bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Discrete and Continuous Motion in Scanning Probe Microscopy Monitored via Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy
Authors: Cherney Daniel P. , Winesett Donald A.
Published: June 2008

Confocal Raman imaging is a relatively new analytical technique that combines the strengths of Raman microspectroscopy and confocal optics. The images collected by the microscope are obtained by monitoring specific bands in the Raman spectra that are collected at many points in a sample, with the number of spectra usually numbering in the hundreds or thousands. Some commercially available systems acquire data while the sample is continuously moving with respect to the microscope objective. The distance that the stage moves during a single acquisition is a parameter that can be set prior to data acquisition. Data in this report was acquired with both a static and continuously moving sample for comparison, utilizing the 520 cm−1 Si phonon of a silicon wafer to monitor an edge. Scattering collected from each discrete step, i.e., no motion during spectral acquisition, showed excellent precision of location, but a loss in resolution was observed as the pixel size was increased beyond the maximum theoretical resolution of the instrument. A continuously moving stage contributed to erroneous position data as the pixel size was increased beyond the maximum theoretical resolution of the instrument.
Novel Search Algorithms for a Mid-Infrared Spectral Library of Cotton Contaminants
Authors: Loudermilk J. Brian , Himmelsbach David S. , Barton Franklin E. , de Haseth James A.
Published: June 2008

During harvest, a variety of plant based contaminants are collected along with cotton lint. The USDA previously created a mid-infrared, attenuated total reflection (ATR), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral library of cotton contaminants for contaminant identification as the contaminants have negative impacts on yarn quality. This library has shown impressive identification rates for extremely similar cellulose based contaminants in cases where the library was representative of the samples searched. When spectra of contaminant samples from crops grown in different geographic locations, seasons, and conditions and measured with a different spectrometer and accessories were searched, identification rates for standard search algorithms decreased significantly. Six standard algorithms were examined: dot product, correlation, sum of absolute values of differences, sum of the square root of the absolute values of differences, sum of absolute values of differences of derivatives, and sum of squared differences of derivatives. Four categories of contaminants derived from cotton plants were considered: leaf, stem, seed coat, and hull. Experiments revealed that the performance of the standard search algorithms depended upon the category of sample being searched and that different algorithms provided complementary information about sample identity. These results indicated that choosing a single standard algorithm to search the library was not possible. Three voting scheme algorithms based on result frequency, result rank, category frequency, or a combination of these factors for the results returned by the standard algorithms were developed and tested for their capability to overcome the unpredictability of the standard algorithms' performances. The group voting scheme search was based on the number of spectra from each category of samples represented in the library returned in the top ten results of the standard algorithms. This group algorithm was able to identify correctly as many test spectra as the best standard algorithm without relying on human choice to select a standard algorithm to perform the searches.
Evanescent-Wave Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy for Enhanced Detection of Surface Binding under Flow Injection Analysis Conditions
Authors: van der Sneppen L. , Buijs J. B. , Gooijer C. , Ubachs W. , Ariese F.
Published: June 2008

The feasibility of liquid-phase evanescent-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (EW-CRDS) for surface-binding studies under flow-injection analysis (FIA) conditions is demonstrated. The EW-CRDS setup consists of an anti-reflection coated Dove prism inside a linear cavity (with standard or super-polishing of the total internal reflective (TIR) surface). A teflon spacer with an elliptical hole clamped on this surface acts as a 20 μL sized flow cell. The baseline noise of this system is of the order of 10−4 absorbance units; the baseline remains stable over a prolonged time and the prism surface does not become contaminated during repeated injections of the reversibly adsorbing test dyes Crystal Violet (CV) and Direct Red 10 (DR10). At typical FIA or liquid chromatography (LC) flow rates, the system has sufficient specificity to discriminate between species with different surface affinities. For CV a much stronger decrease in ring-down time is observed than calculated based on its bulk concentration and the effective depth probed by the evanescent wave, indicating binding of this positively charged dye to the negatively charged prism surface. The amount of adsorption can be influenced by adjusting the flow rate or the eluent composition. At a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, an enrichment factor of 60 was calculated for CV; for the poorly adsorbing dye DR10 it is 5. Super-polishing of the already polished TIR surface works counter-productively. The adsorbing dye Crystal Violet has a detection limit of 3 μM for the standard polished surface; less binding occurs on the super-polished surface and the detection limit is 5 μM. Possible applications of EW-CRDS for studying surface binding or the development of bio-assays are discussed.
Silica Colloidal Crystals as Porous Substrates for Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy of Live Cells
Authors: Velarde Tomika R. C. , Wirth Mary J.
Published: June 2008

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is a powerful means of probing biological cells because it reduces autofluorescence, but the need for direct contact between the cell surface and the microscope slide hinders chemical access to the cell surface. In this work, a submicrometer crystalline layer of colloidal silica on the microscope coverslip is shown to allow TIRF microscopy while also allowing chemical access to the cell surface. A 750 nm layer of 165 nm silica colloidal crystals was sintered onto a fused silica coverslip, and Chinese hamster ovary cells were successfully grown on this surface. This cell line over-expresses the human delta-opioid receptor, which enabled probing of the binding of a labeled ligand to the receptors on the cell surface. Total internal reflection and chemical access to the cell surface are demonstrated. The range of angles for total internal reflection is reduced only by 1/3 due to the lower index of refraction of the colloidal multilayer relative to fused silica.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging of Anisotropic Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Films with Polarized Radiation
Authors: Vogel Christian , Wessel Elke , Siesler Heinz W.
Published: June 2008

The technique of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging with focal plane array detectors has proved to be a powerful technique for rapid chemical visualization of samples with a lateral resolution up to about 10 μm. However, the potential of FT-IR imaging for the characterization of anisotropic materials can be significantly enhanced by using polarized radiation. This issue will be addressed in the present communication, which reports for the first time imaging investigations based on the FT-IR polarization spectra of poly(vinylidene fluoride) films that have been uniaxially elongated below and above the threshold temperature of the II(α) ⇒ I(β) phase transition.
Responses of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Groups in Nafion Differentiated by Least Squares Modeling of Infrared Spectra Recorded during Thin Film Hydration
Authors: Korzeniewski Carol , Adams Evan , Liu Di
Published: June 2008

Least squares modeling was applied to gain insights into changes that occur in the structure of Nafion polymer membrane during hydration. Transmission infrared spectra followed changes in the strong polymer bands in the range of 1400–950 cm−1 during water uptake by initially dry membrane upon exposure to 100% relative humidity atmosphere. Spectra recorded during hydration were fit to a rate equation that modeled the loss of a dry state accompanied by the development of a hydrated state. The evolution of the two states was described by an equation for diffusion in a cylindrical pore in the long time limit. Comparison of the experimental spectra in a data set to spectra calculated from the pure components derived by least squares modeling gave an excellent match for bands of the –CF2 and C–O–C group modes, but agreement was not as close for bands arising from modes of the hydrophilic –SO3− group and (modeled separately) water. The differences are discussed in terms of the likelihood that the –SO3− groups have stronger interactions with bulk-like water condensed in the membrane and therefore undergo more complex changes than do more hydrophobic polymer regions during hydration. A different model is necessary to describe the evolution of spectral features for water and –SO3− end groups during water uptake into Nafion thin films.
A Versatile Analytical Expression for the Inverse Abel Transform Applied to Experimental Data with Noise
Authors: Ma Shuiliang , Gao Gming Hon , Zhang Guangjun , Wu Lin
Published: June 2008

A method for reconstruction of radially distributed plasma emission coefficients from projections with noise is proposed. The method represents the projections based on overlapping piecewise polynomial least squares fitting to take the inversion. Parameters that affect the inversion accuracy are analyzed and discussed in detail. Results for profiles with various shapes are presented and compared with those obtained with other methods. It is shown that for data with different numbers of points and different levels of noise, our method is more accurate and yields markedly better results for very sparse data. In addition, excellent results have been obtained from experimental intensities of an arc plasma without filtering of noise.
Book Reviews: Into the Light: The Academic and Spiritual Legacy of Dr. Howard Malmstadt, Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polymers: Principles and Practice
Authors: Holcombe James A.
Published: June 2008

Please forward book reviews to the Book Review Editor, Alexander Scheeline, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
A Noninvasive Method for Assessing Interior Skin Damage Caused by Chronological Aging and Photoaging Based on Near-Infrared Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy
Authors: Miyamae Yuta , Yamakawa Yumika , Kawabata Marie , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: June 2008

This paper reports a noninvasive method for evaluating skin aging based on near-infrared diffuse reflectance (NIR-DR) spectroscopy. Skin aging can be attributed to photoaging and chronological aging. Both types of aging are heavily involved in the skin changes that occur as we get older, for example, wrinkles or sagging skin. Our goal is to develop a noninvasive way to assess changes taking place inside the skin for each type of aging by using NIR-DR spectroscopy. Interior skin damages caused by photoaging and chronological aging were studied for an ultraviolet-B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mouse group (24 mice) and a non-irradiated group (29 mice) by using NIR-DR spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA). The results suggested the possibility of monitoring the contribution and the quantitative assessment of both types of aging taking place inside the skin by using the 5990–5490 cm−1 and 5000–4480 cm−1 regions of NIR-DR spectra. For the photoaging, structural changes in proteins are most clearly reflected by a shift of the band near 4880 cm−1 due to a combination of amide A and amide II modes. On the other hand, the chronological aging is associated with a change in collagen quantity as is seen in the intensity changes in NIR bands assigned to collagen. NIR-DR spectroscopy and PCA may allow us to noninvasively assess the degree of photoaging and chronological aging as the degeneration of elasticity in collagen protein and the degradation of protein quantity, respectively.
Potential of Sterol Analysis by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Prenatal Diagnosis of Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome
Authors: Griffiths William J , Wang Yuqin , Karu Kersti , Samuel Emmanuel , McDonnell Shane , Hornshaw Martin , Shackleton Cedric
Published: June 2008

Background: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), a severe disorder of cholesterol synthesis, is classically diagnosed prenatally by GC-MS analysis of sterols in amniotic fluid. Considering the current trend toward tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) methodologies, we developed prototype LC-MS/MS methods for accurate diagnosis of the disorder.

Methods: 3β-Hydroxysterols in amniotic fluid are oxidized with cholesterol oxidase to their corresponding 3-ketones, which are then derivatized with Girard P (GP) hydrazine in a “one-pot” reaction. The resulting GP-hydrazones give an improved response in electrospray (ES)–MS/MS owing to the presence of a charged quaternary nitrogen and are analyzed by reversed-phase LC-ES-MS/MS. Both capillary and conventional LC-MS/MS formats are suitable, and the method is also applicable to paper-absorbed blood spots.

Results: In a double-blind analysis of 18 amniotic fluid samples comprising 6 SLOS and 12 controls, the ratio of 7 + 8-dehydrocholesterol (7 + 8-DHC) to cholesterol was <0.02 [range 0.00–0.02, mean (SD) 0.01 (0.007)] in all control samples (intraassay variation 5.91%) and >0.20 [0.20–1.13, 0.79 (0.35)] in SLOS (intraassay variation 4.56%), corresponding to a difference in ratios between the 2 groups of at least a factor of 10. The limit of quantification was equivalent to that of 2 nL amniotic fluid injected on-column.

Conclusions: We describe a proof-of-concept for the prenatal diagnosis of SLOS. Further developments will be necessary to automate sample handling and reduce chromatographic time for the methodology to be used in pre- and postnatal diagnosis.
Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation on the bidisk
Authors: Agler Jim , MCarthy John E
Published: June 2008

We solve the matrix-valued Nevanlinna-Pick problem in the space of bounded analytic functions on the bidisk, and give a description of all the interpolating functions. We also prove the Toeplitz-corona theorem on the bidisk.
Bornes effectives pour la torsion des courbes elliptiques sur les corps de nombres
Authors: Parent Pierre
Published: June 2008

On se propose de donner une forme effective au théorème de Mazur-Kamienny-Merel sur la torsion des courbes elliptiques sur les corps de nombres.
Extremal lengths of homology classes on Riemann surfaces
Authors: Masumoto Makoto
Published: June 2008

We assign a positive number V, a new conformal invariant, to a Riemann surface R of finite genus in terms of the extremal lengths of certain weak homology classes on R, and determine the range of V. In particular we find algebraic relations among the extremal lengths of homology classes on compact Riemann surfaces.
Dendritische Zellen und Immunsuppression nach Organtransplantation / Dendritic cells and immunosuppression after organ transplantation
Authors: Daniel Volker
Published: June 2008

Die dendritsche Zelle (DC) steht am Anfang jeder Immunreaktion. Sie kann eine Immunreaktion gegen Fremdantigene einleiten oder unterdrücken. Ihre diagnostische und therapeutische Nutzbarmachung ist Forschungsgegenstand der Transplantationsmedizin. Ein Ziel transplantationsimmunologischer Studien ist die Identifikation von organtransplantierten Patienten, deren immunsuppressive Medikation ohne Beeinträchtigung der Transplantatfunktion reduziert, eventuell sogar abgesetzt werden kann. Die Induktion von tolerogenen DCs und deren immunologische Überwachung im Blut des Patienten wären eine Option zur Realisierung dieses Ziels. In Zellkultur- und Tierexperimenten konnten DCs als Zielzellen von immunsuppressiv wirkenden Medikamenten identifiziert werden. Klinische Studien mit organtransplantierten Patienten zeigten Veränderungen verschiedener DC-Subpopulationen im Blut der Patienten in Abhängigkeit von der immunsuppressiven Medikation und ihrer Dosierung. Bislang konnte keine DC-Subpopulation im Blut von organtransplantierten Patienten identifiziert werden, die prospektiv ein Absetzen der Immunsuppressiva erlauben würde. Weitere Untersuchungen an DC-Subpopulationen in vitro und in vivo sind notwendig, um die für die Induktion und Aufrechterhaltung einer Immuntoleranz relevanten DCs definieren zu können.
Relationships of Job Hazards, Lack of Knowledge, Alcohol Use, Health Status and Risk Taking Behavior to Work Injury of Coal Miners: A Case‐Control Study in India
Authors: Kunar Bijay Mihir , Bhattacherjee Ashis , Chau Nearkasen
Published: June 2008

Relationships of Job Hazards, Lack of Knowledge, Alcohol Use, Health Status and Risk Taking Behavior to Work Injury of Coal Miners: A Case‐Control Study in India: Bijay Mihir Kunar,et al. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, India—Objective is to assess the relationships of job hazards, individual characteristics, and risk taking behavior to occupational injuries of coal miners. This case‐control study compared 245 male underground coal miners with injury during the previous two‐year period with 330 matched controls without injury during the previous five years. Data were collected via face‐to‐face interview and analyzed using the conditional logistic model. Handling material, poor environmental/working conditions, and geological/strata control‐ related hazards were the main risk factors: adjusted ORs 5.15 (95% CI 2.42–10.9), 2.40 (95% CI 1.29–4.47), and 2.25 (95% CI 1.24–4.07) respectively. Their roles were higher among the face‐workers than among the non‐face‐workers. No formal education, alcohol consumption, disease, big‐family, and risk‐taking behavior were associated with injuries (2.36≤ORs≤10.35), and the findings were similar for both face and non‐face workers. Prevention should focus on handling material, poor environmental condition, especially addressing workers with no formal education, alcohol consumption, disease, big family size, and risk‐taking behavior.
Effectiveness of a Head Wash Cooling Protocol Using Non‐Refrigerated Water in Reducing Heat Stress
Authors: Fujii Ronaldo Kenzou , Horie Seichi , Tsutsui Takao , Nagano Chikage
Published: June 2008

Effectiveness of a Head Wash Cooling Protocol Using Non‐Refrigerated Water in Reducing Heat Stress: Ronaldo Kenzou Fujii, et al. Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—Envisioning a cooling method and aiming at maximum feasibility and simplicity, we designed an experimental intervention‐control study based on non‐refrigerated water usage, consisting of pouring 2 l of 23.0°C water simultaneously on head and hands for one minute, after every 20 min of exertion. The subjects were 11 fit male individuals between 19 and 26 yr old. Each individual participated in one control and one intervention measurement in a climatic chamber at 35°C and 60% humidity (31.5°C WBGT) on different days. Heart rate, rectal, esophageal, skin and external ear canal temperatures were monitored constantly. Each experiment consisted of 10 min of basal recording followed by 3 intervals of 20 min of cycling and 15 min of rest. Stabilometry and visual reaction time tests were performed before and after each resting period. A questionnaire evaluating equilibrium, concentration, alertness and tiredness was administered at the beginning and at the end of every experiment. Paired t‐test analysis revealed significant improvements in subjective parameters (all p<0.05), as well as skin (p<0.05), external ear canal (p<0.01) and esophageal (p<0.05) temperatures during the rest periods. Repeated measurement analysis of variance revealed significant cooling in all the aforementioned temperatures except the esophageal temperature (p=0.28). Other parameters were not significantly different. Our findings indicate that this method has subjective and physiologic positive effects, and thus can be used as a complementary low cost method to cool subjects safely.
Evaluation of the Effects of Shift Work on Nutrient Intake: A Cross‐sectional Study
Authors: Morikawa Yuko , Miura Katsuyuki , Sasaki Satoshi , Yoshita Katsushi , Yoneyama Satoko , Sakurai Masaru , Ishizaki Masao , Kido Teruhiko , Naruse Yuchi , Suwazono Yasushi , Higashiyama Masako , Nakagawa Hideaki
Published: June 2008

Evaluation of the Effects of Shift Work on Nutrient Intake: A Cross‐sectional Study: Yuko Morikawa, et al. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University—The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of shift work on nutrient intakes, including macronutrient intake and micronutrient intake, in a large sample size. The study population included 2,254 male manual workers, 20–59 yr of age, employed in a factory. A self‐administered diet history questionnaire was used. The subjects were classified into 3 groups according to their work schedule: (i) fixed day workers; (ii) shift workers without midnight shifts; and (iii) shift workers with midnight shifts. The nutrient intakes of the groups were compared by age group. There was a significant difference in nutrient intakes between subjects aged 20–29 yr and those aged 30 yr and over. Among subjects aged 20–29 yr, the energy density value for saturated fat and the energy adjusted intakes of calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B1 were the lowest among shift workers with midnight shifts. Among subjects aged 30 yr and over, the total energy intake was the highest among shift workers with midnight shifts; the difference was significant compared to fixed day workers. Shift workers with midnight shifts had the highest intake of cereals among subjects 30 yr of age and older. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in nutrient intakes between fixed day workers and shift workers without midnight shift. Shift work, particularly midnight shift work, affected nutrient intake. The impact of shift work on nutrient intakes differed by age and the type of shift work.
Urinary Excretion of an Oxidative Stress Marker, 8‐hydroxyguanine (8‐OH‐Gua), among Nickel‐cadmium Battery Workers
Authors: Yoshioka Noriyuki , Nakashima Hiroshi , Hosoda Kanae , Eitaki Yoko , Shimada Naoki , Omae Kazuyuki
Published: June 2008

Urinary Excretion of an Oxidative Stress Marker, 8‐hydroxyguanine (8‐OH‐Gua), among Nickel‐cadmium Battery Workers: Noriyuki Yoshioka, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University—The relationship between oxidative stress and carcinogenic metals including nickel and cadmium is a matter of interest. To assess the oxidative stress status of workers exposed to nickel and cadmium simultaneously, we determined urinary excretion of 8‐hydroxyguanine (8‐OH‐Gua), a urinary oxidative stress marker. Our subjects were 66 (64 males and 2 females) nickel‐cadmium battery workers. Spot urine and blood samples were collected. The levels of cadmium in blood (Cd‐B) and nickel in urine (Ni‐U) were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 8‐OH‐Gua in urine was analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography‐electrochemical detector (HPLC‐ECD) system. Data on age, sex, duration of present work and smoking status were also obtained from each subject. Creatinine‐adjusted 8‐OH‐Gua was significantly correlated with age, Ni‐U and Cd‐B in univariate analysis, while multivariate analysis revealed that Ni‐U and Cd‐B were significant independent variables and that these two biological exposure indices were positively correlated with 8‐OH‐Gua. The data were also analyzed in the context of mixture toxicity. The subjects were divided into groups based on median level of Ni‐U and Cd‐B (2.86 μg/g creatinine and 0.23 μg/dl, respectively). Workers with high Ni‐U/high Cd‐B (Group IV) had the highest levels of 8‐OH‐Gua levels (GM (GSD), 21.7(2.0)), followed by those with high Ni‐U/low Cd‐B (11.5(1.6) Group III), those with low Ni‐U/high Cd‐B (8.9(1.9) Group II), and those with low Ni‐U/low Cd‐B (8.5(1.5) Group I). The p values of Students' t‐tests between Group I and Group II, III and IV were 0.847, 0.050 and <0.001, respectively. The combined effect of Cd and Ni on the urinary excretion of 8‐OH‐Gua departed from additivity.
Stability in Urine of Authentic Phenylglyoxylic and Mandelic Acids as Urinary Markers of Occupational Exposure to Styrene
Authors: Eitaki Yoko , Kawai Toshio , Kishi Reiko , Sakurai Haruhiko , Ikeda Masayuki
Published: June 2008

