bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Coiling Behavior in Magnet‐Polymer Composites
Authors: Nguyen Vinh Quang , Ramanujan R. V.
Published: January 2010

Magnet‐polymer (Magpol) composites have an interesting ability to undergo large strains in response to an external magnetic field. The contraction behavior of composites of silicone and micron sized iron particles induced by an external magnetic field was studied. Simply by changing boundary conditions, Magpol can exhibit shape change from axial contraction to a novel coiling mechanism due to buckling. The analytically predicted magnetic fields for buckling agreed well with the measured values. The strain versus magnetic field relationship suggested that postbuckling behavior is a stable symmetric bifurcation, which is useful for continuous actuation. The coiling mode of Magpol exhibited high actuation strain (up to 60%) and actuation stress (up to 184 kPa), thus shows good potential for use in soft actuators.

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Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Thiol Modified Polymethacrylic acid and Its Cross‐Linking with Allyl Modified Polymethacrylic acid via Thiol‐ene “Click” Reaction
Authors: Bardts Mareike , Ritter Helmut
Published: January 2010

In this paper, we describe the thiol‐ene “click” reaction with modified poly methacrylic acid in water. The thiol group was implemented by a polymer analogous condensation reaction of polymethacrylic acid (1) and cysteamine (2), which was carried out in bulk by use of microwave. The allyl modified polymethacrylic acid (5) was obtained by DCC‐coupling of the allyl amine onto the polymethacrylic acid backbone. By combination of cysteamine (3) and allyl modified polymethacrylic acid (5) the thiol‐ene click reaction could be started with a redox initiator in aqueous solution at room temperature. The kinetics of this reaction were determined by1H NMR spectroscopy and the resulting hydrogels were analyzed by rheological measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

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Poly(lactic acid) Toughening with a Better Balance of Properties
Authors: Rasal Rahul M. , Hirt Douglas E.
Published: January 2010

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) toughening is often associated with significant modulus and/or strength losses making it unsuitable for many consumer and biomedical applications. The major objective of this research was to toughen PLA without significant loss in modulus and strength and to introduce reactive acid groups using reactive blending of PLA with a combination of polymers. PLA was reactive blended with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) followed by physical blending with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in solution. The modified PLA was extruded into films using a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder and characterized using tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA). This technology resulted in films with a ten‐fold increase in toughness compared to neat PLA with little or no decrease in strength and modulus.

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Functional correlates of lower cognitive test scores in essential tremor
Authors: Louis Elan D.
Published: January 2010

Although motor features have been the defining element of essential tremor (ET), lower neurocognitive test scores are increasingly being recognized. However, the clinical correlates, if any, of these lower test scores remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to determine whether cognitive test scores in ET have any functional correlates. The Modified Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and Lawton Instrumental (I) ADL scale were administered to 95 cases. The Katz ADL score (rho = 0.26, P = 0.01) and Lawton IADL score (rho = 0.32, P = 0.001) were correlated with MMSE scores, such that poorer cognitive performance indicated greater dysfunction. Furthermore, cognitive test scores were a better predictor of functional disability than was tremor severity. Poorer cognitive performance in ET was associated with greater functional deficit. Cognition should enter the clinical dialog with ET patients as an issue of clinical significance. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Narratives, facts, and events in the foundations of information science
Authors: Buckland Michael , Dousa Thomas M. , Shaw Ryan
Published: January 2010

This session explores three basic notions: events, facts, and narratives.

Events play a large role in our lives. Our sense of identity is largely shaped by events we have experienced. Our understanding of history is a narrative of events in the past. The humanities and social sciences are concerned with the human experience, with actions and interactions. The sciences also deal with events: changes, processes, and experiments. Events may be described factually and themselves be regarded as facts. Facts, in turn, assume their full meaning only in relation to narratives, which provide the contextual frameworks for understanding them.

In our daily lives we have little difficulty thinking and talking about events, facts, and narratives. However, information systems operate on objects (bits, data, documents). Events, facts, and narratives are not objects and difficulties arise when we try to analyze formally what they are.

Three related papers address these issues. First, a direct examination of the nature of events; second, an account of two contrasting ways of contextualizing facts; and, third., an attempt to encode events in biographical narratives.
Information seeking and use in diverse organizational contexts
Authors: Detlor Brian , Choo Chun Wei , Mackenzie Maureen , Turnbull Don , Ratto Matt
Published: January 2010

This session combines individual presentations with a group discussion. The focus of this session and the expertise of this panel bring together ways of thinking about information seeking and use in diverse organizational contexts. Organizational contexts are not uniform. Quite the contrary, they are very diverse in terms of the individuals, cultures, habits, routines, systems and infrastructures within them. The panelists offer varying viewpoints on how to best address information seeking and use diversity in the workplace. Though each panelist offers different perspectives on how to do this, collectively they rally a persuasive need to not assume homogeneity in our understanding and investigation of information seeking and use in organizational settings. Rather, they suggest it would be better to recognize the acute diversity in the individuals, tasks, cultures, technologies, and information practices that exist in organizations today, and to develop models, approaches, and recommendations of information seeking and use that reflect our understanding of this diversity.
What Can Eye‐Trackers Visualize? — An Approach to Capture the Reality of Search Processes
Authors: Miwa Makiko , Erdelez Sanda , Lund Haakon , Gwizdka Jacek
Published: January 2010

