bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Convenient Peptide Synthesis Using Unprotected α-Amino Acids Containing Another Hydrophilic Moiety under Basic Conditions
Authors: Noguchi Takuya , Jung Seunghee , Imai Nobuyuki
Published: May 2012

Carboxylic acids 1 and 7 reacted effectively with unprotected α-amino acids 2 containing another hydrophilic moiety under basic conditions via activation by ethyl chloroformate and triethylamine to afford the corresponding amides in 74–99% yields.
Dehydration and Hydration Behavior of Rare-earth Hydroxides for Chemical Heat Pumps
Authors: Ishitobi Hirokazu , Ryu Junichi , Kato Yukitaka
Published: May 2012

Pure and mixed rare-earth hydroxides are expected to be new materials for chemical heat pumps. In this study, the dehydration and hydration behavior of these materials was investigated by thermogravimetry. The dehydration temperature could be lowered by increasing the Nd or Gd ion content in the hydroxides. La0.50Gd0.50(OH)3 is an ideal candidate material for chemical heat pumps that can store thermal energy at 300 °C; further, heat output can be generated from the heat source at 40 °C.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the normal endometrium: temporal and spatial variations of the apparent diffusion coefficient
Authors: Fornasa Francesca , Montemezzi Stefania
Published: May 2012

Background

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of endometrial disease. No complete knowledge, however, exists yet of the influence of physiology on the endometrial apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on which DWI is based.

Purpose

To establish whether the ADC values measured with DWI in the endometrium of healthy reproductive-aged women significantly vary from the early proliferative to the periovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle and between the fundus and the isthmus of the uterus.

Material and Methods

In 17 women the endometrial ADC values measured on the fifth menstrual day, both at the fundus and at the isthmus of the uterus, were compared to the values obtained on the 14th day before the subsequent cycle. In 81 women (menstrual day: fifth through 21st) the endometrial ADC values measured at the fundus were compared to the values obtained at the isthmus of the uterus. All examinations were performed with a 1.5 T magnet (b values: 0 and 800 mm/s2). The results were analyzed by means of Student's t-test per paired data.

Results

The endometrial ADC values measured on the fifth day of the menstrual cycle were lower than those obtained in the periovulatory phase both at the fundus (mean 0.923 vs. 1.256 × 10−3 mm2/s) and at the isthmus (mean 1.297 vs. 1.529 × 10−3 mm2/s) of the uterus. The endometrial ADC values measured at the fundus of the uterus were lower than those obtained at the isthmus (mean 1.132 vs. 1.420 × 10−3 mm2/s) through the menstrual cycle. All these differences were highly significant ( P < 0.001) at statistical analysis.

Conclusion

Physiological variations occurring in endometrial ADC values of healthy women should be considered by the radiologists when interpreting DWI examinations in patients with endometrial disease.
Dermatoses misdiagnosed as deliberate injuries
Authors: Asati Dinesh P , Singh Sandeep , Sharma Vinod K , Tiwari Shreyansh
Published: May 2012

Examination of non-accidental injuries on a body should be done with caution, as often skin diseases can mimic deliberate injuries. Patients with active dermatoses or their residual/post-inflammatory spots seen during autopsy can generate false alarms or suspicion of burns, child abuse or battering, sexual assault or other medicolegal cases. The inability to distinguish between a mechanical injury and skin disease can cause unnecessary anxiety and can complicate medicolegal investigations. Many times, an elaborate history to find out the aetiology of the lesion is either unavailable or not reliable as in the cases of young children, insane or mentally subnormal patients or in medicolegal deaths. The greatest chance of misinterpretation may be in cases of extensive denudation of the skin seen in severe drug reactions like toxic epidermal necrolysis, which can be mistaken for scald burns. Other important cases include bruises diagnosed on seeing discoloured spots on the skin or genital lesions raising the suspicion of sexual abuse in children. This diagnostic dilemma can also lead to undue forensic investigations, imprecise expert opinions and distress to patients or their family members. This review aims to generate awareness about proper interpretation of findings with an open mind, the clues to differentiate between true and false injuries and the management thereof.
Exploration of staff attitudes and experiences towards mixed- and single-sex wards in the National Secure Forensic Service for Young People
Authors: Crutchley Michael , O'Brien Aileen
Published: May 2012

Mixed-sex wards in adult forensic secure services have been abolished and replaced by single-sex services. The National Secure Forensic Service for Young People (NSFSYP) continues to use a mixture of single-sex male and mixed-sex wards. This study aimed to explore staff experiences and attitudes towards placing young people in mixed- or single-sex wards in the NSFSYP. Mixed methodology was adopted in the form of focus groups (qualitative) and questionnaires (semi-quantitative). Content analyses of the qualitative data revealed five themes: care of female patients, normalization, safety, commissioning and social representation of women. The questionnaire was developed from the qualitative findings and comprised 22 statements measuring attitudes towards mixed- and single-sex wards. One hundred and forty-five questionnaires were returned: a 44% total response rate. Overall, the responses to the questionnaire confirmed the focus group data. There were statistically significant differences in responses between staff working on mixed- and single-sex wards. Staff working on mixed-sex wards felt that mixing genders on wards is a crucial part of adolescent forensic inpatient treatment. For them, mixed wards provide a more developmentally appropriate environment for young people. The needs of female patients broaden the debate beyond segregating and mixing gender.
Comparison of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy with other disorders: an observational study
Authors: Knudsen Ak , Lervik Lv , Harvey Sb , Løvvik Cms , Omenås An , Mykletun A
Published: May 2012

Summary

Objectives

To examine the level of activity in online discussion forums for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME) compared to other disorders. We hypothesized the level of activity to be higher in CFS/ME online discussion forums.

Design

Observational study

Setting

Norway, which has more than 80% household coverage in internet access, September 2009

Participants

Twelve Norwegian disorder-related online discussion forums

Main outcome measures

Number of registered users and number of posted messages on each discussion forum

Results

Two forums were targeted towards individuals with CFS/ME. These forums had the highest number of registered users per estimated 1,000 cases in the population (50.5 per 1,000 and 29.7 per 1,000), followed by a site for drug dependency (5.4 per 1,000). Counting the number of posted messages per 1,000 cases gave similar indications of high online activity in the CFS/ME discussion forums.

Conclusions

CFS/ME online forums had more than ten times the relative activity of any other disorder or condition related forum. This high level of activity may have multiple explanations. Individuals suffering from a stigmatized condition of unknown aetiology may use the internet to look for explanations of symptoms or to seek out alternative treatments. Internet forum activity may also be reinforced by the creation of in-group identity and pre-morbid personality traits. More knowledge on the type and quality of information provided in online forums is urgently needed.
The constructive use of images in medical teaching: a literature review
Authors: Norris Elizabeth M
Published: May 2012

Summary

This literature review illustrates the various ways images are used in teaching and the evidence appertaining to it and advice regarding permissions and use. Four databases were searched, 23 papers were retained out of 135 abstracts found for the study. Images are frequently used to motivate an audience to listen to a lecture or to note key medical findings. Images can promote observation skills when linked with learning outcomes, but the timing and relevance of the images is important – it appears they must be congruent with the dialogue. Student reflection can be encouraged by asking students to actually draw their own impressions of a course as an integral part of course feedback. Careful structured use of images improve attention, cognition, reflection and possibly memory retention.
Periodic Advertising Pulsing in a Competitive Market
Authors: Freimer Marshall , Horsky Dan
Published: May 2012

The question as to the optimality of advertising pulsing has attracted many researchers over the last half-century. In this paper we specify a market share model in which there are two advertising-setting firms as well as a no-purchase option. The framework is that of a first-order Markov process with three states. The objective of both firms is to maximize profits. We are able to demonstrate, for a diminishing returns advertising function, that the optimal advertising strategy is pulsing. The frequency of the advertising pulse is shown to depend on the magnitude of the market share retention rate (state dependence); the higher it is, the less frequent the advertising. We further find that the optimal advertising budgets do not remain the same when the frequency of pulsing changes. Finally, we show that it is optimal for both firms to advertise in phase.
Self-Control and Incentives: An Analysis of Multiperiod Quota Plans
Authors: Jain Sanjay
Published: May 2012

It is well known that individuals often fail to exert proper self-control. In organizational settings, this can lead to reduced productivity and profits. We use the literature on present-biased preferences to model employees' self-control problems and examine how firms can design compensation plans to reduce the negative consequences of their employees' self-control problems. Our results suggest that firms can mitigate self-control problems by delaying payment to the employees. This can be achieved by using multiperiod quotas (such as annual quotas) to compensate employees for their cumulative performance. Although such plans are prevalent in the market, there is little theoretical research that shows when multiperiod quota plans can be optimal. The paper provides one potential explanation for the widespread use of such quota plans. Interestingly, we find that such plans may be optimal despite the fact that they encourage more procrastination. We also find that such plans lead to higher effort by the employees and can sometimes improve the welfare of not only the firm but also the employees.
Extending Construal-Level Theory to Distributed Groups: Understanding the Effects of Virtuality
Authors: Wilson Jeanne , Crisp C. Brad , Mortensen Mark
Published: May 2012

This Perspectives article seeks to redirect research on distributed (also referred to as virtual) groups, a well-established organizational phenomenon in which group members are separated by one or more forms of distance (e.g., geographic or temporal). Such distances directly affect individual behavior and shape other features of the context that alter group processes (e.g., by forcing groups to adopt new communication tools). Prior research has examined isolated effects of various dimensions of virtuality without considering how these effects on individual behavior and group dynamics might have conceptually related underpinnings. To address this gap, we propose an extension of construal-level theory as a way to link the effects of virtuality through a common mediating mechanism. According to construal-level theory, events or objects that are physically or temporally distant are also distant psychologically and thus are likely to be described in terms of their general characteristics. In contrast, views of more proximal events or objects will be more detailed and nuanced. We develop propositions that illustrate how objective dimensions of distance create psychological distance and how that in turn affects how individuals view and interact with their teammates. We also develop propositions that show how the context of the distributed group (e.g., technology usage) affects this process over time. We compare and link this construal-based approach to alternatives based in theories of computer-mediated communication and social identity, and we thereby show that construal-level theory offers both parsimonious explanations and novel predictions about how and why distance alters perceptions of distributed group members (including oneself). Finally, we consider theoretical and practical implications of construal-level theory for future organization science research and the management of virtual teams.
Divergent Reactions to Convergent Strategies: Investor Beliefs and Analyst Reactions During Technological Change
Authors: Benner Mary J. , Ranganathan Ram
Published: May 2012

An important outcome of technological change is industry “convergence,” as a new technology spurs competition between established firms from different industries. We study the reactions of securities analysts, as important sources of institutional pressures for firms, to the similar product/market strategies undertaken by firms from different prior industries responding to industry convergence. Our empirical setting is the convergence between the wireline telecommunications and cable television industries in the period following the advent of voice over Internet protocol technology. Controlling for firm financial performance and capabilities, we find that analysts were consistently more positive toward the cable firms than toward the wireline telecom firms. Our findings further show that this divergence in reactions arises from differences in existing investor expectations and preferences concerning how firms create value; stocks owned by investors with a greater preference for growth receive more positive reactions than those owned by investors with a greater preference for margins. However, this divergence in reactions shrinks over time as convergence unfolds and as investors shift their shareholdings in response to misalignment between their preferences and firms' strategic changes. Reactions from analysts—reflecting inertial expectations of investors—may persist for a time despite changes to firms' strategies, thus creating challenges for some firms in responding to technological change and industry convergence while legitimating and enabling similar responses from their competitors.
Segmental proximal femoral bone loss and revision total hip replacement in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip
Authors: Sternheim A. , Rogers B. A. , Kuzyk P. R. , Safir O. A. , Backstein D. , Gross A. E.
Published: May 2012

The treatment of substantial proximal femoral bone loss in young patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is challenging. We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 28 patients (30 hips) with DDH who underwent revision total hip replacement (THR) in the presence of a deficient proximal femur, which was reconstructed with an allograft prosthetic composite. The mean follow-up was 15 years (8.5 to 25.5). The mean number of previous THRs was three (1 to 8). The mean age at primary THR and at the index reconstruction was 41 years (18 to 61) and 58.1 years (32 to 72), respectively. The indication for revision included mechanical loosening in 24 hips, infection in three and peri-prosthetic fracture in three.

Six patients required removal and replacement of the allograft prosthetic composite, five for mechanical loosening and one for infection. The survivorship at ten, 15 and 20 years was 93% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91 to 100), 75.5% (95% CI 60 to 95) and 75.5% (95% CI 60 to 95), respectively, with 25, eight, and four patients at risk, respectively. Additionally, two junctional nonunions between the allograft and host femur required bone grafting and plating.

An allograft prosthetic composite affords a good long-term outcome in the management of proximal femoral bone loss in revision THR in patients with DDH, while preserving distal host bone.
Gemella haemolysans spondylodiscitis
Authors: Rajagopal T. S. , Walia M. , Wilson H. A. , Marshall R. W. , Andrade A. J. , Iyer S.
Published: May 2012

We report on two cases of infective spondylodiscitis caused by Gemella haemolysans in otherwise healthy patients. This organism has only rarely been identified as a cause of bone and joint infection, with only two previous reports of infective spondylodiscitis.

We describe the clinical features, investigations and treatment options.
The open blast pelvis
Authors: Ramasamy A. , Evans S. , Kendrew J. M. , Cooper J.
Published: May 2012

The open blast fracture of the pelvis is considered to be the most severe injury within the spectrum of battlefield trauma. We report our experience of 29 consecutive patients who had sustained this injury in Afghanistan between 2008 and 2010. Their median new injury severity score (NISS) was 41 (8 to 75), and mean blood requirement in the first 24 hours was 60.3 units (0 to 224). In addition to their orthopaedic injury, six had an associated vascular injury, seven had a bowel injury, 11 had a genital injury and seven had a bladder injury. In all, eight fractures were managed definitively with external fixation and seven required internal fixation. Of those patients who underwent internal fixation, four required removal of metalwork for infection. Faecal diversion was performed in nine cases. The median length of hospital stay following emergency repatriation to the United Kingdom was 70.5 days (5 to 357) and the mean total operating time was 29.6 hours (5 to 187). At a mean follow-up of 20.3 months (13.2 to 29.9), 24 patients (82.8%) were able to walk and 26 (89.7%) had clinical and radiological evidence of stability of the pelvic ring.

As a result of the increase in terrorism, injuries that were previously confined exclusively to warfare can now occur anywhere, with civilian surgeons who are involved in trauma care potentially required to manage similar injuries. Our study demonstrates that the management of this injury pattern demands huge resources and significant multidisciplinary input. Given the nature of the soft-tissue injury, we would advocate external fixation as the preferred management of these fractures. With the advent of emerging wound and faecal management techniques, we do not believe that faecal diversion is necessary in all cases.
Resurfacing arthroplasty for hip dysplasia
Authors: Wang Q. , Zhang X. L. , Chen Y. S. , Shen H. , Shao J. J.
Published: May 2012

In this prospective study a total of 80 consecutive Chinese patients with Crowe type I or II developmental dysplasia of the hip were randomly assigned for hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) or total hip replacement (THR).

Three patients assigned to HRA were converted to THR, and three HRA patients and two THR patients were lost to follow-up. This left a total of 34 patients (37 hips) who underwent HRA and 38 (39 hips) who underwent THR. The mean follow-up was 59.4 months (52 to 70) in the HRA group and 60.6 months (50 to 72) in the THR group. There was no failure of the prosthesis in either group. Flexion of the hip was significantly better after HRA, but there was no difference in the mean post-operative Harris hip scores between the groups. The mean size of the acetabular component in the HRA group was significantly larger than in the THR group (49.5 mm vs 46.1 mm, p = 0.001). There was no difference in the mean abduction angle of the acetabular component between the two groups.

Although the patients in this series had risk factors for failure after HRA, such as low body weight, small femoral heads and dysplasia, the clinical results of resurfacing in those with Crowe type I or II hip dysplasia were satisfactory. Patients in the HRA group had a better range of movement, although neck-cup impingement was observed. However, more acetabular bone was sacrificed in HRA patients, and it is unclear whether this will have an adverse effect in the long term.
The outcome of carpal tunnel decompression in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jenkins P. J. , Duckworth A. D. , Watts A. C. , McEachan J. E.
Published: May 2012

Diabetes mellitus is recognised as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome. The response to treatment is unclear, and may be poorer than in non-diabetic patients. Previous randomised studies of interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome have specifically excluded diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients, and compare the outcome of carpal tunnel decompression with non-diabetic patients. The primary endpoint was improvement in the QuickDASH score. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 11.3% (176 of 1564). Diabetic patients were more likely to have severe neurophysiological findings at presentation. Patients with diabetes had poorer QuickDASH scores at one year post-operatively (p = 0.028), although the mean difference was lower than the minimal clinically important difference for this score. After controlling for underlying differences in age and gender, there was no difference between groups in the magnitude of improvement after decompression (p = 0.481). Patients with diabetes mellitus can therefore be expected to enjoy a similar improvement in function.
Successful Treatment of Polymicrobial Calcaneal Osteomyelitis with Telavancin, Rifampin, and Meropenem
Authors: Brinkman Mary Beth , Fan Kaili , Shiveley Renee L , Van Anglen Lucinda J
Published: May 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of multidrug-resistant osteomyelitis successfully treated with telavancin, rifampin, and meropenem.

CASE SUMMARY:

An 18-year-old male with spina bifida was treated primarily in the outpatient setting over the course of 133 days with multiple antimicrobials for a recurrent right calcaneal wound and osteomyelitis infection. Initial cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, which were treated with intravenous vancomycin 1 g every 12 hours, increased after 13 days to 1.5 g every 12 hours with addition of rifampin 300 mg twice daily, both of which were discontinued on day 22 due to leukopenia (white blood cell count 3.0 × 103/μL) and neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count 0.2 × 103/μL). Daptomycin 8 mg/kg/day was then initiated with rifampin 300 mg twice daily; treatment was discontinued after 49 days due to an elevated creatine kinase level of 1831 U/L (baseline 86). Intravenous meropenem 1 g every 8 hours was again initiated on day 83 following additional identification of quinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the soft tissue of the right foot. Intravenous vancomycin 1 g every 12 hours was also restarted at this time for persistent coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and oral rifampin 300 mg twice daily was again added. Adverse events again required the discontinuation of vancomycin on day 91. The eventual drug therapy regimen consisted of telavancin 750 mg/day for 42 days, meropenem for 50 days, and oral rifampin for 50 days. At the end of treatment, the patient's right heel wound had almost completely closed. He was without recurrence or treatment-related adverse events at follow-up 1 year later.

DISCUSSION:

Antimicrobial selection for osteomyelitis infections presents a challenge to the clinician due to patient intolerance, increasing antimicrobial resistance, and variable antimicrobial penetration at the site of infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the successful use of a regimen including telavancin for the treatment of a recurrent, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus osteomyelitis infection.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this complex case involving a polymicrobial infection of the right calcaneal bone and surrounding soft tissue, eventual drug therapy including telavancin, meropenem, and rifampin resulted in a successful clinical response.
Planning a Pharmacy-Led Medical Mission Trip, Part 2: Servant Leadership and Team Dynamics
Authors: Brown Dana A , Brown Daniel L , Yocum Christine K
Published: May 2012

This article, focusing on servant leadership and team dynamics, examines the concept of servant leadership as part of medical missions' efforts and provides suggestions for team building, both before and during the mission trip, and is the second in a 4-part series on pharmacist-led medical mission trips. The third article, “Development and Implementation of an Elective Medical Missions Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Rotation,” focuses on developing an elective APPE for international and domestic medical missions, including provision of products. Part 4, “An Exploratory Study of Student Experiences,” is an evaluation of data collected from both APPE and non-APPE student participants on Gregory School of Pharmacy mission trips during the summer of 2011. Specifically, it examines the issue of professionalism and the personal impact that mission trips may have on pharmacy students.

While pharmacy curricula can prepare students for the cognitive domains of pharmacy practice, mastery of the affective aspects can prove to be more challenging. At the Gregory School of Pharmacy, medical mission trips have been highly effective means of impacting student attitudes and beliefs. Specifically, these trips have led to transformational changes in student leadership capacity, turning an act of service into an act of influence. Additionally, building team unity is invaluable to the overall effectiveness of the trip. Pretrip preparation for teams includes activities such as routine team meetings, team-building activities, and implementation of committees, as a means of promoting positive team dynamics. While in the field, team dynamics can be fostered through activities such as daily debriefing sessions, team disclosure times, and provision of medical services.
Use of Oral Vitamin K for Prevention of Late Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in Neonates When Injectable Vitamin K is Not Available
Authors: Ipema Heather J
Published: May 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the literature describing use of oral vitamin K1 (phytonadione) to prevent late vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in neonates when injectable vitamin K preparations are not available.

DATA SOURCES:

Articles were retrieved through MEDLINE (1946–February 2012) using the terms vitamin K, vitamin K deficiency bleeding, newborn, neonate, and prophylaxis. Reference citations from publications identified were reviewed.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:

All articles published in English on the use of prophylactic oral vitamin K in neonates were evaluated. The largest epidemiologic studies discussing the efficacy of continuous oral vitamin K prophylaxis were reviewed. Individual, smaller clinical trials were not reviewed.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

For prevention of early, classic, and late VKDB, use of intramuscular vitamin K 1 mg is preferred over oral administration because of superior efficacy. Single oral doses protect against early VKDB, but multiple oral doses are needed for late VKDB prophylaxis, especially in exclusively breast-fed neonates. Continuous oral dosing regimens used in the literature vary; European epidemiologic data suggest the lowest rates of late VKDB with oral vitamin K 1 mg at birth followed by 25 μg daily for 13 weeks, or 2 mg at birth followed by 1 mg weekly for 3 months. Limited data describe the use of oral prophylactic vitamin K in high-risk patients (eg, premature neonates, biliary abnormalities).

CONCLUSIONS:

While there are data supporting effective oral vitamin K dosing regimens for prevention of late VKBD in exclusively breast-fed neonates, lack of an appropriate oral dosage form prevents routine use of this technique in the US. In times of drug shortage, injectable vitamin K preparations should be reserved for use in neonates. If injectable vitamin K is not available, clinicians should choose the most practical method of administering oral vitamin K based on the oral products available.
Pd/TOMPP-catalyzed telomerization of 1,3-butadiene: From biomass-based substrates to new mechanistic insights
Authors: Hausoul Peter J. C. , Bruijnincx Pieter C. A. , Weckhuysen Bert M. , Klein Gebbink Robert J. M.
Published: May 2012

Studies aimed at synthesizing surfactants from biomass-based feedstocks using Pd-catalyzed telomerization of 1,3-butadiene resulted in the development of a highly active catalyst system. A ligand screening was performed, and Pd/tris(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphine (TOMPP) was identified as the most promising catalyst. A solvent- and base-free protocol was developed, which allows efficient and selective conversion of a wide variety of polyol substrates (e.g., glycerol, diols, carbohydrates, and sugar alcohols). In the case of hemi-acetal bearing sugars, catalyst deactivation was observed and mechanistic studies showed that extensive formation of ligand-derived phosphonium species depleted the amount of available ligand. Stoichiometric coordination reactions gave insight into the phosphine alkylation mechanism and demonstrated the reversibility of the observed reaction. A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis method was developed for the preparation of [Pd((1-3,7,8η)-(E)-octa-2,7-dien-1-yl)(PR3)]+ complexes, which are key reactive intermediates. Based on these studies, an extended telomerization mechanism is proposed, which accounts for the formation of ligand-derived phosphonium species and the reversibility of reaction pathways.
Rapid Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Assay for a Characteristic Glycogen-Derived Tetrasaccharide in Pompe Disease and Other Glycogen Storage Diseases
Authors: Sluiter Wim , van den Bosch Jeroen C , Goudriaan Daphne A , van Gelder Carin M , de Vries Juna M , Huijmans Jan G M , Reuser Arnold J J , van der Ploeg Ans T , Ruijter George J G
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND

Urinary excretion of the tetrasaccharide 6-α-D-glucopyranosyl-maltotriose (Glc4) is increased in various clinical conditions associated with increased turnover or storage of glycogen, making Glc4 a potential biomarker for glycogen storage diseases (GSD). We developed an ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) assay to detect Glc4 in urine without interference of the Glc4 isomer maltotetraose (M4).

METHODS

Urine samples, diluted in 0.1% ammonium hydroxide containing the internal standard acarbose, were filtered, and the filtrate was analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS.

RESULTS

We separated and quantified acarbose, M4, and Glc4 using the ion pairs m/z 644/161, 665/161, and 665/179, respectively. Response of Glc4 was linear up to 1500 μmol/L and the limit of quantification was 2.8 μmol/L. Intra- and interassay CVs were 18.0% and 18.4% (10 μmol/L Glc4), and 10.5% and 16.2% (200 μmol/L Glc4). Glc4 in control individuals (n = 116) decreased with increasing age from a mean value of 8.9 mmol/mol to 1.0 mmol/mol creatinine. M4 was present in 5% of urine samples. Mean Glc4 concentrations per age group in untreated patients with Pompe disease (GSD type II) (n = 66) were significantly higher, ranging from 39.4 to 10.3 mmol/mol creatinine (P < 0.001–0.005). The diagnostic sensitivity of Glc4 for GSD-II was 98.5% and the diagnostic specificity 92%. Urine Glc4 was also increased in GSD-III (8 of 9), GSD-IV (2 of 3) and GSD-IX (6 of 10) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The UPLC-MS/MS assay of Glc4 in urine was discriminative between Glc4 and M4 and confirmed the diagnosis in >98% of GSD-II cases.
Fluid-particle Drag Force in Binary-solid Suspensions
Authors: Di Felice Renzo , Rotondi Marco
Published: May 2012

The drag force on a particle in a multiparticle suspension is a function of the particle-fluid relative velocity and of the particle volume concentration. Its determination heavily relies on experimental observations, as theoretical support is still limited to viscous flow regime and dilute solid concentrations. When uniform particle suspensions are considered, there is a certain abundance of experimental data available which has permitted the proposition of simple and reliable relationships for the determination of the drag force: these relationships are normally expressed through the use of the so-called “voidage function”, i.e. a function by which the drag force on an isolated particle has to be multiplied in order to obtain the drag force on a particle in a multiparticle suspension. The extension of the approach mentioned above to suspensions made up of particles differing in size and density has been attempted here and new simple relationships are presented for the case of binary-solid systems. The basic idea draws an analogy between binary-solid suspension and single-particle suspensions thereby making possible the use of well established results. The simple relationships obtained for the estimation of the drag force on a particle in a binary-solid suspension have been tested, with satisfactory success, against experimental data available in literature.
Fractional Separation and Estimation of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada Equation Parameters for Gluten
Authors: Zhao Lei , Li Lin , Liu Guoqin , Chen Ling , Li Xiaoxi , Li Bing
Published: May 2012

Fractional separation of gluten using the fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and a numerical method for determination of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) equation were studied. With 1% SDS buffer as solvent, the gluten was disassembled into two components: SDS soluble (SDS-S-G) and SDS insoluble gluten proteins (SDS-IS-G). The average molecular weight (Mn, Mw and Mz) and intrinsic viscosity [η] were measured by the multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) in conjunction with a size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and viscosimetry. MHS equations for SDS soluble gluten and SDS insoluble gluten proteins were established as: (SDS-S-G) [η]=1.7459×10-2Mv0.6933=1.7459×10-2qMHSMw0.6933=1.6677×10-2Mw0.6933 (SDS-IS-G) [η]=7.5682×10-3Mv0.7323=7.5682×10-3qMHSMw0.7323=7.2079×10-3Mw0.7323 where qMHS was the polydispersity correction factor.
A Combined Computational Fluid Dynamics and Artificial Neural Networks Model for Distillation Point Efficiency
Authors: Rahimi Mahmood Reza
Published: May 2012

In this work a CFD-ANN model is developed to give the predictions of sieve tray point efficiency. The main objective has been to find the extent to which CFD can be used in combination with artificial neural network as a prediction tool for efficiencies of industrial trays. The model was tested against a wide range of tray geometries, operating conditions and binary systems of materials. CFD model was applied, as a virtual experiment tool for direct prediction of point efficiencies, using tray geometries and operating conditions for any binary system of liquids. The model results were in agreement to experimental data from literatures, shown that CFD-ANN model can be used as a powerful tool in distillation column design and analysis.
Search Engines Matter: From Educating Users Towards Engaging with Online Health Information Practices
Authors: Mager Astrid
Published: May 2012

While the Internet is often discussed as empowering or endangering patients due to broadening access to medical and health‐related information, little is known about the way patients actually get informed about medical conditions and how the technology shapes their practices. This article draws on 40 user observations and 40 qualitative interviews to explore how users employ the web to obtain knowledge about a chronic disease in the Austrian context. Following concepts from the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) it explores how users' individual medical preferences and search engines' mechanisms of pre‐filtering information co‐shape online health information practices. The analysis demonstrates that search engines are not passive intermediaries, but rather actively shape how users browse through, select and evaluate health information in the context of their own bodies of knowledge. Accordingly, new skills are required on the part of users, but also on the part of medical professionals and policy makers. Both policy makers and doctors should engage with users' highly individual search practices and establish more dialogue‐oriented and technology‐focused health policy measures, rather than trying to educate users with standardized quality criteria for websites not responding to users' online routines and needs.
Eisenstein series, cohomology of arithmetic groups, and
automorphic L-functions at half integral arguments
Authors: Grbac Neven , Schwermer Joachim
Published: May 2012

The automorphic cohomology of a reductive ℚ-group G,
defined in terms of the automorphic spectrum of G, captures
essential analytic aspects of the arithmetic subgroups of G and
their cohomology. The subspace spanned by all possible residues
and principal values of derivatives of Eisenstein series, attached
to cuspidal automorphic forms π on the Levi factor of proper
parabolic ℚ-subgroups of G, forms the Eisenstein
cohomology which is a natural complement to the cuspidal
cohomology. We show that non-trivial Eisenstein cohomology
classes can only arise if the point of evaluation features a
`half-integral' property. Consequently, only the analytic
behavior of the automorphic L-functions at half-integral
arguments matters whether an Eisenstein series attached to a
globally generic π gives rise to a residual class or not.
Germany Should Develop Large Hot Water Reservoirs
Authors: Morinaga H.
Published: May 2012

Now that the decision has been made to give up all production of electricity through nuclear reactors by 2022, Germany is in the position to develop all sorts of new energies. I would like to point out that Germany has a unique chance to develop large hot water reservoirs by using the pits left behind after brown coal production or cement production. They can be mainly used for keeping hot water produced year-round as waste heat of industry or especially hot water produced by hybrid solar panels. The water will be used mainly for heating central heated buildings in the winter. As the increase of the need of air conditioning in summer is expected, the same system could be used to cover the need of more electricity in summer. Possible designs of the large hot water reservoir, requirements for the site, and eventual extension to other countries are discussed.
The weights of closed subgroups of a locally compact group
Authors: Hernández Salvador , Hofmann Karl H. , Morris Sidney A.
Published: May 2012

Let
Knowing ‘who she is’ based on ‘where she is’: The effect of co-speech gesture on pronoun comprehension
Authors: Smith Whitney Goodrich , Kam Carla L. Hudson
Published: May 2012

We examine whether pronoun interpretation is affected by naturalistic co-speech gesture. Participants in three conditions watched narrations containing ambiguous pronouns. In one condition the narrator produced gestures consistent with order-of-mention; in another, they conflicted with order-of-mention; and in the third, she did not gesture. Results showed that when the gestures conflicted with order-of-mention participants were much less likely to interpret the pronoun as referring to the first-mentioned character. In a second experiment we ruled out the possibility that participants were simply picking up on differences within the speech itself. These results extend previous work on gesture and language processing by showing that the information in gesture can influence the way people interpret words which by their nature are ambiguous, and that this influence is similar to that of well-known speech internal cues.
European Organised Business and European Integration in the Post-Second World War Period
Authors: Rollings Neil , Moguen-Toursel Marine
Published: May 2012

Political science writings and the economic or business history literature present very different accounts of the development of European organised business interests, including European industrial federations (Eurofederations), after the Second World War. The former highlight the growth of these groups in response to European political integration while the latter recount a story of decline as international cartels became less acceptable. Here we argue that these are partial and insufficient accounts: European trade associations offered a range of valuable services to its members which helped to make sense of and deal with the uncertainties of post-war Europe and the unknown quantity of European integration. In particular, we highlight knowledge transfer and pooling and their role as social networks.
Deutschland und die Kartelle – eine unendliche Geschichte
Authors: Jovović Thomas
Published: May 2012

This article deals with the literature on German cartels in the heavy industry and their perception in scientific literature of the 19th and early 20th century, as well as in historical studies. The first part of this article starts with a short periodic overview of their development, followed by an overview of how the definition of cartels has evolved, and ends with an overview of contemporary and historical literature and the criticism each of them evoked. The second part of the article presents the central interpretations of the cartel movement in Germany. Finally, the article analyses the impact of cartels on competition and economic development and attempts to highlight the problems modern research should be aware of when analysing the significance of German cartels in the historical context, as well as the academic voids of modern research.
Multicenter Retrospective Study of 132 Patients with Unresectable Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma Treated with Chemotherapy
Authors: Tsushima Takahiro , Taguri Masataka , Honma Yoshitaka , Takahashi Hideaki , Ueda Shinya , Nishina Tomohiro , Kawai Hiroki , Kato Shunsuke , Suenaga Mitsukuni , Tamura Fumio , Morita Satoshi , Boku Narikazu
Published: May 2012

Background.

No standard chemotherapy regimen has been established for unresectable or recurrent small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA).

Methods.

Clinical courses of 132 patients with unresectable or recurrent SBA who received chemotherapy at 41 institutions in Japan were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into five groups according to first-line chemotherapy regimens: fluoropyrimidine monotherapy (group A), fluoropyrimidine-cisplatin (group B), fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin (group C), fluoropyrimidine-irinotecan (group D), and other regimens (group E).

Results.

The number of patients in each group was as follows: groups A, 60 patients; group B, 17 patients; group C, 22 patients; group D, 11 patients; and group E, 22 patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) times were as follows: group A, 5.4 months; group B, 3.8 months; group C, 8.2 months; group D, 5.6 months; and group E, 3.4 months. Median overall survival (OS) times were as follows: group A, 13.9 months; group B, 12.6 months; group C, 22.2 months; group D, 9.4 months; and group D, 8.1 months. Patients in group C achieved significantly longer PFS times and substantially (but not significantly) longer OS times than patients in group A. After adjusting for clinical background characteristics, fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin therapy was a significant positive prognostic factor for PFS and OS times.

Conclusion.

The results suggest that fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin combination therapy is the most promising first-line chemotherapy regimen for unresectable or recurrent SBA.
A strain space soil model with evolving stiffness anisotropy
Authors: ELLISON K.C. , SOGA K. , SIMPSON B.
Published: May 2012

A complete formulation of the BRICK soil model in general strain space is presented herein for the first time. Like all elasto-plastic constitutive models, BRICK exhibits some anisotropic behaviour, owing to the development of plastic strains once its yield surfaces are engaged. However, an abundance of laboratory and field evidence demonstrates that stiffness anisotropy is also significant within the elastic domain. Because of the inseparable nature of strength and stiffness in BRICK, the simple use of an anisotropic elastic stiffness matrix would result in an unrealistically high degree of strength anisotropy. Therefore, in addition to the established BRICK formulation, this paper also presents a novel framework to introduce stiffness anisotropy by transforming the coordinate system in which the model is based. The transformed coordinate system evolves to enable a constant-volume condition during shearing at critical state, reflecting the reorganisation of the soil fabric. The superior performance of the enhanced BRICK model over the classic model is demonstrated by a variety of conventional and non-conventional laboratory tests on London Clay.
Risk planning for interdependencies: from theory to practice
Authors: Booth Rupert
Published: May 2012

This paper first reviews a range of risk management frameworks before selecting two models for further consideration, namely the latest international standard for risk management and the de facto standard for enterprise risk management, originating in the USA. The paper then considers three recent major incidents and notes some common characteristics and proposes three tools to identify and mitigate risks arising from interdependency, for use within the two frameworks previously discussed. Finally, the paper considers the complications of appraising inter-connected investments with multiple objectives and outlines a variety of appraisal methods, including multi-criteria analysis and real options.
Coordinated evolution of leaf and stem economics in tropical dry forest trees
Authors: Méndez-Alonzo Rodrigo , Paz Horacio , Zuluaga Rossana Cruz , Rosell Julieta A. , Olson Mark E.
Published: May 2012

With data from 15 species in eight families of tropical dry forest trees, we provide evidence of coordination between the stem and leaf economic spectra. Species with low‐density, flexible, breakable, hydraulically efficient but cavitationally vulnerable wood shed their leaves rapidly in response to drought and had low leaf mass per area and dry mass content. In contrast, species with the opposite xylem syndrome shed their costlier but more drought‐resistant leaves late in the dry season. Our results explain variation in the timing of leaf shedding in tropical dry forests: selection eliminates combinations such as low‐productivity leaves atop highly vulnerable xylem or water‐greedy leaves supplied by xylem of low conductive efficiency. Across biomes, rather than a fundamental trade‐off underlying a single axis of trait covariation, the relationship between leaf and stem economics is likely to occupy a wide space in which multiple combinations are possible.