bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with depression and anxiety in older adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the healthy ageing and intellectual disabilities study
Authors: Hermans Heidi , Evenhuis Heleen M.
Published: August 2012

Objective

The objective of this article is to study which factors are associated with depression and anxiety in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Methods

Depressive and anxiety symptoms were studied in 990 participants with borderline to profound ID, aged ≥ 50 years, using self‐report and informant‐report screening questionnaires. In 290 participants, major depression and anxiety disorders were assessed with a standardised psychiatric interview. Associations with personal, medical and psychosocial factors, which were collected through questionnaires and participants' medical and psychological records, were studied using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

Increased depressive symptoms were positively associated with increased anxiety symptoms, number of life events during the past year and chronic diseases (heart failure, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and malignity in the previous 5 years) and negatively with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) abilities. Major depression was positively associated with chronic diseases and negatively with IADL abilities. Increased anxiety symptoms were positively associated with borderline or mild ID and increased depressive symptoms and negatively associated with Down syndrome, epilepsy and social contacts. Anxiety disorders showed no significant associations.

Conclusions

To develop effective prevention and treatment policies, factors associated with depression and anxiety in older adults with ID should be further examined in longitudinal research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perceptions of the use of complementary therapy and Siddha medicine among rural patients with HIV/AIDS: a case study from India
Authors: Torri Maria Costanza
Published: August 2012

Allopathic practitioners in India are outnumbered by practitioners of traditional Indian medicine, such as Ayurveda and Siddha. These forms of traditional medicine are currently used by up to two‐thirds of its population to help meet primary healthcare needs, particularly in rural areas. Gandeepam is one of the pioneering Siddha clinics in rural Tamil Nadu that is specialized in providing palliative care to HIV/AIDS patients with effective treatment. This article examines and critically discusses the perceptions of patients regarding the efficacy of Siddha treatment and their motivation in using this form of treatment. The issues of gender equality in the access of HIV/AIDS treatment as well as the possible challenges in complementing allopathic and traditional/complementary health sectors in research and policy are also discussed. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of complementing allopathic treatment with traditional medicine for short‐term symptoms and some opportunistic diseases present among HIV/AIDS patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of plasma electrolytic oxidation in the solutions containing Ca, P, Si, Na on the properties of titanium
Authors: Krupa Danuta , Baszkiewicz Jacek , Zdunek Joanna , Sobczak Janusz W. , Lisowski Wojciech , Smolik Jerzy , Słomka Zbigniew
Published: August 2012

The surface layers were formed on titanium by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in the solutions which contain various amounts of Na2SiO3x5H2O, Na3PO4x12H2O and Ca(CH3COO)2xH2O. The layers were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and an X‐ray diffractometer (XRD). The titanium/oxide surface layer interface was analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adhesive strength of the oxide layers was evaluated by the scratch‐test. The bioactivity of the surface was determined by soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 and 30 days. The corrosion resistance was determined by electrochemical methods after 13, 181, and 733 h exposure in SBF at a temperature of 37°C. The oxide layers obtained were rough and porous and enriched with Ca, P, Si, and Na and their properties depended on the concentration of the components of the electrolyte. The results of the electrochemical examinations, after a 13 h exposure in SBF, show that the surface modification by PEO improves the corrosion resistance of titanium and it is not degraded after a long‐term exposure in SBF. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate that the surface layers have a complex structure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.
Development of Portland cement for orthopedic applications, establishing injectability and decreasing setting times
Authors: Wynn‐Jones Gareth , Shelton Richard M , Hofmann Michael P
Published: August 2012

The injectability of Portland cement (PC) with calcium chloride and calcium nitrate additives was investigated using a syringe with a 2 mm aperture for potential clinical applications such as vertebroplasty. Addition of either additive at 10 wt % increased the quantity of cement extruded through the syringe from approximately 25 wt % for the PC standard, to over 95 wt %. 10 wt % additions of either additive also decreased setting times from over 2 h to below 25 min. The compressive strength of the modified cements was all greater than the compressive strength of a human vertebral body. Decreasing either additive to 5 wt % generated compressive strengths after 24 h setting equal to polymethylmethacrylate, the cement used for the majority of vertebroplasty procedures. An initial early exotherm in the chloride cements was coupled with an X‐ray diffraction (XRD) peak that indicated the early formation of the ettringite cement phase. In contrast, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and XRD data indicated that calcium nitrate may have stimulated early calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) production (the main strength producing phase of PC). Combining the two additives produced a synergistic effect with cements having increased injectabilities and compressive strengths compared with either addition used individually. This study has demonstrated that by modifying PC with nonproprietary chemicals it was possible to significantly increase cement injectability and reduce setting times whilst maintaining compressive strengths, making PC suitable for potential orthopedic applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.
Effect of Morphology of La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3‐δ Cathode on the Electrochemical Performance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Authors: Hung I‐Ming , Wu Jun‐Sheng , Hsu You‐Wen , Lee Yu‐Chen
Published: August 2012

