bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel poly(ethylene glycol) monomers bearing diverse functional groups
Authors: Mizrahi Dana M. , Omer‐Mizrahi Melany , Goldshtein Jenny , Askinadze Nataly , Margel Shlomo
Published: October 2010

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) mono methacrylate ester (MAPEG) has been used, through a variety of reactions, to form several novel monomers, bearing both a polymerizable handle and various functional groups. These new compounds may be conjugated to biomolecules via amine, acid, or thiol moieties or they may form dendrimers via the epoxide. In addition, polymerization of these monomers may result in functionalized nanoparticles and microparticles or coatings, thus altering the acid‐base or electrochemical properties of surfaces and particles. Full synthetic considerations, including interesting intermediates, are reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
A convenient route to PHB macromonomers via anionically controlled moderate‐temperature degradation of PHB
Authors: kawalec Michał , Sobota Michał , Scandola Mariastella , Kowalczuk Marek , Kurcok Piotr
Published: October 2010

The degradation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)s in homo‐ and heterogeneous mixtures with selected salts of organic and mineral acids was investigated. Nonvolatile degradation products, of processes conducted at moderate temperatures (150–170 °C), were analyzed using 1H NMR. Analysis of results revealed a significant decrease in poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) thermal stability in the presence of acetic acid and carbonic acid salts of alkali metals (Cs, K, Li) as well as a less substantial effect with respect to bivalent metal (Ca, Mg, Zn) salts. This significant decrease in PHB thermal stability in the presence of salts of weak Bronsted‐Lowry acids can be explained in terms of an anionic degradation reaction proceeding via an E1cB mechanism. Furthermore, continuous poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) controlled degradation was developed by a moderate‐temperature process using carbonic acid salts as “initiators” of anionic degradation. Foamed PHB macromonomers, bearing one crotonate terminal group, were obtainable via a reactive extrusion process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Thiol‐terminated polyisobutylene: Synthesis, characterization, and derivatization
Authors: Magenau Andrew J. D. , Hartlage Todd R. , Storey Robson F.
Published: October 2010

Thiol‐terminated polyisobutylene (α,ω‐PIB‐SH) was synthesized from thiourea and α,ω‐bromine‐terminated PIB in a three‐step, one‐pot procedure, using a cosolvent system of 1:1 (v:v) heptane:dimethylformamide. The initial alkylisothiouronium salt was produced at 90 °C. Aqueous base hydrolysis at 110 °C resulted in thiolate chain ends, which were re‐acidified to form telechelic PIB‐SH. 1H and 13C NMR confirmed thiol functionality and complete terminal halogen conversion. Thiol‐based “click” reactions were used to demonstrate PIB‐SH utility. Alkyne‐terminated PIB was synthesized by a phosphine‐catalyzed thiol‐ene Michael addition with propargyl acrylate. Reaction of this product with 6‐mercaptohexanol produced tetrahydroxy‐functional PIB by a sequential thiol‐ene/thiol‐yne procedure. 1H NMR confirmed the structures of both products. PIB‐SH was reacted with isocyanates in the presence of base to produce polythiourethanes. A model reaction used phenyl isocyanate in THF with catalytic triethylamine. Similar conditions were used to produce PIB‐based thiourethanes with and without a small‐molecule chain extender. Increased molecular weights and thiol group conversion were observed with GPC and 1H NMR, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Synthesis of three new 1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl) pyrrole‐based donor polymers and their bulk heterojunction solar cell applications
Authors: Tamilavan Vellaiappillai , Song Myungkwan , Jin Sung‐Ho , Hyun Myung Ho
Published: October 2010

A series of three new 1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole‐based polymers such as poly[1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole] (PTPT), poly[1,4‐(2,5‐bis(octyloxy)phenylene)‐alt‐5,5'‐(1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole)] (PPTPT), and poly[2,5‐(3‐octylthiophene)‐alt‐5,5'‐(1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole)] (PTTPT) were synthesized and characterized. The new polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the three polymers are thermally stable with the 5% degradation temperature >379 °C. The absorption maxima of the polymers were 478, 483, and 485 nm in thin film and the optical band gaps calculated from the onset wavelength of the optical absorption were 2.15, 2.20, and 2.13 eV, respectively. Each of the polymers was investigated as an electron donor blending with PC70BM as an electron acceptor in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. BHJ solar cells were fabricated in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PC70BM/TiOx/Al configurations. The BHJ solar cell with PPTPT:PC70BM (1:5 wt %) showed the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.35% (Jsc = 7.41 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.56 V, FF = 33%), measured using AM 1.5G solar simulator at 100 mW/cm2 light illumination. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polyesters via bergman cyclization and “grafting from” strategy
Authors: Ma Jianguo , Cheng Xin , Ma Xiaowei , Deng Sheng , Hu Aiguo
Published: October 2010

