bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of the angle of seismic incidence on the fragility curves of bridges
Authors: Torbol Marco , Shinozuka Masanobu
Published: April 2012

This study examines the effect of the angle of seismic incidence θ on the fragility curves of bridges. Although currently, fragility curves of bridges are usually expressed only as a function of intensity measure of ground motion (IM) such as peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, or Sa(ω1), in this study they are expressed as a function of IM with θ as a parameter. Lognormal distribution function is used for this purpose with fragility parameters, median cm and standard deviation ζ to be estimated for each value of θ chosen from 0 < θ < 360°. A nonlinear 3D finite element dynamic analysis is performed, and key response values are calculated as demand on the bridge under a set of acceleration time histories with different IM values representing the seismic hazard in Los Angeles area. This method is applied to typical straight reinforced concrete bridges located in California. The results are validated with existing empirical damage data from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Even though the sample bridges are regular and symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis, the results indicate that the weakest direction is neither longitudinal nor transverse. Therefore, if the angle of seismic incidence is not considered, the damageability of a bridge can be underestimated depending on the incidence angle of seismic wave. Because a regional highway transportation network is composed of hundreds or even thousands of bridges, its vulnerability can also be underestimated. Hence, it is prudent to use fragility curves taking the incident angle of seismic waves into consideration as developed here when the seismic performance of a highway network is to be analyzed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incorporating Genotype Uncertainties Into the Genotypic TDT for Main Effects and Gene‐Environment Interactions
Authors: Taub Margaret A. , Schwender Holger , Beaty Terri H. , Louis Thomas A. , Ruczinski Ingo
Published: April 2012

Genotype imputation has become a standard option for researchers to expand their genotype datasets to improve signal precision and power in tests of genetic association with disease. In imputations for family‐based studies however, subjects are often treated as unrelated individuals: currently, only BEAGLE allows for simultaneous imputation for trios of parents and offspring; however, only the most likely genotype calls are returned, not estimated genotype probabilities. For population‐based SNP association studies, it has been shown that incorporating genotype uncertainty can be more powerful than using hard genotype calls. We here investigate this issue in the context of case‐parent family data. We present the statistical framework for the genotypic transmission‐disequilibrium test (gTDT) using observed genotype calls and imputed genotype probabilities, derive an extension to assess gene‐environment interactions for binary environmental variables, and illustrate the performance of our method on a set of trios from the International Cleft Consortium. In contrast to population‐based studies, however, utilizing the genotype probabilities in this framework (derived by treating the family members as unrelated) can result in biases of the test statistics toward protectiveness for the minor allele, particularly for markers with lower minor allele frequencies and lower imputation quality. We further compare the results between ignoring relatedness in the imputation and taking family structure into account, based on hard genotype calls. We find that by far the least biased results are obtained when family structure is taken into account and currently recommend this approach in spite of its intense computational requirements.
Patient safety and reprocessing: A usability test of the endoscope reprocessing procedure
Authors: Jolly Jonathan D. , Hildebrand Emily A. , Branaghan Russell J. , Garland T. B. , Epstein Dana , Babcock‐Parziale Judith , Brown Victoria
Published: April 2012

When endoscopes are reprocessed correctly, endoscopy is a safe procedure. Recent incidents of insufficient reprocessing, however, have resulted in public concern. Results of a usability test of the reprocessing procedure identified that none of 24 users, naïve to the procedure, could reprocess endoscopes correctly, nor could they correctly complete any of the component tasks in the procedure. Five of the 76 subtasks were identified as particularly critical. These were 1) brushing the instrument channel, 2) attaching the channel plug and injection tube, 3) identifying leaks, 4) blowing water out of the endoscope's internal channels during high‐level disinfection, and 5) aspirating solution through the endoscope to remove debris loosened by brushing. Additionally, three themes were identified as causes of the majority of problems: 1) lack of visibility, 2) high memory demands, and 3) insufficient user feedback. Design recommendations for these problems are discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mutational analysis of MED12 exon 2 in uterine leiomyoma and other common tumors
Authors: Je Eun Mi , Kim Mee Ran , Min Ki Ouk , Yoo Nam Jin , Lee Sug Hyung
Published: April 2012

Recurrent somatic mutations in MED12 exon 2 have recently been reported in uterine leiomyomas. The recurrent nature of the mutations strongly suggests that the mutations may play important roles in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas. The aim of our study was to see whether MED12 exon 2 mutations occur in other human tumors besides uterine leiomyomas. We also attempted to confirm occurrence of the MED12 mutations in uterine leiomyomas of Korean patients. For this, we analyzed 1,862 tumor tissues, including a variety of carcinomas, leukemias and stromal tumors by single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis. We found MED12 mutations in 35 uterine leiomyomas (35/67; 52.2%) and one colon carcinoma (0.3%), but none in other tumors. The MED12 mutations consisted of missense (77%) and inframe insertion‐deletion (23%) mutations, the pattern of which was similar to the earlier report. Our data indicate that MED12 exon 2 mutations may be tissue‐specific to uterine leiomyoma and rare in other tumors. Our study suggests that the MED12 mutations play unique roles in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas and mutated MED12 could be therapeutically targeted in uterine leiomyomas.
TREADLE PUMP IRRIGATION IN MALAWI: ADOPTION, GENDER AND BENEFITS
Authors: Kamwamba‐Mtethiwa J. , Namara R. , De Fraiture C. , Mangisoni J. , Owusu E.
Published: April 2012