The objective of this study was using different morphology of La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3‐δ (LSCF) cathode to reduce the polarization of solid oxide fuel cell. Three kinds of LSCF powders with different particle size were used to investigate the affection on the electrochemical property of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). XRD and TEM results confirmed that the grain size of LSCF powders decreased with the grinding ball size decreased. Conductivity of LSCF electrodes increased with increasing temperature that showed the characteristics of p‐type conductor. At high temperature, there aremore oxygen vacancies in smaller particle size LSCF, that will increase the energy gap of charge carrier transfer between the B‐site cations and oxygen ions. AC impedance analysis revealed that smaller particle size LSCF had lower polarization resistance and the total polarization resistance was only 0.92 Ωcm2 at 800 °C. However, sintering shrinkage of smaller particle size LSCF was too large that attributed the poor adhesion between cathode and electrolyte. At 800 °C, the power density based on large particle sized LSCF was 65 mW/cm2, which was higher than that of the cell based on small particle sized LSCF.
Core‐Shelled MCMB‐Li4Ti5O12 Anode Material for Lithium‐ion Batteries
Authors: Lee Meng‐Lun , Liao Shih‐Chieh , Chen Jing‐Ming , Yeh Jien‐Wei , Shih Han C.
Published: August 2012

In this study, we have synthesized and characterized Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)‐coated meso‐carbon micro beads (MCMB) as an anode material for Li‐batteries. The surface of MCMB powders was uniformly coated by the LTO nanoparticles to form a core‐shell structure via a sol‐gel process, followed by calcination. The average size of MCMB core was 15 μm while the thickness of LTO shell was 80 to 120 nm. We found that LTO‐coated MCMB had better rate‐capability and cycle life, compared with the pristine MCMB. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that after 40 cycles, the cell resistance of the LTO‐coated MCMB electrode increased slightly, while that of the pristine MCMB electrode increased significantly. The enhanced performance of the LTO‐coated MCMB electrode is attributed to the LTO coating, which suppresses the increase in the charge‐transfer resistance during prolonged cycle.
Introduction to Energy Storage Sub‐program of National Science and Technology Program‐Energy in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Shiang‐Lin , Liu Ru‐Shi
Published: August 2012

The Energy Storage Sub‐program was selected as one of the programs of the National Science and Technology Program‐Energy (NSTPE) following several resolutions: resolutions from meetings held by the Guiding Squad of Energy Policy and Technology Development and the Executive Yuan in Taiwan, 15 master plans on energy technology development drafted during the National Industrial TechnologyMeeting in November 2007, and the resolution passed during the 23rd Technology Meeting of the Executive Yuan in December 2007. The aims of the Energy Storage Sub‐program are as follows: (1) reduce the cost of production and develop high‐performance lithium ion battery, (2) construct an industry alliance among companies involved in the production of lithium‐ion batteries, (3) establish platforms for the evaluation, testing, and certification of energy storage technology and (4) develop key techniques for next‐generation supercapacitors while minimizing cost.
Amprenavir inhibits the migration in human hepatocarcinoma cell and the growth of xenografts
Authors: Esposito Vincenzo , Verdina Alessandra , Manente Lucrezia , Spugnini Enrico P. , Viglietti Rosaria , Parrella Roberto , Pagliano Pasquale , Parrella Giovanni , Galati Rossella , De Luca Antonio , Baldi Alfonso , Montesarchio Vincenzo , Chirianni Antonio
Published: August 2012

The introduction of HAART (highly‐active‐antiretroviral‐therapy) has resulted in extended survival of HIV positive patients. Conversely, due to the prolonged expectancy of life and the ageing of the HIV positive population, tumors are now one of the major cause of death, and among them hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a growing concern in these patients. Considering the potential anti‐tumoral effects of HIV protease inhibitors, we decided to evaluate the anti‐tumoral activity of Amprenavir on liver carcinoma and to evaluate its potential synergistic effects in combination with standard chemoterapic drugs, such as Doxorubicin. Our results indicate that Amprenavir had direct inhibitory effects on invasion of Huh‐7 hepatocarcinoma cell lines, inhibiting MMP proteolytic activation. Amprenavir was able to delay the growth of hepatocarcinoma xenografts in nude mice and had a synergistic effect with Doxorubicin. Furthermore, Amprenavir was able to promote regression of hepatocarcinoma growth in vivo by anti‐angiogenetic and overall anti‐tumor activities, independently by PI3K/AKT related pathways that at today is one of the more suggestive hypothesis to explain the anti‐tumor effects of the different protease inhibitors. In summary these findings suggest novel anti‐neoplastic action of Amprenavir on liver cancer showing the possibility of novel combination therapies. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 640–645, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical assessment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Certal Victor , Catumbela Emanuel , Winck João C. , Azevedo Inês , Teixeira‐Pinto Armando , Costa‐Pereira Altamiro
Published: August 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Clinical symptoms and signs are routinely used to investigate pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to systematically assess the evidence for the diagnostic accuracy of individual or combined clinical symptoms and signs in predicting pediatric OSA.

