bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extractability of slurry and fertilizer phosphorus in soil after repeated freezing
Authors: SOINNE H. , PELTOVUORI T.
Published: November 2005

The potential effects of freezing on phosphorus (P) chemistry in Finnish soils are not well known. We studied the effects of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on soil P chemistry in a laboratory incubation experiment with one organic and one mineral surface soil. The soils were incubated at +5°C or at alternating +5/20°C temperatures for 24 weeks, either without amendment or amended with pig slurry or with commercial compound fertilizer (NPK 2039). After incubation, the soils were analyzed for water-soluble reactive and unreactive P, and acid ammonium acetate soluble P (PAAA). Freezing and thawing of soils during the incubation had no significant effect on any of the water-soluble P fractions or PAAA. The outcome was most likely a consequence of the good P status of the soils, which masked the gentle effects of freezing. According to these results, the time of soil sampling (fall vs. spring) has no effect on P test results on soils with a good P status. Concentrations of soluble P after incubation were roughly twice as high in the slurry treatments than in the fertilizer treatments, demonstrating potentially better long-term availability of slurry P.;
Prediction of silage composition and organic matter digestibility from herbage composition and pepsin-cellulase solubility
Authors: HUHTANEN P. , NOUSIAINEN J. , RINNE M.
Published: November 2005

