bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms involved in the formation of phosphosilicate glass from a phosphoric acid dopant source
Authors: Vais Valantis , Mrcarica Milica , Braña Alejandro F. , Leo Tony , Fernandez Juan Manuel
Published: July 2010

This study focused on how the formation of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) film affects the solar cell emitter profile when using an inline ultrasonic mist phosphoric acid source and an inline diffusion furnace. This investigation used a novel approach, whereby the samples were extracted from the inline furnace mid‐process that allowed for the investigation of incompletely formed PSGs. All experimentation was conducted at BP Solar Australia. Total Gravimetric Analysis found that the dilute phosphoric acid dehydrates to form a high concentration phosphoric acid layer on the top surface. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy then showed this top surface reacts with the silicon and is reduced to form silicon phosphide. ECV results then demonstrated that the sheet resistance and emitter surface concentration of phosphorus is dependent upon the ratio of phosphide to total phosphorus in the PSG film. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Project Portfolios in Dynamic Environments: Sources of Uncertainty and Sensing Mechanisms
Authors: Petit Yvan , Hobbs Brian
Published: July 2010

This article addresses the research question: How is uncertainty affecting project portfolios managed in dynamic environments? The management of four portfolios was studied in two large multidivisional corporations. The portfolios were characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and many interdependencies between the projects. The results of this research indicate that the sources of change go beyond the two groups identified in The PMI Standard for Portfolio Management (Project Management Institute, 2006), that is, (a) Portfolio Performance and (b) Business Strategy Changes. The sensing mechanisms put in place by both companies primarily addressed uncertainty related to project scope.
Silyloxyamines as sources of silyl radicals: ESR spin‐trapping, laser flash photolysis investigation, and photopolymerization ability
Authors: Versace Davy Louis , Tehfe Mohamad Ali , Lalevée Jacques , Casarotto Virginie , Blanchard Nicolas , Morlet‐Savary Fabrice , Fouassier Jean‐Pierre
Published: July 2010

Two silyloxyamines derived from 8‐(pentamethyldisilyloxy)‐julolidine and diethyl 3‐(pentamethyldisilyloxy)‐aniline are proposed as new sources of silyl radicals. The decomposition mechanism, excited state processes and the radical generation are explored by steady state photolysis, laser flash photolysis (LFP), electron spin resonance (ESR), and MO calculations. The SiSi bond cleavage is clearly demonstrated. The formation of a radical cation on the amine moiety is also observed. Moreover, these compounds work as efficient Type I and Type II photoinitiators (PI) of free radical photopolymerization (FRP). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Randomized placebo‐controlled trial of lactobacillus on asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Chen Yue‐Sheng , Lin Yen‐Lin , Jan Ren‐Long , Chen Hsin‐Hung , Wang Jiu‐Yao
Published: July 2010

Previous studies have suggested that probiotic administration may have therapeutic and/or preventive effects on atopic dermatitis in infants; however, its role in allergic airway diseases remains controversial. To determine whether daily supplementation with specific Lactobacillus gasseri A5 for 8 weeks can improve the clinical symptoms and immunoregulatory changes in school children suffering from asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). We conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study on school children (age, 6–12 years) with asthma and AR. The eligible study subjects received either L. gasseri A5 (n = 49) or a placebo (n = 56) daily for 2 months. Pulmonary function tests were performed, and the clinical severity of asthma and AR was evaluated by the attending physicians in the study period. Diary cards with records of the day‐ and nighttime peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), symptoms of asthma, and AR scores of the patients were used for measuring the outcome of the treatment. Immunological parameters such as the total IgE and cytokine production by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined before and after the probiotic treatments. Our results showed the pulmonary function and PEFR increased significantly, and the clinical symptom scores for asthma and AR decreased in the probiotic‐treated patients as compared to the controls. Further, there was a significant reduction in the TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐12, and IL‐13 production by the PBMCs following the probiotic treatment. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation may have clinical benefits for school children suffering from allergic airway diseases such as asthma and AR. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010;45:1111–1120. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Solution structures of the trihelix DNA‐binding domains of the wild‐type and a phosphomimetic mutant of Arabidopsis GT‐1: Mechanism for an increase in DNA‐binding affinity through phosphorylation
Authors: Nagata Takashi , Niyada Emi , Fujimoto Natsuki , Nagasaki Yuuya , Noto Kazuaki , Miyanoiri Youhei , Murata Jun , Hiratsuka Kazuyuki , Katahira Masato
Published: July 2010

GT‐1 is a plant transcription factor that binds to one of the cis‐acting elements, BoxII, which resides within the upstream promoter region of light‐responsive genes. GT‐1 was assumed to act as a molecular switch modulated through Ca2+‐dependent phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in response to light signals. It was shown previously that the phosphorylation of threonine 133 in the DNA‐binding domain (DBD) of GT‐1 results in enhancement of the BoxII‐binding activity. Interestingly, point mutation of Thr133 to Asp also enhances the BoxII‐binding activity. Here, we report the solution structures of hypothetical trihelix DBDs of the wild‐type (WT) and a phosphomimetic mutant (T133D) of GT‐1. First, we demonstrated that the isolated DBD of GT‐1 alone has the ability to bind to DNA, and that the T133D mutation of the isolated DBD can enhance the DNA‐binding affinity. The structures of these DBDs turned out to be almost identical. The structural topology resembles that of Myb DBDs, but all α‐helices are longer in GT‐1. Our NMR titration experiments suggested that these longer α‐helices yield an enlarged DNA‐binding surface. The phosphorylation site is located at the N‐terminus of the third α‐helix. We built a structural model of the T133D DBD:BoxII complex with the program HADDOCK. The model resembles the structure of the TRF1 DBD:telomeric DNA complex. Interestingly, the model implies that the phosphorylated side chain may directly interact with the bases of DNA. On the basis of our findings, we propose a mechanism by which the DNA‐binding activity toward BoxII of the phosphorylated GT‐1 could be enhanced. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein homomers in point‐group assembly: Symmetry making and breaking are specific and distinctive in their codes of chemical alphabet in side chains
Authors: Pednekar Deepa , Durani Susheel
Published: July 2010

Oligomerizing to point‐group symmetry, protein oligomers need to have the symmetry broken for biologically crucial functions, such as, allosteric regulation, enzyme catalysis, and so forth. In the making of symmetry, based on self assembly, and the breaking of symmetry, based on intermolecular interactions, proteins may manifest, like their other functions, specific scripts over the coding alphabet in side chains. To address the possibility, we analyzed 82 protein homodimers in their C2‐symmetry‐related side chains across noncrystallographic interfaces, to know if they may be identical or distinct in conformation, and thus conserved or broken in symmetry. We find the propensity to conformational mismatch across interfaces correlated with side‐chain chemical structure, low to very low in aromatic Trp, Tyr, His, Phe, and Arg, and high to very high in aliphatic Val, Pro, Met, Glu, Ser, Lys, Gln, Asn, and Asp, related not to polarity but, interestingly, to aromaticity of the structure. The organizational plan having aromatics embedded in a hub of aliphatic‐nonpolar groups and a surrounding rim of aliphatic‐polar groups, called “hotspot,” has been known to direct protein–protein interaction. Finding conformational‐mismatch propensities of side chains congruous with their specific chemical roles in protein‐protein interaction, we propose that aromatic side chains will drive protein homomers to high symmetry, while polar‐ and nonpolar aliphatic side chains will drive them to the functionally‐necessitated breaks of symmetry. Side chains are in their roles as protein‐coding alphabet illuminated in the physics, which is discussed. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein–protein docking with binding site patch prediction and network‐based terms enhanced combinatorial scoring
Authors: Gong Xinqi , Wang Panwen , Yang Feng , Chang Shan , Liu Bin , He Hongqiu , Cao Libin , Xu Xianjin , Li Chunhua , Chen Weizu , Wang Cunxin
Published: July 2010

Protein–protein docking has made much progress in recent years, but challenges still exist. Here we present the application of our docking approach HoDock in CAPRI. In this approach, a binding site prediction is implemented to reduce docking sampling space and filter out unreasonable docked structures, and a network‐based enhanced combinatorial scoring function HPNCscore is used to evaluate the decoys. The experimental information was combined with the predicted binding site to pick out the most likely key binding site residues. We applied the HoDock method in the recent rounds of the CAPRI experiments, and got good results as predictors on targets 39, 40, and 41. We also got good results as scorers on targets 35, 37, 40, and 41. This indicates that our docking approach can contribute to the progress of protein–protein docking methods and to the understanding of the mechanism of protein–protein interactions. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the mechanism of protein fold‐switching by a molecular sensor
Authors: Stratton Margaret M. , Loh Stewart N.
Published: July 2010

Alternate frame folding (AFF) is a mechanism by which conformational change can be engineered into a protein. The protein structure switches from the wild‐type fold (N) to a circularly‐permuted fold (N′), or vice versa, in response to a signaling event such as ligand binding. Despite the fact that the two native states have similar structures, their interconversion involves folding and unfolding of large parts of the molecule. This rearrangement is reported by fluorescent groups whose relative proximities change as a result of the order–disorder transition. The nature of the conformational change is expected to be similar from protein to protein; thus, it may be possible to employ AFF as a general method to create optical biosensors. Toward that goal, we test basic aspects of the AFF mechanism using the AFF variant of calbindin D9k. A simple three‐state model for fold switching holds that N and N′ interconvert through the unfolded state. This model predicts that the fundamental properties of the switch—calcium binding affinity, signal response (i.e., fluorescence change upon binding), and switching rate—can be controlled by altering the relative stabilities of N and N′. We find that selectively destabilizing N or N′ changes the equilibrium properties of the switch (binding affinity and signal response) in accordance with the model. However, kinetic data indicate that the switching pathway does not require whole‐molecule unfolding. The rate is instead limited by unfolding of a portion of the protein, possibly in concert with folding of a corresponding region. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Decomposition of the Brier score for weighted forecast‐verification pairs
Authors: Young R. M. B.
Published: July 2010

The Brier score is widely used in meteorology for quantifying probability forecast quality. The score can be decomposed into terms representing different aspects of forecast quality, but this implicitly requires each forecast‐verification pair to be allocated equal weight. In this note an expression is derived for the decomposed Brier score that accounts for weighted forecast‐verification pairs. A comparison of the unweighted and weighted cases using seasonal forecasts from the ENSEMBLES project shows that when weights are assigned proportional to the area represented by each grid point (weighting by cosine of latitude), the weighted forecasts give improved Brier and reliability scores compared with the unweighted case. This result is consistent with what is expected, given that tropical predictability is generally better than extratropical predictability. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Galectin‐3 secreted by human umbilical cord blood‐derived mesenchymal stem cells reduces amyloid‐β42 neurotoxicity in vitro
Authors: Kim Ju-Yeon , Kim Dong Hyun , Kim Dal-Soo , Kim Ji Hyun , Jeong Sang Young , Jeon Hong Bae , Lee Eun Hui , Yang Yoon Sun , Oh Wonil , Chang Jong Wook
Published: July 2010

In this study, we found that expression and secretion of galectin‐3 (GAL‐3) were upregulated by amyloid‐β42 (Aβ42) exposure in human umbilical cord blood‐derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB‐MSC) without cell death. Aβ42‐exposed rat primary cortical neuronal cells co‐treated with recombinant GAL‐3 were protected from neuronal death in a dose‐dependent manner. hUCB‐MSCs were cocultured with Aβ42‐exposed rat primary neuronal cells or the neuroblastoma cell line, SH‐SY5Y in a Transwell chamber. Coculture of hUCB‐MSCs reduced cell death of Aβ42‐exposed neurons and SH‐SY5Y cells. This neuroprotective effect of hUCB‐MSCs was reduced significantly by GAL‐3 siRNA. These data suggested that hUCB‐MSC‐derived GAL‐3 is a survival factor against Aβ42 neurotoxicity.
Effect of VEGF and its receptor antagonist SU‐5416, an inhibitor of angiogenesis, on processing of the β‐amyloid precursor protein in primary neuronal cells derived from brain tissue of Tg2576 mice
Authors: Bürger Susanne , Yafai Yousef , Bigl Marina , Wiedemann Peter , Schliebs Reinhard
Published: July 2010

A large number of Alzheimer patients demonstrate cerebrovascular pathology, which has been assumed to be related to β‐amyloid (Aβ) deposition. Aβ peptides have been described to inhibit angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, and deregulation of angiogenic factors may contribute to various neurological disorders including neurodegeneration. One of the key angiogenic factor is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Increased levels of VEGF have been observed in brains of Alzheimer patients, while the functional significance of VEGF up‐regulation in the pathogenesis and progression of AD is still a matter of debate.

To test whether VEGF may affect neuronal APP processing, primary neuronal cells derived from brain tissue of E16 embryos of Tg2576 mice were exposed with 1 ng/ml VEGF for 6, 12, and 24 h, followed by monitoring formation and secretion of soluble Aβ peptides, release of the human APP cleavage products, sAPPβswe and sAPPα, into the culture medium as well as the activities of α‐ and β‐secretases in neuronal cell extracts.

Exposure of primary neuronal cells by VEGF for 24 h led to slightly reduced sAPPβ release, accompanied by decreased β‐secretase activity 12 h after VEGF exposure. Incubation of neurons by the VEGF receptor antagonist and angiogenesis inhibitor SU‐5416 for 24 h resulted in increased release of sAPPβswe, and strikingly enhanced secretion of Aβ peptides into the culture medium, which was accompanied by a significant increase in β‐secretase activity, as compared to control incubations. The SU‐5416‐induced effects on APP processing could not be suppressed by the additional presence of VEGF, suggesting that SU‐5416 affects pathways that are apparently independent of VEGF receptor signaling. The data obtained indicate that VEGF‐driven mechanisms may affect APP processing, suggesting a link of angiogenesis and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Distribution of gold in igneous granitoid complexes in the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia
Authors: Spiridonov A.M. , Kozlov V.D. , Zorina L.D. , Men’shikov V.I. , Bychinskii V.A.
Published: July 2010

The distribution of gold in rocks from some igneous complexes of the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia (Daurian, Aga, and Argun structure-formational zones) was studied by quantitative extraction–atomic-absorption analysis and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (Element-2 mass spectrometer). High gold concentrations (on average, 0.0043 ppm) are typical of the most widespread hornblende-biotite granodiorites and granites of the main phases of batholith intrusions in the Upper Paleozoic Unda complex in the east of the study area and in the Triassic–Middle Jurassic Kyra complex in the west. The rocks of the Early–Middle Jurassic (Sokhondo) and Middle–Upper Jurassic (Shakhtama, Kharalga, and Kukul’bei) complexes have much lower Au concentrations (mainly 0.0014–0.0030 ppm), with the minimum ones established in the Shakhtama complex. During the magmatic differentiation of granitoid intrusions, the concentrations of gold in the late leucogranite differentiates decreased.

The Au concentrations in the studied complexes do not depend on the composition of the host terrigenous rocks of different ages, which evidences the endogenous nature of the revealed differences in Au concentrations in the regional granitoids. Abnormally high concentrations of gold in some studied samples are observed mainly in the regional hydrothermal mineralization occurrences.

The classification R-type cluster analysis showed that all variables of the studied igneous rocks are subdivided into three groups by the degree of correlation. Gold shows a distinct tendency to the correlation with siderophile oxy- and sulfurophile groups of metals. The Q-type analysis generally confirmed the correctness of the known formational classification of the regional granitoids.
Upper mantle roots of Siberian craton basement structures along the Rift DSS profile
Authors: Suvorov V.D. , Mishen’kina Z.R. , Melnik E.A.
Published: July 2010

We investigate the upper mantle velocity structure through processing first arrival data from peaceful nuclear explosions. The reported 2D model has been obtained by ray tracing for a spherical Earth, unlike the classical plane-approximation approach with subsequent spherical symmetry corrections, which is not always applicable to a laterally heterogeneous subsurface. The upper mantle velocity highs and lows imaged to 200–220 km depths show obvious correlation with major structures of the craton basement. Namely, low-velocity zones are observed beneath basins, the largest (to 8.0–8.1 km/s) under the Vendian–Early Cambrian Sayan–Yenisei syneclise. A discontinuous high-velocity layer (8.6–8.7 km/s) at depths between 150 and 240 km is underlain by a zone of lower velocity (8.50–8.55 km/s) down to the 410 km discontinuity, where the velocity at the top of the transition zone is 9.4–9.5 km/s.
Latest erosional incision in river valleys of southern East Siberia
Authors: Ufimtsev G.F. , Shchetnikov A.A. , Filinov I.A.
Published: July 2010

Examples of the geological and geomorphic framework of river valleys in the Tunka rift basin (Baikal rift system) and in the Irkutsk amphitheater (Siberian craton) have been used to show that horizontal and vertical motions of tectonic units in southern East Siberia are superposed with periodic movements. In the latter, the waves of slow uplift are attendant with erosional incision events, whereas during the subsidence cycles the incised valleys become filled with mainly alluvial sediments. The latest incision events in the area occurred in the past 70 kyr.
Apatite-bearing greenstone belts in Russia
Authors: Belyaev E.V.
Published: July 2010

The paper discusses the important and urgent problem of enlarging the mineral resources of Russia. Volcanosedimentary complexes of greenstone belts are suggested as a new alternative source of apatite ores. The distinguishing features and minerageny of greenstone complexes in the Karelian, Aldan, and Anabar Shields have been considered. Apatite occurrences have been described in brief. The paper suggests the main lines of study and geological exploration of apatite-bearing metavolcanic sedimentary complexes.
The effects of gabapentin in human experimental pain models
Authors: Enggaard Thomas P. , Mikkelsen Søren S. , Zwisler Stine T. , Klitgaard Niels A. , Sindrup Søren H.
Published: July 2010

Background

The antidepressant drugs imipramine and venlafaxine relieve clinical neuropathic pain and have been shown to increase pain thresholds in healthy volunteers during repetitive electrical sural nerve stimulation causing temporal pain summation, whereas pain during the cold pressor test is unaltered by these drugs. If this pattern of effect in experimental pain models reflects potential efficacy in clinical neuropathic pain, the pain summation model may potentially be used to identify new drugs for such pain conditions. Gabapentinoids are evidence-based treatments of clinical neuropathic pain and could contribute with additional knowledge of the usefulness of the pain summation model.

The aim of this study

To test the analgesic effect of the gabapentinoid gabapentin in a sural nerve stimulation pain model including temporal pain summation and the cold pressor test.

Method

18 healthy volunteers completed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial with medication of 600 mg gabapentin orally dosed 3 times over 24 h against placebo. Pain tests were performed before and 24 h after medication including pain detection and tolerance to single sural nerve stimulation and pain summation threshold to repetitive stimulation (3 Hz). Peak pain intensity and discomfort were rated during a cold pressor test.

Results

Compared to placebo, gabapentin had a highly significant effect on the threshold of pain summation to repetitive electrical sural nerve stimulation (P = 0.009). Gabapentin significantly increased the pain tolerance threshold to single electrical sural nerve stimulation (P = 0.04), whereas the pain detection threshold to single electrical sural nerve stimulation tended to be increased (P = 0.06). No significant differences were found on pain ratings during the cold pressor test.

Conclusion

Gabapentin had a selective hypoalgesic effect in a human experimental pain model of temporal pain summation and the results lend further support to the usefulness of the pain summation model to identify drugs for neuropathic pain.
Offset analgesia evoked by non-contact thermal stimulator
Authors: Frahm K.S. , Andersen O.K. , Arendt-Nielsen L. , Mørch C.D.
Published: July 2010

Objective

The objective of this study was to test if offset analgesia could be evoked using a noncontact thermal stimulator. Offset analgesia [J. Neurophysiol. 87:2205–2208, 2002] is defined as an unproportionally large decrease in pain intensity following a slight decrease in stimulation intensity. The importance of differences in thermal properties between human hairy and glabrous skin was investigated.

Methods

A 20W diode laser (970 nm) was used for the thermal stimulation. A fast (50 images/s) infrared camera measured the skin temperature and a temperature controlled feedback control loop adjusted the laser power. 8 subjects participated in this study. Stimulations were applied on the dorsum side and in the palm of the hand. Subjects were instructed to continuously rate the pain intensity. First the subject was stimulated using both a rising 35–45 °C staircase and a decreasing 45–35 °C staircase in both skin types; each staircase step was 1 °C and lasted for 15 s. Offset analgesia was tested by stimulating the hairy skin on the dorsum of the hand using two sequential temperature plateaus (48–48 °C, 48–49 °C, 49–48 °C and 49–49 °C). Each plateau was held for 5 s.

Results

For the staircase stimulations identical surface temperatures were perceived significantly higher in glabrous than in hairy skin (p < 0.001). The offset analgesia test showed that a decrease in temperature from 49 to 48 °C evoked a drop in the pain rating which was significantly lower than observed during a 48–48 °C stimulation (p < 0.001) indicating offset analgesia.

Conclusion

A non-contact thermal stimulator is able to evoke offset analgesia. Furthermore, it was noted that a high penetration laser causes higher pain ratings in glabrous skin than in hairy skin—a relationship which is opposite to low penetration lasers (CO2 laser) and contact heat stimulation.
Girl presenting with oesophageal spasm pain after fundoplication
Authors: Gawecka Ewa , Viken Oddbjørn
Published: July 2010

Introduction

A previously healthy 19-year-old woman, who had symptoms of gastric-oesophagela reflux disease for over one year, was transferred to our specialist hospital three weeks post fundoplication operation at a local hospital. She had several episodes with severe retrosternal pain lasting minutes to hours which was stabbing in character. She persistently experienced what was thought to be episodes of oesophageal spasm associated with food intake or movement. She required gradually escalating doses of opioids, both transdermal, intramuscular and intravenous. She was started on a regime of transdermal opioids in addition to iv opioids for the acute pain episodes. This was later supplemented with a PCA pump. Despite the increase in pain and in CRP, the patient was continued on an opioid reduction regime initiated by the surgeons six weeks post surgery. Two months post fundoplication she developed respiratory failure.

Discussion

The patient had a prolonged and painful postoperative period after an elective fundoplication. Her retrosternal pain had lasted over a year prior to surgery, but postoperatively a spasmic pain escalated substantially leaving her hospitalised. The symptoms where initially thought to be due to oesophageal spasm, but gastroscopy was normal and manometry showed normal contraction pressures in the oesophagus. It was discovered that she had right sided pleuritis that had developed into an empyema. She was intubated, sedated and initially treated with two chest drains before undergoing a right sided thoracotomy that removed the remaining pleural fluid areas and the postinfectious tissue. The exact mechanism of this complication is not known.

Conclusion

Oesophageal spasms after fundoplication is a known complication in about 1 in 1000 patients and is associated with intense spasmic retrosternal pain. However, empyema also needs to be considered where postoperative pain persists. It is an extremely rare and painful complication.
Epidemiology of persistent postoperative pain: Association of persistent pain and sensory abnormalities
Authors: Johansen A. , Romundstad L. , Nielsen C.S. , Schirmer H. , Eggen A.E. , Stubhaug A.
Published: July 2010

Background

The prevalence of persistent postoperative pain in the general population is poorly documented, but clinical studies indicate that the problem is common.

Aim

The aim of this study was (1) to assess the prevalence of persistent postoperative pain among individuals operated during the last 3 years in a general population and (2) to describe factors associated with chronic postoperative pain.

Materials and methods

As part of a cross-sectional health survey in the municipality of Tromsø, North Norway, all participants answered questions on surgery, persisting pain and sensory abnormalities in the area of surgery. N = 12,984. Age 30–87 years, median 59. 53.4% women.

Pain intensity was reported using a 0–10 Numeric Rating Scale (0–10 NRS). Logistic regression was used to reveal any associations between pain and self-reported hyposensitivity, hypersensitivity and allodynia.

Results

2316 individuals (17.8%) had surgery between 3 months and 3 years prior to the survey.

826 (40.4%)of the 2044 who answered a questionnaire on postsurgical pain, reported having some degree of pain in the area of surgery. Of these 826 individuals, 45.2% had pain, when at worst, of moderate or severe intensity, i.e. 0–10 NRS of 4 or higher.

The areas of surgery carrying the strongest association with persistent pain were (in descending order of frequency): (1) Shoulder/ upper arm [74.5% (108/145)], (2) back [73.9% (65/88)], (3) lungs [66.7% (8/12)], (4) knee/lower leg [63.7% (179/281)], (5) hand [58.8% (90/153)]. (6) hip/thigh [58.3% (74/127)] and (7) ankle/foot [58.7% (84/143)].

18.3% (413) had reduced sensitivity in the area near the surgical scar, while 10.6% (240) reported hypersensitivity and 5.6% (127) allodynia.

For those reporting hypoesthesia, the odds ratio (OR) for having pain was 2.71 (95% confidence interval 2.08–3.53), for those reporting hyperesthesia, OR was 4.82 (3.24–7.18) and for those with allodynia 5.83 (3.12–10.90).

Conclusions

3 months or more after surgery, nearly half of the respondents report having pain in the area of surgery. In this survey, there is a strong association between persistent pain and the presence of both hyposensitivity, hypersensitivity and allodynia.
Canon Law and the Letters of Ivo of Chartres
Authors: Rolker Christof
Published: July 2010

Ivo of Chartres was one of the most learned scholars of his time, a powerful bishop and a major figure in the so-called 'Investiture Contest'. Christof Rolker here offers a major new study of Ivo, his works and the role he played in the intellectual, religious and political culture of medieval Europe around 1100 AD. Comparing Ivo's extensive correspondence to the contemporary canon law collections attributed to him, Dr Rolker provides a new interpretation of their authorship. Contrary to current assumptions, he reveals that Ivo did not compile the Panormia, showing that its compiler worked in a distinctly different mental framework from Ivo. These findings call for a reassessment of the relationship between Church reform and scholasticism and shed new light on Ivo as both a scholar and bishop.
Adapting to Drought
Authors: Mortimore Michael
Published: July 2010

This book embodies the results of thirteen years of research in drought-prone rural areas in the semi-arid zone of northern Nigeria. It describes the patterns of adaptive behaviour observed among Hausa, Ful'be and Manga communities in response to recurrent drought in the 1970s and 1980s. The question of desertification is explored in an area where the visible evidence of moving sand dunes is dramatic blame are examined in relation to the field evidence. A critique is offered of deterministic theories and authoritarian solutions. Professor Mortimore demonstrates a parallel between the observable resilience of semi-arid ecosystems and the adaptive strategies of the human communities that inhabit them and suggests policy directions for strengthening that resilience.
The Birds of Cambridgeshire
Authors: Bircham P. M. M.
Published: July 2010

David Lack produced the first Birds of Cambridgeshire in 1934 for the Cambridge Bird Club. Since then the avifauna of the county has changed dramatically and the body of the information gathered, largely by amateur birdwatchers, has grown enormously. The bulk of the book is, like Lack's original, an annotated systematic list of the species recorded, but the book is made even more valuable by the inclusion of introductory chapters dealing with the Cambridgeshire countryside and where to go birdwatching. Graham Easy's excellent line drawings illustrate some of the county's characteristic species.
Association between adiposity and inflammatory markers in maternal and fetal blood in a group of Mexican pregnant women
Authors: Vega-Sanchez Rodrigo , Barajas-Vega Hector A. , Rozada Guadalupe , Espejel-Nuñez Aurora , Beltran-Montoya Jorge , Vadillo-Ortega Felipe
Published: July 2010

In the present pilot study, we evaluated the effect of maternal adiposity on the plasma concentration of adipocytokines in pregnant women and their newborns. Twenty patients with term gestations without labour were initially selected by pregestational BMI and then classified into two study groups (n10 each), according to their median value of adiposity (total body fat). Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, leptin and adiponectin in plasma of maternal peripheral blood and fetal cord blood were measured and correlated to maternal adiposity. Maternal adiposity showed a significant negative correlation with fetal adiponectin (r− 0·587,P = 0·01) and IL-6 (r− 0·466,P = 0·05), a significant positive correlation with maternal leptin (r0·527,P = 0·02) and no correlation with TNF-α or IL-1β. Adiponectin was higher in fetal plasma than in maternal plasma (P = 0·043), but significantly lower in newborns from women with high adiposity than in newborns from women with low adiposity (P = 0·040). Our results suggest that fetuses from obese women may be less able to control inflammation, due to lower circulating anti-inflammatory adipocytokines, which could limit their optimal development or even increase the risk of abortion or preterm labour.
GROWTH AND KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Authors: Wendner Ronald
Published: July 2010

This paper investigates the impact of the desire to keep up with the Joneses (KUJ) on economic growth and optimal tax policy in a continuous-time, overlapping-generations model with AK technology and exogenous, gradual retirement. Due to the desire to KUJ, the propensity to consume out of total wealth rises (declines), and the balanced growth rate declines (increases), when the households' individual total (physicalandhuman) wealth is increasing (decreasing) with age. The rate of retirement determines whether or not a household's total wealth is increasing with age. If total wealth is increasing (decreasing) with age, an optimal allocation is decentralized by an intergenerationally progressive (regressive) lump-sum tax system. The desire to KUJ strengthens the intergenerational regressivity (progressivity) of the optimal tax system. The optimal tax implications of the desire to KUJ are a key finding of this paper.
Identification of Aegilops species with higher production of phytosiderophore and iron and zinc uptake under micronutrient-sufficient and -deficient conditions
Authors: Neelam Kumari , Tiwari Vijay K. , Rawat Nidhi , Tripathi Sangharsh K. , Randhawa Gursharn S. , Dhaliwal Harcharan S.
Published: July 2010

Graminaceous plants including staple cereals secrete certain phytosiderophores (PS) in calcareous soils with lower iron and zinc availability to enhance their uptake and translocation to the leaves and grains. A few Triticum aestivum cultivars and accessions of six Aegilops species were investigated for release of PS in vitro under iron- and zinc-sufficient and -deficient conditions, and for root and shoot iron and zinc concentrations. All the Aegilops species had three to four times higher release of PS than the wheat cultivars under both nutrient-sufficient and -deficient conditions. The maximum rate of increase of PS was observed on days 11 and 14 under iron- and zinc-deficient conditions, respectively, which levelled off rapidly among the wheat cultivars and continued to be high among Aegilops species till the end of the experiment. The absolute amount of iron and zinc expressed on dry weight basis after 18 d under iron- and zinc-deficient conditions showed nearly three times higher concentration in both roots and shoots of Aegilops species than that of the wheat cultivars. A significantly high correlation between concentrations of iron (r = 0.94) and zinc (r = 0.91) in roots and the PS released was found. The higher grain iron and zinc contents in the Aegilops species reported earlier may be attributed to their diverse and efficient mechanism(s) for PS-mediated micronutrient uptake and translocation system, which could be exploited for biofortification of wheat.
Winter carbon dioxide effluxes from Arctic ecosystems: An overview and comparison of methodologies
Authors: Björkman Mats P. , Morgner Elke , Cooper Elisabeth J. , Elberling Bo , Klemedtsson Leif , Björk Robert G.
Published: July 2010

The winter CO2 efflux from subnivean environments is an important component of annual C budgets in Arctic ecosystems and consequently makes prediction and estimations of winter processes as well as incorporations of these processes into existing models important. Several methods have been used for estimating winter CO2 effluxes involving different assumptions about the snowpack, all aiming to quantify CO2 production. Here, four different methods are compared and discussed: (1) measurements with a chamber on the snow surface, Fsnow, (2) chamber measurements directly on the soil, Fsoil, after snow removal, (3) diffusion measurements, F2‐point, within the snowpack, and (4) a trace gas technique, FSF6, with multiple gas sampling within the snowpack. According to measurements collected from shallow and deep snow cover in High Arctic Svalbard and subarctic Sweden during the winter of 2007–2008, the four methods differ by up to two orders of magnitude in their estimates of total winter emissions. The highest mean winter CO2 effluxes, 7.7–216.8 mg CO2 m−2 h−1, were observed using Fsoil and the lowest values, 0.8–12.6 mg CO2 m−2 h−1, using FSF6. The Fsnow and F2‐point methods were both within the lower range, 2.1–15.1 and 6.8–11.2 mg CO2 m−2 h−1, respectively. These differences result not only from using contrasting methods but also from the differences in the assumptions within the methods when quantifying CO2 production and effluxes to the atmosphere. Because snow can act as a barrier to CO2, Fsoil is assumed to measure soil production, whereas FSF6, Fsnow, and F2‐point are considered better approaches for quantifying exchange processes between the soil, snow, and the atmosphere. This study indicates that estimates of winter CO2 emissions may vary more as a result of the method used than as a result of the actual variation in soil CO2 production or release. This is a major concern, especially when CO2 efflux data are used in climate models or in carbon budget calculations, thus highlighting the need for further development and validation of accurate and appropriate techniques.
The40Ar/39Ar thermochronology of core complexes and other basement rocks in Sonora, Mexico: Implications for Cenozoic tectonic evolution of northwestern Mexico
Authors: Wong Martin S. , Gans Phillip B. , Scheier Jeremy
Published: July 2010

Northwestern Mexico remains an important region for understanding the tectonic evolution of the North American Cordillera. However, many fundamental aspects of the geologic history of the region remain poorly known. We present new40Ar/39Ar thermochronology of exposed basement rock from throughout Sonora, Mexico, including from metamorphic core complexes. These results provide new constraints on the Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic tectonic evolution of northwestern Mexico. Following Laramide (ca. 80–50 Ma) emplacement, most Sonoran plutons experienced rapid post‐magmatic cooling to ∼400–200°C, which we attribute to shallow level emplacement. Following this rapid cooling, plutons cooled slowly (<10°C/m.y.) from the Paleocene to the Oligocene, suggesting that the early Tertiary was a period of tectonic quiescence within Sonora during which exhumation was minor. Core complexes are the only exposed Sonoran basement that remained > 300°C until the late Oligocene. Rapid footwall cooling documents that extension at Sonoran core complexes began synchronously at ca. 25 Ma, despite the fact that these regions are separated by > 200 km. Extension at most Sonoran core complexes continued until ca. 15 Ma, although extension at the Magdalena core complex ceased earlier (ca. 21–20 Ma). Slip at each core complex was 10–30 km and occurred at average rates of 1–9 mm/yr. This major period of extension primarily occurred during subduction, indicating that relative plate motions between the Pacific and North American plates cannot be invoked as a driving force for this phase of extension.
Language Acquisition Challenges for Preschoolers Residing in Low-SES Households: Implications for Speech-language Pathologists and Developmental Researchers
Authors: Kelly Donna J.
Published: July 2010

Young children who reside in low-socioeconomic households are at considerable risk for delays in their rate of language acquisition. Large numbers of these children, whose cultural and linguistic systems differ from mainstream culture and the versions of American English associated with prestige, evidence not just language variations when contrasted with their middle-SES peers, but lifelong disparities in their neurocognitive and language outcomes. Identification and assessment issues with this unique, underserved, population may be especially challenging for speech-language pathologists.
Finite-width bundle is most stable in a solution with salt
Authors: Saito Takuya , Yoshikawa Kenichi
Published: July 2010

We applied the mean-field approach to a columnar bundle assembled by the parallel arrangement of stiff polyelectrolyte rods in a salt bath. The electrostatic potential can be divided into two regions: inside the bundle for condensed counterions and outside the bundle for free small ions. To determine the distribution of condensed counterions inside the bundle, we use a local self-consistent condition that depends on the charge density, the electrostatic potential, and the net polarization. The results showed that, upon bundle formation, the electric charge of polyelectrolytes, even those inside the bundle, tends to survive in an inhomogeneous manner, and thus their width remains finite under thermal equilibrium because of the long-range effect of charge instability.
Stability of critical bubble in stretched fluid of square-gradient density-functional model with triple-parabolic free energy
Authors: Iwamatsu Masao , Okabe Yutaka
Published: July 2010

The square-gradient density-functional model with triple-parabolic free energy, which was used previously to study the homogeneous bubble nucleation [M. Iwamatsu, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 104508 (2008)], is used to study the stability of the critical bubble nucleated within the bulk undersaturated stretched fluid. The stability of the bubble is studied by solving the Schrödinger equation for the fluctuation. The negative eigenvalue corresponds to the unstable growing mode of the fluctuation. Our results show that there is only one negative eigenvalue whose eigenfunction represents the fluctuation that corresponds to the isotropically growing or shrinking nucleus. In particular, this negative eigenvalue survives up to the spinodal point. Therefore, the critical bubble is not fractal or ramified near the spinodal.
Short-wavelength stability analysis of Hill’s vortex with/without swirl
Authors: Hattori Y. , Hijiya K.
Published: July 2010

The stability of Hill’s vortex with/without swirl is studied by the short-wavelength stability analysis or WKB analysis. It is shown that the classical Hill’s spherical vortex is subjected not only to the Widnall instability but also to the curvature instability found for thin vortex rings and helical vortex tubes. A new “combined” mode of instability caused by the two instabilities is discovered. The magnitude of the exponential growth rate of the combined mode is similar with the curvature instability around the stagnation point; it exceeds the Widnall instability near the boundary. The effects of swirl on the instabilities are investigated using a family of solutions obtained by Moffatt [“The degree of knottedness of tangled vortex lines,” J. Fluid Mech. 35, 117 (1969)]. As the swirl parameter α increases, a stable region appears around the stagnation point; the maxima of the growth rates decrease; the combined mode region disappears for α≥3. As α increases further, however, the region of the generalized centrifugal instability emerges from the stagnation point.
Sound-driven fluid dynamics in pressurized carbon dioxide
Authors: van Iersel Maikel M. , Mettin Robert , Benes Nieck E. , Schwarzer Dirk , Keurentjes Jos T. F.
Published: July 2010

Using high-speed visualization we demonstrate that ultrasound irradiation of pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) induces phenomena that do not occur in ordinary liquids at ambient conditions. For a near-critical mixture of CO2 and argon, sonication leads to extremely fast local phase separation, in which the system enters and leaves the two-phase region with the frequency of the imposed sound field. This phase transition can propagate with the speed of sound, but can also be located at fixed positions in the case of a standing sound wave. Sonication of a vapor-liquid interface creates a fine dispersion of liquid and vapor, irrespective whether the ultrasound horn is placed in the liquid or the vapor phase. In the absence of an interface, sonication of the liquid leads to ejection of a macroscopic vapor phase from the ultrasound horn with a velocity of several meters per second in the direction of wave propagation. The findings reported here potentially provide a tunable and noninvasive means for enhancing mass and heat transfer in high-pressure fluids.
Polymer translocation through α-hemolysin pore with tunable polymer-pore electrostatic interaction
Authors: Wong Chiu Tai Andrew , Muthukumar M.
Published: July 2010

We have measured the ionic current blockages produced by single molecules of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) passing through an α-hemolysin protein pore under an electric field. Most of the blockage events were composed of one or two blockage levels of ionic current. By analyzing the statistics of different event types for different polymer lengths, applied voltages, and pH conditions, we have identified the molecular mechanism behind the two-level blockages. Our analysis of the data shows that not all blockages are successful translocation events and the propensity of successful translocation can be tuned by pH gradients across the protein pore. We interpret our results as the change in protein-polymer interaction via protonation of charged amino acid residues of α-hemolysin pore. In addition, we have constructed a stochastic theory for polymer translocation through α-hemolysin pore with tunable polymer-pore interactions. The theoretical calculations capture many features observed in our experiments.
Random lasing from localized modes in strongly scattering systems consisting of macroporous titania monoliths infiltrated with dye solution
Authors: Murai Shunsuke , Fujita Koji , Konishi Junko , Hirao Kazuyuki , Tanaka Katsuhisa
Published: July 2010

We have prepared random lasers that consist of macroporous titania monoliths infiltrated with dye solution and that operate close to light localization regime. When the excitation pulse energy exceeds a threshold, discrete spectral lines ascribed to laser oscillation appear on a featureless emission peak. No pulse-to-pulse variation was observed in the spectral positions of lasing lines, indicating that the lasing modes are localized in the medium. We demonstrated selective excitation of lasing modes by pumping at different positions on the sample.
Isomerization-induced surface relief gratings formation: A comparison between the probe and the matrix dynamics
Authors: Saiddine M. , Teboul V. , Nunzi J. M.
Published: July 2010

We report molecular dynamics simulations of the effect of the photoisomerization of probe molecules on the nonequilibrium dynamics of a bulk amorphous matrix. Is it the matrix or the probe that drives the dynamics in SRG formation? In the first picture, the probe isomerization induces the motion of the probe inside the matrix. The motion of the probe then induces molecular motions inside the matrix. In the second picture, the probe isomerization induces a modification of the matrix diffusion mechanism. The diffusion of the matrix then induces the motion of the embedded probe. To answer this question, we compare the motion of the probe molecules and the motion of the matrix molecules in various thermodynamic conditions. We show that when the isomerization is switched on, the matrix molecules surrounding the probe move faster than the probe. Around the probe, the structural relaxation time of the matrix molecules is shorter than the probe relaxation time and the diffusion of the matrix molecules is larger than the probe diffusion. These results show that the matrix motions drive the dynamics.