Eye‐trackers have widely been used to judge whether user interfaces fit the searchers' cognitive style, but not often used to examine search processes. We have been using eye‐trackers to capture the behavior of people doing information searches on the web and attained an understanding of information search processes as cognitive processes with length and depth. We think eye‐trackers are useful for identifying various aspects of information search processes. In the past, eye‐trackers were quite expensive and required skill to use. Recently, however, less‐expensive and easy‐to‐use eye‐trackers have become available. Now it is possible to gather, compare, and contrast various research methods, findings, and implications about using eye‐trackers in behavior research particularly regarding web searches, in order to develop a firm foundation for future research.

We would like to invite researchers from all over the globe who have been conducting a research using eye‐trackers for studying information seeking behaviors. Panel members' topics are as follows
On the challenges of implementing Library 2.0 services: A (diverse) panel discussion
Authors: Zimmer Michael , Corrado Edward , Ramirez Marisa , Reuter Kara , Rofofsky Marcus Sara , Saleh Nasser , Vaughan KT
Published: January 2010

Today, many libraries are at a crossroads: several of the services they have traditionally provided within their walls are increasingly made available online, often by non‐library, commercial entities. For example, Web search engines provide easy access to millions of Websites, online databases provide convenient gateways to news and scholarship, and book‐scanning projects make roaming the shelves seem antiquated. Meanwhile, the traditional authority and expertise enjoyed by librarians has been challenged by the emergence of peer‐produced and collaborative knowledge projects, such as Wikipedia, Yahoo! Answers, or Amazon's personalized book recommendation system. Further, the professional, education, and social spheres of our lives are increasingly merging, marked by the rise of social networking services providing new interfaces for interacting with friends, the sharing of information, and professional collaboration.

Libraries face a key question in this new environment: what is the role of the library in providing access to knowledge in today's digitally networked world? One answer has been to actively incorporate features of the online – “Web 2.0” – world into library services, thereby creating “Library 2.0.”

Library 2.0 means bringing interactive, collaborative, user‐centered, and web‐based technologies to library services and collections. Launching such Library 2.0 features, however, often brings unique challenges to librarians, administrators, and patrons alike. These include: technological constraints, issues of accessibility and diversity, staffing and cost, IP/copyright concerns, privacy and data retention policies, and the overall impact on the nature and culture of the library itself.

By bringing together a diverse collection of information professionals tasked with delivering Library 2.0 services, this panel discussion will outline many of the challenges of implementing Library 2.0, as well as illuminate some solutions and directions for the future. The goal of the panel is to help other information professionals navigate this uncharted terrain to foster the creation of innovative Library 2.0 services for their patrons, and reveal areas that require further attention by the profession and academia alike. This will be accomplished through guided conversation and sharing of ideas, not the traditional presentation of papers.
The DataNet partners: Sharing science, linking domains, curating data
Authors: Sandusky Robert J. , Palmer Carole L. , Allard Suzie , Cragin Melissa H. , Cruse Patricia , Renear Allen , Tenopir Carol
Published: January 2010

This panel introduces the first two DataNet partners funded through the National Science Foundation's Sustainable Digital Data Preservation and Access Network Partners (DataNet) solicitation (National Science Foundation, 2007). The first two of an expected five projects are The Data Conservancy: A Digital Research and Curation Virtual Organization, based at Johns Hopkins University (Sayeed Choudhury, PI), and DataONE: Observation Network for Earth, based at the University of New Mexico (William K. Michener, PI). Following a brief overview of NSF's DataNet vision and goals, each funded project will be introduced and positioned within the context of NSF's vision for the DataNet Partners. The next part of the panel will describe how information scientists and librarians are integrated into the projects, including research, educational, and service development objectives. The final part of the panel will discuss collaboration between the DataNet partners in order to serve as “elements of an interoperable data preservation and access network” (NSF, 2007).
Shared personal space: Meeting the needs of multiple users and multiple purposes
Authors: Barreau Deborah , Teevan Jaime
Published: January 2010

Interesting things happen at the edges of our personal workspaces, where our own space butts up against that of others. This panel will focus on the challenges of sharing workspaces – with our families, with our colleagues, and with ourselves across roles, tasks, and locations. In keeping with the conference theme, Thriving on Diversity, the panel will explore both the benefits and challenges of shared workspace.
Image indexing and retrieval: Current projects and a comprehensive research agenda for the future
Authors: Jorgensen Corinne , Beaudoin Joan E. , Ménard Elaine , Neal Diane , Stvilia Besiki
Published: January 2010

