bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanowire‐Based Three‐Dimensional Transparent Conducting Oxide Electrodes for Extremely Fast Charge Collection
Authors: Noh Jun Hong , Han Hyun Soo , Lee Sangwook , Kim Jin Young , Hong Kug Sun , Han Gil‐Sang , Shin Hyunjung , Jung Hyun Suk
Published: July 2011

A 3D transparent conducting oxide (3D‐TCO) has been fabricated by growing Sn‐doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire arrays on glass substrates via a vapor transport method. The 3D TCO charge‐collection properties have been compared to those of conventional two‐dimensional TCO (2D‐TCO) thin films. For use as a photoelectrode in dye‐sensitized solar cells, ITO‐TiO2 core‐shell nanowire arrays were prepared by depositing a 45 nm‐thick mesoporous TiO2 shell layer consisting of ∼6 nm anatase nanoparticles using TiCl4 treatments. Dye‐sensitized solar cells fabricated using these ITO‐TiO2 core‐shell nanowire arrays show extremely fast charge collection owing to the shorter electron paths across the 45 nm‐thick TiO2 shell compared to the 2D TCO. Interestingly, the charge‐collection time does not increase with the overall electrode thickness, which is counterintuitive to conventional diffusion models. This result implies that, in principle, maximum light harvesting can be achieved without hindering the charge collection. The proposed new 3D TCO should also be attractive for other photovoltaic applications where the active layer thickness is limited by poor charge collection.
Single Nanostructure Electrochemical Devices for Studying Electronic Properties and Structural Changes in Lithiated Si Nanowires
Authors: McDowell Matthew T. , Cui Yi
Published: July 2011

Nanostructured Si is a promising anode material for the next generation of Li‐ion batteries, but few studies have focused on the electrical properties of the Li‐Si alloy phase, which are important for determining power capabilities and ensuring sufficient electrical conduction in the electrode structure. Here, we demonstrate an electrochemical device framework suitable for testing the electrical properties of single Si nanowires (NWs) at different lithiation states and correlating these properties with structural changes via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We find that single Si NWs usually exhibit Ohmic I–V response in the lithiated state, with conductivities two to three orders of magnitude higher than in the delithiated state. After a number of sequential lithiation/delithiation cycles, the single NWs show similar conductivity after each lithiation step but show large variations in conductivity in the delithiated state. Finally, devices with groups of NWs in physical contact were fabricated, and structural changes in the NWs were observed after lithiation to investigate how the electrical resistance of NW junctions and the NWs themselves affect the lithiation behavior. The results suggest that electrical resistance of NW junctions can limit lithiation. Overall, this study shows the importance of investigating the electronic properties of individual components of a battery electrode (single nanostructures in this case) along with studying the nature of interactions within a collection of these component structures.
Measurement of testosterone in infant fecal samples
Authors: Thompson Amanda L. , Whitten Patricia L. , Lampl Michelle
Published: July 2011

Objectives:

This study reports the validation of a noninvasive method for repeated assessment of testosterone from infant fecal samples.

Methods:

Fecal samples were collected from cotton diaper liners, subjected to methanol extraction, and assayed using a modified commercial testosterone RIA kit.

Results:

Method validity was supported by a recovery near 100%, a sensitivity of 1.23 pg/ml, and inter‐ and intra‐assay coefficients of variations less than 10 and 15%, respectively. Testosterone was detected in all samples from male and female infants aged 2 weeks to 15 months.

Conclusions:

Fecal assessment is supported as a novel, non‐invasive tool for studying testosterone during early human development. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mach's principle and higher‐dimensional dynamics
Authors: Mashhoon B. , Wesson P.S.
Published: July 2011

We briefly discuss the current status of Mach's principle in general relativity and point out that its last vestige, namely, the gravitomagnetic field associated with rotation, has recently been measured for the earth in the GP‐B experiment. Furthermore, in his analysis of the foundations of Newtonian mechanics, Mach provided an operational definition for inertial mass and pointed out that time and space are conceptually distinct from their operational definitions by means of masses. Mach recognized that this circumstance is due to the lack of any a priori connection between the inertial mass of a body and its Newtonian state in space and time. One possible way to improve upon this situation in classical physics is to associate mass with an extra dimension. Indeed, Einstein's theory of gravitation can be locally embedded in a Ricci‐flat 5D manifold such that the 4D energy‐momentum tensor appears to originate from the existence of the extra dimension. An outline of such a 5D Machian extension of Einstein's general relativity is presented.
Nitridosilicate und Oxonitridosilicate: von keramischen Materialien zu struktureller und funktioneller Diversität
Authors: Zeuner Martin , Pagano Sandro , Schnick Wolfgang
Published: July 2011

