bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of fiber content and type, compatibilizer, and heating rate on thermogravimetric properties of natural fiber high density polyethylene composites
Authors: Tajvidi Mehdi , Takemura Akio
Published: November 2008

Natural fiber polyethylene composites containing kenaf fibers, wood flour, newsprint, and rice hulls at 25 and 50% (by weight) fiber content were sampled and studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of fiber type and content, compatibilizer and heating rate on the thermal stability and degradation of the composites were evaluated. Among different natural fibers, kenef fibers were found to be the least thermally stable ones whereas newsprint fibers proved to be the most stable fibers in composite formulations. Composites containing higher amounts of natural fiber degraded at a higher rate and exhibited higher weight loss. The presence of the compatibilizer resulted in composites with slower thermal degradation. Heating rate increased both temperature and rate of main degradation peaks. FTIR and DSC results are also presented to discuss phenomena leading to thermal degradation. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Effect of phosphorus diffusion to the recombination at the Si–SiO2 interface
Authors: Jin H. , Weber K. J. , Zhang C.
Published: November 2008

Measurements of the excess carrier lifetime of diffused and undiffused, thermally oxidized silicon samples are used to show that the presence of a phosphorus diffusion results in a modification of the interface defect properties, resulting in significantly higher surface recombination velocity compared to undiffused samples. In addition, for undiffused samples, positive and negative charges are demonstrated to be equally effective at passivating the silicon surface. Both results hold for (100) and (111) oriented samples, as well as for samples subjected to various post‐oxidation treatments. The results may have practical implications particularly for the design of rear contacted solar cells. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of perceived stage of cancer on carers' anxiety and depression during the patients' final year of life
Authors: Burridge Letitia H. , Barnett Adrian G. , Clavarino Alexandra M.
Published: November 2008

Objective: This paper explores the effects of perceived stage of cancer (PSOC) on carers' anxiety and depression during the patients' final year.

Methods: A consecutive sample of patients and carers (N=98) were surveyed at regular intervals regarding PSOC, and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Means were compared by gender using the Mann–Whitney U‐test. The chi‐square was used to analyse categorical data. Agreement between carers' and patients' PSOC was estimated using kappa statistics. Correlations between carers' PSOC and their anxiety and depression were calculated using the Spearman's rank correlation.

Results: Over time, an increasing proportion of carers reported that the cancer was advanced, culminating at 43% near death. Agreement regarding PSOC was fair (kappa=0.29–0.34) until near death (kappa=0.21). Carers' anxiety increased over the year; depression increased in the final 6 months. Females were more anxious (p=0.049, 6 months; p=0.009, 3 months) than males, and more depressed until 1 month to death. The proportion of carers reporting moderate–severe anxiety almost doubled over the year to 27%, with more females in this category at 6 months (p=0.05). Carers with moderate–severe depression increased from 6 to 15% over the year. Increased PSOC was weakly correlated with increased anxiety and depression.

Conclusions: Carers' anxiety exceeded depression in severity during advanced cancer. Females generally experienced greater anxiety and depression. Carers were more realistic than patients regarding the ultimate outcome, which was reflected in their declining mental health, particularly near the end. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of priming and pre‐existing knowledge of chemotherapy‐associated cognitive complaints on the reporting of such complaints in breast cancer patients
Authors: Schagen Sanne B. , Das Enny , van Dam Frits S.A.M.
Published: November 2008

Objective: Many cancer patients report cognitive changes following chemotherapy. In social psychology, there is ample evidence that psychological and physical complaints can increase with increased accessibility of relevant schemata. The accessibility of related concepts in memory may be facilitated through priming or by pre‐existing knowledge, resulting in an increase of reported complaints. We examined whether pre‐existing knowledge of chemotherapy‐associated cognitive problems and priming the ‘chemo‐brain’ schema increase the reporting of cognitive complaints.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty‐one breast cancer patients were interviewed about cognitive problems and other cancer‐related symptoms. Preceding the interview, half of the patients were primed with an introduction letter to the study in which the occurrence of cognitive complaints and its relation with chemotherapy was explicated. The remaining patients received a neutral letter that did not mention this relationship.

Results: Patients with pre‐existing knowledge about chemotherapy‐associated cognitive problems reported more cognitive complaints (M=3.04) than patients without this knowledge (M=2.21; p<0.001). The priming letter increased the reporting of cognitive complaints only for patients without a history of chemotherapy (p<0.05). All effects were independent of negative affect, age and education level.