A dataset of grasses and respective silages was collected by systematically varying the harvesting time in primary growth (n = 27) and in regrowth (n = 25). The swards were mixtures of timothy and meadow fescue. The grasses were ensiled unwilted with formic acid. Fixed or mixed regression procedure of SAS was used to investigate the relationships between composition of grasses and respective silages and to develop regression equations for predicting silage in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMD) from herbage pepsincellulase organic matter solubility (OMS). The silages were well preserved showing only limited amounts of secondary fermentation products. The silage dry matter (DM), crude protein and neutral detergent fibre contents could be estimated relatively accurately from grass variables as judged by relatively small prediction errors (RMSEmixed = 3.6, 8.1 and 18 g (kg DM)-1, respectively). The average OMS of grasses was significantly higher than that of respective silages (779 vs. 756 g (kg DM)-1, P < 0.001). However, silage OMD was equally accurately predicted from grass and silage OMS (RMSEmixed = 15.1 and 15.8 g (kg DM)-1, respectively). When predicting silage OMD from OMS, specific equations should be used for primary growth and regrowth silages, because the slopes and intercepts of correction equations were numerically though not statistically significantly different. It is concluded that silage composition and digestibility can be reliably predicted from herbage characteristics provided that silages are well preserved with moderate ensiling losses.;
Clomiphene Administration for Cases of Nonobstructive Azoospermia: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Hussein Alayman , Ozgok Yasar , Ross Lawrence , Niederberger Craig
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT: Clomiphene citrate is a well‐established agent that has been empirically used in cases of idiopathic oligospermia. Clomiphene increases endogenous gonadotropin‐releasing hormone secretion from the hypothalamus and gonadotropin hormone secretion directly from the pituitary and, thus, increases intratesticular testosterone concentration. Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), very few sperm may be required for fertilization. The objective of this study was to determine if the application of clomiphene citrate in males with nonobstructive azoospermia might produce sufficient sperm for ICSI, either by resulting in sperm identified in the ejaculate or by potentially improving outcomes of surgical testicular sperm extraction. Forty‐two patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (age range, 25–39 years) from 3 international centers were evaluated with routine history, physical examination, and hormonal assessment. Initial testicular biopsy demonstrated maturation arrest in 42.9% and hypospermatogenesis in 57.1% of patients. Clomiphene citrate was administered, with the dose titrated to achieve serum testosterone levels between 600 ng/dL and 800 ng/dL, and semen analyses were performed at periodic intervals. In patients remaining azoospermic on semen analysis, surgical testicular biopsy and sperm extraction were performed. After clomiphene citrate therapy, 64.3% of the patients demonstrated sperm in their semen analyses ranging from 1 to 16 million sperm/mL, with a mean sperm density of 3.8 million/mL. Sufficient sperm for ICSI was retrieved by testicular sperm extraction in all patients, even though 35.7% remained azoospermic. Additionally, clomiphene citrate administration resulted in a statistically significant increase in testis biopsy patterns associated with greater likelihood of sperm obtained by surgical extraction (P < .05). We conclude that clomiphene citrate administration may result in sperm in the ejaculate of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia or the simplification of testis sperm retrieval. Surgeons may consider a course of clomiphene citrate administration prior to surgical sperm retrieval in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Identification of Sperm Morphometric Subpopulations in Two Different Portions of the Boar Ejaculate and Its Relation to Postthaw Quality
Authors: Peña Fernando J. , Saravia Fernando , García‐Herreros Manuel , Núñezmartínez Ivan , Tapia Jose Antonio , Johannisson Anders , Wallgren Margaretha , Rodríguez‐Martínez Heriberto
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT: A statistical approach using sequentially principal component analysis (PCA), clustering, and discriminant analyses was developed to identify sperm morphometric subpopulations in well‐defined portions of the fresh boar ejaculate. Semen was obtained as 2 portions (the first 10 mL of the sperm‐rich fraction and the rest of the ejaculate, respectively) and frozen using a conventional protocol. Before freezing, an aliquot was used for computer‐assisted sperm morphometry analysis (ASMA). Postthaw quality was evaluated using computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and an annexin‐V/PI assay evaluated sperm membranes. The PCA revealed that 3 variables represented more than 78% of the cumulative variance in sperm subpopulations. The clustering and discriminant analyses, based on 5780 individual spermatozoa, revealed the existence of 4 sperm subpopulations. The relative percentage of these subpopulations varied between boar and ejaculate portions. Linear regression models based on measured morphometric characteristics could account for up to 36% of the percentage of intact sperm membranes postthaw. The ASMA protocol used in our study was useful to detect subtle morphometric differences between spermatozoa, and the combination of this analysis with a multivariate statistical procedure gave new information on the biological characteristics of boar ejaculates that is not given by conventional sperm analysis.
Combination Therapy: Medicated Urethral System for Erection Enhances Sexual Satisfaction in Sildenafil Citrate Failure Following Nerve‐Sparing Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Raina Rupesh , Nandipati Kalyana C. , Agarwal Ashok , Mansour David , Kaelber David C. , Zippe Craig D.
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT: The objective of our study was to assess the effectiveness of combining medicated urethral system for erection (MUSE) with sildenafil citrate in men unsatisfied with the sildenafil alone. Baseline and follow‐up data from 23 patients (mean age, 62.5 ± 5.23 years) unsatisfied with the use of the sildenafil citrate alone for the treatment of erectile dysfunction following nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy (mean use, 4 attempts/100‐mg dose) was obtained. All patients started oral sildenafil citrate more than 6 months after radical prostatectomy. Combination therapy was initiated using 100 mg sildenafil citrate orally 1 hour prior to intercourse. Patients used combination therapy for a minimum of 4 attempts prior to assessment with the Sexual Health Inventory of Men (International Index for Erectile Function‐5) and visual analog scale to gauge rigidity (0‐100). The effect of therapy on the total International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) score and penile rigidity score was assessed. Of the 23 patients, 4 (17%) had no improvement with the addition of medicated urethral system for erection and discontinued the drug, while 19 (83%) reported improvement with the penile rigidity and sexual satisfaction. The IIEF scores of these 19 patients showed significant improvements in each sexual domain, and the patients reported that erection was sufficient for vaginal penetration 80% of the time. Rigidity scores on a scale of 0–100 with sildenafil alone averaged 38% (23‐53) for men and 46% (26‐67) for their partners. With the addition of MUSE, scores increased to 76% for men and 62% for their partners. We conclude that the addition of MUSE to sildenafil improved sexual satisfaction and penile rigidity in patients unsatisfied with sildenafil alone.
Supplementation of the Thawing Media With Reduced Glutathione Improves Function and the In Vitro Fertilizing Ability of Boar Spermatozoa After Cryopreservation
Authors: Gadea Joaquín , Gumbao David , Matás Carmen , Romar Raquel
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT:In this study, we evaluated the effects of glutathione (L‐g‐glutamyl‐L‐cysteinylglycine; GSH) supplementation of the thawing extender on semen parameters to compensate for the decrease in GSH content observed during sperm freezing. To fully address these questions, we used a set of functional sperm tests. These included tests of motility and motion parameters, changes in sulfhydryl group content in membrane proteins, capacitation status, measures of intra‐cellular reactive oxygen species generation, sperm chromatin condensation, and in vitro penetration of immature oocytes. The main findings emerging from this study were that addition of GSH to the thawing media resulted in a lower number of capacitated viable spermatozoa, a decrease in the number of spermatozoa with changes in the sulfhydryl groups in membrane proteins, a reduction of the reactive oxygen species generation, a lower chromatin condensation, and a higher penetration ability of oocytes in vitro and a higher proportion of decondensated sperm heads. GSH appears to play an important role in sperm antioxidant defense strategy. Addition of GSH to the thawing extender could be of significant benefit in improving the function and fertilizing capacity of frozen boar spermatozoa.
Estimating Degree Attainment Rates of Freshmen: A Campus Perspective
Authors: Arredondo Marisol , Knight Saskia
Published: November 2005

While Chapman University's six-year graduation rate has been increasing steadily in the last few years, the institution continues to seek better ways to retain its students. Accordingly, our attention has focused on trying to identify freshman students who are more likely to be retained and those who are likely to depart college prior to degree completion. Using the models developed by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), Chapman University's four- and six-year estimated degree completion rates were computed and compared to the actual rates. The four- and six-year estimated and actual degree completion rates differed by only 0.6 and 6.3 percentage points, respectively. The models presented by Astin and Oseguera (2002)1 allow us to explore a variety of student characteristics (i.e., gender, race/ethnicity, in- and out-of-state status, admit status, and GPA) when examining estimated and actual degree completion rates and provide us with an opportunity to take a proactive approach to student retention on our campus.
Femtochemistry of Guest Molecules Hosted in Colloidal Zeolites
Authors: Schmidhammer U. , De Waele V. , Mintova S. , Riedle E. , Bein T.
Published: November 2005

The ultrafast deprotonation of 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT) hosted in nanometer‐sized FAU and MFI zeolites is reported. Samples are prepared via in‐situ incorporation of HBT in the precursor colloidal solutions resulting in the formation of nanometer‐sized zeolites under hydrothermal treatment. The diameter of the zeolite particles formed in the crystalline suspensions is determined by dynamic light scattering and high‐resolution transmission microscopy to lie in the range 40–100 nm. It is shown that the HBT loading does not influence the degree of the zeolite crystallinity but does change the size and the morphology of the individual zeolite nanoparticles. Colloidal suspensions containing the crystalline nanoparticles are well suited for optical investigations since they are sufficiently transparent and clear. The photochemical properties of the HBT guest in the zeolite‐host systems are studied with femtosecond transient transmission spectroscopy. Depending on the acid–base properties either the enol or the keto tautomer of HBT is found to be hosted in the internal voids of the zeolites; upon UV excitation, the HBT‐keto tautomer is converted to the enol form in both MFI‐ and FAU‐type hosts. The HBT photoconversion takes place via an ultrafast deprotonation within 1.5 ps as detected by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.
Luminescent Poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) Hole‐Transport Layers with Adjustable Solubility
Authors: Tanase C. , Wildeman J. , Blom P. W. M.
Published: November 2005

The active part of present polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) consists of only a single layer. Multilayer devices have the advantage that the electron and hole transport can be balanced and that the recombination can be removed from the metallic cathode, leading to higher efficiencies. A major problem for polymer‐based multilayer devices is the solubility of the materials used; a multilayer can not be fabricated when a spin‐cast layer dissolves in the solvent of the subsequent layer. We demonstrate the development of high‐mobility poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV)‐based hole‐transport layers with tunable solubility by chemical modification. Enhanced charge‐transport properties are achieved by using symmetrically substituted PPVs; copolymers of long and short side chains enable us to tune the solubility without loss of the enhanced charge transport. Dual‐layer PLEDs, in which the holes are efficiently transported via this copolymer towards the luminescent layer, exhibit an enhanced efficiency at high voltages (> 10 V) and a strongly improved robustness against electrical breakdown.
Triphase Hydrogenation Reactions Utilizing Palladium‐Immobilized Capillary Column Reactors and a Demonstration of Suitability for Large Scale Synthesis
Authors: Kobayashi Juta , Mori Yuichiro , Kobayashi Shū
Published: November 2005

We have developed a practical and highly productive system for hydrogenation reactions utilizing capillary column reactors, which occupy less space than ordinary batch systems, are low cost and easy to handle, and show feasibility toward large‐scale chemical synthesis. Palladium‐containing micelles were immobilized onto the inner surface of the capillaries. Nine palladium‐immobilized capillaries were assembled and connected to a T‐shaped connector, and hydrogen and a substrate solution were fed to capillaries via the connector. Hydrogenation of 1‐phenyl‐1‐cyclohexene (1) proceeded smoothly to give phenylcyclohexane in quantitative yield. The capillaries themselves occupy only ca. 0.4 mL and a high space‐time yield has been achieved (124.3 mg/17 min/0.4 mL). In addition, leaching of palladium was not detected by ICP analysis after reactions.
Observer design for particle size distribution in emulsion polymerization
Authors: Edouard David , Sheibat‐Othman Nida , Hammouri Hassan
Published: November 2005

Monitoring of the particle size distribution (PSD) in emulsion polymerization is a very important task to improve the product quality. However, on‐line sensors used to measure PSD, such as capillary hydrodynamic fractionation, usually require taking samples and the analysis time is still too long for control. This work proposes the combination of mathematical models with existing on‐line sensors to obtain a continuous estimation of the PSD by constructing nonlinear estimators. Simulations of the observers show that they are able to detect particle nucleation and to give an estimation of the whole PSD. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Evaluation of drop size distribution from chord length measurements
Authors: Hu Bin , Angeli Panagiota , Matar Omar K. , Lawrence Christopher J. , Hewitt Geoffrey F.
Published: November 2005

The relationship between the chord length distribution (CLD) obtained by a point sensor and the drop size distribution (DSD) in a liquid‐liquid dispersion is investigated. Based on analysis of the frequency of drop‐cuttings by the sensor, a physical model is built to derive the probability density function of chord lengths for a given DSD, and vice versa. The effect of biased sampling towards larger drops relevant to point sensors, which is often ignored by investigators, is included in this relationship. A new algorithm is introduced to solve the problem of noisy or even negative DSD values by adding smoothing equations while performing the backward conversion. The effects of parameters, such as the number of drop size groups used, the noise level, and the smoothing factor value, on the backward transform are further studied. Both forward and backward transforms are shown to be in good agreement with ideal data when using continuous (e.g., log‐normal, uniform) distributions and with data obtained from Monte‐Carlo simulations. Good agreement is also found between the DSD obtained from chord length measurements and drop size data determined by direct observation. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Plastic particle separation via liquid‐fluidized bed classification
Authors: Hu Xinhui , Calo J. M.
Published: November 2005