Silicate sind eine der wichtigsten Verbindungsklassen auf diesem Planeten, und mehr als 1000 Vertreter wurden im Mineralreich bereits identifiziert. Zusätzlich wurden auch mehrere hundert künstliche Silicate synthetisiert. Der Ersatz von Sauerstoff durch Stickstoff führt zur strukturell vielseitigen Klasse der Nitridosilicate. Siliciumnitrid, eines der wichtigsten nichtoxidischen keramischen Materialien, ist die binäre Stammverbindung der Nitridosilicate, und sie symbolisiert die inhärenten Materialeigenschaften dieser Verbindungen. Allerdings ist eine breite systematische Erforschung der Nitridosilicate erst in den letzten Dekaden erfolgt. Mittlerweile haben diese und verwandte Verbindungen ein bemerkenswertes Ausmaß an industrieller Anwendung erreicht. Dieser Aufsatz illustriert jüngste Fortschritte bei der Synthese, der Aufklärung von Struktur‐Eigenschafts‐Beziehungen und den Anwendungen von Nitridosilicaten, Oxonitridosilicaten und den verwandten SiAlONen.
Convergent Evolution Driven by Similar Feeding Mechanics in Balaenopterid Whales and Pelicans
Authors: Field Daniel J. , Lin Sheng Chuan , Ben‐Zvi Micha , Goldbogen Jeremy A. , Shadwick Robert E.
Published: July 2011

Engulfment‐feeding Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Rorqual whales and brown pelicans exhibit convergent modes of engulfment feeding. See Figure 1A in Field et al., on page 1274, in this issue.
Adaptive consensus protocol for networks of multiple agents with nonlinear dynamics using neural networks
Authors: Liu Yang , Jia Yingmin
Published: July 2011

In this paper, an adaptive protocol is proposed to solve the consensus problem of multi‐agent systems with high‐order nonlinear dynamics by using neural networks (NNs) to approximate the unknown nonlinear system functions. It is derived that all agents achieve consensus if the undirected interaction graph is connected, and the transient performance of the multi‐agent system is also investigated. It shows that the adaptive protocol and the consensus analysis can be easily extended to switching networks by the existing LaSalle's Invariance Principle of switched systems. A numerical simulation illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed consensus protocol.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Logistic regression when covariates are random effects from a non‐linear mixed model
Authors: De la Cruz Rolando , Marshall Guillermo , Quintana Fernando A.
Published: July 2011

In many studies, the association of longitudinal measurements of a continuous response and a binary outcome are often of interest. A convenient framework for this type of problems is the joint model, which is formulated to investigate the association between a binary outcome and features of longitudinal measurements through a common set of latent random effects. The joint model, which is the focus of this article, is a logistic regression model with covariates defined as the individual‐specific random effects in a non‐linear mixed‐effects model (NLMEM) for the longitudinal measurements. We discuss different estimation procedures, which include two‐stage, best linear unbiased predictors, and various numerical integration techniques. The proposed methods are illustrated using a real data set where the objective is to study the association between longitudinal hormone levels and the pregnancy outcome in a group of young women. The numerical performance of the estimating methods is also evaluated by means of simulation.
A practical home‐made microcentrifuge for teaching purposes
Authors: Morán Paloma , Galindo Juan
Published: July 2011

We report a practical home‐made microcentrifuge to be used for teaching purposes. It was made using a salad spinner and two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tubes racks. It can accommodate 2 standard size 96‐well plates or 24 strips or up to 192 microfuge tube. The centrifuge is hand‐operated and is ideal for short spin down purposes. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 298‐299, 2011
Elementary education preservice teachers' understanding of biotechnology and its related processes
Authors: Chabalengula Vivien Mweene , Mumba Frackson , Chitiyo Jonathan
Published: July 2011

This study examined preservice teachers' understanding of biotechnology and its related processes. A sample comprised 88 elementary education preservice teachers at a large university in the Midwest of the USA. A total of 60 and 28 of the participants were enrolled in introductory and advanced science methods courses, respectively. Most participants had taken two integrated science courses at the college level. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which had open‐ended items and which required participants to write the definitions and examples of the following terms: biotechnology, genetic engineering, cloning and genetically modified foods. The results indicate that preservice teachers had limited understanding of biotechnology and its related processes. The majority of the preservice teachers provided poor definitions, explanations, and examples of biotechnology, genetic engineering and genetically modified foods. Surprisingly, however, a moderate number of preservice teachers correctly defined cloning and provided correct examples of cloning. Implications for science teacher education, science curriculum, as well as recommendations for further research are discussed. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 321‐325, 2011
A laboratory‐intensive course on the experimental study of protein–protein interactions
Authors: Witherow D.Scott , Carson Sue
Published: July 2011

The study of protein–protein interactions is important to scientists in a wide range of disciplines. We present here the assessment of a lab‐intensive course that teaches students techniques used to identify and further study protein–protein interactions. One of the unique elements of the course is that students perform a yeast two‐hybrid screen and identify novel protein–protein interactions in what is essentially the beginning of an independent research project in the context of a class. While students benefit from the research‐like experience, data is actively generated that can be further studied in independent research projects. Student learning outcomes were assessed using a questionnaire that was given to students before and after the course. The results indicate that students' conceptual and technical understanding of the methodologies taught in the class increased, and that hands‐on experience in the lab was perceived to be the most important component of the course. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 300‐308, 2011
The concept lens diagram: A new mechanism for presenting biochemistry content in terms of “big ideas”
Authors: Rowland Susan L. , Smith Christopher A. , Gillam Elizabeth M. A. , Wright Tony
Published: July 2011