Conclusion: Our study shows that facilitating the accessibility of concepts related to chemotherapy‐associated cognitive complaints directly increases the reporting of such complaints, in particular in patients without firsthand chemotherapy experience. This increase in prevalence of cognitive complaints following a chronically or temporarily accessible ‘chemo‐brain’ schema has relevant implications for clinical practice and for scientific research in this area. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychosocial interventions for adolescent cancer patients: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Seitz Diana C. M. , Besier Tanja , Goldbeck Lutz
Published: November 2008

Objective: Both cancer diagnosis and the consequent treatment are particularly challenging for adolescent patients. Adjuvant psychological interventions to reduce cancer‐related distress are therefore a fundamental part of a multidisciplinary treatment. Assuming that psycho‐oncology has to consider developmentally specific aspects, this review summarizes empirical studies of the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adolescent cancer patients.

Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in four databases. Studies were included only if they were exclusively designed for adolescent cancer patients and incorporated a defined outcome measure to evaluate the effects of the implemented intervention.

Results: Only four studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. One of those studies reported a significant improvement compared with a waitlist control group. The relevant gains were found in the overall level of distress, as well as in additional outcome variables such as knowledge of sexual issues, body image and anxiety about psychosexual issues. The remaining studies revealed no significant changes related to psychological distress and psychosocial functioning.

Conclusion: Taken together, the findings point out that there is a lack of intervention research in psycho‐oncology with adolescents. So far, there is only limited evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions to improve coping with cancer‐associated problems in adolescent patients. Future research needs to be done in this population. In order to establish more conclusive results, larger samples and interventions particularly designed for adolescent patients ought to be studied. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keratinocyte‐derived chemokine induces prostate epithelial hyperplasia and reactive stroma in a novel transgenic mouse model
Authors: Schauer Isaiah G. , Ressler Steven J. , Rowley David R.
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND

Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) is upregulated in fibrotic and malignant diseases and is a key mediator of proliferative responses. Elevated IL‐8 was recently correlated with benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelium and a myofibroblast reactive stroma. Thus, we sought to determine whether overexpressed IL‐8 and keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC), the functional murine homolog of IL‐8, induce prostate epithelial hyperplasia and a reactive phenotype.

METHODS

Transgenic mice that overexpress KC within prostate epithelia and xenograft models with engineered human cells that overexpress IL‐8 were developed.

RESULTS

Overexpression of KC in transgenic mice produced hyperplastic prostate epithelial acini associated with a periacinar reactive stroma. KC induced an altered epithelial/stroma proliferation index ratio, increased acini diameter, epithelial infolding, and expression of prototypical reactive stroma markers. Overexpression of IL‐8 in normal human prostate epithelial xenografts correlated with elevated epithelial proliferation index and altered morphology. Elevated human prostate stromal and epithelial cell proliferation, nodule‐like morphology and increased xenograft survival were observed in IL‐8‐overexpressing orthotopic xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data demonstrate that overexpression of IL‐8/KC results in a prostate epithelial hyperplasia with an associated reactive stroma phenotype. The novel transgenic mouse and human xenograft models described here may be useful in dissecting key mechanisms of IL‐8 induced prostate hyperplasia and reactive stroma. Prostate 69:373–384, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional modes of the regulatory arm of AraC
Authors: Rodgers Michael E. , Holder Nakisha D. , Dirla Stephanie , Schleif Robert
Published: November 2008

One of the two crystal structures of the arm‐dimerization domain determined in the absence of arbinose fails to show the arm, whereas the other structure does show it. The two structures lead to different pictures for the regulatory behavior of the arms. Trypsin digestion, fluorescence anisotropy, and NMR experiments presented here were designed to resolve the issue and show that in arm‐dimerization domain, the arms are structured, although differently, in the presence and absence of arabinose. The arms have also been shown to interact with the DNA binding domains of AraC by their requirement for the immobilization of the DNA binding domains that is necessary for DNA looping and repression. The binding of arabinose has been shown to release the DNA binding domains and looping ceases. The picture resulting from the new experiments and the crystal structures of the arm‐dimerization domain is that in the absence of arabinose, the arm adopts one structure on the dimerization domain and that the DNA binding domain then binds to this complex. Upon binding arabinose, the arm restructures and as a result, no longer serves as a gasket between the DNA binding domain and dimerization domain. The DNA binding domain is then released, subject only to the constraints imposed by the flexible linker connecting it to dimerization domain, and the protein relocates on the DNA and activates transcription. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modeling of peptides connecting the ligand‐binding and transmembrane domains in the GluR2 glutamate receptor
Authors: Speranskiy K. , Kurnikova M. G.
Published: November 2008

Ligand‐gated Glutamate receptors (GluR) mediate synaptic signals in the nervous system. Ionotropic GluRs of AMPA type, the subject of this study, are tetrameric assemblies of monomer subunits, each of which is constructed in a modular fashion from functional subdomains. The extracellular ligand‐binding domain (LBD) changes its conformation upon binding of an agonist ligand followed by opening of a transmembrane (TM) ion channel. Peptides connecting the LBD and TM domains facilitate gating of the channel, and their structure and composition are important for the receptor functioning. In this study, we used replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations to model S1M1 and S2M3 connecting peptides of the GluR2 receptor in two implicit solvents, water and interfacial water/lipid medium characterized by lower polarity. Propensity of these peptides to form helical structures was analyzed using helicity measure derived from the free energy of the simulated ensembles of structures. The S1M1 and S2M3 connecting peptides were not helical in our simulations in both dielectric environments in the absence of the rest of the protein. The structures of the LBD fragment with known high‐resolution α‐helical structure and of the TM3 helix were successfully predicted in the simulations, which in part validate our results. The S2M3 peptide, which is important in gating, formed a well‐defined coil structure and salt‐bridges with the S2 domain. The S1M1 peptide formed a loop structure via formation of internal salt‐bridges. Potential implications of these structures on function of the receptor are discussed. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Negative ion production from peptides and proteins by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Gao Junjie , Cassady Carolyn J.
Published: November 2008

Negative ion production from peptides and proteins was investigated by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry. Although most research on peptide and protein identification with ionization by MALDI has involved the detection of positive ions, for some acidic peptides protonated molecules are not easily formed because the side chains of acidic residues are more likely to lose a proton and form a deprotonated species. After investigating more than 30 peptides and proteins in both positive and negative ion modes, [M–H]− ions were detected in the negative ion mode for all peptides and proteins although the matrix used was 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), which is a good proton donor and favors the positive ion mode production of [M+H]+ ions. Even for highly basic peptides without an acidic site, such as myosin kinase inhibiting peptide and substance P, good negative ion signals were observed. Conversely, gastrin I (1‐14), a peptide without a highly basic site, will form positive ions. In addition, spectra obtained in the negative ion mode are usually cleaner due to absence of alkali metal adducts. This can be useful during precursor ion isolation for MS/MS studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Desferrioxamine dehydrogenates bilirubin in two stages, leading to a 1:1 red‐coloured adduct. Characterization of the products by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: De Matteis Francesco , Lord Gwyn A.
Published: November 2008

We have used open‐chain tetrapyrroles, such as bilirubin, as molecular probes to investigate the pro‐oxidant activity of desferrioxamine (DES) and its modulation by Trolox. On exposure to Fe‐EDTA/H2O2, bilirubin and mesobilirubin underwent bleaching. When DES was present, bleaching was prevented and both rubins were converted into green‐coloured derivatives and then into red pigments. Trolox added with DES inhibited the colour changes induced by DES. The oxidative products were resolved from their parent compounds by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and by UV/visible spectroscopy. The green products were identified as biliverdin or mesobiliverdin; the red pigments as the 1:1 molar adduct of DES with biliverdin or mesobiliverdin, less two hydrogens in both cases. It is concluded that DES exercises its oxidative activity through nitroxyl oxidizing radicals capable of efficient hydrogen abstraction, dehydrogenating either rubin to the corresponding verdin. A diradical derivative of DES (bearing two nitroxyl radicals in the same molecule) may be involved in the oxidation of verdins to red pigments, through concerted dehydrogenation and adduct formation. These results shed further light on the redox properties of bilirubin, DES and Trolox, and their interactions. They provide further evidence of the pro‐oxidant activity of DES and suggest a more general biological significance, as rapid removal of bilirubin by bleaching or dehydrogenation may have pharmacological/toxicological implications in severe jaundice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactive desorption electrospray ionization for rapid screening of guests for supramolecular inclusion complexes
Authors: Barbara Joanna E. , Eyler John R. , Powell David H.
Published: November 2008

Reactive desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), an ambient technique, has been explored as a tool for the development of a fast screening approach for supramolecular complexes capitalizing on the specificity of mass spectrometric detection. A library of twelve potential guests for inclusion by a β‐cyclodextrin host was initially screened via DESI using a spray solution incorporating the host directed toward an array of deposited guests. The steroid nortestosterone was used to verify the applicability of reactive DESI for complexation experiments with β‐cyclodextrin. Results from the DESI experiment and results from an analogous electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectral screen were compared with solution‐phase data obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The complexes detected using DESI were identical to those determined using NMR, validating the applicability of the technique to supramolecular applications, but the ESI data exhibited significant disparities, predominantly due to the interference of nonspecific artifacts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A secure radio communication system based on an efficient speech watermarking approach
Authors: Fantacci R. , Menci S. , Micciullo L. , Pierucci L.
Published: November 2008

This paper deals with an efficient secure communication system based on a speech watermarking approach. The main goal of the system is to efficiently support air traffic control (ATC) communications by improving safety and security of the existing ATC equipment embedding digital side information into speech signals in order to allow anautomatic identification of the talker. An implementation based on the use of the well known LPC (linear predictive coding) principle is discussed. The LPC residual is split up into voiced and unvoiced segments; while the voiced segments cross the system unmodified, the watermarking data are embedded into the unvoiced segments, spectrally similar to a white noise. The watermark signal is decoded by a very similar scheme. We provide also a statistical analysis on the unvoiced parts of the ATC communications that demonstrates the system feasibility. In addition to this, an optimization of the entire system has been also performed to increase performance. The obtained results highlight that the watermark data are nearly imperceptible and providea data channel with rate from 2000 to 5000 kbits/s, withhigh robustness to channel noise; the system requires only modular, low‐cost and easy‐to‐install encoders and decoders, maintaining compatibility with legacy RF DSB‐AM transceivers. Moreover, it is well suited both for the actual 25 kHz RF channels and for the new 8.33 kHz European RF channels. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A run‐based procedure to identify time‐lagged gene clusters in microarray experiments
Authors: Mathur Sunil K.
Published: November 2008

Motivation: The analysis of gene‐expression data obtained from microarray experiments can be useful to identify regulatory relationship between genes. Genes with a common functional role have similar expression patterns across different microarray experiments. These similar expression patterns are perhaps due to co‐regulation of genes in the same functional group. Most of the existing methods available for the identification of the regulatory relationships are either made for comparing two genes at a time or methods are not computationally efficient in the identification of the regulatory relationships. The procedures adopted by these methods do not use complete information contained in the data set. In this paper, we propose a statistical procedure, which will use the information contained in the data set to cluster genes that show similar patterns. The proposed procedure compares several genes at a time instead of pair‐wise comparisons as done in some of the other procedures. The proposed procedure provides gene clusters based on time‐lagged data sets with more details. The proposed method provides a numerical value that would facilitate in comparing different sets of data obtained from different expressions. It also provides the identification of the gene involved and the time point at which the observation is made so that proper medicine can be developed for the gene‐specific and time‐specific disease.

Results: We applied the proposed procedure on the Spellman data set (Mol. Biol. Cell 1998; 9(12): 3273–3297) and compared our procedure with some of the other existing procedures. We found that our procedure is more computationally efficient than Ji and Tan (Bioinformatics 2005; 21:509–516), event method and edge detection procedures. The proposed procedure also provides more details about the clusters than Ji and Tan (Bioinformatics 2005; 21:509–516), event method and edge detection procedures. The proposed procedure is really simple to apply as compared with other available procedures in the literature including Ji and Tan (Bioinformatics 2005; 21:509–516), event method and edge detection procedures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preoperative Biliary Drainage Increases Infectious Complications after Hepatectomy for Proximal Bile Duct Tumor Obstruction
Authors: Ferrero Alessandro , Lo Tesoriere Roberto , Viganò Luca , Caggiano Luisa , Sgotto Enrico , Capussotti Lorenzo
Published: November 2008

Background

The role of preoperative biliary drainage before liver resection in jaundiced patients remains controversial. The objective of this study is to compare the perioperative outcome of liver resection for carcinoma involving the proximal bile duct in jaundiced patients with and without preoperative biliary drainage.

Methods

Seventy‐four consecutive jaundiced patients underwent hepatectomy for carcinoma involving the proximal bile duct from January 1989 to June 2006 and their data were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen patients underwent biliary drainage before portal vein embolization and were excluded from the study. Thirty patients underwent biliary drainage before hepatectomy and 30 underwent liver resection without preoperative biliary drainage. All patients underwent resection of the extrahepatic bile duct.

Results

Overall mortality and operative morbidity were similar in the two groups (3% vs. 10%, p = 0.612 and 70% vs. 63%, p = 0.583, respectively). The incidence of noninfectious complications was similar in the two groups. There was no difference in hospital stay between the two groups. Patients with preoperative biliary drainage had a significantly higher rate of infectious complications (40% vs. 17%, p = 0.044). At multivariate analysis, preoperative biliary drainage was the only independent risk factor for infectious complication in the postoperative course (RR = 4.411, 95%CI = 1.216‐16.002, p = 0.024). Even considering patients with preoperative biliary drainage in whom the bilirubin level went below 5 mg/dl, the risk of infectious complications was higher compared with patients without biliary drainage (47.6% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Overall mortality and morbidity after liver resection are not improved by preoperative biliary drainage in jaundiced patients. Prehepatectomy biliary drainage increases the incidence of infectious complications.
The Antiproliferative Effect of EPA in HL60 Cells is Mediated by Alterations in Calcium Homeostasis
Authors: Slagsvold Jens Erik , Pettersen Caroline Hild Hakvåg , Follestad Turid , Krokan Hans Einar , Schønberg Svanhild Arentz
Published: November 2008

Studies show that n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Recent reports indicate that this effect is due to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, what causes this activation has been unclear. We examined the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the human leukemia cell line HL60 and the econazole (Ec) resistant HL60 clone E2R2. Ec depletes Ca2+ from the ER and blocks Ca2+ influx in mammalian cells, leading to activation of the UPR and apoptosis. EPA inhibited growth of HL60 cells strongly, while E2R2 cells were much less affected. Gene expression analysis of HL60 cells revealed extensive changes in transcripts related to the ER homeostasis, Ca2+‐homeostasis and cell cycle/apoptosis. Protein levels of phosphorylated eIF2α, a selective translation inhibitor and UPR hallmark, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and sequestosome‐1 were moderately increased, whereas the cell cycle/progression protein cyclin D1 was decreased in HL60. In contrast, EPA concentrations that strongly inhibited and caused activation of the UPR in HL60 cells had no effect on the expression level of these UPR markers in E2R2 cells. Given that the only known difference between these cells is Ec‐resistance, our results strongly suggest that the inhibitory effect of EPA on HL60 cells is initially meditated through alterations of the Ca2+‐homeostasis followed by activation of the UPR.
Molekulare Karyotypisierung in der klinischen Anwendung
Authors: Dufke A. , Riess O. , Bonin M.
Published: November 2008

In den vergangenen Jahren hat sich die Anwendung der Mikroarraytechnologie für die Detektion von putativ pathologischen submikroskopischen Copy-Number-Variationen (CNV) einen festen Platz in der molekularen Zytogenetik erobert. Neben der Identifikation somatischer CNV in der onkologischen Diagnostik wird diese Technologie nunmehr für die Analyse von konstitutionellen CNV bei Patienten mit mentaler Retardierung genutzt. Arraybasierte genomische Hybridisierungen zeigen eine deutliche Verbesserung zu der bereits seit Jahren angewendeten komparativen genomischen Hybridisierung (CGH). Insbesondere weisen die dazugehörigen Technologien eine verbesserte Auflösung von weniger als 100 kb für Deletionen und Duplikationen auf und haben damit eine deutlich bessere Aufklärungsrate von Krankheiten mit Behinderungen ungeklärter Ursache. In einigen Zentren gehört die Arraytechnologie daher bereits zur Routinetechnologie der Syndromabklärung. Im vorliegenden Beitrag soll deshalb auch auf die Gemeinsamkeiten bzw. Unterschiede der verschiedenen Basistechnologien der Arraytechnik eingegangen werden.
Is there a relation between hip torsion, coverage and osteoarthritis of the knee?
Authors: Hapa Onur , Muratlı Hasan Hilmi , Çakıcı Hüsamettin , Gülçek Serap , Akşahin Ertuğrul , Biçimoğlu Ali
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Biomechanic factors play a role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. The aim of the study was to find out whether there is a relation between femoral, acetabular anteversions, anterior, posterior acetabular coverages and primary osteoarthritis of the knee.

Methods

Thirty patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee and 29 control subjects were enrolled into the study. Femoral anteversion, acetabular anteversion, McKibbin's instability index, anterior acetabular sector and posterior acetabular sector angles were measured using tomographic scanograms.

Results

There was no difference between groups for each parameter ( P > 0.05).

