bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Everyday Occupation, Well-Being, and Identity: The Experience of Caregivers in Families With Dementia
Authors: Hasselkus Betty R. , Murray Bridget J.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of the nature of the daily occupations of caregivers for family members with dementia as related to the caregivers’ perceptions of well-being. Qualitative telephone interviews, focused on the experience of caregiving, were conducted with 33 caregiver–respondents; the data were transcribed and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Everyday occupation emerged as a phenomenon that was central to the caregivers’ ways of evaluating and monitoring well-being in the care receivers and themselves. Further, occupational engagement served to help mitigate the potential biographical disruption of the dementia caregiving experience. The implications for occupational therapy personnel are convincing: Everyday occupation holds promise for contributing to the relative well-being of both caregivers and care receivers and for facilitating continuity of relationships and identity for the caregiver.
Ethical Decision Making in Clinical Research: Application of CELIBATE
Authors: Van Denend Toni , Finlayson Marcia
Published: October 2011

The need for high-quality evidence to support practice is an ongoing issue in occupational therapy. As a consequence, growing numbers of occupational therapists are engaged in both clinical practice and research activities. Therapists who find themselves in these dual roles are sometimes faced with ethical conflicts when the responsibilities of being a researcher appear, on the surface, to diverge with the responsibilities of being an occupational therapist. This article applies one clinical tool, CELIBATE, to problem solve through an ethical dilemma experienced by a clinician involved in research. Based on the experience of using the tool, recommendations are presented to make CELIBATE more useful in research situations.
Boys With Developmental Coordination Disorder: Loneliness and Team Sports Participation
Authors: Poulsen Anne A. , Ziviani Jenny M. , Cuskelly Monica , Smith Rachel
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. This study investigated the mediational role of team sports and other leisure occupations for boys ages 10 to 13 years in the relationship between physical coordination ability and perceptions of loneliness.

METHOD. Sixty boys with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and 113 comparison boys without DCD completed a self-report measure of loneliness. Parents recorded information on leisure involvement over 7 days.

RESULTS. Boys with DCD recorded significantly higher loneliness and lower participation rates in all group physical activities, whether structured (e.g., team sports) or unstructured (e.g., informal outdoor play) than boys without DCD. An inverse relationship between physical coordination ability and loneliness was mediated by participation in team sports. No other leisure pursuits were found to be significant mediators. Childhood physical coordination difficulties were significantly associated with loneliness.

CONCLUSION. Participation in team sports acted as one potential mechanism mediating the inverse relationship between physical coordination ability and loneliness in boys. Occupational therapists can act as advocates to support boys with DCD who choose to participate in team sports. Further investigations are recommended to determine aspects of team sports environments that promote an optimal fit among child, activity, and environment.
Relationship Between Awareness of Disability and Occupational Performance During the First Year After a Stroke
Authors: Ekstam Lisa , Uppgard Brittmari , Kottorp Anders , Tham Kerstin
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVES. This study examined the relationship between awareness of disability and occupational performance in a group of elderly persons during the year after stroke.

METHOD. Data on awareness of disability and occupational performance (i.e., activities of daily living [ADL] motor and process ability) were collected 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after stroke. A mixed-linear-effects model was implemented to examine the relationship between awareness of disability and ADL motor and process ability over time.

RESULTS. Increased awareness of disability was related to improvements in occupational performance (ADL motor and process ability). The 2 relationships were different, with a positive linear relationship between awareness of disability and ADL motor ability, and a stronger, positive, nonlinear relationship between awareness of disability and ADL process ability.

CONCLUSION. Clients’ awareness of disability and their ability to perform occupations should be assessed several times during a rehabilitation process so that interventions can be adjusted to match each client's potential to benefit from them.
Supported-Employment Program Processes and Outcomes: Experiences of People With Schizophrenia
Authors: Liu K. W. David , Hollis Vivien , Warren Sharon , Williamson Deanna L.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. This qualitative study explored participants’ experiences of a supported-employment program. Understanding participants’ opinions of a supported-employment program may provide insights into what processes and outcomes are meaningful and important for participants and may enable an evaluation of such processes and outcomes for their congruence with occupational therapy practice.

METHOD. Supported-employment program participants with schizophrenia (N = 7) were recruited from an agency and interviewed individually with open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using a grounded-theory approach.

RESULTS. We developed a tentative grounded theory with three themes of supported-employment program outcomes: (a) removing barriers to job seeking, (b) improving psychological well-being, and (c) participating in work.

CONCLUSION. Supported-employment program participants can achieve meaningful personal outcomes even though they do not obtain competitive employment. These programs removed barriers to job seeking, but personal readiness and efforts in job seeking contributed most to obtaining employment.
Rasch Analysis of the ADL Scale of the A-ONE
Authors: Árnadóttir Guðrún , Fisher Anne G.
Published: October 2011

The ADL-focused Occupation-based Neurobehavioral Evaluation (A-ONE; Árnadóttir, 1990) can be used to evaluate both performance of activities of daily living (ADL) tasks and neurobehavioral problems that interfere with ADL task performance among clients with neurological disorders. This study examined the rating scale structure and aspects of validity and reliability of the A-ONE's ordinal ADL scale by applying Rasch analysis methods (Bond & Fox, 2001). Rasch analysis of 209 clients’ A-ONE assessments indicated that misfit of items to the ADL scale could be reduced by removing the two communication items. Threshold disordering could be corrected by combining two adjacent scoring categories (supervision and verbal assistance), thus supporting four response categories. Separation reliability for item calibrations (.98) was high and acceptable for people (.90). Finally, principal components analysis of the residuals supported unidimensionality. The study provided support for converting the ordinal ADL scale to an interval scale that has potential to be used to measure changes in ADL task performance over time.
Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale: Interrater Agreement and Construct Validity
Authors: Jankovich Milena , Mullen Jacqueline , Rinear Erin , Tanta Kari , Deitz Jean
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. Interrater agreement and construct validity of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale (RKPPS) were examined.

METHOD. Two separately trained raters evaluated 38 typically developing children, ages 36 to 72 months. For each child, the raters observed two 15-min free-play sessions.

RESULTS. For the overall play age, the scores of the two raters were within 8 months of each other 86.8% of the time; for the 4 dimension scores, they were within 12 months of each other 91.7% to 100% of the time; and for the 12 category scores, they were within one age level of each other 81.8% to 100% of the time. Construct validity results showed a general match between the children’s chronological ages and their overall play age scores.

CONCLUSIONS. Findings suggest that two raters can score the RKPPS with some consistency and that scores on this measure progress developmentally, thus supporting its construct validity.
Measuring Activity Pacing in Women With Lower-Extremity Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Murphy Susan L. , Smith Dylan M. , Alexander Neil B.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. We examined how women with osteoarthritis naturally use activity pacing and how pacing relates to symptoms and physical activity within daily routines.

METHOD. Thirty women with knee or hip osteoarthritis (mean age = 63.8 ± 6.9) wore an actigraph accelerometer and repeatedly reported activity pacing, pain, and fatigue. Using the median split, symptom patterns were compared for low and high pacers. The relationship between activity pacing and physical activity was also examined.

RESULTS. Activity pacing was low (1.4 ± 0.9); pain and fatigue were mild (1.0 ± 0.7 and 1.1 ± 0.7, respectively). When compared with low pacers, high pacers had more severe, escalating symptoms. Activity pacing was related to lower physical activity (β = −28.14, SE = 6.24), t (586) = −4.51, p = .0001.

CONCLUSION. Pain, fatigue, and activity pacing use varied depending on average activity pacing level. High pacers may benefit from interventions to manage daily symptoms.
Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Autism Used in or of Relevance to Occupational Therapy
Authors: Case-Smith Jane , Arbesman Marian
Published: October 2011

Occupational therapy practitioners are among the professionals who provide services to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), embracing both leadership and supportive roles in service delivery. The study's primary aims were as follows: (1) to identify, evaluate, and synthesize the research literature on interventions for ASD of relevance to occupational therapy and (2) to interpret and apply the research literature to occupational therapy. A total of 49 articles met the authors’ criteria and were included in the review. Six categories of research topics were identified, the first 3 of which are most closely related to occupational therapy: (1) sensory integration and sensory-based interventions; (2) relationship-based, interactive interventions; (3) developmental skill-based programs; (4) social cognitive skill training; (5) parent-directed or parent-mediated approaches; and (6) intensive behavioral intervention. Under each category, themes supported by research evidence and applicable to occupational therapy were defined. The findings have implications for intervention methods, communication regarding efficacious practices to professionals and consumers, and future occupational therapy research.
Research Literature in Occupational Therapy, 2001–2005
Authors: Case-Smith Jane , Powell Carol A.
Published: October 2011

One method to determine trends in occupational therapy research is to survey the literature published in occupational therapy journals. This study describes the types and topics of articles published in five prominent occupational therapy journals over a 5-year span. Feature articles published between 2001 and 2005 were analyzed to determine the types of articles and research and subject areas. The percentage of research articles published between 2001 and 2005 increased from 65% to 78% of all articles published and is higher than previous reports. More than 70% of the research articles used designs that substantially contribute to the evidence base for occupational therapy (defined by Kielhofner, Hammel, Finlayson, Helfrich, & Taylor [2004] as correlational–comparison, experimental, qualitative, and meta-analysis). Of the research articles, 60% addressed pediatric, physical disability, and rehabilitation topics. The 5-year period showed a trend of increasing frequency of geriatric and pediatric topics in research reports. Scholars should emphasize research designs that build the evidence for occupational therapy approaches and practices and focus on research topics of highest value to society.
Differences in Patterns of Participation Between Youths With Cerebral Palsy and Typically Developing Peers
Authors: Engel-Yeger Batya , Jarus Tal , Anaby Dana , Law Mary
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. This study investigated the effects of cerebral palsy (CP) and gender on youth participation in activities outside of formal school.

METHOD. Twenty-two participants with CP and 30 typically developing peers, ages 12–16 years, completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE; King et al., 2004).

RESULTS. Typically developing youths engaged in a broader range of activities and did so more frequently than did youths with CP. Similar levels of enjoyment in activity were found in both groups. In some scales of the CAPE, youths with CP participated in proportionally more activities alone and at home. Gender differences and Group ×Gender interaction were found in some scales with respect to participation in and enjoyment of activities.

CONCLUSIONS. Physical limitations associated with CP may affect the frequency of a child's participation in activity outside of school. However, youths with CP may express levels of enjoyment similar to those of typically developing peers while participating in activity.
Functional Skill Learning in Men With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Giuffrida Clare G. , Demery Jason A. , Reyes Lisa R. , Lebowitz Brian K. , Hanlon Robert E.
Published: October 2011

The number of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) having persistent deficits that compromise their ability to perform everyday skills is increasing. Previous occupation-based studies indicate that computer-based skills using repetitive practice may be a viable option for retraining. We investigated the effects of different practice schedules on skill learning in 6 men with TBI. Participants with significant impairments in processing and fine motor control practiced 3 tasks using a random (n = 3) or a blocked (n = 3) ordered practice schedule. Practice occurred for 55 min/day for 13 days with retention and transfer trials taking place 2 weeks after training. Both groups showed a significant increase in performance during skill acquisition and maintained this performance. Only the random-practice group, however, was able to transfer this learning to another task. The findings provide evidence that people with TBI can improve their everyday skills with randomly structured practice.
Sensory Overresponsivity and Anxiety in Children With ADHD
Authors: Reynolds Stacey , Lane Shelly J.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. Approximately 25% of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a comorbid anxiety disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is related to elevated levels of anxiety in children with ADHD.

METHOD. Twenty-four children ages 6 to 10 with ADHD and 24 children without ADHD participated in this study. All parents completed a Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) with their child. Children in the ADHD group were subdivided into ADHD + SOR and ADHD-only groups using the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory.

RESULTS. Children in the ADHD + SOR group were significantly more anxious than both the ADHD-only and non-ADHD (control) groups. Children with ADHD + SOR were also more likely to have clinically significant anxiety (determined by total scores on the RCMAS).

CONCLUSIONS. Occupational therapists treating children with ADHD and SOR should be aware that these children may also have anxiety and discuss options with families for prevention or treatment.
Reliability of the Box and Block Test of Manual Dexterity for Use With Patients With Fibromyalgia
Authors: Canny Mark L. , Thompson Jeffrey M. , Wheeler Mikel J.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the Box and Block (B&B) Test of Manual Dexterity for upper-extremity function in patients with fibromyalgia and to compare their results with those of healthy control participants.

METHOD. We assessed reliability of the B&B Test within and between testers using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We compared fibromyalgia patient (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) scores using analysis of variance and population-based normative data.

RESULTS. The B&B Test was reliable with ICCs of .90 to .85. Fibromyalgia patients’ B&B Test scores were significantly lower (more impaired) than those of the control group and standardized norms.

CONCLUSIONS. The B&B Test is a reliable measure of upper-extremity function in fibromyalgia patients and is able to reveal a reduction in upper-extremity function in these patients compared with both healthy control participants and normative scores.
Application of the Spacing Effect to Improve Learning and Memory for Functional Tasks in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study
Authors: Goverover Yael , Arango-Lasprilla Juan Carlos , Hillary Frank G. , Chiaravalloti Nancy , DeLuca John
Published: October 2011

Research has indicated that many people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience learning and memory difficulties because of impairments in the initial acquisition of information. We examined a strategy, the spacing effect, known to enhance new learning in a laboratory setting in healthy control participants (HCs) and in people with TBI. The spacing effect indicates that information is learned better when presentation trials are distributed over time (spaced presentation) rather than consecutively (massed presentation). In this study, we examined the application of the spacing effect in improving functional tasks. We used a within-subject design and included 10 participants with TBI and 15 HCs. In both the TBI and the HC groups, material learned under the spaced learning condition was recalled better than that learned under massed learning conditions. These results provide initial evidence supporting the use of the spacing effect to improve new learning of functional tasks for people with TBI.
Use of the Dynamic Interactional Model in Self-Care and Motor Intervention After Traumatic Brain Injury: Explanatory Case Studies
Authors: Zlotnik Sharon , Sachs Dalia , Rosenblum Sara , Shpasser Raluka , Josman Naomi
Published: October 2011

PURPOSE. The highest proportion of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occurs among adolescents. This study examines the effectiveness of a therapeutic protocol for rehabilitation of adolescents with TBI. This protocol is based on Toglia's (1998, 2005) Dynamic Interactional Model and Expanded Awareness Model (Toglia & Kirk, 2000).