As part of their irrigation strategy, the government and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malawi are actively promoting the use of treadle pumps in smallholder irrigation. The positive impact of treadle pumps on food security and poverty reduction in Malawi and elsewhere in sub‐Saharan Africa is well documented. However, few studies have analysed the adoption dynamics and dissemination approaches of treadle pumps. This study uses a logit model to analyse the factors influencing treadle pump adoption among a stratified random sample of 100 adopters and 100 non‐adopters in two districts in Malawi. The results indicate that relatively well‐off farmers have a significantly higher probability of adopting the treadle pumps than poor farmers. This raises questions about dissemination approaches and targeting, because treadle pumps are typically geared towards poor smallholders. The study further indicates differences between male and female adopters. Female adopters are more likely to pay for subsidized treadle pumps in cash. Male adopters mostly acquire their pumps through a loan. Women tend to spend the additional income on food for the household while men tend to spend it mostly on non‐food items. It is therefore likely that treadle pump adoption by women will positively impact on household food security, though it also adds to women's workload. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface characterization of Ca‐P/Ag/TiO2 nanotube composite layers on Ti intended for biomedical applications
Authors: Roguska Agata , Pisarek Marcin , Andrzejczuk Mariusz , Lewandowska Malgorzata , Kurzydlowski Krzysztof J. , Janik‐Czachor Maria
Published: April 2012

The new generation of medical implants made by titanium is functionalized with different coatings to improve their bioactivity and reduce a risk of infection. This article describes how these goals can be achieved via deposition of silver nanoparticles and calcium phosphate coating. TiO2 nanotubes were grown on a Ti substrate via electrochemical oxidation at constant voltage in a mixture of glycerol, deionized water, and NH4F. Silver particles with a size of 2–50 nm were deposited on the surface using the sputter deposition technique. Calcium phosphate coatings were grown on the nanotubular titania by simple immersion in Hanks' solution. It has been found that the silver nanoparticles are distributed homogeneously in the coating, which is promising for maintaining a steady antibacterial effect. The results show also that the Ag‐incorporated TiO2 nanotubes significantly stimulate apatite deposition from Hanks' solution. The highly ordered Ag‐incorporated TiO2 nanotube arrays with apatite coating may offer unique surface features for biomedical implants, ensuring both biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
A silver nanocomposite biomaterial for blood‐contacting implants
Authors: de Mel Achala , Chaloupka Karla , Malam Yogeshkumar , Darbyshire Arnold , Cousins Brian , Seifalian Alexander M.
Published: April 2012

Cardiovascular implants must resist infection and thrombosis. A nanocomposite polymeric material [polyhedral‐oligomeric‐silsesquioxane‐poly(carbonate‐urea)urethane; POSS‐PCU] demonstrates ideal properties for cardiovascular applications. Silver nanoparticles or nanosilver (NS) are recognized for efficient antibacterial properties. This study aims to determine the influence of NS integrated POSS‐PCU on thrombogenicity. Silver nitrate was reduced with dimethylformamide and stabilized by the inclusion of fumed silica nanoparticles to prevent aggregation of NS and were incorporated into POSS‐PCU to form a range of POSS‐PCU‐NS concentrations (by weight); 0.20% (NS16), 0.40% (NS32), 0.75% (NS64), and 1.50% (NS128). Surface wettability was determined with sessile‐drop water contact angles. Platelets were introduced onto test samples and Alamar Blue (AB), mitochondrial‐activity assay, quantified the degree of platelet adhesion whilst platelet‐factor‐4 (PF4) ELISA quantified the degree of platelet activation. Thromboelastography (TEG) determined the profiles of whole blood kinetics while hemolysis assay demonstrated the degree of blood compatibility. Increasing levels of NS induced greater hydrophilicity. A concentration dependant decrease in platelet adhesion and activation was observed with AB and PF4 readings, respectively. TEG demonstrated that the antithrombogenic properties of POSS‐PCU were retained with POSS‐PCU‐NS16, and enhanced with POSS‐PCU‐NS32, but was reduced with POSS‐PCU‐NS64 and POSS‐PCU‐NS128. POSS‐PCU‐NS64 and POSS‐PCU‐NS128 demonstrated a hemolytic tendency, but no hemolysis was observed with POSS‐PCU‐NS16 and POSS‐PCU‐NS32. Overall, POSS‐PCU‐NS32 rendered potent antithrombogenic properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2348–2357, 2012.
Injectablein situforming controlled release implant composed of a poly‐ether‐ester‐carbonate and applications in the field of chemotherapy
Authors: Olbrich Jason M. , Tate Patilee L. , Corbett Joel T. , Lindsey James M. , Nagatomi Sheila D. , Shalaby Waleed S. W. , Shalaby Shalaby W.
Published: April 2012

