bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iceberg calving rates from northern Ellesmere Island ice caps, Canadian Arctic, 1999–2003
Authors: Williamson Scott , Sharp Martin , Dowdeswell Julian , Benham Toby
Published: September 2008

Optical satellite imagery was used to estimate glacier surface velocities and iceberg calving rates from Agassiz and western Grant Ice Caps, Nunavut, Canada, between 1999 and 2003. The largest mean annual surface velocities ranged from ∼400 to 700 m a−1, but velocities in the ∼100–200 m a−1 range were common. Summer velocities were up to an order of magnitude larger than annually averaged velocities. The highest velocity (∼1530 m a−1) was measured on the floating tongue of Lake Tuborg Glacier between 19 July and 19 August 2001. Calving rates from individual glaciers varied by up to a factor of two between successive years. Summer calving rates were ∼2–8 times larger than annual average rates. The average ratio of the calving flux due to terminus-volume change to that due to ice flow through the glacier terminus was ∼0.81 for the annual rates and ∼1.71 for summer rates. The estimated mean annual calving rate from Agassiz Ice Cap in the period 1999–2002 was 0.67 ± 0.15 km3 a−1, of which ∼54% emanated from Eugenie Glacier alone. This total rate is similar to a previously estimated calving rate from Devon Ice Cap.
rt-PCR method for diagnosis and follow-up of hematological malignancies: First approach in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Tanvira Afroze , Mottalib Md. Abdul , Islam Md. Sirazul , Khan Mohiuddin Ahmed , Choudhury Subhagata
Published: September 2008

Nested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) was performed on 58 leukemia patients at BIRDEM Laboratory, as a pioneering work in Bangladesh. Thirty of them were examined for the presence of BCR-ABL being clinically and morphologically diagnosed as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and 28 for PML-RARα fusion transcripts being clinically and morphologically diagnosed as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL/ AML M3). The cases were selected for targeted therapy with imatinib mesylate and all-Trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to treat CML and APL respectively. Samples were received either before commencement or during therapy. In the positive cases, amplified DNA products were visible after gel electrophoresis and were reported accordingly. In case of BCR-ABL, positive results were found for five out of six (83.33%) untreated cases and 11 out of 24 (45.83%) treated cases. Positive results for PML-RARα were found for 12 out of 14 (85.70%) untreated cases and 11 out of 16 (68.75%) treated cases. A strong positive correlation was found between duration of treatment and negativity of PCR results in both the cases. In present times, the detection of minimal residual disease in patients undergoing treatment for hematological malignancies has become an important goal, not only to monitor the effectiveness of therapy but also to detect an impending relapse. This is the first time in Bangladesh that rt-PCR method is being employed to detect or monitor the presence of abnormal fusion genes in hematological malignancies. Keywords: Bangladesh; malignancy; rt-pcrDOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i1.1162Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 1-11
Comparative study of lateral internal sphincterotomy versus local 0.2%glyceryl trinitrate ointment for the treatment of chronic anal fissure
Authors: Siddique Md. Ibrahim , Murshed Khandker Manzoor , Majid M.A.
Published: September 2008

The gold standard surgical treatment of chronic anal fissure is lateral internal sphincterotomy which lowers the resting anal pressure and effectively heals the majority of fissures. Local application of 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment has been used as an agent for chemical sphincterotomy, causing temporary alleviation of sphincter spasm and allowing the fissure to heal without compromising the anal continence. The aim of the present study was to compare the results of surgical sphincterotomy with that of local 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment in the treatment of chronic anal fissure. Seventy adult patients between the age of 18 and 50 years with chronic anal fissure were randomized in a prospective trial to receive either surgical sphincterotomy or 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment locally. Patients were followed up at 2 weeksâ interval for 10 weeks. Symptom relief, fissure healing and continence scores were the outcomes assessed. Six patients were excluded for protocol violations. Surgical sphincterotomy was significantly more effective in providing pain relief and was associated with significantly better fissure healing rates at 6 weeks and 10 weeks (both p0.05). Considering early symptomatic relief, rapid fissure healing and better patient compliance surgical sphincterotomy is the treatment of choice for chronic anal fissure.Keywords: Anal fissure; Glyceryl trinitrate; SphincterotomyDOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i1.1163Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 12-15
Anatomical assessment of ventricular septum in relation to the aortic valve of bovine heart
Authors: Islam Md. Nazrul
Published: September 2008

DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i1.1170Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 35-36
Bangladesh HIV/AIDS communication challenges and strategies
Authors: Haider Muhiuddin , Ahmed Shamsun Nahar , Jaha Nilufar K.
Published: September 2008