Liquid‐fluidized bed classification (LFBC) is being investigated as a potential process for the separation of complex waste plastic mixtures for recycling. Experiments were performed in a 10 cm diameter, fluidized bed apparatus that was designed to operate in both upflow and downflow modes, for the separation of “heavier‐than‐water” (HTW) and “lighter‐than‐water” (LTW) plastic particle species, respectively, using water as the fluidization medium. The investigations were primarily focused on binary plastic particle mixtures of the typical industrial plastics, PVC, PET, PS PC, HDPE, LDPE, and PP. Particle segregation was obtained for all the binary mixtures studied. The effects of particle size and superficial liquid velocity were examined. It was found that low fluidization velocities favored segregation performance by minimizing particle dispersion. A limited number of experiments with ternary plastic particle mixtures demonstrated that the behavior of more complex mixtures appears to be an extension of binary mixture behavior, and that multiple plastic particle mixtures can be separated in the same column. The novel technique of selective thermal modification of particle size/density by application of a step change in temperature of the fluidizing medium was demonstrated to improve separation performance for both HTW and LTW plastic sample mixtures. This behavior was attributed primarily to differences in the thermal diffusivities of plastic particle pairs. The experimental data and conclusions reported in the current work can serve as the basis for the development of LFBC systems for waste plastics separation. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Kinetics of liquid‐phase hydrogenation of isooctenes on a Pd/γ‐alumina catalyst
Authors: Sarkar Amitava , Seth Deepyaman , Ng Flora T. T. , Rempel Garry L.
Published: November 2005

The kinetics of liquid‐phase hydrogenation of isooctenes [2,4,4‐trimethyl‐1‐pentene (1‐TMP) and 2,4,4‐trimethyl‐2‐pentene (2‐TMP)] was studied on a Pd/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst in a semibatch reactor. Experimental results revealed that palladium was highly active for the hydrogenation of isooctenes and did not show any significant deactivation like that of the nickel, cobalt, or platinum catalysts reported in the literature. The internal double bond of 2‐TMP was hydrogenated faster than the terminal double bond of 1‐TMP. In addition to the hydrogenation reactions, double‐bond isomerization was observed between 1‐TMP and 2‐TMP. A kinetic model was developed based on the Horiuti–Polanyi mechanism, involving a half‐hydrogenated surface intermediate and the rate‐limiting step was the first hydrogen addition. Isomerization was assumed to take place via the partly hydrogenated intermediates because no isomerization was observed in the absence of hydrogen. The dynamic reactor model consisted of material balances for the gas and the liquid phases, as well as for the porous catalyst particles. A resulting coupled ordinary differential equation–partial differential equation system was solved by Newton's method simultaneously with the minimization of the objective function from the kinetic model. The estimated model parameters with 95% confidence intervals accurately described the experimental data. The hydrogenation of both isomers was found to be strongly dependent on internal diffusion inside the catalyst particle. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Unified conceptual approach to targeting and design of water and hydrogen networks
Authors: Agrawal Vibhor , Shenoy Uday V.
Published: November 2005

An algorithm is proposed to target the minimum freshwater for fixed flow rate (FF) problems in single‐contaminant water networks. The approach is based on an extension of the limiting composite curve concept proposed earlier for fixed contaminant‐load (FC) problems. The targeting method is elegant, noniterative, and can be applied to FF problems involving regeneration to minimize waste discharge. To design networks that achieve the minimum freshwater targets set for FF problems, an algorithm is presented based on the principle of nearest neighbors. The principle simply states that the sources to be chosen to satisfy a particular water demand must be the nearest available neighbors in terms of contaminant concentration. A significant advantage of the approach is that the same targeting concepts can be profitably used to determine the minimum makeup utility in hydrogen networks. Furthermore, hydrogen networks may be designed by the unified conceptual approach using the nearest neighbors algorithm. The hydrogen networks may then be evolved to account for the pressure constraints imposed by compressors or improved by regeneration through purification processes such as pressure‐swing adsorption. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Fetal type IV glycogen storage disease: Clinical, enzymatic, and genetic data of a pure muscular form with variable and early antenatal manifestations in the same family
Authors: L'herminé‐Coulomb A. , Beuzen F. , Bouvier R. , Rolland M.O. , Froissart R. , Menez F. , Audibert F. , Labrune P.
Published: November 2005