Polymeric controlled delivery systems hold great promise in the field of modern medicine. Such technology has already been converted into commercially viable products in a myriad of fields. Chemotherapy is an example of such an area where constant efficacious levels of drug can greatly enhance clinical outcomes. The key to designing such therapies is the preparation of the proper delivery system. To this end, a series of bioresorbable polyether‐ester‐carbonate copolymers have been developed, which when combined with a diluent, are capable injection into the body and consistently forming a drug delivery depot. The study delineated here aimed at producing a more effective treatment of a common drug, paclitaxel, using the polymeric carrier. The polymer carrier system exhibited controlled release of paclitaxel bothin vitroandin vivo. Drug concentrations were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and apoptotic activity was confirmed through flow cytometry. Relevant success was exhibited by the regression of tumor size following a multiple injection treatment regimen in a murine xenograft model. This multiple injection treatment shows promising results when compared to the traditional paclitaxel paradigm of a single injection for a period of 3 weeks. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2365–2372, 2012.
The biological response of poly(L‐lactide) films modified by different biomolecules: Role of the coating strategy
Authors: Boccafoschi F. , Fusaro L. , Mosca C. , Bosetti M. , Chevallier P. , Mantovani D. , Cannas M.
Published: April 2012

The interactions between the surface of synthetic scaffolds and cells play an important role in tissue engineering applications. To improve these interactions, two strategies are generally followed: surface coating with large proteins and surface grafting with small peptides. The proteins and peptides more often used and derived from the extracellular matrix, are fibronectin, laminin, and their active peptides, RGD and SIKVAV, respectively. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of coating and grafting of poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) films on MRC5 fibroblast cells. Grafting reactions were verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cell adhesion and proliferation on coated and grafted PLLA surfaces were measured by cell counting. Vinculin localization and distribution were performed on cell cultured on PLLA samples using a fluorescence microscopy technique. Finally, western blot was performed to compare signals of cell adhesion proteins, such as vinculin, Rac1, and RhoA, as well as cell proliferation, such as PCNA. These tests showed similar results for fibronectin and laminin coated PLLA, while RGD grafting is more effective compared with SIKVAV grafting. Considering the overall view of these results, although coating and grafting can both be regarded as effective methods for surface modification to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation on a biomaterial, RGD grafted PLLA show better cell adhesion and proliferation than coated PLLA, while SIKVAV grafted PLLA show similar adhesion but worse proliferation. These data verified different biological effects depending on the surface modification method used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2373–2381, 2012.
Plasma exchange as a therapeutic option in patients with neurologic symptoms due to antibodies to voltage‐gated potassium channels: A report of five cases and review of the literature
Authors: Jaben Elizabeth A. , Winters Jeffrey L.
Published: April 2012

Antibodies to voltage‐gated potassium channels (VGKC) are associated with acquired neuromyotonia, limbic encephalitis, and Morvan's syndrome. The antibodies are often not associated with malignancy and have shown good clinical response to immunomodulatory therapies. A record review identified five patients with laboratory evidence of antibodies to VGKC who underwent plasma exchange (PE) as part of their immunosuppressive therapy for neurologic disease. Four of the patients presented with limbic encephalitis and one with neuromyotonia. Symptoms included memory impairment, seizures, and personality changes. All PE were 1.0 volume and were performed on an every‐other‐day schedule. Replacement fluid was 5% normal serum albumin except when a bleeding risk was identified and then fresh frozen plasma was added. Four of five patients were also receiving concurrent immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids. Of the five patients treated with PE, three had sustained improvement in symptoms for 6‐17 months following PE. Two patients did not have signs of improvement at a limited follow‐up. One patient had recurrence of her symptoms, which responded to additional PE. These cases, as well as the reports in the literature, suggest that PE could be a useful adjunctive therapy for patients with VGKC antibodies and neurologic symptoms. J. Clin. Apheresis 27:267–273, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Restoration of miR‐34a in p53 deficient cells unexpectedly promotes the cell survival by increasing NFκB activity
Authors: Tan Jiali , Fan Li , Mao Jeremy J. , Chen Bin , Zheng Liwei , Zhang Tao , Li Tong , Duan Jianmin , Duan Yinzhong , Jin Zuolin , Kuang Wei
Published: April 2012

Upregulation of miR‐34a by p53 is recently believed to be a key mediator in the pro‐apoptotic effects of this tumor suppressor. We sought to determine whether restoration of miR‐34a levels in p53 deficient cells could rescue the response to DNA damage. Compared with the p53 wildtype U2OS cells, miR‐34a expression was much lower in p53 deficient Saos2 cells upon cisplatin treatment. Unexpectedly, delivery of miR‐34a in Saos2 cells does not increase the cell sensitivity to apoptosis. This effect was mediated by direct downregulation of SirT1 expression by miR‐34a, which in turn increased the NFκB activity. Inhibition of NFκB activity in Saos2 cells by Aspirin sensitized the miR‐34a overexpressing cells to cell death. Thus, in tumors with p53 deficiency, miR‐34a restoration alone confers drug resistance through Sirt1‐NFκB pathway and combination of miR‐34a and NFκB inhibitor could be considered as a promising therapeutic strategy. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2903–2908, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ERKALE—A flexible program package for X‐ray properties of atoms and molecules
Authors: Lehtola Jussi , Hakala Mikko , Sakko Arto , Hämäläinen Keijo
Published: April 2012

ERKALE is a novel software program for computing X‐ray properties, such as ground‐state electron momentum densities, Compton profiles, and core and valence electron excitation spectra of atoms and molecules. The program operates at Hartree–Fock or density‐functional level of theory and supports Gaussian basis sets of arbitrary angular momentum and a wide variety of exchange‐correlation functionals. ERKALE includes modern convergence accelerators such as Broyden and ADIIS and it is suitable for general use, as calculations with thousands of basis functions can routinely be performed on desktop computers. Furthermore, ERKALE is written in an object oriented manner, making the code easy to understand and to extend to new properties while being ideal also for teaching purposes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Asian Americans and workplace discrimination: The interplay between sex of evaluators and the perception of social skills
Authors: Lai Lei , Babcock Linda C.
Published: April 2012

In two role‐playing scenarios, we investigate how White male and female evaluators perceive an Asian American versus White job candidate on the dimensions of competence and social skills and how these perceptions affect evaluators' decisions in hiring and promotion. Specifically, Study 1 examines how the perceptions of competence and social skills affect Asian (versus White) college graduates' chance of obtaining a non‐technical (versus technical) position, and Study 2 tests how these perceptions affect Asians' probability of promotion relative to Whites'. Our findings suggest that female evaluators were less likely to select Asian than White candidates into positions involving social skills and were less likely to promote Asian than White candidates into these types of positions. Furthermore, female evaluators' perception that Asians were less socially skilled than Whites mediated both of these decisions. This paper contributes to the understanding of workplace discrimination of Asian Americans. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of fibrin glue instillation under skin flaps in the prevention of seroma formation and related morbidities following breast and axillary surgery for breast cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Sajid Muhammad S. , Hutson Kristian , Kalra Lorain , Bonomi Riccardo
Published: April 2012

A systematic review of randomised, controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of fibrin glue (FG) in reducing the postoperative seroma and seroma related morbidities following breast and axillary surgery was conducted. FG failed to influence the incidence of postoperative seroma, average volume of seroma, wound infection, complications and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. However, a major multicentre and high quality randomised, controlled trial is required to validate these findings. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:783–795. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Isolation of the minor and rare constituents from fruits of Peucedanum alsaticumL. using high‐performance counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Skalicka‐Woźniak Krystyna , Mroczek Tomasz , Garrard Ian , Głowniak Kazimierz
Published: April 2012

A high‐performance counter‐current chromatography (HPCCC) method was applied for the first time for the preparative separation and purification of three rare compounds which occur as minor constituents in the fruits of Peucedanum alsaticum L.: 5‐substituted coumarin notoptol and two dihydropyranochromones: divaricatol and ledebouriellol. A scale‐up process from analytical to preparative in a very short time was developed. In order to purify a range of rare and minor compounds with different polarity two separate experiments were performed, one in reverse phase, the other in normal phase, using the same crude extract. A two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:1:1:1) was developed. The components purified and collected were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The method yielded 0.7 mg of notoptol, 1.46 mg of ledebouriellol at purity of 99.5%, and 10 mg of mixtures of divaricatol, alsaticol and alsaticocoumarin, where divaricatol present 22% by peak area. These amounts were obtained from 1 g of the crude extract in a single run. This is the first time when minor notoptol, ledebouriellol, and divaricatol were isolated in a single run using HPCCC method and first time when these were identified in plant from Peucedanum genus.
Determination of (fluoro)quinolones in environmental water using online preconcentration with column switching linked to large sample volumes and fluorescence detection
Authors: García María Dolores Gil , Gallegos Angel Belmonte , Valverde Rosario Santiago , Galera María Martínez
Published: April 2012

