bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review: Recent research progress on preparation of silver nanowires by soft solution method and their applications
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Wang Li , Yan Guangqing
Published: April 2011

Owing to the unique and tunable optical, plasmonic and electrical properties of silver nanowires, they are widely used as the templates for the preparation of Au or Pt nanotubes, as substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and detectors for some chemicals. Soft solution method is a facile and effective method for the preparation of silver nanowires with well‐controlled morphology and uniform size. By this approach, silver nanowires can be readily prepared with mild reaction condition, general materials available and facile procedure. This review concentrates on the preparation of silver nanowires via various soft solution methods and their applications in the formation of metallic nanotubes, SERS and detection for some chemicals. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Automated electron diffraction tomography – a new tool for nano crystal structure analysis
Authors: Kolb U. , Mugnaioli E. , Gorelik T. E.
Published: April 2011

Automated electron Diffraction Tomography (ADT) comprises an upcoming method for “ab intio” structure analysis of nano crystals. ADT allows fine sampling of the reciprocal space by sequential collection of electron diffraction patterns while tilting a nano crystal in fixed tilt steps around an arbitrary axis. Electron diffraction is collected in nano diffraction mode (NED) with a semi‐parallel beam with a diameter down to 50 nm. For crystal tracking micro‐probe STEM imaging is used. Full automation of the acquisition procedure allowed optimisation of the electron dose distribution and therefore analysis of highly beam sensitive samples. Cell parameters, space group and reflection intensities can be determined directly within a reconstructed 3d diffraction volume using a dedicated software package (ADT3D). Intensity data sets extracted from such a volume usually show a high coverage and significantly reduced dynamical effects due to “off‐zone” acquisition. The use of this data for “ab initio” structure solution by direct methods implemented in standard programs for X‐ray crystallography is demonstrated. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanocrystals
Authors: Raja K. , Verma S. , Karmakar S. , Kar S. , Das S. Jerome , Bartwal K. S.
Published: April 2011

Nanocrystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) were prepared by sol‐gel technique. The prepared nanocrystals were characterized for phase by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) of the samples annealed at successively higher temperature. The magnetite phase was formed during the annealing of the synthesized powder at 400 °C for a few hours. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to analyze the functional groups in the material. The energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction (EDAX) was performed for chemical composition analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to analyze the morphology of nanocrystals and for estimating their average size. The results confirm the formation of Fe3O4nanocrystals of the sizes ∼20–50 nm. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gallium Pnictides of the Alkaline Earth Metals, Synthesized by Means of the Flux Method: Crystal Structures and Properties of CaGa2Pn2, SrGa2As2, Ba2Ga5As5, and Ba4Ga5Pn8 (Pn = P or As)
Authors: He Hua , Stearrett Ryan , Nowak Edmund R. , Bobev Svilen
Published: April 2011

The focus of this paper is on the structural characterization of the new Zintl phases CaGa2P2, CaGa2As2, SrGa2As2, and Ba2Ga5As5, and the solid solution (Ba0.85(1)Sr0.15)2Ga5As5, all of which were synthesized from molten metal fluxes.CaGa2P2, CaGa2As2, and SrGa2As2 have layered structures with polyanionic layers made of ethane‐like Ga2P6 and Ga2As6 motifs fused through common edges; the polyanionic substructure in Ba2Ga5As5 consists of condensed Ga2As6 units and GaAs4 tetrahedra. Ba4Ga5P8 and Ba4Ga5As8, another pair of new compounds with channel‐like 3D structures, were also synthesized from metal fluxes, and their structures were established from single‐crystal X‐ray and synchrotron powder diffraction. They are based on GaP4 and GaAs4 tetrahedra, with parts of their structures being heavily disordered. The electronic structures computed with the linear muffin‐tin orbital (LMTO) method are discussed as well, alongside the thermopower and the electrical conductivity, measured on single crystals of Ba2Ga5As5 and the solid solution (Ba0.85(1)Sr0.15)2 Ga5As5. They demonstrate that such an approach would be an effective way to fine‐tune the transport properties.
Minaret behavior under earthquake loading: The case of historical Istanbul
Authors: Oliveira C. S. , Çaktı E. , Stengel D. , Branco M.
Published: April 2011

Minarets are very slender structures with an old existence. The historical ones are made of cut‐stone‐block masonry assembled in peripheral cylindrical wall with an interior helicoidal stair supported on a central core and on the wall. They are spread throughout the Islamic world and constitute an important heritage not only of religious value, but also of great cultural interest. Throughout the times, these structures as part of a mosque, have suffered significant damage during the earthquakes. Istanbul presents interesting characteristics to evaluate their dynamic behavior, as they are in great number, in an area where a large event in the next 30 years has been predicted.

In this paper, we performed a series of in situ ambient vibration tests to old minarets of various sizes and compared results of frequencies with numerical modeling of the same structures. For the low‐amplitude motion, the frequency values of the first modes can be obtained from an empirical formulae function of the inertia of the cross‐section and of the height of the main ‘body.’ Damping ratios for these amplitudes are of the order of 0.5–1.0%.