Bangladesh is in a precarious position in relation to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.Â  Rates are currently low compared to the rest of the South Asian region, and the disease is relatively confined to small, high-risk populations â mainly injection drug users (IDUs) and commercial sex workers.Â  Yet if steps are not taken quickly to keep the epidemic in check, it could easily spread to the general population as it has in other countries nearby.Â  This would both increase the negative impact of HIV/AIDS and make it much harder to target for containment.Â  It is therefore imperative that healthy behavior be promoted among IDUs and sex users, not only for their own health, but for the health of the country.Â  Prevention will be the key to halting the spread of HIV infection through the implementation of communication and education programs aimed to change high-risk behavior.Â  However, the disparate number of HIV/AIDS prevention programs independently operating in Bangladesh combined with the difficulty in adequately targeting this unique population of IDUs and sex workers establishes a complex situation where attaining behavior change is extremely difficult.Â  This paper proposes adoption of the FOMENT model to design a health communication campaign targeting the high-risk populations in Bangladesh.Â  Keywords: Bangladesh; HIV/AIDS DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i2.1176Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 54-61
Outcome of 153 cases of mitral stenosis after percutenuous transvenous mitral commissurotomy
Authors: Ahsan Syed Ali , Marufuzzaman Sheikh , Bari Md. Abdul , Salman Mohammad , Rahman Md. Mokhlesur
Published: September 2008

DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i2.1179Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 66-68
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in infancy
Authors: Sultan Khaja , Habiba T.
Published: September 2008

DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i2.1180Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2008; 34: 69-70
Imagery encoding effects on memory in the DRM paradigm: A test of competing predictions
Authors: Foley Mary Ann , Hughes Katherine , Librot Hannah , Paysnick Amy
Published: September 2008

In three experiments the effects of imagery encoding and test format on false memory rates in the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm were examined. After generating images of individual items (Experiment 1) or integrated subsets (Experiment 2), all of which were embedded in thematically related lists, participants were surprised by a recognition memory test or one of three kinds of source tests. As predicted by a distinctive encoding hypothesis, generating individual images led to better accuracy on presented items, and better monitoring of critical lures, than generating integrated images (Experiments 1 and 2). However, both kinds of imagery encoding led to fewer endorsements of critical lures compared to a non‐imagery encoding condition (Experiment 3). Imagery encoding effects were also independent of test format. The implications of these findings for the use of DRM‐false memory rates in debates about the use of guided imagery techniques are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardiorespiratory fitness predicts later body mass index, but not other cardiovascular risk factors from childhood to adolescence
Authors: Martins Clarice , Santos Rute , Gaya Anelise , Twisk Jos , Ribeiro José , Mota Jorge
Published: September 2008

We analyzed the 5‐year longitudinal relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors in children. A total of 153 students (66 boys and 87 girls) were evaluated in 1998 and 2003. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the effect of CRF across time (Model 1, adjusted for time and Model 2—Model 1 with further adjustment for gender and age). In both models, a significant main effect was found for body mass index (BMI) (P ≤ 0.05). Data showed that in children, lower levels of CRF are associated with higher levels of BMI over a 5‐year follow‐up period. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of individual and methodological factors in the variability of response to methylphenidate in ADHD pharmacogenetic studies from four different continents
Authors: Polanczyk Guilherme , Faraone Stephen V. , Bau Claiton H.D. , Victor Marcelo M. , Becker Katja , Pelz Reta , Buitelaar Jan K. , Franke Barbara , Kooij Sandra , van der Meulen Emma , Cheon Keun‐Ah , Mick Eric , Purper‐Ouakil Diane , Gorwood Philip , Stein Mark A. , Cook Edwin H. , Rohde Luis Augusto
Published: September 2008

Several studies have evaluated the association between individual polymorphisms and response to methylphenidate (MPH) in subjects with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are few replication studies for each polymorphism of interest and results are sometimes inconsistent in this field. Although data collection from multiple international sites would allow large sample sizes, this approach has been criticized for introducing sampling variability due to differences in ethnicity and methodology between studies. To examine these issues, we aggregated nine pharmacogenetic studies from four different continents and conducted a two stage analysis: (a) we evaluated the role of methodological aspects in the variability of ADHD symptom improvement between studies using meta‐regression analysis; (b) we assessed the role of individual characteristics of the subjects in the variability of ADHD symptoms improvement using multivariate regression analysis in the same data sets. At the study level, from five evaluated factors, only the design of the study (open studies vs. randomized controlled trials) was significantly associated with heterogeneity of results (P = 0.001). At the individual level, age (P < 0.001), comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (P < 0.001), and pre‐treatment scores (P < 0.001) were associated with change of ADHD scores with treatment in the final multivariate model. Our results suggest that joint analyses of pharmacogenetic studies are feasible and promising, since fixed variables, such as the site where the study was conducted, were not related to results. Nevertheless, stratified analyses according to the design of the study must be preferentially conducted and the role of individual factors such as demographic data and comorbid profile as confounders should be assessed. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Focus on HTR2C: A possible suggestion for genetic studies of complex disorders
Authors: Drago Antonio , Serretti Alessandro
Published: September 2008

HTR2C is one of the most relevant and investigated serotonin receptors. Its role in important brain structures such as the midbrain, the lateral septal complex, the hypothalamus, the olfactory bulb, the pons, the choroid plexus, the nucleus pallidus, the striatum and the amygdala, the nucleus accumbens and the anterior cingulated gyrus candidate it as a promising target for genetic association studies. The biological relevance of these brain structures is reviewed by way of the focus on HTR2C activity, with a special attention paid to psychiatric disorders. Evidence from the genetic association studies that dealt with HTR2C is reviewed and discussed alongside the findings derived from the neuronatmic investigations. The reasons for the discrepancies between these two sets of reports are discussed. As a result, HTR2C is shown to play a pivotal role in many different psychiatric behaviors or psychiatric related disrupted molecular balances, nevertheless, genetic association studies brought inconsistent results so far. The most replicated association involve the feeding behavior and antipsychotic induced side effects, both weight gain and motor related: Cys23Ser (rs6318) and −759C/T (rs3813929) report the most consistent results. The lack of association found in other independent studies dampens the clinical impact of these reports. Here, we report a possible explanation for discrepant findings that is poorly or not at all usually considered, that is that HTR2C may exert different or even opposite activities in the brain depending on the structure analyzed and that mRNA editing activity may compensate possible genetically controlled functional effects. The incomplete coverage of the HTR2C variants is proposed as the best cost‐benefit ratio bias to fix. The evidence of brain area specific HTR2C mRNA editing opens a debate about how the brain can differently modulate stress events, and process antidepressant treatments, in different brain areas. The mRNA editing activity on HTR2C may play a major role for the negative association results. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of ionic interaction on the miscibility and crystallization behaviors of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(L‐lactic acid) blends
Authors: Lai Wei‐Chi , Liau Wen‐Bin , Yang Ling‐Yueh
Published: September 2008

The effect of end groups (2NH2) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the miscibility and crystallization behaviors of binary crystalline blends of PEG/poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were investigated. The results of conductivity meter and dielectric analyzer (DEA) implied the existence of ions, which could be explained by the amine groups of PEG gaining the protons from the carboxylic acid groups of PLLA. The miscibility of PEG(2NH2)/PLLA blends was the best because of the ionic interaction as compared with PEG(2OH, 1OH‐1CH3, and 2CH3)/PLLA blends. Since the ionic interaction formed only at the chain ends of PEG(2NH2) and PLLA, unlike hydrogen bonds forming at various sites along the chains in the other PEG/PLLA blend systems, the folding of PLLA blended with PEG(2NH2) was affected in a different manner. Thus the fold surface free energy played an important role on the crystallization rate of PLLA for the PEG(2NH2)/PLLA blend system. PLLA had the least fold surface free energy and the fast crystallization rate in the PEG(2NH2)/PLLA blend system, among all the PEG/PLLA systems studied. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
The effects of NCO/OH ratio on propylene oxide‐modified oil palm empty fruit bunch‐based polyurethane composites
Authors: Rozman H. D. , Tay G. S.
Published: September 2008

In this study, the effects of NCO/OH ratio on polyurethane composites prepared from propylene oxide‐modified oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB‐PO) properties were studied. From the results obtained, the diffusion of solvents in the composites produced was classified as Fickian type. The molecular weight between crosslink points and degree of crosslinking were affected as the NCO/OH was increased. This phenomenon was attributed to the interaction between excess NCO and accessible OH groups from EFB‐PO to form a three‐dimensional network. From the mechanical testing results, it was found that the NCO/OH ratio had a significant effect on tensile and flexural test. However, no significant influence was observed on impact strength of the composites produced. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation and performance of N,O‐carboxymethyl chitosan‐polyether sulfone composite nanofiltration membrane in the separation of nickel ions from aqueous solutions
Authors: Boricha Alka G. , Murthy Z. V. P.
Published: September 2008

Nanofiltration (NF) is considered to be an intermediate process between ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO). In the present work, chitosan derivative containing carboxylic acid group (COOH), i.e. N,O‐carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC), is prepared. Then, the NOCC composite NF membrane having a polyether sulfone (PES) UF membrane as the substrate is prepared using a method of coating and crosslinking, in which glutaraldehyde solution is used as the crosslinking agent. The developed membranes are characterized in terms of Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (SEM/EDXA), elemental analysis (EA), swelling behavior, tensile strength, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which confirm the formation of the target membranes. Rejection efficiency of nickel ions from aqueous solutions, of nickel sulfate and nickel chloride, is investigated. The experiments are carried out for different feed concentrations, feed flow rates and applied pressures and the corresponding permeate flux and rejections are measured. The maximum observed rejection is found to be 80 and 62% of 5 ppm, 78 and 59% of 10 ppm; and 74 and 57% of 50 ppm feed concentration of nickel sulfate‐water and nickel chloride‐water systems, respectively. The observed order of the separation of the nickel salts is NiSO4 and NiCl2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Characterization of high melt strength polypropylene synthesized via silane grafting initiated by in situ heat induction reaction
Authors: An Yanjie , Zhang Zhenjiang , Bi Wuguo , Wang Yanhui , Tang Tao
Published: September 2008

High melt strength polypropylene (HMSPP) was synthesized by in situ heat induction reaction, in which pure polypropylene (PP) powders without any additives were used as a basic resin and vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMS) as a grafting and crosslinking agent. The grafting reaction of VTMS with PP was confirmed by FTIR. The structure and properties of HMSPP were characterized by means of various measurements. The content of grafted silane played a key role on the melt strength and melt flow rate (MFR) of HMSPP. With increasing the content of grafted silane, the melt strength of HMSPP increased, and the MFR reduced. In addition, due to the existence of crosslinking structure, the thermal stability and tensile strength of HMSPP were improved compared with PP. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Properties of soy protein isolate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend “green” films: Compatibility, mechanical properties, and thermal stability
Authors: Su Jun‐Feng , Huang Zhen , Yang Chuan‐Min , Yuan Xiao‐Yan
Published: September 2008

Blend films from nature soy protein isolates (SPI) and synthetical poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) compatibilized by glycerol were successfully fabricated by a solution‐casting method in this study. Properties of compatibility, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of SPI/PVA films were investigated based on the effect of the PVA concentration. XRD tests confirm that the SPI/PVA films were partially crystalline materials with peaks of 2θ = 20°. And, the addition of glycerol will insert the crystalline structure and destroy the blend microstructure of SPI/PVA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests show that SPI/PVA blend polymers have a single glass transition temperature (Tg) between 80 and 115.0°C, which indicate that SPI and PVA have good compatibility. The tension tests show that SPI/PVA films exhibit both higher tensile strength (σb) and percentage elongation at break point (P.E.B.). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and water solubility tests show that SPI/PVA blend polymer has more stable stability than pure SPI. All the results reflect that SPI/PVA/glycerol blend film provides a convenient and promising way to prepare soy protein plastics for practical application. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation and characterization of waterborne polyurethane/clay nanocomposite: Effect on water vapor permeability
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mizanur , Kim Han‐Do , Lee Won‐Ki
Published: September 2008

A series of waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)/clay nanocomposite coating materials were prepared by prepolymer process with different clay contents (0–2 wt %). The study investigated surface structure as well as water resistance, thermal, mechanical, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of composite materials as a function of clay contents. The glass transition temperature of composite materials was higher than pristine WBPU and also increased with increasing clay contents. Thermal stability, and water resistance of the nanocomposite films also increased, when compared with pristine WBPU, and these properties increased with an increase in clay content. The maximum tensile strength was found with optimum clay content (1 wt %) of composite films. The WVP of coated nylon fabrics depend on the clay content and temperatures. The rate (%) of WVP of coated nylon fabrics decreased with increasing clay content at a fixed temperature. However, at a fixed clay content the WVP increased with the increase of temperatures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Properties of POSS‐filled polypropylene: Comparison of physical blending and reactive blending
Authors: Zhou Zhiyong , Zhang Yong , Zeng Zheng , Zhang Yinxi
Published: September 2008

Polypropylene (PP)/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OvPOSS) composites were prepared by physical blending or reactive blending methods. The comparison of the PP/OvPOSS composites prepared by these two methods was investigated by mechanical tests, thermogravimetric analysis, and cone calorimeter. The graft ratio of OvPOSS to PP chain increased with increasing OvPOSS and dicumyl peroxide content for the reactive blending composites. The reactive blending composites had better mechanical properties, thermal stability than physical blending composites. The peak of the heat release rate and mass loss rate of PP/OvPOSS had also decreased, indicating better flame retardancy of PP/OvPOSS composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preaxial hallucal polydactyly as a marker for diabetic embryopathy
Authors: Adam Margaret P. , Hudgins Louanne , Carey John C. , Hall Bryan D. , Coleman Karlene , Gripp Karen W. , Perez‐Aytes Antonio , Graham John M.
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most common endocrinologic complication during pregnancy, and poor control can lead to a variety of congenital anomalies in the fetus. However, it is often difficult to differentiate between diabetes‐related anomalies and an underlying genetic syndrome. In the 1990s it was proposed that preaxial hallucal polydactyly, particularly when proximally placed, was a distinguishing feature of diabetic embryopathy. METHODS: We summarize the clinical findings in 18 patients (five previously reported in abstract form) with diabetic embryopathy and preaxial hallucal polydactyly to determine which features are most suggestive of diabetic embryopathy. RESULTS: All 18 patients had preaxial hallucal polydactyly (seven bilateral, 11 unilateral), of which 15 patients had proximal implantation of the extra hallux. Further skeletal findings included the following: segmentation anomalies of the spine, equinovarus deformity of the feet, tibial hemimelia, hip dysplasia, and femoral hypoplasia. Upper limb malformations were rare. Eleven of the 18 mothers had prepregnancy insulin‐dependent diabetes, while one mother had prepregnancy type 2 diabetes that required insulin therapy in the 3rd trimester. Five mothers had gestational diabetes that required insulin and one mother had gestational diabetes that was controlled by diet. The majority of mothers had poorly controlled diabetes during the pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Proximally placed preaxial hallucal polydactyly, particularly when coupled with segmentation anomalies of the spine and tibial hemimelia, is highly suggestive of diabetic embryopathy. Varying degrees of diabetes in the mothers point to a possible genetic predisposition interacting with the teratogenic effects of poor glycemic control leading to specific limb anomalies. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the fiftieth anniversary of the Schaechter, Maaløe, Kjeldgaard experiments: implications for cell‐cycle and cell‐growth control
Authors: Cooper Stephen
Published: September 2008

The Schaechter–Maaløe–Kjeldgaard papers, which have their 50th anniversary this year, have major implications for understanding the cell cycle, control of cell growth, control of cell size, metabolic control, the basic bacterial growth curve, and myriad other bacterial and eukaryotic growth phenomena. These ideas have broad applications that should be considered in current studies of the cell cycle. In particular, the emphasis on steady‐state growth conditions, and clear and sharp changes in growth conditions were fundamental to their experiments and have been codified in the principles of the Copenhagen School of Microbiology. BioEssays 30:1019–1024, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resonance light scattering study on the interaction of benproperine phosphate with eriochrome blue black R in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate and its analytical application
Authors: Feng Suling , Liu Jingjing , Han Xiangming , Fan Jing
Published: September 2008

The interaction of benproperine phosphate (BPP) with eriochrome blue black R (EBBR) in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS) was studied using resonance light scattering (RLS) technology and ultraviolet‐visual (UV‐vis) spectrophotometry. Under optimum conditions, BPP reacts with EBBP and SDBS to form a three‐component complex, which results in strong RLS signal and a new RLS peak. The enhanced RLS intensities are proportional to the concentration of BPP over the range 0.6–28.0 µg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.053 µg/mL. The affecting factors as well as the influence of coexisting substances were investigated. The results indicate that this assay method could be applied to the determination of BPP in pharmaceuticals, serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a novel capillary electrophoresis chemiluminescence system for amino acid analysis
Authors: Yin Dongguang , Xie Chunjuan , Zhang Li , Liu Binghu , Zhou Xiaozhou , Wang Peng , Wu Minghong
Published: September 2008

In the present study, a novel peroxyoxalate CE–CL system was developed to achieve high signal stability and sensitivity based on a design of a new interface including a new mixing mode and a new grounding electrode mode. Amino acids fluorescently tagged with dansyl chloride and naphthalene‐2,3‐dicarboxaldehyde(NDA) were used for the study. Experiment results show this new system is quite effective to separate and detect amine acid with high stability and resolute. The detection limits were 1.1 nmol/L for dansyl‐leucine (Leu) and 2.0 nmol/L for dansyl‐aspartic acid (Asp). The relative standard deviations of peak height and migration time were in the ranges of 2.3–3.8% and 1.2–1.5%, respectively. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organic solvent mediated self‐association of an amyloid forming peptide from β2‐microglobulin: An atomic force microscopy study
Authors: Chaudhary Nitin , Singh Shashi , Nagaraj Ramakrishnan
Published: September 2008

Human β2‐microglobulin (β2m) forms amyloid fibrils in hemodialysis related amyloidosis. Peptides spanning the β strands of β2m have been shown to form amyloid fibrils in isolation. We have studied the self‐association of a 13‐residue peptide Ac‐DWSFYLLYYTEFT‐am (Pβ2m) spanning one of the β‐strands of human β2‐microglobulin when dissolved in various organic solvents such as methanol (MeOH), trifluoroethanol (TFE), hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), and dimethylsulfoxide. We have observed that Pβ2m forms amyloid fibrils when diluted from organic solvents into aqueous buffer at pH 7.0 as judged by increase in thioflavin T fluorescence. Fibril formation was observed to depend on the solvents in which peptide stock solutions were prepared. Circular dichroism spectra indicated propensity for helical conformation in MeOH, TFE, and HFIP. In buffer, β‐structure was observed irrespective of the solvent in which the peptide stock solutions were prepared. Atomic force microscopy images obtained by drying the peptide on mica from organic solvents indicated the ability of Pβ2m to self‐associate to form nonfibrillar structures. Morphology of the structures was dependent on the solvent in which the peptide was dissolved. Peptides that have the ability to self‐associate such as amyloid‐forming peptides would be attractive candidates for the generation of self‐assembled structures with varying morphologies by appropriate choice of surfaces and solvents for dissolution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 85:783‐791, 2008.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Fly diversity revealed by PCR‐RFLP of mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Asraoui Jimmy F. , Sayar Nancy P. , Knio Khouzama M. , Smith Colin A.
Published: September 2008

In this article, we describe an inexpensive, two‐session undergraduate laboratory activity that introduces important molecular biology methods in the context of biodiversity. In the first session, students bring tentatively identified flies (order Diptera, true flies) to the laboratory, extract DNA, and amplify a region of the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1. In the second session, the students digest the PCR product with a restriction enzyme, visualize the resulting fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis, and analyze their results with comparison to known sequences. The diversity of flies and their importance as disease vectors, agriculture pests, pollinators, models of speciation, and in the case of Drosophila melanogaster, as a genetic model organism, offer many perspectives with which to appeal to students' interests. The laboratory exercise can be linked as a module to topics in biodiversity, bioinformatics, entomology, evolution, and mutagenesis.
Bridging the educational research‐teaching practice gap
Authors: Schönborn Konrad J. , Anderson Trevor R.
Published: September 2008

The first paper [1] in this two‐part miniseries on conceptual understanding discussed expert and novice conceptual knowledge, the multifaceted nature of conceptual understanding, and the cognitive skills essential for constructing it. This second article presents examples of instruments for the assessment and development of five facets of conceptual understanding that require competence in the cognitive skills of mindful memorization, integration, transfer, analogical reasoning, and system thinking. We also argue for the importance of explicitly assessing these facets of conceptual understanding as part of all biochemistry and molecular biology curricula so as to develop expert knowledge in our students.
New Benzo[h]quinoline‐Based Ligands and their Pincer Ru and Os Complexes for Efficient Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds
Authors: Baratta Walter , Ballico Maurizio , Baldino Salvatore , Chelucci Giorgio , Herdtweck Eberhardt , Siega Katia , Magnolia Santo , Rigo Pierluigi
Published: September 2008

New benzo[h]quinoline ligands (HCN′N) containing a CHRNH2 (R=H (a), Me (b), tBu (c)) function in the 2‐position were prepared starting from benzo[h]quinoline N‐oxide (in the case of ligand a) and 2‐chlorobenzo[h]quinoline (for ligands b and c). These compounds were used to prepare ruthenium and osmium complexes, which are excellent catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones. The reaction of a with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in 2‐propanol at reflux afforded the terdentate CN′N complex [RuCl(CN′N)(PPh3)2] (1), whereas the complexes [RuCl(CN′N)(dppb)] (2–4; dppb=Ph2P(CH2)4PPh2) were obtained from [RuCl2(PPh3)(dppb)] with a–c, respectively. Employment of (R,S)‐Josiphos, (S,R)‐Josiphos*, (S,S)‐Skewphos, and (S)‐MeO‐Biphep in combination with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and ligand a gave the chiral derivatives [RuCl(CN′N)(PP)] (5–8). The osmium complex [OsCl(CN′N)(dppb)] (12) was prepared by treatment of [OsCl2(PPh3)3] with dppb and ligand a. Reaction of the chloride 2 and 12 with NaOiPr in 2‐propanol/toluene afforded the hydride complexes [MH(CN′N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 10, Os 14), through elimination of acetone from [M(OiPr)(CN′N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 9, Os 13). The species 9 and 13 easily reacted with 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone, via 10 and 14, respectively, affording the corresponding isolable alkoxides [M(OR)(CN′N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 11, Os 15). The complexes [MX(CN′N)(P2)] (1–15) (M=Ru, Os; X=Cl, H, OR; P=PPh3 and P2=diphosphane) are efficient catalysts for the TH of carbonyl compounds with 2‐propanol in the presence of NaOiPr (2 mol %). Turnover frequency (TOF) values up to 1.8×106 h−1 have been achieved using 0.02–0.001 mol % of catalyst. Much the same activity has been observed for the RuCl, H, OR, and the OsCl derivatives, whereas the OsH and OsOR derivatives display significantly lower activity on account of their high oxygen sensitivity. The chiral Ru complexes 5–8 catalyze the asymmetric TH of methyl–aryl ketones with TOF ≈105 h−1 at 60 °C, up to 97 % enatiomeric excess (ee) and remarkably high productivity (0.005 mol % catalyst loading). High catalytic activity (TOF up to 2.2×105 h−1) and enantioselectivity (up to 98 % ee) have also been achieved with the in‐situ‐generated catalysts prepared from [MCl2(PPh3)3], (S,R)‐Josiphos or (S,R)‐Josiphos*, and the benzo[h]quinoline ligands a–c.
Ruthenium Complexes of Substituted Hydrazine: New Solution‐ and Solid‐State Binding Modes
Authors: Dabb Serin L. , Messerle Barbara A. , Otting Gottfried , Wagler Jörg , Willis Anthony
Published: September 2008

The methylhydrazine complex [Ru(NH2NHMe)(PyP)2]Cl(BPh4) (PyP=1‐[2‐(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]pyrazole) was synthesised by addition of methylhydrazine to the bimetallic complex [Ru(μ‐Cl)(PyP)2]2(BPh4)2. The methylhydrazine ligand of the ruthenium complex has two different binding modes: side‐on (η2‐) when the complex is in the solid state and end‐on (η1‐) when the complex is in solution. The solid‐state structure of [Ru(PyP)2(NH2NHMe)]Cl(BPh4) was determined by X‐ray crystallography. 2D NMR spectroscopic experiments with 15N at natural abundance confirmed that in solution the methylhydrazine is bound to the metal centre by only the ‐NH2 group and the ruthenium complex retains an octahedral conformation. Hydrazine complexes [RuCl(PyP)2(η1‐NH2NRR′)]OSO2CF3 (in which R=H, R′=Ph, R=R′=Me and NRR′=NC5H10) were formed in situ by the addition of phenylhydrazine, 1,1‐dimethylhydrazine and N‐aminopiperidine, respectively, to a solution of the bimetallic complex [Ru(μ‐Cl)(PyP)2]2(OSO2CF3)2 in dichloromethane. These substituted hydrazine complexes of ruthenium were shown to exist in an equilibrium mixture with the bimetallic starting material.
Enantioselective catalytic reduction of ketoimines with trichlorosilane promoted by readily available chiral Lewis bases
Authors: Guizzetti Stefania , Benaglia Maurizio , Cozzi Franco , Rossi Sergio , Celentano Giuseppe
Published: September 2008

The straightforward synthesis of a series of enantiomerically pure Lewis basic amides by simple condensation of commercially available enantiopure diamines with picolinic acid is reported. These compounds were shown to promote the enantioselective reduction of ketoimines with trichlorosilane. Working with the model substrate N‐phenyl benzophenone imine, the new organocatalysts led to the formation of the corresponding amine, with excellent chemical efficiency (up to 99% chemical yield) and good stereoselectivity (up to 73% ee). Up to 83% of enantioselectivity was reached in the reduction of differently substituted imines. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On adaptive timestepping for weakly instationary solutions of hyperbolic conservation laws via adjoint error control
Authors: Steiner Christina , Noelle Sebastian
Published: September 2008

We study a recent timestep‐adaptation technique for hyperbolic conservation laws. The key tool is a space–time splitting of adjoint error representations for target functionals due to Süli (An Introduction to Recent Developments in Theory and Numerics for Conservation Laws. Lecture Notes in Computational Science and Engineering. Springer: Berlin, 1998; 123–194) and Hartmann (A posteriori Fehlerschätzung und adaptive Schrittweiten‐ und Ortsgittersteuerung bei Galerkin‐Verfahren für die Wärmeleitungsgleichung. Diplomarbeit, Institut für Angewandte Mathematik, Universität Heidelberg, 1998). It provides an efficient choice of timesteps for implicit computations of weakly instationary flows. The timestep will be very large in regions of stationary flow and become small when a perturbation enters the flow field. Besides using adjoint techniques that are already well established, we also add a new ingredient that simplifies the computation of the dual problem. Owing to Galerkin orthogonality, the dual solution φ does not enter the error representation as such. Instead, the relevant term is the difference of the dual solution and its projection to the finite element space, φ−φh . We can show that it is therefore sufficient to compute the spatial gradient of the dual solution, w=∇φ . This gradient satisfies a conservation law instead of a transport equation, and it can therefore be computed with the same algorithm as the forward problem, and in the same finite element space. We demonstrate the capabilities of the approach for a weakly instationary test problem for scalar conservation laws. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Divorce mediation: Optimal scope and practice issues
Authors: Lemmon John Allen
Published: September 2008

What interdisciplinary knowledge is needed to mediate divorces?
A therapeutic mediation model for child custody dispute resolution
Authors: Waldron Jane A. , Roth Colleen P. , Fair Patricia H. , Mann Eberhard M. , McDermott John F.
Published: September 2008

Child custody mediation by child therapists can enhance conflicted parents' ability to co‐parent and improve the mental health of their children.
Child custody terms: Potential contributors to custody dissatisfaction and conflict
Authors: Patrician Marty
Published: September 2008

How do legal labels affect the chances of reaching a successful parenting arrangement after divorce?
A practicing mediator answers the questions most often asked about divorce mediation
Authors: Erickson Stephen K.
Published: September 2008

What issues face divorce mediators today?
Mediation paradigms and professional identities
Authors: Lande John
Published: September 2008

Can we activate a new movement for justice?
Mediating political and social conflicts: The skokie—nazi dispute
Authors: Salem Richard A.
Published: September 2008

How can you mediate when the disputants will not meet?
A tethered ascorbate‐norepinephrine compound, 4‐UT, displays long‐acting adrenergic activity on rabbit aortic smooth muscle
Authors: Root‐Bernstein Robert , Dillon Patrick F. , Hollingsworth Rawle
Published: September 2008

We previously demonstrated that adrenergic and histaminergic receptors have an ascorbic acid (vitamin C) binding site on the first extracellular loop, immediately adjacent to the aminergic binding site. Binding of ascorbate to this site strongly potentiates any sub‐maximal dose of an adrenergic or histaminergic compound, significantly increasing its duration of activity. We report here the successful synthesis of a tethered compound that mimics the combined effects of a mixture of ascorbate with norepinephrine. The tethered compound uses a four‐unit polyethylene linker to tether ascorbate to norepinephrine. The tethered compound is about tenfold less effective than norepinephrine in stimulating rabbit aortic smooth muscle, but has a very significantly enhanced duration of activity compared with norepinephrine alone and comparable to a mixture of norepinephrine and ascorbate. Additional ascorbate does not enhance the tethered compound's effects and we demonstrate that the compound binds to a synthetic peptide spanning the ascorbate binding site of the receptor. These experiments strongly suggest that the compound binds to both the adrenergic binding site and the ascorbate binding site simultaneously. Tethered compounds with linkers of other lengths did not have these properties. We believe that the synthesis of enhanced adrenergic and histaminergic drugs by tethering them to potentiators such as ascorbate will permit a new class of potential drugs to be created with high specificity and long duration of activity. Drug Dev Res 69:242–250, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrophobicity predicts in vivo 19F magnetic resonance detectability of fluorinated psychiatric drugs: simple test for likely success in clinical pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Reid David G. , Murphy Philip S.
Published: September 2008

The 19F NMR signal half‐height linewidths of six fluorinated psychiatric pharmaceuticals, on which successful in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) studies have been reported (fenfluramine, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, trifluoperazine, phenfluramine, and paroxetine), were measured at 0.3 mM concentration in an artificial biofluid consisting of aqueous isotonic neutral phosphate‐buffered saline and 5% w/v bovine serum albumin. For the first five, which contain trifluoromethyl groups, linewidth is strongly positively correlated (R2=0.95) with calculated water: n‐octanol distribution coefficient at pH7 (cLogDpH7) by the relationship: Linewidth (Hz)=38cLogDpH7+5. This suggests that simple measurements, or calculations, feasible in most chemical laboratories, predict in vivo signal linewidth and hence the likely ease with which a development compound would be detected in clinical trials of brain pharmacokinetics. The procedures are available to all drug development organizations and should help establish confidence, or no‐go decisions, about committing major resources to MR pharmacokinetic studies on human subjects. Drug Dev Res 69:279–283, 2008  © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nanomedicine and its potential in diabetes research and practice
Authors: Pickup John C. , Zhi Zheng‐Liang , Khan Faaizah , Saxl Tania , Birch David J. S.
Published: September 2008

Nanomedicine involves measurement and therapy at the level of 1–100 nm. Although the science is still in its infancy, it has major potential applications in diabetes. These include solving needs such as non‐invasive glucose monitoring using implanted nanosensors, with key techniques being fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence lifetime sensing, as well as new nano‐encapsulation technologies for sensors such as layer‐by‐layer (LBL) films. The latter might also achieve better insulin delivery in diabetes by both improved islet encapsulation and oral insulin formulations. An ‘artificial nanopancreas’ could be an alternative closed‐loop insulin delivery system. Other applications of nanomedicine include targeted molecular imaging in vivo (e.g. tissue complications) using quantum dots (QDs) or gold nanoparticles, and single‐molecule detection for the study of molecular diversity in diabetes pathology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Generation of Frizzled10‐Cre transgenic mouse line: A useful tool for the study of dorsal telencephalic development
Authors: Gu Xiaochun , He Dongyang , Li Yiping , Hu Chuanyin , Wei Yu‐sheng , Liu Guang , Liu Depei , Pleasure Samuel J. , Xie Wei , Zhao Chunjie
Published: September 2008

Wnt signaling plays an important role in regulating cortical and hippocampal development, but many of the other molecular mechanisms underlying dorsal telencephalic development are largely unknown. We are taking advantage of the highly regionalized expression patterns of signaling components of the Wnt pathway to generate new mouse lines that will be useful for studying forebrain development. Here, we describe a transgenic mouse line where Cre is driven by the promoter of the Wnt receptor, Frizzled10. In these mice, Cre activity is mainly detected in the dorsal telencephalon during development and is confined to the pyramidal cell fields in the adult hippocampus. The Cre recombinase has very high efficiency when assayed by crossing the transgenic line with the ROSA26 reporter line. Thus, this Cre line will be useful for the study of dorsal telencephalic development and conditional inactivation of target genes in the cortex and hippocampus. genesis 46:523–529, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of alkyl‐branched fatty acids
Authors: Biermann Ursula , Metzger Jürgen O.
Published: September 2008

Alkyl‐branched fatty compounds are of interest for industrial products in the cosmetics and lubricant areas. In this review, clay‐ and zeolite‐catalyzed isomerizations of unsaturated fatty compounds, especially of oleic acid, are discussed. While clay‐catalyzed reactions give most complex mixtures of dimeric fatty acids and of monomeric so‐called “isostearic acid”, the zeolite‐catalyzed process yields preferentially an isomeric mixture of isostearic acids having the methyl branch on the 8–14 positions of the alkyl chain. Synthetically useful additions of alkyl radicals can only be performed on ω‐unsaturated fatty compounds, whereas perfluoroalkyl iodides were added to fatty compounds with terminal as well as internal double bonds using electron transfer‐initiated radical addition reactions. Electrophilic additions of alkyl carbenium ions generated by decomposition of alkyl chloroformates by ethylaluminum sesquichloride give well‐defined alkyl‐branched oleochemicals with good yields.
Unconditional respect for persons and the prediction of intergroup action tendencies
Authors: Lalljee Mansur , Tam Tania , Hewstone Miles , Laham Simon , Lee Jessica
Published: September 2008

Unconditional respect for persons is an orientation that rests on the assumption that all people have intrinsic worth and deserve respect simply by their being human. This paper reports three cross‐sectional studies concerning unconditional respect in intergroup relations in three very different contexts. In all three studies, unconditional respect was positively related to positive action tendencies, and negatively related to negative action tendencies, toward other groups. Regression analyses showed that respect was a significant predictor of negative action tendencies even when attitude to the other group, social dominance orientation, empathy, and the quality and quantity of intergroup contact were statistically controlled. Moderation analyses showed that respect was particularly important under conditions of high threat. The implications of unconditional respect for intergroup relations are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Causal uncertainty as a chronically accessible construct
Authors: Edwards John A. , Wichman Aaron L. , Weary Gifford
Published: September 2008

Causal uncertainty refers to feelings that one may not understand the causes of events. A number of studies have shown that causal uncertainty has significant effects on people's processing of information and on important life outcomes. Weary and Edwards have postulated that causal uncertainty is, in part, a cognitive construct that can vary in its accessibility. This assumption has allowed for a variety of predictions to be made about the causes and consequences of causal uncertainty. However, this accessibility assumption has never been directly tested. To do this, in Study 1 an emotional Stroop procedure was used. Higher causal uncertainty was associated with longer latencies to name the color in which causal uncertainty‐related words were written compared to uncertainty‐irrelevant words. In Study 2, both manipulated and chronic causal uncertainty led to faster times to respond to causal uncertainty‐related stimuli in an attitude accessibility task. Both studies are consistent with the theoretically predicted chronic accessibility of causal uncertainty beliefs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.