Stability in Urine of Authentic Phenylglyoxylic and Mandelic Acids as Urinary Markers of Occupational Exposure to Styrene: Yoko Eitaki, et al. Osaka Occupational Health Service Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association—Phenylglyoxylic acid (PhGA) and mandelic acid (MA) are two popular urinary markers of occupational exposure to styrene, but PhGA has been considered to be relatively unstable when urine samples are stored. This study was initiated to examine the stability of PhGA in urine under two storage conditions, i.e., at room temperature (at 25°C) and in refrigeration (at 4°C) for up to 14 days. The experiments showed that no substantial decrease was observed in either PhGA or MA even at room temperature within one day, but, depending on urine samples, a gradual decrease in PhGA took place both at 4°C and more markedly at 25°C when kept for a week. Further reduction was observed in two weeks even at 4°C. No reduction was observed in MA up to two weeks both at 4°C and at 25°C. The observation on stability of MA and limited stability of PhGA (i.e., no significant decrease for 4 days when stored as refrigerated) was confirmed by a repeated experiment. Further analyses disclosed that PhGA when stored at 4°C tended to be more unstable when urine samples were alkaline (e.g., at pH 8) rather than acidic (e.g., at pH 6 or below), but the trend varied subject to individual samples. Thus, the practical recommendation is that urine samples should be analyzed on the day of collection if all possible, or kept at 4°C, or more preferably at –20°C. Refrigeration will allow storage of up to 4 days without substantial decrease in either PhGA or MA.
Association of Occupational Stress and Social Support with Health‐related Behaviors among Chinese Offshore Oil Workers
Authors: Chen Wei‐Qing , Wong Tze Wai , Yu Ignatius Tak‐Sun
Published: June 2008

Association of Occupational Stress and Social Support with Health‐related Behaviors among Chinese Offshore Oil Workers: Wei‐Qing Chen, et al. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat‐sen University, China—To explore the relationship of occupational stress and social support with health‐related behaviors of smoking, alcohol usage and physical inactivity, a cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 561 offshore oil installation workers of a Chinese state‐owned oil company. They were investigated with a self‐administered questionnaire about socio‐demographic characteristics, occupational stress, social support and health‐related behaviors. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between occupational stress, social support and health‐related behaviors and adjusted for age, educational level, marital status, duration of offshore work and job title. Of 561 workers, 218 (38.9%) were current smokers, 124 (22.1%) current drinkers, and 354 (63.1%) physically inactive in their leisure time. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that: (1) Current smoking was significantly negatively related with perceived stress from “Safety” (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.58~0.94) and lack of supervisors' instrumental support (OR=0.34; 95% CI=0.18~0.65); (2) Current drinking was significantly positively related to perceived stress from “Interface between job and family/social life” (OR=1.32; 95% CI=1.02~1.70) and “Organizational structure” (OR=1.35; 95% CI=1.06~1.74), but was significantly negatively related to poor emotional support from friends (OR=0.54; 95% CI=0.62~0.96); (3) Physical inactivity after work was significantly positively associated with perceived stress from “Safety” (OR=1.44; 95% CI=1.16~1.79) and lack of instrumental support from both supervisors (OR=1.74; 95% CI=1.16~2.65) and friends (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.06~2.42). The findings suggest that psychosocial factors of occupational stress and social support at offshore oil work might affect workers' health‐related behaviors in different ways.
Effect of Nursing Assistance Tools on Preventing Musculoskeletal Pain among Staff in Schools for Disabled Children
Authors: Muto Shigeki , Muto Takashi , Seo Akihiko , Yoshida Tsutomu , Taoda Kazushi , Watanabe Misuzu
Published: June 2008

