bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile Approach to Natural or Non‐Natural Amino Acid Derivatives: Me3SiCl‐Promoted Coupling Reaction of Organozinc Compounds with N,O‐Acetals
Authors: Sakai Norio , Asano Junichi , Kawada Yuki , Konakahara Takeo
Published: January 2009

We have developed a Me3SiCl‐promoted coupling reaction of aryl‐ and alkylzinc compounds, in‐situ generated either by transmetalation of the corresponding organometallic reagents or by insertion of zinc metal into organic halides, with several N,O‐acetals, which leads to the preparation of a variety of natural and non‐natural amino acid derivatives. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
CE‐MS analysis of heroin and its basic impurities using a charged polymer‐protected gold nanoparticle‐coated capillary
Authors: Zhang Zhengxiang , Yan Bo , Liu Kelin , Liao Yiping , Liu Huwei
Published: January 2009

The first application of charged polymer‐protected gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as semi‐permanent capillary coating in CE‐MS was presented. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) was the only reducing and stabilizing agent for Au NPs preparation. Stable and repeatable coating with good tolerance to 0.1 M HCl, methanol, and ACN was obtained via a simple rinsing procedure. Au NPs enhanced the coating stability toward flushing by methanol, improved the run‐to‐run and capillary‐to‐capillary repeatabilities, and improved the separation efficiency of heroin and its basic impurities for tracing geographical origins of illicit samples. Baseline resolution of eight heroin‐related alkaloids was achieved on the PDDA‐protected Au NPs‐coated capillary under the optimum conditions: 120 mM ammonium acetate (pH 5.2) with addition of 13% methanol, separation temperature 20°C, applied voltage −20 kV, and capillary effective length 60.0 cm. CE‐MS analysis with run‐to‐run RSDs (n=5) of migration time in the range of 0.43–0.62% and RSDs (n=5) of peak area in the range of 1.49–4.68% was obtained. The established CE‐MS method would offer sensitive detection and confident identification of heroin and related compounds and provide an alternative to LC‐MS and GC‐MS for illicit drug control.
Formamide as an organic modifier in MEKC with SDS
Authors: Téllez Adolfo , Kenndler Ernst
Published: January 2009

The effect of formamide (FA) as a modifier on the retention in MEKC with SDS as the detergent was investigated. The mobility of a series of alkylphenones and of a zwitterionic fluorescent compound as a function of the FA and the SDS concentration was determined for this purpose. Buffering electrolyte was borate, pH 9.23, with total ionic strength of 50 mM. The dependence of the mobility on the FA content – up to 63% w/w – of the BGE (at 10 mM SDS) allows the conclusion that the micelles are destabilized, and the CMC is shifted to higher values. In the system containing 33% FA or more no micelles are present anymore, and the retention factors of all compounds tend to zero. In an MEKC system with 27% v/v FA the CMC of SDS is increased from 2.4 mM in the aqueous BGE with the same buffer composition to 9.7 mM, a behavior that is in contrast to electrolyte‐free FA–water systems. The partition constants of free analytes and the formation constants of the adduct between analyte and detergent monomer (assuming 1:1 stoichiometry) were derived from the dependence of the mobility on the SDS concentration. In addition, the involved equilibria were extended by that from the distribution of the analyte–monomer adduct between aqueous and micellar phase, and the according partition constants were derived as well. A selective change in the extent of partitioning was observed for the zwitterionic compound. In general, all binding constants were decreased upon addition of FA, though to a different extent. Although the binding constants of the analyte–monomer associate were only slightly influenced, the most pronounced decrease is found for their partitioning into the micelles.
Enantioseparation of nicotine alkaloids in cigarettes by CE using sulfated β‐CD as a chiral selector and a capillary coated with amino groups
Authors: Kodama Shuji , Morikawa Atsushi , Nakagomi Kazuya , Yamamoto Atsushi , Sato Atsushi , Suzuki Kentaro , Yamashita Tomohisa , Kemmei Tomoko , Taga Atsushi
Published: January 2009

Nicotine (NC) and its related compounds (cotinine (CN), nornicotine (NN), anatabine (AT) and anabasine (AB)) were simultaneously enantioseparated by CE using a capillary with amino groups and sulfated β‐CD as a chiral selector. The optimum running conditions were found to be 30 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.0) containing 8% sulfated β‐CD with an applied voltage of +15 kV at 30°C using direct detection at 260 nm. Using a capillary coated with amino groups, the EOF migrates toward the positive pole. However, when sulfated β‐CD was added to the BGE, it was found that the EOF migrated toward the negative pole due to ionic adsorption of sulfated β‐CD to amino groups on the capillary inner wall. All the cationic analytes migrated as anions, suggesting that they formed stable anionic complexes with sulfated β‐CD. With this system and a simple pretreatment with mini‐cartridges, NC alkaloids in five cigarette samples were enantioseparated. As a result, each of the compounds except for CN was detected. In the case of NC, only (S)‐NC was detected (more than 99.9%), but in the case of NN, AT and AB, the ratios of (S)‐isomer to total isomers were in the ranges 58–70, 81–85 and 59–65%, respectively. On the other hand, only NC was detected in cigarette smoke and the ratio of (S)‐ and (R)‐NCs was 96:4. The amounts of NC alkaloids in cigarettes suggest that the production of (R)‐NC resulted from racemization due to the high temperature/burning of the cigarette.
Can consumer sentiment and its components forecast Australian GDP and consumption?
Authors: Chua Chew Lian , Tsiaplias Sarantis
Published: January 2009

This paper examines whether the disaggregation of consumer sentiment data into its sub‐components improves the real‐time capacity to forecast GDP and consumption. A Bayesian error correction approach augmented with the consumer sentiment index and permutations of the consumer sentiment sub‐indices is used to evaluate forecasting power. The forecasts are benchmarked against both composite forecasts and forecasts from standard error correction models. Using Australian data, we find that consumer sentiment data increase the accuracy of GDP and consumption forecasts, with certain components of consumer sentiment consistently providing better forecasts than aggregate consumer sentiment data. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Postconcussion syndrome after minor head injury: Brain activation of working memory and attention
Authors: Smits Marion , Dippel Diederik W.J. , Houston Gavin C. , Wielopolski Piotr A. , Koudstaal Peter J. , Hunink M.G. Myriam , van der Lugt Aad
Published: January 2009

After minor head injury (MHI) postconcussive symptoms (PCS) such as memory and attention deficits frequently occur. It has been hypothesised that PCS are caused by microstructural damage to the brain due to shearing injury, which is not detectable with conventional imaging, and may be responsible for a functional deficit. The purpose of this study was to correlate functional magnetic resonance imaging brain activation of working memory and selective attention with PCS. 21 MHI patients and 12 healthy controls were scanned at 3T. Stimulation paradigms were the n‐back and Counting Stroop tasks to engage working memory and selective attention, respectively. Functional data analysis consisted of random effects group analyses, correlating brain activation patterns with the severity of PCS as evaluated with the Rivermead postconcussion symptoms questionnaire. At minimal working memory load, activation was seen in patients with greater severity of PCS in the working memory network. With an increase of working memory load, increase of activation was more pronounced in patients with greater severity of PCS. At high and increased working memory load, activation associated with the severity of PCS was seen in the posterior parietal area, parahippocampal gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Activation related to selective attention processing was increased with greater severity of PCS. The increased activity in relation to working memory and attention, and the recruitment of brain areas outside the working memory network at high working memory load, may be considered a reflection of the brain's compensatory response to microstructural injury in patients with PCS. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural correlates of resolving uncertainty in driver's decision making
Authors: Callan Akiko M. , Osu Rieko , Yamagishi Yuya , Callan Daniel E. , Inoue Naomi
Published: January 2009

Neural correlates of driving and of decision making have been investigated separately, but little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms of decision making in driving. Previous research discusses two types of decision making: reward‐weighted decision making and cost‐weighted decision making. There are many reward‐weighted decision making neuroimaging studies but there are few cost‐weighted studies. Considering that driving involves serious risk, it is assumed that decision making in driving is cost weighted. Therefore, neural substrates of cost‐weighted decision making can be assessed by investigation of driver's decision making. In this study, neural correlates of resolving uncertainty in driver's decision making were investigated. Turning right in left‐hand traffic at a signalized intersection was simulated by computer graphic animation based videos. When the driver's view was occluded by a big truck, the uncertainty of the oncoming traffic was resolved by an in‐car video assist system that presented the driver's occluded view. Resolving the uncertainty reduced activity in a distributed area including the amygdala and anterior cingulate. These results implicate the amygdala and anterior cingulate as serving a role in cost‐weighted decision making. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved EEG source analysis using low‐resolution conductivity estimation in a four‐compartment finite element head model
Authors: Lew Seok , Wolters Carsten H. , Anwander Alfred , Makeig Scott , MacLeod Rob S.
Published: January 2009

Bioelectric source analysis in the human brain from scalp electroencephalography (EEG) signals is sensitive to geometry and conductivity properties of the different head tissues. We propose a low‐resolution conductivity estimation (LRCE) method using simulated annealing optimization on high‐resolution finite element models that individually optimizes a realistically shaped four‐layer volume conductor with regard to the brain and skull compartment conductivities. As input data, the method needs T1‐ and PD‐weighted magnetic resonance images for an improved modeling of the skull and the cerebrospinal fluid compartment and evoked potential data with high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). Our simulation studies showed that for EEG data with realistic SNR, the LRCE method was able to simultaneously reconstruct both the brain and the skull conductivity together with the underlying dipole source and provided an improved source analysis result. We have also demonstrated the feasibility and applicability of the new method to simultaneously estimate brain and skull conductivity and a somatosensory source from measured tactile somatosensory‐evoked potentials of a human subject. Our results show the viability of an approach that computes its own conductivity values and thus reduces the dependence on assigning values from the literature and likely produces a more robust estimate of current sources. Using the LRCE method, the individually optimized four‐compartment volume conductor model can, in a second step, be used for the analysis of clinical or cognitive data acquired from the same subject. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Repetition suppression for performed hand gestures revealed by fMRI
Authors: de C. Hamilton Antonia F. , Grafton Scott T.
Published: January 2009

The functional components of the human motor system that are used to retrieve and execute simple intransitive hand gestures were identified with a repetition suppression (RS) paradigm. Participants performed movements with the right hand to text instructions in a rapid event related design with a pseudo‐random stimulus order. Brain areas associated with action retrieval were identified by comparing trials where an action was repeated to trials that involved a new action. Performance of a novel action, collapsed across individual actions, resulted in significantly greater activity in a left hemisphere predominant fronto‐parietal circuit involving inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal cortex (supramarginal gyrus). This is consistent with previous action retrieval tasks using go, no‐go paradigms and lesion studies of patients with apraxia that emphasize a role of these areas in action organization. In addition, RS effects were present in left primary sensorimotor cortex. These effects cannot be ascribed to kinematic differences, simple action related activity or differences of cognitive set. Significant RS effects for action retrieval could be identified with as little as 5 min of fMRI data and underscores the potential of using RS to characterize representational structure within the motor system. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Daily energy expenditure, physical activity, and weight loss in Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Delikanaki‐Skaribas Evangelia , Trail Marilyn , Wong William Wai‐Lun , Lai Eugene C.
Published: January 2009

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly exhibit weight loss (WL) which investigators attribute to various factors, including elevated energy expenditure. We tested the hypothesis that daily energy expenditure (DEE) and its components, resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity (PA) energy expenditure (PAEE), are elevated in WL compared with weight stable (WS) PD patients. We measured DEE in 10 PD WL patients and 10 PD WS patients using doubly labeled water (DLW). PAEE was estimated with DLW, activity monitors, and activity questionnaires. REE was measured with indirect calorimetry. We evaluated energy intake (EI) with a patient's 3‐day food diary. Data was assessed employing SPSS, Spearman correlation coefficients, and Bland and Altman plots. There was no difference in DEE between the WL and WS groups measured with DLW. There were no differences in REE and EI between groups. DEE (r = 0.548, P < 0.05) and PAEE (r = 0.563, P < 0.01) are related with caloric intake. The WL group had higher PA than the WS group (P < 0.042) only when measured with wrist activity monitors. Results suggest that WL in PD patients cannot be fully explained by an increase in DEE. Large longitudinal studies to examine multiple relationships between variables might provide us with a better understanding of WL among PD patients. © 2008 Movement Disorders Society
Zonisamide for essential tremor: An evaluator‐blinded study
Authors: Handforth Adrian , Martin Fredricka C. , Kang Gail A. , Vanek Zeba
Published: January 2009

In this evaluator‐blinded open‐treatment trial, subjects with moderate/severe upper limb essential tremor were titrated to 300 mg/day zonisamide, or adjusted to a lesser dose if symptoms warranted, as monotherapy or as adjunct to stable antitremor medication, followed by a 12‐week extension phase. The primary efficacy outcome variables were blinded rater videotaped/drawing tremor score changes at the Treatment and Extension visits compared to Baseline, based on Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin and Postural Tremor Scales. Subjects also rated Functional Disabilities. Primary outcomes showed reduced tremor scores at the Treatment (P < 0.00001, n = 25) and Extension (n = 16) visits, at mean doses of 252 and 225 mg/day, respectively. Subject ratings indicated 200 mg/day was superior to 100 mg/day, whereas 300 mg/day produced no additional benefit, but instead was associated with more adverse symptoms, most commonly somnolence, poor energy, imbalance, and altered taste. Future double‐blind placebo‐controlled trials are warranted. © 2008 Movement Disorders Society
Validity of the Cornell scale for depression in dementia in Parkinson's disease with and without cognitive impairment
Authors: Williams James R. , Marsh Laura
Published: January 2009

Valid tools are needed to assess depression across the spectrum of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). The validity of the Cornell scale for depression in dementia (CSDD) was tested in a PD sample with a range of cognitive impairment. Psychiatric diagnoses were established according to DSM‐IV‐TR. Receiver operating characteristic curves tested the discriminant validity of the CSDD compared to the clinical diagnoses of major and minor depression. The curve for symptomatic depression had an area under the curve of 0.82. For the cut‐off score ≥ 6, sensitivity was 0.83 and specificity was 0.73; for the cut‐off score ≥ 8, sensitivity was 0.75 and specificity was 0.82. There was no evidence for differential measurement with respect to cognitive impairment or any other demographic or clinical variables. This study suggests that the CSDD is a valid tool for identifying depressive disorders in patients with PD across a spectrum of cognitive impairment. © 2008 Movement Disorders Society
Haplotype analysis of the PARK 11 gene, GIGYF2, in sporadic Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sutherland Greg T. , Siebert Gerhard A. , Newman Jeremy R. B. , Silburn Peter A. , Boyle Richard S. , O'Sullivan John D. , Mellick George D.
Published: January 2009

Familial Parkinsonism (PARK) genes are strong candidates for conferring susceptibility to common forms of PD. However, most studies to date have provided little evidence that their common variants substantially influence disease risk. Recently, mutations were described in the gene, GIGYF2 (TNRC15), located at the PARK11 locus (2q37.1). Here, we use a haplotype tagging approach to examine common variation in the GIGYF2 gene and PD risk. PD cases (n = 568) and age and gender‐matched control subjects (n = 568) were recruited from three specialist movement disorder clinics in Brisbane (Australia) and the Australian electoral roll. Twelve tagging SNPs were assessed in all subjects and haplotype and genotype associations were explored. Overall our findings suggest that common genetic variants of GIGYF2 do not significantly affect sporadic PD risk in Australian Caucasians. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Progression of dysprosody in Parkinson's disease over time—A longitudinal study
Authors: Skodda Sabine , Rinsche Heiko , Schlegel Uwe
Published: January 2009

Parkinsonian speech or hypokinetic dysarthria results from a multidimensional impairment of phonation, articulation, and prosody. Although the dysprosody in Parkinson's disease (PD) is well described (alterations in speech rate and pause time, speech intensity and pitch variation), little is known about alterations of these single prosodic parameters over a longer time course. The objective of this study is to analyze changes of speech rate and pitch variation in patients with PD over time and to compare these findings with healthy controls. Patients with PD (N = 50; 27 male and 23 female) and n = 50 age‐matched healthy controls (25 male, 25 female) were tested and retested after at least 7 months (mean: 25.02; median: 21; SD: 17.44; range: 7–79 months). In the PD group, motor impairment according to UPDRS motor score was similar at first and second visit. The participants had to accomplish a standardized four sentence reading task. The acoustical analysis was performed using a standard head‐worn microphone for voice recordings and commercial audio software (WaveLab®). For the determination of intonation based upon fundamental frequency (F0) variation, we used a computer analysis program (Praat®). Articulatory velocity was determined by measurement of syllable rate and pause ratios. In the PD group, total speech rate (syllables per second related to total speech time/TSR) and net speech rate declined from first to second examination, especially in the male patients, but showed no significant differences to the control group. The course of pitch variation revealed some gender particularities. Whereas female patients' pitch variability declined over time, male patients' intonation variability remained relatively stable. F0 variation in male and female patients with PD were significantly reduced compared with the control group in the first examination and the follow up as well. Progression of prosodic impairment over time showed no correlation to disease duration or UPDRS motor score. Some aspects of dysprosody in PD show characteristic changes over time, but show no clear correlation with general motor impairment as assessed by UPDRS motor score. Therefore, we suspect that the underlying mechanism could be independent from dopaminergic deficits. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Dopamine agonists restore cortical plasticity in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome
Authors: Rizzo Vincenzo , Aricò Irene , Mastroeni Claudia , Morgante Francesca , Liotta Giovanna , Girlanda Paolo , Silvestri Rosalia , Quartarone Angelo
Published: January 2009

In the present work, we aimed at assessing whether patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS) showed alterations of sensory‐motor plasticity, an indirect probe for motor learning, within the motor cortex (M1). Previous findings suggest that learning in human M1 occurs through LTP‐like mechanisms. To test our hypothesis, we employed the paired associative stimulation (PAS) protocol by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is able to induce LTP‐like effects in the motor cortex of normal subjects. Twelve patients with idiopathic RLS and 10 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects were recruited. PAS protocol consisted of 0.05 Hz electrical median nerve stimulation (90 stimuli), paired with 0.05 Hz TMS (90 stimuli) over the hot spot for stimulating the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle given 25 milliseconds after the onset of the electrical stimulus. Corticospinal excitability recorded in APB muscle, as indexed by MEP obtained after single stimulus, was tested before and up to 30 minutes after PAS protocol. Eight of 12 patients were studied before and after 4 weeks of dopaminergic treatment. PAS protocol increased significantly corticospinal excitability as long as 30 minutes in healthy subjects. On the contrary, PAS protocol did not change the amplitude of MEPs in patients with idiopathic RLS without treatment. PAS associative plasticity was restored after 4 weeks of dopaminergic treatment. Our data demonstrated that associative sensory‐motor plasticity, an indirect probe for motor learning, is impaired in idiopathic RLS patients but may be reverted to normal after dopaminergic treatment. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Experimental and theoretical study of the mechanism for the kinetic of elimination of methyl carbazate in the gas phase
Authors: Herize Armando , Mora José R. , Lezama Jesus , Marquez Edgar , Córdova Tania , Chuchani Gabriel
Published: January 2009

The elimination kinetic of methyl carbazate in the gas phase was determined in a static system over the temperature range of 340–390 °C and pressure range of 47–118 Torr. The reaction is homogeneous, unimolecular, and obeys a first order rate law. The decomposition products are methyl amine, nitrous acid, and CO gas. The variation of the rate coefficients with temperatures is given by the Arrhenius expression: log k1 (s−1) = (11.56 ± 0.34) −  (180.7 ± 4.1) kJ mol−1(2.303 RT)−1. The estimated kinetics and thermodynamics parameters are in good agreement to the experimental values using B3LYP/6‐31G (d,p), and MP2/6‐31G (d,p) levels of theory. These calculations imply a molecular mechanism involving a concerted non‐synchronous quasi three‐membered ring cyclic transition state to give an unstable intermediate, 1,2‐oxaziridin‐3‐one. Bond order analysis and natural charges implies that polarization of O (alkyl)C (alkyl) bond of the ester is rate determining in this reaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Piezoelectric and electromechanical properties of ultrahigh temperature CaBi2Nb2O9 ceramics
Authors: Wang Chun‐Ming , Wang Jin‐Feng , Zhang Shujun , Shrout Thomas R.
Published: January 2009

The piezoelectric, dielectric, and electromechanical properties of the (KCe) co‐substituted calcium bismuth niobate (CaBi2Nb2O9, CBN) were investigated. The piezoelectric activities of CBN ceramics were significantly enhanced and the dielectric loss tan δ decreased by (KCe) substitution. The Ca0.9(KCe)0.05Bi2Nb2O9 ceramics possess the optimal piezoelectric properties, and the piezoelectric coefficient (d33), Curie temperature (TC), and electromechanical coupling factors (kp and kt) were found to be 16 pC/N, 868 °C, 8.6%, and 23.8%, respectively. The excellent dielectric and electromechanical spectra, together with the high piezoelectric activities and ultrahigh Curie temperature, make CBN ceramics promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dolichandroside A, a new α‐glucosidase inhibitor and DPPH free‐radical Scavenger from Dolichandrone falcata seem
Authors: Aparna P. , Tiwari Ashok K. , Srinivas Pullela. V. , Ali A. Zehra , Anuradha V. , Rao J. Madhusudana
Published: January 2009

A new phenylpropanoid glycoside, dolichandroside‐A, together with seven known compounds α‐lapachone, lapachol, aloesaponarin II, 8‐hydroxydehydroiso‐α‐lapachone, β‐sitosterol, 3,8‐dihydroxydehydroiso‐α‐lapachone and verbascoside were isolated from the active ethyl acetate soluble extract of heartwood of Dolichandrone falcata. All except for dolichandroside‐A are known compounds, but have been isolated for the first time from this plant. The structure of all these compounds was determined on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectral data. All the isolates were tested for α‐glucosidase inhibitory and DPPH radical scavenging activity. This is the first report identifying DPPH scavenging activity and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity in D. falcata. Furthermore, along with a new compound, dolichandroside‐A, this study also assigns for the first time α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity to verbascoside and aloe saponarin‐II. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of Ishige okamurae ethanolic extract via inhibition of NF‐κB transcription factor in RAW 264.7 cells
Authors: Kim Moon‐Moo , Rajapakse Niranjan , Kim Se‐Kwon
Published: January 2009

Nowadays, much attention has been paid to the development of anti‐inflammatory agents from marine natural resources. As a result of screening anti‐inflammatory agents from marine algae using immunoassay, we found for the first time that ethanolic extract of Ishige okamurae (IO) classified into brown algae was effective in inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6 and prostaglandin E2, in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, compared with dexamethasone and aspirin used as positive control in this study. Moreover, transcriptional activation of NF‐κB transcription factor that regulates the expression of these inflammatory mediators was also examined using reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. It was observed that IO extract exerted anti‐inflammatory effect via inactivation of NF‐κB transcription factor in macrophages. In addition, the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and 9 that play an important role in chronic inflammation were decreased in dose‐dependent manner in the presence of IO extract in HT1080 cells. The above results suggest that IO extract can inhibit inflammation through inactivation of NF‐κB transcription factor in macrophage. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ginger's (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) inhibition of rat colonic adenocarcinoma cells proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro
Authors: Brown Amy C. , Shah Chirag , Liu Jessie , Pham Jimmy T. H. , Zhang Jian Gang , Jadus Martin R.
Published: January 2009

Ginger's (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) natural bioactives, specifically ginger extract and 6‐gingerol, were measured for their in vitro inhibition of two key aspects of colon cancer biology – cancer cell proliferation and angiogenic potential of endothelial cell tubule formation. Ginger extract was obtained via column distillation, while the 6‐gingerol was purchased from Calbiochem. Antiproliferation activity was assessed through tritiated thymidine ([3H]Tdr) incorporation studies of YYT colon cancer cells; the anti‐angiogenic ability of gingerol was assessed by a Matrigel assays using MS1 endothelial cells. These selected ginger bioactives had: 1) a direct effect on YYT rat cancer cell proliferation (6–1.5% ginger extract; 100–4 µM 6‐gingerol); 2) an indirect effect on MS1 endothelial cell function either at the level of endothelial cell proliferation or through inhibition of MS1 endothelial cell tube formation (100–0.8 µM). Compound 6‐gingerol was most effective at lower doses in inhibiting endothelial cell tube formation. These in vitro studies show that 6‐gingerol has two types of antitumor effects: 1) direct colon cancer cell growth suppression, and 2) inhibition of the blood supply of the tumor via angiogenesis. Further research is warranted to test 6‐gingerol in animal studies as a potential anticancer plant bioactive in the complementary treatment of cancer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Motivation for learning science in kindergarten: Is there a gender gap and does integrated inquiry and literacy instruction make a difference
Authors: Patrick, Helen , Mantzicopoulos Panayota , Samarapungavan Ala
Published: January 2009

We investigated whether kindergarten girls' and boys' (N = 162) motivation for science (perceived competence and liking) differed. Children were ethnically and linguistically diverse, primarily from low‐income families, and attended one of three schools. One school offered a typical kindergarten science experience. Kindergarteners in the other two schools participated in the Scientific Literacy Project (SLP)—a program based on a conceptually coherent sequence of integrated science inquiry and literacy activities. SLP lasted either 5 or 10 weeks. Regardless of sex, both groups of SLP children had greater motivation for science than children who had only the regular science experience. Moreover, children receiving 10 weeks of SLP reported greater science competence than those who received 5 weeks. Boys in regular classrooms reported liking science more than did girls, however there was no sex difference for SLP children. These results are supported by interview data accessing children's ideas about science. The findings suggest that early meaningful participation in science is likely to promote girls' and boys' motivation for science. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 166–191, 2009
Perioperative Fluid Management
Authors: Young Eileen , Sherrard‐Jacob Alisa , Knapp Karen , Craddock Timothy Shawn , Kemper Candace , Falvo Ralph , Hunter Sheila , Everson Claire , Giarrizzo‐Wilson Sharon
Published: January 2009

Technological advances have changed how traditional surgical procedures are performed. New knowledge and surgical skills are required to effectively monitor the patient and manage fluids administered perioperatively.

Today, selective fluids are used in a variety of surgical specialties. Complications of fluid therapy can occur that are intrinsic to each procedure within a specialty.

This article provides perioperative nurses with the information needed to evaluate different fluid media and their applications and identify patient care considerations. Possible complications and important postanesthesia care concerns also are discussed. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 167–178. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Perceived Effects of Specialty Nurse Certification: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Wade Charlene H.
Published: January 2009

Recent evidence suggests that specialty nurse education and certification may improve the quality of patient care.

Specialty nurse certification also may improve nurses' job satisfaction and sense of empowerment, as well as positively affect collaboration with other health care team members.

Despite the evidence that there are intrinsic rewards for specialty certification, the lack of extrinsic value to nurses makes it unlikely that greater numbers of nurses will be attracted to certification unless health care administrators increase opportunities for recognition and greater compensation. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 183–192. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Body Piercing Among Brazilian Surgical Patients
Authors: Diccini Solange , Malheiro da Costa Nogueira Aline , Sousa Valmi D.
Published: January 2009

The practice of body piercing is becoming more common worldwide.

Surgical patients with body piercings require special preoperative assessment to ensure safety during and after surgery.

In a study of Brazilian surgical patients at one facility, only 0.6% had body piercings. An RN or nursing student instructed each patient on piercing removal, and piercings were removed by the patients before surgery. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 161–165. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Just world beliefs moderate the relationship of pain intensity and disability with psychological distress in chronic pain support group members
Authors: McParland Joanna L. , Knussen Christina
Published: January 2009

The impact of pain beliefs on coping and adjustment is well established. However, less is known about how beliefs unrelated to pain might impact upon this experience. In particular, just world beliefs could impact upon and be influenced by chronic pain, given that pain is not experienced in a vacuum but instead is experienced in a social context where justice issues are potentially salient. The focus of this study was the ability of personal and general just world beliefs to moderate the relationships psychological distress held with pain intensity and disability in chronic pain. The sample (N = 95) was recruited from members of arthritis and fibromyalgia support groups to investigate these social beliefs in a controlled community pain context. A cross‐sectional, questionnaire design was adopted. The personal just world belief was endorsed significantly more than the general just world belief, and endorsement of the personal just world belief was negatively correlated with pain intensity, disability and psychological distress, while the general just world belief was unrelated to these variables. When interaction terms relating to personal and general just world beliefs were entered simultaneously into regression analyses, the personal just world belief did not predict psychological distress. However, pain intensity positively predicted psychological distress at low but not high levels of the general just world belief, while disability predicted psychological distress at low and high levels of this belief. This suggests that a strong general just world belief has implications for psychological well‐being in chronic pain, and as such this belief may occupy a potential coping function in this context.
Systemic administration of lidocaine suppresses the excitability of rat cervical dorsal horn neurons and tooth‐pulp‐evoked jaw‐opening reflex
Authors: Takeda Mamoru , Oshima Katsuo , Takahashi Masayuki , Matsumoto Shigeji
Published: January 2009

Although systemic lidocaine has been demonstrated to have analgesic actions in neuropathic pain conditions, the effect of intravenous lidocaine on trigeminal pain has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of intravenous lidocaine administration on the excitability of the upper cervical dorsal horn (C1) neuron having convergent inputs from both tooth‐pulp (TP) and facial skin as well as nociceptive jaw‐opening reflex (JOR). After electrical stimulation of TP, extracellular single‐unit recordings from 19 C1 neurons and the digastric muscle electromyogram (dEMG) were made in pentobarbital‐anesthetized rats. These neurons also responded to non‐noxious and noxious mechanical stimulation (touch and pinch) of facial skin, and every neuron was considered to be a wide dynamic range (WDR) neuron. The TP‐evoked C1 neuronal and dEMG activities were dose‐dependently inhibited by systematic administration of lidocaine (1–2mg/kg, i.v.). After intravenous injection of lidocaine, the unit discharges induced by both touch and pinch stimuli were inhibited, and the size of the receptive field for pinch was also significantly decreased. The mean spontaneous discharge frequencies were significantly inhibited by the application of lidocaine. These changes were reversed within −20min. These results suggest that in the absence of neuropathic pain intravenous lidocaine injection suppresses the trigeminal nociceptive reflex as well as the excitability of C1 neurons having convergent inputs from TP and somatic afferents. Systemic lidocaine administration, therefore, may contribute to the alleviation of trigeminal‐referred pain associated with tooth pain.
Belgian Schizophrenia Outcome Survey – Results of a 2-year naturalistic study in patients stabilised on monotherapy with olanzapine, risperidone or haloperidol
Authors: Peuskens J. , Gillain B. , De Graeve D. , Van Vleymen B. , Albert A.
Published: January 2009

Objectives

This Schizophrenia Outcome Survey compared medical costs, psychopathology and adverse events in outpatients for 2 years following hospitalisation for an acute schizophrenic episode.

Methods

Adults stabilised with haloperidol, olanzapine or risperidone entered this observational study ≤1 month after discharge and were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Global Assessment of Functioning and adverse events reporting.

Results

Among 323 patients (haloperidol 32, olanzapine 149, risperidone 142), baseline characteristics were similar in the olanzapine and risperidone groups, except for more first episodes in the risperidone group (p = 0.01). Haloperidol patients were more often single and institutionalised, less educated, had more residual schizophrenia, were longer hospitalised in the previous year, took more corrective and psychotropic drugs and had more extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and gynaecomastia (all significantly). Sixty-eight percent of patients completed a 2-year follow-up. In all groups, CGI and GAF improved during the first 3 months (both p < 0.0001) while BPRS deteriorated in the first year (all within group changes p < 0.05, between group changes NS) before it stabilised. There were no significant differences in hospitalisations and no change in social profile. At the last visit, 66% of haloperidol (p < 0.01), 35% of olanzapine (NS) and 39% (NS) of risperidone patients had ≥1 EPS; 69% (p < 0.013), 40 and 44%, respectively, had ≥1 sexual problem (NS). Mean weight gain was 0.4 (NS), 2.6 (p < 0.05) and 2.6 kg (p < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusions

In this naturalistic study, treatment allocation might have introduced a bias in the interpretation of efficiency results, but olanzapine and risperidone caused less EPS than haloperidol during 2 years of outpatient follow-up.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder traits and personality dimensions in parents of children with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Calvo Rosa , Lázaro Luisa , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , Font Elena , Moreno Elena , Toro J.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

To compare patterns of temperament and character and the prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and OCPD traits in parents of children with OCD and parents of healthy controls.

Methods

TCI and SCID-II were administered to 63 parents of 32 children with OCD and 63 parents of age- and sex-matched controls with no psychiatric diagnosis. Interviewers were not blind to proband status. Personality dimension scores and frequencies of OCPD criteria in both groups were compared after excluding parents with a diagnosis of OCD. Relationships between TCI dimensions and OCPD symptoms in parents and the clinical characteristics of OCD children were also studied.

Results

Parents of OCD children presented significantly higher scores in harm avoidance and lower scores in self-directedness, cooperativeness and reward dependence than parents of healthy children. A higher incidence of OCPD was found in parents of probands (p < 0.02). Hoarding, perfectionism and preoccupation with details were significantly more frequent in parents of OCD children. Counting, ordering and cleaning compulsions in OCD children predicted elevated odds of perfectionism and rigidity in their parents.

Conclusions

The existence of the dimensional personality profile associated with OCD in parents of children with OCD and the higher number of OCPD criteria in these parents in comparison to parents of healthy children highlight the importance of the role of personality factors in familial OCD.
AtAzg1 and AtAzg2 comprise a novel family of purine transporters in Arabidopsis
Authors: Mansfield Tyler A. , Schultes Neil P. , Mourad George S.
Published: January 2009

In plants, nucleobase biochemistry is highly compartmented relying upon a well‐regulated and selective membrane transport system. In Arabidopsis two proteins, AtAzg1 and AtAzg2, show substantial amino acid sequence similarity to the adenine–guanine–hypoxanthine transporter AzgA of Aspergillus nidulans. Analysis of single and double mutant lines harboring T‐DNA insertion alleles AtAzg1‐1 and AtAzg2‐1 reveal a marked resistance to growth in the presence of 8‐azaadenine and 8‐azaguanine but not to other toxic nucleobase analogues. Conversely, yeast strains expressing AtAzg1 and AtAzg2 gain heightened sensitivity to growth on 8‐azaadenine and 8‐azaguanine. Radio‐labeled purine uptake experiments in yeast and in planta confirm the function of AtAzg1 and AtAzg2 as plant adenine–guanine transporters.
A possible role of vimentin on the cell surface for the activation of latent transforming growth factor‐β
Authors: Nishida Yasutake , Shibata Kenji , Yamasaki Motoo , Sato Yasufumi , Abe Mayumi
Published: January 2009

LAP (uniprotkb:P18341) binds (MI:0407) to vimentin (uniprotkb:P48616) by cross‐linking studies (MI:0030)
Acetyl‐l‐carnitine inhibits TNF‐α‐induced insulin resistance via AMPK pathway in rat skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Zhang Zhaofeng , Zhao Ming , Li Qiong , Zhao Haifeng , Wang Junbo , Li Yong
Published: January 2009

In this study, we demonstrated effects of acetyl‐l‐carnitine (ALC) on insulin resistance induced by tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in rat L6 cells. TNF‐α downregulated insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake and increased Serine 307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1). However, the treatment of ALC improved insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake via AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in a dose‐dependent manner. Together, our data suggest that ALC inhibits TNF‐α‐induced insulin resistance through AMPK pathway in skeletal muscle cells.
Cold stability of intrinsically disordered proteins
Authors: Tantos Agnes , Friedrich Peter , Tompa Peter
Published: January 2009

Contrary to globular proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) lack a folded structure and they do not lose solubility at elevated temperatures. Although this should also be true at low temperatures, cold stability of IDPs has not been addressed in any scientific work so far. As direct characterization of cold‐denaturation is difficult, we approached the problem through a freezing‐induced loss‐of‐function model of globular‐disordered functional protein pairs (m‐calpain‐calpastatin, tubulin‐Map2c, Hsp90‐ERD14). Our results affirm that in contrast with globular proteins IDPs are resistant to cold treatment. The theoretical and functional aspects of this observation are discussed.
Use of heat to estimate streambed fluxes during extreme hydrologic events
Authors: Barlow Jeannie R. B. , Coupe Richard H.
Published: January 2009

Using heat as a tracer, quantitative estimates of streambed fluxes and the critical stage for flow reversal were calculated for high‐flow events that occurred on the Bogue Phalia (a tributary of the Mississippi River) following the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In June 2005, piezometers were installed in the Bogue Phalia upstream from the stream gage near Leland, Mississippi, to monitor temperature. Even with the hurricanes, precipitation in the Bogue Phalia Basin for the months of June to October 2005 was below normal, and consequently, streamflow was below the long‐term average. Temperature profiles from the piezometers indicate that the Bogue Phalia was a gaining stream during most of this time, but relatively static streambed temperatures suggested long‐term data was warranted for heat‐based estimates of flux. However, the hurricanes caused a pair of sharp rises in stream stage over short periods of time, increasing the potential for rapid heat‐based modeling and for identification of the critical stage for flow reversal into the streambed. Heat‐based modeling fits of simulated‐to‐measured sediment temperatures show that once a critical stage was surpassed, flow direction reversed into the streambed. Results of this study demonstrate the ability to constrain estimates of streambed water flux and the critical stage of flow reversal, with little available groundwater head data, by using heat as a tracer during extreme stage events.
An analytical model of the effects of catchment elevation on the flood frequency distribution
Authors: Allamano P. , Claps P. , Laio F.
Published: January 2009

The effect of temperature on the flood frequency distribution in mountainous basins is examined through a minimalist analytical model. The conceptual hypothesis on which the model is grounded is the existence of a subtractive mechanism that reduces the basin‐contributing area in flood formation to the fraction of basin laying below the freezing elevation at the time of occurrence of each precipitation event. This fraction depends on the watershed hypsometric curve and on the seasonal evolution of temperatures. Under this hypothesis, the probability distribution of the annual maximum discharge is analytically derived, based on simple assumptions on the stochastic process of precipitation. The shape and the moments of this distribution explicitly relate to basin hypsometry and to the seasonality of temperatures. Qualitative results show that the simple causative mechanisms can explain the attenuation of flood quantiles in high‐elevation basins. Model application to 57 watersheds in the Northwestern Italian Alps effectively demonstrates the role of the hypsography in explaining the spatial variability of the mean of the flood distribution.