In this work, pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were functionalized by utilizing the free radicals generated through Bergman cyclization of enediyne containing compounds 3. Polyesters were subsequently grafted from the surface of MWNTs through ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone or lactide initiated by free hydroxy groups generated after hydrolysis of ester groups. Functionalized MWNTs were characterized with a variety of techniques, including TGA, NMR, IR, UV–vis, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. After surface modification, MWNTs showed good solubility in common organic solvents and polymer solutions. Fabrication of MWNTs polymer nanocomposites was revealed through electrospinning with polycaprolactone. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
The improvement of electro‐optical properties of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals using copolymer macroinitiator with different glass transition temperature
Authors: Du Xin , Yan Bin , Yao Jiali , Chen Shu , Li Minke , Wang Yinghan
Published: October 2010

In this article, copolymer macroinitiators prepared with styrene and iso‐octyl acrylate by reversible additional‐fragmental chain transfer polymerization were used to prepare polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) with methyl acrylate. The electro‐optical properties of the PDLCs were investigated. The results showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the macroinitiator has a great influence on the memory effect of the resulting PDLCs. Low driving voltage and low memory effect PDLCs could easily be obtained with copolymer macroinitiators. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Synthesis and characterization of soluble conjugated polymers having pyrene moiety in the main chain
Authors: Chen Hui , Hu Xiao , Ng Siu‐Choon
Published: October 2010

Three new alternating conjugated polymers consisting of pyrene and 3‐dodecylthiophene (PPyMT), 4,4′‐didodecyl‐2,2′‐bithiophene (PPyBT), or 9,9‐didodecylfluorene (PPyFlu) moieties have been prepared using Suzuki coupling reaction or Sugimoto approaches. The polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and exhibited good thermal stability in nitrogen and air atmospheres. The structures and optical properties of the polymers were characterized by NMR, FTIR, XRD, UV–vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy. PPyMT and PPYBT showed blue‐light emission in solution, whereas PPyFlu performed blue‐light emitting in film state. The polymers exhibited an intermolecular aggregation and structural ordering due to pyrene–pyrene π–π stacking interaction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Optically active composite nanoparticles with chemical bonds between core and shell
Authors: Luo Xiaofeng , Liu Xiaoqing , Chen Bo , Deng Jianping , Yang Wantai
Published: October 2010

A facile methodology was developed to prepare a novel type of core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) with optical activity and with chemical bonds between the cores and shells. The cores were prepared via catalytic emulsion copolymerization of substituted acetylene comonomers in which one monomer contains azo groups in side chains. For preparing the core/shell NPs, the azo groups in the seed particles (i.e., cores) subsequently act as initiators for vinyl monomer to undergo free radical polymerizations, yielding the shells. This situation resulted in chemical bonds between cores and shells. Both the seed emulsion and core/shell nanoparticle emulsion exhibited optical activity, derived from the polyacetylenes adopting helical conformation of predominant handedness. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Synthesis and characterization of poly(methylmethacrylate)/silica nanocomposites: Study of the interphase by solid‐state NMR and structure/properties relationships
Authors: Avolio Roberto , Gentile Gennaro , Avella Maurizio , Capitani Donatella , Errico Maria Emanuela
Published: October 2010

Organic/inorganic nanocomposites were synthesized from poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and properly modified silica nanoparticles by in situ polymerization. Methacryloylpropyltrimethoxysilane was selected as nanoparticle surface modifier because it is characterized by unsaturated end groups available to radical reactions, making possible to suppose their participation in the acrylic monomer polymerization. As a result of the above hypothesized reactions, a phase constituted by polyacrylic chains grafted onto modified silica surface was isolated. 29Si and 13C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments permitted to analyze this phase in terms of composition and chain mobility as well as to highlight interaction mechanisms occurring between growing PMMA oligoradicals and functional groups onto silica surface. It was demonstrated that this PMMA grafted onto silica surface acts as an effective coupling agent and assures a good dispersion of nanoparticles as well as a strong nanoparticle/matrix interfacial adhesion. As a result of strong interactions occurring between phases, a significant increase of the glass transition temperature was recorded. Finally, the abrasion resistance of PMMA in the hybrids was significantly improved as a result of a different abrasion propagation mechanism induced by silica particles thus overcoming one of the most serious PMMA drawback. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Fractionated crystallization of α‐ and β‐nucleated polypropylene droplets
Authors: Langhe Deepak S. , Keum Jong K. , Hiltner Anne , Baer Eric
Published: October 2010

A layer multiplying coextrusion process was used to produce multilayered polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) films with various nucleating agents. When heated into the melt, the thin PP layers broke up into submicron PP droplets that exhibited fractionated crystallization. If the initial PP layers were 20 nm or less, the resulting droplets exhibited exclusively homogeneous nucleation. If a nucleating agent was added, the systematic departure from homogeneous nucleation provided insight into the nature of the heterogeneous nucleation. In this study, we used thermal analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and wide angle X‐Ray scattering (WAXS) to examine the effect of two nucleating agents. We confirmed with WAXS and AFM that a soluble sorbitol nucleating agent for the PP α‐form operates in three concentration regimes as proposed in a previous study. Morphologically, homogeneous nucleation of the submicron droplets produced a granular texture. The correlation length from small‐angle X‐Ray scattering (SAXS) suggested that the grains contained 1–3 mesophase domains. Drawing on classical nucleation theory, the critical size nucleus of an individual mesophase domain was estimated to be about 2 nm3, which was considerably smaller than the mesophase domain. This pointed to mesophase crystallization that included the processes of nucleation and growth. Additional experiments were performed with nucleating agents for the PP β‐form. However, they were not effective in nucleating crystallization of the droplets, presumably because they were essentially insoluble in PP and the nucleating particles were too large to be accommodated in the PP droplets. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
The role of patient–provider communication for black women making decisions about breast cancer treatment
Authors: Sheppard Vanessa B. , Adams Inez F. , Lamdan Ruth , Taylor Kathryn L.
Published: October 2010