An analytical method based on online enrichment using coupled‐column liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed to determine marbofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, lomefloxacin, oxolinic acid, and nalidixic acid at trace levels in surface water. The sample containing the pharmaceuticals was pumped through a short C18 column in such a way that the analytes were retained on the column, whereas polar interferences, eluting at the first of the chromatogram, were discarded to waste. Then, the analytes were transferred by the chromatographic mobile phase to a second C18 analytical column, where they were separated following a conventional chromatography. The optimized approach allowed to preconcentrate 15 mL of sample volume adjusted at acid pH with phosphoric acid and modified with 5% of methanol, at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min in 10 min. R2 values were between 0.994 and 0.998, detection and quantitation limits ranged between 0.001 and 0.080 and between 0.002 and 0.100 μg/L, respectively, and the interday precision was below 9.8%. Recoveries in three different surface water samples, spiked at concentration levels between 0.002 and 0.500 μg/L (n = 3 for each spiking level), ranged from 82.1 to 125.8% with the relative standard deviation lower than 12%.
Identification of the okadaic acid‐based toxin profile of a marine dinoflagellate strain Prorocentrum lima by LC–MS/MS and NMR spectroscopic data
Authors: Li Jun , Li Minyi , Pan Jianyu , Liang Jilin , Zhou Yuan , Wu Jun
Published: April 2012

The marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima can produce toxins of okadaic acid and its congeners, which are mainly responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning syndrome. Since 1990s, cells of P. lima have been reported as epiphytes to seaweeds distributed along the coast of Hainan Island. However, its toxin profile has not hitherto been investigated. We report herein the first description and unequivocal evidence of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxin production in a cultured strain of P. lima isolated from the coast of Sanya, Hainan Island. Okadaic acid and its two longest diol esters, viz. okadaic acid‐D10a and okadaic acid‐D10b, have been characterized as the main diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxin congeners of this strain by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic data. Okadaic acid‐D10a and okadaic acid‐D10b are first identified by NMR spectroscopic data from the dinoflagellate P. lima. The simultaneous presence of okadaic acid‐D10a and okadaic acid‐D10b in P. lima enlarges the range of target molecules that must be considered in future diarrhetic shellfish poisoning monitoring programs of Hainan Island, China.
Determination of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters using solid‐phase extraction‐liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Gilart Núria , Marcé Rosa Maria , Borrull Francesc , Fontanals Núria
Published: April 2012

Four different commercial sorbents for solid‐phase extraction have been evaluated for the extraction of a group of acidic pharmaceuticals in terms of selectivity and capacity: Oasis hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), Oasis MAX (strong anion exchange), Oasis WAX (weak anion exchange) and a commercial available molecularly imprinted polymer specific for non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Among the sorbents studied, molecularly imprinted polymer proved to be very effective in the reduction of matrix interferences and the selective extraction of acidic pharmaceuticals, such as salicylic acid, ibuprofen, fenoprofen, diclofenac and naproxen, among others, from effluent wastewater samples. Moreover, molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction protocol was applied to liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with the purpose of evaluating the clean‐up effect on ion suppression/enhancement when the complexity of the samples increases and a reduction of this effect was observed. Molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry validation methodologies with effluent wastewaters were developed, obtaining recoveries between 70 and 85% and limits of detection at low levels of μg/L (0.15–1 μg/L) and ng/L (0.5–2 ng/L), respectively. The final application of molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to MS/MS detection showed the presence of acidic pharmaceuticals studied in this work in effluent wastewaters (<limit of quantification‒1493 ng/L).
Depthwise Viscosity Gradients in UV‐Cured Epoxy Coatings
Authors: Song Jin‐Oh , McCormick Alon V. , Francis Lorraine F.
Published: April 2012

A magnetic microrheometer is used to characterize the development of viscosity at different depths in UV‐cured epoxy coatings. Lateral magnetic particle velocities are tracked at different depths to quantify viscosity gradients. In general, viscosity build‐up is faster near the coating surface, tending to produce a “skin”. The effects of process conditions on the viscosity gradient development, on the rate of viscosity increase, and on surface defects are studied. More severe gradients develop in thicker coatings and in those with higher photoinitiator concentration. Under some conditions, the skin layer wrinkles, indicating the development of local compressive stress. Curing at higher temperature, however, increases cure rates while reducing the viscosity gradients and wrinkling defects.

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Absolute configurations of C34 and C35 of antibiotic niphimycin A
Authors: Laskowski Tomasz , Rafiński Zbigniew , Sowiński Paweł , Pawlak Jan
Published: April 2012

The relative configurations of four stereogenic centers of the C33‐C42 fragment of niphimycin A were assigned as 2S*, 3R*, 4S* and 6S*, based upon 1H NMR analysis with double‐quantum filtered COSY and nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy experiments. These data were then correlated with absolute configurations at C36 and C38 of niphimycin A, which were declared previously as 36S and 38S [3]. This allowed for the assignment of the absolute configurations at C34 and C35 of niphimycin A as 34S and 35R. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modifications of the 1H NMR metabolite profile of processed mullet (Mugil cephalus) roes under different storage conditions
Authors: Scano Paola , Rosa Antonella , Locci Emanuela , Manzo Giorgia , Dessì M. Assunta
Published: April 2012

