bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perinatal depression in Asian women: prevalence, associated factors, and cultural aspects
Authors: Roomruangwong Chutima , Epperson C. Neill
Published: March 2011

Background and Objective: Although perinatal depression is a worldwide problem, most of the studies related to this issue have been conducted in Western countries. This paper summarizes the literature on the prevalence as well as associated factors among Asian countries where the cultural attitudes, customs, and norms are considerably different from those in Western countries.

Methods: We conducted a literature search using MEDLINE (PubMed) from 1968, PsychINFO from 1970, and SCOPUS database from 1982 using keywords “depression”, “antenatal”, “antepartum”, “pregnancy”, “postnatal”, “postpartum”, “perinatal”, “after childbirth” and “Asia”. Only the articles published in English were included.

Results: The overall prevalence of depression during pregnancy and postnatal period are about 20% and 21.8%, respectively. The factors related to perinatal depression can be grouped into the following categories, individual characteristics, husband/marital relationship, pregnancy-related, infant-related, and other psychosocial issues. While there is considerable overlap between Asian and Western countries with respect to risk factors for perinatal depression, premarital pregnancy, conflict with mother in-law, and dissatisfaction with infant’s gender are more specific to Asian cultures.

Conclusions: Studies conducted in Asian countries suggest that the prevalence of perinatal depression is slightly higher than in Western countries. There are several unique culturally related issues that clinicians treating pregnant and postpartum Asian women should be aware as they contribute to an increased risk of depression in these women.
The Noun איש (’îš) in Biblical Hebrew: A Term of Affiliation
Authors: Stein David E. S.
Published: March 2011

This article investigates one of the most frequent nouns in the Hebrew Bible, איש (’îš). Using paradigmatic (comparative) and syntagmatic (contextual) linguistic analysis, it finds that איש is a term that intrinsically conveys relationship. That is, איש serves to relate two referents to each other: one that it points to directly (the individual), and one that it points to indirectly (the group or party with which that individual is affiliated). Specifically, this noun variously signals three related nuances: membership or participation; representation as exemplar; and representation on behalf of others. At least 87% of biblical instances of איש can thus be accounted for, and some usages are best explained in this way. The article also cites evidence to suggest that the feminine counterpart noun, אשה (’îššâ), should likewise be construed as a term of affiliation. After noting that the primary sense of איש is probably not “adult male” as many lexicons state, it sketches some implications for glossing, translating, and interpreting איש.
The Problem of Magic and Monotheism in the Book of Leviticus
Authors: Schmitt Rüdiger
Published: March 2011

The article deals with some of the theses advanced in Mary Douglas’s later works (In the Wilderness, Leviticus as Literature, and Jacob’s Tears), and in particular with her claim that magic and divination were outlawed in the priestly conceptions of the reformed religion of Israel. Her position here relates to her basic thesis that the priestly writings promoted a renewed religion more abstract, more orderly, and more fully theorized than the religions in the Israelite ancient Near Eastern environment. I show that the transformation of Israelite religion in the exilic-post-exilic period was less radical and that the concept of monotheism had no effect on certain ritual practices that could be considered magic, because their concept was in essence theistic.
Deciphering a Definition: The Syntagmatic Structural Analysis of Ritual in the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Wright David P.
Published: March 2011

This article argues that any action performed by an individual or group can only be properly understood in the context of the larger range of similar activity performed by the individual or group. It builds on Mary Douglas's syntagmatic structural analysis of action within such a broad context and moves to Catherine Bell's similar contextualization of ritualization within a larger framework of action. This type of analysis allows for formulating a clearer definition of ritual and a more precise identification of the strategies employed to create ritual. It also provides a method for the study of ritual, in which any given performance may be evaluated by its relationship to other similar actions, including non-ritual actions. As an example, the paper looks at the story of the feast held by Joseph for his brothers in Genesis 43 and suggests how this may be used for elucidating the understanding of biblical sacrifice.
Imagining Ezekiel
Authors: Apóstolo Silvio Sergio Scatolini
Published: March 2011

This contribution highlights some of the dimensions of the biblical book called "Ezekiel." Its point of departure is that biblical books are “books” in a special way, not only because they ask their readers to approach them as means of God's revelations, but also because their compositional history most often deconstructs our usual notions of book, author and writer. "Imagining Ezekiel" is a proposal to re-imagine Ezekiel as literature and to let it do its literary magic. The book has its truth to tell, the truth of its metaphors and viewpoint.
Moses Outside the Torah and the Construction of a Diaspora Identity
Authors: Römer Thomas
Published: March 2011

This article deals with how, in texts inside and outside the Torah, Moses became a figure of identification for the different Jewish Diasporas during the Persian Period  The following themes are investigated: 1. The Shared Figure of Moses and the Pentateuch; 2. The death of Moses outside the land; 3. Moses, the magician; 4. Moses, the leprous; 5. Moses and the foreign women; 6. Moses, the warrior.
“The Editor was Nodding” A Reading of Leviticus 19 In Memory of Mary Douglas
Authors: Kline Moshe
Published: March 2011

Leviticus 19 was constructed as a true table consisting of two columns and five rows. The columns are inverted parallels; one is ordered from positive to negative and the other from negative to positive. The rows are ordered according to the degree of God’s connection to the specific laws. The five by two table is based on the author’s reading of the Exodus 20 Decalogue as five consecutive pairs according to the division into ten Words that appears in the MT. This arrangement of the Decalogue is “quoted” in Leviticus 19.
Khirbet Qeiyafa: Sha`arayimn
Authors: Garfinkel Yosef , Ganor Saar
Published: March 2011

Khirbet Qeiyafa is a 2.3 hectare fortified early 10th century BCE site, located in the Judean Shephelah, atop a hill that bordered the Elah Valley from the north. This is a key strategic location in the biblical kingdom of Judah, on the main road from Philistia and the Coastal Plain to Jerusalem and Hebron in the hill country. It is the only site in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel with two gates. This unique feature provides a clear indication of the site's identity as biblical Sha`arayim, a place name that means “two gates” in Hebrew.  Sha`arayim is mentioned three times in the Bible (Jos 15:36; 1 Sam 17:52 and 1 Ch 4:31-32). It is located near the Elah valley, associated with King David twice, and not mentioned in conjunction with any other later First Temple period tradition. This accords with the archaeological and radiometric data that indicate a single-phase settlement in the early 10th century BCE at Khirbet Qeiyafa.
The Elisha Stories as Saint’s Legends
Authors: Shemesh Yael
Published: March 2011

The present article seeks to define the literary genre of the Elisha cycle of stories. Various possibilities raised in current research are examined and rejected. They are not polemic stories directed against Baal Worship, narratives designed to glorify the institution of prophecy, social religious satire against the royal house, polemics against the House of Omri, or didactic salvation stories. Neither do they contain criticism towards Elisha. Rather, the Elisha cycle in toto constitutes the oldest example in Jewish literature of hagiographic stories. All the stories (including the longer ones, in some of which modern scholarship tends to find a vein of criticism directed against Elisha) express adoration for the holy man of God–Elisha, the miracle worker.
Evaluating Mental Health After the 2010 Haitian Earthquake
Authors: Safran Marc A. , Chorba Terence , Schreiber Merritt , Archer W. Roodly , Cookson Susan T.
Published: March 2011

Mental health is an important aspect of public health after a disaster. This article describes what is known and what remains to be learned regarding the mental health impact of the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti. Public health surveillance efforts in Haiti and the United States in the first 2 months after the earthquake are described. Challenges in clinical assessment and public health surveillance are explored. Potential implications for survivors and public health officials are considered.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:154–157)
Set‐theoretic adaptive filtering based on data‐driven sparsification
Authors: Yukawa Masahiro , Yamada Isao
Published: March 2011

In this article, we propose a fast and efficient algorithm namedthe adaptive parallel Krylov‐metric projection algorithm. The proposed algorithm is derived from the variable‐metric adaptive projected subgradient method, which has recently been presented as a unified analytic tool for various adaptive filtering algorithms. The proposed algorithm features parallel projection—in a variable‐metric sense—onto multiple closed convex sets containing the optimal filter with high probability. The metric is designed based on (i) sparsification by means of a certain data‐dependent Krylov subspace and (ii) maximal use of the obtained sparse structure for fast convergence. The numerical examples show the advantages of the proposed algorithm over the existing ones in stationary/nonstationary environments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bioimpedance analysis: Should it be used in morbid obesity?
Authors: Leal Ana A.D. , Faintuch Joel , Morais Álvaro A.C. , Noe João A.B. , Bertollo Diandria M. , Morais Rafael C. , Cabrini Danielle
Published: March 2011

Objectives:

Questions about reliability of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in morbidly obese subjects have curtailed its use in this setting, but metabolic implications might reignite the debate. In a prospective study, it was aimed to analyze anthropometric and clinical associations.

Methods:

Bariatric candidates (n = 94) with or without metabolic syndrome were consecutively investigated. Age was 34.9 ± 10.4 years (68.1% females), and BMI was 40.8 ± 4.6 kg m−2. Methods included single‐frequency BIA, anthropometrics, inflammatory indices, and general biochemical profile.

Results:

Body composition results (water, fat) in females, but not in males, were entirely consistent with the literature. In both genders good association was observed with anthropometrics (BMI, waist circumference), inflammatory indices (ferritin, C‐reactive protein) and general biochemical variables. Anthropometric measurements also displayed comparable associations. Multivariate tests including the two sets of measurements indicated no predominance of one method over the other, one complementing the other as metabolic marker.

Conclusions:

BIA limitations were mostly relevant for males, not females. Despite such discrepancies, good associations with anthropometry were demonstrated for both genders. Correlations with liver enzymes, and indices of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism could be demonstrated. BIA deserves more investigations concerning liver steatosis and ongoing inflammation, and it could contribute as well, synergistically with anthropometry, to monitor weight loss, body fat shifts, and metabolic risk. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Logistics of using the Actiheart physical activity monitors in urban Mexico among 7‐ to 9‐year‐old children
Authors: Wilson Hannah , Dickinson Federico , Griffiths Paula , Bogin Barry , Varela‐silva Maria Inês
Published: March 2011

Logistics of using new measurement devices are important to understand when developing protocols. This paper discusses the logistics of using Actiheart physical activity monitors on children in an urban, tropical environment in a developing country. Actiheart monitoring of 36 children aged 7–9 years old was undertaken for 7 days in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. The Actiheart proved fragile for children and difficult to mend in the field. The excessive sweating due to the tropical climate caused poor adherence of the electrode pads, requiring a pad change midway through and extra pads to be provided. Also extra time was needed to be allotted for increased instructions to participants and their mothers and for individual calibration. When collecting objectively measured physical activity data under harsh conditions, the protocol must accommodate local conditions and device limitations and allow increased time with participants to obtain good quality data. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How boys grow determines how long they live
Authors: J.P. Barker David , Kajantie Eero , Osmond Clive , Thornburg Kent L. , Eriksson Johan G.
Published: March 2011

Objectives:

Increase in height in modern societies has been accompanied by an in increase in lifespan. The longer lives of taller people suggest that good nutrition during childhood, together with freedom from recurrent minor infection, prolong human life. There is, however, a caveat. Tall adult stature may be the result of rapid “compensatory” growth following a setback. Compensatory growth is known to reduce the lifespan of animals, possibly because it is disorganized.

Methods:

We analyzed lifespan among 6,975 men born in Helsinki, Finland, during 1934–44. Their early growth was recorded.

Results:

Boys who were tallest at seven years of age had lower all cause mortality, the hazard ratio being 0.79(95%CI 0.70 to 0.89, P < 0.0001) per 10 cm increase in height. There was, however, a group of boys among whom being tall was associated with increased all cause mortality, the hazard ratio being 1.32(1.00 to 1.75, P = 0.05). These boys were taller at seven years than their birthweight and length at birth predicted. After they were excluded from the analysis, boys who were more than 126 cm in height at seven lived for eight years longer than those who were 114 cm or less. This increase in lifespan was similar to the effect of high socio‐economic status in adult life.

Conclusions:

Rapid growth in childhood height usually predicts a longer life. But tallness among men may be a misleading indicator of wellbeing and longer life expectancy in populations where compensatory growth is widespread. African Americans may be an example. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Study of thermal phase transitions in iota carrageenan gels via fluorescence technique
Authors: Tari Özlem , Kara Selim , Pekcan Önder
Published: March 2011

The effect of carrageenan concentration on thermal phase transitions of the iota carrageenan gels was investigated by using fluorescence technique. During heating and cooling processes, scattered light, Isc, and fluorescence intensity, Ip, were monitored against temperature to investigate phase transitions. Transition temperatures from the derivative of the transition paths were determined. Two regions were observed during the heating and cooling processes. At the first step of the heating, dimers were converted into double helix by undergoing dimer to double helix (d‐h) transition. At the higher temperature region, double helix to coil (h‐c) transition took place. During the cooling process, these transitions are arranged in the order of coil to double helix (c‐h) and double helix to dimer (h‐d). A hysteresis was observed between (h‐d) and (d‐h) transitions. The critical gel fraction exponents, β, were found to be independent of the system by indicating that they all fall into the same universality class. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Preparation and characterization of a new lacquer based on blending urushiol with thitsiol
Authors: Honda Takayuki , Ma Xiaoming , Lu Rong , Kanamori Daisuke , Miyakoshi Tetsuo
Published: March 2011

A new lacquer that blends R. vernicifera (Chinese lacquer, urushiol) with Melanorrhea usitata (Thai lacquer, thitsiol) was prepared. The main properties, viscosities, drying times, drying mechanism, and the nature of the lacquer films as a coating material, were examined. In addition, the mechanism of transfer radical reaction that occurred between urushiol and thitsiol is discussed based on the results of two‐dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and field desorption mass spectrometry (FD‐MS) measurements. A blended lacquer with 70% R. vernicifera and 30% M. usitata showed almost the same drying time as 100% R. vernicifera as examined in an automatic drying time recorder but had higher surface smoothness and gloss. Furthermore, the molecular weight distribution, UV resistance, and glass transition temperature (Tg) also were investigated in detail. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
New soluble cyano‐containing poly(arylene ether) copolymers bearing pendant xanthene groups
Authors: Sheng Shou‐Ri , Wang Yi‐Hua , Huang Shui‐Ping , Cao Wei , Song Cai‐Sheng
Published: March 2011

Homopolymers and copolymers of poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PAEN)‐bearing pendant xanthene groups were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,6‐difluorobenzonitrile with 9,9‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)xanthene (BHPX) and with various molar proportions of BHPX to hydroquinone (100/0 to 40/60) with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. These polymers had inherent viscosities between 0.61 and 1.08 dL/g, and their weight‐average molecular weights and number‐average molecular weights were in the ranges 34,200–40,800 and 17,800–20,200, respectively. All of the PAENs were amorphous and were soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents, including NMP, N,N‐dimethylformamide, and N,N‐dimethylacetamide and even in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform at room temperature. The resulting polymers showed glass‐transition temperatures (Tg's) between 220 and 257°C, and the Tg values of the copolymers were found to increase with increasing BHPX unit content in the polymer. Thermogravimetric studies showed that all of the polymers were stable up to 422°C with 10% weight loss temperatures ranging from 467 to 483°C and char yields of 54–64% at 700°C in nitrogen. All of the new PAENs could be cast into transparent, strong, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 106–123 MPa, elongations at break of 13–17%, and tensile moduli of 3.2–3.7 GPa. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Characterization of nanosilica‐filled epoxy composites for electrical and insulation applications
Authors: Veena M. G. , Renukappa N. M. , Raj J. M. , Ranganathaiah C. , Shivakumar K. N.
Published: March 2011

We report in this article the results of nanosilica (SiO2)‐filled epoxy composites with different loadings and their electrical, thermal, mechanical, and free‐volume properties characterized with different techniques. The morphological features were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposites. The properties of the nanocomposites showed that the electrical resistivity (ρ), ultimate tensile strength, and hardness of the composites increased with SiO2 weight fraction up to 10 wt % and decreased thereafter; this suggested that the beneficial properties occurred up to this weight fraction. The temperature and seawater aging had a negative influence on ρ; that is, ρ decreased with increases in the temperature and aging. The free‐volume changes (microstructural) in the composite systems correlated with seawater aging but did not correlate so well with the mechanical properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Plastic identification and comparison by multivariate techniques with laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Anzano Jesús , Bonilla Beatriz , Montull‐Ibor Beatriz , Casas‐González Justiniano
Published: March 2011

The classification of plastics is very important in the recycling industry. A quick online classification allows the installation of the equipment in this line of work. Whether qualitative or quantitative analysis, the basic component of any laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurement is the emission spectrum recorder from single plasma. Each fire of the laser atomizes a portion of the sample in the pulse focal volume and produces plasma that excites and re‐excites the atoms to emit light. The plasma light is collected and recorded in an ensuing measurement. In this sense, the LIBS technique offers all possible advantages: speed, the possibility of online analysis, nondestructive analysis, and so on. In this article, we discuss details related to the analysis of the emission spectrum. The plastics used in this study were low‐density polyethylene (PE), high‐density PE, polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly(ethylene terephthalate). Hierarchical cluster analysis was proven to be the best method because the four polymers could be divided into two clusters, which allowed their identification and classification in a fast and easy way that could be carried out with commercial software and could be implanted online in a recycling factory, as conventional data analysis techniques are limited to the qualitative identification and calculation of elemental abundances. Principal component analysis on LIBS spectra can be used to better describe the chemical variations in the samples and to extract a greater understanding of the chemical structure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Fabrication of hollow, spherical polymeric “micropillows” using a dual layer spinneret
Authors: Shan Wickramanayake W. M. , Lively R. P. , Polizzotti R. S. , Chance R. R. , Koros W. J.
Published: March 2011

Hollow, spherical, millimeter diameter scale polymer “micropillows” (MPs) were fabricated via nonsolvent‐induced phase separation/extraction, using a dual layer spinneret extrusion system. Wall thicknesses in the 45–350‐μm range were achieved via the extraction of the n‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) polymer solvent into a high‐molecular weight poly(propylene glycol) nonsolvent. Introduction of heptane into the core of the particles and vaporization of that heptane at elevated temperatures enabled moderate particle expansion and avoided particle collapse after extraction of the NMP solvent. For the most dilute polymer solution feed, the final product was an imidized MP particle with a diameter of about 1.5 mm, a wall thickness of about 45 μm, and a geometric compression ratio of about 6.0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Synthesis and characterization of a new amphiphilic copolymer containing multihydroxyl segments for drug carrier
Authors: Yu Qi , Najun Li , Qingfeng Xu , Jianfeng Ge , Xuewei Xia , Jianmei Lu
Published: March 2011

A new amphiphilic copolymer (copoly‐(MR‐BMA‐HEA‐MAA), PRBHM) containing multihydroxyl segments was designed and synthesized for application in drug carrier. PRBHM can be dissolved in water to form aggregates directly with a critical aggregate concentration (CAC) of 0.0138 mg mL−1. The chains of PRBHM can be collapsed into hydrophobic globules when pH decreases from neutral to slightly acid condition (pH = 5.0–7.0) in water. Since the hydrophilic hydroxyl group is independent on pH, PRBHM can keep stable both in neutral and slightly acid aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic small molecules such as 5‐(4‐(4‐vinylbenzyloxy) phenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazole (PY) can be loaded into PRBHM aggregates via ultrasonic treatment in water, and can be internalized into BEL‐7402 cancer cells. The cytotoxicity determination also indicates the good biocompatibility of PRBHM in potential application as a drug carrier. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Morphology control of various aromatic Polyimidazoles—preparation of nanofibers
Authors: Gong Jin , Uchida Tetsuya , Yamazaki Shinichi , Kimura Kunio
Published: March 2011

Morphology of four kinds of aromatic polyimidazoles was examined by using reaction‐induced crystallization during solution polymerization at a concentration of 1% at 350°C in liquid paraffin (LPF), dibenzyltoluene (DBT), and the mixture of these solvents. Aggregates of ribbon‐like crystals of poly[2,6‐(2,6‐naphthalene)‐benzobisimidazole] were obtained in LPF, and those of plate‐like crystals were obtained in DBT/LPF‐50 and in DBT. In contrast to this, the network structures of poly[2,2′‐(2,6‐naphthalene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole)] (PNT‐BBI) nanofibers with the diameter of 25 to 90 nm was mainly obtained in DBT. The network structures of the PNT‐BBI nanofibers could be recognized as nonwoven fabrics of the high‐performance polymers. Imidazole trimers were precipitated to form the ribbon‐like crystals and then they were continuously supplied from solution to grow the crystals. Molecular weight increased by the polymerization on the surface of the crystals when they crystallized and in the crystals. The initially formed aggregates of ribbon‐like crystals changed to the nanofibers with time. In the case of poly[2,6‐(4,4′‐biphenylene)‐benzobisimidazole] and poly[2,2′‐(4,4′‐biphenylene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole)], they exhibited various morphologies such as spheres, lath‐like crystals, and the spherical aggregates of lath‐like crystals depending on the solvent, but fibers like PNT‐BBI were not formed. The crystals obtained in this study possessed very high crystallinity and the outstanding thermal stability measured by TGA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Mechanical properties and morphological changes of poly(lactic acid)/polycarbonate/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) blend through reactive processing
Authors: Kanzawa Takeshi , Tokumitsu Katsuhisa
Published: March 2011

The mechanical properties and morphological changes of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), and poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) polymer blends were investigated. Several types of blend samples were prepared by reactive processing (RP) with a twin‐screw extruder using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a radical initiator. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) of binary polymer blends of PC/PBAT indicated that each component was miscible over a wide range of PC/PBAT mixing ratios. DMA of PLA/PBAT/PC ternary blends revealed that PBAT is miscible with PC even in the case of ternary blend system and the miscibility of PLA and PBAT can also be modified through RP. As a result, the tensile strain and impact strength of the ternary blends was increased considerably through RP, especially for PLA/PBAT/PC = 42/18/40 (wt/wt/wt) with DCP (0.3 phr). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the PLA/PBAT/PC blends revealed many small spherical island phases with a domain size of approximately 0.05–1 μm for RP, whereas it was approximately 10 μm without RP. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Synthesis of Cyclic Selenenate/Seleninate Esters Stabilized byortho‐Nitro Coordination: Their Glutathione Peroxidase‐Like Activities
Authors: Singh Vijay P. , Singh Harkesh B. , Butcher Ray J.
Published: March 2011

The syntheses of selenenate/seleninate esters and related derivatives by aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reactions of 2‐bromo‐3‐nitrobenzylalcohol (13) and 2‐bromo‐3‐nitrobenzaldehyde (17) with Na2Se2/nBuSeNa are described. The reaction of13with Na2Se2at room temperature afforded 7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenole(3 H) (15) instead of the desired diaryl diselenide14. Oxidation of selenenate ester15with hydrogen peroxide afforded the corresponding selenium(IV) derivative, 7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenole(3 H) selenium oxide (18). 2‐(Butylselanyl)‐3‐nitrobenzaldehyde (19) was synthesized by treating compound17with in situ generatednBuSeNa. The bromination reaction of selenide19did not afford the expected arylselenenyl bromide20, instead, it resulted in the formation of the unexpected 7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenol(3 H)‐3‐ol (21) and 3,3′‐oxybis(7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenole(3 H)) (22), respectively. The facile formation of heterocycles21and22is rationalized in terms of the aromatic ring strain in selenenyl bromide20. The presence of intramolecular secondary Se⋅⋅⋅O interactions in esters15,18,21,22, and selenenic anhydride29has been confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies as well as computational studies. The presence of an intramolecular Se⋅⋅⋅O interaction in esters4b,8,15,18,21, and22has been further proved by natural bond orbital (NBO) and atoms in molecules (AIM) calculations. Glutathione peroxidase‐like (GPx) antioxidant activities of15,18,21,22, and related heterocycles such as 7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenol(2 H)‐3‐one selenium oxide (4b), 7‐nitro‐1,2‐benzisoselenol(2 H)‐3‐one (8), and29have been determined by the coupled reductase assay.
DNA Interstrand Cross‐Links of an Antitumor Trinuclear Platinum(II) Complex: Thermodynamic Analysis and Chemical Probing
Authors: Malina Jaroslav , Farrell Nicholas P. , Brabec Viktor
Published: March 2011

The trinuclear platinum compound [{trans‐PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ‐trans‐Pt(NH3)2{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2)]4+ (BBR3464) belongs to the polynuclear class of platinum‐based anticancer agents. These agents form in DNA long‐range (Pt,Pt) interstrand cross‐links, whose role in the antitumor effects of BBR3464 predominates. Our results show for the first time that the interstrand cross‐links formed by BBR3464 between two guanine bases in opposite strands separated by two base pairs (1,4‐interstrand cross‐links) exist as two distinct conformers, which are not interconvertible, not only if these cross‐links are formed in the 5′‐5′, but also in the less‐usual 3′‐3’ direction. Analysis of the conformers by differential scanning calorimetry, chemical probes of DNA conformation, and minor groove binder Hoechst 33258 demonstrate that each of the four conformers affects DNA in a distinctly different way and adopts a different conformation. The results also support the thesis that the molecule of antitumor BBR3464 when forming DNA interstrand cross‐links may adopt different global structures, including different configurations of the linker chain of BBR3464 in the minor groove of DNA. Our findings suggest that the multiple DNA interstrand cross‐links available to BBR3464 may all contribute substantially to its cytotoxicity.
Induction of drug efflux protein expression by venlafaxine but not desvenlafaxine
Authors: Bachmeier Corbin J. , Beaulieu‐Abdelahad David , Ganey Nowell J. , Mullan Michael J. , Levin Gary M.
Published: March 2011

Venlafaxine and its metabolite desvenlafaxine are serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors currently prescribed for the treatment of depression. Previously, it was reported that venlafaxine is an inducer of MDR1, the gene responsible for P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp). The present study expanded upon these findings by examining the effect of venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine on the expression of both P‐gp and the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in human brain endothelial cells (HBMEC), an in vitro model of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The HBMEC were treated for 1 h with various concentrations (500 nM to 50 µM) of venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine. Western blot analysis revealed treatment with venlafaxine significantly induced the expression of P‐gp (2‐fold) and BCRP (1.75‐fold) in a dose‐dependent manner, while treatment with desvenlafaxine had no effect on drug efflux transporter expression. To determine the functional significance of this effect, the permeability of a known drug efflux probe, rhodamine 123, across the BBB model and Caco‐2 cells, a model of intestinal absorption, were examined. Treatment with venlafaxine (1–50 µM) for 1 h significantly reduced the apical‐to‐basolateral permeability of R123 across the BBB model (30%) and Caco‐2 cell monolayers (25%), indicative of increased drug efflux transporter expression at the apical membrane. Conversely, desvenlafaxine had no effect on R123 permeability in either cellular model. These studies indicate that venlafaxine, but not desvenlafaxine is an inducer of drug efflux transporter expression, which consequently increases the potential for clinical drug–drug interactions. Therefore, based on these preliminary results, caution should be taken when prescribing venlafaxine with other P‐gp substrates. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on osteoblast proliferation and maturation in an inflammatory environment
Authors: Lin Hsin‐Yi , Lin Yu‐Jen
Published: March 2011

An in vitro model was set up to investigate the effects of low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and its induced electric fields on osteoblast cells under inflammatory conditions. Osteoblasts (7F2) were seeded on top of chitosan scaffolds and co‐cultured with macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) growing on the bottom of culture wells, stimulated by lipopolysaccharide to release reactive oxygen species including nitric oxide (NO). The co‐culture was exposed to PEMF (magnitude of the magnetic field = 1.5 mT; induced electric voltage = 2.5 mV; frequency = 75 Hz; pulse duration = 1.3 ms) for 9 h. The osteoblasts were examined for their proliferation, viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and genetic expressions of type I collagen (COL I) and osteocalcin (OC), immediately and 7 days after PEMF exposure (days 0 and 7). Macrophage cell viability and NO concentration in the medium were monitored before and after PEMF exposure. The PEMF‐exposed co‐culture released a significantly higher amount of NO (65 µM) compared to control (17 µM) on day 7. Despite the high level of NO in the medium that was reported to be cytotoxic, PEMF‐exposed osteoblasts had enhanced cell proliferation (23%), viability (36%), and COL I mRNA expression (3.4‐fold) compared to the controls. The osteoblasts subjected to the PEMF had 41% less ALP activity than the control, which was associated with the active cell proliferation and COL I expression. The expression of OC mRNA was not seen in either the PEMF or control group, indicating cells had not entered the mineralization stage by day 7. Bioelectromagnetics 32:552–560, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Randomized phase II clinical trial of avotermin versus placebo for scar improvement
Authors: McCollum P T , Bush J A , James G , Mason T , O'Kane S , McCollum C , Krievins D , Shiralkar S , Ferguson M W J
Published: March 2011

Background

Scarring is a major problem following skin injury. In early clinical trials, transforming growth factor β3 (avotermin) improved scar appearance. The aim of this study was to determine whether an injection of avotermin at the time of wound closure is effective in improving scar appearance.

Methods

Study RN1001-0042, a double-blind, randomized, within-patient, placebo-controlled trial, investigated the efficacy and safety of four doses of avotermin given once. Patients undergoing bilateral surgery to remove varicose leg veins by saphenofemoral ligation and long saphenous vein stripping were enrolled at 20 European centres. A total of 156 patients were randomized to receive one of four doses of avotermin (5, 50, 200 or 500 ng per 100 µl, at 100 µl per linear cm of wound margin), administered by intradermal injection to the groin and distal wound margins of one leg; placebo was administered to the other leg. Scar appearance was evaluated by an independent panel of lay people (lay panel), investigators and patients. The primary efficacy variable was lay panel Total Scar Score (ToScar), derived from visual analogue scale scores for groin scars between 6 weeks and 7 months.

Results

Avotermin 500 ng significantly improved groin scar appearance compared with placebo (mean lay panel ToScar difference 16·49 mm; P = 0·036).

Conclusion

Avotermin 500 ng per 100 µl per linear cm of wound margin given once is well tolerated and significantly improves scar appearance. Registration number: NCT00430326 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
High intra-abdominal pressure during experimental laparoscopic liver resection reduces bleeding but increases the risk of gas embolism
Authors: Eiriksson K , Fors D , Rubertsson S , Arvidsson D
Published: March 2011

Background

Various recommendations exist regarding intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during laparoscopic liver resection. A high IAP may reduce bleeding but at the same time increase the risk of gas embolism. This study investigated the effects of two different IAPs during laparoscopic left liver lobe resection in piglets.

Methods

Sixteen piglets underwent laparoscopic left liver lobe resection using carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum of either 8 or 16 mmHg (8 per group). A combination of CUSA System 200™ and LigaSure™ instruments was used for parenchymal division. During resection, a standard injury to the left liver vein was also created to increase the risk of bleeding and/or gas embolism during the operation. Heart rate, cardiac output, and arterial, pulmonary arterial, pulmonary capillary wedge and central venous pressures were measured. Arterial blood gases were monitored continuously. Transoesophageal echocardiography was video recorded to detect and quantify gas embolism within the right cardiac ventricle. The duration of operation and bleeding were noted.

Results

High IAP resulted in reduced bleeding (P = 0·016), but gas embolism occurred more frequently (P = 0·001) than with low IAP. Gas embolism disturbed gas exchange, with an increase in arterial pressure of carbon dioxide, and a decrease in arterial partial pressure of oxygen and pH. These effects were sustained for at least 30 min after surgery.

Conclusion

High IAP reduces the amount of bleeding but increases the risk of gas embolism. Monitoring for gas embolism is therefore indicated if a high IAP is used during laparoscopic liver resection.
Protein Interactions in the Escherichia coli Cytosol: An Impediment to In‐Cell NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Crowley Peter B. , Chow Elysian , Papkovskaia Tatiana
Published: March 2011

Protein science is shifting towards experiments performed under native or native‐like conditions. In‐cell NMR spectroscopy for instance has the potential to reveal protein structure and dynamics inside cells. However, not all proteins can be studied by this technique. 15N‐labelled cytochrome c (cyt c) over‐expressed in Escherichia coli was undetectable by in‐cell NMR spectroscopy. When whole‐cell lysates were subjected to size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) cyt c was found to elute with an apparent molecular weight of >150 kDa. The presence of high molecular weight species is indicative of complex formation between cyt c and E. coli cytosolic proteins. These interactions were disrupted by charge‐inverted mutants in cyt c and by elevated concentrations of NaCl. The physiologically relevant salt, KGlu, was less efficient at disrupting complex formation. Notably, a triple mutant of cyt c could be detected in cell lysates by NMR spectroscopy. The protein, GB1, yields high quality in‐cell spectra and SEC analysis of lysates containing GB1 revealed a lack of interaction between GB1 and E. coli proteins. Together these data suggest that protein “stickiness” is a limiting factor in the application of in‐cell NMR spectroscopy.
Mesoporous Glass Membranes as Model Systems to Study Gas Diffusion through Porous Media
Authors: Stoltenberg D. , Seidel‐Morgenstern A. , Enke D.
Published: March 2011

Porous glass monoliths are suitable model systems to study pore size‐related effects in gas diffusion. Here, mesoporous glass membranes with different surface properties and pore diameters covering the lower mesopore range were synthesized and used to study gas permeation of adsorbable and non‐adsorbable gases. Dynamic single gas permeation measurements were performed using a modified Wicke‐Kallenbach cell. Chemical surface modification of the inner surface of the membranes resulted in altered adsorption and diffusion properties.
Monitoring of biogas test plants—a process analytical technology approach
Authors: Holm‐Nielsen Jens Bo , Esbensen Kim H.
Published: March 2011

Most studies reported in the literature have investigated near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) in laboratory‐scale or minor pilot biogas plants only; practically no other studies have examined the potential for meso‐scale/full‐scale on‐line process monitoring. The focus of this study is on a meso‐scale biogas test plant implementation of process analytical technologies (PAT) to develop multivariate calibration/prediction models for anaerobic digestion (AD) processes. A 150 L bioreactor was fitted with a recurrent loop at which NIR spectroscopy and attendant reference sampling were carried out. In all realistic bioreactor scales, it is necessary to obtain a fairly constant level of volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, which furthers a stable biogas production. Uncontrolled VFA contents have a significant negative impact on biogas production; VFA concentrations should not exceed 5–6000 mg/L lest the microorganism population may suffer fatal reductions. On‐line control and management of VFA concentration levels are therefore critical in order to be able to speed up or slow down the AD processes which produce the desired sustainable bioenergy for combined heat and power production. By calibrating pilot plant NIR spectra to laboratory VFA reference concentrations at the experimental locality Bygholm, it was possible to develop calibration models by partial least squares (PLS) regression, which displayed acceptable to very good prediction performances for total VFA as well as for three other essential individual acids based on test set validations. The average statistics assessing prediction performance, accuracy (slope) and precision (explained variance r2), were both 0.92, which must be considered excellent for this type of significantly heterogeneous systems. The meso‐ to full‐scale feasibility has thus been proven, which has important positive implications for robust, sufficient and reliable, low‐cost PAT monitoring systems in the biogas arena and other continuous fermentation processes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simulating spin dynamics in NMR with a new computer program intended for education: Insensitive
Authors: Boldt Klaus
Published: March 2011

The NMR experiment is usually described by a choice of three models that operate on different levels of abstraction: the vector model, the product operator formalism and the density matrix approach. The transition between these models poses a didactic challenge for teacher and student alike. A new computer program is presented, which simulates a spin system on the textbook level and compares the three approaches, with the possibility to manipulate the system at every step. It closes a gap between NMR education and professional simulation tools. Some algorithms are explained, which are used in the simulation to extract information from the density matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 38A: 17–24, 2011.
The COSY and DQF‐COSY NMR spectra for systems of three spins I = 7/2
Authors: Kempgens P.
Published: March 2011

The two‐dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and double quantum‐filtered COSY (DQF‐COSY) spectra of an AMX and an AX2 systems of spins I = 7/2 have been calculated by numerical density matrix calculations. The results are presented in three extreme cases, namely in the slow relaxation regime, the intermediate relaxation regime, and in the fast relaxation regime. It is concluded for such spin systems, as was recently shown in the case of an AX system of spins I = 3/2, that in addition to the usual advantages that the DQF‐COSY NMR experiment offer compared to the conventional COSY NMR experiment (observation of only‐coupled spins, antiphase character of both diagonal and cross‐peaks, and intensity of the cross‐peaks comparable to the intensity of the diagonal peaks), the DQF‐COSY NMR experiment appear to be more powerful for observation, interpretation, and analysis than the conventional COSY NMR experiment, and this is particularly true for quadrupolar nuclei relaxing usually very quickly and/or small coupling constants. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 38A: 74–83, 2011.
Proton‐based radiotherapy for unresectable or incompletely resected osteosarcoma
Authors: Ciernik I. Frank , Niemierko Andrzej , Harmon David C. , Kobayashi Wendy , Chen Yen‐Lin , Yock Torunn I. , Ebb David H. , Choy Edwin , Raskin Kevin A. , Liebsch Norbert , Hornicek Francis J. , DeLaney Thomas F.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND:

A study was undertaken to assess clinical outcome and the role of proton therapy for local control of osteosarcoma (OSA).

METHODS:

All patients who received proton therapy or mixed photon‐proton radiotherapy from 1983 to 2009 at the Massachusetts General Hospital were reviewed. Criteria for proton therapy were the need for high dose in the context of highly conformal radiotherapy of unresected or partially resected OSA, positive postoperative margins, postoperative imaging studies with macroscopic disease, or incomplete resection as defined by the surgeon. The primary endpoint was local control of the site treated; secondary endpoints were disease‐free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), long‐term toxicity, and prognostic factors associated with clinical outcome.

RESULTS:

Fifty‐five patients with a median age of 29 years (range, 2‐76 years) were offered proton therapy. The mean dose was 68.4 gray (Gy; standard deviation, 5.4 Gy). Of the total dose, 58.2% (range, 11%‐100%) was delivered with protons. Local control after 3 and 5 years was 82% and 72%, respectively. The distant failure rate was 26% after 3 and 5 years. The 5‐year DFS was 65%, and the 5‐year OS was 67%. The extent of surgical resection did not correlate with outcome. Risk factors for local failure were ≥2 grade disease (P < .0001) and total treatment length (P = .008). Grade 3 to 4 late toxicity was seen in 30.1 % of patients. One patient died from treatment‐associated acute lymphocytic leukemia, and 1 from secondary carcinoma of the maxilla.

CONCLUSIONS:

Proton therapy to deliver high radiotherapy doses allows locally curative treatment for some patients with unresectable or incompletely resected OSA. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.