METHOD. Explanatory case studies presenting 2 adolescents (ages 16–17) with mild to moderate TBI are combined with qualitative and quantitative data assessing self-care, mobility, and graphomotor abilities as well as deficit awareness in these domains. Outcome measures include the FIM™, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Computerized Penmanship Object Evaluation Tool, and the Awareness of Mobility Deficits Questionnaire. Graphic data analysis compared outcome measures before, during, and after intervention.

RESULTS. The Dynamic Interactional Model was effective in improving self-care, mobility, and graphomotor abilities and identified awareness of deficits in these domains.

CONCLUSION. These research findings contribute to our theoretical knowledge in rehabilitation and promote adopting this approach for rehabilitation of adolescents with TBI.
Changing Face of Stroke: Implications for Occupational Therapy Practice
Authors: Wolf Timothy J. , Baum Carolyn , Connor Lisa Tabor
Published: October 2011

Stroke is one of the most life-altering syndromes affecting the world population. Rehabilitation for people experiencing stroke is focused almost exclusively on self-care activities and being able to return home and has little to no focus on work rehabilitation or community reintegration. The Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group (CRRG) at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis was formed with the vision of improving everyday life for people after stroke by translating knowledge from neuroscience into treatment programs for productive living. Descriptive analysis of the intake assessment from the CRRG Clinical Core (N = 7,740) revealed three important findings: The age at stroke is decreasing, most strokes are neurologically mild to moderate in nature, and discharge placement decisions are being made largely on the basis of measures of impairment. The changes in the stroke population require occupational therapy to expand rehabilitation beyond the acute management of stroke to address full participation in work, family, and community life.
Indirect radiative forcing of aerosols via water vapor above non-precipitating maritime cumulus clouds
Authors: Pfeffer M. A. , Kristjansson J. E. , Stordal F. , Berntsen T. , Fast J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Aerosol-cloud-water vapor interactions in clean maritime air have been described for different aerosol sources using the WRF-Chem atmospheric model. The simulations were made over the Lesser Antilles in the region of the RICO measurement campaign where the clouds are low, patchy, typical trade-wind cumuli. In this very clean air, sea salt and DMS are found to have greater effects than anthropogenic pollution on the cloud droplets' effective radii and longwave and shortwave outgoing top of atmosphere radiation. The changes in radiation due to each aerosol source are a function of how each source influences aerosol concentration, cloud droplet number concentration, cloud droplet sizes, and water vapor concentration. Changes in outgoing shortwave radiation are due predominantly to changes in the clouds, followed by the direct aerosol effect which is about 2/3 as important, followed by the effects of water vapor which is in turn about 2/3 as important as the direct effect. Changes in outgoing longwave radiation are due predominantly to changes in the clouds, with changes in water vapor being about 1/10 as important. The simulated changes in water vapor concentration are due to the competing effects of aerosol particles being able to both enhance condensation of available water vapor and enhance evaporation of smaller droplets. These changes are independent of precipitation effects as there is essentially no drizzle in the domain. It is expected that the indirect radiative forcing of aerosols via water vapor may be stronger in dirtier and more strongly convective conditions.
The Development of Bioactive Glass‐Ceramic Substrates with Biocide Activity
Authors: Cabal Belén , Malpartida Francisco , Torrecillas Ramón , Hoppe Alexander , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Moya J. Serafín
Published: October 2011

The biocide efficiency of bioactive 45S5 Bioglass® derived glass‐ceramic substrates against common Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and also against yeast, is investigated in this study. The results confirm the high bactericidal capacity of this material. Inorganic coatings containing silver nanoparticles on glass‐ceramic substrates are developed in order to ascertain whether the presence of silver enhances the biocide activity. It is found that a coating made of soda‐glass containing silver nanoparticles does not improve the antifungal properties of the 45S5 Bioglass® derived glass‐ceramic substrates.
Drag reduction phenomenon in viscous oil‐water dispersed pipe flow: Experimental investigation and phenomenological modeling
Authors: Rodriguez I. H. , B.Yamaguti H. K. , de Castro M. S. , Da Silva M. J. , Rodriguez O. M. H.
Published: October 2011

An experimental study on drag‐reduction phenomenon in dispersed oil‐water flow has been performed in a 26‐mm‐i.d. Twelve meter long horizontal glass pipe. The flow was characterized using a novel wire‐mesh sensor based on capacitance measurements and high‐speed video recording. New two‐phase pressure gradient, volume fraction, and phase distribution data have been used in the analysis. Drag reduction and slip ratio were detected at oil volume fractions between 10 and 45% and high mixture Reynolds numbers, and with water as the dominant phase. Phase‐fraction distribution diagrams and cross‐sectional imaging of the flow suggested the presence of a higher amount of water near to the pipe wall. Based on that, a phenomenology for explaining drag reduction in dispersed flow in a flow situation where slip ratio is significant is proposed. A simple phenomenological model is developed and the agreement between model predictions and data, including data from the literature, is encouraging. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: 2011 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management
Authors: Wilcox Ryan A.
Published: October 2011

Disease overview: Cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas are a heterogenous group of T‐cell lymphoproliferative disorders involving the skin, the majority of which may be classified as Mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS).

Diagnosis: The diagnosis of MF or SS requires the integration of clinical and histopathologic data.

Risk‐adapted therapy: Tumor, node, metastasis, and blood (TNMB) staging remains the most important prognostic factor in MF/SS and forms the basis for a “risk‐adapted,” multidisciplinary approach to treatment. For patients with disease limited to the skin, expectant management or skin‐directed therapies is preferred, as both disease‐specific and overall survival for these patients is favorable. In contrast, patients with advanced‐stage disease with significant nodal, visceral, or blood involvement are generally approached with biologic‐response modifiers, denileukin diftitox, and histone deacetylase inhibitors before escalating therapy to include systemic, single‐agent chemotherapy. Multiagent chemotherapy may be used for those patients with extensive visceral involvement requiring rapid disease control. In highly‐selected patients with disease refractory to standard treatments, allogeneic stem‐cell transplantation may be considered. Am. J. Hematol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The potential role of pre‐transplant HBcIgG seroposivity as predictor of clinically relevant cytomegalovirus infection in patients with lymphoma undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A study from the Rome Transplant Network
Authors: Marchesi Francesco , Giannotti Federica , Avvisati Giuseppe , Petti Maria Concetta , Pimpinelli Fulvia , Paba Pierpaolo , Dessanti Maria Laura , Cerretti Raffaella , Tirindelli Maria Cristina , Picardi Alessandra , D'Andrea Mariella , Spadea Antonio , Ensoli Fabrizio , Perno Carlo Federico , Mengarelli Andrea , Arcese William
Published: October 2011

Despite the increased use of intensive immunosuppressive chemo‐immunotherapies in patients with lymphoma observed in the last decade, current data on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following autologous stem cell transplantation (Auto‐SCT) are very limited. To address this peculiar aspect, a retrospective study on a cohort of 128 adult patients consecutively transplanted for lymphoma in three Hematology Institutions was performed with the aim to determine the incidence of and the risk factors for CMV symptomatic infection and/or end‐organ disease. Sixteen patients (12.5%) required specific antiviral therapy and 4/16 died (25%); transplant‐related mortality (TRM) was significantly influenced by CMV infection (P = 0.005). In univariate analysis, a pre‐transplant HBcIgG seropositivity, HBV infection according to clinical–virological definitions, a pre‐transplant Rituximab treatment, a diagnosis of B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, and age at transplant were significantly associated with the risk of developing a clinically relevant CMV infection. In multivariate analysis, only a pre‐transplant HBcIgG seropositivity (P = 0.008) proved to be an independent predictor of a clinically relevant CMV infection. These results suggest that a pre‐transplant HBcIgG seropositivity could be considered as an independent predictor factor of clinically relevant CMV infection after Auto‐SCT. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brief communication: The oldest pliopithecid record in the Iberian Peninsula based on new material from the Vallès‐Penedès Basin
Authors: Alba David M. , Moyà‐Solà Salvador , Robles Josep M. , Galindo Jordi
Published: October 2011

Here, we report on an isolated pliopithecid M3/ (IPS35028) from locality ACM/C3‐B2 (12.0 Ma, MN7) of the late Middle Miocene stratigraphic series of Abocador de Can Mata (ACM, Vallès‐Penedès Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula). This tooth is about 0.2 million years older than the remains of Pliopithecus canmatensis (11.8–11.7 ma), recorded from several localities from the ACM series. The unusual occlusal features of IPS35028, together with the lack of homologous material for several pliopithecid species, preclude a precise taxonomic attribution of the C3‐B2 specimen, which does not fit the morphology of any known pliopithecid M3/. In particular, although an attribution to P. canmatensis would seem reasonable on the basis of size, identical geographic provenance, and similar age, the morphology of IPS35028 appears too primitive compared to the M1/ and M2/ of the former taxon. Instead, the C3‐B2 pliopithecid displays several primitive features shared with the dionysopithecine Dionysopithecus and the pliopithecine Pliopithecus piveteaui. It therefore seems more likely that IPS35028 represents a previously unknown pliopithecid taxon, although a formal taxonomic recognition of its probable distinct status is not advisable, given the scarcity of the currently available material. Alternatively, this taxon might be more closely related to small‐bodied African catarrhines (such as dendropithecids). However, the morphology of the ACM specimen is not particularly similar to that of the M3/ of these African taxa. Hence, based on age and geographic provenance, an attribution of IPS35028 to the Pliopithecidae is favored here. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones using ruthenium(III)/Et3N catalyst
Authors: Guo Huajun , Liu Wei‐Dong , Yin Guochuan
Published: October 2011

A simple, efficient method for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones has been developed. Using RuCl3/Et3N as catalyst, the oxidation of benzyl alcohol with oxygen could be achieved with 332 h−1 turnover frequency in the absence of solvent. The influence of versatile N‐containing additives on the catalytic efficiency has been discussed. The presence of minor water would substantially promote the catalytic efficiency, and its role in catalysis has been investigated in detail. The insensitive Hammett correlations of the substituted benzyl alcohols, the normal substrate isotope effect (kH/kD = 3.5 at 335 K), and the linear relationship between O2 pressure and turnover frequency imply that the reoxidation of the Ru(III) hydride intermediate to the active species shares the rate‐determining step with the hydride transfer in the catalytic cycle. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dependence of bituminous coal gasification on pressure in a turbulent circulating fluidized bed
Authors: Duan Feng , Zhang Lihui , Huang Yaji
Published: October 2011

The concept of high‐temperature air/steam‐blown gasification technology to convert coal into fuel gas for power generation is proposed and evaluated. The effect of the pressure on coal gasification characteristics is studied experimentally by using a pressurized turbulent circulating fluidized bed (CFB). The results show that the product quality is improved at higher pressure because of the better fluidization in the reactor. Coal gasification at a higher pressure shows advantages in higher heating value (HHV) and carbon conversion. The HHV is increased by 16.6% when the pressure is increased from 0.1 to 0.3 MPa. The increase of the pressure increases the carbon conversion from 57.52% to 76.76%. In addition, dry gas yield and cold gas efficiency increase while the carbon content of fly ash decreases with the increase of pressure. Optimum operating pressure range exists for this specific CFB coal gasification process. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Triply‐responsive (thermo/light/pH) copolymeric hydrogel of N‐isopropylacrylamide with an azobenzene‐containing monomer
Authors: Li Lixia , Xing Xiaodong , Liu Zuliang
Published: October 2011

A series of triply‐responsive copolymer hydrogel was firstly synthesized via free radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide, 4‐[(4‐(acryloyloxy)ethoxy) phenylazo]benzoic acid (AEPAZA), a water‐soluble azobenzene‐containing comonomer, and crosslinker. The properties of the hydrogel were subsequently investigated by UV‐Vis absorption spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and gravimetry. UV‐Vis spectra showed that the copolymer hydrogel had a reasonable tran–cis photoisomerization rate upon UV irradiation and a relatively slow recovery rate in dark. The critical solution temperature (CST) of the copolymer hydrogel decreased with increasing of AEPAZA content and subsequently shifted higher value after UV irradiation. Meanwhile, the phase transitions profile became slower and broader with the incorporation of AEPAZA, which could be partly counterbalanced by UV irradiation. The CST could also be affected by the pH value of buffer solution. In addition, equilibrium swelling behavior clearly showed that the swelling ratio could be modulated by temperature, light, and pH. These stimuli‐responsive properties should be very important for controlled release delivery system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Polylactide/clay nanocomposites: A fresh look into the in situ polymerization process
Authors: Silvino Alexandre Carneiro , de Souza Kenia Santos , Dahmouche Karim , Dias Marcos Lopes
Published: October 2011

Polylactide nanocomposites with organo‐modified montmorillonite presenting a high degree of clay exfoliation were prepared via in situ polymerization by using an improved methodology. The morphology of the nanocomposites was studied by WAXD and SAXS. The size distribution of clay aggregates in the polylactide matrices was quantitatively determined by SAXS applying the stacked‐disk model. The analyses show high degree of delamination of the silicate yielding exfoliated polylactide nanocomposites even at high concentration of clay (>10 wt %). L‐lactide conversions measured by ATR‐FTIR were determined to be no less than 94% after 3 h of reaction in all polymerizations. DSC measurements were performed to study the influence of the clay content on the thermal behavior of the prepared nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and Antioxidant Evaluation of Some New Pyrazolopyridine Derivatives
Authors: Gouda Moustafa A.
Published: October 2011

4,6‐Dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐3‐amine (1) was used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of imidazolopyrazole derivatives 7–11 upon interaction with 3‐(2‐bromoacetyl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (2), 2‐(benzothiazol‐2‐yl)‐4‐chloro‐3‐oxobutanenitrile (3), 2,3‐dibromonaphthalene‐1,4‐dione (4), naphtha[2,3‐b]oxirene‐2,7‐dione (5), 2,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dihydroxyhexa‐2,5‐diene‐1,4‐dione (6), respectively. Acetylation of 11 afforded the bis‐acetyl 12. Also, the imidazolopyrimidine 15 was prepared via treatment of 1 with sodium 3,4‐dioxo‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalene‐1‐sulfonate (13) in DMF followed by cyclization of the bis‐pyrazolopyrimidine 14 with glacial acetic acid. On the other hand, compound 1 was reacted with (E)‐1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)pent‐1‐en‐3‐one hydrochloride (16), 2‐hydroxy‐3‐((piperidin‐1‐yl)‐methyl)‐naphthalene‐1,4‐dione (17), 2‐styryl‐2H‐indene‐1,3‐dione (18), enaminone 22, chloroquinoline‐3‐carbaldehyde 27a, chloroquinoline‐(6‐methyl)‐3‐carbaldehyde 27b and 5‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehyde (28) to afford pyrazolo[3,4‐a]pyrimidines 19–21, 23, 29a, 29b and 30, respectively. Also, the pyrazolopyrimidinone 33 was obtained via treatment of 1 with 1‐cyanoacetyl‐3,5‐dimethylpyrazole (31) followed by cyclization of the formed intermediate 32 with glacial acetic acid. Finally, treatment of 1 with o‐terephthalaldehyde in glacial acetic acid afforded diazepine 34. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antioxidant properties in which some of them exhibited promising activities. Compounds 1, 14, 15, 23, 26, 29a, 30 and 32 have the ability to protect DNA from the damage induced by bleomycin.
The dynamic features of Delicious, Flickr, and YouTube
Authors: Lin Nan , Li Daifeng , Ding Ying , He Bing , Qin Zheng , Tang Jie , Li Juanzi , Dong Tianxi
Published: October 2011

This article investigates the dynamic features of social tagging vocabularies in Delicious, Flickr, and YouTube from 2003 to 2008. Three algorithms are designed to study the macro‐ and micro‐tag growth as well as the dynamics of taggers' activities, respectively. Moreover, we propose a Tagger Tag Resource Latent Dirichlet Allocation (TTR‐LDA) model to explore the evolution of topics emerging from those social vocabularies. Our results show that (a) at the macro level, tag growth in all the three tagging systems obeys power law distribution with exponents lower than 1; at the micro level, the tag growth of popular resources in all three tagging systems follows a similar power law distribution; (b) the exponents of tag growth vary in different evolving stages of resources; (c) the growth of number of taggers associated with different popular resources presents a feature of convergence over time; (d) the active level of taggers has a positive correlation with the macro‐tag growth of different tagging systems; and (e) some topics evolve into several subtopics over time while others experience relatively stable stages in which their contents do not change much, and certain groups of taggers continue their interests in them.
Adaptive dynamic surface control of a hypersonic flight vehicle with improved tracking
Authors: Butt Waseem Aslam , Yan Lin , Kendrick Amezquita S.
Published: October 2011

This work presents a nonlinear adaptive dynamic surface air speed and a flight path angle control design procedure for the longitudinal dynamics of a generic hypersonic flight vehicle. The proposed design scheme takes into account the magnitude, rate, and bandwidth constraints on the actuator signals. A new approach is used to enhance tracking performance and avoid a large initial control signal. The uncertain nonlinear functions in the flight vehicle model are approximated by using radial basis function neural networks. A detailed stability analysis of the designed controllers shows that all the signals of the closed‐loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded. The robust performance of the design scheme is verified through numerical simulations of the flight vehicle model for various parameter variation test cases.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Liquid crystal models of biological materials and silk spinning
Authors: Rey Alejandro D. , Herrera‐Valencia Edtson E.
Published: October 2011

A review of thermodynamic, materials science, and rheological liquid crystal models is presented and applied to a wide range of biological liquid crystals, including helicoidal plywoods, biopolymer solutions, and in vivo liquid crystals. The distinguishing characteristics of liquid crystals (self‐assembly, packing, defects, functionalities, processability) are discussed in relation to biological materials and the strong correspondence between different synthetic and biological materials is established. Biological polymer processing based on liquid crystalline precursors includes viscoelastic flow to form and shape fibers. Viscoelastic models for nematic and chiral nematics are reviewed and discussed in terms of key parameters that facilitate understanding and quantitative information from optical textures and rheometers. It is shown that viscoelastic modeling the silk spinning process using liquid crystal theories sheds light on textural transitions in the duct of spiders and silk worms as well as on tactoidal drops and interfacial structures. The range and consistency of the predictions demonstrates that the use of mesoscopic liquid crystal models is another tool to develop the science and biomimetic applications of mesogenic biological soft matter. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 374–396, 2012.
Identification and characterization of stressed degradation products of metoprolol using LC/Q‐TOF‐ESI‐MS/MS and MSn experiments
Authors: Borkar Roshan M. , Raju B. , Srinivas R. , Patel Prashant , Shetty Satheesh Kumar
Published: October 2011

A rapid, specific and reliable isocratic high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/Q‐TOF‐ESI‐MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the identification and characterization of stressed degradation products of metoprolol. Metoprolol, an anti‐hypertensive drug, was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per ICH‐specified conditions. The drug showed extensive degradation under oxidative and hydrolysis (acid and base) stress conditions. However, it was stable to thermal, neutral and photolysis stress conditions. A total of 14 degradation products were observed and the chromatographic separation of the drug and its degradation products was achieved on a C18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm). To characterize degradation products, initially the mass spectral fragmentation pathway of the drug was established with the help of MS/MS, MSn and accurate mass measurements. Similarly, fragmentation pattern and accurate masses of the degradation products were established by subjecting them to LC‐MS/QTOF analysis. Structure elucidation of degradation products was achieved by comparing their fragmentation pattern with that of the drug. The degradation products DP2 (m/z 153) and DP14 (m/z 236) were matched with impurity B, listed in European Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia, and impurity I, respectively. The LC‐MS method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy and precision. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HPLC enantioresolution of (R,S)‐baclofen using three newly synthesized dichloro‐s‐triazine reagents having amines and five others having amino acids as chiral auxiliaries
Authors: Bhushan Ravi , Dixit Shuchi
Published: October 2011