We report on a family of three consecutive fetuses affected by type IV glycogen storage disease (GSD IV). In all cases, cervical cystic hygroma was observed on the 12‐week‐ultrasound examination. During the second trimester, fetal hydrops developed in the first pregnancy whereas fetal akinesia appeared in the second pregnancy. The diagnosis was suggested by microscopic examination of fetal tissues showing characteristic inclusions exclusively in striated fibers, then confirmed by enzymatic studies on frozen muscle. Antenatal diagnosis was performed on the third and fourth pregnancies: cervical cystic hygroma and low glycogen branching enzyme (GBE) activity on chorionic villi sample (CVS) were detected in the third pregnancy whereas ultrasound findings were normal and GBE activity within normal range on CVS in the fourth pregnancy. Molecular analysis showed that the mother was heterozygous for a c.1471G > C mutation in exon 12, leading to the replacement of an alanine by a tyrosine at codon 491 (p.A491T); the father was heterozygous for a c.895G > T mutation in exon 7, leading to the creation of a stop codon at position 299 (p.G299X). GSD IV has to be considered in a context of cervical cystic hygroma with normal karyotype, particularly when second trimester hydrops or akinesia develop. Enzymatic analysis of GBE must be performed on CVS or amniotic cells to confirm the diagnosis. Characteristic intracellular inclusions are specific to the disease and should be recognized, even in macerated tissues after fetal death. Genetic analysis of the GBE gene may help to shed some light on the puzzling diversity of GSD IV phenotypes. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neurofibromatosis von Recklinghausen type I phenotype and early onset of cancers in siblings compound heterozygous for mutations in MSH6
Authors: Østergaard John R. , Sunde Lone , Okkels Henrik
Published: November 2005

We report on a nonconsanguineous family in which two siblings with cutaneous manifestations leading to a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) developed CNS tumors at an early age. In addition, one of them developed a T‐cell lymphoma. Neither parent had NF1. The mother was known to be heterozygous for a MSH6 mutation, and the father was found to be heterozygous for a different MSH6 mutation. Screening of MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, PMS1, PMS2, and MLH3 in the affected children disclosed that they both were compound heterozygote for the MSH6 mutations of their parents. Most recently, about a dozen other cases of inherited bi‐allelic deficiency of mismatch repair (MMR) genes associated with early onset CNS tumors, hematologic malignancy, gastrointestinal neoplasia, café‐au‐lait spots, and other NF1 features have been reported. In the present study, we summarize the clinical findings of 27 individuals homozygous or compound heterozygous for an MMR gene mutation reported in the medical literature. We suggest that biparentally inherited mutations of one of the MMR genes should be considered in children with multiple café‐au‐lait spots who have early‐onset CNS tumors, hematologic malignancies, or early onset gastrointestinal neoplasia. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Promotor genotype of the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐α gene shows population stratification but not association with spina bifida meningomyelocele
Authors: Au K.‐S. , Northrup H. , Kirkpatrick T.J. , Volcik K.A. , Fletcher J.M. , Townsend I.T. , Blanton S.H. , Tyerman G.H. , Villarreal G. , King T.M.
Published: November 2005

Neural tube defects (NTDs) constitute a major group of congenital malformations with an overall incidence of approximately 1–2 in 1,000 live births in the United States. Hispanic Americans have a 2.5 times higher risk than the Caucasian population. Spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBMM) is a major clinical presentation of NTDs resulting from lack of closure of the spinal cord caudal to the head. In a previous study of spina bifida (SB) patients of European Caucasian descent, it was suggested that specific haplotypes of the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐α (PDGFRA) gene P1 promoter strongly affected the rate of NTD genesis. In our study, we evaluated the association of PDGFRA P1 in a group of 407 parent–child triads (167 Caucasian, 240 Hispanics) and 164 unrelated controls (89 Caucasian, 75 Hispanic). To fully evaluate the association of PDGFRA P1, we performed both transmission‐disequilibrium test (TDT) and association analyses to test the hypotheses that PDGFRA P1 was (1) transmitted preferentially in SBMM affected children and (2) associated with the condition of SBMM comparing affected children to unaffected controls. We did find that there was a different allelic and genotypic distribution of PDGFRA P1 when comparing Hispanics and Caucasians. However, neither ethnic group showed strong association between SBMM and the PDGFRA P1 region. These findings suggest that PDGFRA P1 does not have a major role in the development of SBMM. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) complicated by stroke: Clinical report and review of cerebral vascular anomalies
Authors: Brancati Francesco , Castori Marco , Mingarelli Rita , Dallapiccola Bruno
Published: November 2005

We report on a 2 9/12‐year‐old boy with disproportionate short stature, microcephaly, subtle craniofacial dysmorphisms, and generalized skeletal dysplasia, who developed a left hemiparesis. Brain neuroimaging disclosed a complex cerebral vascular anomaly (CVA) with stenosis of the right anterior cerebral artery and telangiectatic collateral vessels supplying the cerebral cortex, consistent with moyamoya disease. Based on clinical and skeletal features, a diagnosis of Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) was established. Review of 16 published patients with CVA affected by either Seckel syndrome or MOPD II suggested that CVA is preferentially associated to the latter subtype affecting about 1/4 of the patients. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiology of hemimegalencephaly: A case series and review
Authors: Tinkle Brad T. , Schorry Elizabeth K. , Franz David N. , Crone Kerry R. , Saal Howard M.
Published: November 2005

Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a congenital brain malformation characterized by unilateral enlargement of the cerebral hemisphere. Clinically, HME is typically associated with hemiparesis, psychomotor retardation, and intractable seizures usually apparent soon after birth. HME is often an isolated finding, but it has been described as an occasional feature of a large number of syndromes, many of which may not be readily identified at birth. There are a multitude of case series and reports of HME in the English literature; however, there is no comprehensive, unbiased, detailed survey characterizing the proportion of cases of HME that are associated with a syndrome. We performed a retrospective study of all cases of HME seen at our institution from 1990 to 2003. Of the 15 cases of HME identified, 53% (8/15) were non‐syndromic and 47% (7/15) of the cases were associated with a known or suspected genetic syndrome. In patients with syndromic HME, many of the syndromic features were not readily discernible at birth or in early infancy. It is, therefore, imperative to continually evaluate any infant with HME for signs and symptoms of these and other syndromes. Knowing the relative differential diagnosis will lead to a more comprehensive evaluation, improvement in expectant management, and appropriate counseling of families before considering radical surgical options such as hemispherectomy. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prion genotypes in Central America suggest selection for the V129 allele
Authors: Hardy John , Scholz Sonja , Evans Whitney , Goldfarb Lev , Singleton Andrew
Published: November 2005

Using the well‐characterized, human diversity sample series, we show that the V129 prion allele has a very high frequency in South American populations relative to the East Asian populations from which it arose. We suggest there has been selection at the prion locus, possibly mediated by Kuru‐like diseases, which has influenced its allele frequency. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A genetic approach to fracture epidemiology in childhood
Authors: Tinkle Brad T. , Wenstrup Richard J.
Published: November 2005

The purpose of this report is to provide a review of both childhood fracture epidemiology and known heritable causes for fracture predisposition to the Medical Geneticist, who is frequently consulted to assess children with multiple or unexplained fractures for a physiologic etiology. A detailed knowledge of the clinical and laboratory evaluation for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and other single‐gene disorders is obviously essential to complete a useful evaluation of such children. The experienced clinician will immediately recognize that single gene disorders represent only a small fraction of these patients. In infants, non‐accidental trauma (NAT) unfortunately is the likely explanation for the fracture pattern, but in some infants, and certainly in older children with recurrent fractures, no medical explanations can be found. Recent studies in which bone mineral density (BMD) has been associated with genetic variation at a number of candidate genes are promising but these studies are too premature yet to be used clinically. Nonetheless, we do expect that in the future whole‐genome approaches in conjunction with key clinical and epidemiological variables may be combined through an informatics approach to create better predictors of fracture susceptibility for these populations of patients. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Noise‐enhanced balance control in patients with diabetes and patients with stroke
Authors: Priplata Attila A. , Patritti Benjamin L. , Niemi James B. , Hughes Richard , Gravelle Denise C. , Lipsitz Lewis A. , Veves Aristidis , Stein Joel , Bonato Paolo , Collins James J.
Published: November 2005

Objective

Somatosensory function declines with diabetic neuropathy and often with stroke, resulting in diminished motor performance. Recently, it has been shown that input noise can enhance human sensorimotor function. The goal of this study was to investigate whether subsensory mechanical noise applied to the soles of the feet via vibrating insoles can be used to improve quiet‐standing balance control in 15 patients with diabetic neuropathy and 15 patients with stroke. Sway data of 12 healthy elderly subjects from a previous study on vibrating insoles were added for comparison.

Methods

Five traditional sway parameters and three sway parameters from random‐walk analysis were computed for each trial (no noise or noise).

Results

Application of noise resulted in a statistically significant reduction in each of the eight sway parameters in the subjects with diabetic neuropathy, the subjects with stroke, and the elderly subjects. We also found that higher levels of baseline postural sway in sensory‐impaired individuals was correlated with greater improvements in balance control with input noise.

Interpretation

This work indicates that noise‐based devices could ameliorate diabetic and stroke impairments in balance control. Ann Neurol 2006
Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and potassium channel antibody–associated limbic encephalitis
Authors: Iranzo Alex , Graus Francesc , Clover Linda , Morera Jaume , Bruna Jordi , Vilar Carlos , Martínez‐Rodriguez José Enrique , Vincent Angela , Santamaría Joan
Published: November 2005

Of six patients registered in our center with nonparaneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with antibodies to voltage‐gated potassium channels, the five men had rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) coincident with voltage‐gated potassium channel antibody–associated limbic encephalitis onset. In three patients, immunosuppression resulted in resolution of RBD in parallel with remission of the limbic syndrome. RBD persisted in two patients with partial resolution of the limbic syndrome. Our findings suggest that RBD is frequent in the setting of voltage‐gated potassium channel antibody–associated limbic encephalitis and can be related to autoimmune‐mediated mechanisms. In addition, these observations suggest that impairment of the limbic system may play a role in the pathogenesis of RBD. Ann neurol 2006
APOE ε4 is not associated with Alzheimer's disease in elderly Nigerians
Authors: Gureje Oye , Ogunniyi Adesola , Baiyewu Olusegun , Price Brandon , Unverzagt Frederick W. , Evans Rebecca M. , Smith‐Gamble Valerie , Lane Kathleen A. , Gao Sujuan , Hall Kathleen S. , Hendrie Hugh C. , Murrell Jill R.
Published: November 2005

Since 1992, research teams from Indiana University and the University of Ibadan have been collecting and comparing data from two diverse, elderly populations to identify risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) was genotyped in 2,245 Nigerian samples. Of these, 830 had a diagnosis: 459 were normal, and 140 had dementia including 123 diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In contrast with other populations, the APOE ε4 allele was not significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. This lack of association in the Yoruba might reflect genetic variation, environmental factors, as well as genetic/environmental interactions. Ann neurol 2006
Clinical and biochemical spectrum of D‐bifunctional protein deficiency
Authors: Ferdinandusse Sacha , Denis Simone , Mooyer Petra A. W. , Dekker Conny , Duran Marinus , Soorani‐Lunsing Roelineke J. , Boltshauser Eugen , Macaya Alfons , Gärtner Jutta , Majoie Charles B. L. M. , Barth Peter G. , Wanders Ronald J. A. , Poll‐The Bwee Tien
Published: November 2005

Objective

D‐bifunctional protein deficiency is an autosomal recessive inborn error of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation. Although case reports and small series of patients have been published, these do not give a complete and balanced picture of the clinical and biochemical spectrum associated with this disorder.

Methods

To improve early recognition, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of this disorder and to provide markers for life expectancy, we performed extensive biochemical studies in a large cohort of D‐bifunctional protein–deficient patients and sent out questionnaires about clinical signs and symptoms to the responsible physicians.

Results

Virtually all children presented with neonatal hypotonia and seizures and died within the first 2 years of life without achieving any developmental milestones. However, within our cohort, 12 patients survived beyond the age of 2 years, and detailed information on 5 patients with prolonged survival (≥7.5 years) is provided.

Interpretation

Biochemical analyses showed that there is a clear correlation between several biochemical parameters and survival of the patient, with C26:0 β‐oxidation activity in cultured skin fibroblasts being the best predictive marker for life expectancy. Remarkably, three patients were identified without biochemical abnormalities in plasma, stressing that D‐bifunctional protein deficiency cannot be excluded when all peroxisomal parameters in plasma are normal. Ann Neurol 2006
Rates of cerebral atrophy in autopsy‐confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Josephs Keith A. , Whitwell Jennifer L. , Boeve Bradley F. , Shiung Maria M. , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Parisi Joseph E. , Dickson Dennis W. , Jack Clifford R.
Published: November 2005

Objective

To determine the rates of cerebral atrophy and ventricular expansion in six patients with autopsy confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple antemortem volumetric head MRI scans.

Methods

This study uses the boundary shift integral to determine rates of cerebral atrophy and ventricular expansion in six patients with pathologically confirmed PSP compared with six age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. Results: Patients with PSP had a rate of cerebral atrophy and ventricular expansion of 1.3 and 7.0% per year compared with 0.4 and 1.8% in control subjects.

Interpretation

These rates provide a benchmark that can be used to monitor future treatment response in PSP. Ann Neurol 2006
Reaktionen in micellaren Systemen
Authors: Dwars Torsten , Paetzold Eckhard , Oehme Günther
Published: November 2005

Die Vorstellung einer “grünen Chemie” hat selbst den präparativ arbeitenden Organiker ermutigt, Wasser als Lösungsmittel in Betracht zu ziehen. Durch Zusätze von Amphiphilen bestimmter Struktur kann man erstaunliche Aktivitäten und Selektivitäten erzielen. Die von den Tensiden gebildeten Assoziate variieren in ihrer Morphologie je nach Temperatur und Konzentration. In der Regel arbeitet man im Bereich einfacher sphärischer Aggregate, der nanometergroßen Micellen. Da in Micellen ein starker Polaritätsgradient von der hydrophilen Oberfläche zum hydrophoben Kern vorliegt, können sowohl unpolare als auch polare Reaktanten solubilisiert werden. Dadurch kommt es oft im Vergleich zur umgebenden Wasserphase zu einer Konzentrierung der Reaktionspartner und damit zu einer Beschleunigung der Reaktion. Darüber hinaus treten selektive Effekte auf. Micellare Systeme können kinetisch als mikroheterogene Zweiphasensysteme behandelt werden.
Titelbild: Architecture and Evolution of Organic Chemistry (Angew. Chem. 44/2005)
Authors: Fialkowski Marcin , Bishop Kyle J. M. , Chubukov Victor A. , Campbell Christopher J. , Grzybowski Bartosz A.
Published: November 2005

Organische Reaktionen werden als verknüpfte Netzwerke behandelt, um so den Mechanismus zu untersuchen, nach dem sich die organische Chemie entwickelte. In ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 7429 ff. analysieren Grzybowski et al. organische Synthesen, die zwischen 1850 und 2000 beschrieben wurden, enthüllen so die Architektur und Entwicklung der Synthese von Molekülen und diskutieren die Anwendung dieser Technik in der chemischen Industrie. Das Titelbild zeigt einen typischen “Knoten” in einem Netzwerk der organischen Chemie.
Soft Nanotechnology with Soft Nanoparticles
Authors: Nayak Satish , Lyon L. Andrew
Published: November 2005

The last decade of research in the physical sciences has seen a dramatic increase in the study of nanoscale materials. Today, “nanoscience” has emerged as a multidisciplinary effort, wherein obtaining a fundamental understanding of the optical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties of nanostructures promises to deliver the next generation of functional materials for a wide range of applications. While this range of efforts is extremely broad, much of the work has focused on “hard” materials, such as Buckyballs, carbon nanotubes, metals, semiconductors, and organic or inorganic dielectrics. Meanwhile, the soft materials of current interest typically include conducting or emissive polymers for “plastic electronics” applications. Despite the continued interest in these established areas of nanoscience, new classes of soft nanomaterials are being developed from more traditional polymeric constructs. Specifically, nanostructured hydrogels are emerging as a promising group of materials for multiple biotechnology applications as the need for advanced materials in the post‐genomic era grows. This review will present some of the recent advances in the marriage between water‐swellable networks and nanoscience.
Cover Picture: Architecture and Evolution of Organic Chemistry (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44/2005)
Authors: Fialkowski Marcin , Bishop Kyle J. M. , Chubukov Victor A. , Campbell Christopher J. , Grzybowski Bartosz A.
Published: November 2005

Organic synthetic reactions are treated as a connected network so that the mechanism by which organic chemistry evolved can be studied. In their Communication on page 7263 ff., B. A. Grzybowski and co‐workers analyze organic syntheses reported between 1850 and 2004, thus revealing the architecture and evolution of the synthesis of molecules, and discuss the application of this technique to the chemical industry. The cover picture shows a typical “hub” in a network of organic chemistry.
Reaction of the N‐heterocyclic carbene, 1,3‐dimesityl‐ imidazol‐2‐ylidene, with a uranyl triflate complex, UO2(OTf)2(thf)3
Authors: Oldham Susan M. , Scott Brian L. , Oldham Warren J.
Published: November 2005

The N‐heterocyclic carbene, 1,3‐dimesityl‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IMes) reacts with tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of an oxidizing uranyl triflate complex, UO2(OTf)2(thf)3 (−OTf = −OSO2CF3), to give 1,4‐bis(1,3‐dimesityl‐2‐imidazolium)‐1,3‐butadiene bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate), formally understood as the coupling product of two equivalents of IMes with [CHCHCHCH](OTf)2. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of two luminescent coordination polymers based on self‐assembly of Zn(II) with polycarboxylic acids ligands and heteroaromatic N‐donor
Authors: Song Yi‐Shan , Yan Bing , Chen Zhen‐Xia
Published: November 2005

Using the principles of molecular self‐assembly, two novel zinc complexes {[Zn(phth)(bipy)(H2O)][Zn(phth)(bipy)]·H2O}n (1) and [Zn(1,2,4‐btc)(bipy)(H2O)·2H2O]n (2) were obtained by hydrothermal reaction of Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O with phthalic acid (phth), 1,2,4‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (1,2,4‐btc) and 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) respectively, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structures reveal that both complexes form one‐dimensional chain structures, and the zinc ions are five‐coordinated; there are two types of metal environment in the structure of the complex 1. The photophysical properties have been investigated with fluorescence excitation and emission spectra. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Imposex and organotin body burden in the dog‐whelk (Nucella lapillus L.) along the Portuguese coast
Authors: Galante‐Oliveira Susana , Langston William J. , Burt Gary R. , Pereira Maria E. , Barroso Carlos M.
Published: November 2005

Nucella lapillus imposex—superimposition of male characters onto prosobranch (a subclass of gastropod molluscs) females—and organotin female body burden were surveyed on the Portuguese coast, from Vila Praia de Âncora (northern limit) to Praia da Luz (southern limit), at 17 sampling stations, between May and August 2003. The vas deferens sequence index (VDSI), the relative penis size index (RPSI), the percentage of females affected with imposex (%I) and the percentage of sterile females (%S) were used to assess the level of imposex at each site. VDSI, RPSI and %I were 0.20–4.04, 0.0–42.2% and 16.7–100.0%, respectively. Sterile females were found at stations 2 (6.2%), 5 (4.0%) and 7 (5.0%). Tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) female body burdens were 23–138 and <10–62 ng Sn/g dry weight, respectively. TBT female body burden was significantly correlated with RPSI and VDSI [Spearman rank order linear correlation: RPSI vs TBT body burden (b.b.) r = 0.71, p < 0.01; VDSI vs logTBT body burden r = 0.71, p < 0.01]. Imposex and TBT b.b. were highest at sites located in the proximity of harbours, where TBT leaching from antifouling paints is more intense owing to the high concentration of ships and dockyard activities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High yield synthesis and characterization of isotopically enriched monoethylmercury chloride (C2H5201HgCl)
Authors: Rahman G. M. Mizanur , Kingston H. M. ‘Skip’ , Pamukcu Matt
Published: November 2005

An important but commercially unavailable compound isotopically enriched monoethylmercury chloride (C2H5201HgCl), has been synthesized from commercially available 201HgO (98.11% enriched isotopic purity) and tetraethyltin. The required synthesis time is 1 h at 90 °C, and the product is the single product of monoethylmercury chloride, yielding more than 95% as 201Hg in C2H5201Hg+ (98.19 ± 0.22% enriched isotopic purity). The synthesized product was analyzed with high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ICP‐MS) to determine its concentration, isotopic composition and purity. The synthetic isotopically enriched monoethylmercury synthesized can be used in speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS) and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) analyses as a standard. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.