A strong, recent movement in tertiary education is the development of conceptual, or “big idea” teaching. The emphasis in course design is now on promoting key understandings, core competencies, and an understanding of connections between different fields. In biochemistry teaching, this radical shift from the content‐based tradition is being driven by the “omics” information explosion; we can no longer teach all the information we have available. Biochemistry is a core, enabling discipline for much of modern scientific research, and biochemistry teaching is in urgent need of a method for delivery of conceptual frameworks. In this project, we aimed to define the key concepts in biochemistry. We find that the key concepts we defined map well onto the core science concepts recommended by the Vision and Change project. We developed a new method to present biochemistry through the lenses of these concepts. This new method challenged the way we thought about biochemistry as teachers. It also stimulated the majority of the students to think more deeply about biochemistry and to make links between biochemistry and material in other courses. This method is applicable to the full spectrum of content usually taught in biochemistry. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 267–279, 2011
The ethical implications of genetic testing in the classroom
Authors: Taylor Ann T. S. , Rogers Jill Cellars
Published: July 2011

The development of classroom experiments where students examine their own DNA is frequently described as an innovative teaching practice. Often these experiences involve students analyzing their genes for various polymorphisms associated with disease states, like an increased risk for developing cancer. Such experiments can muddy the distinction between classroom investigation and medical testing. Although the goals and issues surrounding classroom genotyping do not directly align with those of clinical testing, instructors can use the guidelines and standards established by the medical genetics community when evaluating the ethics of human genotyping. We developed a laboratory investigation and discussion which allowed undergraduate science students to explore current DNA manipulation techniques to isolate their p53 gene, followed by a dialogue probing the ethical implications of examining their sample for various polymorphisms. Students never conducted genotyping on their samples because of the ethical concerns presented in this paper, so the discussion replaced the actual genetic testing in the class. A science faculty member led the laboratory portion, while a genetic counselor facilitated the discussion of the ethical concepts underlying genetic counseling: autonomy, beneficence, confidentiality, and justice. In their final papers, students demonstrated an understanding of the practice guidelines established by the genetics community and acknowledged the ethical considerations inherent in p53 genotyping. Given the burgeoning market for personalized medicine, teaching undergraduates about the psychosocial and ethical dimensions of human genetic testing is important and timely. Moreover, incorporating a genetic counselor in the classroom discussion provided a rich and dynamic discussion of human genetic testing. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 253–260, 2011
Apoptosis: why and how does it occur in biology?
Authors: Ulukaya Engin , Acilan Ceyda , Yilmaz Yusuf
Published: July 2011

The literature on apoptosis has grown tremendously in recent years, and the mechanisms that are involved in this programmed cell death pathway have been enlightened. It is now known that apoptosis takes place starting from early development to adult stage for the homeostasis of multicellular organisms, during disease development and in response to different stimuli in many different systems. In this review, we attempted to summarize the current knowledge on the circumstances and the mechanisms that lead to induction of apoptosis, while going over the molecular details of the modulator and mediators of apoptosis as well as drawing the lines between programmed and non‐programmed cell death pathways. The review will particularly focus on Bcl‐2 family proteins, the role of different caspases in the process of apoptosis, and their inhibitors as well as the importance of apoptosis during different disease states. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in apoptosis better will make a big impact on human diseases, particularly cancer, and its management in the clinics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calibration transfer of near‐IR partial least squares property models of fuels using virtual standards
Authors: Cooper John B. , Larkin Christopher M. , Abdelkader Mohamed F.
Published: July 2011

Partial least squares (PLS) models of 10 important jet and diesel fuel properties were built using spectra from a master near‐IR dispersive instrument and then subsequently transferred to a secondary dispersive instrument via a novel calibration transfer method using virtual standards and a slope‐bias correction. Implementation of the transfer requires that only seven spectra of neat solvents be acquired on the master and secondary instruments. The spectra of the neat solvents are then used to digitally replicate spectra from the calibration set to generate virtual standards. Comparison of PLS predictions for the master and secondary instrument virtual standards provides a simple but effective slope‐bias correction for transfer. The transferred fuel properties include American Petroleum Institute gravity, % aromatics, cetane index, flashpoint, hydrogen content, % saturates, and distillation temperatures at 10%, 20%, 50%, and 90% volume recovered. Transfer error was lower than using either the pure solvents with a slope‐bias correction or than using a piecewise direct standardization calibration transfer using fuel spectra. Transfer error was higher than when using actual fuels to transfer the calibration. The use of virtual standards eliminates the need to maintain either complex fuel standards or the master instrument for future instrument calibration transfers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clustering of Escherichia coli Type‐1 Fimbrial Adhesins by Using Multimeric Heptyl α‐D‐Mannoside Probes with a Carbohydrate Core
Authors: Almant Mehdi , Moreau Vincent , Kovensky José , Bouckaert Julie , Gouin Sébastien G.
Published: July 2011

