bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimisation of the pheromone blend of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, for monitoring
Authors: Boddum Tina , Skals Niels , Wirén Marit , Baur Robert , Rauscher Stefan , Hillbur Ylva
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: The swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii Kieffer, is a serious pest in crucifers. Its pheromone is a blend of (2S,9S)‐diacetoxyundecane, (2S,10S)‐diacetoxyundecane and (2S)‐acetoxyundecane. The pheromone is used in monitoring traps, and this study examines possible ways to optimise the traps.

RESULTS: Two dispenser types were compared: polyethylene dispensers and cotton dispensers. Polyethylene dispensers attracted male C. nasturtii for more than 6 weeks, whereas cotton dispensers were attractive for only 2 weeks. All three pheromone components were important for attraction of male midges in the field. The importance of the stereoisomeric compositions of the pheromone compounds was also tested—both in the wind tunnel and in the field. In the case of 2,9‐diacetoxyundecane and 2‐acetoxyundecane, the non‐natural stereoisomers did not inhibit male C. nasturtii attraction, whereas one or both of the stereoisomers of 2,10‐diacetoxyundecane did.

CONCLUSION: Pheromone traps with the synthetic pheromone in a 1:2:0.02 ratio emitted from PE dispensers were highly effective and long lasting. As the mixture of stereoisomers of 2,10‐diacetoxyundecane strongly inhibited attraction of male C. nasturtii while those of 2,9‐diacetoxyundecane and 2‐acetoxyundecane did not have any inhibitory effect, it is possible to produce traps that are effective and long lasting but cheaper to produce and maintain. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Structural and spectroscopic study of the Fe doped TiO2 thin films for applications in photocatalysis
Authors: Mathews N. R. , Jacome M. A. Corte , Morales Erik R. , Antonio J. A. Toledo
Published: April 2009

In this work we are presenting the results of structural and optical investigations of TiO2 and Fe doped TiO2 films using XRD, XPS, UV‐VIS transmittance spectroscopy, and the application of these films in photocatalysis is demonstrated. Fe‐doped TiO2 films were prepared by sol‐gel method. The concentration of Fe utilized for doping ranged from 0.5 to 4% by atomic weight. For lower concentrations of Fe the transformation from amorphous‐to‐polycrystalline occurred at 400 °C. However, as the Fe concentration was increased to 4% this transformation occurred only after annealing at 600 °C. The average grain size for 4% Fe doped sample was in the range of 13 nm. In the case of pure TiO2 the XPS analysis showed only the presence of Ti 4+, where the 4% Fe doped film showed the presence of two species of Ti atoms; one of unperturbed Ti atoms and another of negatively charged surface of Ti atoms due to the interaction with Fe atoms in the anatase lattice of TiO2. The optical band gap was found to decrease with Fe concentration. The resistivity was found to decrease by one order after doping. The 4% Fe doped TiO2 films showed an increased photocatalytic activity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Characteristics of high‐quality homoepitaxial ZnO (0001) films grown by the plasma‐assisted reactive evaporation method
Authors: Nakagawa A. , Abe T. , Chiba S. , Endo H. , Meguro K. , Kashiwaba Y. , Ojima T. , Aota K. , Niikura I. , Kashiwaba Y. , Fujiwara T.
Published: April 2009

Homoepitaxial growth of high‐quality non‐doped and nitrogen‐doped ZnO (0001) films could be achieved by the plasma‐assisted reactive evaporation (PARE) method under the conditions of constant oxygen gas flow rate and several nitrogen gas flow (Nf) rates for nitrogen doping. The values of FWHM of XRC for (0002) and (10‐10) planes of the non‐doped ZnO thin film were 31 and 35 arcsec., respectively. The values of FWHM of XRC for (0002) and (10‐10) planes of the nitrogen‐doped ZnO thin film were 49 and 38 arcsec., respectively. The RMS roughness of surfaces of those films measured by AFM was about 0.1‐0.2 nm. In PL spectra (5 K) of the films, the intensity of D0X emission was decreased with increase in Nf rate. However, A0X and DAP emissions were clearly observed in the films grown under conditions of nitrogen gas flow. The intensity ratio between A0X and D0X emissions increased with increase in Nf rate. A‐free exciton (FEA) and n=2 state of FEA emissions were observed at around 3.378 and 3.424 eV, respectively, independently of the Nf rate. Again, in PL spectra (300 K) of the films, the intensity of visible light emission decreased and that of near‐band‐edge emission also decreased with increase in Nf rate. PL spectra of nitrogen‐doped ZnO thin films and emission of ultraviolet light from diodes fabricated using the nitrogen‐doped ZnO films showed that the homoepitaxial films grown by the PARE method were of high quality and that nitrogen atoms fulfilled oxygen vacancies and acted as acceptors in the nitrogen‐doped ZnO thin films. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Energy upconversion in erbium doped sodium lead germano tellurite glass
Authors: Bommareddi Swaroop , Dokhanian Mostafa , Reddy B. Rami
Published: April 2009

Erbium doped sodium lead germano tellurite glass was prepared by the melt quenching technique. Optical characterization of the material was done using absorption and laser induced fluorescence measurements. Energy upconversion signals were observed from the sample at 415 nm and/or 546 nm under 488 or 806 nm laser excitations. Our results indicate that this material is useful for upconversion laser development. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The role of the cyclometallated moiety on the second order nonlinear optical properties of cationic Ir(III) organometallic NLO‐phores
Authors: Dragonetti Claudia , Righetto Stefania , Roberto Dominique , Valore Adriana
Published: April 2009

