bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomic hemispherectomy for intractable epilepsy in a patient with unilateral schizencephaly
Authors: Heuer Gregory G. , Hardesty Douglas A. , Zaghloul Kareem A. , Simon Schwartz Erin M. , Foley A. Reghan , Storm Phillip B.
Published: July 2008

Schizencephaly is a rare congenital cortical brain malformation defined by unilateral or bilateral clefts of the cerebral hemispheres. These malformations are often associated with medically intractable epilepsy. Surgical solutions include lesionectomy, lobectomy, or hemispherectomy. The authors describe the case of an anatomic hemispherectomy for medically intractable epilepsy in an 8-year-old boy with a large schizencephalic cleft. Seven years prior to his epilepsy surgery, the patient underwent placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for communicating hydrocephalus that resulted in severe left-to-right shift. Subsequently, medically refractory epilepsy developed and the patient underwent an anatomic hemispherectomy for seizure control. The preoperative brain shift remained after the surgery, although the patient tolerated the procedure well and was seizure free postoperatively. Anatomic hemispherectomy is a viable option for treating medically intractable epilepsy in a schizencephalic pediatric patient—even one with considerable brain shift.
Tasteless: Towards a Food-Based Approach to Death
Authors: Plumwood Val
Published: July 2008

In this posthumously published paper Val Plumwood reflects on two personal encounters with death, being seized as prey by a crocodile and burying her son in a country cemetery with a flourishing botanic community. She challenges the exceptionalism which sets the human self apart from nature and which is reflected in the choice between two conceptions of death, one of continuity in the realm of spirit, the other a reductive materialist conception in which death marks the end of the story of the self. Both perspectives structure out the basis of animal existence – that we are all food, and through death nourish others. She commends an animistic materialist approach, where life is seen as in circulation and where mortuary practices might affirm death as an opportunity of life for others in the ecological community.
Listening to the Birds: A Pragmatic Proposal for Forestry
Authors: Klenk Nicole
Published: July 2008

Recently, natural scientists have begun to support an interpretive turn in ecology. Yet the ethical implications of interpreting nature have not been sufficiently addressed. In this essay, I use different interpretations of nature to make three distinct but related points relevant to forestry: (1) ecological narratives should be evaluated on the basis of ethical norms, (2) the choice of which interpretations of nature and ethical norms to use in environmental policy should be conducted by a process of public deliberation, and (3) scientific narratives should be denied a priori privilege over non-scientific interpretations of nature for policy purposes.
Native Species, Human Communities and Cultural Relationships
Authors: Knights Paul
Published: July 2008

Species are ordinarily conceived of as being native or non-native to either a geographical location or an ecological community. I submit that species may also be native or non-native to human communities. I argue, by way of an analogy with varieties of domesticated and cultivated species, that this sense of nativity is grounded by the cultural relationships human communities have with species. A further analogy is drawn with the motivations of varietal nativists – who seek to protect native varieties of domesticated and cultivated species for the sake of their cultural value – to argue for the consideration of the cultural value of native species in environmental policy decisions regarding invasive non-native species.
Intrinsic Value and the Genetic Engineering of Animals
Authors: de Vries R.B.M.
Published: July 2008

The concept of intrinsic value is often invoked to articulate objections to the genetic engineering of animals, particularly those objections that are not directed at the negative effects the technique might have on the health and welfare of the modified animals. However, this concept was not developed in the context of genetic engineering. Given this external origin, this paper critically examines the assumption that the concept of intrinsic value is suitable to articulate and justify moral objections more specifically directed at the genetic engineering of animals. I discuss four different theories of intrinsic value, two of which defend a moral concept of intrinsic value and two a non-moral one. I conclude that only a particular non-moral concept of intrinsic value is suitable to express specific objections to genetic engineering, because these objections can only be defended in the form of indirect duties regarding animals.
Counting Species: Biopower and the Global Biodiversity Census
Authors: Youatt R.
Published: July 2008

Biopolitical analyses of census-taking usually focus on human censuses and consider how human experience is shaped by the practice. Instead, this article looks at the proposed global biodiversity census, which aims to take inventory of every species on earth as a response to anthropogenic species extinction. I suggest that it is possible to extend and modify Foucault's concept of biopower to consider contemporary human-nonhuman interactions. Specifically, I argue that an ecologically-extended version of biopower offers a useful way to conceptualise how power circulates in the practices that surround the biodiversity census, and that it points us towards thinking about how analyses of power, authority, and community can consider ecological, rather than purely human, locations and networks.
Breakpoint localization using array‐CGH in three siblings with an unbalanced 4q;16q translocation and childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)
Authors: Shriberg Lawrence D. , Jakielski Kathy J. , El‐Shanti Hatem
Published: July 2008

We report clinical, cytogenetic, and comparative genomic hybridization findings for three siblings with an unbalanced 4q;16q translocation, minor malformations, and cognitive abnormalities, including childhood apraxia of speech, a rare, severe motor speech disorder. Breakpoint findings indicate that in addition to possible contributions from duplicated genes on chromosome 16, haploinsufficiency of one or more of 11 genes deleted in the telomeric region of the long arm of chromosome 4 is the likely cause of the speech disorder, the associated impairments in cognition and language, and the dysmorphic features. The present findings are the first to document childhood apraxia of speech in a multiplex family using contemporary speech measures. We suggest that genotype‐phenotype studies of childhood apraxia of speech occurring in complex neurodevelopmental disorders can elucidate the pathophysiology of this disorder. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular study of 33 families with Fraser syndrome new data and mutation review
Authors: van Haelst M.M. , Maiburg M. , Baujat G. , Jadeja S. , Monti E. , Bland E. , Pearce K. ,   Fraser Syndrome Collaboration Group, Hennekam R.C. , Scambler P.J.
Published: July 2008

Fraser syndrome (FS) is an autosomal recessive malformation disorder characterized by cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, and abnormalities of the respiratory and urogenital tract. FS is considered to be the human equivalent of the murine blebbing mutants: in the mouse mutations at five loci cause a phenotype that is comparable to FS in humans, and thus far mutations in two syntenic human genes, FRAS1 and FREM2, have been identified to cause FS. Here we present the molecular analysis of 48 FS patients from 18 consanguineous and 15 nonconsanguineous families. Linkage analysis in consanguineous families indicated possible linkage to FRAS1 and FREM2 in 60% of the cases. Mutation analysis identified 11 new mutations in FRAS1 and one FREM2 mutation. Manifestations of these patients and previously reported cases with an FRAS1 mutation were compared to cases without detectable FRAS1 mutations to study genotype–phenotype correlations. Although our data suggest that patients with an FRAS1 mutation have more frequently skull ossification defects and low insertion of the umbilical cord, these differences are not statistically significant. Mutations were identified in only 43% of the cases suggesting that other genes syntenic to murine genes causing blebbing may be responsible for FS as well. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A newly designed and constructed 20 kHz magnetic field exposure facility for in vivo study
Authors: Shigemitsu Tsukasa , Negishi Tadashi , Yamazaki Keita , Kawahara Yoshinobu , Haga Akira , Kobayashi Koichiro , Muramatsu Kazuhiro
Published: July 2008

Exposure to man‐made electromagnetic fields has increased over the past century. As a result of exposure to these fields, concerns have been raised regarding the relationship between electromagnetic fields and human health. Interest in the biological and health effects of intermediate frequency (IF) magnetic fields has grown recently because of the increase in public concern. In order to investigate whether IF magnetic fields have biological effects, we have developed a 20 kHz (IF) magnetic field exposure system for in vivo studies. The exposure facility was designed to study the biological effects of IF magnetic field on laboratory animals. The facility consists of a 9 m × 9 m × 5 m high room containing seven separate rooms including a 5.3 m × 4.5 m × 3 m high specific‐pathogen free exposure room. The dimensions of the exposure system are 1.6 m × 1.6 m × 1.616 m high located inside this exposure room. The system is designed to provide magnetic fields up to 200 µT at 20 kHz with the uniformity within ±5% over the space occupied by animals. After constructing the facility, performance tests were carried out. As a result, it was confirmed that our facility met requirements for evaluation of the biological effects of IF magnetic field on small animal experiments. In this paper, the design, construction, and results of evaluation of an animal exposure facility for the in vivo biological effects of an IF magnetic field are described. Bioelectromagnetics 30:36–44, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The proactive brain: using rudimentary information to make predictive judgments
Authors: Bar Moshe , Neta Maital
Published: July 2008

In a recent cognitive neuroscience framework we proposed to consider the human brain as proactive, in that it continuously generates predictions about what to expect in the environment. These continuous predictions are extremely rapid, and depend on similarities between novel inputs and the closest familiar representations stored in memory. For example, if you see a chair that you have never seen before, you can still determine what it is, its function, approximate weight, approximate price, and other such characteristics. To derive these analogies rapidly we rely on surprisingly little information. This paper provides a theoretical expansion of our work by describing studies and ideas that collectively synthesize to illustrate this unifying principle of the human brain. We specify the nature of the information used to form impressions, preferences, judgments and predictions, propose neural circuits that mediate these vital mental skills, and derive novel hypotheses that can be tested in the future. This proposal implies that mental life and behavior are guided by “scripts,” which are developed with experience and stored in memory. This framework has broad ramifications, ranging from clinical psychology and mental illness, to the study of consumer behavior.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Examining the influence of fame in the presence of beauty: an electrodermal ‘neuromarketing’ study
Authors: Gakhal Baldeesh , Senior Carl
Published: July 2008

The use of famous and/or attractive models in brand marketing is ubiquitous yet little work, if any, has been carried out examining differences in their efficiency in driving subsequent consumer behaviour. Such brand platforms have an emotional selling proposition (ESP) that refers to the unique personality and image attributes that a particular endorsement generates. However, celebrity endorsers are also more than likely to be considered attractive and thus differences in the ESP (if any) would be very small. Such differences in an emotional response could be measured by a participant's electrodermal activity (EDA). This is a psychophysiological response, measurement of which is sensitive enough to detect differences engendered by a particular brand platform's ESP. In the present study, EDA measurements were recorded from participants who were shown advertisements containing a target product within four different types of endorsement platforms depicting models who were either famous/non‐famous or attractive/average looking. The results showed that average looking celebrity endorsers produced a greater EDA response than any of the other conditions including the attractive looking celebrity endorsers. Furthermore, this effect was only revealed from recordings taken from the left hand side of the participants. Given that the right side of the brain would orchestrate any EDA responses recorded from the subjects' left side, the current results suggest a dedicated neural response for celebrity endorsed brand platforms. Future work examining the relationship between the specific EDA signature and consumer preferences is discussed.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How choice ambiguity modulates activity in brain areas representing brand preference: evidence from consumer neuroscience
Authors: Plassmann Hilke , Kenning Peter , Deppe Michael , Kugel Harald , Schwindt Wolfram
Published: July 2008

In the present paper we investigate whether choice ambiguity modulates activity in brain areas that represent brand preference and decision utility, as identified in previous studies. Our findings reveal that brain areas involved in the interaction of brand information and ambiguity information are the (predominantly left) ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) and the anterior cingulate (AC). These activation patterns have earlier been found to correlate with brand preference. Thus, our findings show that the reduction of perceived ambiguity and information costs by brand information drives neural representations of brand preference as promoted by signaling theory in information economics.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reward, emotion and consumer choice: from neuroeconomics to neurophilosophy
Authors: Foxall Gordon R.
Published: July 2008

Neuroeconomics has found no definitive role in the explanation of consumer choice and its undeveloped philosophical basis limits its attempt to explain economic behaviour. The nature of neuroeconomics is explored, especially with respect to what it reveals about the valuation of alternatives, choice and emotion. The tendency of human consumers to discount future rewards illustrates how behavioural and neuroscientific accounts of choice contribute to psychological explanations of choice and the issues this raises for both routine everyday choices and more extreme compulsions. Central to this is the phenomenon of matching in which consumers tend to select the immediately larger or largest reward and the neurophysiological and behavioural bases of this choice. Recognition that rewards are evoked by reinforcement contingencies and that the rewards themselves engender emotional responses via classical conditioning enhances understanding the contribution of neurological activity to the explanation of consumer behaviour. It is argued that neuroeconomics can play a vital explanatory role by providing an evolutionarily consistent warrant for the ascription of intentionality. The Behavioural Perspective Model is used as a template for investigations of consumer choice that lead to iterative theoretical development, forming the basis of a neurophilosophy in which neuroeconomics can find a decisive role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolutionary neuromarketing: darwinizing the neuroimaging paradigm for consumer behavior
Authors: Garcia Justin R. , Saad Gad
Published: July 2008

The current paper serves two purposes. First, it reviews the neuroimaging literature most relevant to the field of marketing (e.g., neuroeconomics, decision neuroscience, and neuromarketing). Second, it posits that evolutionary theory is a consilient and organizing meta‐theoretical framework for neuromarketing research. The great majority of neuroimaging studies suffer from the illusion of explanatory depth namely the sophistication of the neuroimaging technologies provides a semblance of profundity to the reaped knowledge, which is otherwise largely disjointed and atheoretical. Evolutionary theory resolves this conundrum by recognizing that the human mind has evolved via the processes of natural and sexual selection. Hence, in order to provide a complete understanding of any given neuromarketing phenomenon requires that it be tackled at both the proximate level (as is currently the case) and the ultimate level (i.e., understanding the adaptive reason that would generate a particular neural activation pattern). Evolutionary psychology posits that the human mind consists of a set of domain‐specific computational systems that have evolved to solve recurring adaptive problems. Accordingly, rather than viewing the human mind as a general‐purpose domain‐independent organ, evolutionary cognitive neuroscientists recognize that many neural activation patterns are instantiations of evolved computational systems in evolutionarily relevant domains such as survival, mating, kin selection, and reciprocity. As such, an evolutionary neuromarketing approach recognizes that the neural activation patterns associated with numerous marketing‐related phenomena can be mapped onto the latter Darwinian modules thus providing a unifying meta‐theory for this budding discipline.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neuromarketing and the perception of knowledge
Authors: Butler Michael J.R.
Published: July 2008

The emerging field of neuromarketing reveals that knowledge has plasticity. In other words, different stakeholders, marketing researchers and practitioners, perceive the development and application of neuromarketing knowledge in different ways. Having different perceptions of knowledge is not a new issue, but finding new interconnections between those perceptions is beneficial to knowledge creation and diffusion. The research–practice gap in neuromarketing is briefly discussed and then resolved through the contribution of this commentary, the proposal of a novel Neuromarketing Research Model. The Model interconnects basic research reporting, applied research reporting, media reporting and power processes.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discovery of Novel Non‐Cyclam Polynitrogenated CXCR4 Coreceptor Inhibitors
Authors: Pettersson Sofia , Pérez‐Nueno Violeta I. , Ros‐Blanco Laia , Puig de La Bellacasa Raimon , Rabal María Obdulia , Batllori Xavier , Clotet Bonaventura , Clotet‐Codina Imma , Armand‐Ugón Mercedes , Esté José , Borrell José I. , Teixidó Jordi
Published: July 2008

HIV cell fusion and entry have been validated as targets for therapeutic intervention against infection. Bicyclams were the first low‐molecular‐weight compounds to show specific interaction with CXCR4. The most potent bicyclam was AMD3100, in which the two cyclam moieties are tethered by a 1,4‐phenylenebis(methylene) bridge. It was withdrawn from clinical trials owing to its lack of oral bioavailability and cardiotoxicity. We have designed a combinatorial library of non‐cyclam polynitrogenated compounds by preserving the main features of AMD3100. At least two nitrogen atoms on each side of thep‐phenylene moiety, one in the benzylic position and the other(s) in the heterocyclic system were maintained, and the distances between them were similar to the nitrogen atom distances in cyclam. A selection of diverse compounds from this library were prepared, and their in vitro activity was tested in cell cultures against HIV strains. This led to the identification of novel potent CXCR4 coreceptor inhibitors without cytotoxicity at the tested concentrations.
Predominant infiltration of macrophages and CD8+ T Cells in cancer nests is a significant predictor of survival in stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Kawai Osamu , Ishii Genichiro , Kubota Kaoru , Murata Yukinori , Naito Yoichi , Mizuno Tetsuya , Aokage Keiju , Saijo Nagahiro , Nishiwaki Yutaka , Gemma Akihiko , Kudoh Syoji , Ochiai Atsushi
Published: July 2008

BACKGROUND.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether tumor‐infiltrating immune cells in biopsy specimens can be used to predict the clinical outcome of stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

METHOD.

The authors performed an immunohistochemical study to identify and count the number of CD68+ macrophages, c‐kit+ mast cells, and CD8+ T cells in both cancer nests and cancer stroma in pretreatment biopsy specimens obtained from 199 patients with stage IV NSCLC treated by chemotherapy, and then analyzed for correlations between the number of immune cells and clinical outcome, including chemotherapy response and prognosis.

RESULTS.

There was no correlation between the number of immune cells in either cancer nests or stroma and chemotherapy response. Patients with more tumor‐infiltrating macrophages in cancer nests than in cancer stroma (macrophages, nests > stroma) had significantly better survival than nests < stroma cases median survival time (MST 440 days vs 199 days; P < .0001). Patients with more tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells in cancer nests than in cancer stroma (CD8+ T cells: nests > stroma) showed significantly better survival than in nests < stroma cases (MST 388 days vs 256 days; P = .0070). The proportion of tumor‐infiltrating macrophages or CD8+ T cells between cancer nests and stroma became independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Neither the number of mast cells in nests nor in stroma correlated with the clinical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS.

Evaluation of the numbers of macrophages and CD8+ T cells in cancer nests and stroma are useful biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of stage IV NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy, but could fail to predict chemotherapy response. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Identification of low intratumoral gene expression heterogeneity in neuroblastic tumors by genome‐wide expression analysis and game theory
Authors: Albino Domenico , Scaruffi Paola , Moretti Stefano , Coco Simona , Truini Mauro , Di Cristofano Claudio , Cavazzana Andrea , Stigliani Sara , Bonassi Stefano , Tonini Gian Paolo
Published: July 2008

BACKGROUND.

Neuroblastic tumors (NTs) are largely comprised of neuroblastic (Nb) cells with various quantities of Schwannian stromal (SS) cells. NTs show a variable genetic heterogeneity. NT gene expression profiles reported so far have not taken into account the cellular components. The authors reported the genome‐wide expression analysis of whole tumors and microdissected Nb and SS cells.

METHODS.

The authors analyzed gene expression profiles of 10 stroma‐poor NTs (NTs‐SP) and 9 stroma‐rich NTs (NTs‐SR) by microarray technology. Nb and SS cells were isolated by laser microdissection from NTs‐SP and NTs‐SR and probed with microarrays. Gene expression data were analyzed by the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) and Game Theory (GT) methods, the latter applied for the first time to microarray data evaluation.

RESULTS.

SAM identified 84 genes differentially expressed between NTs‐SP and NTs‐SR, whereas 50 were found by GT. NTs‐SP mainly express genes associated with cell replication, nervous system development, and antiapoptotic pathways, whereas NTs‐SR express genes of cell‐cell communication and apoptosis. Combining SAM and GT, the authors found 16 common genes driving the separation between NTs‐SP and NTs‐SR. Five genes overexpressed in NTs‐SP encode for nuclear proteins (CENPF, EYA1, PBK, TOP2A, TFAP2B), whereas only 1 of 11 highly expressed genes in NTs‐SR encodes for a nuclear receptor (NR4A2).

CONCLUSIONS.

The results showed that NT‐SP and NT‐SR gene signatures differ for a set of genes involved in distinct pathways, and the authors demonstrated a low intratumoral heterogeneity at the mRNA level in both NTs‐SP and NTs‐SR. The combination of SAM and GT methods may help to better identify gene expression profiling in NTs. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Truly random number generators based on non‐autonomous continuous‐time chaos
Authors: Ergün S. , Özog̃uz S.
Published: July 2008

A novel non‐autonomous continuous‐time chaotic oscillator suitable for high‐frequency integrated circuit realization is presented. Simulation and experimental results, verifying the circuit feasibility, are given. Two methods for using this oscillator as the core of a random number generator are also proposed. Numerical binary data obtained according to the proposed methods pass the four basic tests of FIPS‐140‐2, while experimental data pass the full NIST‐800‐22 random number test suite. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DNA flow cytometry of human spermatozoa: Consistent stoichiometric staining of sperm DNA using a novel decondensation protocol
Authors: Kovács Tamás , Békési Gyöngyi , Fábián Ákos , Rákosy Zsuzsa , Horváth Gábor , Mátyus László , Balázs Margit , Jenei Attila
Published: July 2008

Rapid flow cytometric measurement of the frequency of aneuploid human sperms is in increasing demand but development of an exploitable method is hindered by difficulties of stoichiometric staining of sperm DNA. An aggressive decondensation protocol is needed after which cell integrity still remains intact. We used flow cytometry to examine the effect of lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS, chaotropic agent) on fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide‐treated human spermatozoa from 10 normozoospermic men. When flow cytometric identification of diploid spermatozoa was achieved, validation was performed after sorting by three‐color FISH. In contrast with the extremely variable histograms of nondecondensed sperms, consistent identification of haploid and diploid spermatozoa was possible if samples were decondensed with LIS prior to flow cytometry. A 76‐fold enrichment of diploid sperms was observed in the sorted fractions by FISH. A significant correlation was found between the proportion of sorted cells and of diploid sperms by FISH. Application of LIS during the preparation of sperm for flow cytometry appears to ensure the stoichiometric staining of sperm DNA, making quantification of aneuploid sperm percentage possible. To our knowledge this is the first report in terms of separating spermatozoa with confirmedly abnormal chromosomal content. High correlation between the proportion of cells identified as having double DNA content by flow cytometry and diploid sperm by FISH allows rapid calculation of diploidy rate. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Acceptance of climate change policy measures: role framing and value guidance
Authors: Nilsson Andreas , Biel Anders
Published: July 2008

The study investigates determinants of attitudes towards environmental policy measures among decision makers in private companies responsible for large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Acceptance of climate change policy measures was investigated using a questionnaire sent to a sample of decision makers in the private sector addressed as private citizens. The results showed that acceptance could be predicted by environmental values mediated by personal norms. The results are in line with earlier findings on public support for environmental policy measures. The motives for acceptance differed however from previous findings concerning decision makers in their professional role. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Gas‐Phase Generation, Structure, Spectroscopy, and Quantum Chemical Calculations of Fluorocarbonylsulfur Thiocyanate, FC(O)SSCN
Authors: Tong Shengrui , Du Lin , Yao Li , Ge Maofa , Della Védova Carlos O.
Published: July 2008

Fluorocarbonylsulfur thiocyanate, FC(O)SSCN, was generated in the gas phase from a gas–solid reaction of FC(O)SCl on the surface of finely powdered AgSCN. The reaction products were detected and characterized in situ by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS). The geometrical and electronic structures of FC(O)SSCN were investigated by a combination of PES and PIMS experiments, and theoretical calculations. The title compound prefers a gauche conformation with the C=O groups syn to the S–S bond; the structure of the CSSC moiety is characterized by a dihedral angle δCSSC = 89.5° and a bond length rSS = 2.071 Å [at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df) level] resulting from the sulfur–sulfur lone‐pair interactions. After ionization the ground cationic‐radical form of FC(O)SSCN·+ adopts a trans‐planar structure (δCSSC = 180°) with Cs symmetry. The outermost electrons of FC(O)SSCN reside in the lone pair of the sulfur atom bonded to the C≡N group and the π‐bond between the C and N atoms, and the experimental first vertical ionization energy of FC(O)SSCN is 10.89 eV. The possible ionization and dissociation processes of FC(O)SSCN are also discussed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Allenylphosphonates ― Useful Precursors of Pyrazoles and 1,2,3‐Triazoles
Authors: Chakravarty Manab , Bhuvan Kumar N. N. , Sajna K. V. , Kumara Swamy K. C.
Published: July 2008

The synthesis of new pyrazoles and triazoles, with or without phosphorus substituents, from allenylphosphonates is described. Thus, Ph3P‐promoted reactions of the allenylphosphonates (OCH2CMe2CH2O)P(O)CH=C=CRR′ [R = H, R′ = Me (1b), R = R′ = Me (1c)] with DIAD/DEAD lead to phosphonopyrazoles by utilizing the –CO2R functionality of DIAD/DEAD for cyclization. The products derived from allenylphosphonates with an α‐phenyl group undergo an unusual but facile P–C bond cleavage to form tetrasubstituted pyrazoles. In the second type of reaction, Me3SiN3 reacts with the allenylphosphonates to form phosphono‐1,2,3‐triazoles in CH3CN at reflux, whereas (β‐azidoallyl)phosphonates were obtained in high yields at room temperature. These latter compounds undergo cycloaddition with activated acetylenes to afford multisubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles. They were subsequently transformed into diverse N‐substituted 1,2,3‐triazoles through the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction. The structures of the key compounds were established by X‐ray crystallography.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Palladium‐Catalysed Isomerisation of 2‐Vinylidenehydrofurans to 1,3‐Dienes and Some Aspects of Their Reactivity
Authors: Ghobsi Abdelkader , Hacini Salih , Wavrin Laurence , Gaudel‐Siri Anouk , Corbères Agnès , Nicolas Cyril , Bonne Damien , Viala Jacques , Rodriguez Jean
Published: July 2008

The transformation of easily accessible 2‐vinylidenehydrofurans into stable 1,3‐dienes has been achieved by using catalytic amounts of palladium(0). These valuable compounds were then engaged in subsequent Diels–Alder reactions giving access to complex heterocyclic cores found in numerous natural products. A rationale for the regioselectivity of the Diels–Alder reactions with vinylfurans has been provided by DFT calculations. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Towards the Total Synthesis of Spirovibsanin A: Total Synthesis of (±)‐5,14‐Bis‐epi‐spirovibsanin A
Authors: Gallen Michael J. , Williams Craig M.
Published: July 2008

Studies towards the total synthesis of the complex diterpene spirovibsanin A are herein presented, which culminate in an 18‐step total synthesis. Considering the perceived stereochemical uncertainty surrounding the assignment of spirovibsanin A these studies have allowed a direct spectroscopic comparison of the (±)‐5,14‐bis‐epi derivative to that of natural spirovibsanin A demonstrating that the carbon framework and stereochemistry assigned to natural spirovibsanin A is most likely correct.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
The impact of return nonnormality on exchange options
Authors: Li Minqiang
Published: July 2008

The Margrabe formula is used extensively by theorists and practitioners not only on exchange options, but also on executive compensation schemes, real options, weather and commodity derivatives, etc. However, the crucial assumption of a bivariate normal distribution is not fully satisfied in almost all applications. The impact of nonnormality on exchange options is studied by using a bivariate Gram–Charlier approximation. For near‐the‐money exchange options, skewness and coskewness induce price corrections that are linear in moneyness, whereas kurtosis and cokurtosis induce quadratic price corrections. The nonnormality helps to explain the implied correlation smile observed in practice. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:845–870, 2008
A phase II clinical trial does not show that high dose simvastatin has beneficial effect on markers of bone turnover in multiple myeloma
Authors: Sondergaard TE , Pedersen PT , Andersen TL , Søe K , Lund T , Østergaard B , Garnero P , Delaisse J‐M , Plesner T
Published: July 2008

Several studies have evaluated the impact of low dose statin (20–80 mg/day) on bone metabolism with inconclusive results despite promising data of preclinical studies. In this study, we investigated the effect of high dose simvastatin (HD‐Sim) on biochemical markers of bone turnover and disease activity in six heavily pretreated patients with multiple myeloma (MM). These patients were treated with simvastatin (15 mg/kg/day) for 7 days followed by a rest period of 21 days in two 4‐week cycles. Endpoints were changes in the level of biochemical markers of (i) osteoclast activity (tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, TRACP); (ii) bone resorption (collagen fragments CTX and NTX); (iii) bone formation (osteocalcin and aminoterminal propeptide of type I collagen PINP); (iv) cholesterol; (v) regulators of bone metabolism [osteoprotegerin (OPG) and Dickkopf‐1 (DKK‐1)] and (vi) disease activity (monoclonal proteins or free light chains in serum). TRACP activity in serum and levels of collagen fragments (NTX) in urine increased for all patients temporarily during the 7 days of treatment with HD‐Sim indicating that osteoclasts may have been stimulated rather than inhibited. The other markers of bone metabolism showed no change. None of the patients showed any reduction in free monoclonal light chains or monoclonal proteins in serum during treatment with HD‐Sim. In spite of the fact that bone turn over effects of HD‐Sim may have been blunted by concomitant treatment of patients with other drugs we observed a transient increase in markers of osteoclast activity. This sign of a transient stimulation of osteoclast activity suggests that HD‐Sim may be harmful rather than beneficial for MM patients. For this reason and because of gastro‐intestinal side effects the study was stopped prematurely. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temperament at 7, 12, and 25 months in children at familial risk for ADHD
Authors: Auerbach Judith G. , Berger Andrea , Atzaba‐Poria Naama , Arbelle Shoshana , Cypin Nira , Friedman Adi , Landau Rivka
Published: July 2008

As part of a longitudinal investigation of infants at familial risk for attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mothers and fathers independently completed temperament ratings on their infants. In this paper, we examine the 7‐, 12‐, and 25‐month temperament of 58 boys, 36 of whom were considered at familial risk for ADHD and 22 of whom were in the comparison group. Risk for ADHD was based on self‐reported ADHD symptoms in the father. In addition, the influence of informant gender on temperament ratings was examined. The ADHD risk group received significantly higher scores for activity level and anger and lower scores for attentional shift, appropriate allocation of attention and inhibitory control. Their scores were also significantly lower on a composite measure of effortful control. Taken together, these findings offer support for the view of a link between early temperament and risk for ADHD. The only informant gender difference was for the activity level; mothers rated their sons as more active than did fathers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Focused attention in toddlers: measurement, stability, and relations to negative emotion and parenting
Authors: Gaertner Bridget M. , Spinrad Tracy L. , Eisenberg Nancy
Published: July 2008

This longitudinal study examined individual differences and correlates of focused attention when toddlers were approximately 18 months old (T1;n=256) and a year later (T2;n=230). Toddlers' attention and negative emotionality were reported by mothers and non‐parental caregivers and rated globally by observers. Toddlers' focused attention also was observed during two mother–child interactions and an independent play task. Measures of maternal emotional support and control were obtained via self‐report and observation. Some contemporaneous relations among indices of toddlers' attention were obtained, particularly for observed measures. Moreover, all measures of attention demonstrated stability across time. Negative emotionality was negatively related to toddlers' observed attention at both ages, whereas maternal praise had positive concurrent associations. Maternal control was negatively related to observed attention at T2 and also predicted longitudinally, but only for children who initially had low or moderate attention. The findings suggest that individual differences in focused attention evidence stability early in life but can be influenced by adult socialization. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Agree or agree to disagree? Assessing the convergence between parents and observers on infant temperament
Authors: Stifter Cynthia A. , Willoughby Michael T. , Towe‐Goodman Nissa
Published: July 2008

The assessment of infant temperament has been typically accomplished with parent questionnaires. When compared with temperament behaviours observed in the laboratory, parents and observers generally do not agree, leading some researchers to question the validity of parent report. This paper reports on a representative sample of infants whose families resided in non‐metropolitan counties and whose temperament was measured in three ways: (1) standard parent report (Infant Behavior Questionnaire); (2) observer ratings across two lengthy home visits; and (3) observer coding of second‐by‐second reactions to specific emotion‐eliciting tasks. In order to account for both trait and method variance, structural equation modelling was applied to a sample of 955 infants (M age=7.3 months) using variables from the three methods that reflected the dimensions of positivity and negativity. Although models based solely on method factors and trait factors fit the data well, results indicated that a model that included method and trait factors provided the best fit. Results also indicated that parents and observers (either across the home visit or to specific tasks) converge, to a degree, on ratings of the positivity dimension but diverge on the negativity dimension. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cotton irrigation scheduling in central Asia: model calibration and validation with consideration of groundwater contribution
Authors: Cholpankulov E. D. , Inchenkova O. P. , Paredes P. , Pereira L. S.
Published: July 2008

The calibration and validation of the irrigation scheduling simulation model ISAREG for Central Asian conditions were performed using cotton field observations in the Hunger Steppe over the period 1983–87, and in the Fergana Valley for 2001–03. The calibration referred to the crop coefficients and the soil water depletion factor for no stress. Groundwater contribution was considered in computations adopting a set of parametric equations used in ISAREG. Calibration and validation were performed by comparing the observed and simulated soil water content during each crop season. Various indicators of goodness of fit were used to assess model validation. For the Hunger Steppe, the validation also included the comparison of model‐computed and field‐measured crop evapotranspiration, which was performed with the energy balance method. Results obtained show a good agreement between field observations and model predictions, thus allowing use of the ISAREG model to generate and assess alternative irrigation schedules aimed at improved water use in Central Asia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instructional PowerPoint presentations for cutaneous wound healing and tissue response to sutures
Authors: Stroncek John D. , Bell Nicole , Reichert W. Monty
Published: July 2008

Wound healing is an intricate process involving the interaction of cells and molecules, resulting in a complex series of events that change the morphology and characteristics of the wounded area. Interactive animations are useful for illustrating challenging concepts, helping students learn and retain new material. Instructional PowerPoint presentations describing the basic elements of cutaneous wound healing and the response of cutaneous tissue to sutures were developed by seven biomedical engineering students at Duke University. “Cutaneous Wound Healing.ppt” is an interactive presentation reviewing the four phases of wound healing (hemostasis, inflammation, repair, and remodeling) as well as the major molecular and cellular mechanisms that comprise these processes for cutaneous tissue. “Tissue Response to Sutures.ppt” is an interactive presentation that uses sutures to illustrate the foreign body response to biomaterials in cutaneous tissue. The tissue response program reviews the basics of suturing, common suture materials, and the tissue, cellular, and molecular responses to absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures. This manuscript provides a brief overview of the programs that are freely available on the Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering web site at http://bte.egr.duke.edu. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Histopathological changes of rat brain after direct injection of Hb‐vesicles (artificial oxygen carriers) and neurological impact in an intracerebral hemorrhage model
Authors: Sakai Hiromi , Okamoto Michiko , Ikeda Eiji , Horinouchi Hirohisa , Kobayashi Koichi , Tsuchida Eishun
Published: July 2008

For use as artificial oxygen carriers during transfusion, the safety and efficacy of Hb‐vesicles (HbV, 250 nm), have been investigated extensively. Nevertheless, their neurotoxicity remains unknown. We explored potential adverse effects of HbV in the brain using a rat intracerebral hemorrhage model. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with sevoflurane and fixed on a stereotaxic frame. Then HbV or homologous RBC suspension ([Hb] = 8.6 g/dL, 20 μL) was injected into the right caudate nucleus. All animals survived, gained weight, and maintained their well‐being until the time of sacrifice; except during the first few days after surgery. However, both groups showed slight weakness in hind leg retraction, occasional ataxia/gait, and piloerection. Neutrophils accumulated at the onset of injury in perihematomal tissues in both groups at 1st day, but had disappeared by 3 days. Infiltration of small HbV in the perihematomal tissue was prominent at 1st day; phagocytized HbV were detected in macrophages. Hemeoxygenase‐1 and hemosiderin deposition appeared after 3 days, reflecting the degradation of both HbV and RBC. The HbVs were detectable even after 28 days in the HbV group, but no residual RBCs were detected in the RBC group. Both groups showed proliferation of astrocytes, named gliosis, for tissue reconstruction after 3 days. This study revealed no notable differences in adverse effects between the intra‐cerebral injection of HbV and the RBC control on behavioral functions and brain tissue responses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Effects of fiber orientation and diameter on the behavior of human dermal fibroblasts on electrospun PMMA scaffolds
Authors: Liu Ying , Ji Yuan , Ghosh Kaustabh , Clark Richard A. F. , Huang Lei , Rafailovich Miriam H.
Published: July 2008

We used the electrospinning technique to produce fibrous scaffolds of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Using a rotating drum, we aligned the fibers and formed multilayered structures where both the fiber spacing and pore size could be varied. We then plated adult human dermal fibroblasts and studied the effect of fiber diameter and orientation on the cell conformation, integrin receptor expression, proliferation, and migration. We found that a critical diameter minimum diameter existed, D0 = 0.97 μm for cell orientation to occur. For D < D0, no big difference in aspect ratio was observed relative to the control samples on PMMA thin film. Hence, we could fabricate substrate patterned with fibers of different diameters where different cell conformations coexisted on the same scaffold. On the other hand, staining for vinculin proteins in the cells indicated that on large diameter fibers and on flat surfaces, the integrin receptors followed the cell perimeter. On the very small diameter surfaces, the receptors were distributed uniformly along the cell. Cell dynamics studies indicated that the proliferation and migration were also affected by the fiber orientation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Formation of salivary acinar cell spheroids in vitro above a polyvinyl alcohol‐coated surface
Authors: Chen Min‐Huey , Chen Yi‐Jane , Liao Chih‐Chen , Chan Yen‐Hui , Lin Chia‐Yung , Chen Rung‐Shu , Young Tai‐Hong
Published: July 2008

Tissue engineering of salivary glands offers the potential for future use in the treatment of patients with salivary hypofunction. Biocompatible materials that promote acinar cell aggregation and function in vitro are an essential part of salivary gland tissue engineering. In this study, rat parotid acinar cells assembled into three‐dimensional aggregates above the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐coated surface. These aggregates developed compact acinar cell spheroids resembling in vivo physiological condition, which were different from the traditional monolayered morphology in vitro. Cells remained viable and with better functional activity in response to acetylcholine in the spheroids and could form monolayered acinar cells when they were reinoculated on tissue culture polystyrene wells. To interpret the phenomenon further, we proposed that the formation of acinar cell spheroids on the PVA is mediated by a balance between two competing forces: the interactions of cell‐PVA and cell‐cell. This study demonstrated the formation of functional cell spheroids above a PVA‐coated surface may provide an in vitro system for investigating cell behaviors for tissue engineering of artificial salivary gland. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009