bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cochrane Library and Long‐Acting Beta‐agonist Treatment for Childhood Asthma: An Overview of Reviews
Authors: Plint Amy C. , Russell Kelly , Bjornson Candice L. , Rowe Brian H.
Published: December 2008

Background

Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and affects many children. One treatment option used to control asthma symptoms is the class of medications known as the long acting β2‐agonists (LABA) and they are often used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The use of LABA in children has been widely debated in the literature.

Objectives

To synthesize the evidence currently in the Cochrane Library of systematic reviews related to the question: ‘In children with symptomatic asthma, does treatment with a LABA as a primary or add‐on therapy to ICS improve objective measures of lung function and asthma symptom control, reduce exacerbations, and improve quality of life?’.

Methods

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was searched using the term ‘asthma’ in the title for all systematic reviews examining LABA vs any other pharmacological agent for the treatment of asthma. Data were extracted and entered into tables; syntheses occurred using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Main Results

Seven reviews were identified; however, only four reviews contained data for children. There was no significant difference in the asthma exacerbations among those treated with LABA or any other treatment. For those treated with LABA with no/varied ICS vs placebo with no/varied ICS, there was a significant improvement in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and a significant number of children had a ≥ 15% increase in FEV1. There was also a significant reduction in the change in whole day rescue medication, fewer asthma related night‐time wakenings, and lower symptom scores for LABA with no/varied ICS. Change in FEV1 (Litres (L) or percent predicted) and improvement in morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) favoured LABA and ICS vs fixed dose ICS and placebo. There was a significantly higher risk of adverse events among those receiving LABA and ICS compared to ICS with or without placebo.

Authors' Conclusions

There is no clear benefit to LABA in preventing asthma exacerbations in children. While there is a paucity of evidence in this area, ICS should remain the controller therapy of choice; however, the addition of LABA to ICS may result in improvement in pulmonary function measures, reduce the use of rescue medications and improve quality of life measures in children with chronic asthma. Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Commentary on ‘Cooling for newborns with hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy’
Authors: Roland Elke
Published: December 2008

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as:
Jacobs SE, Hunt R, Tarnow‐Mordi WO, Inder TE, Davis PG. Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003311. DOI: 10.1002/14 651 858.CD003311.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables. Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Summary of ‘Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy’
Authors: Milne Andrea
Published: December 2008

This is a summary of a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as:
Jacobs SE, Hunt R, Tarnow‐Mordi WO, Inder TE, Davis PG. Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003311. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003311.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Commentary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables. Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Commentary on ‘Corticosteroids for the prevention and treatment of post‐extubation stridor in neonates, children and adults’
Authors: Joffe Ari R. , Gamble Jonathan J.
Published: December 2008

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Markovitz BP, Randolph AG, Khemani RG. Corticosteroids for the prevention and treatment of post‐extubation stridor in neonates, children and adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 2. Art. No. CD001000. DOI:10.1002/14 651 858.CD001000.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables. Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Wax ester fraction of edible oils: Analysis by on‐line LC‐GC‐MS and GC×GC‐FID
Authors: Biedermann Maurus , Haase‐Aschoff Paul , Grob Konrad
Published: December 2008

The wax ester fraction of various plant oils was isolated by normal‐phase HPLC (NPLC) on‐line coupled to GC via the on‐column interface and applying concurrent eluent evaporation. The esters were analyzed by on‐line NPLC‐GC‐MS and by comprehensive two‐dimensional GC with flame ionization detection (GC×GC‐FID) off‐line combined with NPLC‐GC. GC×GC‐FID enables to group the various classes of wax esters, in particular the phytol esters, geranylgeraniol esters and the straight‐chain esters of palmitic acids and the unsaturated C18 acids. Optimization of the GC×GC columns and the conditions must take into account the limited thermostability of the diterpene esters. Chromatograms are shown for a range of oils, with particular focus on the various classes of wax esters in olive oil and the geranylgeraniol esters 22:0 and 24:0 in a variety of oils.
Efficacy of myricetin as an antioxidant in methyl esters of soybean oil
Authors: Moser Bryan R.
Published: December 2008

The antioxidant activity of myricetin, a natural flavonol found in fruits and vegetables, was determined in soybean oil methyl esters (SME) and compared with α‐tocopherol and tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) over a 90‐day period employing EN 14112, acid value, and kinematic viscosity methods. Myricetin had greater antioxidant activity than α‐tocopherol, but was inferior to TBHQ. Synergism was observed between myricetin and TBHQ, but antagonism between α‐tocopherol and either myricetin or TBHQ was discovered. A binary mixture of myricetin and TBHQ at 1000 ppm (1:1) was the most effective treatment investigated at inhibiting oxidation of SME. Myricetin was not completely soluble in SME at 1000 ppm, suggesting that 500 ppm is a more appropriate treatment level. Pro‐oxidant activity of α‐tocopherol was observed when added to SME obtained from crude soybean oil, but antioxidant behavior was observed in distilled SME. Addition of α‐tocopherol to methyl esters initially free of antioxidants revealed that 600–700 ppm was the optimum concentration for antioxidant activity. Acid value and kinematic viscosity remained within prescribed specifications after 90 days, despite failure of a number of samples with regard to EN 14112, suggesting that these parameters are insufficient as sole indicators of oxidation stability.
Characterization of artisanally and semiautomatically extracted argan oils from Morocco
Authors: Cayuela José Antonio , Rada Mirela , Pérez‐Camino María del Carmen , Benaissa Mohamed , Abdelaziz Elamrani , Guinda Ángeles
Published: December 2008

The present study was conducted to know the possible influence of the seed treatment, method of extraction and geographical origin on the quality and chemical composition of argan oil. Artisanally and semiautomatically extracted argan oils, from roasted and unroasted seeds, from interior and coast areas, were studied. The quality parameters analyzed were acid value, peroxide value, K232 and K270, triacylglycerols and fatty acid composition, polar compounds, total phenols, tocopherol content and oil stability index (OSI). Seed treatment and extraction method showed a higher influence on quality parameters than geographical area; the quality parameters of the different oils were discussed. The total phenolic content in all analyzed samples was lower than 10 ppm. γ‐Tocopherol was the major tocopherol (84.4–86.4%) with a high contribution to the total tocopherol content (383–485 ppm). The OSI of the argan oil samples were well correlated (R = 0.97) with the tocopherol contents. The argan oil samples obtained from roasted seeds presented higher stability (26–38 h) than the oils from unroasted seeds (16–32 h).
Bayesian EM algorithm for scoring polymorphic deletions from SNP data and application to a common CNV on 8q24
Authors: Zöllner Sebastian , Su Gang , Stewart William C. L. , Chen Yi , McInnis Melvin G , Burmeister Margit
Published: December 2008

Copy number variations (CNVs) in the human genome provide exciting candidates for functional polymorphisms. Hence, we now assess association between CNV carrier status and diseases status by evaluating the signal intensity of SNP genotyping assays. Here, we present a novel statistical method designed to perform such inference and apply this method to a known CNV in a bipolar disorder linkage region. Using Bayesian computations we calculate the posterior probability for carrier status of a CNV in each individual of a sample by jointly analyzing genotype information and hybridization intensity. We model the signal intensity as a mixture of normal distributions, allowing for locus‐specific and allele‐specific distributions. Using an expectation maximization algorithm we estimate the parameters of these distributions and use these estimates for inferring carrier status of each individual and for the boundaries of the CNV. We applied the method to a sample of 3,512 individuals to a previously described common deletion on 8q24, a region consistently showing linkage to bipolar disorder, and unambiguously inferred 172 heterozygous and 1 homozygous deletion carrier. We observed no significant association between bipolar disorder and carrier status.

 We carefully assessed the validity of the inferred carrier status and observed no indication of errors. Furthermore, the algorithm precisely identifies the boundaries of the CNV. Finally, we assessed the power of this algorithm to detect shorter CNVs by sub‐sampling from the SNPs covered by this deletion, demonstrating that our EM algorithm produces precise estimates of carrier status.Genet. Epidemiol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coupling between Marine Plankton and Freshwater Flow in the Plumes off a Small Estuary
Authors: Schlacher Thomas A. , Skillington Anna J. , Connolly Rod M. , Robinson Wayne , Gaston Troy F.
Published: December 2008

Freshwater discharge from rivers is a powerful forcing agent in coastal ecosystems. It not only generates strong ecological effects in estuaries, but also drives the dynamics of nearshore marine waters where prominent river plumes form biogeochemical hot spots in coastal seas worldwide. Large plumes from major rivers exert important controls on pelagic processes. The majority of estuaries are smaller, however, and the importance of the smaller plumes they generate is unknown. We measured the degree of coupling between freshwater flow and inshore zooplankton in such a plume from a subtropical estuary on the east coast of Australia. Flow regimes encompassed long periods of low freshwater input, punctuated by pulsed freshets that initiated the formation of buoyant, lower‐salinity plumes in the nearshore marine zone. Plumes stimulated phytoplankton biomass in the receiving waters, and ultimately changes in zooplankton assemblages. Zooplankton responded strongly to river discharge: (1) in the absence of substantial freshwater flows and plumes, zooplankton was broadly similar in density and biomass across the estuarine‐marine gradient; (2) freshets that generated significant plumes strongly modified hydrological conditions and lowered zooplankton in the estuarine and nearshore waters, and (3) after the initial freshet, zooplankton in the residual plume was at a higher density in nearshore than shelf waters. We demonstrate that coupling between riverine and coastal pelagic systems operates in small plumes, but that there is substantial temporal variance linked to fluctuations in freshwater delivery. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparative study of biphasic calcium phosphates with different HA/TCP ratios in mandibular bone defects. A long‐term histomorphometric study in minipigs
Authors: Jensen Simon Storgård , Bornstein Michael M. , Dard Michel , Bosshardt Dieter D. , Buser Daniel
Published: December 2008

Three biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) bone substitute materials with hydroxyapatite (HA)/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ratios of 20/80, 60/40, and 80/20 were compared to coagulum, particulated autogenous bone, and deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) in membrane‐protected bone defects. The defects were prepared in the mandibles of 24 minipigs that were divided into four groups of six with healing times of 4, 13, 26, and 52 weeks, respectively. The histologic and histomorphometric evaluation focused on differences in amount and pattern of bone formation, filler degradation, and the interface between bone and filler. Collapse of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membrane into the coagulum defects underlined the necessity of a filler material to maintain the augmented volume. Quantitatively, BCP 20/80 showed bone formation and degradation of the filler material similar to autografts, whereas BCP 60/40 and BCP 80/20 rather equaled DBBM. Among the three BCP's, the amount of bone formation and degradation of filler material seemed to be inversely proportional to the HA/TCP ratio. The fraction of filler surface covered with bone was highest for autografts at all time points and was higher for DBBM than BCP 80/20 and 60/40 at the early healing phase. TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells were identified on BCP and DBBM surfaces without showing typical signs of resorption lacunae. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Dynamic in vitro dehydration patterns of unworn and worn silicone hydrogel contact lenses
Authors: González‐Méijome J. M. , López‐Alemany A. , Almeida J. B. , Parafita M. A.
Published: December 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of wear on dynamic in vitro dehydration of silicone hydrogel (Si‐Hi) contact lens (CL) using a previously described gravimetric procedure. Methods: Five different silicone hydrogel (Si‐Hi) contact lenses (CL) were evaluated after being worn by patients under daily wear conditions for 15 days to 1 month. Lenses were conditioned and disinfected with a multipurpose solution after each day of wear. Lenses were left to dehydrate in an analytical balance under controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity and the results compared with data from new lens samples of the same power and material. Several quantitative parameters were obtained and compared between worn and unworn samples. Results: The quantitative parameters derived from the dehydration curves showed statistically significant differences between worn and unworn lenses regarding the initial dehydration rate and ability to maintain their original hydration. Worn lenses showed shorter phase I duration (decreased by 30 to 60% compared to unworn samples), a significantly faster initial dehydration rate (increased by about 1%/minute), and lower water retention index (decreased by 10 to 20%) as derived from the initial cumulative dehydration. All the differences were statistically significant for all lenses (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The initial dehydration rates were significantly increased in all CL after wear. This could be of clinical interest because it represents the average initial dehydration rates during the first moments when the lens is left to dehydrate after a blink. This study suggests that even after the lenses had been equilibrated in saline solution for several days, the materials lose their ability to retain water. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Crystallinity control of apatite through Ca‐EDTA complexes and porous composites with PLGA
Authors: Mochizuki Chihiro , Sasaki Yuji , Hara Hiroki , Sato Mitsunobu , Hayakawa Tohru , Yang Fei , Hu Xixue , Shen Hong , Wang Shenguo
Published: December 2008

Apatite compounds with different levels of crystallinity were prepared using Ca‐EDTA complexes. Ca‐deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) with low crystallinity was synthesized by ultrasonic stirring of a mixture of Ca‐EDTA complex, phosphoric acid, and ammonium hydroxide in hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution. Mixtures of carbonate hydroxyapatite (HA) and CDHA with higher crystallinity were also prepared from a solution involving the same complex. The porous composites with lower or higher crystallinity apatite with a copolymer of poly(L‐lactide‐co‐glycilide)(70/30) (PLGA(70/30)) were fabricated by a solution‐casting/particles leaching method. The apatites and porous composites were characterized, and it was found that the degradation of composites of apatite with a low level of crystallinity was fastest in phosphate‐bufferd saline (PBS) solution compared with other apatite composites with higher levels of crystallinity; however, the rate was smaller than that of PLGA alone. Plasma treatment influenced the degradation of composites in PBS and apatite precipitation in simulated body fluid (SBF). Hydroxyapatite deposition on the PLGA composite with the low crystallinity occurred six times faster than that on PLGA alone after immersion in SBF. The incorporation of apatite into the PLGA matrix did not cause any adverse effects on cell attachment in an assay employing human gingival fibroblasts. This study suggested that the current apatite and PLGA porous composite will be a promising scaffold material for tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Odontoblasts in the dental pulp immune response
Authors: Farges Jean‐Christophe , Keller Jean‐François , Carrouel Florence , Durand Stephanie H. , Romeas Annick , Bleicher Françoise , Lebecque Serge , Staquet Marie‐Jeanne
Published: December 2008

Recent studies have demonstrated that human dental pulp cells sense pathogens and elicit innate and/or adaptive immunity. Particular attention has been paid to odontoblasts that are situated at the pulp–dentin interface and constitute the first line of defense to cariogenic bacteria entering dentin after enamel disruption. In this review, recent in vitro and in vivo data suggesting that odontoblasts initiate immune/inflammatory events within the dental pulp in response to cariogenic bacteria are discussed. These data include sensing of pathogens by Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), production of chemokines upon cell stimulation with microbial by‐products and induction of dendritic cell migration. Additional results presented here reveal that all TLR genes are expressed in the healthy human dental pulp that is thus well equipped to combat pathogens entering the tissue. Seventeen chemokine genes including CXCL12, CCL2, CXCL9, CX3CL1, CCL8, CXCL10, CCL16, CCL5, CXCL2, CCL4, CXCL11 and CCL3, and 9 chemokine receptor genes including CXCR4, CCR1, CCR5, CX3CR1, CCR10 and CXCR3, are also expressed in pulp. TLR2, CCL2 and CXCL1 are upregulated in odontoblasts both under caries lesions and upon stimulation with pathogen by‐products. These molecules thus appear as preferential targets for the design of therapeutic agents able to reduce the immune/inflammatory response to cariogenic bacteria and favor pulp healing. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 312B:425–436, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensitivity analysis of snow patterns in Swiss ski resorts to shifts in temperature, precipitation and humidity under conditions of climate change
Authors: Uhlmann Bastienne , Goyette Stéphane , Beniston Martin
Published: December 2008

The value of snow as a resource has considerably increased in Swiss mountain regions, in particular in the context of winter tourism. In the perspective of a warming climate, it is thus important to quantify the potential changes in snow amount and duration that could have large repercussions on the economy of ski resorts. Because of the fine spatial variability of snow, the use of a Surface Energy Balance Model (SEBM) is adequate to simulate local snow cover evolution. A perturbation method has been developed to generate plausible future meteorological input data required for SEBM simulations in order to assess the changes in snow cover patterns. Current and future snow depths have also been simulated within the ski areas themselves. The results show a large decrease of the snow depths and duration, even at high elevation in a warmer climate and emphasize the sensitivity of snow to topographical characteristics of the resorts. The most vulnerable areas would be the Western regions of Switzerland or the Eastern Prealps whereas the Central Alps or Valais would be less affected. The study highlights the fact that not only the altitude of a domain but also its exposure, localization inland and slope gradients need to be taken into account when evaluating current and future snow depths. This method enables a precise assessment of the snow pattern over a small area. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
An analysis of the seasonal precipitation forecasts in South America using wavelets
Authors: Pezzi Luciano Ponzi , Kayano Mary Toshie
Published: December 2008

A post‐processing technique was applied to statistically correct the seasonal rainfall forecasts over South America (SA). The aim of this work was to reduce errors in the seasonal climate simulations obtained from the Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) which was run with different deep cumulus convection parameterizations. One of the main contributions of this study is the discussion of the super‐ensemble approach to reduce errors in the seasonal rainfall prediction for SA. A novel aspect here is the use of the wavelet technique to compare forecast and observed time series by investigating their time‐frequency structures. This methodology has not yet been applied to super‐ensemble model validations. The statistical algorithm used in the super‐ensemble technique was based on the linear multiple regression method. The time series of the super‐ensemble forecast (FCT), arithmetic averaged forecast (MEM) and individual model forecasts and the observed (OBS) ones for selected areas of SA were compared by calculating the root mean square errors (RMSEs) and by applying the wavelet technique on these time series. In general, for the analysed areas we obtained a super‐ensemble skill superior to that for the MEM. The wavelet analysis proved to be very useful to compare forecast and observed time series. In fact, differences and similarities among the time series such as the dominant scale of variability and the time location of the largest variances in the time series were detected with the wavelet analyses. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Kinetic study of transesterification of methyl acetate with n‐butanol catalyzed by NKC‐9
Authors: Xu Baoyun , Zhang Weijiang , Zhang Xuemei , Zhou Cuifang
Published: December 2008

The transesterification of methyl acetate and n‐butanol catalyzed by cation‐exchange resin, NKC‐9, was studied in this work to obtain the reaction kinetics. The experiments were carried out in a stirred batch reactor at different temperatures (328.15, 333.15, 338.15, 343.15, 345.15 K) under atmospheric pressure. The effects of temperature, molar ratio of reactants, and catalyst loading on the reaction rate were researched under the condition of eliminating the effect of diffusion. The experimental data were correlated with a kinetic model based on the pseudo‐homogeneous catalysis. The kinetic equation describing the reaction catalyzed by NKC‐9 was developed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 101–106, 2009
Thermochemistry of chlorine‐containing hydrocarbons related to waste combustion
Authors: Burcat Alexander , Khachatryan Lavrent , Dellinger Barry
Published: December 2008

The thermochemistry of 25 chlorinated compounds potentially involved in chemical reactions related to waste combustion has been calculated using ab initio methods. Some of these species have never been reported in the literature. To check the validity of our calculations, 11 additional brominated analogues were also calculated. The thermochemical properties of these compounds were used in reaction kinetic models designed to estimate the performance of waste incinerators. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 113–122, 2009
Thermodynamics and kinetics of indole oligomerization: Preliminary results in aqueous sulfuric acid
Authors: Quartarone G. , Ronchin L. , Tortato C. , Vavasori A.
Published: December 2008

Reaction rates and equilibrium constants of indole dimerization and trimerization in aqueous sulfuric acid at 298 K are reported. The equilibrium of oligomerization is attained in about 4–5 h, and formation of oligomers with more than three monomeric unit is not observed. The equilibrium of formation of the indole dimer is influenced by the protonation equilibrium of indole, which means the pKIH values of indole strongly influences equilibria and kinetics of the whole process. In the evaluation of the kinetic constants, the pKIH values of indole have been taken into account; in this way, the kinetic constant of formation of the dimer (kD) results almost four order of magnitude larger than that of the trimer (kT), suggesting a higher electrophilicity of the 3H‐indolium cations with respect to the protonated dimer (which is an aliphatic ammonium salt). Further indole addition to the trimer, which is a protonated 2‐alkyl‐aniline, does not occur, since the anilinium ion is ineffective as an electrophile. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 107–112, 2009
Kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of n‐butanal and n‐pentanal with chlorine atoms
Authors: Singh Sukhdip , Hernandez Samuel , Ibarra Yesenia , Hasson Alam S.
Published: December 2008

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of chlorine atoms with n‐butanal and n‐pentanal have been investigated in a 142‐L reaction cell coupled to a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer at 298 ± 2 K and at 800 ± 3 Torr. The rate coefficients for Cl + n‐butanal and Cl + n‐pentanal were measured using the relative rate technique with isopropanol and ethene as the reference compounds. The yield of acyl radicals was determined by measuring yields of acid chloride and carbon monoxide products from the reaction of Cl + aldehyde in the absence of oxygen. The rate coefficients for Cl + n‐butanal and Cl + n‐pentanal are (1.63 ± 0.59) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s− 1 and (2.37 ± 0.82) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively. The yields of acyl radicals from the reactions are 0.66 ± 0.04 for n‐butanal and 0.45 ± 0.04 for n‐pentanal. Under ambient conditions, the acyl radicals generated will react almost exclusively with oxygen. Mechanistic implications of these measurements are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 133–141, 2009
Parental leave policies and parents' employment and leave‐taking
Authors: Han Wen‐Jui , Ruhm Christopher , Waldfogel Jane
Published: December 2008

We describe trends in maternal employment and leave‐taking after birth of a newborn and analyze the extent to which these behaviors are influenced by parental leave policies. Data are from the June Current Population Survey (CPS) Fertility Supplements, merged with other months of the CPS, and cover the period 1987 to 1994. This time span is one during which parental leave legislation expanded at both the state and federal level. We also provide the first comprehensive examination of employment and leave‐taking by fathers of infants. Our main finding is that leave expansions are associated with increased leave‐taking by both mothers and fathers. The magnitudes of the changes are small in absolute terms but large relative to the baseline for men and much greater for college‐educated or married mothers than for their less‐educated or single counterparts. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Using private demand studies to calculate socially optimal vaccine subsidies in developing countries
Authors: Cook Joseph , Jeuland Marc , Maskery Brian , Lauria Donald , Sur Dipika , Clemens John , Whittington Dale
Published: December 2008

Although it is well known that vaccines against many infectious diseases confer positive economic externalities via indirect protection, analysts have typically ignored possible herd protection effects in policy analyses of vaccination programs. Despite a growing literature on the economic theory of vaccine externalities and several innovative mathematical modeling approaches, there have been almost no empirical applications.

The first objective of the paper is to develop a transparent, accessible economic framework for assessing the private and social economic benefits of vaccination. We also describe how stated preference studies (for example, contingent valuation and choice modeling) can be useful sources of economic data for this analytic framework. We demonstrate socially optimal policies using a graphical approach, starting with a standard textbook depiction of Pigouvian subsidies applied to herd protection from vaccination programs. We also describe nonstandard depictions that highlight some counterintuitive implications of herd protection that we feel are not commonly understood in the applied policy literature.

We illustrate the approach using economic and epidemiological data from two neighborhoods in Kolkata, India. We use recently published epidemiological data on the indirect effects of cholera vaccination in Matlab, Bangladesh (Ali et al., 2005) for fitting a simple mathematical model of how protection changes with vaccine coverage. We use new data on costs and private demand for cholera vaccines in Kolkata, India, and approximate the optimal Pigouvian subsidy. We find that if the optimal subsidy is unknown, selling vaccines at full marginal cost may, under some circumstances, be a preferable second‐best option to providing them for free. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
The effects of NBPTS‐certified teachers on student achievement
Authors: Harris Douglas N. , Sass Tim R.
Published: December 2008

In this study, we consider the efficacy of a relatively new and widely accepted certification system for teachers established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). We utilize an extensive database covering the universe of teachers and students in Florida for a four‐year span to determine the relationship between NBPTS certification and the impact of teachers on student test scores from both low‐stakes and high‐stakes exams. Contrary to some previous studies, we find evidence that NBPTS certification provides a positive signal of a teacher's contribution to student achievement only in a few isolated cases. However, our results do reinforce evidence from previous research that the process of becoming NBPTS certified does not increase teacher productivity. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal blood group phenotypes: current practice and future prospects
Authors: Daniels Geoff , Finning Kirstin , Martin Pete , Massey Edwin
Published: December 2008

Fetuses of women with alloantibodies to RhD (D) are at risk from hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, but only if the fetal red cells are D‐positive. In such pregnancies, it is beneficial to determine fetal D type, as this will affect the management of the pregnancy. It is possible to predict, with a high level of accuracy, fetal blood group phenotypes from genotyping tests on fetal DNA. The best source is the small quantity of fetal DNA in the blood of pregnant women, as this avoids the requirement for invasive procedures of amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Many laboratories worldwide now provide noninvasive fetal D genotyping as a routine service for alloimmunized women, and some also test for c, E, C and K.

In many countries, anti‐D immunoglobulin injections are offered to D‐negative pregnant women, to reduce the chances of prenatal immunization, even though up to 40% of these women will have a D‐negative fetus. High‐throughput, noninvasive fetal D genotyping technologies are being developed so that unnecessary treatment of pregnant women can be avoided. Trials suggest that fetal D typing of all D‐negative pregnant women is feasible and should become common practice in the near future. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preventing and ameliorating young children's chronic problem behaviors: An ecological classroom‐based approach
Authors: Conroy Maureen , Sutherland Kevin , Haydon Todd , Stormont Melissa , Harmon Jennifer
Published: December 2008

The number of young children who demonstrate chronic problem behaviors placing them at high risk for the future development of emotional and behavioral disorders is increasing. These children's problem behaviors often exist prior to entering school and become apparent as they interact with their parents at home. In fact, researchers have suggested that children who demonstrate chronic problem behaviors and their parents often end up developing well‐established negative interaction patterns that can evolve into coercive relationships and persist upon entry into school. This article describes an ecological classroom‐based approach, which emphasizes changing teacher‐‐student interaction patterns as a means for preventing and possibly ameliorating coercive interaction patterns demonstrated by young children and their teachers. First, a brief overview of current service delivery models and intervention programs addressing young children's behavioral excesses is presented. Next, a description of the ecological classroom‐based intervention model for addressing the behavioral needs of these children is described. This section includes the theoretical frameworks on which the model is based and an overview of model components. Additionally, the application of the model to a school‐wide systems approach is explored. Finally, future research directions are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and radical polymerization of dissymmetric fumarates with alkoxyethyl and bulky siloxy groups
Authors: Ohnishi Masato , Uno Takahiro , Kubo Masataka , Itoh Takahito
Published: December 2008

Novel dissymmetric fumarate monomers (1a–c) having both an alkoxyethyl group such as 2‐methoxyethyl (a), 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl (b), and 2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl (c) and a bulky 3‐[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl group were synthesized successfully, and their radical homopolymerizations and copolymerizations with styrene (St) were investigated. Monomer reactivities of the 1a–c in homopolymerizations were enhanced with an increase in the length of alkoxyethyl chains. The enhancement in the reactivity was explained with the suppression of the termination reaction, resulting from the increased steric hindrance induced by an increase in the size of alkoxyethyl chains. Copolymerizations of the 1a–c with St were carried out in bulk in the presence of AIBN at 60 °C, and their copolymerizations proceeded in a highly alternating tendency regardless of alkoxyethyl chain lengths. The Q, e values of the 1a–c were obtained as 0.48, +1.55 for the 1a, 0.66, +1.16 for the 1b, and 0.60, +1.16 for the 1c, respectively, from the terminal model reactivity ratios, and the 1a–c were found to be conjugative, electron‐accepting monomers. Membranes containing the 1a unit, prepared by the copolymerization of 1a with N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and terpolymerization of 1a, NVP, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, have higher oxygen permeability than those containing no 1a unit, and also they have much better transparency compared with the membranes containing 3‐[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate unit. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 420–433, 2009
Solid‐State NMR investigations of anhydrous proton‐conducting acid–base poly(acrylic acid)– poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) polymer blend system: A study of hydrogen bonding and proton conduction
Authors: Akbey Ümit , Graf Robert , Peng Yuan G. , Chu Peter P. , Spiess Hans W.
Published: December 2008

NMR studies of the structure and dynamics of a system composed of the acidic polymer poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and the basic polymer poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) are presented. This system aims at the application of anhydrous proton‐conducting membranes that can be used at elevated temperatures at which the proton conduction of hydrated membranes breaks down. The 1H NMR measurements have been preformed under fast magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions to achieve sufficient resolution and the applied 1H NMR methods vary from simple 1H MAS to double‐quantum filtered methods and two‐dimensional 1H double‐quantum spectroscopy. The dynamic behavior of the systems has been investigated via variable temperature 1H MAS NMR. 13C cross‐polarization MAS NMR provides additional aspects of dynamic and structural features to complete the picture. Different types of acidic protons have been identified in the studied PAA‐P4VP systems that are nonhydrogen‐bonded free acidic protons, hydrogen‐bonded dicarboxylic dimers, and protons forming hydrogen bonds between carboxylic protons and ring nitrogens. The conversion of dimer structures in dried PAA to free carboxylic acid groups is accomplished at temperatures above 380 K. However, the stability of hydrogen‐bonding strongly depends on the hydration level of the polymer systems. The effect of hydration becomes less apparent in the complexes. An inverse proportionality between hydrogen‐bonding strength and proton conduction in the PAA‐P4VP acid–base polymer blend systems was established. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 138–155, 2009
Fluctuation‐assisted crystallization of an iPP/PEOc polymer alloy prepared on a single multicatalyst reactor granule
Authors: Du Jiang , Zhang Xiaohua , Han Charles C.
Published: December 2008

The new fluctuation‐assisted mechanism for nucleation and crystallization in the isotactic polypropylene/poly(ethylene‐co‐octene) alloy has been studied. We found that the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) had a dominant influence on the crystallization kinetics through the nucleation process. After LLPS, the nucleation of crystallization mainly occurred at the interface of the phase‐separated domains. It is because that the concentration fluctuations of the LLPS induced the motion of polymer chains and possibly some segmental alignment and/or orientation in the concentration gradient regions through interdiffusion, which could assist the formation of nuclei for crystallization. In other words, the usual nucleation energy barrier could be overcome (or at least partially) by the concentration fluctuation growth of LLPS in the unstable regions. This could be viewed as a new kind of heterogeneous nucleation and could be an addition to the regular nucleation and growth mechanism for crystallization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 166–172, 2009
Segmental dynamics in poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(L‐lactide) copolymer networks
Authors: Sabater i Serra Roser , Escobar Ivirico Jorge L. , Meseguer Dueñas Jose María , Balado Andreu Andrio , Gómez Ribelles José Luis , Salmerón Sánchez Manuel
Published: December 2008

Poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) networks were prepared from macromonomer diols functionalized with methacrylic anhydride, which allows one to get self‐crosslinkable polymers. Besides, both macromonomers were copolymerized to get copolymer networks with different compositions (namely, PCL/PLA: 0/100, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, 100/0). Dielectric and calorimetric experiments allow one to conclude the microphase separation of the system: one phase made of pure PCL domains while the second one consists of caprolactone units, which somehow plasticize PLA and moves its main relaxation (glass transition) to lower temperatures. The effect of crosslinking PLA on the dynamics of the system was further investigated by comparing with the dynamics for linear PLA. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 183–193, 2009
Crystalline structure of sequential poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine, and even aliphatic dicarboxylic acids
Authors: Casas María Teresa , Puiggalí Jordi
Published: December 2008