1H NMR spectroscopy was employed to study the modifications over time of the water‐soluble low molecular weight metabolites extracted from samples of salted and dried mullet (Mugil cephalus) roes (mullet bottarga) stored at different conditions. Samples of grated mullet bottarga were stored for 7 months at −20 °C, at 3 °C, and at room temperature in the presence and in the absence of light and then timely extracted and analyzed by NMR. Principal component multivariate data analysis applied to the spectral data indicated that samples stored at −20 °C maintained similar features over time whereas, along PC1, samples stored at room temperature in the presence and in the absence of light showed, over time, marked metabolite modifications. The comparative analysis of the integrated areas of the selected regions of the 1H NMR spectra indicated that the major compositional changes due to storage conditions were (i) the increase of the derivatives of the breakdown of phosphatidylcholine (choline, phosphorylcholine, and glycerol), (ii) the breakdown of nucleosides, (iii) the decrease of methionine, tryptophan, and tyrosine, and (iv) the cyclization of creatine. These changes were observed at different storage conditions, with more pronounced trends in the samples stored at room temperature. The role of metabolites in food aging is discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous quantification of fat content and fatty acid composition using MR imaging
Authors: Peterson Pernilla , Månsson Sven
Published: April 2012

Not only the fat content but also the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in stored triglycerides might be of interest in the research on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In this study, a novel reconstruction approach is proposed that uses theoretical knowledge of the chemical structure of FAs to simultaneously quantify the fat fraction (FF) and the FAs composition (chain length cl, number of double bonds ndb, and number of methylene‐interrupted double bonds nmidb) from multiple gradient echo images. Twenty phantoms with various fat contents (FF = 9–100%) and FA compositions (cl = 12.1–17.9, ndb = 0.23–5.10, and nmidb = 0.04–2.39) were constructed and imaged in a 3‐T Siemens scanner. In addition, spectra were acquired in each phantom. Slopes and “standard deviations from true values” were used to investigate the accuracy of the two methods. The imaging method holds well in a comparison to the previously suggested spectroscopy method and showed similar overall accuracy. The in vivo feasibility was demonstrated in the thigh adipose tissue of a healthy volunteer. In conclusion, our developed method is a promising tool for FF and FA composition quantification. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasma‐enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Aluminum Oxide Using Ultrashort Precursor Injection Pulses
Authors: Dingemans G. , van de Sanden M. C. M. , Kessels W. M. M.
Published: April 2012

An alternative plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method is developed and applied for the deposition of high‐quality aluminum oxide (AlOx) films. The PECVD method combines a continuous plasma with ultrashort precursor injection pulses. We demonstrate that the modulation of the precursor flow in the reactor leads to enhanced control over plasma‐surface interactions. By variation of the time interval between the sequential Al(CH3)3 precursor injection pulses (10–50 ms) into the O2 plasma, the deposition rate (>30 nm · min−1) and material properties can be tailored. In situ diagnostics revealed that the deposition process is governed by fast precursor depletion and film growth directly after the precursor pulse. Subsequently, in the remainder of the interval between the precursor pulses, densification of the layer takes place under influence of the O2 plasma. The resulting AlOx films exhibit a low impurity content and refractive index >1.6 for optimized process settings. The films can be applied for effective surface passivation of Si as indicated by ultralow surface recombination velocities <1 cm · s−1. The structural properties and interface quality are quite similar as obtained for atomic layer deposited films. We anticipate that pulsed‐flow PECVD processes may also prove beneficial for the synthesis of other functional thin films.

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Selectivity and injury risk in an improved neck snare for live‐capture of foxes
Authors: Short Mike J. , Weldon Austin W. , Richardson Suzanne M. , Reynolds Jonathan C.
Published: April 2012

Neck snares have been considered valuable for the control of canids and to catch canids for scientific purposes, but they have been criticized for perceived low target selectivity and poor animal‐welfare. In 2006, we designed an experimental passive neck snare for live‐capture of red fox (Vulpes vulpes), in which postcapture selectivity was addressed by means of a breakaway device and minimum loop size. In field trials during 2007–2009, performance was compared against snare types already in use (i.e., nonexperimental snares) by full‐time game managers at 34 different sites in the United Kingdom (UK). Red fox, European badger (Meles meles), and brown hare (Lepus europaeus) made up 91% of 1,296 captures. Capture rate of red fox (n = 359) was similar in experimental and nonexperimental snares (6.6 captures/1,000 snare‐days). The percentage of European badgers that escaped after capture was 39% (n = 76) in experimental and 14% (n = 36) in nonexperimental snares. The percentage of brown hares that escaped after capture was 33% (n = 384) in experimental snares compared with 18% (n = 311) in nonexperimental snares, but it was further improved to 68% (n = 192) in a second version of the experimental snare with increased minimum loop size. In experimental snares, 31% of captured badgers, 10% of captured brown hares, and 6% of captured foxes escaped by opening the breakaway device. The study showed that careful snare design can improve selectivity without sacrificing effectiveness. For restrained animals, however, condition was also strongly influenced by operating practices. Entanglement with nearby objects was the principal determinant of externally visible injury or death in restrained animals. Given a well‐designed snare, entanglement can largely be avoided through choice of snare location as described in UK best practice guidelines. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Effects of radiotransmitters and breeding effort on harvest and survival rates of female mallards
Authors: Arnold Todd W. , Howerter David W.
Published: April 2012