Heptyl α‐D‐mannoside (HM) is a strong inhibitor of the FimH lectin that mediates the initial adhesion of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the bladder cells. We designed a set of multivalent HM ligands based on carbohydrate cores with structural valencies that range from 1 to 7. The chemical strategy used to construct the regular hydrophilic structures consisted of the repetition of a critical glucoside fragment. A primary amino group was grafted at the sugar reducing end to couple the multimers to a fluorescent label. A one‐pot synthetic approach was developed to tether the ligands and the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) probe to the scaffold simultaneously. Isothermal calorimetry with the monomeric FimH lectin revealed nanomolar affinities and saturation of all structurally available binding sites on the multivalent HM ligands. Direct titrations domain showed almost strict correlation of enthalpy–entropy compensation with increasing valency of the ligand, whereas reverse titration calorimetry demonstrated negative cooperativity between the first and the second binding site of the divalent heptyl mannoside. A multivalency effect was nevertheless observed by inhibiting the haemagglutination of type‐1 piliated UTI89 E. coli, with a titer as low as 60 nM for the heptavalent HM ligand. An FITC‐labeled HM trimer showed capture and cross‐linking of living bacteria in solution, a phenomenon not previously described with low‐valency ligands.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is accurate and prognostic in head and neck melanoma
Authors: Erman Audrey B. , Collar Ryan M. , Griffith Kent A. , Lowe Lori , Sabel Michael S. , Bichakjian Christopher K. , Wong Sandra L. , McLean Scott A. , Rees Riley S. , Johnson Timothy M. , Bradford Carol R.
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND:

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a widely used staging procedure for cutaneous melanoma. However, debate remains around the accuracy and prognostic implications of SLNB for cutaneous melanoma arising in the head and neck, as previous reports have demonstrated inferior results to those in nonhead and neck regions. Through the largest single‐institution series of head and neck melanoma patients, the authors set out to demonstrate that SLNB accuracy and prognostic value in the head and neck region are comparable to other sites.

METHODS:

A prospectively collected database was queried for cutaneous head and neck melanoma patients who underwent SLNB at the University of Michigan between 1997 and 2007. Primary endpoints included SLNB result, time to recurrence, site of recurrence, and date and cause of death. Multivariate models were constructed for analyses.

RESULTS:

Three hundred fifty‐three patients were identified. A sentinel lymph node was identified in 352 of 353 patients (99.7%). Sixty‐nine of the 353 (19.6%) patients had a positive SLNB. Seventeen of 68 patients (25%) undergoing completion lymphadenectomy after a positive SLNB result had at least 1 additional positive nonsentinel lymph node. Patients with local control and a negative SLNB failed regionally in 4.2% of cases. Multivariate analysis revealed positive SLNB status to be the most prognostic clinicopathologic predictor of poor outcome; hazard ratio was 4.23 for SLNB status and recurrence‐free survival (P < .0001) and 3.33 for overall survival (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

SLNB is accurate and its results are of prognostic importance for head and neck melanoma patients. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Impact of radiotherapy on laryngeal cancer survival
Authors: Zhang Hong , Travis Lois B. , Chen Rui , Hyrien Ollivier , Milano Michael T. , Newlands Shawn D. , Chen Yuhchyau
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND:

Radiotherapy with its advantage of organ preservation has been used to treat laryngeal cancer (LC) for several decades. However, the impact of radiation on overall survival (OS) in a large population‐based study has not been evaluated to date.

METHODS:

The authors analyzed all patients who had localized and/or regional glottic and supraglottic cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program by comparing treatment trends and OS for the periods 1988 to 1993, 1994 to 1999, and 2000 to 2006. Kaplan‐Meier and logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate OS and the influence of patient demographics on treatment received.

RESULTS:

Among 13,808 patients with LC, radiotherapy use increased over the 3 periods for localized glottic cancer (LGC) (94%, 97%, and 98% during 1988‐1993, 1994‐1999, and 2000‐2006, respectively; P < .001); for regional glottic cancer (RGC) (53%, 66%, and 75%, respectively; P < .001), for localized supraglottic cancer (LSGC) (61%, 83%, and 94%, respectively), and for regional supraglottic cancer (RSGC) (43%, 55%, and 78%, respectively; P < .001). No significant decrease in 5‐year OS was observed during the 3 periods (LGC: 73%, 76%, and 78%, respectively; RGC: 57%, 51%, and 56%, respectively; LSGC: 33%, 35%, and 39%, respectively; and RSGC: 36%, 36%, and 43%, respectively). Blacks were significantly less likely to receive radiotherapy than whites (odds ratio: LGC, 0.42; RGC, 0.76; RSGC, 0.68; all P < .05). Those in the lowest tertile of median household income, compared with highest tertile, received radiotherapy less frequently (odds ratio: LGC, 0.42; RGC, 0.57; RSGC, 0.57; all P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results indicated that the increased use of radiation with its advantage of speech preservation had no adverse impact on the survival of patients with LC. Black race and low income status had significant, inverse relations with the receipt of radiotherapy. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Comparison between intravesical and oral administration of 5‐aminolevulinic acid in the clinical benefit of photodynamic diagnosis for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Inoue Keiji , Fukuhara Hideo , Shimamoto Tsutomu , Kamada Masayuki , Iiyama Tatsuo , Miyamura Mitsuhiko , Kurabayashi Atsushi , Furihata Mutsuo , Tanimura Masanobu , Watanabe Hironobu , Shuin Taro
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND:

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical value of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with intravesical and oral instillation of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) (ALA‐PDD), and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) guided by ALA‐PDD (PDD‐TURBT) for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.