Objective: Recent reports suggest that Black breast cancer patients receive adjuvant therapies less often than their White counterparts; however, few studies have examined the self‐reported experiences of Black breast cancer patients making treatment decisions. This study examined cultural beliefs and healthcare factors that impacted Black women's treatment decisions.

Methods: In‐depth interviews were conducted with 49 Black women with early stage breast cancer (stages 0‐III). Participants resided in Washington, DC (n = 13), and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (n = 36). Women's ages ranged from 26 to 85 (m = 53.9). All interviews were transcribed verbatim and then entered into a qualitative software program. Three coders independently read and coded transcripts using this software.

Results: The data did not reveal common cultural themes that influenced women's treatment decisions. Spiritual beliefs were important to all participants and did seem to help them cope with and reframe their illness experiences. The patient–provider relationship was the most notable factor that influenced treatment decisions. While most women reported that they were satisfied with their provider relationships, their narratives revealed that many lacked knowledge about their diagnoses and treatment regimens. Those patients who demonstrated a better understanding of their disease and treatments also seemed to adhere to recommendations for adjuvant therapy.

Conclusions: Poor communication may impact treatment decision‐making and, ultimately, outcomes. Important next steps will include quantifying Black women's patient–provider interactions and examining how these factors influence adherence behaviors. Ensuring that patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options will also be important for clinical practice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating surrogate variables for improving microarray multiple testing inference
Authors: Lunceford Jared K. , Chen Guang , Hu Peter H. , Mehrotra Devan V.
Published: October 2010

The use of surrogate variables has been proposed as a means to capture, for a given observed set of data, sources driving the dependency structure among high‐dimensional sets of features and remove the effects of those sources and their potential negative impact on simultaneous inference. In this article we illustrate the potential effects of latent variables on testing dependence and the resulting impact on multiple inference, we briefly review the method of surrogate variable analysis proposed by Leek and Storey (PNAS 2008; 105:18718–18723), and assess that method via simulations intended to mimic the complexity of feature dependence observed in real‐world microarray data. The method is also assessed via application to a recent Merck microarray data set. Both simulation and case study results indicate that surrogate variable analysis can offer a viable strategy for tackling the multiple testing dependence problem when the features follow a potentially complex correlation structure, yielding improvements in the variability of false positive rates and increases in power. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A control scheme integrating the T chart and TCUSUM chart
Authors: Qu Liang , Wu Zhang , Liu Tien‐I
Published: October 2010

This article proposes an integrated scheme (T&TCUSUM chart) which combines a Shewhart T chart and a TCUSUM chart (a CUSUM‐type T chart) to monitor the time interval T between the occurrences of an event or the time between events. The performance studies show that the T&TCUSUM chart can effectively improve the overall performance over the entire T shift range. On average, it is more effective than the T chart by 26.66% and the TCUSUM chart by 14.12%. Moreover, the T&TCUSUM chart performs more consistently than other charts for the detection of either small or large T shifts, because it has the strength of both the T chart (more sensitive to large shifts) and the TCUSUM chart (more sensitive to small shifts). The implementation of the new chart is almost as easy as the operation of a TCUSUM chart. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the expected parts per million nonconforming levels obtained from estimated process capability indices
Authors: Ozkaya Banu Yuksel , Testik Murat Caner
Published: October 2010

Process capability indices (PCIs) and parts per million (PPM) nonconforming (NC) levels are widely used in quality improvement programs for quantifying the capability of a process to meet specification requirements. Calculation of PCIs requires knowledge of the process parameters, however, true parameter values are often unknown in practice and therefore estimates obtained from a sample of observations are utilized. On the other hand, as often done in practice, expected PPM NC levels may be evaluated by using a given value of a PCI. However, such estimates of the PPM NC levels might be significantly different from the actual levels due to the additional variability introduced through parameter estimation. In this paper, the effects of estimated PCIs on the PPM NC estimates are quantified. Through evaluating the distributions of PPM NC estimates, it is demonstrated that estimation error is critical and might have significant effects on the PPM NC estimates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coordination–insertion copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers by palladium catalysts
Authors: Ito Shingo , Nozaki Kyoko
Published: October 2010

Random incorporation of polar functional groups into polyolefins and polyketones along with the precise control of incorporation ratios and polymer microstructures is one of the most significant challenges in polymer chemistry. For such a purpose, late‐transition‐metal complexes are often employed as a catalyst for the copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers, because of their high functional group compatibility. This acount describes our contribution to the development of coordination–insertion copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers by palladium catalysts. In particular, the use of palladium/phosphine–sulfonate catalysts enables to incorporate various polar vinyl monomers into polyolefins and polyketones. © 2010 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 10: 315–325; 2010: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.201000032
Production Test Considerations for Mixed‐signal IC with Background Calibration
Authors: Yagi Takuya , Kobayashi Haruo , Tan Yohei , Ito Satoshi , Uemori Satoshi , Takai Nobukazu , Yamaguchi Takahiro J.
Published: October 2010

This paper proposes an improved method of background calibration that reduces the production testing time of mixed‐signal ICs. Production testing time typically consists of ‘calibration convergence time’ and ‘functional testing time’ following calibration convergence. The method of reducing calibration convergence time that is proposed here does not require an extra ADC operation for functional testing after calibration convergence, and can be implemented with a little additional on‐chip test‐support circuitry when testing is performed by an automatic test equipment (ATE). We discuss the application of this method to background calibration of pipelined ADCs, and present simulation results that demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing testing time. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oscillation Mechanism Analysis of theN‐stage Ring Oscillator ORIGAMI
Authors: Shima Takeshi , Kusaga Takashi
Published: October 2010

Quadrature oscillators are effective in applications such as clock‐recovery circuits and complex signal processing. In this paper, the oscillation mechanism of theN‐stage ring oscillator is analyzed experimentally. The analysis is applied to a quadrature oscillator proposed in 2008, called theORIGAMIoscillator. The oscillation mechanism of the ORIGAMI oscillator, in which the wired‐OR configuration is used, is analyzed. To verify the proposed oscillation mechanism, we extend the analysis toN‐stage ring oscillators and describe the characteristics of the proposedN‐stage ring oscillator. The oscillation frequency is also formulated. Analytical results are simulated and evaluated using an HSPICE simulator assuming 0.18 µm CMOS processes. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Power‐efficient resource allocation with QoS guarantees for TDMA fading channels
Authors: Ma Yanbo , Zhang Haixia , Yuan Dongfeng , Jiang Dongmei
Published: October 2010

This paper proposes two power‐efficient resource allocation policies with statistical delay Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for uplink time‐division multiple access (TDMA) communication links. Specifically, the first policy aims at maximizing the system throughput while fulfilling the delay QoS and average power constraints, and the second policy is devised as an effort to minimize the total average power subject to individual delay QoS constraints. Convex optimization problems associated with the resource allocation policies are formulated based on a cross‐layer framework, where the queue at the data link layer is served by the resource allocation policy. By employing the Lagrangian duality theory and the dual decomposition theory, two subgradient iteration algorithms are developed to obtain the globally optimal solutions. The aforementioned resource allocation policies have been shown to be deterministic functions of delay QoS requirements and channel fading states. Moreover, numerical results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed resource allocation policies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Tailored Approach to Family‐Centered Genetic Counseling for Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening: The Wisconsin Model
Authors: Tluczek Audrey , Zaleski Christina , Stachiw‐Hietpas Dania , Modaff Peggy , Adamski Craig R. , Nelson Megan R. , Reiser Catherine A. , Ghate Sumedha , Josephson Kevin D.
Published: October 2010

This article describes the development of a tailored family‐centered approach to genetic counseling following abnormal newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF). A genetic counseling consortium reviewed research literature, selected theoretical frameworks, and incorporated counseling psychology micro skills. This innovative intervention integrated theories and empirically validated techniques. Pilot testing and parent feedback confirmed satisfaction with and feasibility of the approach designed to (a) minimize parents’ distress, (b) facilitate parents’ understanding, (c) increase parents’ capacities to use genetic information, and (d) enhance parents’ experiences with genetic counseling. Counselors engage in a highly interactive process of evaluating parents’ needs and tailoring assessments and interventions that include a therapeutic environment, the family's emotional needs, parents’ informational needs, and a follow‐up plan. This promising new model is the first to establish a theory‐driven, evidence‐based standard for genetic counseling in the context of NBS for CF. Additional research will evaluate the model's efficacy in clinical practice.
Double counting in ecosystem services valuation: causes and countermeasures
Authors: Fu Bo‐Jie , Su Chang‐Hong , Wei Yong‐Ping , Willett Ian R. , Lü Yi‐He , Liu Guo‐Hua
Published: October 2010

Many studies have been conducted on ecosystem services and double counting is a frequent problem that causes uncertainty and poor reliability of estimating the value of ecosystem services. By referring to previous studies of ecosystem service valuation, our research has identified the basic causes of double counting. These include ambiguous definitions and inconsistent classifications of ecosystem services, poor understanding of ecosystem complexity, inadequate recognition of exclusiveness and complementarities of individual ecosystem services, spatio‐temporal scale dependence of ecosystem services, and overlap and lack of cross‐referencing between ecosystem service valuation methods. Measures for reducing double counting in ecosystem service valuation are proposed as follow: (1) identifying the spatio‐temporal scales of ecosystem services; (2) valuing the final benefits obtained from ecosystem services; (3) establishing consistent classification systems for ecosystem services; and (4) selecting valuation methods appropriate for the study context.
Dietary Inclusion of Tea Catechins Changes Fatty Acid Composition of Muscle in Goats
Authors: Tan C. Y. , Zhong R. Z. , Tan Z. L. , Han X. F. , Tang S. X. , Xiao W. J. , Sun Z. H. , Wang M.
Published: October 2010

This study was conducted to examine dietary tea catechins (TC) supplementation on the fatty acid composition of muscle and ruminal bacteria in goats fed a maize stover‐based diet. Forty goats, 8 months old (16.2 ± 1.2 kg), were randomly divided into four equal groups (10 animals in each group) and assigned to four experiment diets with TC supplementation at four levels (0, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 mg TC/kg feed, namely TC0, TC2000, TC3000 and TC4000, respectively). After a 60‐day feeding period, all the goats were slaughtered and sampled. The results showed that dietary TC inclusion increased the average daily gain (ADG), protein content in thesemimembranosus muscle and dry matter in thelongissimus dorsi muscle (LD). Dietary TC supplementation increased the ratio of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acid, the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was higher in TC3000 and TC4000 than in TC0 and TC2000 for LD. The current results implied that dietary inclusion of a suitable TC dose could improve the growth performance and increase the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids in muscle, and the biohydrogenation of ruminal microorganisms might change the profiles of fatty acids in the muscle of growing goats.
Comparison of Postprandial Oleic Acid, 9c,11t CLA and 10t,12c CLA Oxidation in Healthy Moderately Overweight Subjects
Authors: Malpuech‐Brugère Corinne , Mensink Ronald P. , Loreau Olivier , Maret Agnès , Fernie Claire E. , Lassel Taous S. , Chardigny Jean Michel , Scrimgeour Charlie M. , Sébédio Jean Louis , Beaufrère Bernard
Published: October 2010

Few studies report the individual effect of 9c,11t‐ and 10t,12c‐CLA on human energy metabolism. We compared the postprandial oxidative metabolism of 9c,11t‐ and 10t,12c‐CLA and oleic acid (9c‐18:1) in 22 healthy moderately overweight volunteers. After 24 weeks supplementation with 9c,11t‐, 10t,12c‐CLA or 9c‐18:1 (3 g/day), subjects consumed a single oral bolus of the appropriate [1‐13C]‐labeled fatty acid. 8 h post‐dose, cumulative oxidation was similar for 9c‐18:1 and 10t,12c (P = 0.66), but significantly higher for 9c,11t (P < 0.01).
In Vitro Antioxidant Properties of Hemp Seed (Cannabis sativa L.) Protein Hydrolysate Fractions
Authors: Girgih Abraham T. , Udenigwe Chibuike C. , Aluko Rotimi E.
Published: October 2010

Simulated gastrointestinal hydrolysis of hemp seed proteins using pepsin and pancreatin followed by membrane ultrafiltration fractionation yielded fractions with peptide sizes of <1, 1–3, 3–5, and 5–10 kDa. Analysis of in vitro antioxidant properties showed that the hemp seed protein hydrolysate (HPH) exhibited a significantly weaker (p < 0.05) scavenging of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals when compared to the fractionated peptides. Metal chelation activity of the HPH was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the activities of fractionated peptides. Fractionation of the HPH led to significant (p < 0.05) improvements in ferric reducing power, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging radical activities but decreased metal chelation capacity. Peptide fractions with longer chain lengths (3–5 and 5–10 kDa) had better metal chelation and ferric reducing power than the <1, and 1–3 kDa fractions. HPH and all the peptide fractions significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) linoleic acid oxidation when compared to the control. Glutathione (GSH) had significantly greater (p < 0.05) ferric reducing power, and scavenging of hydroxyl and DPPH radicals when compared to HPH and fractionated peptides. In contrast, HPH and peptide fractions >3 kDa had significantly higher (p < 0.05) metal chelation activity than GSH. The results show the potential use of HPH and peptide fractions of defined size for the treatment of oxidative stress‐related diseases.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Nigella Seed (Nigella sativa L.) Oil as Affected by Different Extraction Methods
Authors: Khoddami Ali , Ghazali Hasanah M. , Yassoralipour Ali , Ramakrishnan Yogeshini , Ganjloo Ali
Published: October 2010

The physicochemical properties of crude Nigella seed (Nigella sativa L.) oil which was extracted using Soxhlet, Modified Bligh–Dyer and Hexane extraction methods were determined. The effect of different extraction methods which includes different parameters, such as temperature, time and solvent on the extraction yield and the physicochemical properties were investigated. The experimental results showed that temperature, different solvents and extraction time had the most significant effect on the yield of the Nigella oil extracts. The fatty acid (FA) compositions of Nigella seed oil were further analyzed by gas chromatography to compare the extraction methods. The C16:0, C18:1 and C18:2 have been identified to be the dominant fatty acids in the Nigella seed oils. However, the main triacylglycerol (TAG) was LLL followed by OLL and PLL. The FA and TAG content showed that the composition of the Nigella seed oil extracted by different methods was mostly similar, whereas relative concentration of the identified compounds were apparently different according to the extraction methods. The melting and crystallization temperatures of the oil extracted by Soxhlet were −2.54 and −55.76 °C, respectively. The general characteristics of the Nigella seed oil obtained by different extraction methods were further compared. Where the Soxhlet extraction method was considered to be the optimum process for extracting Nigella seed oil with a higher quality with respect to the other two processes.
Development of a Research Platform for Dissecting Phenotype–Genotype Associations in Rice (Oryza spp.)
Authors: Tung Chih-Wei , Zhao Keyan , Wright Mark H. , Ali M. Liakat , Jung Janelle , Kimball Jennifer , Tyagi Wricha , Thomson Michael J. , McNally Kenneth , Leung Hei , Kim Hyunjung , Ahn Sang-Nag , Reynolds Andy , Scheffler Brian , Eizenga Georgia , McClung Anna , Bustamante Carlos , McCouch Susan R.
Published: October 2010

We present an overview of a research platform that provides essential germplasm, genotypic and phenotypic data and analytical tools for dissecting phenotype–genotype associations in rice. These resources include a diversity panel of 400 Oryza sativa and 100 Oryza rufipogon accessions that have been purified by single seed descent, a custom-designed Affymetrix array consisting of 44,100 SNPs, an Illumina GoldenGate assay consisting of 1,536 SNPs, and a suite of low-resolution 384-SNP assays for the Illumina BeadXpress Reader that are designed for applications in breeding, genetics and germplasm management. Our long-term goal is to empower basic research discoveries in rice by linking sequence diversity with physiological, morphological, and agronomic variation. This research platform will also help increase breeding efficiency by providing a database of diversity information that will enable researchers to identify useful DNA polymorphisms in genes and germplasm of interest and convert that information into cost-effective tools for applied plant improvement.
La dysfonction érectile associée à une hypertrophie bénigne de prostate (HBP) symptomatique: son lien avec le stade évolutif de l’HBP, et son évolution sous différentes thérapeutiques
Authors: Khallouk A. , Ahallal Y. , Mellas S. , Fadl Tazi M. , Elfassi M.J. , Farih M.H.
Published: October 2010

Introduction

Il existe une association entre les troubles mictionnels de l’hypertrophie bénigne de la prostate (HBP) et la dysfonction érectile (DE) dont la physiopathologie n’est pas complètement élucidée. De nombreuses publications ont mis l’accent sur le rôle de la sévérité des symptômes urinaires dans cette association et sur les résultats des différentes thérapeutiques utilisées. Aucune publication n’a jamais évoqué l’effet du stade évolutif des symptômes urinaires avec apparition de complications sur la DE.

Objectifs

Évaluer la corrélation entre la DE et le stade évolutif des troubles urinaires chez des patients présentant une HBP, et étudier l’évolution de cette DE sous différentes thérapeutiques.

Matériel et méthodes

Il s’agit d’une étude prospective menée sur une période de 12 mois, au CHU de Fès au Maroc, pendant laquelle ont été vus en consultation d’urologie 100 patients souffrant de troubles urinaires du bas appareil (TUBA) secondaires à une HBP. Leur fonction érectile avait été évaluée à l’aide du questionnaire IIEF-5 (Index international de la fonction érectile). Dans notre population, il n’était pas possible d’utiliser de façon fiable l’IPSS (International Prostatic Symptoms Score) ni d’avoir une idée exacte sur le début de la symptomatologie mictionnelle. Ainsi, nous avions étudié chez nos patients l’âge, le stade évolutif de l’HBP (HBP compliquée ou non) et la réponse de la DE aux différents traitements utilisés.

Résultats

L’âge moyen de nos patients était de 64,3 ans. Quarante patients (40 %) avaient une HBP compliquée et 60 patients une HBP non compliquée. La fonction érectile était fortement altérée chez 30 patients (75 %) ayant une HBP compliquée et chez 20 patients (33 %) ayant une HBP symptomatique non compliquée nécessitant un traitement médical. Le traitement médical par un alphabloquant (tamsulosine) avait contribué à améliorer la fonction érectile chez 12 patients de ce groupe (20 %). Les patients ayant une HBP compliquée avaient bénéficié d’un traitement chirurgical (résection transurétrale de prostate, RTUP, ou chirurgie ouverte), et la fonction érectile n’a pas été statistiquement améliorée dans ce groupe de patients.

Conclusion

Le risque de DE chez les patients présentant une HBP est lié au stade évolutif de l’HBP. En effet, ce risque est beaucoup plus important chez les patients ayant une HBP compliquée. Le traitement médical par un alphabloquant améliore la fonction érectile. Par contre, statistiquement parlant, la chirurgie n’améliore pas celle-ci.
Do school‐aged children with burn injuries during infancy show stress‐induced activation of pain inhibitory mechanisms?
Authors: Wollgarten‐Hadamekl Iris , Hohmeisterl Johanna , Zohsell Katrin , Florl Herta , Hermannl Christiane
Published: October 2010

There is evidence in humans and animals that neonatal and early infant pain and stress may sensitize excitatory pain pathways. Possibly such experiences may result in long‐term diminished activation of phasic endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms. We studied stress‐induced activation of endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms in school‐aged children (10–16 years) who had suffered moderate (N = =12) or severe (N =10) burn injuries in infancy (6–24 months of age) and 20 controls. Before and after the stress phase, pain threshold and pain tolerance (heat, pressure, ischemic pain) were assessed. Stress was successfully induced in all children as reflected by increases in heart rate, blood pressure and perceived stress. In the controls, there was evidence for stress‐induced hypoalgesia as reflected by significant increases in heat pain threshold, heat pain tolerance and pressure pain tolerance. Pressure pain thresholds were not significantly altered. A similar pattern was observed in the moderately burned children. By contrast, children with severe burn injuries failed to show significant stress‐related changes in heat and pressure pain sensitivity. In all groups, ischemic pain sensitivity was elevated post stress. The children reported being more distressed by the perceived loss of strength than by pain and had difficulties differentiating between the two. It is possible that ischemic pain may be less suitable for measuring pain sensitivity in children. The present study provides first evidence that pain and stress exposure due to severe burns in infancy may be associated with an attenuated stress‐induced activation of phasic endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms later in childhood and adolescence.
Long-term psychopathology changes among the injured and members of the community after a massive terrorist attack
Authors: Ferrando L. , Galea S. , Sainz Cortón E. , Mingote C. , García Camba E. , Fernandez Líria A. , Gabriel R.
Published: October 2010

Background and aim

To document long-term prevalence trends and changes in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Current Major Depression (MD), Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Panic Disorder, in two groups of people with different levels of exposure to a massive terrorist attack.

Methods

Cohort study. Two random samples of people exposed to a terrorist attack, the injured (n = 127) and community residents (n = 485) were followed and assessed, 2 and 18 months after the event.

Results

Among the injured, 2 and 18 months after the attack, the prevalences were respectively, PTSD: 44.1% and 34%, MD: 31.5% and 23.7%, Agoraphobia: 23.8% and 20.7%, GAD: 13.4% and 12.4% and Panic Disorder: 9.4% and 11.3%. The corresponding figures among residents were PTSD: 12.3% and 3.5%, MD: 8.5% and 5.4%, Agoraphobia: 10.5% and 8.7%, GAD: 8.6%, and 8.2% and Panic Disorder 2.1% and 2.7%.

Conclusions

Two months after the event, the prevalence of mental disorders among both injured and residents was higher than expected levels at baseline conditions. Eighteen months after the event, psychopathological conditions did not change significantly among the injured but returned to the expected baseline rates among community residents.
The burdened life of adults with ADHD: Impairment beyond comorbidity
Authors: Garcia C.R. , Bau C.H.D. , Silva K.L. , Callegari-Jacques S.M. , Salgado C.A.I. , Fischer A.G. , Victor M.M. , Sousa N.O. , Karam R.G. , Rohde L.A. , Belmonte-de-Abreu P. , Grevet E.H.
Published: October 2010

Since approximately 70% of adult patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have at least one comorbid disorder, rating of impairment specifically attributable to ADHD is a hard task. Despite the evidence linking environmental adversities with negative outcomes in ADHD, life events measures have not been used to rate the disorder impairment. The present study tested for the first time the hypothesis that increased ADHD severity is associated with an increase in negative recent life events, independently of comorbidity status. The psychiatric diagnoses of 211 adult ADHD outpatients were based on DSM-IV criteria assessed through structured interviews (K-SADS-E for ADHD and ODD, MINI for ASPD and SCID-IV-R for other comorbidities). ADHD severity was evaluated with the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham rating scale (SNAP-IV) and recent life events with the Life Experience Survey. Higher SNAP-IV inattention and hyperactivity scores, female gender, lower socioeconomic status and the presence of comorbid mood disorders were associated with negative life events. Poisson regression models with adjustment for possible confounders confirmed the effect of inattention and hyperactivity severity on negative life events. Our results suggest that the negative life events experienced by these patients are associated to the severity of ADHD independently from comorbid psychiatric disorders.
The Effects of Animation and Format on the Perception and Memory of Online Advertising
Authors: Kuisma Jarmo , Simola Jaana , Uusitalo Liisa , Öörni Anssi
Published: October 2010

Based on a general framework of consumer perception and processing of advertising, this study examines the impact of animation and ad format on the attention and memorization of online ads. Consumer attention to a variety of real-world ads was measured with eye tracking and ad memory was assessed with recognition and recall tests. The results suggest that on average, animation had little or no effect on attention. We did nevertheless observe a strong interaction effect between animation and ad format, which suggests that the effect of animation is conditioned by ad format. Animation has a positive effect on attention to skyscrapers, but a negative one on attention to banners. As to memorization, animation improved recognition effects, but mainly for banners. Surprisingly, consumers could recognize ads without having looked at them, which suggests that online consumers are especially parsimonious in allocating their focal attention and memory resources to irrelevant ads when they are involved in other tasks.
The application of foraminifera to reconstruct the rate of 20th century sea level rise, Morbihan Golfe, Brittany, France
Authors: Rossi Veronica , Horton Benjamin P. , Corbett D. Reide , Leorri Eduardo , Perez-Belmonte Lucia , Douglas Bruce C.
Published: October 2010

Foraminiferal assemblages preserved within salt-marsh sediment can provide an accurate and precise means to reconstruct relative sea level due to a strong relationship with elevation, which can be quantified using a transfer function. We collected a set of surface samples from two salt marshes in the Morbihan Golfe, France to determine foraminiferal distribution patterns. Dominant taxa includedJadammina macrescens,Trochammina inflata,Haplophragmoidesspp. andMiliammina fusca. We developed a foraminifera-based transfer function using a modern training set of 36 samples and 23 species. The strong relationship between observed and predicted values (r2jack= 0.7) indicated that foraminiferal distribution is primarily controlled by elevation with respect to the tidal frame and precise reconstructions of former sea level are possible (RMSEPjack= 0.07 m). The application of the transfer function to a short salt-marsh core (0.32 m) allowed the reconstruction of former sea levels, which were placed in a chronological framework using short-lived radionuclides (210Pb and137Cs). The agreement between the foraminifera-based sea level curve and the Brest tide-gauge record confirms the reliability of transfer function estimates and the validity of this methodology to extend sea level reconstructions back into the pre-instrumental period. Both instrumental and microfossil records suggest an acceleration of sea level rise during the 20th century.
WEIGHTED PSEUDO-ALMOST PERIODIC SOLUTIONS FOR SOME ABSTRACT DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH UNIFORM CONTINUITY
Authors: ZHANG LI-LI , LI HONG-XU
Published: October 2010

In this work, we give some theorems on (mild) weighted pseudo-almost periodic solutions for some abstract semilinear differential equations with uniform continuity. To facilitate this we give a new composition theorem of weighted pseudo-almost periodic functions. Our composition theorem improves the known one by making use of a uniform continuity condition instead of the Lipschitz condition.
ANOTHER COMPLETELY INTERESTING OPERA: ‘THE MOTHER OF US ALL’ PART I: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Authors: Lister Rodney
Published: October 2010

On 5 December 5 1941, two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Virgil Thomson wrote to Gertrude Stein, his friend and the cocreator of their opera Four Saints in Three Acts. The bulk of the letter concerned Thomson's most recent plan for publication of the opera, including details of dividing the royalties and expenses involved in the undertaking (a continual source of disagreement and haggling between them). At the end of the letter, referring to Stein's assurance at the end of her most recent letter to him that the European war would be over soon and that they would soon meet again in Paris, Thomson wrote, ‘… I miss you a great deal but do hope that you are right that we shall be seeing each other soon in Paris. I wouldn't know; I have no prophetic sense about wars … When the war is over we must write another opera. Only we must wait till then, because I don't think we could choose the subject very well by mail'. His next preserved letter to her was almost five years later. In that letter, dated 5 March 1946, Thomson wrote, ‘Carl [Van Vechten] says the opera is nearly finished. I hope so. I want to see it. I pine for it’.
PETER MAXWELL DAVIES IN THE 1950S: A CONVERSATION WITH THE COMPOSER
Authors: Jones Nicholas
Published: October 2010

The 1950s was a particularly important decade for Peter Maxwell Davies. It was the period when he established the fundamental elements of his compositional technique; the decade in which he composed his first acknowledged works; and a time, coinciding with his emergence as a composer of substance, when he travelled to Darmstadt, Paris and Rome. It was also the period that witnessed the publication of two of his own articles, and the decade in which his interest in early music – particularly plainchant – and Indian classical music began to influence his own compositional thinking and resulting works.
PLAINCHANTS AS COLOURED TIME IN MESSIAEN'S ‘COULEURS DE LA CITÉ CÉLESTE’
Authors: Wai-Ling Cheong
Published: October 2010

When Messiaen finished Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine (1943–4), almost all the orchestral works he had composed up to that point had been religious in ethos.1 There was no real sign that this would change: that he would stop devoting his orchestral works to the service of the Catholic faith. That some 20 years elapsed before he attempted another orchestral sacred work is intriguing. It was Couleurs de la cité céleste (1963) that broke the ice, and after it the orchestral and the sacred became once again closely united, as they had been in the pre-Turangalîla era. Couleurs also brought us his first obvious use of plainchant in an orchestral work, thus heightening the religiosity of this score to approximate that enshrined in Trois petites liturgies. And as Messiaen's fame continued to grow, the religious elements in his music grew with it, both in ubiquity and intensity. Retrospectively, sacred orchestral works composed after Couleurs exceed those before Trois petites liturgies not only in number, but also in magnitude, profundity and grandeur.
On maximal pattern complexity of some automatic words
Authors: KAMAE TETURO , SALIMOV PAVEL V.
Published: October 2010

The pattern complexity of a word for a given pattern S, where S is a finite subset of {0,1,2,…}, is the number of distinct restrictions of the word to S+n (with n=0,1,2,…). The maximal pattern complexity of the word, introduced in the paper of T. Kamae and L. Zamboni [Sequence entropy and the maximal pattern complexity of infinite words. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.22(4) (2002), 1191–1199], is the maximum value of the pattern complexity of S with #S=k as a function of k=1,2,…. A substitution of constant length on an alphabet is a mapping from the alphabet to finite words on it of constant length not less than two. An infinite word is called a fixed point of the substitution if it stays the same after the substitution is applied. In this paper, we prove that the maximal pattern complexity of a fixed point of a substitution of constant length on {0,1} (as a function of k=1,2,…) is either bounded, a linear function of k, or 2k.