This panel focuses on the major research questions needing further exploration in the areas of image organization, retrieval, and use. The panel will first have short presentations on several ongoing image research projects and presenters will briefly comment on their current research, new tools and approaches to image indexing, and the broader research areas they address. The panel will then move into an interactive mode and the moderator will present a brief outline of a broad‐based image research agenda for panel/audience dialogue, through which the agenda will be expanded and refined. In particular, current research in image indexing and retrieval focuses on the conference topic of “Thriving on Diversity – Information Opportunities in a Pluralistic World” as many newer tools (e.g., geotagging) and many new voices are joining in the image description process. The brief presentations relate to topics now appearing in the image indexing literature: information and knowledge behavior in diverse contexts, social networking in a linguistically and culturally rich environment, and challenges of harmony versus hegemony, as well as quality and relevance to particular audiences.
An analysis of formally published usability and Web usability definitions
Authors: Chen Yu‐Hui , Germain Carol Anne , Rorissa Abebe
Published: January 2010

Usability in general and web usability in particular are complex concepts with multiple dimensions and elements/attributes. What is more, there is no comprehensive definition that takes into account the varying aspects of usability. This leads to discrepancies in policies/standards/guidelines which facilitate good usability practices. To initially address this problem, we took the first step of systematically analyzing the terms represented in formally published definitions from a number of sources in the subject areas of library & information science and computer science/information systems. Our results reveal that there are approximately 11 elements/attributes of usability and web usability addressed within these sources. The top five attributes are: learnability, effectiveness, user‐related attributes, users' attitude/satisfaction, and efficiency. However, other critical usability attributes received little to no attention in publications of either discipline.
Phytate in foods and significance for humans: Food sources, intake, processing, bioavailability, protective role and analysis
Authors: Schlemmer Ulrich , Frølich Wenche , Prieto Rafel M. , Grases Felix
Published: January 2010

The article gives an overview of phytic acid in food and of its significance for human nutrition. It summarises phytate sources in foods and discusses problems of phytic acid/phytate contents of food tables. Data on phytic acid intake are evaluated and daily phytic acid intake depending on food habits is assessed. Degradation of phytate during gastro‐intestinal passage is summarised, the mechanism of phytate interacting with minerals and trace elements in the gastro‐intestinal chyme described and the pathway of inositol phosphate hydrolysis in the gut presented. The present knowledge of phytate absorption is summarised and discussed. Effects of phytate on mineral and trace element bioavailability are reported and phytate degradation during processing and storage is described. Beneficial activities of dietary phytate such as its effects on calcification and kidney stone formation and on lowering blood glucose and lipids are reported. The antioxidative property of phytic acid and its potentional anticancerogenic activities are briefly surveyed. Development of the analysis of phytic acid and other inositol phosphates is described, problems of inositol phosphate determination and detection discussed and the need for standardisation of phytic acid analysis in foods argued.
Green tea polyphenols improve cardiac muscle mRNA and protein levels of signal pathways related to insulin and lipid metabolism and inflammation in insulin‐resistant rats
Authors: Qin Bolin , Polansky Marilyn M. , Harry Dawson , Anderson Richard A.
Published: January 2010

Epidemiological studies indicate that the consumption of green tea polyphenols (GTP) may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. To explore the underlying mechanisms of action at the molecular level, we examined the effects of GTP on the cardiac mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in insulin and lipid metabolism and inflammation. In rats fed a high‐fructose diet, supplementation with GTP (200 mg/kg BW daily dissolved in distilled water) for 6 wk, reduced systemic blood glucose, plasma insulin, retinol‐binding protein 4, soluble CD36, cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and LDL‐C levels, as well as the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and IL‐6. GTP did not affect food intake, bodyweight and heart weight. In the myocardium, GTP also increased the insulin receptor (Ir), insulin receptor substrate 1 and 2 (Irs1 and Irs2), phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (Pi3k), v‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (Akt1), glucose transporter 1 and 4 (Glut1 and Glut4) and glycogen synthase 1 (Gys1) expression but inhibited phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (Pten) expression and decreased glycogen synthase kinase 3β (Gsk3β) mRNA expression. The sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (Srebp1c) mRNA, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp) mRNA and protein, Cd36 mRNA and cluster of differentiation 36 protein levels were decreased and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (Ppar)γ mRNA levels were increased. GTP also decreased the inflammatory factors: Tnf, Il1b and Il6 mRNA levels, and enhanced the anti‐inflammatory protein, zinc‐finger protein, protein and mRNA expression. In summary, consumption of GTP ameliorated the detrimental effects of high‐fructose diet on insulin signaling, lipid metabolism and inflammation in the cardiac muscle of rats.
Empirical and DFT GIAO quantum‐mechanical methods of 13C chemical shifts prediction: competitors or collaborators?
Authors: Elyashberg Mikhail , Blinov Kirill , Smurnyy Yegor , Churanova Tatiana , Williams Antony
Published: January 2010

The accuracy of 13C chemical shift prediction by both DFT GIAO quantum‐mechanical (QM) and empirical methods was compared using 205 structures for which experimental and QM‐calculated chemical shifts were published in the literature. For these structures, 13C chemical shifts were calculated using HOSE code and neural network (NN) algorithms developed within our laboratory. In total, 2531 chemical shifts were analyzed and statistically processed. It has been shown that, in general, QM methods are capable of providing similar but inferior accuracy to the empirical approaches, but quite frequently they give larger mean average error values. For the structural set examined in this work, the following mean absolute errors (MAEs) were found: MAE(HOSE) = 1.58 ppm, MAE(NN) = 1.91 ppm and MAE(QM) = 3.29 ppm. A strategy of combined application of both the empirical and DFT GIAO approaches is suggested. The strategy could provide a synergistic effect if the advantages intrinsic to each method are exploited. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Spetex‐1, a new component of satellite fibrils associated with outer dense fibers in the middle piece of rodent sperm flagella
Authors: Kaneko Takane , Murayama Emi , Kurio Hitoshi , Yamaguchi Akihiko , Iida Hiroshi
Published: January 2010

Spetex‐1, which has been isolated by differential display as a haploid spermatid‐specific gene, encodes a protein with two coiled‐coil motifs located in the middle piece of flagella in rodent spermatozoa. The middle piece of flagella is composed of axoneme and peri‐axonemal elements including outer dense fibers (ODFs) and satellite fibrils. Pre‐embedding immunoelectron microscopy clearly demonstrated that Spetex‐1 is located at satellite fibrils associated with ODFs in the middle piece of flagella of rat spermatozoa. Extraction of Spetex‐1 from spermatozoa by SDS or urea required dithiothreitol, suggesting crosslinking by disulfide bond is involved in the assembly of satellite fibrils containing Spetex‐1. We identified putative Spetex‐1 orthologs in many animal species, and both cysteine residues and coiled‐coil motifs were well conserved in mammalian orthologs of Spetex‐1. When Spetex‐1 was co‐transfected into COS‐7 cells with myc‐tagged Tektin4, another filamentous protein associated with ODFs, the two molecules were co‐localized in various sizes of aggregates in the cells. These data suggested that Spetex‐1, a new component of satellite fibrils, might be involved in the structural stability of the sperm flagellar middle piece and functions in co‐operation with Tektin4. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77: 363–372, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The life and times of Dr David M. Young, Jr
Authors: Kincaid David R. , Varga Richard S. , Warlick Charles H.
Published: January 2010

Professor David M. Young, Jr was instrumental in the development of iterative algorithms and software for solving large sparse systems of linear algebraic equations of the type that typically arise in the numerical solution of partial differential equations. We present a brief overview of his life, accomplishments, and research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Access to specialized pediatric cancer care in Switzerland
Authors: Adam Martin , Weid Nicolas von der , Michel Gisela , Zwahlen Marcel , Lutz Jean‐Michel , Probst‐Hensch Nicole , Niggli Felix , Kuehni Claudia ,   for the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG),   and for the Swiss Association of Cancer Registries (ASRT)
Published: January 2010

Background

Specialized pediatric cancer centers (PCCs) are thought to be essential to obtain state‐of‐the‐art care for children and adolescents. We determined the proportion of childhood cancer patients not treated in a PCC, and described their characteristics and place of treatment.

Procedure

The Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR) registers all children treated in Swiss PCCs. The regional cancer registries (covering 14/26 cantons) register all cancer patients of a region. The children of the SCCR with data from 7 regions (11 cantons) were compared, using specialized software for record linkage. All children <16 years of age at diagnosis with primary malignant tumors, diagnosed between 1990 and 2004, and living in one of these regions were included in the analysis.

Results

22.1% (238/1,077) of patients recorded in regional registries were not registered in the SCCR. Of these, 15.7% (169/1,077) had never been in a PCC while 6.4% (69/1,077) had been in a PCC but were not registered in the SCCR, due to incomplete data flow. In all diagnostic groups and in all age groups, a certain proportion of children was treated outside a PCC, but this proportion was largest in children suffering from malignant bone tumors/soft tissue sarcomas and from malignant epithelial neoplasms, and in older children. The proportion of patients treated in a PCC increased over the study period (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

One in six childhood cancer patients in Switzerland was not treated in a PCC. Whether these patients have different treatment outcomes remained unclear. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:721–727. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of proteomic biomarker panels in urine and serum for ovarian cancer diagnosis
Authors: Petri Anette Lykke , Simonsen Anja Hviid , Høgdall Estrid , Christensen Ib Jarle , Kjaer Susanne Krüger , Yip Christine , Risum Signe , Pedersen Anette Tønnes , Hartwell Dorte , Fung Eric T. , Høgdall Claus
Published: January 2010

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to confirm previously found candidate epithelial ovarian cancer biomarkers in urine and to compare a paired serum biomarker panel and a urine biomarker panel from the same study cohort with regard to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under the ROC curve (AUC) values.

Experimental design: Four significant urine biomarkers were confirmed among 130 pelvic mass patients in the present study. The four biomarkers form a potential urine biomarker panel. From the same study cohort, the potential urine biomarker panel was compared to a serum biomarker panel, consisting of seven proteins/peptides, OvaRI.

Results: Multivariate analysis of the urine panel demonstrated a significant differentiation (p<0.0001) between epithelial ovarian cancer patients and patients with benign ovarian pelvic masses.

The ROC AUC of the urine panel was 0.84 and the ROC AUC of OvaRI was 0.83. Combining the urine panel with OvaRI demonstrated a significant contribution from both, for urine peaks, OR=2.12 and for OvaRI, OR=1.39; the ROC AUC of this model was 0.88.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: We demonstrated that both urine and serum can be used individually or in combination to potentially aid in ovarian cancer diagnostics. Urine proteomic profiling could provide biomarkers for the non‐invasive test required in clinical practice.
Determining the Vapor Pressures of Diacetone Diperoxide (DADP) and Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD)
Authors: Oxley Jimmie C. , Smith James L. , Luo Wei , Brady Joseph
Published: January 2010

The vapor signature of diacetone diperoxide (DADP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) were examined by a gas chromatography (GC) headspace technique over the range of 15 to 55 °C. Parallel experiments were conducted to redetermine the vapor pressures of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP). The TNT and TATP vapor pressures were in agreement with the previously reported results. Vapor pressure of DADP was determined to be 17.7 Pa at 25 °C, which is approximately 2.6 times higher than TATP at the same temperature. The Clapeyron equation, relating vapor pressure and temperature, was LnP (Pa)=35.9−9845.1/T (K) for DADP. Heat of sublimation, calculated from the slope of the line for the Clapeyron equation, was 81.9 kJ mole−1. HMTD vapor pressure was not determined due to reduced thermal stability resulting in vapor phase decomposition products.
Study of peripheral muscle strength and severity indexes in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Marino Diego Marmorato , Marrara Kamilla Tays , Ike Daniela , De Oliveira Antônio Delfino , Jamami Maurício , Di Lorenzo Valéria Amorim Pires
Published: January 2010

Background and Purpose. Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present reduced peripheral muscle strength, which leads to impaired mobility and increased mortality risk. However, it is not clear whether there is any relationship between muscle strength, muscle mass and the body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, exercise performance (BODE) index scale, which is considered to be the best predictor of survival for individuals with COPD. The BODE Index is a multidimensional system that measures body composition (B), airway obstruction (O), dyspnea perception (D) and the ability to exercise (E), and rates the severity of the major changes found in individuals with COPD. The objective of this study was to verify any relationship between the BODE Index, muscle mass and maximum muscle strengths of the upper limb (UL) and lower limb (LL) in subjects with moderate to very severe COPD. Methods. Twenty‐six individuals with moderate to very severe COPD were evaluated by body composition (body mass index and muscle mass), BODE Index, handgrip strength (HS) and one repetition maximum (1RM) test of the UL and LL. Results. There was a positive correlation (Pearson, p < 0.05) of peripheral muscle strength, evaluated by HS and 1RM (pectoral and triceps, round muscles and dorsal section, quadriceps), to muscle mass (0.74, 0.57, 0.74 and 0.62, respectively) and the distance walked in the six‐minute walking test (0.52, 0.50, 0.46 and 0.58, respectively), but no correlation of muscle strength was found to forced expiratory volume in one second to dyspnea or the BODE Index. Conclusion. In accordance with the results of this study, peripheral muscle strength as measured by HS and 1RM is not related to the severity indexes for COPD, unlike UL and LL muscle strength. Therefore, UL and LL measurements now have an additional importance in COPD evaluation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What does the clinical doctorate in physical therapy mean for rural communities?
Authors: King Jennifer , Freburger Janet K. , Slifkin Rebecca T.
Published: January 2010

Background and Purpose. The transition to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) as the entry‐level degree for physical therapists in the United States is nearly complete. Little is known about how the transition has affected the characteristics of the physical therapy workforce or the provision of physical therapy services. Effects may be particularly acute in rural communities with persistent health‐care provider shortages. The study objectives were to explore the early impact of the DPT on the supply and quality of physical therapy care in rural areas and to identify issues for future research. Methods. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through semi‐structured telephone interviews. The interview subjects were education programme directors, directors of physical therapy at rural hospitals and presidents of state physical therapy associations. Results. The respondents provided little evidence that the DPT has had a significant impact on the supply or quality of physical therapy in rural areas thus far. There are problems with the supply of physical therapists in rural communities, but few respondents attributed this directly to the DPT. Few respondents believed the DPT has improved the quality of physical therapy care in rural settings, noting that experience was the main factor that contributed to quality of care. However, several respondents believed the DPT may impact the supply and quality of rural physical therapy in the future; about half were concerned about the potential for negative effects on the supply of physical therapists in rural areas. Conclusions. In general, the respondents did not indicate that the DPT has had large effects on rural health care. However, future research should consider the negative and positive effects that may occur as DPT therapists make up a larger share of the workforce. Further, there are several areas where increased collaboration could be mutually beneficial to physical therapy educators, practitioners and rural communities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐supported flare‐stack vibrations in ammonia plant
Authors: Stevens Rob , Desai Umesh R.
Published: January 2010

Qatar Fertilizers Company (QAFCO), Ammonia‐3 is a 1,500 metric tons per day (MTPD) plant, designed, supplied, and commissioned by a company (Division of Thyssen Krupp Group) (UHDE) in 1997. The main gas flare stack is a self‐supported free‐standing structure with a height of 70.5 m, located in the middle of the plant. Excessive vibrations/shaking of the flare and flare structure were observed due to mixing of NH3 and CO2 rich gases in the presence of water. Ammonium carbonate and bicarbonate sludge (salts) formed in the flare stack and increased resistance to the gas flow path. The partial blockage increased the pressure at the flare‐stack bottom and the sudden release of the gases gave vibrations (surging effects) to the flare stack. The flare stack was drained after unplugging the stack‐bottom drains. Hot‐process gases (167°C) from the low temperature shift converter (LTS) outlet were lined up to the flare stack in small quantity to melt the deposits. Flare vibrations completely stopped after 3 days. Inspection of the weld joints and foundation bolts was done, and no abnormalities were found. No vibrations were observed during all normal/emergency plant shutdowns faced after the incident. The work describes the root cause of unique experience of flare‐stack vibrations, and the way the problem was solved online. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
Conformational properties of the residues connected by ester and methylated amide bonds: theoretical and solid state conformational studies
Authors: Siodłak Dawid , Janicki Anna
Published: January 2010

Peptides produced by bacteria and fungi often contain an ester bond in the main chain. Some of them have both an ester and methylated amide bond at the same residue. A broad spectrum of biological activities makes these depsipeptides potential drug precursors. To investigate the conformational properties of such modified residues, a systematic theoretical analysis was performed on N‐acetyl‐L‐alanine N′‐methylamide (Ac‐Ala‐NHMe) and the analogues with the ester bond on the C‐terminus (Ac‐Ala‐OMe), N‐terminus (Ac‐[psi](COO)‐Ala‐NHMe) as well as the analogues methylated on the N‐terminus (Ac‐(Me)Ala‐OMe) and C‐terminus (Ac‐[psi](COO)‐Ala‐NMe2). The ϕ, ψ potential energy surfaces and the conformers localised were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory both in vacuo and with inclusion of the solvent (chloroform, water) effect (SCRF method). The solid state conformations of the studied residues drawn from The Cambridge Structural Database have been also analysed. The residues with a C‐terminal ester bond prefer the conformations β, C5, and αR, whereas those with N‐terminal ester bond prefer the conformations β, αR, and the unique conformation α′ (ϕ, ψ = −146°, −12°). The residues with N‐terminal methylated amide and a C‐terminal ester bond prefer the conformations β, β2, and interestingly, the conformation αL. The residues with a C‐terminal methylated amide and an N‐terminal ester bond adopt primarily the conformation β. The description of the selective structural modifications, such as those above, is a step towards understanding the structure‐activity relationship of the depsipeptides, limited by the structural complexity of these compounds. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Nb doping on electronic and magnetic properties of half‐metallic CoMnSb semi‐Heusler compound from first‐principles calculations
Authors: Wu X. Y. , Zhang J. , Yuan H. K. , Kuang A. L. , Chen H.
Published: January 2010

We investigate the effect of less 3d electrons on the electronic and magnetic properties of half‐Heusler alloys CoMn1−xNbxSb in a wide concentration range using first‐principles density‐functional calculations within the generalized gradient approximation. Our calculations indicate that for x < 0.5 the doped compounds are half‐metallic ferromagnets with the magnetic moments obeying Slater–Pauli rule quite well, while for the larger x the doped compounds become metallic and incompletely compensated ferrimagnets, and finally for x = 1 the corresponding compound is nonmagnetic metal. The local moment of Mn is insensitive to the x concentration as well as the magnetic interaction, revealing the localized nature of the magnetism due to the large exchange splitting of Mn‐d states. The total conduction electron spin polarization of Co or Nb and Sb atoms is always negative but drop off slowly with increasing x, suggesting that the ferromagnetic coupling is governed by the ferromagnetic RKKY‐type exchange mechanism, while the antiferromagnetic superexchange mechanism becomes important only for x ∼ 1, giving rise to the unstable ferromagnetism for x ∼ 1. The Curie temperature as well as ferromagnetic intensity decrease with increasing x, originating from the fact that the shift of the Fermi level from the top of the valence band to the bottom of the conduction band leads to the increase of the number of states just above the Fermi level and consequently the superexchange mechanism is more efficient.
Photoacoustic spectroscopy and electron spin resonance studies of defects in microcrystalline silicon thin films grown on rough surfaces
Authors: Toyama Toshihiko , Kurihara Masanori , Sobajima Yasushi , Okamoto Hiroaki , Takahashi Satoshi , Misaka Naoki , Tsutsumi Yasuo
Published: January 2010

Light trapping is a crucial technique for increasing the photocurrent of solar cells, particularly that of microcrystalline (μc‐Si) thin‐film solar cells. Transparent conductive oxides with rough surfaces such as Al‐doped ZnO (AZO) have been used extensively for this purpose. In general, the surface morphology influences the film growth and photovoltaic performance; on extremely rough surfaces the photovoltaic performance deteriorates. In this article, the experimental results of photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy, performed on μc‐Si films deposited on various AZO surfaces, are presented as a function of AZO surface roughness σRMS, together with those derived from electron spin resonance. The amplitudes of the PA signals at 1.4 eV increased significantly when σRMS = 22 nm, a roughness where cracks were not observed in the μc‐Si. The amplitudes of the PA signals at 0.9 eV and the spin densities showed sigmoidal increases centered at a critical roughness of around 30 nm. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Inversion domain boundaries in GaN studied by X‐ray microprobe
Authors: Martínez‐Criado Gema , Somogyi Andrea , Alén Benito , Miskys Claudio , Tucoulou Remi , Cloetens Peter , Sans Juan Angel , Susini Jean
Published: January 2010

In this study, we report on the application of synchrotron spectro‐microscopic techniques to the examination of inversion domain boundaries formed intentionally in a GaN‐based lateral polarity heterostructure. Using X‐ray sub‐microbeams, no evidence of field‐driven electrodiffusion effects has been observed on spatially separated inversion domain boundaries. In addition, XANES data around the Ga K‐edge strongly supported hexagonal Ga site configurations, suggesting high local order reconstruction. Based on inner‐shell excited luminescence on the micrometer scale, the uniform spectral distribution of the radiative centers was discussed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A DFT study of the complexation behavior of hemispherands toward alkali metal cations
Authors: Shibl Mohamed F. , Hameed Salem A. , Elroby Shabaan A.K.
Published: January 2010

A density functional theory study of the behavior of hemispherands toward alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, and K+) is performed. The effect of the replacement of the rigid anisyl group(s) by the mobile ether group(s) on the binding energy of hemispherands with alkali metal ions is investigated. The results indicated that the binding energies are inversely proportional to the ionic radius of the cations. Moreover, increasing the flexibility of the ligand results in decreasing the binding toward small ions. The structures of the hosts and the guests are correlated to the binding energies, and the correlations are interpreted in terms of the principle of preorganization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Applications of stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry in cattle dung carbon cycling studies
Authors: Dungait Jennifer A. J. , Bol Roland , Lopez‐Capel Elisa , Bull Ian D. , Chadwick David , Amelung Wulf , Granger Steven J. , Manning David A. C. , Evershed Richard P.
Published: January 2010

Understanding the fate of dung carbon (C) in soils is challenging due to the ubiquitous presence of the plant‐derived organic matter (OM), the source material from which both dung‐derived OM and soil organic matter (SOM) predominantly originate. A better understanding of the fate of specific components of this substantial source of OM, and thereby its contribution to C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, can only be achieved through the use of labelled dung treatments. In this short review, we consider analytical approaches using bulk and compound‐specific stable carbon isotope analysis that have been utilised to explore the fate of dung‐derived C in soils. Bulk stable carbon isotope analyses are now used routinely to explore OM matter cycling in soils, and have shown that up to 20% of applied dung C may be incorporated into the surface soil horizons several weeks after application, with up to 8% remaining in the soil profile after one year. However, whole soil δ13C values represent the average of a wide range of organic components with varying δ13C values and mean residence times in soils. Several stable 13C isotope ratio mass spectrometric methods have been developed to qualify and quantify different fractions of OM in soils and other complex matrices. In particular, thermogravimetry‐differential scanning calorimetry‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry (TG‐DSC‐IRMS) and gas chromatography‐combustion‐IRMS (GC‐C‐IRMS) analyses have been applied to determine the incorporation and turnover of polymeric plant cell wall materials from C4 dung into C3 grassland soils using natural abundance 13C isotope labelling. Both approaches showed that fluxes of C derived from polysaccharides, i.e. as cellulose or monosaccharide components, were more similar to the behaviour of bulk dung C in soil than lignin. However, lignin and its 4‐hydroxypropanoid monomers were unexpectedly dynamic in soil. These findings provide further evidence for emerging themes in biogeochemical investigations of soil OM dynamics that challenge perceived concepts of recalcitrance of C pools in soils, which may have profound implications for the assessment of the potential of agricultural soils to influence terrestrial C sinks. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of an in vitro system combining aqueous and lipid phases as a tool to understand gastric nitrosation
Authors: Combet Emilie , Preston Tom , McColl Kenneth E. L.
Published: January 2010

Nitrite has long been considered a potential pre‐carcinogen for gastric cancer. Acidification of salivary nitrite, derived from dietary nitrate, produces nitrosative species such as NOSCN, NO+ and N2O3, which can form potentially carcinogenic N‐nitroso compounds. Ascorbic acid inhibits nitrosation by converting the nitrosative species into nitric oxide (NO). However, NO diffuses rapidly to adjacent lipids, where it reacts with oxygen to reform nitrosative species. Nitrosation has been studied in vitro in aqueous systems and less frequently in organic systems; however, there is a need to investigate acid‐catalysed nitrosation in a system combining aqueous and lipid environments, hence providing a physiologically relevant model. Here, we describe a two‐phase system, which can be used as a tool to understand acid‐catalysed nitrosation. Using gas chromatography/ion trap tandem mass spectrometry, we investigated the nitrosation of secondary amines as a function of the lipid phase composition and reaction mixing. An increased interface surface area was a driver for nitrosation, while incorporation of unsaturated fatty acids affected morpholine and piperidine nitrosation differently. Linoleic acid methyl esters did not affect morpholine nitrosation and only had a limited effect on N‐nitrosopiperidine formation, while incorporation of free linoleic acid to the lipid phase significantly reduced N‐nitrosopiperidine formation, but increased N‐nitrosomorpholine formation at low levels. The mechanisms driving these effects are thought to involve amine partitioning, polarity and unsaturated fatty acids acting as scavengers of nitrosating species, findings relevant to the nitrosative chemistry occurring in the stomach, where the gastric acid meets a range of dietary fats which are emulsified during digestion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved measurement of protein synthesis in human subjects using 2H‐phenylalanine isotopomers and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Preston Tom , Small Alexandra C.
Published: January 2010

Sensitive methods to measure protein synthetic rate in vivo are required to assess changes in protein expression, especially when comparing healthy with infirm subjects. We have previously applied a ‘flooding dose’ procedure using 2H5‐phenylalanine (2H5‐phe) and 2H8‐phe isotopomers as tracers, which has proven successful in measuring albumin and fibrinogen synthesis in response to feeding in cancer patients. Using tert‐butyldimethylsilyl derivatives, we have observed that 2H7‐phe is formed with time in vivo from 2H8‐phe, probably during transamination. This increases errors when estimating the fractional synthetic rate (FSR) using the 2H8‐phe isotopomer compared with the 2H5‐phe isotopomer. We sought to improve this situation by use of an alternative derivative that overcomes this problem whilst also streamlining sample preparation. When using N‐ethoxycarbonyltrifluoroethyl (ECTFE) amino acid esters, 2H8‐phe is effectively converted into 2H7‐phe through fragmentation under electron ionisation (EI), allowing both 2H8‐phe and 2H7‐phe isotopomers to be measured as a single intense CH fragment at 98 Th. To illustrate the improved situation, the mean RMS residual was calculated for all albumin data, for each isotopomer and for each derivative. Albumin‐bound Phe was analysed as ECTFE‐phe with improved precision, independent of the isotopomer used, confirming that the new derivative is superior. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of a wireless power transmission system for an active capsule endoscope
Authors: Xin Wenhui , Yan Guozheng , Wang Wenxin
Published: January 2010

Background

An active capsule endoscope (ACE) will consume much more energy than can be power by batteries. Its orientation and position are always undetermined when it continues the natural way down the gastrointestinal track.

Methods

In order to deliver stable and sufficient energy to ACE safely, a wireless power transmission system based on inductive coupling is presented. The system consists of a Helmholtz primary coil outside and a multiple secondary coils inside the body. The Helmholtz primary coil is driven to generate a uniform alternating magnetic field covering the whole of the alimentary tract, and the multiple secondary coils receive energy regardless of the ACE's position and orientation relative to the generated magnetic field. The human tissue safety of the electromagnetic field generated by transmitting coil was evaluated, based on a high‐resolution realistic human model.

Results

At least 310 mW usable power can be transmitted under the worst geometrical conditions. Outer dimensions of the power receiver, 10 mm diameter × 12 mm; transmitting power, 25 W; resonant frequency, 400 kHz. The maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) and current density of human tissues are 0.329 W/kg and 3.82 A/m2, respectively, under the basic restrictions of the International Commission on Non‐ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

Conclusions

The designed wireless power transmission is shown to be feasible and potentially safe in a future application. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uncountable graphs and invariant measures on the set of universal countable graphs
Authors: Petrov Fedor , Vershik Anatoly
Published: January 2010

We give new examples and describe the complete lists of all measures on the set of countable homogeneous universal graphs and Ks‐free homogeneous universal graphs (for s ≥ 3) that are invariant with respect to the group of all permutations of the vertices. Such measures can be regarded as random graphs (respectively, random Ks‐free graphs). The well‐known example of Erdös–Rényi (ER) of the random graph corresponds to the Bernoulli measure on the set of adjacency matrices. For the case of the universal Ks‐free graphs there were no previously known examples of the invariant measures on the space of such graphs.

The main idea of our construction is based on the new notions of measurable universal, and topologically universal graphs, which are interesting themselves. The realization of the construction can be regarded as two‐step randomization for universal measurable graph : “randomization in vertices” and “randomization in edges.” For Ks‐free, s ≥ 3, there is only randomization in vertices of the measurable graphs. The completeness of our lists is proved using the important theorem by Aldous about S∞‐invariant matrices, which we reformulate in appropriate way. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2010