Effect of Nursing Assistance Tools on Preventing Musculoskeletal Pain among Staff in Schools for Disabled Children: Shigeki Muto, et al. Seirei Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine—Objective is to clarify whether nursing assistance tools (a mat with attached handles, a pair of trousers with knee pads and a waist holding belt) prevent musculoskeletal pain, such as low back pain and upper arm pain, and depression, and improve the burden on the lower back and upper arm among staff in schools for disabled children. This study design was a non‐randomized intervention trial. The subjects were 41 staff in two schools for disabled children in Japan. Nursing assistance tools were used with the intervention group to help with their nursing activities. We investigated the one‐month prevalence of low back pain and the degree of burden on the lower back using a questionnaire at the baseline and at the end point 4 to 6 months later. The prevalence of low back pain did not change significantly in either group. In the intervention group, the prevalence of upper arm pain decreased from 47.6% at the baseline to 23.8% at the end point (p=0.063). The percentage of participants with a high level of burden on the lower back from excretory nursing activity decreased from 57.1% at the baseline to 33.3% at the end point (p=0.063) in the intervention group. These results suggest that nursing assistance tools may prevent upper arm pain and improve the burden on the lower back among staff in schools for disabled children; however, these tools did not significantly prevent low back pain and depression.
Electroanatomical mapping systems in catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: Mihálcz Attila , Tahin Tamás , Szili-Török Tamás
Published: June 2008

Az utóbbi években a folyamatos technikai fejlesztéseknek köszönhetően az elektrofiziológiai szívlaborokban megjelentek az elektroanatómiai térképező rendszerek, melyek segítségével precízen jellemezhetők a ritmuszavar alapjául szolgáló anatómiai struktúrák, és könnyen reprodukálhatók egy adott szívüreg aktivációs folyamatai. Lehetővé vált a ritmuszavar kialakulásához szükséges élettani folyamatok megértése, és ezáltal pontosan meghatározható a tervezett intervenció térbeli helye. Az utóbbi években a képi diagnosztikai módszerek rohamos fejlődésének köszönhetően a ritmuszavarok anatómiai szubsztrátjának képi megjelenítése és az anatómiavezérelt katéterablatio került előtérbe. Jelenleg több térképező technológia áll rendelkezésünkre: Carto XP, Ensite NavX és Array, Real-time Position Management. A jelen közleményünkben röviden áttekintjük a felsorolt elektroanatómiai térképező rendszerek működési elveit, külön ismertetve egyes rendszerek előnyeit és hátrányait. A gyakorlati alkalmazások mellett elméleti lehetőségekkel is foglalkozunk, hiszen a jövő rendszerei, az aktivációs idők és feszültségek mellett, egy sor egyéb fiziológiai paramétert regisztrálnak majd, és képesek lesznek azokat elemezni, egyre tökéletesebb anatómiai megjelenítésben. Az új technológiák bevezetésének köszönhetően a katéterablatiós terápiás beavatkozások a ritmuszavarok széles spektrumánál sikeresen alkalmazhatók. Segítségükkel az atípusos flutter, a kamrai tachycardiák, a congenitalis vitiumok műtéti megoldását követő ritmuszavarok és a pitvarfibrilláció katéterablatiós kezelése rutinfeladattá vált. A technológiai újítások érdeme megkérdőjelezhetetlen, ám a terápiás és a költséghatékonyság mérlegelése további kérdéseket vet fel.
Canonical Wnt Signaling Controls Proliferation of Retinal Stem/Progenitor Cells in Postembryonic Xenopus Eyes
Authors: Denayer Tinneke , Locker Morgane , Borday Caroline , Deroo Tom , Janssens Sylvie , Hecht Andreas , van Roy Frans , Perron Muriel , Vleminckx Kris
Published: June 2008

Vertebrate retinal stem cells, which reside quiescently within the ciliary margin, may offer a possibility for treatment of degenerative retinopathies. The highly proliferative retinal precursor cells in Xenopus eyes are confined to the most peripheral region, called the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ). Although the canonical Wnt pathway has been implicated in the developing retina of different species, little is known about its involvement in postembryonic retinas. Using a green fluorescent protein-based Wnt-responsive reporter, we show that in transgenic Xenopus tadpoles, the canonical Wnt signaling is activated in the postembryonic CMZ. To further investigate the functional implications of this, we generated transgenic, hormone-inducible canonical Wnt pathway activating and repressing systems, which are directed to specifically intersect at the nuclear endpoint of transcriptional Wnt target gene activation. We found that postembryonic induction of the canonical Wnt pathway in transgenic retinas resulted in increased proliferation in the CMZ compartment. This is most likely due to delayed cell cycle exit, as inferred from a pulse-chase experiment on 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine-labeled retinal precursors. Conversely, repression of the canonical Wnt pathway inhibited proliferation of CMZ cells. Neither activation nor repression of the Wnt pathway affected the differentiated cells in the central retina. We conclude that even at postembryonic stages, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway continues to have a major function in promoting proliferation and maintaining retinal stem cells. These findings may contribute to the eventual design of vertebrate, stem cell-based retinal therapies.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Fate Mapping and Lineage Analyses Demonstrate the Production of a Large Number of Striatal Neuroblasts After Transforming Growth Factor α and Noggin Striatal Infusions into the Dopamine-Depleted Striatum
Authors: de Chevigny Antoine , Cooper Oliver , Vinuela Angel , Reske-Nielsen Casper , Lagace Diane C. , Eisch Amelia J. , Isacson Ole
Published: June 2008

Infusion of transforming growth factor α (TGFα) into the adult dopamine (DA)-depleted striatum generates a local population of nestin+/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)+ newborn cells. The precise origin and fate of these new striatal cells are unknown, making it difficult to direct them for neural repair in Parkinson's disease. Experiments in rats using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label neural progenitor cells showed that during TGFα infusion in the DA-depleted striatum, newborn striatal cells formed a homogeneous population of precursors, with the majority coexpressing nestin, Mash1, Olig2, and epidermal growth factor receptor, consistent with the phenotype of multipotent C cells. Upon TGFα pump withdrawal, the subventricular zone (SVZ) was repopulated by neuroblasts. Strikingly, during this period, numerous clusters of doublecortin+/polysialylated neuronal cell adhesion molecule+ neuroblasts were also produced in the ipsilateral medial striatum. In parallel, striatal BrdU+/glial fibrillary acidic protein+ astrocytes were generated, but no BrdU+/O4+/CNPase+ oligodendrocytes were generated. Infusion of the neuralizing bone morphogenetic protein antagonist noggin after TGFα pump withdrawal increased the neuroblast-to-astrocyte ratio among new striatal cells by blocking glial differentiation but did not alter striatal neurogenesis. At no time or treatment condition were differentiated neurons generated, including DA neurons. Using 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned nestin-CreERT2/R26R-YFP mice that allow genetic fate-mapping of SVZ nestin+ cells, we show that TGFα-generated striatal cells originate from SVZ nestin+ precursors that confirmed data from the rats on the phenotype and fate of striatal nestin+/PCNA+ cells upon TGFα withdrawal. This work demonstrates that a large population of multipotent striatal C-like cells can be generated in the DA-depleted striatum that do not spontaneously differentiate into DA neurons.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
TIS21/BTG2 Negatively Regulates Estradiol-Stimulated Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells by Derepressing Akt Phosphorylation and Inhibiting mTOR Signal Transduction
Authors: Kim Bong Cho , Ryu Min Sook , Oh S. Paul , Lim In Kyoung
Published: June 2008

It has been known that 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate-inducible sequence 21 (TIS21), ortholog of human B-cell translocation gene 2, regulates expansions of stage-specific thymocytes and hematopoietic progenitors. In the present study, lineage-negative (Lin−)/stem cell antigen-1-positive (Sca-1+)/c-Kit+ (LSK) cell content was significantly elevated in bone marrow (BM) of TIS21-knockout (TIS21−/−) female mice, suggesting 17β-estradiol (E2)-regulated progenitor expansion. E2 induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from TIS21−/− mice, but not wild type (WT). In contrast to WT, E2 failed to activate protein kinase B (Akt) in the TIS21−/− MEFs, independent of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) activation. Despite attenuation of Akt activation, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was constitutively activated in the TIS21−/− MEFs. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 inhibitor or knockdown of Erk1 could restore activation of Akt and downregulate mTOR. Immunoprecipitation showed Akt preferentially bound to phosphorylated Erk1/2 (p-Erk1/2) in TIS21−/− cells, but reconstitution of TIS21 inhibited their interaction. E2-injected TIS21−/− male mice also increased LSK cells in BM. Taken together, expansion of hematopoietic progenitors in TIS21−/− female mice might be through inhibition of Akt activation, and constitutive activation of mTOR via preferential binding of TIS21 to E2-induced p-Erk1/2, compared with that of Akt. Our results suggest that TIS21 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the hematopoietic stem cell compartment and hematopoiesis.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Identification of an adult stem/progenitor cell-like population in the human thyroid
Authors: Fierabracci Alessandra , Puglisi Maria Ausiliatrice , Giuliani Laura , Mattarocci Stefano , Gallinella-Muzi Marco
Published: June 2008

There is evidence that tissue-specific stem cells reside in certain adult tissues. Their specific properties remain elusive, because they are rare and heterogeneous in parent tissues; furthermore, technical difficulties have been encountered in the identification and characterization of their progeny. The aim of this study was to isolate stem/progenitor cells from the human thyroid. We devised a method based on the enzymatic digestion of fresh surgical thyroid specimens, followed by culture of cells in the presence of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. We also used markers that identify and characterize these cells. Spheroids with self-replicative potential were obtained from all thyroid specimens. The isolated population contained a subset of CD34+ CD45− cells and it was able, in differentiation conditions, to generate follicles with thyroid hormonal production. In support of the plasticity concept, we obtained evidence that, when most freshly isolated spheroids were co-cultured with a neuroblastoma cell line, they produced progeny expressing the neuronal marker β-tubulin III. Spheroids were also able to undergo adipogenic differentiation when cultured in adipogenic medium. We conclude that a predominant functional type of stem/progenitor cell exists within the thyroid, with an intrinsic ability to generate thyroidal cells and the potential to produce non-thyroidal cells.
AGING AND INTRAINDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY IN PERFORMANCE: ANALYSES OF RESPONSE TIME DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Myerson Joel , Robertson Shannon , Hale Sandra
Published: June 2008

It has been suggested that older adults are more variable in their performance because they are more prone to lapses of either attention or intention. In the present experiment, 9 young and 9 older adults each performed nearly 2,000 trials of a same‐different judgment task. As expected, older adults were slower and more variable than young adults. When the age‐related difference in speed was taken into account, however, the older adults were, if anything, less variable than the young adults. When younger and older adults' RT distributions were analyzed using quantile—quantile plots and by fitting ex‐Gaussian and Weibull functions, there was no consistent evidence that older adults' distributions were more skewed than young adults', as would be predicted by age‐related increases in lapses of attention or intention. Importantly, there was a positive, linear relation between RT and intraindividual variability, and the same relation was observed both within subjects (practice increased speed and reduced variability) as well as between subjects (regardless of age, slower individuals were more variable). Thus, the present results suggest that there may be a general law governing the relation between average RT and variability, and that the greater performance variability of older adults primarily reflects their greater average RTs.
NUMEROSITY DISCRIMINATION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Authors: Almeida Alzira , Arantes Joana , Machado Armando
Published: June 2008

We used a numerical bisection procedure to examine preschool children's sensitivity to the numerical attributes of stimuli. In Experiment 1 children performed two tasks. In the Cups Task they earned coins for choosing a green cup after two drumbeats and a blue cup after eight drumbeats. In the Gloves Task they earned coins for raising a red glove on their left hand after two drumbeats and a yellow glove on their right hand after eight drumbeats. Then in each task a psychometric function was obtained by presenting intermediate numerosities and recording the percentage of trials in which children chose the “many” option. In Experiment 2 children's performance in a ‘2 vs. 8’ discrimination was compared with their performance in a “4 vs. 16” discrimination. Results showed that the individual psychometric functions were of two types, one in which the percentage of “many” choices increased gradually with stimulus numerosity and another in which it increased abruptly, in a step‐like manner. Although the average point of subjective equality was close to the geometric mean of the anchor numerosities and the average functions for “2 vs. 8” and “4 vs. 16” superimposed when plotted on a common scale (the scalar property), the individual data were highly variable both across tasks (Cups and Gloves) and numerosity ranges (‘2 vs. 8’ and ‘4 vs. 16’). It is suggested that between‐ and within‐subjects variability in the psychometric function is related to children's verbalizations about the sample stimulus.
AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF MEMORY PROCESSING
Authors: Wright Anthony A.
Published: June 2008

Rhesus monkeys were trained and tested in visual and auditory list‐memory tasks with sequences of four travel pictures or four natural/environmental sounds followed by single test items. Acquisitions of the visual list‐memory task are presented. Visual recency (last item) memory diminished with retention delay, and primacy (first item) memory strengthened. Capuchin monkeys, pigeons, and humans showed similar visual‐memory changes. Rhesus learned an auditory memory task and showed octave generalization for some lists of notes—tonal, but not atonal, musical passages. In contrast with visual list memory, auditory primacy memory diminished with delay and auditory recency memory strengthened. Manipulations of interitem intervals, list length, and item presentation frequency revealed proactive and retroactive inhibition among items of individual auditory lists. Repeating visual items from prior lists produced interference (on nonmatching tests) revealing how far back memory extended. The possibility of using the interference function to separate familiarity vs. recollective memory processing is discussed.
ON THE REALITY OF TOOTH FAIRIES: A REVIEW OF THE GOD DELUSION.
Authors: Zeiler Michael D.
Published: June 2008

In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins reviews the evidence for and against God. After considering arguments for a divine power, he says the main current one is that the characteristics of living creatures must be attributed to an all‐powerful designer. Design is the only plausible account, because the excellent fit between each plant and animal and its environment could not possibly have appeared in one stroke by pure chance. Dawkins agrees that randomness could not have done the job, but he says that a designer is equally unlikely. The only viable explanation is evolution by natural selection, a process that operates without plan or design. He then turns to the adaptive value of religious belief. After failing to find any, he proposes that belief in divinities is the by‐product of a powerful tendency to learn from others, an adaptive strategy produced by natural selection. Adults and other influential figures teach children many useful things, but they also train them to worship deities. Religious devotion is established through education, and it is maintained over generations by the social learning processes underlying all instances of cultural evolution. Dawkins' arguments together with other problems encountered in describing evolutionary processes highlight the importance of social learning. His discussion leads the reviewer to assert that only by knowing the mechanisms of social learning is it possible to understand how biological and cultural evolution interact to produce life as we find it.
A Comparison of Regression Approaches for Analyzing Clustered Data
Authors: Desai Manisha , Begg Melissa D.
Published: June 2008

Objectives. We used 3 approaches to analyzing clustered data to assess the impact of model choice on interpretation.

Methods. Approaches 1 and 2 specified random intercept models but differed in standard versus novel specification of covariates, which impacts ability to separate within- and between-cluster effects. Approach 3 was based on standard analysis of paired differences. We applied these methods to data from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project to examine the association between head circumference at birth and intelligence (IQ) at age 7 years.

Results. Approach 1, which ignored within- and between-family effects, yielded an overall IQ effect of 1.1 points (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.9, 1.3) for every 1-cm increase in head circumference. Approaches 2 and 3 found comparable within-family effects of 0.6 points (95% CI = 0.4, 0.9) and 0.69 points (95% CI = 0.4, 1.0), respectively.

Conclusions. Our findings confirm the importance of applying appropriate analytic methods to clustered data, as well as the need for careful covariate specification in regression modeling. Method choice should be informed by the level of interest in cluster-level effects and item-level effects.