Study Design:

A systematic review of the literature and diagnostic meta‐analysis.

Methods:

Four medical databases were searched (from inception to August 2011). Studies were included that compared the clinical assessment with the current gold standard (full polysomnography). The study quality was assessed using the quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies. Summary estimates of diagnostic accuracy were determined using the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model for meta‐analyses.

Results:

Ten diagnostic studies with 1,525 patients were included in the review. There was substantial variation in the sensitivity and specificity among different symptoms and signs, as well as across studies. Tonsillar size and snoring reported by parents or caregivers had high sensitivity but low specificity. In contrast, excessive daytime somnolence, observed apnea, and difficulty in breathing during sleep had high specificity but low sensitivity. Seven models of a combination of symptoms and signs presented moderate sensitivity (range, 0.04–0.94) and specificity (range, 0.28–0.99). The HSROC indicates poor diagnostic performance of the symptoms and signs in predicting pediatric OSA.

Conclusions:

Neither single nor combined symptoms and signs have satisfactory performance in predicting pediatric OSA. Alternative diagnostic models are necessary to improve the accuracy.
Continuous velocity fields for collapse and blowout of a pressurized tunnel face in purely cohesive soil
Authors: Mollon Guilhem , Dias Daniel , Soubra Abdul‐Hamid
Published: August 2012

Face stability analysis of tunnels excavated under pressurized shields is a major issue in real tunnelling projects. Most of the failure mechanisms used for the stability analysis of tunnels in purely cohesive soils were derived from rigid block failure mechanisms that were developed for frictional soils, by imposing a null friction angle. For a purely cohesive soil, this kind of mechanism is quite far from the actual velocity field. This paper aims at proposing two new continuous velocity fields for both collapse and blowout of an air‐pressurized tunnel face. These velocity fields are much more consistent with the actual failures observed in undrained clays. They are based on the normality condition, which states that any plastic deformation in a purely cohesive soil develops without any volume change. The numerical results have shown that the proposed velocity fields significantly improve the best existing bounds for collapse pressures and that their results compare reasonably well with the collapse and blowout pressures provided by a commercial finite difference software, for a much smaller computational cost. A design chart is provided for practical use in geotechnical engineering. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of non‐uniform traction and specimen height in the direct shear test on stress and deformation in a rock fracture
Authors: Giwelli Ausama A. , Matsuki Koji , Sakaguchi Kiyotoshi , Kizaki Akihisa
Published: August 2012

In the direct shear test (DST), an internal moment is distributed within the rock specimen by non‐coaxial shear loads applied to the specimen, which cause non‐uniform distributions of both the traction on the loading planes and the stress and deformation in the specimen. To examine the validity of the DST for a rock fracture and to clarify the effect of specimen height, both the stress and deformation in a fracture in the DST were analyzed for specimens with three different heights using a three‐dimensional finite element method with quadratic joint elements for a fracture model. The constitutive law of the fracture considers the dependence of the non‐linear behavior of closure on shear displacement and that of shear stiffness on normal stress and was implemented in simulation code to give a conceptional fracture with uniform mechanical properties to extract only the effect of non‐uniform traction on the stress and deformation in the fracture. The results showed that both normal and shear stresses are concentrated near the end edges of the fracture, and these stress concentrations decrease with a decrease in the specimen height according to the magnitude of the moment produced by the non‐coaxial shear loads. Furthermore, although closure is greater near the end edges of the fracture, where normal stress is concentrated, this concentration of closure is not so significant within the range of this study because of the non‐linear behavior of closure, that is, closure does not significantly increase with an increase in normal stress at large normal stresses. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of heat treatment of carbon nanofibers on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of linear low density polyethylene nanocomposites
Authors: Villacorta Byron S. , Ogale Amod A. , Hubing Todd H.
Published: August 2012