Basic structural data of two sequential poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine, and adipic acid or dodecanodioic acid have been determined by means of X‐ray and electron diffraction patterns from fibers and single crystals. Chain‐folded lamellar crystals were obtained by isothermal crystallization from diol or glycerine solutions, and the crystalline habit was investigated by real space electron microscopy. Polyethylene decoration techniques were applied to evaluate the regularity of the folding surfaces. Spherulites prepared from evaporation of formic acid solutions were also studied. The two sequential poly(ester amide)s crystallized according to triclinic and monoclinic unit cells, in which the a crystallographic parameter was close to the typical distance between hydrogen‐bonded chains. Projections viewed down the chain axis revealed differences in the packing mode since oblique and rectangular cells were found for the adipic acid and dodecanodioic acid derivatives, respectively. Both structures can be envisaged as a stacking of hydrogen‐bonded sheets although clear differences concerning the shift between consecutive sheets and the number of layers comprising the unit cell were found. The large unit cells that have been deduced seem to be a consequence of the different packing preferences of the diester and diamide moieties. Both polymers have a molecular conformation that deviates from the all‐trans conformation typical of aliphatic polyamides and polyesters with a large number of methylene groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 194–206, 2009
Scaling law for the radius of gyration of proteins and its dependence on hydrophobicity
Authors: Hong Liu , Lei Jinzhi
Published: December 2008

The scaling law between the radius of gyration and the length of a polymer chain has long been an interesting topic since the Flory theory. In this article, we seek to derive a unified formula for the scaling exponent of proteins under different solvent conditions. The formula is obtained by considering the balance between the excluded volume effect and elastic interactions among monomers. Our results show that the scaling exponent is closely related to the fractal dimension of a protein's structure at the equilibrium state. Applying this formula to natural proteins yields a 2/5 law with fractal dimension 2 at the native state, which is in good agreement with other studies based on Protein Data Bank analysis. We also study the dependence of the scaling exponent on the hydrophobicity of a protein chain through a simple two‐letters HP model. The results provides a way to estimate the globular structure of a protein, and could be helpful for the investigation of the mechanisms of protein folding. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 207–214, 2009
The role of illness representations in coping and health of patients treated for breast cancer
Authors: Rozema Hetje , Völlink Trijntje , Lechner Lilian
Published: December 2008

Objective: The present study examined the relation of cognitive and emotional representations of illness specified by the Common Sense Model of Illness Cognition (Handbook of Psychology and Health: Social Psychological Aspects of Health. Earlbaum, Hillsdale: New York, 1984; 219–252) with the coping strategies and perceived health of patients who were treated for breast cancer.

Methods: Participants were 119 women within 2 years after their diagnosis of breast cancer, who completed a questionnaire containing measures of illness representations, coping strategies and perceived physical and mental health.

Results: Breast cancer patients differ in the subjective perception of their disease. Patients who view their illness as a condition with serious symptoms and consequences, patients who believe their illness is chronic and patients who consider their illness uncontrollable were found to report worse physical and mental health than those who believed the opposite. Regression analysis showed that, after controlling for external variables, the cognitive illness representations identity and consequences explained 57% of variance in physical health, whereas emotional illness representation and treatment control explained 47% of variance in mental health.

Conclusion: Results provide some support for the hypotheses of the Common Sense Model of Illness Cognition. Illness representations seem to play an important role in perceived health in breast cancer. The implications of these findings for the design of health‐care‐related interventions for breast cancer patients are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementing touch‐screen technology to enhance recognition of distress
Authors: Clark K. , Bardwell W. A. , Arsenault T. , DeTeresa R. , Loscalzo M.
Published: December 2008

Objective: The University of California, San Diego, Moores Cancer Center implemented a systematic approach for patients to communicate with their health‐care team in real‐time regarding psychosocial problem‐related distress using touch‐screen technology. The purpose of this report is to describe our experience in implementing touch‐screen problem‐related distress screening as the standard of care for all outpatients in a health‐care setting. Although early identification of distress has recently gained wide attention, the practical issues of implementing psychosocial screening with and without the use of technology have not been fully addressed or investigated.

Methods: ‘The How Can We Help You and Your Family?’ screening instrument was used to identify and address patient problem‐related distress for clinical services, program development, research and education. Using a HIPPA‐compliant approach, the touch‐screen technology also helped to identify patients interested in clinical trials and additional support services.

Results: We found that the biggest barrier to implementing this technology was the attitude of the front desk staff (i.e. schedulers, clerks, administrative staff) who felt that the touch‐screen would be burdensome. Our experience suggested that it was essential to actively involve these personnel from the beginning of the planning process. As specifically acknowledged in the recent 2007 Institute of Medicine report (Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs. The National Academies Press: Washington, DC, 2007), use of this computerized version of the screening instrument was able to bridge the gap between the detection of problem‐related distress and referrals for assessment or treatment.

Conclusion: We found that it is feasible to implement a computerized problem‐related distress screening program in a comprehensive cancer center. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recommended drug treatment of BPH in primary care
Authors: Taylor Claire , Foley Charlotte , Kirby Roger
Published: December 2008

The development of safe and effective drugs for the treatment of BPH has allowed many patients to be managed in primary care. Our Drug review considers the efficacy and side‐effects of current treatments, followed by sources of further information and an analysis of prescription data. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd