‘violent’ deaths of all children (0–14 years) (homicide, OECD and AAE) in England and Wales were 203 per million, they are now 61 per million, a 70% decline with only Italy having lower rates. The worst rates were in the USA which had the highest combined ‘violent’ death rate. These overall results in the major reductions of ‘violence‐related’ deaths in England and Wales can be a boost to the morale of front‐line staff and provide the public with an indication of the progress being made. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rational Modification of Ligand‐Binding Preference of Avidin by Circular Permutation and Mutagenesis
Authors: Määttä Juha A. E. , Airenne Tomi T. , Nordlund Henri R. , Jänis Janne , Paldanius Tiina A. , Vainiotalo Pirjo , Johnson Mark S. , Kulomaa Markku S. , Hytönen Vesa P.
Published: April 2008

Chicken avidin is a key component used in a wide variety of biotechnological applications. Here we present a circularly permuted avidin (cpAvd4→3) that lacks the loop between β‐strands 3 and 4. Importantly, the deletion of the loop has a positive effect on the binding of 4′‐hydroxyazobenzene‐2‐carboxylic acid (HABA) to avidin. To increase the HABA affinity of cpAvd4→3 even further, we mutated asparagine 118 on the bottom of the ligand‐binding pocket to methionine, which simultaneously caused a significant drop in biotin‐binding affinity. The X‐ray structure of cpAvd4→ 3(N118M) allows an understanding of the effect of mutation to biotin‐binding, whereas isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the relative binding affinity of biotin and HABA had changed by over one billion‐fold between wild‐type avidin and cpAvd4→3(N118M). To demonstrate the versatility of the cpAvd4→3 construct, we have shown that it is possible to link cpAvd4→3 and cpAvd5→4 to form the dual‐chain avidin called dcAvd2. These novel avidins might serve as a basis for the further development of self‐organising nanoscale avidin building blocks.
Silica Biomineralisation in Diatoms: The Model Organism Thalassiosira pseudonana
Authors: Sumper Manfred , Brunner Eike
Published: April 2008

After complete genome sequencing, the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana has become an attractive model organism for silica biomineralisation studies. Recent progress, especially with respect to intracellular silicic acid processing, as well as to the natures of the biomolecules involved in diatom cell wall formation, is described. On the one hand, considerable progress has been made with respect to silicon uptake by special proteins (SITs) from the surrounding water, as well as to the storage and processing of silicon before cell division. On the other hand, the discovery and characterisation of remarkable biomolecules such as silaffins, polyamines and—quite recently—of silacidins in the siliceous cell walls of diatoms strongly impacts the growing field of biomimetic materials synthesis.
Parallel SFC/MS‐MUX screening to assess enantiomeric purity
Authors: Laskar Derek B. , Zeng Lu , Xu Rongda , Kassel Daniel B.
Published: April 2008

Enantiomeric excess (ee) was evaluated for two internally synthesized compound libraries using a high‐throughput automated, intelligent four‐channel parallel supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry system equipped with a multiplexed ion source interface (SFC/MS‐MUX). The two libraries contained compounds spanning a wide range of enantiomeric ratios with structurally diverse chemical scaffolds and stereogenic centers. The system analyzed each sample simultaneously against four chiral columns using up to six organic modifiers. Enhancements to our previously published parallel supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry system were implemented to address the challenges associated with automated trace enantiomer identification and quantitation. A reversal of enantiomer elution order was observed for several samples across multiple CSPs and modifiers. The relationship between elution order and % ee accuracy is presented for compounds exhibiting high, middle and low % ee values. Despite incidences in which the minor enantiomer eluted prior to the major enantiomer with less than baseline resolution, the overall % ee was in agreement with separations in which full baseline resolution was achieved. The methods presented here demonstrate the value and utility of high‐throughput ee determinations to support drug discovery and development programs. Chirality, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A stopping criterion for the conjugate gradient algorithm in the framework of anisotropic adaptive finite elements
Authors: Picasso M.
Published: April 2008

We propose a simple stopping criterion for the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm in the framework of anisotropic, adaptive finite elements for elliptic problems. The goal of the adaptive algorithm is to find a triangulation such that the estimated relative error is close to a given toleranceTOL. We propose to stop the CG algorithm whenever the residual vector has Euclidian norm less than a small fraction of the estimated error. This stopping criterion is based ona posteriorierror estimates between the true solutionuand the computed solutionu(the superscriptnstands for the CG iteration number, the subscripthfor the typical mesh size) and on heuristics to relate the error betweenuhanduto the residual vector.

Numerical experiments with anisotropic adaptive meshes show that the total number of CG iterations can be divided by 10 without significant discrepancy in the computed results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A General Process for the Fabrication of Air‐Stable Metallic Particles (Cd, Zn and Al) by the Decomposition of Alkyl–Metal Compounds
Authors: Gedanken Aharon , Luvchik Eran
Published: April 2008

The thermolysis of alkyl–metal compounds under autogenic pressure, with the three metals Cd, Zn, and Al as examples, suggest that this might become a general method for preparing a composite where the metal is the core and carbon the shell. The air‐stability of these composites is also demonstrated. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Salts with the Triborate Anion [B3O3F2(OH)2]–: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Finze Maik , Reiss Guido J.
Published: April 2008

Reactions of [3‐NC‐B11F10]2– with aqueous bases resulted in a cluster degradation. From the reaction mixtures, salts of the [B3O3F2(OH)2]– anion (1) with [Ph4P]+ or [Ph3MeP]+ as countercations were isolated. Both salts were investitgated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the solid state the triborate anions form infinite hydrogen‐bonded chains. In the [Ph4P]+ salt the anions and the chains are coplanar, whereas in the [Ph3MeP]+ salt the planes of the anions are twisted against each other. The bonding parameters of the anion are compared to values of the related [B3O3(OH)4]– anion (2) and to values derived from density functional calculations. In addition, the triborate anion 1 was characterized by 11B and 19F NMR spectroscopy as well as by MALDI mass spectrometry. The experimental chemical shifts are compared to calculated values (DFT‐GIAO).(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Synthesis of Enantiopure 1‐r‐Alkyl‐2‐c,5‐t‐Diphenylphospholanes and Phospholanium Salts through Direct Alkylation of Phospholane
Authors: Dobrota Cristian , Duraud Amelie , Toffano Martial , Fiaud Jean‐Claude
Published: April 2008

Chiral enantiopure 1‐alkyl‐2,5‐diphenylphospholanium salts were obtained in one step through alkylation of phospholane with alkyl triflates. The resulting air‐stable phosphonium salts are electron‐rich trialkylphosphane precursor ligands for transition metals, and they offer a convenient route toward chiral quaternary phosphonium salts as phase‐transfer agents.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Development of a Novel Automatic Potentiometric System for Determination of Selenium and Its Application in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Anodic Slime
Authors: Kamel Ayman H. , Elnaby Eman H. , Kelany Ali E.
Published: April 2008

Poly(vinyl chloride) polymeric membrane sensors containing Sn(IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SnPC) and Co(II) phthalocyanine (CoPC) as novel electroactive materials dispersed in o‐nitrophenyl octylether (o‐NPOE) as a plasticizer are examined potentiometrically with respect to their response toward selenite (SeO32−) ions. Fast Nernstian response for SeO32− ions over the concentration ranges 7.0×10−6–1.0×10−3 and 8.0×10−6–1.0×10−3 mol L−l at pH 3.5–8.5 with lower detection limit of 5.0×10−6 and 8.0×10−6 mol L−1 and calibration slopes of −25.4 and −29.7 mV decade−1 are obtained with SnPC and CoPC based membrane sensors, respectively. The proposed sensors reveals by the modified separate solution method (MSSM) a good selectivity over different anions which differ significantly from the classical Hofmeister series. A segmented sandwich membrane method is used to determine complex formation constants of the ionophores in situe in the solvent polymeric sensing membranes. Membrane incorporating CoPC in a tubular flow detector is used in a two channels flow injection set up for continuous monitoring of selenite at a frequency of ca. 50 samples h−1. Direct determination of selenium in pharmaceutical formulations and anodic slime gives results in good agreement with data obtained using standard ICP method.