Enantioresolution of (R,S)‐baclofen was accomplished using a newly synthesized set of three chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) having amines [(S)‐(−)‐α,4‐dimethylbenzylamine, (−)‐cis‐myrtanylamine and (R)‐(−)‐1‐cyclohexylethylamine] as chiral auxiliaries in cyanuric chloride and another set of five CDRs having amino acids (l‐Leu, d‐Phg, l‐Val, l‐Met and l‐Ala) as chiral auxiliaries. These eight CDRs were used for synthesis of diastereomers of (R,S)‐baclofen under microwave irradiation. The diastereomers were separated on a reversed‐phase C18 column using mixtures of methanol with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid with UV detection at 230 nm. Chromatographic data obtained for the two sets of diastereomers were compared among themselves and among the two groups. The method was validated for limit of detection, linearity, accuracy and precision. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of saikosaponins in rat plasma by anionic adducts‐based liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method
Authors: Xu Lei , Song Rui , Tian Ji‐Xin , Tian Yuan , Liu Guo‐Qiang , Zhang Zun‐Jian
Published: October 2011

Saikosaponins (SSs) are a class of triterpene saponins with a wide spectrum of bioactivities. A sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of saikosaponin a, saikosaponin c, saikosaponin d and saikosaponin b2 in rat plasma. Plasma samples were prepared by liquid–liquid extraction. The analytes and the internal standard (IS) digoxin were well separated on an octadecyl column using gradient elution and analyzed by monitoring the fragmentation transition pair of anionic adducts to deprotonated molecules in negative‐mode electrospray. By neutral loss of HCOOH, the transition pairs of m/z 825 → 779 for SSa, SSd, SSb2 and the IS, and m/z 971 → 925 for SSc were sensitive for MS/MS detection with the lower limits of quantification in the range of 0.20–0.40 ng/mL. Method validation experiments were performed, including selectivity, precision, accuracy, linearity, matrix effect, recovery and stability. The validated method was further applied to determine the pharmacokinetics parameters of SSa, c and d in rats following a single oral administration of the extract of chaihu (the dried roots of Bupleurum chinense DC). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NMR and MRI of Blood‐Dissolved Hyperpolarized Xe‐129 in Different Hollow‐Fiber Membranes
Authors: Amor Nadia , Hamilton Kathrin , Küppers Markus , Steinseifer Ulrich , Appelt Stephan , Blümich Bernhard , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas
Published: October 2011

Magnetic resonance of hyperpolarized 129Xe has found a wide field of applications in the analysis of biologically relevant fluids. Recently, it has been shown that the dissolution of hyperpolarized gas into the fluid via hollow‐fiber membranes leads to bubble‐free 129Xe augmentation, and thus to an enhanced signal. In addition, hollow‐fiber membranes permit a continuous operation mode. Herein, a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy analysis of a customized hollow‐fiber membrane module is presented. Different commercial hollow‐fiber membrane types are compared with regard to their 129Xe dissolution efficiency into porcine blood, its constituents, and other fluids. The presented study gives new insight into the suitability of these hollow‐fiber membrane types for hyperpolarized gas dissolution setups.
Evaluating victim–offender dialogue (VOD) for serious cases using Umbreit's 2001 handbook: A case study
Authors: Urban Lynn S. , Markway Jeananne , Crockett Kay
Published: October 2011

The use of the restorative justice paradigm within the criminal justice system has increased substantially in recent years with increasing interest in dialogue for serious violence (VOD‐SV). The purpose of this article is to provide a descriptive case study and evaluate one serious VOD program on its adherence to the recommendations set forth in The Handbook of Victim Offender Mediation (Umbreit, 2001) for practice, highlight issues of program delivery, and assess the best practices put forth. Overall, the Handbook provides a useful guide for framing a VOD‐SV program. Future concerns that must be addressed include standardized assessments and providing adequate funding.
Mathematical analysis of a flying capacitor converter: a sampled‐data modeling approach
Authors: Margaliot Michael , Ruderman Alex , Reznikov Boris
Published: October 2011

Flying capacitor converters (FCCs) are recently attracting considerable interest because of their inherent natural voltage balancing property. We develop a sampled‐data model for a single‐phase single‐leg three‐level FCC. This provides a closed‐form expression for the system dynamic behavior after each switching cycle. Analysis of this model provides considerable insight on the FCC and its natural balancing property. In particular, we prove that the natural balancing property indeed holds whenever the switching frequency is sufficiently high. We also rigorously analyze dynamic properties such as the capacitor time constant and relate them to the parameter values of the load, carrier frequency and duty ratio. These results shed light on the intricate relationship between the FCC parameters and its short‐ and long‐term dynamic behavior. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.