Dynamic linear analyses of these structures indicate that for most cases very high stresses develop for PGA above 0.5 g, an input with a reasonable chance of occurring in the next 30 years. These high stresses are expected to cause the toppling of the minarets in the form that has been observed in the recent past events. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Graphitised Carbon Nanofibres as Catalyst Support for PEMFC
Authors: Yli‐Rantala E. , Pasanen A. , Kauranen P. , Ruiz V. , Borghei M. , Kauppinen E. , Oyarce A. , Lindbergh G. , Lagergren C. , Darab M. , Sunde S. , Thomassen M. , Ma‐Andersen S. , Skou. E.
Published: April 2011

Graphitised carbon nanofibres (G‐CNFs) show superior thermal stability and corrosion resistance in PEM fuel cell environment over traditional carbon black (CB) and carbon nanotube catalyst supports. However, G‐CNFs have an inert surface with only very limited amount of surface defects for the anchorage of Pt catalyst nanoparticles. Modification of the fibre surface is therefore needed. In this study Pt nanoparticles have been deposited onto as‐received and surface‐modified G‐CNFs. The surface modifications of the fibres comprise acid treatment and nitrogen doping by pyrolysis of a polyaniline (PANI) precursor. The modified surfaces were studied by FTIR and XPS and the electrochemical characterization, including long‐term Pt stability tests, was performed using a low‐temperature PEMFC single cell. The performance and stability of the G‐CNF supported catalysts were compared with a CB supported catalyst and the effects of the different surface treatments were discussed. On the basis of these results, new membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were manufactured and tested also for carbon corrosion by in situ FTIR analysis of the cathode exhaust gases. It was observed that the G‐CNFs showed 5 times lower carbon corrosion compared to CB based catalyst when potential reached 1.5 V versus RHE in simulated start/stop cycling.
A noninvasive method to determine fat content in small fish based on swim bladder size estimation
Authors: Kotrschal Alexander , Fischer Barbara , Taborsky Barbara
Published: April 2011

The presence of fat stores in fish is widely used as a correlate of fish health and fitness. Techniques to measure fat content with some accuracy are available for medium‐sized and large fish, but apart from morphometric indices, a noninvasive method to determine fat content in small fish has hitherto been lacking. In this study, we introduce a novel method to measure the fat content in live fish that can be applied also to small fish of less than 0.5 g of body mass. This approach relies on a precise measurement of the swim bladder volume, from which fat content can subsequently be deduced. As fat is positively buoyant, fish with larger fat stores require a smaller swim bladder to attain neutral buoyancy. To determine swim bladder volume, we developed a measuring device, which makes use of the differential compressibility of air and water. A fish is placed in a pressure‐tight chamber to which a standardized amount of water is added. The resulting change in pressure Δp is inversely proportional to the volume of the swim bladder. Using juveniles and adults of Simochromis pleurospilus (Nelissen, '78; Pisces: Tropheini) a small cichlid fish, we show that Δp is tightly related to structural size, mass, and body condition. Most importantly, this approach allows to predict the visceral fat content of small fish more precisely than the six most commonly used morphometric body indices. J. Exp. Zool. 315:408–415, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential expression of cxcl‐14 during eruptive movement of rat molar germs
Authors: Yoo H. I. , Kang J. H. , Yang S. Y. , Yong J. H. , Moon J. S. , Kim M. S. , Jung J. Y. , Koh J. T. , Kim W. J. , Oh W. M. , Lee E. J. , Kim S. H.
Published: April 2011

Tooth eruption at the early postnatal period is strictly controlled by the molecules secreted mainly from follicular tissues, which recruit monocytes for osteoclast formation. In this study, it was hypothesized that different molecules can be expressed according to the stages of tooth eruption. Rat molar germs together with follicles were extracted and DD‐PCR was performed from the root formation stage 2nd molars germs (after eruptive movement) and cap stage 3rd molar germs (before movement) at postnatal day 9.

Cxcl‐14, a potent chemoattractant, was detected as one of the differentially expressed molecules from DD‐PCR. Its expression increased significantly at the root formation stage, compared with the cap or crown formation stage at both transcription and translation levels. The expression patterns of cxcl‐14 were consistent with those of MCP‐1 and CSF‐1, and opposite to OPG. Immunofluorescence showed that cxcl‐14 was localized in the dental follicular tissues only at the root formation stage overlaying the proximo‐occlusal region of the molar germs. Many osteoclasts appeared on the surface of the alveolar bone which overlayed the occlusal region of the root formation stage 2nd molar germs and underwent resorption. Cxcl‐14 expression was reduced considerably at both the translation and transcription levels by an alendronate treatment.

These results suggest that cxcl‐14 may be implicated in the formation of the eruptive pathway of tooth germs via osteoclastogenesis. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 316:418–426, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“The most important technique …”: Carl Rogers, Hawthorne, and the rise and fall of nondirective interviewing in sociology
Authors: Lee Raymond M.
Published: April 2011

In the 1940s, interviewing practice in sociology became decisively influenced by techniques that had originally been developed by researchers in other disciplines working within a number of therapeutic or quasi‐therapeutic contexts, in particular the “nondirective interviewing” methods developed by Carl Rogers and the interviewing procedures developed during the Hawthorne studies. This article discusses the development of nondirective interviewing and looks at how in the 1930s and '40s the approach came to be used in sociology. It examines the factors leading to both the popularity of the method and its subsequent fall from favor. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Life experience and the value‐free foundations of Blumer's collective behavior theory
Authors: Keys David , Maratea R. J.
Published: April 2011

Herbert Blumer stated throughout his long career that his ideas regarding collective behavior originated with his introduction to pragmatist philosophy under the auspices of G. H. Mead at the University of Chicago. Blumer's biography, however, presents a different picture. Firsthand experiences with mob behavior, collective outrage, and the fallout associated with Blumer's public utterances early in his career may have had significant impact on the eventual corpus of collective behavior. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of tone sensation and musical stimuli in early experimental psychology
Authors: Klempe Sven Hroar
Published: April 2011

In this article, the role of music in early experimental psychology is examined. Initially, the research of Wilhelm Wundt is considered, as tone sensation and musical elements appear as dominant factors in much of his work. It is hypothesized that this approach was motivated by an understanding of psychology that dates back to Christian Wolff's focus on sensation in his empirical psychology of 1732. Wolff, however, had built his systematization of psychology on Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, who combined perception with mathematics, and referred to music as the area in which sensation is united with numerical exactitude. Immanuel Kant refused to accept empirical psychology as a science, whereas Johann Friedrich Herbart reintroduced the scientific basis of empirical psychology by, among other things, referring to music. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Some new information on the formation of substituted 4‐amino‐1‐substituted phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles from β‐enaminones and diazonium tetrafluoroborates
Authors: Šimůnek Petr , Macháček Vladimír , Svobodová Markéta , Růžička Aleš
Published: April 2011

Upon reaction of 2‐methyl‐, 3‐ethoxycarbonyl, and 4‐ethoxycarbonylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate with 1‐cyclopropyl‐3‐phenylaminohex‐2‐en‐1‐one 3‐cyclopropylcarbonyl‐1‐(substituted phenyl)‐5‐ethyl‐4‐phenylamino‐1H‐pyrazoles are formed. On the other hand, the reaction of 1‐cyclopropyl‐3‐phenylaminohex‐2‐en‐1‐one and 5‐methylaminohept‐4‐en‐3‐one with sterically more demanding 2‐ethoxycarbonylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate does not give the corresponding pyrazoles but the probable intermediates on the route to the pyrazoles: 1‐cyclopropyl‐3‐phenyliminohexane‐1,2,4‐trione 2,4‐bis(2‐ethoxycarbonylphenylhydrazone) and 3‐methyliminoheptane‐2,4,5‐trione 2,4‐bis(2‐ethoxycarbonylphenylhydrazone), respectively. All the compounds were identified on the basis of 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR spectra. The structure of 1‐cyclopropyl‐3‐phenyliminohexane‐1,2,4‐trione 2,4‐bis(2‐ethoxycarbonylphenylhydrazone) was confirmed by means of 15N‐NMR spectra and X‐ray. The bis(2‐ethoxycarbonylphenylhydrazones) were found to show atropoisomerism due to a hindered rotation around the bond between the carbons of imino group and the hydrazono group next to carbonyl. In the case of the crystalline cyclopropyl derivative, the unit cell was found out to contain two molecules of opposite chirality. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).
How potentially predictable is northern European winter climate a season ahead?
Authors: Folland C. K. , Scaife A. A. , Lindesay J. , Stephenson D. B.
Published: April 2011

We estimate the potential predictability of European winter temperature using factors based on physical studies of their influences on European winter climate. These influences include sea surface temperature patterns in different oceans, major tropical volcanoes, the quasi‐biennial oscillation in the tropical stratosphere, and anthropogenic climate change.

We first assess the predictive skill for winter mean temperature in northern Europe by evaluating statistical hindcasts made using multiple regression models of temperature for Europe for winter and the January–February season. We follow this up by extending the methodology to all of Europe on a 5° × 5° grid and include rainfall for completeness. These results can form the basis of practical prediction methods. However, our main aim is to develop ideas to act as a benchmark for improving the performance of dynamical climate models. Because we consider only potential predictability, many of the predictors have estimated values coincident with the winter season being forecast. However, in each case, these values are predictable on average with considerable skill in advance of the winter season. A key conclusion is that to reproduce the results of this paper, dynamical forecasting models will require a fully resolved stratosphere. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society and British Crown copyright, the Met Office
Raman investigations of Zn1−xCoxO nanocrystals: role of starting precursors on vibrational properties
Authors: Bhargava Richa , Sharma Prashant K. , Kumar Sanjeev , Pandey Avinash C. , Kumar Naresh
Published: April 2011

The Raman spectra of sol–gel derived Co‐doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in the spectral range 100–1500 cm−1 were investigated. In the sol–gel method, three different series of Co‐doped ZnO particles, i.e. Zn1−xCoxO (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20), were obtained using three different starting precursors, viz. cobalt chloride hexahydrate, cobalt acetate tetrahydrate, and cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, respectively. It has been observed that cobalt acetate is a better precursor in comparison to cobalt chloride and cobalt nitrate to obtain single‐phase Co‐doped ZnO NPs. As for cobalt acetate‐derived NPs, no hidden secondary phase of Co3O4 was observed for the lower (x = 0.05) Co concentration. The Fröhlich interaction associated with the longitudinal modes was found to be destroyed with increasing Co concentration due to structural disorder and defects induced by the dopant. In addition to ZnO and Co3O4 vibrational modes, a few additional modes near 550 and 715 cm−1 were also observed in all cases, which could be attributed to the modes due to Co doping in ZnO. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering and DFT calculations studies of 3,3′‐diethylthiatri‐ carbocyanine iodide
Authors: Cai Hongxing , Zhu Jing , Chen Gao , Liu Liwei , He Guang S. , Zhang Xihe
Published: April 2011

As an infrared Raman probe, the molecule 3,3′‐diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide (DTTC) has received much attention in the past decades due to its potential applications in Raman imaging, single‐cell detection, cancer diagnosis, and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In this work, ordinary Raman, SERS, and theoretical Raman spectra were investigated to estimate the DTTC suspension. More specifically, the original gold nanospheres (60 nm diameter) and gold nanorods were encoded with DTTC and stabilized with a layer of thiol–polyethylene glycol as Raman reporter; SERS data were also obtained from the samples. Hartree–Fock theory and density functional theory (DFT) calculation were applied to calculate the optimized Raman spectra of DTTC in water on the B3LYP/6‐31G level. Subsequently, the obtained experimental spectra from DTTC were carefully compared with the theoretically calculated spectra, and good agreement was obtained between the theoretical and experimental results.The bands between 500 and 3100 cm−1 in the ordinary Raman and SERS spectra were assigned as well. This work will facilitate the development of ultrasensitive SERS probes for advanced biomedical imaging applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biological reconstruction using massive bone allograft with intramedullary vascularized fibular flap after intercalary resection of humeral malignancy
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Zhen , Pei Guo‐Xian , Guo Zheng
Published: April 2011

Background

Reconstruction after excision of the humeral malignancy is a challenging issue for the reconstructive surgeon. The combined use of a fibular flap and allograft can provide a reliable reconstructive option. This article describes the authors' experience with this technique for the treatment of segmental bone defects after resection of humeral malignancy.

Methods

From 2005 to 2008, seven patients that had intercalary resection of humeral malignancy underwent reconstruction with an allograft and vascularized fibula construct. Patients were examined clinically and radiographically.

Result

The average age at time of operation was 16.7 years. The mean follow‐up time was 27.7 months. The average length of the resected humeral segment was 10.6 cm and that of the fibula flap was 13.1 cm. The average time of union of fibula was 20.7 weeks and for union of allograft was 26.3 weeks. Incorporation of the fibula into the allograft was seen in three patients. There were no allograft fractures and no infections. Three patients had surgery‐related complications including a temporary radial nerve paralysis in 1, wound dehiscence in 1, and clawed toes in 1. The MSTS average score was 95.2% at final follow‐up.

Conclusions

Intramedullary fibular flaps in combination with massive allografts provide an excellent option for reconstruction of large bony defects after humeral malignancy extirpation. The viability of the fibula is a cornerstone in success of reconstruction that prevents allograft nonunion and result in decreased time to bone healing, leading to earlier patient recovery and return of function. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:244–249. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ionic liquid‐based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for sensitive determination of aromatic amines in environmental water
Authors: Han Dandan , Yan Hongyuan , Row Kyung H.
Published: April 2011

Ionic liquid‐based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of aromatic amine from environmental water. A suitable mixture of extraction solvent (100 μL, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophoshate) and dispersive solvent (750 μL, methanol) were injected into the aqueous samples (10.00 mL), forming a cloudy solution. After centrifuging, enriched analytes in the sediment phase were determined by HPLC‐UV. The effect of various factors, such as the extraction and dispersive solvent, sample pH, extraction time and salt effect were investigated. Under optimum conditions, enrichment factors for 2‐anilinoethanol, o‐chloroaniline and 4‐bromo‐N,N‐dimethylaniline were above 50 and the limits of detection (LODs) were 0.023, 0.015 and 0.026 ng/mL, respectively. Their linear ranges were 0.8–400 ng/mL for 2‐anilinoethanol, 0.5–200 ng/mL for o‐chloroaniline and 0.4–200 ng/mL for 4‐bromo‐N,N‐dimethylaniline, respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were below 5.0%. The relative recoveries from samples of environmental water were in the range of 82.0–94.0%. Compared with other methods, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction is simple, rapid, sensitive and economical.
Preparation of “click” binaphthyl stationary phase and its application for separation of anthraquinones from Rheum palmatum L.
Authors: Yu Danhua , Yu Hui , Wang Xinliang , Jin Yu , Ke Yanxiong , Liang Xinmiao
Published: April 2011

An organosilane containing binaphthyl functional group was synthesized by clicking 2,2′‐bis(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl with 3‐azidopropyltriethoxysilane (AzPTES). The “click” binaphthyl stationary phase was then synthesized by covalently bonding the organosilane onto silica beads. In this synthetic method, the residue of copper iodide (CuI) catalyst can be controlled at a very low level. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were well retained on the “click” binaphthyl column, and showed different retention factors (k) and separation ratio (α) values from those on octadecylsilyl (ODS) column due to the π–π interaction between the analytes and the stationary phase. The anthraquinone compounds in Rheum palmatum L. were selectively separated and enriched into a fraction by the “click” binaphthyl column. By using this way, the complexity of the sample was largely reduced. Twelve of anthraquinones were recognized by UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS. This stationary phase will be very useful for separating and enriching similar compounds with planar aromatic structures from complex traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) samples.
Hepatitis B virus quasispecies in hepatic and extrahepatic viral reservoirs in liver transplant recipients on prophylactic therapy
Authors: Coffin Carla S. , Mulrooney-Cousins Patricia M. , van Marle Guido , Roberts John P. , Michalak Tomasz I. , Terrault Norah A.
Published: April 2011

The characterization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies in different compartments in liver transplant (LT) recipients may be helpful in optimizing prophylaxis regimens. The aims of this study were to evaluate liver, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and plasma samples for HBV and to compare the quasispecies in hepatic and extrahepatic sites in LT recipients on long-term prophylaxis. For 12 patients followed for up to 15 years post-LT, liver, plasma, and PBMC samples [all HBV DNA–negative according to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays] were evaluated for HBV DNA by a sensitive nested PCR method [covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) for liver and PBMC samples] and by the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of polymerase quasispecies. For the 10 patients on prophylaxis with no clinical recurrence (median time post-LT = 15.5 months, range = 12–96 months), liver samples were HBV DNA–reactive in 9 of 10 cases, plasma samples were HBV DNA–reactive in 3 of 10 cases, and PBMC samples were HBV DNA–reactive in 2 of 7 cases (including 1 case with HBV cccDNA in PBMCs). The sequence analysis showed that all HBV clones had a wild-type (WT) sequence in the liver and PBMCs. In 2 patients with early HBV recurrence post-LT who were treated with nucleosides only, HBV DNA was detected in serum, PBMC, and liver samples, and HBV cccDNA was found in liver samples. An HBV lamivudine-resistant variant with an M204I mutation was identified in liver (70% and 18% of the clones) and plasma samples (100% of the clones), but a WT sequence was found in 70% and 100% of the PBMC clones. In conclusion, despite prophylaxis and the absence of HBV DNA in serum according to conventional assays, HBV is detectable in the serum, liver, and PBMCs of almost all patients, and this supports the use of continued anti-HBV therapy in this group. Antiviral drug–resistant variants are more frequent in the liver versus PBMCs, but both compartments are potential sources of reinfection. Liver Transpl 17:955–962, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Sophisticated but confused: The impact of brand extension and motivation on source confusion
Authors: DeRosia Eric D. , Lee Thomas R. , Christensen Glenn L.
Published: April 2011

Legal and consumer psychology scholars have focused recent attention on source confusion, which is the likelihood that consumers will be confused regarding the company that is a product's source or sponsor. The authors evaluate two potential antecedents of source confusion: (1) consumer motivation and (2) a brand extension that has been undertaken by a competitor. There have been disagreements in the courts, the scholarly legal literature, and the consumer psychology literature concerning the nature and extent of the impact of these two variables on the likelihood of consumer confusion. Based on schema theory, the authors hypothesize that consumer motivation and brand extension will influence the likelihood of source confusion. An interaction between the two variables is proposed, with consumer motivation having an effect that is opposite to the effect typically identified in the literature and case law. The results of a controlled laboratory experiment support the theoretical predictions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Revisiting the relationship between essential tremor and Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fekete R. , Jankovic J.
Published: April 2011

Background:

The relationship between essential tremor and Parkinson's disease has been a subject of reviews and debates for long time, but there is now growing evidence that the two common movement disorders are pathogenically related, at least in some patient populations.

Methods:

PubMed as well as authors' own files were searched for relevant keywords regarding overlap between the disorders in clinical features as well as on epidemiologic, genetic, imaging, and pathological studies.

Results:

New findings in each of these categories are critically reviewed and placed in the context of previously published data.

DISCUSSION:

Although we believe that there is compelling evidence for the notion that some patients with “pure” ET evolve into PD, the biologic nature of the association is not well understood. Furthermore, it is not clear what factors predict which ET patients later develop PD and whether patients with PD are more likely to develop ET. Further epidemiologic, clinical, genetic, imaging, and pathological studies are needed to better understand this mixed, ET‐PD phenotype. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
How does neuromodulation work
Authors: Amend Bastian , Matzel Klaus E. , Abrams Paul , de Groat William C. , Sievert Karl‐Dietrich
Published: April 2011

Although sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is approved and successfully used for different urological and proctologic functional diseases for the long‐term treatment, less is known about the working mechanisms underlying SNM. This review highlights SNM clinical application, the current data of LUT neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, SNM techniques and its prospective working mechanisms. Functional imaging techniques have facilitated a more detailed insight into the neural network between the central nervous system (CNS) and the lower urinary tract (LUT). In addition to the well‐known factors of the spinal micturition pathway, several pontine (e.g. pontine micturition centre) and suprapontine (e.g. cingulate cortex) regions and their interactions have been identified. An attribution of CNS activity levels to different LUT conditions is possible for the first time. Based on this information, different SNM actions could also have been allocated to different ascending/descending pathways and supraspinal regions, whereas acute SNM especially affects regions of learning activity, chronic SNM might result in CNS plasticity even though clinical effectiveness fades after SNM deactivation. Studies to treat fecal incontinence or to prevent detrusor overactivity in complete spinal cord injured patients support the importance of sympathetic pathways for the action of SNM. Despite increasing knowledge about SNM influence on the CNS, the complexity of its underlying working mechanisms is not understood at all. Further investigations with improved functional imaging techniques will enhance our SNM background. Neurourol. Urodynam. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:762–765, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deficient brain insulin signalling pathway in Alzheimer's disease and diabetes
Authors: Liu Ying , Liu Fei , Grundke‐Iqbal Inge , Iqbal Khalid , Gong Cheng‐Xin
Published: April 2011

Brain glucose metabolism is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is reported to increase the risk for dementia, including AD, but the underlying mechanism is not understood. Here, we investigated the brain insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling pathway in the autopsied frontal cortices from nine AD, 10 T2DM, eight T2DM–AD and seven control cases. We found decreases in the levels and activities of several components of the insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling pathway in AD and T2DM cases. The deficiency of insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling was more severe in individuals with both T2DM and AD (T2DM–AD). This decrease in insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling could lead to activation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β, the major tau kinase. The levels and the activation of the insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling components correlated negatively with the level of tau phosphorylation and positively with protein O‐GlcNAcylation, suggesting that impaired insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling might contribute to neurodegeneration in AD through down‐regulation of O‐GlcNAcylation and the consequent promotion of abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and neurodegeneration. The decrease in brain insulin–PI3K–AKT signalling also correlated with the activation of calpain I in the brain, suggesting that the decrease might be caused by calpain over‐activation. Our findings provide novel insight into the molecular mechanism by which type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk for developing cognitive impairment and dementia in Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Murine rhabdomyosarcoma is immunogenic and responsive to T‐cell‐based immunotherapy
Authors: Meadors Joanna L. , Cui Yonghzi , Chen Qing‐Rong , Song Young K. , Khan Javed , Merlino Glenn , Tsokos Maria , Orentas Rimas J. , Mackall Crystal L.
Published: April 2011

Background

Immunotherapies targeting cellular immunity are currently approved for treatment of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer. Studies on the immunogenicity and immune responsiveness of pediatric tumors are limited, therefore, it remains unclear to what extent T‐cell‐based immunotherapy holds promise for pediatric solid tumors.

Procedure

A new rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (M3‐9‐M) was derived from an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) occurring in a C57BL/6 mouse transgenic for hepatocyte growth factor and heterozygous for mutated p53. Primary tumors and metastases derived from M3‐9‐M were studied for similarities to human ERMS, and for immunogenicity and immune responsiveness.

Results

Primary and metastatic tumors develop after orthotopic injection of M3‐9‐M into immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice, which mirror human ERMS with regard to histology, gene expression, and metastatic behavior. Whole cell vaccination using irradiated M3‐9‐M cells or M3‐9‐M‐pulsed dendritic cells (DC)‐induced tumor‐specific T‐cell responses that prevent tumor growth following low‐dose tumor injection, and slow tumor growth following higher doses. Administration of anti‐CD25 moAbs to deplete CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells prior to tumor vaccination enhanced the potency of the ERMS tumor vaccine. Adoptive immunotherapy with M3‐9‐M primed T cells plus DC‐based vaccination resulted in complete eradication of day 10 M3‐9‐M derived tumors.

Conclusions

M3‐9‐M derived murine ERMS is immunogenic and immunoresponsive; regulatory T cells contribute to immune evasion by murine rhabdomyosarcoma. Adoptive immunotherapy with DC vaccination can eradicate low tumor burdens. Future work will seek to identify the tumor‐associated antigens that mediate protective and therapeutic immunity in this model. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 921–929. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel lung disease phenotype adjusted for mortality attrition for cystic fibrosis Genetic modifier studies
Authors: Taylor Chelsea , Commander Clayton W. , Collaco Joseph M. , Strug Lisa J. , Li Weili , Wright Fred A. , Webel Aaron D. , Pace Rhonda G. , Stonebraker Jaclyn R. , Naughton Kathleen , Dorfman Ruslan , Sandford Andrew , Blackman Scott M. , Berthiaume Yves , Paré Peter , Drumm Mitchell L. , Zielenski Julian , Durie Peter , Cutting Garry R. , Knowles Michael R. , Corey Mary
Published: April 2011

Genetic studies of lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) are hampered by the lack of a severity measure that accounts for chronic disease progression and mortality attrition. Further, combining analyses across studies requires common phenotypes that are robust to study design and patient ascertainment.

Using data from the North American Cystic Fibrosis Modifier Consortium (Canadian Consortium for CF Genetic Studies, Johns Hopkins University CF Twin and Sibling Study, and University of North Carolina/Case Western Reserve University Gene Modifier Study), the authors calculated age‐specific CF percentile values of FEV1 which were adjusted for CF age‐specific mortality data.

The phenotype was computed for 2,061 patients representing the Canadian CF population, 1,137 extreme phenotype patients in the UNC/Case Western study, and 1,323 patients from multiple CF sib families in the CF Twin and Sibling Study. Despite differences in ascertainment and median age, our phenotype score was distributed in all three samples in a manner consistent with ascertainment differences, reflecting the lung disease severity of each individual in the underlying population. The new phenotype score was highly correlated with the previously recommended complex phenotype, but the new phenotype is more robust for shorter follow‐up and for extreme ages.

A disease progression and mortality‐adjusted phenotype reduces the need for stratification or additional covariates, increasing statistical power, and avoiding possible distortions. This approach will facilitate large‐scale genetic and environmental epidemiological studies which will provide targeted therapeutic pathways for the clinical benefit of patients with CF. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:857–869. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Facile Synthesis and Energetic Properties of an Energetic Furoxan Lacking Traditional “Explosophore” Moieties: (E,E)‐3,4‐bis(oximomethyl)furoxan (DPX1)
Authors: Klapötke Thomas M. , Piercey Davin G. , Stierstorfer Joerg
Published: April 2011

Energetic furoxan (E,E)‐3,4‐bis(oximomethyl)furoxan (DPX1) was synthesized in 75 % yield, using a literature procedure, from a precursor readily available in one step from nitromethane. DPX1 was characterized for the first time as an energetic material in terms of calculated performance (Vdet = 8245 m s−1;pC‐J = 29.0 GPa) and measured sensitivity (impact: 10 J; friction: 192 N;Tdec: 168 °C). DPX1 exhibits a sensitivity less than that of RDX, and a performance significantly higher than 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Superstring cosmology for N4 = 1 → 0 superstring vacua
Authors: Estes J. , Kounnas C. , Partouche H.
Published: April 2011

We study the cosmology of perturbative heterotic superstring theory during the radiation‐like era for semi‐realistic backgrounds with initial 𝒩 = 1 supersymmetry. This analysis is valid for times after the Hagedorn era (or alternatively inflation era) but before the electroweak symmetry breaking transition. We find an attraction to a radiation‐like era with the ratio of the supersymmetry breaking scale to temperature stabilized. This provides a dynamical mechanism for setting the supersymmetry breaking scale and its corresponding hierarchy with the Planck scale. For the internal space, we find that orbifold directions never decompactify, while toroidal directions may decompactify only when they are wrapped by certain geometrical fluxes which break supersymmetry. This suggests a mechanism for generating spatial directions during the radiation‐like era. Moreover, we show that certain moduli may be stabilized during the radiation‐like era with masses near the supersymmetry breaking scale. In addition, the moduli do not dominate at late times, thus avoiding the cosmological moduli problem.
Prioritizing tests for software fault diagnosis
Authors: Gonzalez‐Sanchez Alberto , Piel Éric , Abreu Rui , Gross Hans‐Gerhard , van Gemund Arjan J. C.
Published: April 2011

During regression testing, test prioritization techniques select test cases that maximize the confidence on the correctness of the system when the resources for quality assurance (QA) are limited. In the event of a test failing, the fault at the root of the failure has to be localized, adding an extra debugging cost that has to be taken into account as well. However, test suites that are prioritized for failure detection can reduce the amount of useful information for fault localization. This deteriorates the quality of the diagnosis provided, making the subsequent debugging phase more expensive, and defeating the purpose of the test cost minimization. In this paper we introduce a new test case prioritization approach that maximizes the improvement of the diagnostic information per test. Our approach minimizes the loss of diagnostic quality in the prioritized test suite. When considering QA cost as a combination of testing cost and debugging cost, on our benchmark set, the results of our test case prioritization approach show reductions of up to 60% of the overall combined cost of testing and debugging, compared with the next best technique. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hot Deformation Behaviour of Low Alloy Steel
Authors: Poletti C. , Six J. , Hochegger M. , Degischer H. P. , Ilie S.
Published: April 2011

Hot deformation of a continuously cast low alloyed steel is studied by means of hot compression and tensile tests by using a Gleeble® 1500 machine after austenitization in a wide range of strain rates and between 720–800 °C. The flow data are evaluated to obtain the strain rate sensitivity and the processing maps. A new calculation method is used, yielding on the instability parameter defined as κJ which correlates well with the microstructural changes. The strain rate sensitivity does not predict any instability but all the others instability parameters do, including the new κJ. Flow instability appears at high temperatures and low strain rates where pores are formed at the austenitic grain boundaries, causing a decay of ductility in the tensile test. During hot deformation more ferrite is formed than corresponding heat treatments without deformation. In these conditions, the deformation is concentrated in the softer ferrite phase. The deformation induced ferrite deforms by dynamic recovery forming new grains as revealed by metallography and is correlated with low coefficients of power dissipation. The sinh type constitutive equation represents the flow data well with a stress exponent n = 4.1 and an apparent activation energy Q = 218 kJ/mol.
Impact of dihydrolipoic acid on mouse embryonic stem cells and related regulatory mechanisms
Authors: Chan Wen‐Hsiung , Houng Wei‐Li , Lin Cheng‐An J. , Lee Chih‐Hsien , Li Po‐Wen , Hsieh Jyun‐Tai , Shen Ji‐Lin , Yeh Hung‐I , Chang Walter H.
Published: April 2011

α‐Lipoic acid (LA) is a thiol with antioxidant properties that protects against oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis. LA is absorbed from the diet, taken up by cells and tissues, and subsequently reduced to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). Recently, DHLA has been used as the hydrophilic nanomaterial preparations, and therefore, determination of its bio‐safety profile is essential. In this article, we show that DHLA (50–100 μM) induces apoptotic processes in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC‐B5), but exerts no injury effects at treatment dosages below 50 μM. Higher concentrations of DHLA (50–100 μM) directly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in ESC‐B5 cells, along with a significant increase in cytoplasmic free calcium and nitric oxide (NO) levels, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), activation of caspases‐9 and −3, and cell death. Pretreatment with NO scavengers suppressed the apoptotic biochemical changes induced by 100 μM DHLA and promoted the gene expression levels of p53 and p21 involved in apoptotic signaling. Our results collectively indicate that DHLA at concentrations of 50–100 μM triggers apoptosis of ESC‐B5 cells, which involves both ROS and NO. Importantly, at doses of less than 50 μM (0–25 μM), DHLA does not exert hazardous effects on ESC‐B5 cell properties, including viability, development and differentiation. These results provide important information in terms of dosage safety and biocompatibility of DHLA to facilitate its further use as a precursor for biomaterial preparation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans in healthy and diseased systems
Authors: Whitelock John , Melrose James
Published: April 2011

Heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) are glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that are synthesized in the tissues and organs of mammals. They are synthesized and attached to a core protein as proteoglycans through serine–glycine concensus motifs along the core protein. These GAGs are linear polysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide saccharide units that are variously modified along their length. As a consequence of these modifications naturally occurring heparin and HS are extremely heterogeneous in their structures. A diverse range of proteins bind heparin and HS. The types of proteins that bind are dictated by the structure of the HS or heparin chains with which they are interacting. Heparan sulfates play major roles in tissue development and in maintaining homeostasis within healthy individuals. Recent genetic studies illustrate that alterations in their structural organization can have important consequences often giving rise to, or directly causing, a disease situation. A greater understanding of the repertoire of proteins with which heparin and HS interact and the diseases that can be caused by perturbations in the structures of heparin and HS proteoglycan may provide insights into possible therapeutic interventions. These issues are discussed with a focus on musculoskeletal phenotypes and diseases. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 739–751 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.149

This article is categorized under:

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease
America's Secret Pandemic: Preventable Medical Errors
Authors: Cote Deborah
Published: April 2011

America's Secret Pandemic: Preventable Medical Errors William Hoyes, Claudia DiStrito 2011, Park East Press, Inc 325 pages, $19.95 softcover
Clinical Issues—April 2011
Authors: Chard Robin
Published: April 2011

This Month

Developing a surgical checklist

Key words: surgical safety checklist, patient safety.

Updating a latex allergy policy and procedure

Key words: latex, allergy, sensitivity.

Establishing a policy and procedure for maintaining surgical patient images

Key words: digital imaging, privacy, informed consent, patients' rights.
ON NONNILPOTENT SUBSETS IN GENERAL LINEAR GROUPS
Authors: AZAD AZIZOLLAH
Published: April 2011

LetGbe a group. A subsetXofGis said to be nonnilpotent if for any two distinct elementsxandyinX, 〈x,y〉 is a nonnilpotent subgroup ofG. If, for any other nonnilpotent subsetX′inG, ∣X∣≥∣X′∣, thenXis said to be a maximal nonnilpotent subset and the cardinality of this subset is denoted byω(𝒩G) . Using nilpotent nilpotentizers we find a lower bound for the cardinality of a maximal nonnilpotent subset of a finite group and apply this to the general linear group GL (n,q) . For all prime powersqwe determine the cardinality of a maximal nonnilpotent subset of the projective special linear group PSL (2,q) , and we characterize all nonabelian finite simple groupsGwithω(𝒩G)≤57 .
Patriotism, Nationalism and China's US Policy: Structures and Consequences of Chinese National Identity
Authors: Gries Peter Hays , Zhang Qingmin , Crowson H. Michael , Cai Huajian
Published: April 2011

What is the nature of Chinese patriotism and nationalism, how does it differ from American patriotism and nationalism, and what impact do they have on Chinese foreign policy attitudes? To explore the structure and consequences of Chinese national identity, three surveys were conducted in China and the US in the spring and summer of 2009. While patriotism and nationalism were empirically similar in the US, they were highly distinct in China, with patriotism aligning with a benign internationalism and nationalism with a more malign blind patriotism. Chinese patriotism/internationalism, furthermore, had no impact on perceived US threats or US policy preferences, while nationalism did. The role of nationalist historical beliefs in structures of Chinese national identity was also explored, as well as the consequences of historical beliefs for the perception of US military and humiliation threats.