METHODS:

Of all 210 cases, 75 underwent PDD with intravesically applied ALA, and 135 cases underwent PDD with orally applied ALA. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by comparing the level on images of ALA‐induced fluorescence with the pathological result. PDD‐TURBT was performed in 99 completely resectable cases corresponding to 210 ALA‐PDD cases. To evaluate the abilities of PDD‐TURBT, survival analysis regarding intravesical recurrence was retrospectively compared with the historical control cases that underwent conventional TURBT.

RESULTS:

The diagnostic accuracy and capability of ALA‐PDD were significantly superior to those of conventional endoscopic examination. Moreover, 72.1% of flat lesions, including dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, could be detected only by ALA‐PDD. The recurrence‐free survival rate in the cases that underwent PDD‐TURBT was significantly higher than that of conventional TURBT. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that the only independent factor contributing to improving prognosis was PDD‐TURBT (hazard ratio, 0.578; P = .012). Regardless of the ALA administration route, there was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy, ability of PDD, or recurrence‐free survival. All procedures were well tolerated by all patients without any severe adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

This multicenter study is likely to be biased, because it is limited by the retrospective analysis. This study suggests that regardless of the ALA administration route, ALA‐PDD and PDD‐TURBT are remarkably helpful in detection and intraoperative navigation programs. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Diagnostic and prognostic information obtained on fine‐needle aspirates of primary neuroblastic tumors
Authors: Klijanienko Jerzy , Couturier Jérôme , Brisse Hervé , Pierron Gaëlle , Fréneaux Paul , Berger Frédérique , Maciorowski Zofia , Sastre‐Garau Xavier , Michon Jean , Schleiermacher Gudrun
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND:

The use of cytological material for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with neuroblastic tumors is poorly described in the literature.

METHODS:

A total of 129 patients with primary neuroblastic tumors underwent sampling with fine‐needle aspiration for diagnosis and the evaluation of prognostic parameters. Of these, 125 (97%) were neuroblastomas or ganglioneuroblastomas and 4 (3%) were ganglioneuromas. Cellularity of the smears was assessed, as well as the percentage of neuroblasts versus stroma, maturation (differentiating/mature vs immature cells), the mitosis‐karyorrhexis index (MKI), and the number of Homer Wright rosettes. The cytology samples were also analyzed for MYCN amplification, flow cytometric DNA index, and array comparative genomic hybridization.

RESULTS:

MYCN was found to be amplified in 35 (27%) cases. Strong correlations with overall survival were found for MYCN amplification in localized stages including IVs (P < .001), the percentage of neuroblasts versus stroma (P < .001), maturation (P = .002), MKI (P < .001), and DNA index (P < .03).

CONCLUSIONS:

Poorly differentiated tumors with few stromal components and low numbers of differentiating/mature cells were found to be MYCN amplified. The authors propose a “cytology prognostic score” in which neuroblastomas comprised of predominantly neuroblastic elements with no differentiating cells and an MKI >; 2% are classified as high‐risk tumors, regardless of their MYCN amplification status. The use of this proposed score would ensure accurate and optimal diagnostic and prognostic classifications of neuroblastic tumors in cases in which the histological biopsy is absent or inadequate for analysis. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Histopathologic follow‐up and human papillomavirus DNA test results in 290 patients with high–grade squamous intraepithelial lesion papanicolaou test results
Authors: Gao Faye F. , Austin R. Marshall , Zhao Chengquan
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND:

The study documents histopathologic outcomes and high‐risk (hr) human papillomavirus (HPV) test results in a large cohort of patients with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) liquid‐based cytology (LBC) Pap test results.

METHODS:

A total of 352 patients with HSIL results (338 cervical and 14 vaginal) who had hrHPV testing and 290 patients with biopsy follow‐up were studied. hrHPV detection rates were compared at different ages, with or without an endocervical/transformation zone sample (EC/TZS), and for cervical and vaginal HSIL Pap smears. Histopathologic follow‐up findings were also compared. hrHPV‐negative HSIL slides were re‐evaluated in a blinded manner.

RESULTS:

A total of 325 of 338 (96.2%) cervical HSIL and 12 of 14 (87.5%) vaginal HSIL tested hrHPV‐positive. A total of 271 of 281 (96.4%) EC/TZS‐positive cervical HSIL and 54 of 57 (94.7%) EC/TZS‐negative cervical HSIL tested hrHPV‐positive. The percentage of hrHPV‐positive HSIL declined slightly with increasing age. 197 of 273 (72.3%) hrHPV‐positive cervical HSIL had histopathologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3+ follow‐up, including 8 squamous carcinomas, compared with 4 of 12 (33.3%) hrHPV‐negative HSIL with CIN2/3 (no carcinomas). 167 of 241 (69.2%) EC/TZS‐positive HSIL had CIN2/3+ follow‐up, compared with 34 of 44 (77.3%) EC/TZS‐negative HSIL. Equivocal HSIL morphology characterized some HPV‐negative HSIL without CIN2/3+ follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS:

hrHPV was detected in LBC vials from 96.2% of 338 cervical HSIL and 85.7% of 14 vaginal HSIL. CIN2/3+ was significantly more likely with hrHPV‐positive cervical HSIL than with hrHPV‐negative cervical HSIL. Presence or absence of an EC/TZS did not significantly impact HSIL hrHPV or CIN2/3+ rates. Some hrHPV‐negative HSIL cases may represent HSIL cytologic mimics. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
How do framing strategies influence the user's choice of content on the Web?
Authors: Constantiou Ioanna , Hoebel Natascha , Zicari Roberto V.
Published: July 2011