The second order nonlinear optical (NLO) response of the new complexes [Ir(bzq)2(5‐R‐1,10‐phen)][Y] (bzq = cyclometallated benzo[h]quinoline; phen = phenanthroline, R = Me, NO2; Y = PF6, C12H25SO3) and [Ir(bzq)2(4‐R,7‐R‐1,10‐phen)][Y] (R = Me, Ph) have been investigated experimentally by the Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic generation (EFISH) technique in CH2Cl2 solution and compared with that of [Ir(ppy)2(5‐R‐1,10‐phen)][PF6] (ppy = cyclometallated 2‐phenylpyridine, R = Me, NO2) and [Ir(ppy)2(4‐R,7‐R‐1,10‐phen)][PF6] (R = Me, Ph). It appeared that substitution of ppy with the more π‐delocalized bzq does not affect significantly the large second‐order NLO response of this class of complexes. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Temperature dependence of the energy gap, refractive index and optical‐oscillator parameters of amorphous GaxSe1–x (x = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6) thin films
Authors: Mustafa Falah I. , Gupta Shikha , Goyal N. , Tripathi S. K.
Published: April 2009

Thin films of a‐GaxSe1–x (x = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6) are prepared by vacuum evaporation technique onto well‐cleaned glass substrates. The transmittances of the films are measured at various temperature ranges (100 K‐400 K) in the wavelength range of 400‐1100 nm. Optical absorption obeyed the non‐direct transition process. The temperature dependence of the optical energy gaps in that range are fitted with four equations beginning with linear, non linear, Varshni and Bose Einstein equations. The results have got appeared the best fitting is with the Varshni equation. We have found that the energy gap decreases with the increase in Ga percentage in these thin films and increase in energy gap with the decrease of temperature. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Investigation of absorption of Ce3+, Pr3+ and Yb3+ in single crystals of BaR2F8
Authors: Kyiko V. V. , Pushkar A. A. , Uvarova T. V. , Egorov A.
Published: April 2009

Absorption spectra of Ce3+ (0.19‐0.27 at.%), Pr3+ (0.383‐0.53 at.%), and Yb3+ (0.427 at.% ‐3 at.%) in BaY2F8 single crystals have been studied in visible, and IR spectral range at a temperature of 300 K. The absorption coefficients of Ce3+, Pr3+, Yb3+ ions in BaY2F8 crystals have been measured depending on orientation. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Transient reflectivity response with negative time delay caused by femtosecond pulse propagation in GaAs thin films
Authors: Watanabe Shingo , Kojima1 Osamu , Kita Takashi , Wada Osamu , Isu Toshiro
Published: April 2009

We have investigated the propagation effects on the transient response of confined excitons in GaAs thin films by a reflection‐type pump‐probe technique. The spectrally integrated signal demonstrated slower rise than the pulse width in the negative time region. Moreover, reflectivity change spectra indicate that the response in the negative time region originates from the effect of the confined excitons and that the signal rise time at each exciton state is different. The propagation velocities estimated from the rise times and the film thickness correspond to the group velocities of the exciton polariton in bulk crystals. Therefore, the origin of the responses in the negative time region is the pulse modulation caused by the propagation effect of exciton polariton. In addition, it was confirmed that this propagation disappears with an increase in temperature due to the spatial decoherence of excitons. These results demonstrate that the propagation effect of exciton polariton on optical response in femtosecond time scale has a considerable influence in the realization of ultrafast optical devices. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Enhanced luminescence and two‐photon absorption of silver nano‐clusters
Authors: Aiboushev A. V. , Astafiev A. A. , Lozovik Yu E. , Merkulova S. P. , Nadtochenko V. A. , Sarkisov O. M. , Willander M.
Published: April 2009

Luminescence of silver nanoparticles photo‐deposited on titan dioxide nanoparticles of mesoporous film is studied. Luminescence was registered under the two‐photon excitation by femto‐second laser pulses of Ti:sapphire laser. It was observed that Ag/ TiO2 mesoporous films have high concentration of bright luminescence spots which reveal stability to degradation under long illumination. Various configurations of silver nanoparticles are analyzed to explain the physics of bright luminescence spots (“hot spots”). Luminescence intensity reveals “hot spots” dependence on the polarization of excitation laser pulse. Properties of Ag/TiO2 system can be useful for single molecule spectroscopy and visualization of biological objects. Aapplication of Ag/ TiO2 mesoporous films for Raman scattering spectroscopy de‐menstruated for the case of Rhodamine B. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
First‐principle study of electronic structures of multi‐layer graphenes
Authors: Li M. M. , Zhang J. , Li F. J. , Zhu F. X. , Zhang M. , Zhao X. F.
Published: April 2009

Energetic evaluation of possible stacking structures of monolayer, bi‐layer and tri‐layer graphene crystals has been performed using the density‐functional theory under the local density approximation AA stacking of carbon hexagonal monolayer and graphite with AB stacking was also discussed for the reference. It was shown that multi‐layer graphenes are direct band‐gap semiconductors, and the width of their band gaps of graphene crystals can be adjusted by changing the number of graphene layers. The property of band structures of multi‐layer graphenes suggests the potential application for solar cells. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Barotropic instability in the tropical cyclone outer region
Authors: Peng Jiayi , Li Tim , Peng Melinda S. , Ge Xuyang
Published: April 2009

The growth of asymmetric perturbations and their interactions with the symmetric flow are investigated for wind profiles in a tropical cyclone with instability in its outer region. Three tangential wind profiles are examined: TC1, a strong barotropic instability profile in the outer region; TC2, a stable wind profile; and TC3, a weaker instability profile comparing to TC1 with a larger distance between the inner negative and the outer positive vorticity gradient centres.

An eigenvalue analysis indicates that azimuthal wave‐number two is the most unstable mode in both TC1 and TC3, with an e‐folding time‐scale of about 1 and 9 days, respectively. Numerical simulations using a linear barotropic model, with an initial asymmetry specified in the outer region, confirm the eigenvalue analysis. A mechanism is provided to explain the difference between simulations in TC1 and TC2. In both the stable and unstable case, an inner asymmetry is induced by the initial outer asymmetry acting on the symmetric vorticity gradient. Subsequently, the newly generated inner asymmetry feeds back positively to the outer asymmetry with the unstable profile. Because of this positive feedback, the inner and the outer asymmetries maintain an up‐shear phase tilting, leading to a continuous energy transfer from the symmetric flow to the asymmetric perturbation. In the stable TC2, the inner asymmetry could not amplify the outer initial asymmetry as there is no basic‐state radial vorticity gradient there. Also due to this feedback process, disturbances grow faster where the (absolute) basic‐state vorticity gradients are large. Therefore, the position of an initial disturbance plays a minor role in determining the outcome of the system.

Simulations with a nonlinear barotropic model and a primitive equation model further confirm the significant weakening of the maximum tangential wind due to the positive feedback process in TC1. Simulations for TC3 show a smaller change of the symmetric tangential wind, as expected. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Common predictor effects for multivariate longitudinal data
Authors: Jia Juan , Weiss Robert E.
Published: April 2009

Multivariate outcomes measured longitudinally over time are common in medicine, public health, psychology and sociology. The typical (saturated) longitudinal multivariate regression model has a separate set of regression coefficients for each outcome. However, multivariate outcomes are often quite similar and many outcomes can be expected to respond similarly to changes in covariate values. Given a set of outcomes likely to share common covariate effects, we propose the clustered outcome common predictor effect model and offer a two step iterative algorithm to fit the model using available software for univariate longitudinal data. Outcomes that share predictor effects need not be chosen a priori; we propose model selection tools to let the data select outcome clusters. We apply the proposed methods to psychometric data from adolescent children of HIV+ parents. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving Biocompatibility of Implantable Metals by Nanoscale Modification of Surfaces: An Overview of Strategies, Fabrication Methods, and Challenges
Authors: Variola Fabio , Vetrone Fiorenzo , Richert Ludovic , Jedrzejowski Pawel , Yi Ji‐Hyun , Zalzal Sylvia , Clair Sylvain , Sarkissian Andranik , Perepichka Dmitrii F. , Wuest James D. , Rosei Federico , Nanci Antonio
Published: April 2009

The human body is an intricate biochemical–mechanical system, with an exceedingly precise hierarchical organization in which all components work together in harmony across a wide range of dimensions. Many fundamental biological processes take place at surfaces and interfaces (e.g., cell–matrix interactions), and these occur on the nanoscale. For this reason, current health‐related research is actively following a biomimetic approach in learning how to create new biocompatible materials with nanostructured features. The ultimate aim is to reproduce and enhance the natural nanoscale elements present in the human body and to thereby develop new materials with improved biological activities. Progress in this area requires a multidisciplinary effort at the interface of biology, physics, and chemistry. In this Review, the major techniques that have been adopted to yield novel nanostructured versions of familiar biomaterials, focusing particularly on metals, are presented and the way in which nanometric surface cues can beneficially guide biological processes, exerting influence on cellular behavior, is illustrated.

Frontispiece adapted from Reference 94.

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Nanoporous Polymers for Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Germain Jonathan , Fréchet Jean M. J. , Svec Frantisek
Published: April 2009

The design of hydrogen storage materials is one of the principal challenges that must be met before the development of a hydrogen economy. While hydrogen has a large specific energy, its volumetric energy density is so low as to require development of materials that can store and release it when needed. While much of the research on hydrogen storage focuses on metal hydrides, these materials are currently limited by slow kinetics and energy inefficiency. Nanostructured materials with high surface areas are actively being developed as another option. These materials avoid some of the kinetic and thermodynamic drawbacks of metal hydrides and other reactive methods of storing hydrogen. In this work, progress towards hydrogen storage with nanoporous materials in general and porous organic polymers in particular is critically reviewed. Mechanisms of formation for crosslinked polymers, hypercrosslinked polymers, polymers of intrinsic microporosity, and covalent organic frameworks are discussed. Strategies for controlling hydrogen storage capacity and adsorption enthalpy via manipulation of surface area, pore size, and pore volume are discussed in detail.

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Behavioral abnormalities in synapsin II knockout mice implicate a causal factor in schizophrenia
Authors: Dyck Bailee A. , Skoblenick Kevin J. , Castellano Jessica M. , Ki Kitty , Thomas Nancy , Mishra Ram K.
Published: April 2009

Recent studies on the phosphoprotein synapsin II have revealed reduced expression in postmortem medial prefrontal cortex tissues from subjects with schizophrenia, and chronic antipsychotic drug treatment has resulted in concurrent increases in synapsin II mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, this research suggests a role of synapsin II in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia; however, whether synapsin II plays a causal role in this disease process still remains unclear. Therefore, the goal of this investigation was to examine whether synapsin II knockout mice display behavioral abnormalities commonly expressed in preclinical animal models of schizophrenia, namely deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI), decreased social behavior, and locomotor hyperactivity. Results indicate that mice with knockout of the synapsin II gene demonstrate deficits in PPI at three prepulse intensities (67, 70, and 73 dB), along with deficits in habituation to startle to a 110 dB acoustic pulse. Knockout animals also expressed decreased social behavior and increased locomotor activity when compared to wildtype and heterozygous populations. Complete knockout of the synapsin II gene was confirmed in postmortem brain tissues via immunoblotting. In conclusion, these results confirm that synapsin II knockout mice display behavioral endophenotypes similar to established preclinical animal models of schizophrenia, and lend support to the notion that abnormalities in synapsin II expression may play a causal role in the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia. Synapse 63:662–672, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of audit of routine second‐trimester cardiac images using a novel image‐scoring method
Authors: Sairam S. , Awadh A. M. A. , Cook K. , Papageorghiou A. T. , Carvalho J. S.
Published: April 2009

Objective

To assess the impact of using an objective scoring method to audit cardiac images obtained as part of the routine 21–23‐week anomaly scan.

Methods

A prospective audit and re‐audit (6 months later) were conducted on cardiac images obtained by sonographers during the routine anomaly scan. A new image‐scoring method was devised based on expected features in the four‐chamber and outflow tract views. For each patient, scores were awarded for documentation and quality of individual views. These were called ‘Documentation Scores’ and ‘View Scores’ and were added to give a ‘Patient Score’ which represented the quality of screening provided by the sonographer for that particular patient (maximum score, 15). In order to assess the overall performance of sonographers, an ‘Audit Score’ was calculated for each by averaging his or her Patient Scores. In addition, to assess each sonographer's performance in relation to particular aspects of the various views, each was given their own ‘Sonographer View Scores’, derived from image documentation and details of four‐chamber view (magnification, valve offset and septum) and left and right outflow tract views. All images were scored by two reviewers, jointly in the primary audit and independently in the re‐audit. The scores from primary and re‐audit were compared to assess the impact of feedback from the primary audit.

Results

Eight sonographers participated in the study. The median Audit Score increased significantly (P < 0.01), from 10.8 (range, 9.8–12.4) in the primary audit to 12.4 (range, 10.4–13.6) in the re‐audit. Scores allocated by the two reviewers in the re‐audit were not significantly different (P = 0.08).

Conclusion

Objective scoring of fetal heart images is feasible and has a positive impact on the quality of cardiac images acquired at the time of the routine anomaly scan. This audit tool has the potential to be applied in every obstetric scanning unit and may improve the effectiveness of screening for congenital heart defects. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lifetime maximization schemes under end‐to‐end frame‐error constraints in wireless multimedia sensor networks
Authors: Lu Yi‐Jen , Sheu Tsang‐Ling
Published: April 2009

Of significance in wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSN) is the maintenance of media quality and the extension of route lifetime since media stream is more sensitive in quality requirement than data flow. In this paper, the problem of how to balance the needs on constraining end‐to‐end (e2e) quality and prolonging lifetime in an established route can be interpreted as a nonlinear optimization paradigm, which is then shown to be a max—min composite formulation when an e2e frame‐error probability is given. To solve this max—min problem, we propose two novel methods: route‐associated power management (RAPM) and link‐associated power management (LAPM). For computation‐restricted sensor nodes, the RAPM scheme with adding a simplification condition on power management can effectively reduce the power cost at computation and also rapidly determine optimum lifetime from numerous candidate routes. On the other hand, if computing power is not the major concern in a sink node, rather than using a heuristic method, we employ the LAPM algorithm to solve the lifetime maximization problem in a more accurate fashion. Solid theoretical analysis and simulation results are presented to validate our proposed schemes. Both analytical and simulation results demonstrate that the LAPM scheme is very comparable to the heuristic approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactivity of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine with CuI and [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6]: Benzimidazole Formation vs. Cu Oxidation
Authors: Herres‐Pawlis Sonja , Seshadri Tarimala , Flörke Ulrich , Henkel Gerald
Published: April 2009

The reaction of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine (TMG2PA) (1) with CuI in MeCN results in the formation of [CuII(TMG2PAamid)I] (2) indicatingthat CuI is the target of an oxidative attack of the N‐H proton of the ligand which itself is converted to molecular hydrogen. In contrast, if [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6] is used as the CuI source, [CuI2(TMGbenz)2][PF6]2 (3) is obtained instead. The use of the non‐coordinating counterion [PF6]– apparently prevents CuI from oxidation but induces itself a cyclisation reaction within the ligand which results in the formation of a benzimidazole‐guanidine ligand.
Sodium Nitroprusside as a Source of Metalloligand in Direct Synthesis of Cu/Fe Complexes
Authors: Vreshch Olesia V. , Nesterova Oksana V. , Kokozay Vladimir N. , Dyakonenko Viktoriya V. , Shishkin Oleg V. , Cormary Benoit , Malfant Isabelle , Jezierska Julia
Published: April 2009

This article discusses synthesis of two heterometallic complexes [Cu(phen)2Fe(CN)5(NO)]·2H2O (1) and [Cu(phen)3][Fe(CN)5(NO)]·2H2O (2) prepared from zerovalent copper, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), ammonium thiocyanate in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution of 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen). Single crystal X‐ray analysis revealed that compound 1 has a molecular structure with [Cu(phen)2]2+ and [Fe(CN)5NO]2– blocks joined through a bridging CN group of nitroprusside whereas compound 2 consists of a separate [Cu(phen)3]2+ cation and [Fe(CN)5NO]2– anion. The magnetic behaviour of compound 1 is paramagnetic. Compound 1 displays photo‐induced transition to the metastable state SI after irradiation with blue light, what was proved by a low‐frequency shift of ν(N–O) bands.
Facile Fabrication of Ultrafine Copper Nanoparticles in Organic Solvent
Authors: Zhang Han-Xuan , Siegert Uwe , Liu Ran , Cai Wen-Bin
Published: April 2009

A facile chemical reduction method has been developed to fabricate ultrafine copper nanoparticles whose sizes can be controlled down to ca. 1 nm by using poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as the stabilizer and sodium borohyrdride as the reducing agent in an alkaline ethylene glycol (EG) solvent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results and UV–vis absorption spectra demonstrated that the as-prepared particles were well monodispersed, mostly composed of pure metallic Cu nanocrystals and extremely stable over extended period of simply sealed storage.
Children's catastrophic thinking about their pain predicts pain and disability 6 months later
Authors: Vervoort T. , Eccleston C. , Goubert L. , Buysse A. , Crombez G.
Published: April 2009

Catastrophic thinking about pain has been identified as an important determinant of adjustment to pain, in both adults and children. No study has investigated the prospective and unique role of catastrophizing in explaining later pain and disability in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prospective roles of catastrophic thinking about pain, pain intensity, and trait anxiety and their putative relationship with pain and disability tested 6 months later. Participants were 323 schoolchildren. Analyses revealed that the child's pain catastrophizing at baseline had a small but unique contribution to the prediction of pain and disability 6 months later, even when controlling for the initial pain and disability levels. In line with expectations, moderation analyses revealed that the effects of catastrophizing upon pain and disability at follow‐up were only true for those children reporting low levels intensity of pain at baseline. The variability in disability and pain complaint could not be explained by trait anxiety. Instead anxious disposition might be best conceived of as a precursor of catastrophizing in children; i.e. children with higher levels of trait anxiety at baseline were more inclined to report higher levels of catastrophizing at follow‐up. The findings are discussed in terms of potential mechanisms through which catastrophizing might exert its negative impact upon pain and disability outcomes in children.
Central pain in multiple sclerosis – Sensory abnormalities
Authors: Österberg A. , Boivie J.
Published: April 2009

Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) develop central neuropathic pain (CP). In the present study somatosensory abnormalities have been analysed in detail in 62 patients with MS and CP (42 women, 20 men; mean age 52 years) and in a control group of 10 women and 6 men (mean age 47 years) with MS and sensory symptoms, but without pain.

Assessment included clinical testing and quantitative methods (QST) for the measurement of perception thresholds for touch, vibration, and temperatures.

All CP patients except two (97%) had abnormal thresholds for innoxious and/or noxious temperatures, compared to 81% in the control group (p < 0.05). There was a tendency towards the opposite regarding sensibility to touch, which was decreased in 66% vs. 87% (n.s.), vibration (55% vs. 81%; n.s.) and to joint movement (32% vs. 62%; p < 0.04).

Comparisons between painful and non‐painful regions showed both the absolute threshold values and the index values to be significantly more abnormal, in the CP regions, for warmth (p < 0.001), cold (p < 0.05), difference limen (innoxious warmth and cold, p < 0.01), cold pain (p < 0.01) and heat pain/cold pain combined (p < 0.001).

Also the comparisons between regions with central pain and regions with sensory symptoms in the controls showed significantly more abnormal thresholds in the CP patients for warmth (p < 0.05), cold (p < 0.01), difference limen (innoxious warmth and cold, p < 0.01) and heat pain/cold pain combined (p < 0.001).

The results support the general hypothesis that only patients who have lesions affecting the spinothalamo‐cortical pathways run the risk of developing central pain.
Changes in levator ani muscle after vaginal hysterectomy and prolapse repair using the Total Prolift procedure
Authors: Song Yanfeng , Ye Peixiang , Hong Xinru , Ke Guizhu , Sun Qinghua , Chen Ziqian , Ma Ming
Published: April 2009

Objective

To assess changes in the levator plate angle (LPA), anteroposterior length of the levator hiatus (H‐line), and pelvic floor descent (M‐line) after vaginal hysterectomy and prolapse repair using the Gynecare Prolift Total Pelvic Floor Repair System.

Methods

Before and after the intervention, 20 women with pelvic floor prolapse underwent dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in supine position during the Valsalva maneuver to measure the LPA, H‐line, and M‐line. Paired t tests were performed and Pearson correlation coefficients calculated from values obtained using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system.

Results

After the intervention the LPA was smaller (46.92° vs 55.39°, P < 0.05), the H‐line was shorter (53.70 cm vs 60.46 cm, P < 0.05), and the M‐line was shorter (19.58 cm vs 25.27 cm, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These changes suggest an efficient reconstruction and reinforcement of the pelvic floor after the surgery.
The comparative absorption of silicon from different foods and food supplements
Authors: Sripanyakorn Supannee , Jugdaohsingh Ravin , Dissayabutr Wacharee , Anderson Simon H. C. , Thompson Richard P. H. , Powell Jonathan J.
Published: April 2009

Dietary Si (orthosilicic acid; OSA) appears important in connective tissue health, and although the sources and intakes of Si are well established, its absorption is not. Si absorption was measured from eight high-Si-containing sources: alcohol-free beer; OSA solution (positive control); bananas; green beans; supplemental choline-stabilised OSA (ChOSA); supplemental monomethyl silanetriol (MMST); supplemental colloidal silica (CS); magnesium trisilicate British Pharmacopoeia antacid (MTBP). Two of the supplements and the antacid were pre-selected following an in vitro dissolution assay. Fasting, healthy subjects (CS, n 3; others, n ≥ 5) each ingested two of the sources separated by a 1-week wash-out period. Blood and urine were collected and measured for total Si concentrations by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Absorption, based on urinary Si excretion, was highest for MMST and alcohol-free beer (64 % of dose), followed by green beans (44 %), OSA (43 %), ChOSA (17 %), bananas and MTBP (4 %) and CS (1 %). Peak serum concentrations occurred by 0.5 h for MMST and green beans, 1.5 h for OSA and alcohol-free beer, 2 h for ChOSA and CS, and 4 h for MTBP. Area under the serum curves correlated positively with urinary Si output (r 0·82; P < 0·0001). Absorption of Si from supplements and antacids was consistent with their known chemical speciation and kinetics of dissolution under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Monomeric silicates were readily absorbed, while particulate silicates were decreasingly well absorbed with increasing polymerisation. The present results highlight the need to allow for relative absorption of Si from different foods or supplements in subsequent epidemiological and intervention studies.
Sip size of orangeade: effects on intake and sensory-specific satiation
Authors: Weijzen Pascalle L. G. , Smeets Paul A. M. , de Graaf Cees
Published: April 2009

Sensory-specific satiation (SSS) drives food selection and contributes to meal termination. We hypothesised that smaller sips would increase SSS due to increased oro-sensory exposure, irrespective of energy content. The objective was to determine the effects of sip size and energy content on ad libitum intake of orangeade and subjective SSS for orangeade. Orangeade intake and ratings of wanting and liking were measured before and after ad libitum orangeade consumption in a 2 × 2 cross-over design (n 53). Conditions differed in energy content (no-energy v. regular-energy orangeade) and in sip size (large, 20 g/sip v. small, 5 g/sip). The mean intake of both orangeades was lower when consumed with small sips than when consumed with large sips (regular-energy, 352 v. 493 g; no-energy, 338 v. 405 g; both P < 0·001). When consumed with large sips, the mean intake of no-energy orangeade was lower than that of regular-energy orangeade (P = 0·02). When consumed with small sips, subjective SSS (based on the desire to drink) was higher for no-energy orangeade than for regular-energy orangeade (P = 0·01), while mean intake was comparable. We concluded that smaller sip size, i.e. increased oro-sensory exposure per unit of consumption, can lower intake of sweet drinks. Only with low oro-sensory exposure (large sip size) was intake higher for an energy-containing sweet drink than for a no-energy sweet drink. This suggests that intake of sweet drinks is stimulated by (metabolic) reward value and inhibited by sensory satiation. This underpins the importance of SSS for meal termination.
Soil-transmitted helminth infections in Nigerian children aged 0–25 months
Authors: Kirwan P. , Asaolu S.O. , Abiona T.C. , Jackson A.L. , Smith H.V. , Holland C.V.
Published: April 2009

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in children aged 0–25 months and to identify the associated risk factors for Ascaris lumbricoides infections. The study was conducted in three villages outside Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria in May/June 2005. Stool samples (369) were processed by formol-ether concentration. Ascaris lumbricoides (12.2%) was the dominant infection. Age, father's occupation and dog ownership were identified as the significant risk factors in the minimal adequate model for A. lumbricoides. The odds of being infected with A. lumbricoides increased as the children got older. Children aged 12–17 months and 18–25 months were 8.8 and 12.4 times, respectively, more likely to harbour Ascaris than those aged 7–11 months. The odds of harbouring Ascaris for children whose families owned a dog were 3.5 times that of children whose families did not own a dog. Children whose fathers were businessmen were 0.4 times less likely to be infected with Ascaris than those whose fathers were farmers. The findings from this study suggest that many of these young children, who are at a critical stage of development, are infected with Ascaris and that the prevalence of infection with this parasite increases with age. This study has highlighted the need to incorporate preschool children into deworming programmes in endemic regions and to investigate innovative ways of delivering cost-effective deworming treatment to this high-risk age group.
Avian schistosomes in French aquatic birds: a molecular approach
Authors: Jouet D. , Ferté H. , Hologne C. , Kaltenbach M.L. , Depaquit J.
Published: April 2009

The prevalence of human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) caused by bird schistosomes appears to be increasing in France, in light of the impact of tourism combined with high densities of wild aquatic hosts in freshwater areas. The present work expands our knowledge of schistosome systematics by including samples of bird schistosomes collected from their natural hosts in France. Heads (318) and viscera (81) of aquatic birds belonging to 16 species from five orders, collecting during the hunting seasons or found dead, were autopsied for nasal and visceral schistosomes. Eggs and/or adults were analysed by molecular methods using the D2 domain and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region of rDNA to determine species. Even if nasal eggs were polymorphic according to the host, all haplotypes were similar to that ofTrichobilharzia regenti. Marked diversity of visceral species was observed. Final hosts under natural conditions were reported. For the first time,Trichobilharzia frankiis reported in its natural bird hosts,Anas platyrhynchos,Anas crecca,Aythya fuligulaandCygnus olor. We also identifiedT. szidatiinA. creccaandAnas clypeata.Bilharziella polonicawas found in six species of aquatic birds, includingGrus grus. This finding is the first record of bird schistosomes in this aquatic bird. Three new taxa of visceral schistosomes inAnser anserare strongly suspected according to their haplotypes. Futhermore, a new haplotype of visceral schistosomes isolated inCygnus olorand similar toAllobilharzia visceraliswas identified.
Differential effects on white-matter systems in high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome
Authors: McAlonan G. M. , Cheung C. , Cheung V. , Wong N. , Suckling J. , Chua S. E.
Published: April 2009

Background

Whether autism spectrum maps onto a spectrum of brain abnormalities and whether Asperger's syndrome (ASP) is distinct from high-functioning autism (HFA) are debated. White-matter maldevelopment is associated with autism and disconnectivity theories of autism are compelling. However, it is unknown whether children with ASP and HFA have distinct white-matter abnormalities.

Method

Voxel-based morphometry mapped white-matter volumes across the whole brain in 91 children. Thirty-six had autism spectrum disorder. A history of delay in phrase speech defined half with HFA; those without delay formed the ASP group. The rest were typically developing children, balanced for age, IQ, gender, maternal language and ethnicity. White-matter volumes in HFA and ASP were compared and each contrasted with controls.

Results

White-matter volumes around the basal ganglia were higher in the HFA group than ASP and higher in both autism groups than controls. Compared with controls, children with HFA had less frontal and corpus callosal white matter in the left hemisphere; those with ASP had less frontal and corpus callosal white matter in the right hemisphere with more white matter in the left parietal lobe.

Conclusions

HFA involved mainly left hemisphere white-matter systems; ASP affected predominantly right hemisphere white-matter systems. The impact of HFA on basal ganglia white matter was greater than ASP. This implies that aetiological factors and management options for autism spectrum disorders may be distinct. History of language acquisition is a potentially valuable marker to refine our search for causes and treatments in autism spectrum.
Hospital admission for non-fatal poisoning with weak analgesics and risk for subsequent suicide: a population study
Authors: Qin P. , Jepsen P. , Nørgård B. , Agerbo E. , Mortensen P. B. , Vilstrup H. , Sørensen H. T.
Published: April 2009

Background

Poisoning with weak analgesics is a major public health problem because of easy accessibility of the compounds; however, few studies have investigated their influence on subsequent suicide in the context of subjects' psychiatric status and other factors.

Method

This nested case-control study was based on the entire Danish population including all 21 169 suicide cases and 423 128 matched population controls. Data on hospital admissions for poisoning and confounding factors were retrieved from national medical and administrative registries. Conditional logistic regression was used to compute relative risk.

Results

A prior hospital admission for poisoning with weak non-opioid analgesics significantly increased the risk of subsequent suicide [crude incidence rate ratio (IRR) 24.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 22.1–27.6], and the effect of paracetamol poisoning was substantially stronger than that of poisoning with salicylates or non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This association could not be explained by confounding from socio-economic or psychiatric factors. The elevated risk was extremely high during the first week following the overdose (adjusted IRR 738.9, 95% CI 173.9–3139.1), then declined over time but still remained significantly high 3 years later (adjusted IRR 4.2, 95% CI 3.5–5.0). Moreover, a history of weak analgesic poisoning significantly interacted with a person's psychiatric history, increasing the risk for subsequent suicide substantially more for persons with no history of psychiatric hospitalization than did it for those with such a history.

Conclusions

A history of non-fatal poisoning with weak analgesics is a strong predictor for subsequent suicide. These results emphasize the importance of intensive psychiatric care of patients following overdose.
Design and control of a haptic interactive motion simulator for virtual entertainment systems
Authors: Karkoub M. , Her M.-G. , Chen J.-M.
Published: April 2009

In this paper, an interactive virtual reality motion simulator is designed and analyzed. The main components of the system include a bilateral control interface, networking, a virtual environment, and a motion simulator. The virtual reality entertainment system uses a virtual environment that enables the operator to feel the actual feedback through a haptic interface as well as the distorted motion from the virtual environment just as s/he would in the real environment. The control scheme for the simulator uses the change in velocity and acceleration that the operator imposes on the joystick, the environmental changes imposed on the motion simulator, and the haptic feedback to the operator to maneuver the simulator in the real environment. The stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed based on the Nyquist stability criteria. It is shown that the proposed design for the simulator system works well and the theoretical findings are validated experimentally.
Enhancement of histone acetylation by trichostatin A duringin vitrofertilization of bovine oocytes affects cell number of the inner cell mass of the resulting blastocysts
Authors: Ikeda Shuntaro , Tatemizo Atsuhiro , Iwamoto Daisaku , Taniguchi Shunji , Hoshino Yoichiro , Amano Tomoko , Matsumoto Kazuya , Hosoi Yoshihiko , Iritani Akira , Saeki Kazuhiro
Published: April 2009

Histone acetylation is one of the major mechanisms of epigenetic reprogramming of gamete genomes after fertilization to establish a totipotent state for normal development. In the present study, the effects of trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, duringin vitrofertilization (IVF) of bovine oocytes on subsequent embryonic development were investigated. Cumulus-enclosed oocytes obtained from slaughterhouse bovine ovaries were maturedin vitroand subjected to IVF in a defined medium supplemented with 0 (control), 5, 50, and 500 nM TSA for 18 h. After IVF, presumptive zygotes were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF) medium until 168 h postinsemination (hpi). Some oocytes were immunostained using antibody specific for histone H4-acetylated lysine 5 at 10 hpi. Cleavage, blastocyst development and cell number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) of blastocysts were assessed. TSA treatment enhanced histone acetylation that was prominent in decondensed sperm nuclei. TSA did not affect the postfertilization cleavage, blastocyst rates, and TE cell number. However, it significantly enhanced ICM cell number (p< 0.05). These results indicate that TSA treatment during IVF of bovine oocytes does not affect blastocyst development but alters the cell number of ICM, suggesting that overriding epigenetic modification of the genome during fertilization has a carryover effect on cell proliferation and differentiation in preimplantation embryos. Thus, further environmental quality controls in assisted reproductive technologies are needed in terms of factors which affect chromatin remodelling.
Establishment of rat embryonic stem-like cells from the morula using a combination of feeder layers
Authors: Sano Chiaki , Matsumoto Asako , Sato Eimei , Fukui Emiko , Yoshizawa Midori , Matsumoto Hiromichi
Published: April 2009

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are characterized by pluripotency, in particular the ability to form a germline on injection into blastocysts. Despite numerous attempts, ES cell lines derived from rat embryos have not yet been established. The reason for this is unclear, although certain intrinsic biological differences among species and/or strains have been reported. Herein, using Wistar-Imamichi rats, specific characteristics of preimplantation embryos are described. At the blastocyst stage, Oct4 (also called Pou5f1) was expressed in both the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE), whereas expression of Cdx2 was localized to the TE. In contrast, at an earlier stage, expression of Oct4 was detected in all the nuclei in the morula. These stages were examined using a combination of feeder layers (rat embryonic fibroblast [REF] for primary outgrowth and SIM mouse embryo-derived thioguanine- and ouabain-resistant [STO] cells for passaging) to establish rat ES-like cell lines. The rat ES-like cell lines obtained from the morula maintained expression of Oct4 over long-term culture, whereas cell lines derived from blastocysts lost pluripotency during early passage. The morula-derived ES-like cell lines showed Oct4 expression in a long-term culture, even after cryogenic preservation, thawing and EGFP transfection. These results indicate that rat ES-like cell lines with long-term Oct4 expression can be established from the morula of Wistar-Imamichi rats using a combination of feeder layers.
A modified cryoloop vitrification protocol in the cryopreservation of mature mouse oocytes
Authors: Wang Zengyan , Sun Zhengyi , Chen Ying , He Fangfang
Published: April 2009

In this study, we examined a modified cryoloop vitrification protocol in the cryopreservation of mature mouse oocytes. The mature mouse oocytes were first vitrified and then warmed up in a modified cryoloop vitrification medium [15% ethylene glycol (EG) + 15% dimethyl sulphoxide (ME2SO) + 5.8 mg/ml Ficoll 400 (F) + 0.58 mol/l sucrose (S)]. These oocytes were later studied along with fresh oocytes, which served as the control group.

Based on the post-warm-up incubation time, the oocytes in the study group were divided into three subgroups: 0 h, 1 h and 2 h. We then examined the configurations of spindles and chromosomes, the fragmentation of DNA, and the oocyte's ability to be fertilized and developed into blastocysts. By evaluating the vitrified oocytes' morphology, we confirmed that 601 out of 612 (98.2%) oocytes survived this protocol. The percentage of oocytes with normal spindle and chromosome configurations in the study groups 0 h, 1 h and 2 h were all quite similar to each other and not statistically different from that of the control group. Similar results were also observed in the percentage of oocytes containing fragmented DNA. The fertilization rate and blastocyst formation rate of the thawed oocytes were not statistically different from that of the control group either. However, if not handled properly (too much remnant medium on oocytes in the process of freezing or too long a time of oocytes in the vitrification medium before freezing), the cryopreserved oocytes could show dramatic difference from the control group in terms of the morphologically survival rate, the configuration of the spindles and chromosomes, and the DNA fragmentation. In conclusion, when followed correctly, this modified cryoloop vitrification protocol had little effect on the survival rate and development potential of mature mouse oocytes.