There has been widespread speculation that breeding activity places adult female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at heightened risk of harvest due to insufficient time to complete the wing molt or recover body condition prior to onset of hunting and autumn migration. We tested the hypotheses that breeding females have higher rates of harvest and reduced prospects for survival by estimating band recovery rates (f) and annual survival (S) in relation to individual measures of breeding effort for 3,055 adult female mallards that had been banded and radiomarked during the breeding season in the Prairie‐Parkland Region of Canada, 1993–2000. Birds that had been marked with external prong‐and‐suture transmitters had lower estimated survival rates (S = 0.518, SE = 0.118) than birds marked with implant transmitters (S = 0.731, SE = 0.061), but rates for birds marked with implant transmitters did not differ from expectations based on other studies for females marked only with legbands. After excluding external transmitters, we found that recovery rates were unaffected by any measures of reproductive effort, but annual survival was lower for females that tended broods to 60 days of age (S = 0.474 ± 0.115) versus females that never hatched a nest (S = 0.654 ± 0.042). Telemetry data indicated that brood‐rearing females experienced extremely low mortality, so reduced survival of females that raised broods presumably resulted from insufficient time to molt and prepare for autumn migration. Management efforts that promote successful early nesting attempts may also improve adult female survival by allowing females more time to molt and prepare for autumn migration, whereas hunting regulations designed to protect late‐breeding females may prove ineffective if such individuals have higher natural mortality. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Ratio of Cesarean Sections to Total Procedures as a Marker of District Hospital Trauma Capacity
Authors: Petroze Robin T. , Mehtsun Winta , Nzayisenga Albert , Ntakiyiruta Georges , Sawyer Robert G. , Forrest Calland J.
Published: April 2012

Background

There are few established metrics to define surgical capacity in resource‐limited settings. Previous work hypothesizes that the relative frequency of cesarean sections (CS) at a hospital, expressed as a proportion of total operative procedures (%CS), may serve as a proxy measure of surgical capacity. We attempted to evaluate this hypothesis as it specifically relates to hospital capacity for emergency interventions for injury.

Methods

We conducted a WHO survey of emergency surgical capacity at 40 Rwandan district hospitals in November 2010 and extracted annual operative volume for 2010 from the Ministry of Health centralized statistical system. We dichotomized the 40 hospitals into low and high %CS groups below and above the median proportion of CS performed. We compared low and high %CS groups across self‐reported capabilities related to facility characteristics, trauma supplies, procedural capacity, and surgical training using bivariate χ2 statistics with significance indicated at p ≤ 0.05. We evaluated herniorrhaphy proportion of total procedures (%Hernia) as a representative general surgery procedure in the same manner.

Results

High %CS hospitals were less likely to report capability related to blood banking (p = 0.05), amputation (p = 0.04), closed fracture repair (p = 0.04), inhalational anesthesia (p = 0.05), and chest tube insertion (p = 0.05). Availability of reliable electricity was the only measure that showed statistical significance with the %Hernia measure (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Cesarean section proportion shows some utility as a marker for district hospital injury‐care capacity in resource‐limited settings.
The Geography of Speciation: Case Studies from Birds
Authors: Zink Robert M.
Published: April 2012

Our understanding of the origin of species, or speciation, is sometimes viewed as incomplete, a “mystery of mysteries.” We in fact know a lot about speciation, especially when we consider its two basic components, the geography of speciation and the biology of speciation (changes in phenotype and genotype that occur during the process). Our understanding of the geography of speciation is quite clear. The process involves the separation of a once-continuous range into two or more geographically isolated, or allopatric parts, which over time accrue genetic changes that result in new daughter species. Current distributions show that recently evolved species are currently allopatric, supporting the role of allopatry in speciation. However, many species originated in the early- to mid-Pleistocene, meaning that they persisted through the environmental perturbations of multiple glacial cycles. It has been assumed that species maintained allopatric distributions during these episodes of glacial advance and retreat. I used Grinnelian niche models to estimate species distributions at the Last Glacial Maximum and the Last Interglacial. For a pair of recently isolated warbler species, and a pair of relatively old sister species of gnatcatchers, allopatry was observed at all time periods. Thus, there is no mystery about the geography of speciation: at least in birds, allopatry predominates. The sentiment that speciation is mysterious comes, I argue, from the biological species concept, which requires populations to be reproductively isolated before recognizing them as species. Reproductive isolation is a complicated process that rarely occurs the same way twice, and I argue that this lack of generality has been misinterpreted as a mystery.
ARGET–ATRP Synthesis and Characterization of PNIPAAm Brushes for Quantitative Cell Detachment Studies
Authors: Shivapooja Phanindhar , Ista Linnea K. , Canavan Heather E. , Lopez Gabriel P.
Published: April 2012

Stimuli responsive (or “smart”) polymer brushes represent a non-toxic approach for achieving release of biofouling layers. Thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) polymer brushes have been shown to modulate bacterial adhesion and release through transition between temperatures above and below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST ~32 °C) of PNIPAAm in water. In this article, we describe a convenient method to synthesize grafted PNIPAAm brushes over large areas for biological studies using a relatively simple and rapid method which allows atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in presence of air using the activator regenerated electron transfer (ARGET) mechanism. PNIPAAm brushes were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. Our studies demonstrate that uniform, high purity PNIPAAm brushes with controlled and high molecular weight can be easily produced over large areas using ARGET–ATRP. We also report the use of a spinning disk apparatus to systematically and quantitatively study the detachment profiles of bacteria from PNIPAAm surfaces under a range (0–400 dyne/cm2) of shear stresses.
The Clinical Implications Of Cognitive Impairment and Allostatic Load in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Vieta E. , Popovic D. , Rosa A.R. , Solé B. , Grande I. , Frey B.N. , Martinez-Aran A. , Sanchez-Moreno J. , Balanzá-Martínez V. , Tabarés-Seisdedos R. , Kapczinski F.
Published: April 2012

Background

Allostatic load (AL) relates to the neural and bodily “wear and tear” that emerge in the context of chronic stress. This paper aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive overview of the role of AL in patophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) and its practical implications.

Methods

PubMed searches were conducted on English-language articles published from 1970 to June 2011 using the search terms allostatic load, oxidative stress, staging, and bipolar disorder cross-referenced with cognitive impairment, comorbidity, mediators, prevention.

Results

Progressive neural and physical dysfunction consequent to mood episodes in BD can be construed as a cumulative state of AL. The concept of AL can help to reconcile cognitive impairment and increased rates of clinical comorbidities that occur over the course of cumulative BD episodes.

Conclusions

Data on transduction of psychosocial stress into the neurobiology of mood episodes converges to the concept of AL. Mood episodes prevention would not only alleviate emotional suffering, but also arrest the cycle of AL, cognitive decline, physical morbidities and, eventually, related mortality. These objectives can be achieved by focusing on effective prophylaxis from the first stages of the disorder, providing mood-stabilizing agents and standardized psychoeducation and, potentially, addressing cognitive deficits by the means of specific medication and neuropsychological interventions.
Combatant Fragmentation and the Dynamics of Civil Wars
Authors: Findley Michael , Rudloff Peter
Published: April 2012

Civil war dynamics and outcomes are shaped by processes of change largely unaccounted for in current studies. This examination explores how the fragmentation of combatants, especially the weaker actors, affects the duration and outcomes of civil wars. Some results of a computational modelling analysis are consistent with the article's expectations, several of them are counterintuitive. They show that when combatants fragment, the duration of war does not always increase and such wars often end in negotiated agreements, contrasting with the expectations of literatures on spoilers, moderates and extremists. Empirical cases, such as Iraq, Congo, Chechnya and the Sudan, illustrate the importance of fragmentation. This study demonstrates the value of accounting for diverse changes in actors and circumstances when studying the dynamics of war.
Adam Smith: The Man, the Mind, and the Troubled Soul
Authors: Hill Lisa
Published: April 2012

There is enormous and unabated interest in Smith's thought partly because he remains—rightly or wrongly—the most important touchstone for the liberal, free-market project. But it is also because his work is so rich and therefore capable of bearing multiple interpretations. In fact, Smith studies is a surprisingly large and competitive field, with its own journal: in 2003 the quantity of secondary literature on Smith could be realistically described as “enough to sink a small boat” (Margaret Schabas, “Adam Smith's Debts to Nature,” in Oeconomies in the Age of Newton, ed. De Marchi and Schabas [Duke University Press, 2003], 1) and today it is even larger. Here are three new books to add to that growing literature; all are important additions.
Lifting the Lid on “The Community”: Who Has the Right to Control Access to Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture?
Authors: Forsyth Miranda
Published: April 2012

This article explores some key considerations around determining who should have the right to control access to, and benefit from, traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage. It highlights the complexities involved in these considerations by examining in detail the different claims to control by different segments of the population in regard to two case studies: Samoan tattooing and the Vanuatu land dive. It uses insights from this analysis to problematize the assumptions about the use of concepts such as “community” in legislation designed to protection traditional knowledge and expressions of culture, and it also reflects on what effect such legislative developments may have on the cultural industries initiative and the implementation of the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage.