bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy‐dependent collision‐induced dissociation study of buprenorphine and its synthetic precursors
Authors: Biri Bernadett , Kalmár József , Nagy Lajos , Sipos Attila , Zsuga Miklós , Kéki Sándor
Published: December 2010

The collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of protonated buprenorphine ([M+H]+) and four related compounds was studied by electrospray quadrupole/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐QTOF MS). The fragmentation pathways were investigated by using energy‐dependent CID and pseudo‐MS3 (in‐source CID combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)) methods. The first steps of the fragmentation are the parallel losses of the substituents from the non‐aromatic ring moieties. Depending on the applied collision energies, a large number of further fragment ions arising from the cross‐ring cleavages of the core‐ring structure were observed. Based on the experimental results, a generalized fragmentation scheme was developed for the five buprenorphine derivatives highlighting the differences for the alternatively substituted compounds. The collision‐energy‐dependent fragmentation profile of buprenorphine is visualized in a two‐dimensional plot to aid its fingerprint identification. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of new minor metabolites of penicillin G in human serum by multiple‐stage tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Ho Hsin‐Pin , Lee Ren‐Jye , Chen Chung‐Yu , Wang Soo‐Ray , Li Zu‐Guang , Lee Maw‐Rong
Published: December 2010

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were applied to characterize drug metabolites. Although these two methods have overcome the identification and structural characterization of metabolites analysis, they remain time‐consuming processes. In this study, a novel multiple‐stage tandem mass spectrometric method (MSn) was evaluated for identification and characterization of new minor metabolism profiling of penicillin G, one of the β‐lactam antibiotics, in human serum. Seven minor metabolites including five phase I metabolites and two phase II metabolites of penicillin G were identified by using data‐dependent LC/MSn screening in one chromatographic run. The accuracy masses of seven identified metabolites of penicillin G were also confirmed by mass spectral calibration software (MassWorks™). The proposed data‐dependent LC/MSn method is a powerful tool to provide large amounts of the necessary structural information to characterize minor metabolite in metabolism profiling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non‐mass‐dependent 17O anomalies generated by a superimposed thermal gradient on a rarefied O2 gas in a closed system
Authors: Sun Tao , Bao Huiming
Published: December 2010

Cryogenic or heating methods have been widely used in experiments involving gas purification or isolation and in studying phase changes among solids, liquids, or gases for more than a century. Thermal gradients are often present in these routine processes. While stable isotopes of an element are known to fractionate under a thermal gradient, the largely diffusion‐driven fractionation is assumed to be entirely mass‐dependent. We report here, however, that distinct non‐mass‐dependent oxygen isotope fractionation can be generated when subjecting rarefied O2 gas in a closed system to a simple thermal gradient. The Δ17O value, a measure of the 17O anomaly, can be up to −0.51‰ (standard deviation (s.d.) 1σ = 0.03) in one of the temperature compartments. The magnitude of the 17O anomalies decreased with increasing initial gas pressures. The authenticity of this phenomenon is substantiated by a series of blank tests and isotope mass‐balance calculations. The observed anomalies are not the result of H2O contamination in samples or in isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Our finding calls attention to the importance of thermal gradient‐induced isotope fractionation and to its implications in laboratory procedures, stable isotope geochemistry, and the physical chemistry of rarefied gases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of prenylated pterocarpans and other isoflavonoids in Rhizopus spp. elicited soya bean seedlings by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry
Authors: Simons Rudy , Vincken Jean‐Paul , Bohin Maxime C. , Kuijpers Tomas F.M. , Verbruggen Marian A. , Gruppen Harry
Published: December 2010

Phytoalexins from soya are mainly characterised as prenylated pterocarpans, the glyceollins. Extracts of non‐soaked and soaked soya beans, as well as that of soya seedlings, grown in the presence of Rhizopus microsporus var. oryzae, were screened for the presence of prenylated flavonoids with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)‐based screening method. The glyceollins I–III and glyceollidins I–II, belonging to the isoflavonoid subclass of the pterocarpans, were tentatively assigned. The formation of these prenylated pterocarpans was accompanied by that of other prenylated isoflavonoids of the subclasses of the isoflavones and the coumestans. It was estimated that approx. 40% of the total isoflavonoid content in Rhizopus‐challenged soya bean seedlings were prenylated pterocarpans, whereas 7% comprised prenylated isoflavones and prenylated coumestans. The site of prenylation (A‐ring or B‐ring) of the prenylated isoflavones was tentatively annotated using positive‐ion mode MS by comparing the 1,3A+ retro‐Diels‐Alder (RDA) fragments of prenylated and non‐prenylated isoflavones. Furthermore, the fragmentation pathways of the five pterocarpans in negative‐ion (NI) mode were proposed, which involved the cleavage of the C‐ring and/or D‐ring. The absence of the ring‐closed prenyl (pyran or furan) gave exclusively ‐H2Ox,yRDA fragments, whereas its presence gave predominantly the common RDA fragments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐resolution excitation of ions in a low‐pressure linear ion trap
Authors: Collings B. A.
Published: December 2010

An exploration of the parameters necessary to obtain high‐resolution excitation, using dipolar excitation, of an ion in a linear ion trap has been undertaken in this study. These parameters included ion trap pressure, excitation amplitude, excitation period, drive frequency of the ion trap, Mathieu q value and the mass of the ion of interest. An understanding of how these parameters play a role in high‐resolution excitation is necessary to the development of a method for the targeted tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis of ions with the same nominal mass. Resonance excitation profiles with full width half maxima as narrow as 0.015 m/z units could be obtained, under the right conditions, for an ion from a homogenously substituted triazatriphosphorine at m/z 322.049, which translates into a mass resolution of >21 500. In this particular case the requirement for high resolution was a low trap pressure (3.8 × 10−5 Torr), low excitation amplitude (3 mV), long excitation period (100 ms) and a high Mathieu q value(0.8) when using a drive frequency of 1.228 MHz. Similar conditions were used to demonstrate the isolation of individual [M + H]+ component ions from mixtures of bromazepam (m/z 316.008)/chlorprothixene (m/z 316.0921)/fendiline (m/z 316.206) and chlorprothixene (m/z 316.0921)/oxycodone (m/z 316.1543)/fendiline (m/z 316.206) prior to obtaining product ion spectra with excitation at q = 0.236. In the former mixture the individual components were isolated with near 100% efficiency while in the latter mixture the isolation efficiency dropped to near 50% for the oxycodone component and to 80% for the other components. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pulse labeling of dissolved 13C‐carbonate into tree xylem: developing a new method to determine the fate of recently fixed photosynthate
Authors: Powers Elizabeth M. , Marshall John D.
Published: December 2010

Stable carbon isotopes are often employed as tracers in plant and soil systems to study the fate and transformations of carbon as is it assimilated by the forest canopies and then translocated into the soil matrix and soil microorganisms. This experiment tested a new method of 13C‐labeling. We dissolved 13C‐carbonate into 12 mL of water and injected it into the xylem of a 6‐cm diameter tree. The isotopic composition of foliage, stem CO2, and phloem contents were measured before the experiment and up to two weeks after the pulse label. Isotopic enrichments of 6.1‰ and 7.7‰ were observed in stem CO2 and phloem contents, respectively. No enrichment in bulk foliage was observed. The pulse came through the phloem five days after the label was injected, consistent with expectations based on transport rates through the tree. The application of this xylem pulse‐labeling method may provide new insights into labile carbon sequestration in trees, perhaps even in much larger trees. Furthermore, the method could be applied under experimental treatments that would elucidate the mechanisms controlling the fate and transformation of recently fixed photosynthate in forests. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new permutation‐based method for assessing agreement between two observers making replicated binary readings
Authors: Pan Yi , Haber Michael , Barnhart Huiman X.
Published: December 2010

A new coefficient for assessing agreement between two observers using a permutation‐based method is introduced in this article. When observations are binary, this coefficient compares the observed disagreement (probability of discordance) between the observers with its expected value under the hypothesis of individual equivalence. This hypothesis states that for each subject, the conditional distributions of the readings of the two observers are identical, and therefore from a statistical viewpoint it does not matter which observer makes the reading on this subject. Let K and L denote the numbers of replicated observations that are available from observers X and Y, respectively, on a given subject. Then the expected disagreement under individual equivalence for a subject is based on the (K + L) choosing K possible assignments of X's and Y's to the K + L observations made on this subject. Simple methods for the estimation of the new coefficient and its standard error are derived. The new coefficient is compared with kappa and the coefficient of individual agreement, which is based on comparing the inter and intra observer disagreements. Simulation studies confirm the validity of the estimated coefficient and its standard error. Data from a study involving the evaluation of mammograms by 10 radiologists are used to illustrate this new approach to the evaluation of observer agreement. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of physicochemical properties of starch on the tendency of potato tuber flesh to darkening and the processed product quality
Authors: Pobereżny Jarosław
Published: December 2010

The aim of the present research was to determine whether, and to what extent, the selected potato starch quality parameters affect the tendency of potato tuber flesh to darkening and the value of thermal processing products. The research was carried out after harvest and after 6 months of tuber storage at the temperature of +8°C and relative air humidity of 95%. The research material was made up of three mid‐early potato cultivars: two Polish cultivars, ‘Lena’ and ‘Mors’, and ‘Agria’, a German cultivar. The research was carried out in three vegetation periods in Poland (the Kujawy and Pomorze region) and in Germany (Lower Saxony). The starch grain size, gel stability after defrosting and raw and cooked tuber flesh tendencies to darkening were significantly modified by the genetic factor, while neither the site nor the year of cultivation affected these characters significantly. As a result of tuber storage, genetic conditions affected the share of large grains (>60 µm) more considerably than the storage conditions and time; unlike the starch gel stability, since a high variation in this character depended on the site of cultivation and place of storage. The potato tuber storage time increases the degree of darkening and the tendency leads to the French fries and chips quality deterioration. The results of the present research clearly show that the fraction of starch grains >60 µm was significantly positively correlated with raw and cooked tuber flesh darkening, whereas fraction <40 µm was significantly negatively correlated with these potato tuber characters.
Granule structural, crystalline, and thermal changes in native Chinese yam starch after hydrolysis with two different enzymes–α‐amylase and gluco‐amylase
Authors: Li Xia , Gao Wenyuan , Wang Yanli , Jiang Qianqian , Huang Luqi
Published: December 2010

Starch extracted from Chinese yam was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X‐ray powder diffractometer (XRD), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) in the process of enzymatic hydrolysis. Yam starch was digested by α‐amylase and gluco‐amylase for different lengths of time, respectively, and two different enzymatic hydrolysis results were compared. The most notable phenomenon revealed by SEM after α‐amylase hydrolysis was the formation of the cavum in the center of the starch granules, while after gluco‐amylase hydrolysis, the outer layer of the granules was peeled off and then some granules even broke into pieces. The XRD of the two enzyme hydrolyzed starches revealed the crystal type of the starch changed from typical C‐type XRD pattern to the representative A‐type pattern in the process of enzymatic hydrolysis. The above results also demonstrated that the partially B‐type polymorph was more easily degraded than A‐type. The thermal result showed that the modified yam starches by both enzymes exhibited increased peak gelatinization temperatures (Tp) and decreased gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH).
Item feature effects in evolution assessment
Authors: Nehm Ross H. , Ha Minsu
Published: December 2010

Despite concerted efforts by science educators to understand patterns of evolutionary reasoning in science students and teachers, the vast majority of evolution education studies have failed to carefully consider or control for item feature effects in knowledge measurement. Our study explores whether robust contextualization patterns emerge within particular evolutionary reasoning contexts, and the implications of these patterns for instruction, assessment, and models of cognition. We test four hypotheses regarding item feature effects on undergraduate biology majors' evolutionary reasoning using a sample of 1,200 open response explanations of evolutionary change across items differing in context and scale but standardized by taxon and trait. Evolutionary explanations were atomized into a series of scientific and naïve biological elements and tallied among prompts and their features. We documented clear, significant, and predictable item feature effects on evolutionary explanations. Tasks involving evolutionary trait loss elicited a significantly greater number of naïve biological elements than evolutionary trait gain tasks in all contexts, including: within species comparisons, between species comparisons, animal prompts, and plant prompts. Tasks involving between species evolutionary comparisons, regardless of gain or loss, animal or plant, always produced significantly more naïve biological explanatory elements than within species comparisons. For items prompting explanation of trait gain, the use of the core concepts of natural selection were not influenced by the hierarchical level of the task (within or between species). Explanations of trait gain were also the least sensitive to scale and context. Core concepts of natural selection were always deployed less frequently in cases of evolutionary trait loss (within and between species, in animals and plants). We discuss a series of implications of these findings for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 237–256, 2011
Adenomyosis: three‐dimensional sonographic findings of the junctional zone and correlation with histology
Authors: Exacoustos C. , Brienza L. , Di Giovanni A. , Szabolcs B. , Romanini M. E. , Zupi E. , Arduini D.
Published: December 2010

Objective

To correlate with histopathological features the adenomyosis‐induced morphological alterations of the outer myometrium and the inner myometrium (‘junctional zone’, JZ) detectable on two‐ (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasound imaging (TVS), and to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy for adenomyosis.

Methods

Premenopausal patients scheduled for hysterectomy for benign pathology were enrolled in this prospective study. Before hysterectomy all patients underwent detailed 2D‐TVS and 3D volume acquisition of the entire uterus. The major sonographic signs of adenomyosis were noted. On the multiplanar coronal and longitudinal views obtained by 3D‐TVS we measured the maximum and minimum JZ thickness from the basal endometrium to the internal layer of the outer myometrium (JZmax, JZmin), the difference between them (JZdif = JZmax − JZmin) and the ratio JZmax/total maximum myometrial thickness. Results of these examinations were correlated blindly to the presence of adenomyosis on histological specimens.

Results

A total of 72 premenopausal patients underwent 2D‐ and 3D‐TVS before hysterectomy. The histological prevalence of adenomyosis was 44.4% (32/72 patients). In diagnosing adenomyosis, the presence of myometrial cysts was the most specific 2D‐TVS feature (specificity, 98%; accuracy, 78%) and heterogeneous myometrium was the most sensitive (sensitivity, 88%; accuracy, 75%). The 3D‐TVS markers JZdif ≥ 4 mm and JZ infiltration and distortion had high sensitivity (88%) and the best accuracy (85% and 82%, respectively). For 2D‐TVS and 3D‐TVS, respectively, the overall accuracy for diagnosis of adenomyosis was 83% and 89%, the sensitivity was 75% and 91%, the specificity was 90% and 88%, the positive predictive value was 86% and 85% and the negative predictive value was 82% and 92%.

Conclusions

The coronal section of the uterus obtained by 3D‐TVS permits accurate evaluation and measurement of the JZ, and its alteration has good diagnostic accuracy for adenomyosis. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uterine artery Doppler and adverse pregnancy outcome in women with extreme levels of fetoplacental proteins used for Down syndrome screening
Authors: Filippi E. , Staughton J. , Peregrine E. , Jones P. , Huttly W. , Peebles D. M. , Pandya P. , David A. L.
Published: December 2010

Objective

To evaluate the use of second‐trimester uterine artery (UtA) Doppler to predict adverse pregnancy outcome in women with extreme levels of fetoplacental proteins used for Down syndrome screening.

Methods

At a single institution, women screened for Down syndrome were offered second‐trimester UtA Doppler examination if they had one of the following on analysis of maternal serum: pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A ≤ 0.28 multiples of the median (MoM) (1% of screened population), inhibin ≥ 3.0 MoM (2%), human chorionic gonadotropin ≥ 4.0 MoM (2%), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 2.5 MoM (2%), estriol ≤ 0.5 MoM (1%). Abnormal UtA Doppler was defined as bilateral or unilateral notching or mean pulsatility index ≥ 1.45.

Results

Of 240 women studied, 92 (38.3%) had an adverse pregnancy outcome: small for gestational age (either < 10th customized centile (SGA10) or < 5th customized centile (SGA5)), low birth weight (LBW, < 2.5 kg), preterm delivery (< 37 + 0 weeks of gestation), fetal loss (late miscarriage or stillbirth), placental abruption and gestational hypertension. Of 167 women screened with all five hormones, those with two or more extreme levels (n = 18, 10.8%) were significantly at risk of adverse pregnancy outcome compared with those with only one marker (61.1% vs. 35.6%, P = 0.04). UtA Doppler was abnormal in 20% (32 of 159 women screened) and increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (RR 2.5, 65.6% vs. 26.0%, P < 0.001). SGA10, SGA5 and LBW were significantly more common in women with abnormal UtA Doppler (RR 2.98, 56.2% vs. 18.9%, P < 0.001, RR 4.6, 43.7% vs. 9.4%, P < 0.001 and RR 4.4, 31.2% vs. 7.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). Women with normal Doppler examination still had a 26% risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Conclusions

In women with extreme levels of feto‐placental proteins used for Down syndrome screening, an abnormal second‐trimester UtA Doppler examination confers a high risk of adverse pregnancy outcome and SGA in particular, but a normal examination does not rule out an adverse pregnancy outcome. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does the individualized reference outperform a simple ultrasound‐based reference applied to birth weight in predicting child neurodevelopment?
Authors: Neta G. , Grewal J. , Mikolajczyk R. , Klebanoff M. , Zhang J.
Published: December 2010

Objectives

Being small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) is associated with an increased risk of morbidity, but questions remain about how best to diagnose SGA, and thus, predict poor health consequences. The authors sought to compare an individualized reference for defining SGA with simple birth weight‐based and ultrasound‐based references applied to birth weight in predicting poor cognitive development at age five.

Methods

The authors used data from the Successive SGA Births Study, a prospective study including 699 Alabaman and 618 Scandinavian women recruited from 1986 to 1988, and whose children had cognitive development scores measured at age five using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence—Revised Intelligence Quotient. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were estimated for each reference applied to birth weight using adverse cognitive development (score < 10th percentile) as the outcome. Relative risk of poor neurodevelopment was calculated, comparing infants classified as SGA by either the individualized or the simple ultrasound‐based reference with infants not classified as SGA.

Results

The individualized reference had higher specificity and PPV in predicting poor neurodevelopment. Neonates defined as SGA by the individualized reference alone had a higher risk (RR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.20, 4.00) of poor cognitive outcome, while those identified by the ultrasound‐based reference alone did not (RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.45, 2.01). None of the references could predict poor neurodevelopment well at age five.

Conclusions

The individualized birth weight reference modestly outperforms the simple ultrasound‐based reference in identifying SGA infants with poor child neurodevelopment. However, neither reference can predict child neurodevelopment well. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Verschleißschutz für hochbelastete Umformwerkzeuge
Authors: Voss Eckart , Burger Hans
Published: December 2010

Das Beschichten von hochbelasteten Umformwerkzeugen mittels PVD‐ oder CVD‐Technik ist heutzutage Standard für viele Anwendungen in der Serienfertigung von metallischen Massivoder Blechteilen.

Dieser Artikel gibt dazu eine Einführung sowie einige typische Anwendungsbeispiele, um den Stand der Technik zu demonstrieren.
Modifizierung unpolarer Polymeroberflächen
Authors: Bellmann Cornelia , Albrecht Victoria , Roth Jan , Cremers John , Pleul Dieter , Grundke Karina
Published: December 2010

In zahlreichen wirtschaftlich bedeutenden Technologiebereichen ist die Haftung von Verbundsystemen von zentraler Bedeutung. Das betrifft zum Beispiel die Lackierungen von Oberflächen und die Verbundherstellung. Besondere Probleme bereiten bei der Verbundbildung Polyolefine, Silikone und Fluorpolymere auf Grund ihrer sehr geringen Oberflächenenergie. Die Modifizierung solcher Polymeroberflächen mit dem Ziel einer chemischen Funktionalisierung und damit der Erhöhung der Oberflächenenergie kann zu einer Verbesserung der Adhäsionseigenschaften der Materialien führen. Ein gut eingeführtes Verfahren, vor allem in der Automobilindustrie, ist das Beflammen der Oberflächen. Jedoch ist eine definierte chemische Änderung der Oberfläche von sehr vielen Einflussparametern abhängig und somit sehr schwer zu standardisieren. Eine definierte Änderung der Oberfläche kann besser durch eine gezielte Plasmabehandlung erreicht werden, wobei hier die Oberfläche durch einen anschließenden nasschemischen Prozessschritt stabilisiert wurde.
Hartstoffschichten der Zukunft
Authors: Bobzin Kirsten , Bagcivan Nazlim , Ewering Mara
Published: December 2010

In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass das Schichtsystem (Ti,Al)γ‐Al2O3 in Vergleich zum weit verbreitetem Schichtsystem (Ti,Al)N in tribologischen Untersuchungen deutlich besser abschneidet. Vor allem die Adhäsion von Gegenkörpermaterial 1.4301 kann deutlich reduziert werden. Des Weiteren wurde die vielversprechende HPPMS‐Technologie zur Abscheidung nitridischer Hartstoffschichten vorgestellt. In Bezug auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften weist das HPPMS/DC‐Schichtsystem deutliche Vorteile auf. Zur Ermittlung der Phasen‐ und Oxidationsstabilität der Schicht sind Glühversuche in Vakuum und Atmosphäre geplant.
The Effects of Various Sources and Templates on the Microwave‐assisted Synthesis of BZSM‐5 Zeolite
Authors: Abrishamkar Maryam , Azizi Seyed Nasser , Kazemian Hossein
Published: December 2010

Isomorphic substitution of boron into ZSM‐5 zeolite under microwave‐assisted hydrothermal conditions was systematically studied. When microwave treatment and conventional heating were used, BZSM‐5 zeolite could be obtained within one day, whereas the synthesis of BZSM‐5 under conventional hydrothermal conditions took five days at 180 °C. Various parameters that affect the crystallization of BZSM‐5, such as templates, crystallization time, the silicon source and the Si/B ratio were investigated. Systematic variations of these parameters revealed that this zeolite can be obtained from the reaction mixture with optimized ratios of Si/B > 0.6. Among various tested sources, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) turned out to be the best source for synthesis of borosilicate zeolite and further investigations were done with TEOS as silicon source. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, and IR spectroscopic techniques.
Two Novel Isostructural 3D Ln–Sr (Ln = Eu; Gd) Coordination Polymers Based on Oxalate Ligands with Unusual Topology: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Luminescence
Authors: Zhu Zhi‐Bo , Cai Yu‐Chun , Lu Xin‐Wei , Zeller Matthias
Published: December 2010

The self‐assembly of oxalic acid with metal salts under hydrothermal conditions gave two isostructural 3D lanthanide alkaline earth heterometallic coordination polymers, [Ln2Sr(OX)4(H2O)6·3H2O]n [Ln = Eu (1), Gd (2); OX = oxalate]. Compounds 1 and 2 are 3D coordination frameworks built from 2D lanthanide carboxylate layers and SrO9 units by sharing OX ligands with the unusual 2,5‐connected (16)3(84.122.164)2(8)4 net. Furthermore, the luminescent property of complex 1 was investigated.
Conflicting duties over confidentiality in Argentina and Peru
Authors: Cavallo Mercedes
Published: December 2010

The medical duty of confidentiality represents a key element for the provision of reproductive and sexual health services. In some Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Peru, the legal systems impose—or are interpreted as imposing—on health professionals the duty of confidentiality, but also the duty to report the commission of a public order offense that they know about owing to the practicing of their profession. In these countries, the conflicting duties and the criminalization of abortion cause severe public health and human rights problems when health professionals assist their patients for post‐abortion treatment. Typically, patients are deterred from seeking prompt medical care, and their privacy, autonomy, and dignity are violated. A 2010 ruling from the Supreme Court of Argentina and a 2004 ruling from the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights emerge as important instruments that grant a more adequate protection of medical confidentiality.
The “Sprinter effect”: When self‐control and involvement stand in the way of sequential performance
Authors: Ein‐Gar Danit , Steinhart Yael
Published: December 2010

This research examines the joint effect of dispositional self‐control and situational involvement on performance in two successive resource‐demanding tasks. We demonstrate that being highly involved and having high self‐control facilitates high performance in the first task but, contrary to intuition, may jeopardize performance in a second, unexpected task. We term this the “sprinter effect” and demonstrate it in both lab and field settings. We further explore how a “marathon” mindset can debias this effect.
Quantitative estimates of temperature and precipitation changes over the last millennium from pollen and lake-level data at Lake Joux, Swiss Jura Mountains
Authors: Magny Michel , Peyron Odile , Gauthier Emilie , Vannière Boris , Millet Laurent , Vermot-Desroches Bruno
Published: December 2010

This paper presents quantitative climate estimates for the last millennium, using a multi-proxy approach with pollen and lake-level data from Lake Joux (Swiss Jura Mountains). The climate reconstruction, based on the Modern Analogue Technique, indicates warmer and drier conditions during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). MWP was preceded by a short-lived cold humid event around AD 1060, and followed by a rapid return around AD 1400 to cooler and wetter conditions which generally characterize the Little Ice Age (LIA). Around AD 1450 (solar Spörer minimum), the LIA attained a temperature minimum and a summer precipitation maximum. The solar Maunder minimum around AD 1690 corresponded at Joux to rather mild temperatures but maximal annual precipitation. These results generally agree with other records from neighbouring Alpine regions. However, there are differences in the timing of the LIA temperature minimum depending on the proxy and/or the method used for the reconstruction. As a working hypothesis, the hydrological signal associated with the MWP and LIA oscillations at Lake Joux may have been mainly driven by a shift around AD 1400 from positive to negative NAO modes in response to variations in solar irradiance possibly coupled with changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation.
Dynamic Public Opinion: Communication Effects over Time
Authors: CHONG DENNIS , DRUCKMAN JAMES N.
Published: December 2010

We develop an approach to studying public opinion that accounts for how people process competing messages received over the course of a political campaign or policy debate. Instead of focusing on the fixed impact of a message, we emphasize that a message can have variable effects depending on when it is received within a competitive context and how it is evaluated. We test hypotheses about the effect of information processing using data from two experiments that measure changes in public opinion in response to alternative sequences of information. As in past research, we find that competing messages received at the same time neutralize one another. However, when competing messages are separated by days or weeks, most individuals give disproportionate weight to the most recent communication because previous effects decay over time. There are exceptions, though, as people who engage in deliberate processing of information display attitude stability and give disproportionate weight to previous messages. These results show that people typically form significantly different opinions when they receive competing messages over time than when they receive the same messages simultaneously. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for understanding the power of communications in contemporary politics.
Body composition predicted with a Bayesian network from simple variables
Authors: Mioche Laurence , Bidot Caroline , Denis Jean-Baptiste
Published: December 2010

The relative contributions of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) to body weight are key indicators for several major public health issues. Predictive models could offer new insights into body composition analysis. A non-parametric equation derived from a probabilistic Bayesian network (BN) was established by including sex, age, body weight and height. We hypothesised that it would be possible to assess the body composition of any subject from easily accessible covariables by selecting an adjusted FFM value within a reference dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement database (1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES),n10 402). FM was directly calculated as body weight minus FFM. A French DXA database (n1140) was used (1) to adjust the model parameters (n380) and (2) to cross-validate the model responses (n760). French subjects were significantly different from American NHANES subjects with respect to age, weight and FM. Despite this different population context, BN prediction was highly reliable. Correlations between BN predictions and DXA measurements were significant for FFM (R20·94,P < 0·001, standard error of prediction (SEP) 2·82 kg) and the percentage of FM (FM%) (R20·81,P < 0·001, SEP 3·73 %). Two previously published linear models were applied to the subjects of the French database and compared with BN predictions. BN predictions were more accurate for both FFM and FM than those obtained from linear models. In addition, BN prediction generated stochastic variability in the FM% expressed in terms of BMI. The use of such predictions in large populations could be of interest for many public health issues.
Modulatory effects of garlic, ginger, turmeric and their mixture on hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin–nicotinamide diabetic rats
Authors: Madkor Hafez R. , Mansour Sherif W. , Ramadan Gamal
Published: December 2010

Spices which show hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities may have a role in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The present study aimed to compare the modulatory effects of garlic, ginger, turmeric and their mixture on the metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)–nicotinamide diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in overnight fasted rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight) and nicotinamide (110 mg/kg body weight, 15 min before STZ injection). Diabetic rats orally received either distilled water (as vehicle) or 200 mg/kg body weight of garlic bulb, ginger rhizome or turmeric rhizome powder suspension separately or mixed together (GGT mixture) for twenty-eight consecutive days. The results showed that these spices and their mixture significantly alleviated (80–97 %,P < 0·05–0·001) signs of the metabolic syndrome (hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia), the elevation in atherogenic indices and cellular toxicity in STZ–nicotinamide diabetic rats by increasing the production of insulin (26–37 %), enhancing the antioxidant defence system (31–52 %, especially GSH) and decreasing lipid peroxidation (60–97 %). The greatest modulation was seen in diabetic rats that received garlic and the GGT mixture (10–23 % more than that in the ginger and turmeric groups). In conclusion, garlic or the mix including garlic appears to have an impact on each of the measures more effectively than ginger and turmeric and may have a role in alleviating the risks of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular complications.
Freedom for All? The Strength and Limits of Political Tolerance
Authors: Petersen Michael , Slothuus Rune , Stubager Rune , Togeby Lise
Published: December 2010

Most research on political tolerance relying on the ‘least-liked’ group approach has painted a bleak picture of low and feeble levels of tolerance. An alternative approach, permitting an evaluation of the breadth of tolerance, is combined with the use of survey experiments to demonstrate that tolerance varies considerably across target groups. Specifically, the formation of tolerance judgements is shown to differ depending on a group’s association with violent and non-democratic behaviour. Thus, tolerance is high and resilient towards groups that themselves observe democratic rights – even if these groups are disliked or feared. The theory suggests that this is caused by norms of reciprocity and, contrary to extant research, this article shows that within the limits set by these norms, tolerance is strong.
The Soul's Comeback: Immortality and Resurrection in Early Christianity
Authors: Bovon François
Published: December 2010

In the middle of the twentieth century biblical scholars claimed the unity of the human person as the core of biblical anthropology.1The Hebrew term, “life,” “person,” was no longer to be translated as “soul,” and the best English equivalent for the Greek ψυχή was “person.” In the seventies and eighties, on both sides of the Atlantic, the pendulum swung even further, to the point of favoring the body. In Paris, in the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Pierre Geoltrain offered a lecture course on the “body” in several texts of the New Testament, while in the United States Dale Martin worked on his book published under the titleThe Corinthian Body.2In Geneva, whereexpression corporellehad become a form of instruction in dance and eurhythmic practice at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, some New Testament scholars incorporated bodily experience into their understanding of biblical passages.3It was also this time that saw—in the secular realm—the creation of “body shops” and the continuous care of one's own body. With Merleau-Ponty we can say that this recent period witnesses a rediscovery of the body.4
Anne Hutchinson and Covenant Theology
Authors: Schneider Deborah Lucas
Published: December 2010

Currently two competing models exist side-by-side to explain the “antinomian” or “free grace” controversy, in which Anne Hutchinson and her theology are said to have played a key role. The differences in these narratives appear to require a return to the sources and a careful examination of Hutchinson's own statements—as far as they can be reconstructed—in the context of her first interrogation by a group of clergymen in the autumn of 1636. Since one of the narratives casts doubt on John Winthrop's assertions of her manifest unorthodoxy at that time, a central question will be whether the views she expressed then deviated significantly from the mainstream of theology espoused by godly contemporaries in Britain and if so, in what particulars. Hutchinson's remarks at the outset of the controversy could then serve as a baseline in an investigation of how the dispute escalated and evolved over the following months.
Prospective risk factors for new-onset post-traumatic stress disorder in National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq
Authors: Polusny M. A. , Erbes C. R. , Murdoch M. , Arbisi P. A. , Thuras P. , Rath M. B.
Published: December 2010

Background

National Guard troops are at increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little is known about risk and resilience in this population.

Method

The Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers Study is a prospective, longitudinal investigation of 522 Army National Guard troops deployed to Iraq from March 2006 to July 2007. Participants completed measures of PTSD symptoms and potential risk/protective factors 1 month before deployment. Of these, 81% (n=424) completed measures of PTSD, deployment stressor exposure and post-deployment outcomes 2–3 months after returning from Iraq. New onset of probable PTSD ‘diagnosis’ was measured by the PTSD Checklist – Military (PCL-M). Independent predictors of new-onset probable PTSD were identified using hierarchical logistic regression analyses.

Results

At baseline prior to deployment, 3.7% had probable PTSD. Among soldiers without PTSD symptoms at baseline, 13.8% reported post-deployment new-onset probable PTSD. Hierarchical logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, race/ethnicity and military rank showed that reporting more stressors prior to deployment predicted new-onset probable PTSD [odds ratio (OR) 2.20] as did feeling less prepared for deployment (OR 0.58). After accounting for pre-deployment factors, new-onset probable PTSD was predicted by exposure to combat (OR 2.19) and to combat's aftermath (OR 1.62). Reporting more stressful life events after deployment (OR 1.96) was associated with increased odds of new-onset probable PTSD, while post-deployment social support (OR 0.31) was a significant protective factor in the etiology of PTSD.

Conclusions

Combat exposure may be unavoidable in military service members, but other vulnerability and protective factors also predict PTSD and could be targets for prevention strategies.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (Glu298Asp) and acute pulmonary hypertension post cardiopulmonary bypass in children with congenital cardiac diseases
Authors: Loukanov Tsvetomir , Hoss Katharina , Tonchev Pentcho , Klimpel Homa , Arnold Raul , Sebening Christian , Karck Matthias , Gorenflo Matthias
Published: December 2010

Background

Intra-cardiac repair of congenital cardiac diseases in children with left–right shunt is often associated with acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure following cardiopulmonary bypass. We studied the correlation between the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital cardiac diseases.

Methods and results

A total of 80 children with congenital cardiac diseases at a median age of 3.8 years, ranged 0.1–36.2 years, and 136 controls were enrolled. Most patients presented with significant left-to-right shunt – pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow of 2.8, with a range from 0.6 to 7.5. In all, 40 out of 80 children showed pulmonary hypertension with mean pressure of 42, ranged 26–82, millimetres of mercury. Thirty-one out of 40 children underwent intra-cardiac repair and 15 out of 31 operated patients were found to have an acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass. The Glu298Asp polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Both in patients and in controls, the genotype distribution corresponded to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The gene frequency for Glu298Glu, Glu298Asp and Asp298Asp was not different in the control group compared to the patients (Armitage trend test: p = 0.37). The endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism was related to acute post-operative elevation of pulmonary artery pressure (genotypic frequency 53.3 versus 25%; Armitage trend test: p = 0.038). In addition, the allelic frequency of the Glu298Asp was related to post-operative pulmonary hypertension (Fischer’s exact test: p = 0.048). The positive predictive value was 71.43%.

Conclusion

Patients with left-to-right shunt are more likely to develop acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass when presenting with the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the gene endothelial nitric oxide synthase. This could be used as a genetic marker for the predisposition for the development of pulmonary hypertension after intra-cardiac repair.
Genetic and genomic resources of lentil: status, use and prospects
Authors: Tullu Abebe , Diederichsen Axel , Suvorova Galina , Vandenberg Albert
Published: December 2010

Extensive collections of lentil germplasm now exist in various genebanks around the world. This germplasm including wildLensspecies has been used in plant introduction strategies and in efforts to widen the potential sources of increasing genetic diversity in the breeding programmes of lentil. Improved techniques are emerging to overcome hybridization barriers between species and as a result, interspecific hybrids have been successfully obtained between species. Several interspecific recombinant inbred line populations have been developed. Selected and backcrossed lentil lines are currently in advanced yield trial stages, and desirable traits such as yield, disease resistance and agronomic traits have been incorporated into cultivated lentil especially fromLens ervoides, generating a wider spectrum of variability. Secondly, further expansion of the overall pool of germplasm and examination of allelic variation at the nucleotide level will benefit lentil-breeding programmes by augmenting phenotype-based variation to further advance cultivar development. Genomic resources for lentil are limited now, but this situation is changing rapidly as the cost of genotyping has declined. As a result, two successive expressed sequence tags (EST) projects were undertaken under the NAPGEN EST project initiative (http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/programs/pbi/plant-products/napgen/.htm) and an Agricultural Development Fund project initiative. We emphasize that creation of intraspecific and interspecific genetic populations, genetic maps, association maps, quantitative trait loci and marker-assisted selection technologies for implementation in the breeding programme will enhance deployment of genes responsible for traits of interest. The economical use of genomic technologies for use in germplasm resource management and genetic improvement is on the near horizon.
River flow fluctuation analysis: Effect of watershed area
Authors: Hirpa Feyera A. , Gebremichael Mekonnen , Over Thomas M.
Published: December 2010

This study presents the results of a detailed river flow fluctuation analysis on daily records from 14 stations in the Flint River Basin in Georgia in the southeastern United States with special focus on the effect of watershed area on long memory of river flow fluctuations. The areas of the watersheds draining to the stations range from 23 to 19,606 km2. The climatic and seasonal trends are removed using the detrended fluctuation analysis technique. Results show that (1) river flow fluctuations have two distinct scaling regimes, and the scaling break is delayed for large watershed areas; (2) large watersheds have more persistent river flow fluctuations and stronger long memory (i.e., for lag times beyond the scale break) than small watersheds do; (3) the long memory of river flow fluctuations does not come from the long memory of precipitation; (4) a linear reservoir unit hydrograph transfer function approach does not capture correctly the basin processes that convert short‐memory precipitation to long‐memory streamflow; and (5) the degree of multifractality of river flow fluctuations decreases with increasing watershed area. The results clearly indicate that watershed area is an important factor in the long‐memory studies of streamflow such as streamflow prediction.
Multipoint connectivity analysis of the May 2007 solar energetic particle events
Authors: Chollet E. E. , Mewaldt R. A. , Cummings A. C. , Gosling J. T. , Haggerty D. K. , Hu Q. , Larson D. , Lavraud B. , Leske R. A. , Opitz A. , Roelof E. C. , Russell C. T. , Sauvaud J.‐A.
Published: December 2010

In May of 2007, the STEREO Ahead and Behind spacecraft, along with the ACE spacecraft situated between the two STEREO spacecraft, observed two small solar energetic particle (SEP) events. STEREO‐A and ‐B observed nearly identical time profiles in the 19 May event, but in the 23 May event, the protons arrived significantly earlier at STEREO‐A than at STEREO‐B and the time‐intensity profiles were markedly different. We present SEP anisotropy, suprathermal electron pitch angle and solar wind data to demonstrate distortion in the magnetic field topology produced by the passage of multiple interplanetary coronal mass ejections on 22 and 23 May, causing the two spacecraft to magnetically connect to different points back at the Sun. This pair of events illustrates the power of multipoint observations in detailed interpretation of complex events, since only a small shift in observer location results in different magnetic field line connections and different SEP time‐intensity profiles.