A Web user is exposed to a large number of information services available from different sources. Online news is offered combined with relevant service attributes such as pictures, small text, users' recommendations, etc. We previously investigated the Web user's choice of online news, focusing on the trade‐offs between reputation and other service attributes, which may explain the user's choice of an unknown source, such as a blog. In the present study, we investigate the Web user's choice of online news in a multi‐attribute context. Our findings indicate that the most important service attribute is the accompanying text, followed by the source's reputation, then the percentage of readers recommending or having read the link, and then the picture. We further explore the trade‐offs between the attributes through simulations. These findings provide useful insights to practitioners on how to use the service attributes in the framing strategies in order to increase the probability of the choice of online news. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Inventories of Prolonged Grief for Children and Adolescents
Authors: Spuij Mariken , Prinzie Peter , Zijderlaan Jolanda , Stikkelbroek Yvonne , Dillen Let , de Roos Carlijn , Boelen Paul A.
Published: July 2011

A significant minority of bereaved adults develops prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a syndrome encompassing debilitating symptoms of grief distinct from depression and anxiety. Few studies have examined the phenomenology and correlates of PGD among children and adolescents. In part, this is due to the lack of a psychometrically sound questionnaire to assess PGD symptoms in these groups. Based on an adult measure of PGD, we developed two questionnaires of PGD symptoms for children and adolescents named the Inventory of Prolonged Grief for Children (IPG‐C) and Inventory of Prolonged Grief for Adolescents (IPG‐A), respectively. Psychometric properties of these measures were examined in three samples, including mostly parentally bereaved children (aged 8–12 years, total sample n = 169) and adolescents (aged 13–18 years, total sample n = 153). First, findings showed that items of the IPG‐C and IPG‐A represented one underlying dimension. Second, the internal consistency and temporal stability of both questionnaires were adequate. Third, findings supported the concurrent validity (e.g., significant correlations with measures of depression and post‐traumatic stress‐disorder [PTSD]), convergent and divergent validity (stronger correlations with similar questionnaires of ‘traumatic grief’ than with two dissimilar questionnaires of ‘ongoing presence’ and ‘positive memories’) and incremental validity (significant correlations with an index of functional impairment, even when controlling for concomitant depression and PTSD) of the IPG‐C and IPG‐A. This report provides further evidence of the clinical significance of PGD symptoms among children and adolescents and promising psychometric properties of questionnaires that can be used to assess these symptoms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message

The Inventory of Prolonged Grief for Children (IPG‐C) and Inventory of Prolonged Grief for Adolescents (IPG‐A) were developed to be able to assess symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) among children and adolescents.

In different samples, the internal consistency, temporal stability, and concurrent and construct validity of these questionnaires were found to be adequate.

The IPG‐C and the IPG‐A can be used in research examining causes and consequences of PGD, and the effectiveness of bereavement interventions for children and adolescents.

This study provides further evidence of the existence and clinical significance of PGD symptoms among children and adolescents and supports the inclusion of a new category for bereavement‐related disorders in DSM‐5.
ABCG2 is required to control the sonic hedgehog pathway in side population cells with stem‐like properties
Authors: Balbuena Jana , Pachon Gisela , Lopez‐Torrents Guillermo , Aran Josep M. , Castresana Javier S. , Petriz Jordi
Published: July 2011

The Sonic Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has been implicated in the maintenance of stem or progenitor cells in many adult tissues. Importantly, abnormal Hh pathway activation is also associated with initiation of neoplasia, but its role in tumor growth is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that cyclopamine, a plant‐derived alkaloid product used to inhibit the Hh signaling pathway, reduces the Side Population (SP) obtained by Hoechst 33342 (Ho342) dye measurements. In addition, cyclopamine is able to modulate, along with oxysterols and other products, the ABCG2 transporter by increasing Ho342 and mitoxantrone uptake. Therefore, if the SP is solely measured as a Ho342 dye extruding fraction, this may be significantly modulated by the inhibition of ABCG2 transport fraction, independently from the action of cyclopamine on the Hh pathway. Our results indicate that ABCG2 may act in the upstream regulation of the Hh signaling pathway to protect the stemness of the SP compartment, giving support to the cancer stem cell hypothesis and suggesting that ABCG2 is not only critical for increased resistance to anticancer agents. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
ISHAGE protocol: Are we doing it correctly?
Authors: Whitby Alison , Whitby Liam , Fletcher Matthew , Reilly John T. , Sutherland D. Robert , Keeney Michael , Barnett David
Published: July 2011

Background:

Flow cytometric CD34+ stem cell enumeration is routinely performed to optimize timing of peripheral blood stem cell collections and assess engraftment capability of the apheresis product. While a number of different flow methodologies have been described, the highly standardized ISHAGE protocol is currently the most widely employed, with 204/255 (81%) international participants in the UK NEQAS CD34+ stem cell enumeration program indicating their use of this method. Recently, two laboratories were identified as persistent poor performers, a fact attributed to incorrect ISHAGE protocol usage/setup. This prompted UK NEQAS to question whether other laboratories were making similar errors and, if so, how this might affect individual EQA performance.

Methods and Results:

In send out 0801, where two stabilized samples were issued, the EQA center surveyed 255 participants with flow analysis data and subsequent results collected. One hundred and ninety‐six laboratories returned results with 103 returning dot plots. Eighty‐three out of one hundred and three stated that they used the ISHAGE protocol gating strategy but 43% (36/83) were incorrectly set‐up. Analysis of the data showed those incorrectly using single platform ISHAGE gating strategy were twice as likely to fail an EQA exercise compared to those using the protocol correctly. This failure rate increased two fold when incorrect ISHAGE protocol was used in a dual platform setting.

Conclusion:

This study suggests a widespread fundamental lack of understanding of the ISHAGE protocol and the need to deploy it correctly, potentially having significant clinical implications and highlights the need to monitor participants rigorously in their deployment of the ISHAGE protocol. It is hoped that once these findings have been disseminated, performance can be improved. © 2011 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Normal levels of peripheral CD19+CD5+ CLL‐like cells: Toward a defined threshold for CLL follow‐up—A GEIL‐GOELAMS study
Authors: Durrieu Françoise , Geneviève Franck , Arnoulet Christine , Brumpt Caren , Capiod Jean‐Claude , Degenne Michel , Feuillard Jean , Garand Richard , Kara‐Terki Amina , Kulhein Emilienne , Maynadié Marc , Ochoa‐Noguera Maria‐Elena , Plesa Adriana , Roussel Mikael , Eghbali Houchingue , Truchan‐Graczyk Matgorzata , de Carvalho Bittencourt Marcelo , Feugier Pierre , Béné Marie C.
Published: July 2011

Background:

The development of flow cytometry as a useful tool for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is potentially hampered by the fact that a normal subset of B‐cells with a similar immunophenotype is present in the peripheral blood. This subset of CLL‐like cells is not well defined in terms of frequency.

Methods:

Here, we performed a multicenter study with a panel of four‐color antibody combinations possibly useful for the detection of MRD in CLL, to establish the levels of normal CLL‐like cells in 49 healthy controls. ROC curves established the upper level of such cells at 4 × 10−4. The two best combinations were further applied to 419 samples from 117 treated CLL patients.

Results:

The combinations CD19/CD5/CD43/CD79b and CD19/CD5/CD81/CD22 appeared very robust and well correlated to enumerate normal CLL‐like cells in a lysis no‐wash approach. In follow‐up samples from CLL patients, they disclosed only 9.8% of the samples within the normal range. In more than 90% of the cases, it was thus possible to report confidently on the absence or presence of MRD in these patients.

Conclusions:

This manuscript reports on the frequency of CD19+CD5+ B‐cells in normal peripheral blood and confirms the combinations recommended by the European research initiative on CLL as being performing to assess remaining CLL cells above a threshold of 4 × 10−4 white blood cells. © 2011 International Clinical Cytometry Society
The syntheses of 1‐(2‐thienyl)‐2‐(methylamino) propane (methiopropamine) and its 3‐thienyl isomer for use as reference standards
Authors: Angelov D. , O'Brien J. , Kavanagh P.
Published: July 2011

1‐(2‐Thienyl)‐2‐(methylamino)propane (methiopropamine, MPA), the thiophene analogue of methamphetamine, has recently appeared on a number of websites offering ‘legal highs’ for sale and has also been reported as a new psychoactive substance by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA) Early Warning System. The drug is currently not controlled in the European Union (EU) but it would be expected that forensic laboratories will encounter it during routine analysis. As no reference standard was available, we have established a three‐step protocol for its synthesis. We have also synthesized its 3‐thienyl isomer and have established that this is separable from methiopropamine by gas chromatography using one of our routine protocols. The synthetic methodology presented here could be readily extended to the syntheses of analogous compounds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metal Anions in Metal‐Rich Compounds and Polar Intermetallics
Authors: Whangbo Myung‐Hwan , Lee Changhoon , Köhler Jürgen
Published: July 2011

We briefly surveyed metal‐rich and intermetallic compounds containing metal anions that have been characterized by density functional calculations. Transition metal anions come with electron configurations (n+1)s2nd10(n+1)p0, (n+1)s2nd10(n+1)p1, and (n+1)s2nd10(n+1)p2. Their nd orbitals act asreservoirs for holding ten electrons. Thus, these anions exhibit bonding characteristics similar to those found for their main group analogues.
Trivalent Rare Earth Complexes of the Unsymmetrical 3‐(2′‐Thienyl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate Ligand
Authors: Deacon Glen B. , Junk Peter C. , Urbatsch Aron
Published: July 2011

Trivalent rare earth complexes of the unsymmetrical 3‐(2′‐thienyl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate (ttfpz) ligand, namely [RE(ttfpz)3(thf)3]·nsolv, where thf = tetrahydrofuran [RE = La, solv = PhMe, n = 0.5 (1); RE = Sm, n = 0 (2); RE = Tb, solv = thf, n = 1 (3)], [RE(ttfpz)3(thf)2] [RE = Y (4), Ho (5), Lu (6), Sc (7)] and [RE(ttfpz)3(dme)2]·nsolv, where dme = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane [RE = La, n = 0 (8a); RE = La, solv = Et2O, n = 0.5 (8b); RE = Eu, solv = dme, n = 1 (9)], were prepared, mainly by redox transmetallation/protolysis from the free metal, Hg(C6F5)2 and ttfpzH, and structurally characterised. In the nine‐coordinate, pseudo‐octahedral complexes 1 and 2, η2‐pyrazolate and thf ligands are in a facial arrangement, whereas they are arranged meridionally in 3. In the eight‐coordinate complexes 4–7 the arrangement of the η2‐pyrazolate and thf ligands can be described as in between pseudo‐trigonal bipyramidal and ‐square pyramidal. Ten‐coordinate complexes 8a, 8b and 9 exhibit η2‐bonded pyrazolates and two chelating dme ligands as opposed to the nine‐coordinate 3,5‐diphenylpyrazolate (Ph2pz) complexes [RE(Ph2pz)3(dme)2], which possess one unidentate and one chelating dme ligand, suggesting that the ttfpz ligand is less bulky than Ph2pz.
Ru‐ and Pd‐Catalysed Synthesis of 2‐Arylfurans by One‐Flask Heck Arylation/Oxidation
Authors: Schmidt Bernd , Geißler Diana
Published: July 2011

2,5‐Disubstituted furans were synthesized by one‐flask Heck arylation/oxidation sequences. The starting materials are 2‐substituted 2,3‐dihydrofurans, conveniently available by RCM/isomerization sequences, and arenediazonium salts. These react in ligand‐free Heck reactions to afford 2,5‐disubstituted 2,5‐dihydrofurans, which are oxidized to the corresponding furans without isolation or intermediate workup. The oxidation is conveniently achieved with chloranil or DDQ, depending on the substrate.
Metal‐Free Ring Expansions of Methylenecyclopropanes Through Nitrene Equivalent
Authors: Zhang Di‐Han , Wei Yin , Shi Min
Published: July 2011

An interesting nitrene equivalent mediated metal‐free ring expansion of methylenecyclopropanes was developed in the presence of iodosobenzene diacetate (PIDA) and 3‐amino‐2‐ethyl‐4(3H)‐quinazolinone under mild conditions. A variety of cyclobutylidene hydrazine derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields as separable (Z)/(E) isomeric mixtures.
A Straightforward Synthesis of Pyrazolines and Pyrazoles: Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Vinylation–Cyclocondensation Reactions of Aryl Halides
Authors: Wu Xiao‐Feng , Neumann Helfried , Beller Matthias
Published: July 2011

A novel consecutive one‐pot synthesis of pyrazolines and pyrazoles starting from simple aryl halides, styrenes, carbon monoxide, and hydrazines has been established. Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative vinylation of aryl halides gave the corresponding chalcones, which are trapped in situ by addition of hydrazines.
Straightforward Iron‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Nitriles by Dehydration of Primary Amides
Authors: Enthaler Stephan
Published: July 2011

In the present study, the iron‐catalyzed dehydration of a range of amides to the corresponding nitriles by usingN‐methyl‐N‐(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) as the dehydration reagent has been explored. After investigating different reaction parameters (e.g., iron source, solvent, catalyst loading) with FeCl2·4H2O, an excellent and easily accessible precatalyst was found. The obtained system (5.0 mol‐% [Fe], 3.0 equiv. MSTFA) was highly active and dehydrated a broad scope of amides selectively to the corresponding nitriles under mild reaction conditions (THF, 70 °C) within two hours (yields: >99 %, selectivities: >99 %).
Arsenic removal from aqueous system using natural and modified (Kula ebonite and zeolite) adsorbents
Authors: Gülbaş Gökçe , Tirtom V. Nüket , Çelik Ali , Dost Kenan
Published: July 2011

Natural adsorbents (Kula ebonite, zeolite and zeolite treated with Al2(SO4)3; Al2(SO4)3+NaOH; FeCl3 and FeCl3+NaOH) were prepared and employed by means of batch method for selective adsorption and removal of arsenic from aqueous system. The influences of different parameters such as, contact time, pH, temperature, and concentration of adsorbate on adsorption performance of zeolite and zeolite treated with FeCl3 and FeCl3+NaOH were studied in order to optimize the adsorption conditions. Batch adsorption studies have shown that removal capacity of zeolite from aqueous solutions can be increased by FeCl3 and FeCl3+NaOH treatment. The maximum adsorption capacities were 1.99 and 3.43 mg g−1 of zeolite which was treated with FeCl3 and FeCl3+NaOH for arsenic, respectively. The adsorption data obtained follows a first‐order rate expression and fits the Langmuir isotherm that has been used to obtain thethermodynamic parameters. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters, standard free energy (ΔG°), standard enthalpy (ΔH°), standard entropy (ΔS°) of the adsorption process were calculated. It was found that the adsorption of arsenic on zeolite was exothermic. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2011