The electrical properties and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EM SE) of nanocomposites consisting of heat‐treated carbon nanofibers (Pyrograf® III PR‐19, CNF) in a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix were assessed. Heat treatment (HT) of carbon nanofibers at 2500°C significantly improved their graphitic crystallinity and intrinsic transport properties, thereby increasing the EM SE of the nanocomposites. Nanocomposites containing 11 vol% (20 wt%) PR‐19 HT displayed a DC electrical conductivity of about 1.0 ± 0.1 × 101 S/m (n = 4), about 10 orders of magnitude better than that of as‐received PR‐19 CNF nanocomposites. Over a frequency range of 30 MHz to 1.5 GHz, nanocomposites (2.5 mm thick) containing PR‐19 HT displayed EM SE average values of about 14 ± 2 dB (n = 4). Absorption was determined to be the main EM SE mechanism for the heat‐treated CNF nanocomposites. The nanocomposites possessed a modulus of 632 ± 36 MPa (n = 6) (nominally twice that of pure LLDPE) and a strain‐to‐failure of 180 ± 98% (n = 6), indicating that a significant ductility is retained in the nanocomposites. Such nanocomposites display potential as absorptive electromagnetic interference shielding materials for thin films and micromolding. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Deposition and production of highly reproducible hybrid Cu[(tBu)4Pc]‐polystyrene thin layers via spin casting
Authors: De Fonseca Brice , Bouvet Marcel , Suisse Jean‐Moïse , Rossignol Jérôme
Published: August 2012

This study focuses on the determination of a protocol for the production of a hybrid material composed of a polymer and a macrocyclic complex, namely polystyrene and a tetra‐tert‐butyl‐copper phthalocyanine (Cu[(tBu)4Pc]), in order to obtain a layer thickness of about 100 nm and a controlled porosity in a highly reproducible way. Several methods were implemented and their reproducibility was evaluated through elements of characterization such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Short‐chain peptides identification of scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch venom by employing high orthogonal 2D‐HPLC system and tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xu Junyan , Zhang Xiuli , Guo Zhimou , Yan Jingyu , Yu Long , Li Xiuling , Xue Xingya , Liang Xinmiao
Published: August 2012

Scorpion venom contains a considerable variety of neurotoxic peptides that can act on ionic channels. Here, we describe an orthogonal 2D‐reversed phase/hydrophilic interaction chromatography system (RPLC/HILIC) and use it to separate short‐chain peptides from Asian scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK) venom in a high throughput format. Due to its high orthogonality and efficiency, 18 homogenous peptides were purified and sequence identified by MS/MS with collision‐induced dissociation. Among them, four peptides were discovered, which only have evidence at transcript‐level, were first purified from crude venom in this study. Two peptides named BmKK2‐b and Martentoxin‐b were found the new cleaved chains of known BmKK2 and Martentoxin. In addition, two novel peptides named BmKK12 and BmKK16 in this paper were sequenced by de novo MS/MS, which we predict, are members of potassium channel toxin α‐KTx 17 subfamily by homology to other known peptides found in the Swiss‐Prot protein database.
Heart failure: recent advances in diagnosis and management
Authors: Davis Russell
Published: August 2012

Our Drug review highlights the significant advances that have been seen in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in recent years, followed by sources of further information.
Couples' Education and Regional Mobility – the Importance of Occupation, Income and Gender
Authors: Brandén Maria
Published: August 2012

People with high education are more geographically mobile than people with lower education. Further, highly educated men are more mobile than highly educated women, and the man's education affects couples' migration propensities more than the woman's. This study examines whether the reasons for the higher migration propensities among highly educated people are the occupational characteristics and income commonly associated with high education. Further, the study examines whether the reason for the asymmetric effect of men's education relative to women's is that these occupational characteristics and income are unevenly distributed between men and women with similar educational levels. I studied dual‐earner couples, with common children, residing in Sweden in 1997–2006. Results from logistic regressions indicate that both men's and women's education are positively related to couples' migration propensities, and that men's education has a larger impact on migration than women's, before adjusting for income and occupational characteristics. A substantial portion of the increased risk of migration among highly educated people can be attributed to income and occupational characteristics. Also, to a large extent, the differential effects of men's and women's education can be explained by the different types of occupations held by men and women within the same educational level, as well as by gender differences in monetary returns from education. When adjusting for these differences, only very minor gender differences in the effect of education remain. Despite theories on gender ideology, which implies men's attributes would dominate migration decisions, occupational characteristics have similar effects for men and women. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparative analysis of oxidation rates for thin films of SiGe versus Si
Authors: Long Ethan , Galeckas Augustinas , Kuznetsov Andrej Yu.
Published: August 2012

In order to evaluate the role of Ge as a catalyst or inhibitor for the oxidation process in SiGe, oxidation rates for sub‐100‐nm films of SiGe are examined and compared to previous reports and established models for Si oxidation. Values for the Ge concentration in the pile‐up layer at the oxidation interface are considered as well as the more traditional approach of considering the Ge content in the as‐grown SiGe film. The experimental results presented here indicate that oxidation rates for SiGe closely match those of Si and provide evidence that the presence of Ge in very thin films of SiGe does not lead to enhanced or retarded oxidation rates as compared to Si. This comparative analysis is performed with a focus on oxidation of epitaxial thin films of Si1−xGex in dry O2 at 1 atm at 800, 850, 900, 950, and 1000 °C.
Self‐sufficient minority carrier lifetime in silicon from quasi‐steady‐state photoluminescence
Authors: Giesecke J. A. , Schubert M. C. , Warta W.
Published: August 2012

Quasi‐steady‐state photoluminescence is a versatile technique to determine carrier lifetime in silicon. A recent approach extracts carrier lifetime without a priori information about dopant concentration [Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 092109 (2010)]. It utilizes the phase shift between a time‐modulated optical irradiation and the radiative recombination of a sample, while requiring a minimum of two measurements. The present paper is aimed at a generalization thereof that requires only one measurement. It brings about a substantial experimental simplification, significantly improved accuracy and precision, and it opens up paths to access material properties other than lifetime.
Development of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry methods for the study of a high number of urine markers of inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Rebollido‐Fernandez M. Maira , Castiñeiras Daisy E. , Dolores Bóveda M. , Luz Couce M. , Cocho José A. , Fraga Jose M.
Published: August 2012

RATIONALE

Rapid and specific screening methods to detect abnormal metabolites in biological fluids are important for the diagnosis of many Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM). In Galicia (N.W. Spain), where newborn screening (NBS) has long used both blood and urine dried samples, an expanded NBS by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) begun in July 2000 analyzing amino acids and acylcarnitines in blood. The purpose of this study is the development of methods to widen and to complement the present NBS with the study of the selected metabolites in urine.

METHODS

We studied and optimized the fragmentation of a total of 96 marking compounds of IEM, as well as 34 isotopically labeled internal standards (IS). The isobaric interferences were resolved with the use of alternative fragmentation in 14 of the 28 groups found. The methods were validated for 68 compounds following the recommendations of the NCCLS.

RESULTS

We have developed electrospray ionization (ESI)‐ MS/MS methods in positive and negative ionization modes to detect selected metabolites in urine. The study was performed by direct injection of amino acids and acylcarnitines in positive mode, and organic acids, acylglycines, purines and pyrimidines in negative mode. Run times were 2.5 and 2.6 min, respectively, allowing the daily analysis of a high number of samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The validated methods were proved effective for the simultaneous study of a large number of metabolites which are commonly present in urine samples and are used for detecting IEM. The evaluation was done by searching diagnostic profiles with multiple markers to increase sensitivity and specificity (e.g., acylcarnitines plus amino acids) or with specific urine markers (cystine, homogentisic acid, sialic acid, N‐acetylaspartic acid, etc.). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complementary Fe3+‐ and Ti4+‐immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography for purification of acidic and basic phosphopeptides
Authors: Lai Alan Chuan‐Ying , Tsai Chia‐Feng , Hsu Chuan‐Chih , Sun Yu‐Ni , Chen Yu‐Ju
Published: August 2012

RATIONALE

Despite advances in mass spectrometry (MS)‐based identification, effective phosphopeptide enrichment is a prerequisite towards comprehensive phosphoproteomic analysis. Based on the different binding affinities and coordination geometries of the Ti4+ and Fe3+ ions with the phosphate group, we report a complementary metal‐directed immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) method to increase the identification coverage of a phosphoproteome.

METHODS

Phosphopeptides from standard phosphoproteins and Raji B cells were enriched from Ti4+‐IMAC and Fe3+‐IMAC methods, followed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS and Orbitrap MS analysis. Optimal enrichment specificity was achieved by selection of acid structure/concentration and organic solvent to compete with non‐phosphopeptides. The effect of the metal ion and the chelating compound was evaluated by the comparison of the characteristics of enriched phosphopeptides between Ti4+‐IMAC, Fe3+‐IMAC and TiO2 methods.

RESULTS

To address the low enrichment specificity of the Ti4+‐IMAC method, a simple one‐step acid/solvent controlled IMAC method was developed with significantly improved specificity (88%) and recovery (93%). The most striking discovery is that the optimal Ti4+‐IMAC and Fe3+‐IMAC methods have low overlapping percentage (10%) among the 2905 enriched phosphopeptides from Raji cells, comprised of the distinct characteristics including hydrophobicity, amino acid compositions, and frequency of multiple phosphorylation of the phosphopeptides.

CONCLUSIONS

The reported Fe3+‐IMAC and Ti4+‐IMAC methods can complementarily enrich acidic and basic phosphopeptides to effectively increase the identification coverage of an heterogeneous phosphoproteome (twice than the single approach). Given the reproducibility and low sample loss, the combination of our enrichment strategy with a quantitative technique could be feasible for quantitative phosphoproteomics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification by mass spectrometry of new compounds arising from the reactions involving malvidin‐3‐glucoside‐(O)‐catechin, catechin and malvidin‐3‐glucoside
Authors: Cruz Luís , Mateus Nuno , de Freitas Victor
Published: August 2012

RATIONALE

The aim of this work was to study the putative reactions that could occur in red wines between malvidin‐3‐glucoside‐(O)‐catechin (mv3glc‐(O)‐cat) adduct and catechin (cat) or malvidin‐3‐glucoside (mv3glc) in presence of acetaldehyde.

METHODS

Mv3glc‐(O)‐cat adduct (1 mM) was incubated with catechin (or mv3glc) in the presence of acetaldehyde (molar ratio of 1:4:10) in 12% ethanol/water at pH 3.2, protected from light and placed in the oven at 30 °C. The formation of the new compounds was monitored by liquid chromatography‐diode‐array detection/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC‐DAD/ESI‐MS) analysis in the positive and negative ion mode.

RESULTS

The LC‐DAD/ESI‐MS characterization allowed the confirmation of the structures of the methylmethine‐linked cat‐mv3glc‐(O)‐cat ([M–H]– m/z 1097) and mv3glc‐mv3glc‐(O)‐cat ([M]+ m/z 1301) adducts.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies performed in model solutions showed that the colorless mv3glc‐(O)‐cat adduct can undergo some of the characteristic reactions of anthocyanins and flavan‐3‐ols that occur in red wine in the presence of acetaldehyde forming new methylmethine‐bridged compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monte Carlo Simulation of CD‐SEM Images for Linewidth and Critical Dimension Metrology
Authors: Li Y. G. , Zhang P. , Ding Z. J.
Published: August 2012

In semiconductor industry, strict critical dimension control by using a critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD‐SEM) is an extremely urgent task in near‐term years. A Monte Carlo simulation model for study of CD‐SEM image has been established, which is based on using Mott's cross section for electron elastic scattering and the full Penn dielectric function formalism for electron inelastic scattering and the associated secondary electron (SE) production. In this work, a systematic calculation of CD‐SEM line‐scan profiles and 2D images of trapezoidal Si lines has been performed by taking into account different experimental factors including electron beam condition (primary energy, probe size), line geometry (width, height, foot/corner rounding, sidewall angle, and roughness), material properties, and SE signal detection. The influences of these factors to the critical dimension metrology are investigated, leading to build a future comprehensive model‐based library. SCANNING 35: 127‐139, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cortisol Responses to Naturalistic and Laboratory Stress in Student Teachers: Comparison with a Non‐stress Control Day
Authors: Wolfram Maren , Bellingrath Silja , Feuerhahn Nicolas , Kudielka Brigitte M.
Published: August 2012

Ambulatory assessments of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis responses to acute natural stressors yield evidence on stress regulation with high ecological validity. Sampling of salivary cortisol is a standard technique in this field.

In 21 healthy student teachers, we assessed cortisol responses to a demonstration lesson. On a control day, sampling was repeated at analogous times. Additionally, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) was assessed on both days. Participants were also exposed to a laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test, and rated their individual levels of chronic work stress.

In pre‐to‐post‐stress assessment, cortisol levels declined after the lesson. However, post‐stress cortisol levels were significantly higher compared with those on the control day. Also, the Trier Social Stress Test yielded higher cortisol responses when using the control day as reference baseline. Associations between the CAR and chronic stress measures were observed solely on the control day. There were no significant associations between cortisol responses to the natural and laboratory stressors.

Our results indicate that a control day might be an important complement in laboratory but especially in ambulatory stress research. Furthermore, associations between chronic stress measures and the CAR might be obscured by acute stress exposure. Finally, responses to the laboratory stressor do not seem to mirror natural stress responses. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoscale Magnetic Characterization of Tunneling Magnetoresistance Spin Valve Head by Electron Holography
Authors: Park Hyun Soon , Hirata Kei , Yanagisawa Keiichi , Ishida Yoichi , Matsuda Tsuyoshi , Shindo Daisuke , Tonomura Akira
Published: August 2012

Nanostructured magnetic materials play an important role in increasing miniaturized devices. For the studies of their magnetic properties and behaviors, nanoscale imaging of magnetic field is indispensible. Here, using electron holography, the magnetization distribution of a TMR spin valve head of commercial design is investigated without and with a magnetic field applied. Characterized is the magnetic flux distribution in complex hetero‐nanostructures by averaging the phase images and separating their component magnetic vectors and electric potentials. The magnetic flux densities of the NiFe (shield and 5 nm‐free layers) and the CoPt (20 nm‐bias layer) are estimated to be 1.0 T and 0.9 T, respectively. The changes in the magnetization distribution of the shield, bias, and free layers are visualized in situ for an applied field of 14 kOe. This study demonstrates the promise of electron holography for characterizing the magnetic properties of hetero‐interfaces, nanostructures, and catalysts.
Biomedical applications of multifunctional plasmonic nanoparticles
Authors: Sotiriou Georgios A.
Published: August 2012

Plasmonic nanoparticles play an important role in biomedical applications today as they can serve as superior, optically stable bioimaging agents, be employed in biosensor devices for the early diagnosis of diseases, and exhibit promising results in vivo as therapeutic agents. For several bioapplications, however, nanoparticles that express more than one functionality are often advantageous. This has led to the synthesis of multifunctional plasmonic nanostructures that combine the attractive plasmonic properties with other functionalities such as magnetism, photoluminescence, dispersibility in aqueous solutions, and resistance to degradation. Such multifunctional nanoparticles can be detected by multiple imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, their performance in diagnostics and therapy (theranostics) can be significantly improved facilitating the early detection of diseases. The possibility to tune the desired properties enables such hybrid nanoparticles to be employed in vivo as therapeutic agents that can actively target tumor sites and destroy them by external means. This makes such bionanoprobes ideal candidates for non‐ or minimally invasive cancer treatments. Through rational design and engineering, ‘smart’ multifunctional nanomaterials with unprecedented properties can be made that will lead the nano‐based theranostics in the future. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2013, 5:19–30. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1190

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Adult Fingers Visualized on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Chest Radiographs: What You Don't See
Authors: Russell Jordan , Burbridge Brent E. , Duncan Meghan D. , Tynan Jennifer
Published: August 2012

Purpose

In a previous publication, it was revealed that a disturbingly high incidence of adult fingers were seen on pediatric intensive care unit radiographs, an example of inappropriate occupational exposure to diagnostic radiation. The present study examined adult fingers seen on neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) radiographs to assess the frequency of this occupational radiation exposure. During this study, we encountered an unexpected issue. The inappropriately exposed fingers appeared on the raw images but were sometimes cropped during technologist image processing before being sent to the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for interpretation. Our audit describes the frequency of cropping adult fingers from images before display on PACS, with the intent of unmasking this source of occupational radiation exposure, of which quality assurance personnel may not be aware.

Methods

At the x-ray workstation, the raw NICU source x-ray images were analysed for the visibility of adult fingers and then were compared with the final processed images sent to PACS by the x-ray technologist.

Results

Of 230 radiographs audited, 30 (13%) contained fingers directly in the x-ray beam that remained visible on PACS, 22 (10%) contained fingers in the direct beam that were cropped before being sent to PACS for analysis, and 44 (19%) contained fingers in the coned area.

Conclusions

A significant number of adult fingers are being exposed to radiation during the acquisition of NICU radiographs. Cropping NICU radiographs before sending them to PACS can conceal a significant source of occupational radiation exposure.
Global progress and potentially effective policy responses to reduce maternal mortality
Authors: Mbizvo Michael T. , Say Lale
Published: August 2012

Reducing maternal mortality within significant margins is a global imperative that reflects attainment of development goals. Progress in reducing maternal mortality, in particular among countries with notably high maternal mortality ratios (MMRs), has been substantially slower than the Millennium Development Goal target of an annual rate of 5.5% decline. The latest UN maternal mortality estimates show a reduction in MMR in a number of countries between 1990 and 2008. Understanding the factors associated with progress in countries that have reduced maternal mortality provides other countries and development partners with opportunities to consider and implement policies and interventions that could help accelerate progress. This paper reviews 6 countries that have demonstrated marked progress. The policies that have been effective include innovative financing measures; investment in human resources both in terms of strengthening pre‐service education and emphasizing in‐service training for healthcare providers; strengthening obstetric care by enhancing infrastructure and upgrading equipment, as well as improving quality of services; and investing in the broader determinants of maternal mortality, particularly family planning and women's education and socioeconomic empowerment. This range of actions, which includes a combination of facility and community‐based approaches, provides a list of potentially effective strategies that could be considered when developing programs in other countries with slower progress. Strong political will and multistakeholder involvement and interventions are key in the development and implementation of these policies and actions.
Misoprostol for prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: What do we know? What is next?
Authors: Raghavan Sheila , Abbas Dina , Winikoff Beverly
Published: August 2012

Misoprostol is an effective and safe uterotonic for the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). A 600‐μg oral dose of misoprostol has been shown to prevent PPH in community‐based randomized controlled trials. An 800‐μg sublingual dose of misoprostol appears to be a good first‐line treatment for controlling PPH. Adverse effects after use of misoprostol for PPH prevention or treatment may include shivering and fever. These effects are transient, resolve on their own, and are not life threatening. Misoprostol can play an important role in settings with limited access to oxytocin, and where there is no other option for PPH care.
The involvement of agencies in policy formulation: Explaining variation in policy autonomy of federal agencies in Germany
Authors: Bach Tobias
Published: August 2012

The article addresses how government agencies perceive their own role and relationship with their parent ministry in policy formulation. Although a growing body of literature suggests that agencies are frequently granted this type of policy autonomy from their parent ministries, there is little systematic knowledge about why some agencies have more policy autonomy than others. The article analyzes data from a large-N survey of federal agencies in Germany, examining the self-perception of federal agencies with regard to policy formulation and feed-back on policy effectiveness. The article uses task characteristics, formal–legal structure, and cultural aspects of ministry–agency relations as main explanatory factors. A key result of this research is that task characteristics are more important for explaining policy autonomy than structural and cultural characteristics.
Agencies and policy in an administrative state: The case of Hong Kong
Authors: Painter Martin , Yee Wai-Hang
Published: August 2012

A survey of agency chief executives in Hong Kong found that they perceive themselves to have high levels of policy autonomy. This could be interpreted in two ways: either that agency chiefs perceive they can exert power over their ‘principals’ through taking advantage of information asymmetries and by adopting other stratagems to evade supervision; or that they feel they possess influence through mutually supportive participation in policy-making with their supervising bureau officials and principal officials (or ‘ministers’). The institutional context of Hong Kong's administrative state, in particular the integrated and inclusive nature of the civil service career system; the absence of an elected political leadership; and the key representational roles played by various boards and panels associated with agencies, makes the second interpretation more plausible. In support of this argument, evidence is drawn from interviews with senior officials in seven Hong Kong agencies, supported by case study material. We find evidence of a number of aspects of the policy roles of agencies which are mutually agreed, rational adaptations to this institutional context, such as partitioning the policy field (when the political executive and the supervising policy bureau formally or informally vacate part of the policy field and delegate it to the agency); filling a policy vacuum (when the political executive voluntarily vacates the field altogether); and acting in a segmented policy process (when agencies are allowed to take the lead in agenda-setting and/or exercise high levels of flexibility and adaptability in the implementation process). These features of relations between agencies, policy bureaus and the political executive are not the product of principal–agent conflict but of mutual cooperation and adaptation.
Rethinking Greek Religion
Authors: Kindt Julia
Published: August 2012

Who marched in religious processions and why? How were blood sacrifice and communal feasting related to identities in the ancient Greek city? With questions such as these, current scholarship aims to demonstrate the ways in which religion maps on to the socio-political structures of the Greek polis ('polis religion'). In this book Dr Kindt explores a more comprehensive conception of ancient Greek religion beyond this traditional paradigm. Comparative in method and outlook, the book invites its readers to embark on an interdisciplinary journey touching upon such diverse topics as religious belief, personal religion, magic and theology. Specific examples include the transformation of tyrant property into ritual objects, the cultural practice of setting up dedications at Olympia, and a man attempting to make love to Praxiteles' famous statue of Aphrodite. The book will be valuable for all students and scholars seeking to understand the complex phenomenon of ancient Greek religion.
Genomics and Bioinformatics
Authors: Samuelsson Tore
Published: August 2012

With the arrival of genomics and genome sequencing projects, biology has been transformed into an incredibly data-rich science. The vast amount of information generated has made computational analysis critical and has increased demand for skilled bioinformaticians. Designed for biologists without previous programming experience, this textbook provides a hands-on introduction to Unix, Perl and other tools used in sequence bioinformatics. Relevant biological topics are used throughout the book and are combined with practical bioinformatics examples, leading students through the process from biological problem to computational solution. All of the Perl scripts, sequence and database files used in the book are available for download at the accompanying website, allowing the reader to easily follow each example using their own computer. Programming examples are kept at an introductory level, avoiding complex mathematics that students often find daunting. The book demonstrates that even simple programs can provide powerful solutions to many complex bioinformatics problems.
Syntactic Islands
Authors: Boeckx Cedric
Published: August 2012

The phenomenon of the syntactic 'island' - a clause or structure from which a word cannot be moved - is central to research and study in syntactic theory. This book provides a comprehensive overview of syntactic islands. What are they? How do they arise? Why do they exist? Cedric Boeckx discusses the pros and cons of all the major generative accounts of island effects, and focuses the discussion on whether islands are narrowly syntactic effects, are due to interface factors or are 'merely' performance effects. Thanks to the diversity of island effects, readers are given a unique opportunity to familiarize themselves with all the major research styles and types of analysis in theoretical linguistics and have the chance to reflect on the theoretical implications of concrete natural language examples, allowing them to develop their own synthesis.
Law and the Technologies of the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Brownsword Roger , Goodwin Morag
Published: August 2012

Law and the Technologies of the Twenty-First Century provides a contextual account of the way in which law functions in a broader regulatory environment across different jurisdictions. It identifies and clearly structures the four key challenges that technology poses to regulatory efforts, distinguishing between technology as a regulatory target and tool, and guiding the reader through an emerging field that is subject to rapid change. By extensive use of examples and extracts from the texts and materials that form and shape the scholarly and public debates over technology regulation, it presents complex material in a stimulating and engaging manner. Co-authored by a leading scholar in the field with a scholar new to the area, it combines comprehensive knowledge of the field with a fresh approach. This is essential reading for students of law and technology, risk regulation, policy studies, and science and technology studies.