bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model of the process of transformation in primary care for people living with chronic illnesses
Authors: Dubouloz Claire-Jehanne , King Judy , Paterson Barbara , Ashe Brenda , Chevrier Jacques , Moldoveanu Mirela
Published: October 2010

Objectives: The objective of the research was to construct a conceptual framework that explains the process of personal transformation within a primary care context for people living with chronic illnesses.

Methods: A literature search of articles published from 1990 to 2007 in CINAHL, ERIC, Healthstar, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, dissertation abstracts and SocINFO databases, was conducted to identify qualitative research studies investigating personal change in chronic illness or disability. Five hundred and fifty-six articles were identified; the researchers conducted a metasynthesis of a subgroup of these articles whose focus was on transformation in primary care (n = 5).

Results: The metasynthesis project presents a model of the conceptualizations of transformation. Transformation in chronic illness is presented as a process of learning about self and the chronic illness in an iterative and continually changing manner. The primary care context has its greatest influence on critical reflection, which occurs in the first phase (initial response).

Discussion: This model illustrates the complex processes that occur for someone living with a chronic illness. Health practitioners who understand why and how people transform in living with chronic illnesses will be able to apply this model in determining people’s needs and how to assist people during the transformative process.
Judgments of Power From College Yearbook Photos and Later Career Success
Authors: Rule Nicholas O. , Ambady Nalini
Published: October 2010

Inferences from faces can predict important real-world outcomes. But little is known about the stability of these effects. Here the authors find that inferences of power from photos of the faces of the managing partners of America’s top 100 law firms significantly corresponded to their success as leaders, as measured by the amounts of profits that their firms earned. More interesting, this relationship was also observed when judgments were made based on photos of the leaders taken from their undergraduate yearbooks, before they began their careers or entered law school. Facial cues to success may therefore be consistent across much of the lifespan (approximately 20–50 years).
Pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Palumbo Emilio
Published: October 2010

In patients affected by chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection, viral eradication can be achieved by antiviral therapy based on the use of a combination of pegylated interferon α-2a or 2b and ribavirin that yields a sustained eradication in 40–50% of cases. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon α-2a or α-2b plus ribavirin in the treatment of CHC infection. Treatment must be started in patients with detectable serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA independently by serum alanine aminotransferase levels. In patients infected with genotype 1 or 4 HCV before treatment, a histological evaluation is required. These patients can be treated if stage is ≥2 according to the Knodell index. The treatment must be for 1 year duration and current guidelines allow treatment to be continued if patients remain HCV RNA positive at week 12 if a 2-log drop in viral load has been achieved. In patients with genotype 2 or 3 HCV, therapy must be prolonged for 6 months and histological evaluation pretreatment is not necessary.
Characteristics and outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia refractory to 1 cycle of high-dose cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy
Authors: Ravandi Farhad , Cortes Jorge , Faderl Stefan , O'Brien Susan , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Verstovsek Srdan , Santos Fabio P. S. , Shan Jianqin , Brandt Mark , de Lima Marcos , Pierce Sherry , Kantarjian Hagop
Published: October 2010

Pretreatment characteristics and outcome of patients treated with induction regimens containing high-dose ara-C (HiDAC) at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center refractory to 1 cycle of induction were compared with similar patients achieving a complete response (CR). Among 1597 patients treated with HiDAC-based induction from 1995 to 2009, 285 were refractory to 1 cycle. Median age was 59 years (range, 18-85 years). Induction regimens included HiDAC with anthracyclines (n = 181; 64%) or HiDAC with nonanthracycline chemotherapy (n = 104; 36%). Refractory patients were older (median age, 59 vs 56 years; P < .001), more likely with unfavorable cytogenetics (P < .001) and antecedent hematologic disorder (P < .001), and had a higher presentation white blood cell count (P = .04), but not a higher incidence of FLT3 mutations (P = .85), than those achieving CR. Forty-three patients (22%) responded to salvage (35 CR and 8 CR without platelet recovery). With a median follow-up of 72 months (range, 27-118 months) in responders, 11 are alive. Nineteen patients (7%) were alive and in CR for at least 6 months, including 9 who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. On multivariate analysis, severe thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, increasing marrow blast percentage, unfavorable cytogenetics, and salvage not including allogeneic stem cell transplantation were associated with a worse survival. Alternative strategies are needed for these patients.
Identification of the Rage-dependent gene regulatory network in a mouse model of skin inflammation
Authors: Riehl Astrid , Bauer Tobias , Brors Benedikt , Busch Hauke , Mark Regina , Németh Julia , Gebhardt Christoffer , Bierhaus Angelika , Nawroth Peter , Eils Roland , König Rainer , Angel Peter , Hess Jochen
Published: October 2010

Background

In the past, molecular mechanisms that drive the initiation of an inflammatory response have been studied intensively. However, corresponding mechanisms that sustain the expression of inflammatory response genes and hence contribute to the establishment of chronic disorders remain poorly understood. Recently, we provided genetic evidence that signaling via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (Rage) drives the strength and maintenance of an inflammatory reaction. In order to decipher the mode of Rage function on gene transcription levels during inflammation, we applied global gene expression profiling on time-resolved samples of mouse back skin, which had been treated with the phorbol ester TPA, a potent inducer of skin inflammation.

Results

Ranking of TPA-regulated genes according to their time average mean and peak expression and superimposition of data sets from wild-type (wt) andRage-deficient mice revealed that Rage signaling is not essential for initial changes in TPA-induced transcription, but absolutely required for sustained alterations in transcript levels. Next, we used a data set of differentially expressed genes between TPA-treatedwtandRage-deficient skin and performed computational analysis of their proximal promoter regions. We found a highly significant enrichment for several transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) leading to the prediction that corresponding transcription factors, such as Sp1, Tcfap2, E2f, Myc and Egr, are regulated by Rage signaling. Accordingly, we could confirm aberrant expression and regulation of members of the E2f protein family in epidermal keratinocytes of Rage-deficient mice.

Conclusions

In summary, our data support the model that engagement of Rage converts a transient cellular stimulation into sustained cellular dysfunction and highlight a novel role of the Rb-E2f pathway in Rage-dependent inflammation during pathological conditions.
The humoral response to Plasmodium falciparum VarO rosetting variant and its association with protection against malaria in Beninese children
Authors: Vigan-Womas Inès , Lokossou Adjimon , Guillotte Micheline , Juillerat Alexandre , Bentley Graham , Garcia André , Mercereau-Puijalon Odile , Migot-Nabias Florence
Published: October 2010

Background

The capacity of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to bind uninfected erythrocytes (rosetting) is associated with severe malaria in African children. Rosetting is mediated by a subset of the variant surface antigens PfEMP1 targeted by protective antibody responses. Analysis of the response to rosette-forming parasites and their PfEMP1 adhesive domains is essential for understanding the acquisition of protection against severe malaria. To this end, the antibody response to a rosetting variant was analysed in children recruited with severe or uncomplicated malaria or asymptomatic P. falciparum infection.

Methods

Serum was collected from Beninese children with severe malaria, uncomplicated malaria or P. falciparum asymptomatic infection (N = 65, 37 and 52, respectively) and from immune adults (N = 30) living in the area. Infected erythrocyte surface-reactive IgG, rosette disrupting antibodies and IgG to the parasite crude extract were analysed using the single variant Palo Alto VarO-infected line. IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 to PfEMP1-varO-derived NTS-DBL1α1, CIDRγ and DBL2βC2 recombinant domains were analysed by ELISA. Antibody responses were compared in the clinical groups. Stability of the response was studied using a blood sampling collected 14 months later from asymptomatic children.

Results

Seroprevalence of erythrocyte surface-reactive IgG was high in adults (100%) and asymptomatic children (92.3%) but low in children with severe or uncomplicated malaria (26.1% and 37.8%, respectively). The IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 antibody responses to the varO-derived PfEMP1 domains were significantly higher in asymptomatic children than in children with clinical malaria in a multivariate analysis correcting for age and parasite density at enrolment. They were essentially stable, although levels tended to decrease with time. VarO-surface reactivity correlated positively with IgG reactivity to the rosetting domain varO-NTS-DBL1α1. None of the children sera, including those with surface-reactive antibodies possessed anti-VarO-rosetting activity, and few adults had rosette-disrupting antibodies.

Conclusions

Children with severe and uncomplicated malaria had similar responses. The higher prevalence and level of VarO-reactive antibodies in asymptomatic children compared to children with malaria is consistent with a protective role for anti-VarO antibodies against clinical falciparum malaria. The mechanism of such protection seems independent of rosette-disruption, suggesting that the cytophilic properties of antibodies come into play.
Single-cell and coupled GRN models of cell patterning in the Arabidopsis thaliana root stem cell niche
Authors: Azpeitia Eugenio , Benítez Mariana , Vega Iliusi , Villarreal Carlos , Alvarez-Buylla Elena R
Published: October 2010

Background

Recent experimental work has uncovered some of the genetic components required to maintain theArabidopsis thalianaroot stem cell niche (SCN) and its structure. Two main pathways are involved. One pathway depends on the genesSHORTROOTandSCARECROWand the other depends on thePLETHORAgenes, which have been proposed to constitute the auxin readouts. Recent evidence suggests that a regulatory circuit, composed ofWOX5andCLE40, also contributes to the SCN maintenance. Yet, we still do not understand how the niche is dynamically maintained and patterned or if the uncovered molecular components are sufficient to recover the observed gene expression configurations that characterize the cell types within the root SCN. Mathematical and computational tools have proven useful in understanding the dynamics of cell differentiation. Hence, to further explore root SCN patterning, we integrated available experimental data into dynamic Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) models and addressed if these are sufficient to attain observed gene expression configurations in the root SCN in a robust and autonomous manner.

Results

We found that an SCN GRN model based only on experimental data did not reproduce the configurations observed within the root SCN. We developed several alternative GRN models that recover these expected stable gene configurations. Such models incorporate a few additional components and interactions in addition to those that have been uncovered. The recovered configurations are stable to perturbations, and the models are able to recover the observed gene expression profiles of almost all the mutants described so far. However, the robustness of the postulated GRNs is not as high as that of other previously studied networks.

Conclusions

These models are the first published approximations for a dynamic mechanism of theA. thalianaroot SCN cellular pattering. Our model is useful to formally show that the data now available are not sufficient to fully reproduce root SCN organization and genetic profiles. We then highlight some experimental holes that remain to be studied and postulate some novel gene interactions. Finally, we suggest the existence of a generic dynamical motif that can be involved in both plant and animal SCN maintenance.
Metabolic syndrome in menopausal transition: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, a population based study
Authors: Heidari Ramin , Sadeghi Masoumeh , Talaei Mohammad , Rabiei Katayoun , Mohammadifard Noushin , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: October 2010

Introduction

There is a remarkable increase in cardiovascular disease after menopause. On the other hand, metabolic syndrome as a collection of risk factors has a known effect on cardiovascular diseases. Hormone changes are considered as one of the main relevant factor regarding cardiovascular disease as well as some recognized relationship with metabolic syndrome's components. This study was carried out in order to search for prevalence of metabolic syndrome during menopausal transition.

Method

In a cross sectional study in urban and rural areas of Isfahan, Najafabad and Arak cities, 1596 women aged more than 45 years were investigated using Isfahan Healthy Heart Program's (IHHP) samples. Participants were categorized into three groups of pre-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Leisure time physical activity and global dietary index were included as life style factors. The association of metabolic syndrome and its components with menopausal transition considering other factors such as age and life style was analyzed.

Results

there were 303, 233 and 987 women in premenopausal, early menopausal and postmenopausal groups respectively. Metabolic syndrome was found in 136(44.9%) premenopausal participants and significantly increased to 135(57.9%) and 634(64.3%) in early menopausal and postmenopausal participants respectively, when age was considered (P = 0.010). Except for hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia, there was no significant difference between three groups of menopausal transition when metabolic syndrome's components were considered.

Conclusion

In contrary to the claims regarding the role of waist circumference and blood glucose in increasing of metabolic syndrome during the menopausal transition, this study showed this phenomenon could be independence of them.
Genomic insights into Wnt signaling in an early diverging metazoan, the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi
Authors: Pang Kevin , Ryan Joseph F ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Mullikin James C , Baxevanis Andreas D , Martindale Mark Q
Published: October 2010

Background

Intercellular signaling pathways are a fundamental component of the integrating cellular behavior required for the evolution of multicellularity. The genomes of three of the four early branching animal phyla (Cnidaria, Placozoa and Porifera) have been surveyed for key components, but not the fourth (Ctenophora). Genomic data from ctenophores could be particularly relevant, as ctenophores have been proposed to be one of the earliest branching metazoan phyla.

Results

A preliminary assembly of the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi genome generated using next-generation sequencing technologies were searched for components of a developmentally important signaling pathway, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Molecular phylogenetic analysis shows four distinct Wnt ligands (MlWnt6, MlWnt9, MlWntA and MlWntX), and most, but not all components of the receptor and intracellular signaling pathway were detected. In situ hybridization of the four Wnt ligands showed that they are expressed in discrete regions associated with the aboral pole, tentacle apparati and apical organ.

Conclusions

Ctenophores show a minimal (but not obviously simple) complement of Wnt signaling components. Furthermore, it is difficult to compare the Mnemiopsis Wnt expression patterns with those of other metazoans. mRNA expression of Wnt pathway components appears later in development than expected, and zygotic gene expression does not appear to play a role in early axis specification. Notably absent in the Mnemiopsis genome are most major secreted antagonists, which suggests that complex regulation of this secreted signaling pathway probably evolved later in animal evolution.
The Wolf ramp: Reflection characteristics of a transition layer
Authors: Liner Christopher L. , Bodmann Bernhard G.
Published: October 2010

The modern use of spectral decomposition has shown that reflection events in practice are always frequency dependent, a phenomenon called reflectivity dispersion. Often, this can be attributed to strong interference effects from neighboring reflection coefficients of the classical type (i.e., parameter discontinuities or jumps). However, an intrinsic frequency dependence from a single layer is possible if the contact is not a jump discontinuity but a gradual transition. We have expanded the normal-incidence theory of a linear velocity transition zone (termed a Wolf ramp) and have shown how it leads to frequency-dependent reflectivity. The development of waveform forward modeling in turn has led to a ramp detection method that we have tested on migrated field data.
Estimation of the effect of nonisotropically distributed energy on the apparent arrival time in correlations
Authors: Froment Bérénice , Campillo Michel , Roux Philippe , Gouédard Pierre , Verdel Arie , Weaver Richard L.
Published: October 2010

Correlations of random seismic noise are now widely used to retrieve the Green’s function between two points. Whereas this technique provides useful results in tomography and monitoring studies, it is mainly limited by an uneven distribution of noise sources. In that case, theoretical requirements are not completely fulfilled and we may wonder how reliable the reconstructed signals are, in particular for the purpose of estimating traveltime from correlations. This study finds a way to quantify effects of a nonisotropic noise field by estimating the arrival-time error resulting from a particular nonisotropic distribution of recorded wave intensity. Our study is based on a theoretical prediction of this bias and we successfully test the theory by comparing the theoretical expectation to real measurements from seismic-prospecting data. In particular, we distinguish between the effects of source distribution and the effects of medium heterogeneity between the sources and the region of receivers. We find relative errors in the order of a percent which may affect monitoring results, especially where smaller relative velocity variations (smaller than [Formula: see text] for some applications) are investigated. Finally, we see that correlation of coda waves helps mitigate the effects of a nonisotropic field, hence making the estimation of traveltime quite stable irrespective of the source distribution.
Neuropathic Pain Features in Patients With Bone Metastases Referred for Palliative Radiotherapy
Authors: Kerba Marc , Wu Jackson S.Y. , Duan Qiuli , Hagen Neil A. , Bennett Michael I.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

To estimate the prevalence of pain with neuropathic features among patients with metastatic bone pain and to assess differences between patients with and without neuropathic features by pain severity, functional interference, and quality-of-life (QOL) measures.

Patients and Methods

A prospective cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients with symptomatic bone metastases was conducted between December 2006 and March 2008 at a comprehensive cancer center. Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Self-Reported Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Statistical associations between pain with neuropathic features and other measures were explored.

Results

Ninety-eight patients were enrolled. Seventeen percent of patients (95% CI, 10% to 24%) had positive S-LANSS scores suggesting pain with neuropathic features. Mean worst pain and mean interference scores were 7.2 (standard deviation [SD], 2.0) and 5.8 (SD, 2.5), respectively. EORTC QLQ-C30 global QOL, function, and symptom scores were 42 (SD, 24), 52 (SD, 20), and 46 (SD, 17), respectively. Patients with neuropathic features had a higher BPI worst pain score than patients without neuropathic features (8.3 v 7.0, respectively; P = .016). Corticosteroid use, oral morphine equivalent dosing, and site of bone pain were not associated with neuropathic features.

Conclusion

Some patients with bone metastases manifest bone pain with distinguishable neuropathic features, and these patients reported greater pain intensity. Additional work is required to validate the S-LANSS against clinical criteria for neuropathic pain in this context and to explore the unmet pain management needs in this population.
Optimizing Collection of Adverse Event Data in Cancer Clinical Trials Supporting Supplemental Indications
Authors: Kaiser Lee D. , Melemed Allen S. , Preston Alaknanda J. , Chaudri Ross Hilary A. , Niedzwiecki Donna , Fyfe Gwendolyn A. , Gough Jacqueline M. , Bushnell William D. , Stephens Cynthia L. , Mace M. Kelsey , Abrams Jeffrey S. , Schilsky Richard L.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Although much is known about the safety of an anticancer agent at the time of initial marketing approval, sponsors customarily collect comprehensive safety data for studies that support supplemental indications. This adds significant cost and complexity to the study but may not provide useful new information. The main purpose of this analysis was to assess the amount of safety and concomitant medication data collected to determine a more optimal approach in the collection of these data when used in support of supplemental applications.

Methods

Following a prospectively developed statistical analysis plan, we reanalyzed safety data from eight previously completed prospective randomized trials.

Results

A total of 107,884 adverse events and 136,608 concomitant medication records were reviewed for the analysis. Of these, four grade 1 to 2 and nine grade 3 and higher events were identified as drug effects that were not included in the previously established safety profiles and could potentially have been missed using subsampling. These events were frequently detected in subsamples of 400 patients or larger. Furthermore, none of the concomitant medication records contributed to labeling changes for the supplemental indications.

Conclusion

Our study found that applying the optimized methodologic approach, described herein, has a high probability of detecting new drug safety signals. Focusing data collection on signals that cause physicians to modify or discontinue treatment ensures that safety issues of the highest concern for patients and regulators are captured and has significant potential to relieve strain on the clinical trials system.
Making the Immoral Moral: Consensual Unions and Birth Status in Cuban Law and Everyday Practice, 1940–1958
Authors: Arvey Sarah R.
Published: October 2010

This article explores the 1940 Cuban Constituent Assembly debates about consensual unions and birth status as legislators created a new legal process called equiparación de matrimonio civil that would grant to citizens in consensual unions the same rights and benefits that legally married citizens enjoyed. Equiparación, if granted, could enable a child born to unmarried parents to change his or her birth status in formal records. While some legislators considered the creation of the new constitution an opportunity to erase existing privileges and protections based upon outdated social and moral hierarchies embedded in Cuban legal structures, others argued that “family” issues had no place in a constitution. The Constituent Assembly’s debates about birth status illuminate how issues concerning sexual propriety and family were intertwined with antidiscrimination efforts during Cuban state formation. Nevertheless, legislators’ lofty ideas about equiparación contrast sharply with ordinary citizens’ attempts to claim their newly extended rights in judicial courts. A comparison of the legislators’ debates and ordinary Cubans’ efforts in the courtrooms to claim equiparación exposes the core contradictions between maintaining discriminatory and disenfranchising social hierarchies and protecting the fundamental equality of citizens during a period of democratic renovation in Cuba in the 1930s and 1940s. On a broader level, this article links the history of the family, law, and state formation to narratives of historical change and the production and reproduction of social hierarchies based upon race, class, and gender in modern Latin America.
Zn2+ Specific Colorimetric Receptor Based on Coumarin
Authors: Upadhyay Kaushal Kumar , Mishra Rakesh Kumar
Published: October 2010

The receptor 1 having coumarin and thiazole as electron-deficient and -rich centers respectively acted as a colorimetric receptor selectively for Zn2+ as its chloride salt in DMSO/aq. DMSO (10:90 v/v) by exhibiting a remarkable bathochromic shifting of 120 nm in its 375 nm UV–visible absorption band. The interaction of receptor 1 with a number of metal ions ranging from s,p to d blocks as their chloride salts indicated the selectivity of the same toward Zn2+. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) along with spectroscopic studies indicated Zn2+ triggered aggregate formation of the receptor 1 as the key step toward sensing.
Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Stilbenoid Dendrimers via Heck Reaction on a Tetraphenylethylene Core
Authors: Roy Priyabrata , Jana Debabrata , Ghorai Binay K
Published: October 2010

Two new tetraphenylethylene-cored stilbenoid dendrimers have been efficiently prepared by fourfold Heck reaction with appropriate dendron molecules. The methodology permits highly trans-selective coupling. The optical absorption and emission properties of these systems were studied. The materials display strong emission in the blue region.
Preparation, Crystal Structures, and Spectroscopic and Chemical Properties of 2,4,6-Trifluorophenyl- or 4-(Methoxycarbonyl)phenyl-Substituted (E)-1-(3-Guaiazulenyl)ethylene and (2E,4E)-1-(3-Guaiazulenyl)-1,3-butadiene Derivatives
Authors: Takekuma Shin-ichi , Matsuoka Hiroto , Ogawa Syoutarou , Shibasaki Yasutaka , Minematsu Toshie
Published: October 2010

Wittig reactions in general provide a mixture of E and Z geometric isomers, while reactions of 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde [and (E)-3-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)propanal] with the Wittig reagent (3-guaiazulenyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide in ethanol containing NaOEt at 25 °C for 24 h under argon give only new E (and 2E,4E)-forms selectively, i.e., (E)-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-2-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)ethylene and (2E,4E)-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-4-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-1,3-butadiene. For comparative purposes, Wittig reactions of methyl 4-formylbenzoate, 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde, methyl 4-[(E)-2-formylethenyl]benzoate, and (E)-3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]propanal: namely, possessing an electron-withdrawing (–COOCH3) {or an electron-donating [–N(CH3)2]} group at the C-4 position of the benzene ring, with (3-guaiazulenyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide in methanol (or ethanol) containing NaOMe (or NaOEt) at 25 °C for 24 h under argon afford a mixture of the corresponding geometric isomers respectively. Along with spectroscopic properties and crystal structures of the isolated products, the chemical behavior of those products toward 1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene at 25 °C for 24 h under argon is reported with a view to comparative study.
Oxidation–Reduction of Maleic Acid Induced by Argon–Hydrogen Plasma-Jet
Authors: Yamakawa Isao , Ito Yoshimi , Munegumi Toratane , Harada Kaoru
Published: October 2010

Plasma-jet in aqueous solutions is known to disproportionate water to give hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals. Maleic acid, which is a carbon–carbon double bond bearing dicarboxylic acid, underwent addition of hydrogen, hydrogen plus hydroxyl, hydroxyl species under an argon–hydrogen plasma-jet. Maleic acid (10 mM) yielded 42% succinic acid (dihydrogenated product) under an argon–hydrogen (1.5 and 0.5 L min−1) plasma-jet. This demonstrates an effective reduction method for maleic acid by plasma-jet in aqueous solutions.
Investigation of Protonation Efficiency for Amino Acids in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization
Authors: Tsuge Masashi , Hoshina Kennosuke
Published: October 2010

MALDI spectra for 20 natural amino acids were measured at various mixing ratios of amino acid (A) and matrix (M: CHCA or DHB) to clarify the main protonation process as well as MALDI plume conditions, which affect the detection sensitivity of analytes in MALDI. Signal intensities of protonated amino acids (AH+) relative to protonated matrix (MH+), obtained as AH+/MH+, revealed a clear correlation between AH+/MH+ and the gas-phase basicity (GB) of the respective amino acids except for three basic amino acids, Lys, His, and Arg. This relationship between AH+/MH+ and GB was interpreted in terms of a protonation model in which AH+ is produced through a reversible proton-transfer reaction of MH+ + A M + AH+ reaching thermal equilibrium in the MALDI plume. The GB of matrix molecules and MALDI plume temperatures independently determined from analysis of the present data (851 kJ mol−1 and 1510 K for CHCA and 830 kJ mol−1 and 1330 K for DHB) agreed well with values in the literature, indicating the validity of the present interpretation. The ratios AH+/MH+ for Lys, His, and Arg had lower values than those expected from the GB by a factor of 10−1–10−2. This discrepancy could have been caused by proton acceptance by amino groups in amino acids, which are caused by an intramolecular hydrogen bond, determine the magnitude of the GB for basic amino acids.
Photochemistry for the Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Sakamoto Masanori , Majima Tetsuro
Published: October 2010

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles is an interdisciplinary subject that is attracting intense research and development owing to the fundamental scientific value of nanometer-sized metal, as well as the broad range of potential applications of metal nanoparticles. Photochemistry plays an important role in various aspects of this research area. It is a unique tool for synthesizing metal nanoparticles, as well as an important technique for investigating the formation mechanism. Metal nanoparticles formation triggered by photochemical reaction is effective for investigating formation mechanisms. We succeeded in observing the formation of metal nanoparticles and clusters by using spectroscopic methods. In addition, single-molecule fluorescent spectroscopy provided important insights into the photochemical reactivity of metal clusters. This photochemical reactivity offers a promising possibility with regard to metal clusters. We developed strategies for constructing metal nanoparticles using a series of photochemical techniques. In situ photochemical synthesis is an effective method for the fabrication of metal nanoparticles, as well as composite materials. A multicolor excitation-induced photochemical reaction resulted in the reduction of metal ions with a highly negative reduction potential, recyclable photosensitization, and 3-D direct laser writing of metal nanoparticles. These new strategies will expand the possible applications of photochemistry for metal nanoparticles synthesis.
Solubilization of Reduced Graphene in Water through Noncovalent Interaction with Dendrimers
Authors: Yoon Seyoung , In Insik
Published: October 2010

Solubilization of reduced graphene is simply attempted through in situ reduction of graphene oxide (GO) solution in the presence of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers G4 or G5 with terminal amine groups through noncovalent interaction. Interestingly, porous graphene film was formed by filtration of these dendrimer-stabilized reduced graphene solutions.
Impact of alcohol consumption on winter sports-related injuries
Authors: Gaudio R M , Barbieri S , Feltracco P , Spaziani F , Alberti M , Delantone M , Trevisiol P , Righini F , Talarico A , Sanchioni R , Spagna A , Pietrantonio V , Zilio G , Valle R Dalla , Vettore G , Montisci M , Bortoluzzi A , Sacco A , Ramacciato G , Pasetti A , Mognato E , Ferronato C , Costola A , Ori C , Avato F M
Published: October 2010

Introduction

This study was carried out to evaluate data about trauma-related winter sports, including risk factors such as high speed, gender, age, alcohol consumption, details about the accident and snow conditions.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted to determine the injury patterns and crash circumstances in holiday skiers and snowboarders. The data recorded were obtained from the database of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Registry of six skiing areas in the Dolomite mountains during the winter seasons November 2004–May 2009, injury data for major traumas from Ski Patrol Injury reports (helicopter, ambulance or ski slopes' patrol reports), and intrahospital Emergency Department data. Alcohol concentration in blood was detected in 200 individuals suffering from major trauma.

Results

A total of 4550 injured patients, predominantly male (69%), mean age 22 years (range 16–72), were included in the observational analysis. Knee, wrist and shoulder injuries were frequently associated with major thoracic, abdominal or head traumas (64% of cases). Suboptimal technical level, high speed, low concentration, snow or weather conditions, faulty equipment and protective devices were among the various causes of accidents. The analysis revealed that high alcohol blood concentration was present in 43% of 200 patients.

Conclusions

Even though the major causes of accidents were excessive speed, excessive fatigue, technical errors and bad weather conditions, alcohol abuse was often discovered. Random sampling and a non-systematic detection of alcohol blood levels likely led to an underestimation of alcohol consumption-related injuries. It is recommended that investigations into alcoholic intoxication in injured skiers should be carried out on a large scale.
Parricides by mentally disordered offenders in Zimbabwe
Authors: Menezes S B
Published: October 2010

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the similarities and differences between matricide and patricide committed by mentally disordered offenders in Zimbabwe.

Methods

A comprehensive, retrospective and national study was carried out of all individuals in Zimbabwe who, between 1980 and 1990 inclusive, were charged with homicide of their biological parents. The data were obtained from a hospital-wide survey, in a written semistructured format.

Results

The sample size was 39 offenders (34 men, 5 women) and there were 39 victims (20 matricides and 19 patricides). Sons committed 18 patricides and 16 matricides, and daughters committed one patricide and four matricides. The mean age of the offenders was 35 years with a standard deviation of 9.8, and the mean age of the victims was 60 years with a standard deviation of 9.3. Ethnicity of all the offenders and their victims was African. About one-third of the offenders were known to the psychiatric services and the rest were found to be mentally ill at the time of the crime when they were tried in the court of law. Most of the offenders were suffering from a psychotic illness and one offender had a diagnosis of personality disorder. Half of the offenders had been to a traditional healer some time before committing the crime. Most of the offenders used a blunt instrument, 15 used sharp instruments and one woman used strangulation. Firearms were not used in committing parricide.

Conclusion

The study showed that sons committed most parricides. However, daughters committed matricide more frequently than patricide. Male offenders were 10 years younger than female offenders. In all cases both the offender and victim were African, and lived in the same house in the rural areas of Zimbabwe. Psychosis among the offenders had substantially increased the risk of parricide.
Unusual methods of suicide: complexities in investigation
Authors: Arun M , Palimar Vikram , Kumar G N Pramod , Menezes Ritesh G
Published: October 2010

Differentiation between suicide and homicide often becomes difficult owing to the unusual methods of suicide used by the victim and the complexities thus posed. Investigating the cases of unusual suicides provides a considerable challenge to the authorities concerned. The issue of homicide should often be ruled out in such cases, which require careful evaluation. This is best done by correlating the morbid anatomical findings at autopsy with the death scene analysis coupled with psychological autopsy. Many forensic practitioners have reported unusual methods of suicide at their respective workplaces. Various types of unusual methods of suicide and the complexities involved in their investigation are presented and discussed.
Enhancing the critical apparatus for understanding metanarration: discourse deixis refined
Authors: Macrae Andrea
Published: October 2010

This article explores the deictic functioning of metanarrative expressions in fiction. Current theoretical approaches to metanarration are reviewed, and classifying terminology revised. This critique enables the development of a more nuanced typology of metanarration, exposes the lack of linguistic analysis of the functioning of metanarrative expressions, and indicates the deictic contribution to this functioning. The role of deixis within metanarration is then further explicated. The category of discourse deixis is investigated and refined, and various subtypes of discourse deixis correlated with subtypes of metanarrative expressions. The analytical value of this approach is demonstrated through the study of discourse deixis in metanarrative extracts from Beckett's (Pan Books, 1979 [1959]) The unnameable, Federman's (Fiction Collective, 1976) Take it or leave it and Barth's (Random House, 1988 [1969]) Lost in the funhouse.
A corpus-based approach to mind style
Authors: McIntyre Dan , Archer Dawn
Published: October 2010

Fowler's (Linguistics and the novel, Methuen, 1977) original definition of mind style emphasised consistency as a defining feature of the phenomenon, something that is (i) difficult to measure, and (ii) often missed in qualitative analyses. In this paper we investigate how a computational semantic analysis might be used to address this difficulty, with particular reference to McIntyre's (Journal of Literary Semantics 34: 21–40, 2005) analysis of the deviant mind style of the character of Miss Shepherd in Alan Bennett's play The Lady in the Van. To do this we analyse the speech of all the characters in The Lady in the Van using Wmatrix (Rayson, Matrix: A statistical method and software tool for linguistic analysis through corpus comparison, Lancaster University PhD thesis, 2003, Wmatrix: A web-based corpus processing environment, Lancaster University, 2008), to see whether it provides quantitative support for the interpretative conclusions reached by McIntyre. Wmatrix utilises the UCREL Semantic Annotation System (USAS) which has been designed to undertake the automatic semantic analysis of English. The initial tag-set of the USAS system was loosely based on McArthur's Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English (McArthur, Longman, 1981), but has since been considerably revised in the light of practical tagging problems met in the course of previous research, and now contains 232 category labels (such as
medicine and medical treatment, movement, obligation and necessity
, etc.). We use Wmatrix's facility for identifying key semantic domains in pursuit of our two main aims: (i) to determine whether Miss Shepherd's odd mind style is consistent, as Fowler's definition suggests it should be; and (ii) to determine the usefulness of computational semantic analysis for investigating mind style.
A preliminary report on feeding and nesting behavior of swamp gorillas in the Lac Télé Community Reserve
Authors: Kalan Ammie K. , Madzoké Bola , Rainey Hugo J.
Published: October 2010

No abstract available
Evaluation von PLC-Übertragungssystemen für Smart Metering
Authors: Bauer Michael , Sigle Martin , Dostert Klaus
Published: October 2010

Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien sind eine grundlegende Voraussetzung für die Realisierung sogenannter Smart Grids. Insbesondere für das Smart Metering, also die Vernetzung intelligenter Energiemengenzähler, besteht aktuell ein großer Bedarf an Kommunikationslösungen, wobei der Powerline-Kommunikation (Power Line Communication, PLC) aus ökonomischen Erwägungen besonders große Bedeutung zukommt. Einer relativ großen Auswahl an auf PLC basierenden Kommunikationssystemen stehen jedoch wenig verlässliche Informationen über deren Leistungsfähigkeit gegenüber. Es gilt also zunächst, die Fragen der Anwender nach der tatsächlichen Leistungsfähigkeit verschiedener Kommunikationssysteme zu beantworten. In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Ansätze beschrieben, die — mit Blick auf die physikalischen Eigenschaften des Energieverteilnetzes als Übertragungskanal — umfassende Antworten auf diese Fragen erlauben. Zudem werden Ergebnisse präsentiert, die eine realistische Einschätzung der Potenziale von auf PLC basierenden Kommunikationstechnologien erlauben.
Data Mining für hochdimensionale Messsysteme
Authors: Mikut Ralf
Published: October 2010

Data-Mining-Verfahren bauen auf einem umfangreichen Methodenapparat auf und werden seit langem erfolgreich auf verschiedenartige technische, naturwissenschaftliche und betriebswirtschaftliche Problemstellungen angewendet. Während sich Data-Mining-Verfahren ursprünglich auf tabellarische Datensätze mit einer überschaubaren Anzahl von Einzelmerkmalen bezogen, gewinnt die Verarbeitung von hochdimensionalen Daten aus Sensornetzen, fein abgetasteten Zeitreihen, Bildern und Videos zunehmend an Bedeutung. Der Beitrag stellt die zugrunde liegenden Methoden vor und gibt eine Übersicht über wichtige Anwendungsfelder.
Sensoreinsatzplanung und Informationsfusion zur Umgebungsexploration
Authors: Heizmann Michael , Gheta Ioana , Puente León Fernando , Beyerer Jürgen
Published: October 2010

Die Wahrnehmung und Modellierung einer dynamischen Umwelt stellen Schlüsselkomponenten intelligenter Systeme dar. In diesem Beitrag wird dazu einerseits eine Methodik vorgestellt, um aus verfügbaren Eingangsdaten eine optimale Auswahl zu treffen. Andererseits wird ein objektorientiertes Umweltmodell vorgeschlagen, das eine laufende Fusion vorhandenen Wissens mit neuen Sensorinformationen gestattet. Sämtliche Verfahren basieren auf der Bayes´schen Statistik in einer objektiven “Degree of Belief”-Interpretation. Einsatzgebiete werden am Beispiel humanoider Roboter und autonomer Fahrzeuge aufgezeigt.
Developmental Trajectories From Birth to School Age in Healthy Term-Born Children
Authors: Roze Elise , Meijer Lisethe , Van Braeckel Koenraad N. J. A. , Ruiter Selma A. J. , Bruggink Janneke L. M. , Bos Arend F.
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the stability of the scores obtained on tests of motor development from birth until school age in healthy, term singletons and to determine if early motor scores are associated with more complex cognitive functions at school age, such as attention and memory.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This longitudinal, prospective cohort study included 77 infants. The motor development of these infants was assessed during the neonatal period with Prechtl's neurologic examination; in early infancy with Touwen's neurologic examination and general movement assessment; at toddler age with Hempel's neurologic examination and the Psychomotor Developmental Index from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development; and at school age with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Cognition was determined at toddler age with the Mental Developmental Index from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development; and at school age with an intelligence test and attention and memory tests.

RESULTS:

The mean absolute difference in standardized motor scores for all time points was 1.01 SD (95% confidence interval: 0.91–1.11). Only the explained proportions of variance of maternal socioeconomic status and verbal intelligence were significant for sustained attention and verbal memory (r2 = 0.104, P = .030 and r2 = 0.074, P = .027), respectively. The children's scores on early motor tests added little value for their motor and cognitive development at school age.

CONCLUSIONS:

In healthy children the stability of motor development from birth until school age is low. Maternal socioeconomic status and verbal intelligence rather than the infants' scores on early motor tests signified added value for complex cognitive functions at school age.
Mapping of AF1 transactivation domains in duplicated rainbow trout glucocorticoid receptors
Authors: Sturm Armin , Bron James E , Green Darren M , Bury Nic R
Published: October 2010

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor mediating the genomic effects of glucocorticoids. Two activation functions (AFs) are present in the GR. While the N-terminal AF1 is ligand independent, the C-terminal AF2 overlaps with the ligand-binding domain and is ligand dependent. In this study, we have mapped AF1 in duplicated rainbow trout GRs, called rtGR1 and rtGR2, showing a limited homology (24.5%) in the N-terminal domain. Ablation of this domain from rtGR1 or rtGR2 resulted in a marked decrease (>97%) in maximal hormone-dependent transactivation, but did not affect dexamethasone-binding activity or expression levels. This suggested that, similar to the situation in the human GR (hGR), AF1 is the main AF in the trout GRs. Sequence alignments with hGR suggested a localisation of AF1 to residues 70–230 of rtGR1 and 1–119 of rtGR2. These assignments were generally confirmed in the transactivation experiments with rtGR1- and rtGR2-derived mutants showing partial deletions of their N-terminal domains. In dexamethsone-treated cells (10−7 M, 2 h), the subcellular distribution of rtGR1 and rtGR2 mutants lacking the entire N-terminal domain, as well that of an rtGR1 mutant lacking the most N-terminal 234 amino acids, was similar to that of the corresponding wild-type GRs, suggesting that the disruption of transactivation activity was not caused by impairment of nuclear access of the mutants. Bioinformatic analyses predicted the presence of potential helical segments in the core of AF1 of rtGR1 and rtGR2, and further revealed that AF1 in rtGR1, rtGR2, and hGR shares a motif composed of hydrophobic and acidic amino acids.