bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the interaction of influenza virus polymerase complex with human cell factors
Authors: Jorba Núria , Juarez Silvia , Torreira Eva , Gastaminza Pablo , Zamarreño Noelia , Albar Juan Pablo , Ortín Juan
Published: May 2008

The influenza virus polymerase is formed by the PB1, PB2 and PA subunits and is required for virus transcription and replication in the nucleus of infected cells. Here we present the characterisation of the complexes formed intracellularly by the influenza polymerase in human cells. The virus polymerase was expressed by cotransfection of the polymerase subunits cDNAs, one of which fused to the tandem‐affinity purification (TAP) tag. The intracellular complexes were purified by the TAP approach, which involves IgG‐Sepharose and calmodulin‐agarose chromatography, under very mild conditions. The purified complexes contained the heterotrimeric polymerase and a series of associated proteins that were not apparent in purifications of untagged polymerase used as a control. Several influenza polymerase‐associated proteins were identified by MALDI‐MS and their presence in purified polymerase‐containing complexes were verified by Western blot. Their relevance for influenza infection was established by colocalisation with virus ribonucleoproteins in human infected cells. Most of the associated human factors were nuclear proteins involved in cellular RNA synthesis, modification and nucleo‐cytoplasmic export, but some were cytosolic proteins involved in translation and transport. The interactions recognised in this proteomic approach suggest that the influenza polymerase might be involved in steps of the infection cycle other than RNA replication and transcription.
Lactide polymerization co‐initiated by carbohydrate esters and pyranoses
Authors: Tang Min , Haider Anita F. , Minelli Caterina , Stevens Molly M. , Williams Charlotte K.
Published: May 2008

The polymerization of [S]‐lactide was accomplished using an initiating system comprising an alkyl zinc complex and a series of well defined carbohydrate co‐initiators derived from D‐glucose, D‐xylose, and 2‐deoxy‐D‐ribose. The monosaccharide co‐initiators were aldonate esters and pyranoses, they were all prepared in high yield and had only a single alcohol co‐initiating group; the remaining carbohydrate hydroxyl functionalities were protected as acetyl, benzyl ether and isopropylidene acetal groups. The polymerizations were all well controlled, illustrated by the linear increase in poly(S‐lactide) Mn with percentage conversion of lactide, the increase in poly(S‐lactide) Mn with [lactide]0‐[lactide]t/[co‐initiator] and the narrow polydispersity indices of the polylactides. Thus, the novel initiating systems were used to produce poly(S‐lactides) end functionalized with a variety of different aldonate ester and pyranose groups and with degrees of polymerization from 10 to 250. The polyesters were fully characterized, including by NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), matrix‐assisted laser deposorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry and by static water contact angle measurements. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4350–4362, 2008
The response of type three secretion system needle proteins MxiHΔ5, BsaLΔ5, and PrgIΔ5 to temperature and pH
Authors: Barrett Brooke S. , Picking Wendy L. , Picking William D. , Middaugh C. Russell
Published: May 2008

The type III secretion system (TTSS) is a specialized supramolecular injectisome composed of 25 or more proteins which form basal and extracellular domains and share gross architectural similarities with bacterial flagella. The extracellular component of the “needle complex” is primarily composed of a single monomeric subunit organized in a helical array surrounding a hollow pore and protrudes from the bacterial membrane. It is through this surface appendage that virulence factors are translocated to the host cell cytoplasm and thereby subvert normal host cell functions. We present here a comprehensive biophysical analysis of the dynamic conformational behavior of the truncated monomeric needle subunit proteins MxiHΔ5 (Shigella flexneri), BsaLΔ5 (Burkholderia pseudomallei), and PrgIΔ5 (Salmonella typhimurium) as well as their thermal stability over a pH range of 3–8. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicates the secondary structure is largely alpha helical in all three proteins, and surprisingly thermally labile with transition midpoints in the range of 35–50°C over the pH range of 3–8. Additionally, at the concentrations examined, the very broad thermal transitions were >90% reversible. Second derivative UV absorbance spectroscopy data indicates some disruption of the protein's tertiary structure occurs at temperatures in the range of 29–46°C. The difference in the pH of maximal stability for each of the proteins and the variation for each protein with respect to both secondary and tertiary structural elements is striking. It appears, that at physiological temperatures all three proteins experience intermediate non‐native molten globule like states in which they display significant secondary structure in the absence of extensive tertiary interactions. Because of the size difference between the inner pore of the needle and the fully folded needle proteins, it seems clear that the needle subunits must be secreted in a partially or completely unfolded state to reach the distal tip of the needle for assembly. It is proposed that the formation of these intermediate states in the physiological temperature range may play a role in passage through the pore and needle assembly. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ligand preference and orientation in b‐ and c‐type heme‐binding proteins
Authors: Fufezan Christian , Zhang Jun , Gunner M. R.
Published: May 2008

Hemes are often incorporated into designed proteins. The importance of the heme ligand type and its orientation is still a matter of debate. Here, heme ligands and ligand orientation were investigated using a nonredundant (87 structures) and a redundant (1503 structures) set of structures to compare and contrast design features of natural b‐ and c‐type heme‐binding proteins. Histidine is the most common ligand. Marked differences in ligation motifs between b‐ and c‐type hemes are higher occurrence of His‐Met in c‐type heme binding motifs (16.4% vs. 1.4%) and higher occurrence of exchangeable, small molecules in b‐type heme binding motifs (67.6% vs. 9.9%). Histidine ligands that are part of the c‐type CXXCH heme‐binding motif show a distinct asymmetric distribution of orientation. They tend to point between either the heme propionates or between the NA and NB heme nitrogens. Molecular mechanics calculations show that this asymmetry is due to the bonded constraints of the covalent attachment between the heme and the protein. In contrast, the orientations of b‐type hemes histidine ligands are found evenly distributed with no preference. Observed histidine heme ligand orientations show no dominating influence of electrostatic interactions between the heme propionates and the ligands. Furthermore, ligands in bis‐His hemes are found more frequently perpendicular rather than parallel to each other. These correlations support energetic constraints on ligands that can be used in designing proteins. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of phosphorus‐carbide thin films by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Furlan A. , Gueorguiev G. K. , Czigány Zs. , Högberg H. , Braun S. , Stafström S. , Hultman L.
Published: May 2008

Phosphorus‐carbide, CPx (0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.1), thin films have been synthesized by magnetron sputtering from pressed graphite–phosphorus targets. The films were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and diffraction, and nanoindentation. CP0.1 ex‐hibits C–P bonding in an amorphous structure with elements of curved graphene planes, yielding a material with unique short range order. These features are consistent with what has been predicted by our results of theoretically modeled synthetic growth of CPx . The films are mechanically resilient with hardness up to 24 GPa and elastic recovery up to 72%. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Structural characterization of iridoid glucosides by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Cun‐man , Zhang Xiu‐li , Xue Xing‐ya , Zhang Fei‐fang , Xu Qing , Liang Xin‐miao
Published: May 2008

The mass spectral fragmentation behavior of ten iridoid glucosides (IGs) has been studied using electrospray ionization (ESI), collision‐induced dissociation (CID), and quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q‐TOF MS/MS). In the negative ESI mass spectra, the deprotonated [M–H]− ion was observed for all of the ten IGs except gardoside methyl ester, while the formate adduct [M+HCOO]− ion appeared to be favored by the presence of a methyl ester or a lactone group in the C‐4 position when formic acid was added to the mobile phase. The CID MS/MS spectra of the [M–H]− ions have been used for structural elucidation. Ring cleavages of the aglycone moiety have been observed in the MS/MS spectra, corresponding to 1,4F−, 2,6F−, 2,7F−, and 2,7F ions, based on accurate mass measurements and the elemental compositions of the product ions. These characteristic ions gave valuable information on the basic structural skeletons. Furthermore, on the basis of the relative abundances of the fragment ions 1,4F− and 2,7F−, different sub‐classes, such as cyclopentane‐type and 7,8‐cyclopentene‐type IGs, can be differentiated. Ring cleavage of the sugar moieties was also observed, yielding useful information for their characterization. In addition, the neutral losses, such as H2O, CO2, CH3OH, CH3COOH, and glucosidic units, have proved useful for confirming the presence of functional substituents in the structures of the IGs. Based on the fragmentation patterns of these standard IGs, twelve IGs have been characterized in an extract of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. by means of ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/Q‐TOF MS/MS, of which six have been unambiguously identified and the other six have been tentatively identified. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SonoAVC: a novel method of automatic volume calculation
Authors: Raine‐Fenning N. , Jayaprakasan K. , Clewes J. , Joergner I. , Bonaki S. Dehghani , Chamberlain S. , Devlin L. , Priddle H. , Johnson I.
Published: May 2008

Objectives

To assess the ability of the new software SonoAVC to measure follicular volume and to compare these volume calculations with those made by conventional methods.

Methods

Three‐dimensional ultrasound imaging was used to acquire volumetric data from the ovaries of 51 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation as part of in‐vitro fertilization treatment. All assessments were performed on the day of oocyte retrieval and the true volume of each follicle was ascertained by manual measurement of the follicular aspirate. SonoAVC was used to automatically measure the volume of follicles and to provide three perpendicular diameters (xyz diameters), which were used to estimate volume using the sphere formula. The sphere formula was also used to estimate the volume from manual measurements of follicle diameter derived from conventional two‐dimensional (2D) displays. Virtual Organ Computer‐aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) was also used to measure volume, and the validity of each technique was compared using limits of agreement.

Results

Two hundred and twenty‐four follicles with a mean follicular volume of 3.7 (range, 0.4–16.2) cm3 were studied. SonoAVC provided highly accurate automatic follicular volume measurements in all cases. Volume estimations made from the automatic maximal follicular diameter measurements (xyz diameters) were less valid. VOCAL proved highly valid but was less accurate than SonoAVC. Volumes estimated from manually derived follicular diameter measurements were the least accurate.

Conclusions

SonoAVC provides highly valid, automatic measurements of follicular volume. These measurements are more accurate than volumes estimated from 2D manual measurements, automated measurements of follicular diameter and those calculated using VOCAL. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids with ruthenium and osmium tetroxide
Authors: Foglia T. A. , Barr P. A. , Malloy A. J. , Costanzo M. J.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

The oxidation of the alkali metal salts of oleic and undecylenic acid with ruthenium and osmium tetroxides is reported. The oxidants are used in catalytic amounts in conjunction with an excess of the in‐expensive cooxidant sodium hypochlorite. Ruthenium tetroxide cleaves the carbon‐carbon double bond of potassium oleate, to give pelargonic and gives sebacic acid. With osmium tetroxide, hydroxylation of the double bond of potassium oleate gives a 95% yield oferythro‐9,10‐dihydroxystearic acid. The osmium tetroxide oxidation of sodium undecylenate results in the formation of 10,11‐dihydroxyundecanoic acid and the cleavage product sebacic acid in varying yields.
Germinal hydroxymethyl compounds from 9(10)‐formylstearic acid
Authors: Miller W. R. , Pryde E. H.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

9(10)‐Formylstearic acid and methyl 9(10)‐formylstearate reacted with formaldehyde in basic methanolic or aqueous medium to undergo the Tollens condensation, followed by a crossed Cannizzaro reaction to give 9,9(10,10)‐bis(hydroxymethyl)‐octadecanoic acid in essentially quantitative yield. This 2,2‐disubstituted‐1,3‐propanediol has been esterified on the carboxyl group and the hydroxymethyl groups have been acetylated and acetalated with acetone to give a series of stable liquids boiling at ca. 200 C/0.005 mm and freezing at <−70 C.
The binding of model shortenings during mixing of mechanically developed bread doughs from fresh and stored flours
Authors: Bell B. M. , Fisher N.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

Model fats were prepared from defined binary mixtures of saturated and unsaturated triglycerides. Their effect on the volume of loaves prepared by the Chorleywood Bread Process (CBP), from fresh and storage‐deteriorated flour, was similar to that given by a good bakery shortening. The use of radioactively‐labeled glyceryl tripalmitate in fresh flour doughs enabled its distribution between ‘free’ and ‘bound’ lipid fractions of dough to be determined. Further studies which were made with the triglyceride of margaric acid, present only in trace amounts in wheat, showed that as the amount of saturated triglyceride added was increased, the amount entering the ‘bound’ fraction remained small and constant, whereas levels in the ‘free'lipid rose at similar rates in doughs made from fresh and stored flour. Evidence is given that ‘free’ rather than ‘bound’ saturated triglyceride is responsible for increasing the volume of CBP bread made from fresh flour. Unsaturated saturated triglyceride was ‘bound’ by stored flour doughs to a greater extent than by fresh flour doughs. A liquid saturated triglyceride could be used to replace the unsaturated triglyceride in a model fat. The poor effect of shortening on the baking properties of storage‐deteriorated flour could be overcome by adding more fat, either as such, or by increasing the level of its liquid constituent. Results are discussed in relation to the apparent requirement for hard fat in making bread by the CBP from fresh flour.
The identification of radiolytic decomposition products from tributyrin
Authors: Meidani Javad , Nawar W. W. , Yeomans W. G. , Merritt C.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

In order to facilitate the detection of radiolytic products of triglycerides which may be of higher molecular weight than their precursor, a low molecular weight triglyceride, tributyrin, was selected as a model system, and gel permeation chromatography was used to effect their separation. The irradiation treatment was conducted under vacuum at 50 Mrad. Radiolytic products were collected by a precolumn technique for the highly volatile compounds; a combination of cold finger distillation and gel permeation for the less volatile fractions and finally gel permeation chromatography of the residue after distillation for the higher molecular weight compounds. A large number of compounds expected on the basis of previous work were identified in the present work from irradiated tributyrin. In addition, the techniques employed permitted the identification of several new compounds. These include butanetriol triesters, erythritol tetraesters, and other polyglycol polyesters.
Soap‐based detergent formulations: XXIII. Synthesis of p‐sulfobenzyl ammonium inner salts and structural correlation with analogous amphoterics
Authors: Kaminski Joan M. , Linfield Warner M.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

Two series of p‐sulfobenzyl ammonium inner salts, RN+(CH3)2CH2C6H4SO3− and RCONH(CH2)3N+−(CH3)2CH2C6H4SO3−, where R is a straight chain alkyl group, were prepared by sulfonation of the corresponding quaternary ammonium chlorides. Although both series have excellent lime soap dispersion properties, the former series gave optimum detergency at considerably shorter alkyl chain length than the latter serires. The detergency, lime soap dispersion ability, and solubility of these compounds were compared with those of structurally analogous aliphatic sulfobetaines. Structural variations, such as length and nature of the bridge between the cationic and anionic groups, length of the lipophilic chain, and insertion of an amidopropyl group into the lipophilic portion of the molecule, significantly altered the detergency and solubility but not the lime soap dispersing ability of the amphoterics.
Isolation of the 9‐ and 10‐isomers of carboxystearic acid and their polyamidation with hexamethylenediamine
Authors: Kohlhase W. L. , Neff W. E. , Pryde E. H.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and summary

Physical properties of the two isomers in 9(10)‐carboxystearic acid were found to be sufficiently different to permit isolation by recrystallization. Fractions containing carboxystearic acid of high isomeric purity but containing such impurities as stearic and hydroxystearic acids were purified through the nylon salts formed with hexamethylenediamine to obtain each isomer in high functional and isomeric purity. Physical properties were determined for each isomer, its nylon salt, and its polyamide. The different physical properties suggest for substituted dicarboxylic acids the alternating effect in melting points and solubilities shown by the unsubstituted α,ω‐alkanedioic acids.
Tall oil fatty acid marketing
Authors: Zachary Louis G.
Published: May 2008

Abstract and Summary

Once considered a low cost by‐product of crude tall oil fractionation, tall oil fatty acids are now being used for their own distinctive and specific properties in special applications. Consumption of tall oil fatty acids in protective coatings, soaps, and ore flotation has declined in recent years, however, usage in chemical intermediates has increased significantly in the past 10 years. These intermediates are dimer acids, oleic and linoleic acids, epoxidized esters, amidoamines, and diacids. Static tall oil production during the mid 1970s caused by changes in paper mill operations (i.e., continuous digestion, waste recycling, increased usage of chips and hard wood) has increased the demand for higher priced oleic acid and other unsaturated fatty acids.
Zearalenone in cereal grains
Authors: Bennett G. A. , Shotwell O. L.
Published: May 2008

Zearalenone, a secondary metabolite with estrogenic properties, is produced by severalFusarium species that colonize cereal grains in the field and in storage. Recently, there have been reports of zearalenone contamination in corn, oats, barley, wheat, and grain sorghum. Corn and grain sorghum were examined for contamination due to obvious mold damage. Wheat, corn, and sorghum have been examined to determine the incidence of zearalenone in grains moving through commercial channels and stored on farms and at country elevators. Other grains such as oats and barley were analyzed because of associated estrogenic disturbances in farm animals. Stepsin procedures for the determination of zearalenone are extraction of a representative sample, partial purification of the extract by column chromatography, alkali treatment, or liquid‐liquid partitioning, and subsequent measurement of the isolated toxin. Zearalenone is measured in partially purified extracts by thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas liquid chromatography (GLC), and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Confirmation of zearalenone contamination can be accomplished by gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS). Multitoxin screening procedures have been deveoped for zearalenone in combination with one or more of the following mycotoxins: aflatoxin, T‐2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, patulin, ochratoxin, penicillic acid, citrinin, penitrem A, and sterigmatocystin.
Accuracy of subsampling mill for granular materials
Authors: Dickens J. W. , Whitaker T. B. , Monroe R. J. , Weaver J. N.
Published: May 2008

A subsampling mill was constructed with 19 subsample spouts similar to the 1 or 2 subsample spouts on the conventional subsampling mills. Samples of peanuts, each of which contained 1 kernel made radioactive by neutron activation, were comminuted in the mill. For treatment M the discharge from each spout was kept separate. For treatment R, the discharge from all 19 spouts was blended together in a twin‐shelled blender and subdivided with a riffle divider into 16 subsamples which averaged the same weight as the M subsamples. Radioactivity counts/gram of each subsample were measured. Eleven samples were comminuted for each treatment which produced a total of 209 M samples and 176 R samples. An analysis of variance on the pooled data from each treatment showed a mean square error of 1318.3 for the M treatment and 1278.6 for the R treatment. The null hypothesis that the mean square errors for the two treatments are equal was not rejected by the F test (P=0.421).
Allyl esters and allyl epoxy esters from crambe oil
Authors: Chang Shu‐Pei
Published: May 2008

Room temperature transesterification of crambe oil with allyl alcohol gave allyl esters previously prepared by hydrolysis of the oil and reesterification of the mixed acids at elevated temperatures. Treating the esters with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid in the presence of sodium bicarbonate resulted in the selective epoxidation of ethylenic bonds and suppression of side reactions. Bifunctional allyl epoxy esters produced in 88% overall yield by this method contain 5.08% oxirane oxygen and an unsaturation equivalent to 91% allyl group; they are prospective monomers for various types of polymerization.
Characteristics and composition of indian wood apple seed and oil
Authors: Ramakrishna G. , Azeemoddin G. , Ramayya D. Atchyuta , Thirumala Rao S. D. , Devi K. Sita , Pantulu A. J.
Published: May 2008

Indian wood apple seed (Feronia elephantum Correa) constituting 6% (dry weight basis) of the fruit, contains 34% oil and 28% protein. The kernel comprises 62% of the seed. The oil is yellow with an iodine value 131, saponification value 192, unsaponifiable matter 1%. Fatty acid profile of oil by GLC is: palmitic 19.3, stearic 7.3, oleic 27.2, linoleic 19.8 and linolenic 26.4%.
Nonionic wetting agents
Authors: Weil J. K. , Koos R. E. , Linfield W. M. , Parris N.
Published: May 2008

Purified polyglycol ester and ether types of non‐ionic surfactants were investigated to determine optimum structures for wetting hydrophobic soils, peat moss, and standard cotton skeins (Draves test). The most rapid wetting of hydrophobic soil was observed with diethylene glycol monoesters of fatty acids possessing 8,9, and 10 carbon atoms and triethylene glycol monoesters of fatty acids containing 9 and 10 carbon atoms. Methyl pentaethylene glycol decanoate and methyl hexaethylene glycol dodecanoate were also effective wetting agents for hydrophobic soil. Nonionics with slightly longer oxy‐alkylene chains most effectively wet Draves skeins and peat moss. Diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol monodecyl ethers also effectively wet hydrophobic soil and peat moss.
Computer‐controlled potentiometric titration system for rapid determination of sulfuric and organo‐sulfonic acids in detergent intermediates
Authors: Yamaguchi S. , Kusuyama T.
Published: May 2008

A potentiometric titration system controlled by a desk‐top computer is set up for process control analysis and applied to rapid determination of sulfuric and organo‐sulfonic acids in detergent intermediates. The computer takes the weight of sample from an automatic top‐loading electronic balance, stores it, controls stepwise additions of titrant, detects two end points, and finally prints out the acid contents in weight per cent. During the titration, the rate of titrant additions is adjusted to electrode response time by frequent monitoring of an electrode potential with the computer. Typical titration time is about 60–70 seconds per sample, and the precision of the determination was satisfactory.
The role of dedicated instrumentation in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Capone Antonio , Podda Daniele , Civinini Roberto , Gusso Marco Italo
Published: May 2008

Tissue-sparing surgery is a surgical strategy aimed to reduce tissue damage in joint replacement. This can be achieved by reducing soft tissue trauma, performing minimally invasive access routes and limiting bone removal with implantation of conservative prostheses. In order to facilitate mini-approaches, special instrumentation was developed to avoid impingement of the soft tissues and provide an easier and more correct placement of the components. We performed an analysis of the literature and a research of the instrumentation available today, to evaluate the actual utility of dedicated tools.
Swinging and tumbling of elastic capsules in shear flow
Authors: KESSLER S. , FINKEN R. , SEIFERT U.
Published: May 2008

The deformation of an elastic micro-capsule in an infinite shear flow is studied numerically using a spectral method. The shape of the capsule and the hydrodynamic flow field are expanded into smooth basis functions. Analytic expressions for the derivative of the basis functions permit the evaluation of elastic and hydrodynamic stresses and bending forces at specified grid points in the membrane. Compared to methods employing a triangulation scheme, this method has the advantage that the resulting capsule shapes are automatically smooth, and few modes are needed to describe the deformation accurately. Computations are performed for capsules with both spherical and ellipsoidal unstressed reference shape. Results for small deformations of initially spherical capsules coincide with analytic predictions. For initially ellipsoidal capsules, recent approximate theories predict stable oscillations of the tank-treading inclination angle, and a transition to tumbling at low shear rate. Both phenomena have also been observed experimentally. Using our numerical approach we can reproduce both the oscillations and the transition to tumbling. The full phase diagram for varying shear rate and viscosity ratio is explored. While the numerically obtained phase diagram qualitatively agrees with the theory, intermittent behaviour could not be observed within our simulation time. Our results suggest that initial tumbling motion is only transient in this region of the phase diagram.
Conductive hearing loss after head trauma: review of ossicular pathology, management and outcomes
Authors: Basson O J , van Lierop A C
Published: May 2008

Introduction:

This paper reviews our experience of ossicular chain injuries following head trauma treated at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Materials and methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with a history of head trauma and a conductive hearing loss who had undergone exploratory tympanotomy. Sixteen patients were included in the study.

Results:

Injury was most common at the incudostapedial joint (63 per cent). Disarticulations of the icudostapedial joint were treated with cartilage interposition in all cases. Audiography showed an improvement in 12 of the patients, with an average improvement of 35 dB.

Discussion:

We discuss the various options available to the otologist to repair ossicular disruptions after trauma. In this series, cartilage autografts were used in most incudostapedial joint injuries, with excellent closure of the air–bone gap.

Conclusion:

Cartilage interposition was a very successful method of repairing incudostapedial joint dislocation in this series, at short term follow up.
Successful treatment of intranasal papillomata with imiquimod cream in a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient
Authors: Fernández-Casado A , Pujol R M , Amat M , Gallardo F
Published: May 2008

Objectives:

To report a new, alternative treatment for nasal papillomata in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with multiple recurrences after surgical removal.

Case report:

A human immunodeficiency virus positive patient presented with multiple, recurrent nasal papillomata which developed after repeated surgical removal procedures. In this patient, complete and persistent resolution of the lesions was achieved after topical treatment with imiquimod cream.

Conclusion:

Imiquimod is a class of non-nucleoside imidazoquinolinamines which promotes local cytokine release from antigen-presenting cells inducing a T-h1 dominant cell-mediated response against virus-infected cells. Topical imiquimod 5 per cent cream, applied for four to 16 weeks, may offer some benefit in the management of recurrent nasal papillomata in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients. Such treatment may be preferable to surgery or destructive therapeutic options when patients are unwilling or are poor surgical candidates, and also avoids potential surgical sequelae such as scar formation and stenosis.
Multiple oesophageal foreign bodies: the importance of two radiological views
Authors: Whelan-Johnson S , Hall C E J
Published: May 2008

Objectives:

To demonstrate the importance of two radiological views in the assessment of oesophageal foreign bodies.

Case report:

The case of a child with multiple oesophageal foreign bodies appearing as a single object on an antero-posterior chest radiograph is used to illustrate the need for two radiological views in the assessment of such cases.

Conclusions:

Two radiological views are recommended in the assessment of oesophageal foreign bodies.
Quantum Hall-MHD equations for a non-uniform dense magnetoplasma with electron temperature anisotropy
Authors: SHUKLA P. K. , STENFLO L.
Published: May 2008

Nonlinear quantum Hall-MHD equations for a warm dense magnetoplasma with an anisotropic electron pressure are derived. The nonlinear equations include the quantum force associated with electron tunneling effects. The newly found equations can be used to investigate the dense plasma stability, as well as different types of waves, instabilities, and nonlinear structures in a warm dense magnetoplasma.
On embedding categories in groupoids
Authors: JOHNSTONE P. T.
Published: May 2008

We provide a new, unified approach to the necessary and sufficient conditions found by Mal'cev (1939) and by Lambek (1951) for embeddability of a semigroup in a group, and also show that each provides a necessary and sufficient set of conditions for the embeddability of a category in a groupoid. We show that all such conditions, and more besides, may be derived in a uniform way from a particular class of directed graphs which we call quadrangle clubs, and we prove a number of results (extending those of Mal'cev, Lambek, Bush and Krstić) on which families of quadrangle clubs provide sufficient conditions for embeddability.
Representation of Radon shape diffusions via hyperspherical Brownian motion
Authors: PANARETOS VICTOR M.
Published: May 2008

A framework is introduced for the study of general Radon shape diffusions, that is, shape diffusions induced by projections of randomly rotating shapes. This is done via a convenient representation of unoriented Radon shape diffusions in (unoriented) D.G. Kendall shape space$\widetilde{\Sigma}_n^k$through a Brownian motion on the hypersphere. This representation leads to a coordinate system for the generalized version of Radon diffusions since it is shown that shape can be essentially identified with unoriented shape in the projected case. A bijective correspondence between Brownian motion on real projective space and Radon shape diffusions is established. Furthermore, equations are derived for the general (unoriented) Radon diffusion of shape-and-size, and stationary measures are discussed.
“The Motherly Office of the State”: Cultural Struggle and Comprehensive Administration Before the Civil War
Authors: Bonica Joseph S.
Published: May 2008

This essay examines the cultural dimensions of state administrative formation. Revisiting the organization of early U.S. state school administrations in the decades before the Civil War, I emphasize the culturally peculiar vocabularies of universal salvation and motherly care in which early administrators outlined an apparatus of state “designed, like the common blessings of heaven, to encompass all.” Self-consciously distinguishing themselves from a republican governing tradition that depended upon localities to administrate state policy, the Unitarian Horace Mann and his liberal Protestant allies imagined a unified state “like a mother … taking care of all its children.” Drawing from a cultural preoccupation with a motherly and infinitely forgiving God, these Massachusetts state administrators articulated a vision of a department of state government that would directly recognize all persons, and all schools, “within every part of the Commonwealth.” Such words were more than metaphor, though metaphor was crucial to the project. Rather, the organizational logic of the “motherly state” unfolded in the matrices of responsibility and communication, of surveillance and discipline and labor policy that constituted the foundational systems of early comprehensive state administration. By bringing together the insights of institutional development with the methods of cultural history, this essay ultimately suggests that government itself can be understood as a cultural artifact.
Spread of a large plasmid carrying thecpegene and thetcplocus amongstClostridium perfringensisolates from nosocomial outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in a geriatric hospital
Authors: KOBAYASHI S. , WADA A. , SHIBASAKI S. , ANNAKA M. , HIGUCHI H. , ADACHI K. , MORI N. , ISHIKAWA T. , MASUDA Y. , WATANABE H. , YAMAMOTO N. , YAMAOKA S. , INAMATSU T.
Published: May 2008

To investigate two clusters of diarrhoea cases observed in our geriatric hospital wards, the faecal specimens were analysed. Reversed passive latex agglutination assay revealed that 63·2% and 41·7% of the faecal specimens from each cluster were positive forClostridium perfringensenterotoxin. PCR assay revealed that 71·4% and 68·8% ofC. perfringensisolates from each cluster were positive for the enterotoxin gene (cpe). These observations suggested that both the clusters were outbreaks caused by enterotoxigenicC. perfringens. Subsequent pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the two outbreaks were caused by differentC. perfringensisolates. However, these outbreak isolates as well as other sporadic diarrhoea isolates shared a 75-kb plasmid on which thecpegene and thetcplocus were located. The 75-kb plasmid had horizontally spread to variousC. perfringensisolates and had caused outbreaks and sporadic infections. However, the site and time of the plasmid transfer are unclear.
Molecular evolutionary relationships of the octopodid genus Thaumeledone (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Southern Ocean
Authors: Strugnell J.M. , Collins M.A. , Allcock A.L.
Published: May 2008

Recent trawling in the Southern Ocean has yielded individuals of a number of species of the deep sea octopod genus Thaumeledone. This paper provides the first molecular study of the genus, employing molecular sequences from five mitochondrial (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, COI, COIII, cytochrome oxidase b) and a single nuclear gene (rhodopsin) and includes representatives of each of the known Southern Ocean species. Thaumeledone rotunda, believed to be circumpolar in distribution and found in relatively deep water is the sister taxa to T. gunteri, known only from South Georgia. A notable level of sequence variability was evident between a T. peninsulae individual recently captured from the Powell Basin, and two T. peninsulae individuals captured from the continental slope, north of the South Shetland Islands. This is likely to represent population level intraspecific variation within this species.
Distribution of macrobenthic taxa across the Scotia Arc, Southern Ocean
Authors: Griffiths Huw J. , Linse Katrin , Barnes David K.A.
Published: May 2008

An extremely dynamic chain of archipelagos links South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. It includes islands, which are large and small, old and young, near continental margins and isolated, and well sampled and poorly known. The current study sampled the macrobenthos of all the major archipelagos of this arc at shelf and slope depths using an Agassiz trawl. At least four samples (200 m, 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m) were taken down-slope at Falkland Trough, Shag Rocks, South Georgia, South Thule, Powell Basin, Elephant Island, and Livingston Island sites and one sample was collected in the caldera of Deception Island. Despite the biogeographical and biodiversity importance of this region, this is the first time (by definition) entire standardized trawl samples have been analysed from all its archipelagos and at any consistent taxonomic level. We found 15 phyla and 29 classes of macro- and megafauna in total across the samples, many of which occurred at all sites. Even at remote and geologically young sites richness was high. Richness increased with abundance and wet mass and was highest in the shallow shelf samples and lowest at 1500 m. Abundance and wet mass varied more than two orders of magnitude, even within classes or study areas. There were strong similarities between the ascidian dominated shallow faunas of the two active volcanic sites, Southern Thule and Deception Island despite huge differences in isolation. There were also strong faunal similarities between Falkland Trough and Shag Rocks despite being on opposing sides of the Polar Front. In contrast two near neighbours with similarly soft substrata, Elephant and Livingston islands were amongst the most dissimilar.
Correlates of childhood obesity in Athens, Greece
Authors: Lagiou Areti , Parava Maria
Published: May 2008

Objective

Childhood obesity is a growing public health problem. We have examined the association between sociodemographic profile and eating and physical activity patterns with overweight among primary-school students in Athens, Greece.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Eleven primary schools in the greater Athens area, Greece.

Subjects

A total of 633 children aged 10–12 years (50 % boys, 50 % girls) were interviewed in person during spring 2003. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the association between eating and physical activity patterns and overweight (≥85th sex- and age-specific BMI centile). Results are presented as odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals.

Results

Overweight was more common among girls than among boys (OR=1·73; 95% CI 1·11, 2·69) and substantially less common among children born outside Greece (OR=0·46; CI 0·22, 0·95). Reported physical activity (per 1·5 h per day) was unrelated to overweight (OR=0·97; CI 0·85, 1·12) but patent physical inactivity, operationalised as time spent watching television or working/playing with the computer (per 1·5 h per day) was a highly significant predictor of overweight (OR=1·20; CI 1·05, 1·36). Composition of diet was unrelated to overweight but the daily number of eating occasions, controlling for total energy intake, was significantly inversely associated with overweight (OR=0·61; CI 0·48, 0·76).

Conclusions

The principal factor underlying overweight among children in Athens appears to be the extended inactivity imposed by modern childhood lifestyles. An intriguing finding is that spreading a given energy intake over several eating occasions was inversely associated with the likelihood of childhood obesity.
Screening for psychological distress in two French cancer centers: Feasibility and performance of the adapted distress thermometer
Authors: Dolbeault Sylvie , Bredart Anne , Mignot Véronique , Hardy Patrick , Gauvain-Piquard Annie , Mandereau Laurence , Asselain Bernard , Medioni Jacques
Published: May 2008

Objective:

Little is known about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in French cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a screening procedure using the Psychological Distress Scale (PDS). The PDS is a French adaptation of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer. The screening performance of the PDS was assessed by comparison with the established clinical case threshold on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Methods:

Among 598 consecutive cancer outpatients recruited in two cancer centers in Paris, 561 (94%) agreed to complete the PDS, the HADS, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer core quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and study-specific psychosocial questions.

Results:

A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed, using a HADS cutoff score of 15 or greater to identify patients with psychological distress. This yielded a PDS cutoff score of 3, giving 76% sensitivity and 82% specificity. With this cutoff score, the prevalence of psychological distress was 38%. PDS scores were significantly related to scores from the HAD total scale (r = .64), HAD anxiety (r = .61) and HAD depression (r = .39) subscales, and EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning (r = .56) and global health state (r = .44). In multivariate analyses, factors associated with psychological distress were female gender, taking analgesics, receiving professional psychological help, perceived psychosocial difficulties and lack of social support.

Significance of results:

Using the PDS appeared feasible, acceptable and effective for psychological distress screening in French ambulatory cancer care settings.
Intercomparison of SCIAMACHY and OMI tropospheric NO2 columns: Observing the diurnal evolution of chemistry and emissions from space
Authors: Boersma K. Folkert , Jacob Daniel J. , Eskes Henk J. , Pinder Robert W. , Wang Jun , van der A Ronald J.
Published: May 2008

Concurrent (August 2006) measurements of tropospheric NO2 columns from OMI aboard Aura (1330 local overpass time) and SCIAMACHY aboard Envisat (1000 local overpass time) offer an opportunity to examine the consistency between the two instruments under tropospheric background conditions and the effect of different observing times. For scenes with tropospheric NO2 columns <5.0 × 1015 molecules cm−2, SCIAMACHY and OMI agree within 1.0–2.0 × 1015 molecules cm−2, consistent with the detection limits of both instruments. We find evidence for a low bias of 0.2 × 1015 molecules cm−2 in OMI observations over remote oceans. Over the fossil fuel source regions at northern midlatitudes, we find that SCIAMACHY observes up to 40% higher NO2 at 1000 local time (LT) than OMI at 1330 LT. Over biomass burning regions in the tropics, SCIAMACHY observes up to 40% lower NO2 columns than OMI. These differences are present in the spectral fitting of the data (slant column) and are augmented in the fossil fuel regions and dampened in the tropical biomass burning regions by the expected increase in air mass factor as the mixing depth rises from 1000 to 1330 LT. Using a global 3‐D chemical transport model (GEOS‐Chem), we show that the 1000–1330 LT decrease in tropospheric NO2 column over fossil fuel source regions can be explained by photochemical loss, dampened by the diurnal cycle of anthropogenic emissions that has a broad daytime maximum. The observed 1000–1330 LT NO2 column increase over tropical biomass burning regions points to a sharp midday peak in emissions and is consistent with a diurnal cycle of emissions derived from geostationary satellite fire counts.
Controls on atmospheric chloroiodomethane (CH2ClI) in marine environments
Authors: Varner Ruth K. , Zhou Yong , Russo Rachel S. , Wingenter Oliver W. , Atlas Elliot , Stroud Craig , Mao Huiting , Talbot Robert , Sive Barkley C.
Published: May 2008

Mixing ratios of chloroiodomethane (CH2ClI) in ambient air were quantified in the coastal North Atlantic region (Thompson Farm, Durham, New Hampshire, and Appledore Island, Maine) and two remote Pacific areas (Christmas Island, Kiribati, and Oahu, Hawaii). Average mixing ratios were 0.15 ± 0.18 and 0.68 ± 0.66 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) at Thompson Farm and Appledore Island, respectively, compared to 0.10 ± 0.05 pptv at Christmas Island and 0.04 ± 0.02 pptv in Hawaii. Photolysis constrained the daytime mixing ratios of CH2ClI at all locations with the minimum occurring at 1600 local time. Daily average fluxes to the atmosphere were estimated from mixing ratios and loss due to photolysis at Appledore Island, Christmas Island and Hawaii, and were 58 ± 9, 19 ± 3, and 5.8 ± 1.0 nmol CH2ClI m−2 d−1, respectively. The measured sea‐to‐air flux from seawater equilibrator samples obtained near Appledore Island was 6.4 ± 2.9 nmol CH2ClI m−2 d−1. Mixing ratios of CH2ClI at Appledore Island increased with increasing wind speed. The maximum mixing ratios observed at Thompson Farm (1.6 pptv) and Appledore Island (3.4 pptv) are the highest reported values to date, and coincided with high winds associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Bonnie. We estimate that high winds during the 2004 hurricane season increased the flux of CH2ClI from the North Atlantic Ocean by 8 ± 2%.
Source mechanisms of terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes
Authors: Dwyer J. R.
Published: May 2008

The source of terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) has remained a mystery since their discovery in 1994. Recent Reuven Ramaty High‐Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) observations show that these intense bursts of MeV gamma rays likely originate much deeper in the atmosphere than previously inferred from Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) data, with the source altitude <21 km. Using existing measurements of the intensity and duration of BATSE and RHESSI TGFs, along with limits on the electric field set by the relativistic feedback mechanism involving backward propagating positrons and x‐rays, it is found that TGFs cannot be produced by relativistic runaway electron avalanches acting on natural background radiation or extensive cosmic‐ray air showers alone, as has been assumed by many previous models. Instead, the energetic seed particle production most likely involves either relativistic feedback or runaway electron production in the strong electric fields associated with lightning leaders or streamers, similar to the energetic radiation observed on the ground from lightning.
Mantle structure beneath the western edge of the Colorado Plateau
Authors: Sine C. R. , Wilson D. , Gao W. , Grand S. P. , Aster R. , Ni J. , Baldridge W. S.
Published: May 2008

Teleseismic traveltime data are inverted for mantle Vp and Vs variations beneath a 1400 km long line of broadband seismometers extending from eastern New Mexico to western Utah. The model spans 600 km beneath the moho with resolution of ∼50 km. Inversions show a sharp, large‐magnitude velocity contrast across the Colorado Plateau‐Great Basin transition extending ∼200 km below the crust. Also imaged is a fast anomaly 300 to 600 km beneath the NW portion of the array. Very slow velocities beneath the Great Basin imply partial melting and/or anomalously wet mantle. We propose that the sharp contrast in mantle velocities across the western edge of the Plateau corresponds to differential lithospheric modification, during and following Farallon subduction, across a boundary defining the western extent of unmodified Proterozoic mantle lithosphere. The deep fast anomaly corresponds to thickened Farallon plate or detached continental lithosphere at transition zone depths.