Conclusion

This study did not show any relationship between the axial plane changes in the hip joint and primary knee osteoarthritis.
Growth modulation in the management of growing spine deformities
Authors: Akel Ibrahim , Yazici Muharrem
Published: November 2008

The Hueter–Volkmann law explains the physiological response of the growth plate under mechanical loading. This law mainly explains the pathological mechanism for growing long-bone deformities. Vertebral endplates also show a similar response under mechanical loading. Experimental studies have provided information about spinal growth modulation and, now, it is possible to explain the mechanism of the curvature progression. Convex growth arrest is shown to successfully treat deformities of the growing spine and unnecessary growth arrest of the whole spine is prevented. Both anterior and posterior parts of the convexity should be addressed to achieve a satisfactory improvement in the deformity, albeit epiphysiodesis effect cannot be stipulated at all times. Anterior vertebral body stapling without fusion yielded better results with new shape memory alloys and techniques. This method can be used with minimally invasive techniques and has the potential advantage of producing reversible physeal arrest. Instrumented posterior hemiepiphysiodesis seems to be as effective as classical combined anterior and posterior arthrodesis, where it is less invasive and morbid. Convex hemiepiphysiodesis with concave-side distraction through growing rod techniques provide a better control of the curve immediately after surgery. This method has the advantages of posterior instrumented hemiepiphysiodesis, but necessitates additional surgeries. Concave-side rib shortening and/or convex-side lengthening is an experimental method with an indirect effect on spinal growth. To conclude, whatever the cause of the spinal deformity, growth modulation can be used to manage the growing spine deformities with no or shorter segment fusions.
Great toe metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis for hallux valgus deformity in ambulatory adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy
Authors: Bishay Sherif N. G. , El-Sherbini Mustafa H. , Lotfy Ashraf A. , Abdel-Rahman Hatem M. , Iskandar Hany N. , El-Sayed Mohsen M.
Published: November 2008

Background

Hallux valgus deformity is a common sequel of spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods

Twenty ambulatory patients (24 feet) suffering hallux valgus deformity, with painful forefoot and restricted footwear, secondary to spastic cerebral palsy acquired perinatally, were treated with great toe metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis using percutaneous K-wires for fixation. The mean age at the time of surgery was 16.2 years (range 14–18 years). They were retrospectively evaluated for the results after arthrodesis at a mean interval of 3 years and 4 months (range 3–4 years) by physical examination and radiographs.

Results

All patients had a stable painless aligned great toe, with <10° valgus, <20° dorsiflexion and neutral rotation after arthrodesis, evidenced by improvement in pain, cosmesis, functional activity, footwear, callosities and hygiene, as well as by significant improvement in the measures of the MTP and the intermetatarsal angles (IMA) by postoperative radiographs. Neither non-union (pseudoarthrosis) nor recurrence of the deformity developed. Complications included superficial wound slough in a single case. Using the modified American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hallux Metatarsophalangeal–Interphalangeal Scale, 18 feet (75%) were classified as excellent and six feet (25%) as good. Neither fair nor poor cases were recorded.

Conclusion

Hallux valgus deformity in adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy is best treated by great toe MTP arthrodesis to improve segmental foot malalignment and dynamic foot deviation.
Christian Democracy and Conservatism on Demography: Some Explorations
Authors: Van Hecke Steven
Published: November 2008

Although demography has never figured prominently in contemporary political ideologies, there may be a great need to include such issues as demographic changes accelerate. This article seeks to offer a framework within the ideology of Christian Democracy and Conservatism for demographic change. The author's argument centres on divergent and shared characteristics of Christian Democracy and Conservatism which would provide a window of understanding on demography policies. What these two ideologies appear to have in common on demographic issues are their shared support for individual human rights, their subscription to the primacy of the community and their pragmatic viewpoint.
Dutch policies towards ageing
Authors: Bovenberg A. L. , Gradus R. H. J. M.
Published: November 2008

To cope with demographic ageing trends, the Dutch government has implemented a wide range of institutional reforms. With this, the government has targeted public finances, the risk-taking capacity of the economy and scarce human capital as its main areas of challenge. This paper details the most prominent reforms, looking particularly at social insurance, public pensions and health care. As reforms tighten eligibility criteria and reshape institutions it is to be hoped that the emphasis will shift to capitalise upon individuals’ capabilities rather than to focus on their handicaps.
Living in an Ageing World: A Challenge for the Individual and Society
Authors: Lehr Ursula
Published: November 2008

Demographic research generally highlights growing elderly populations as a drain on pensions, healthcare and caregivers. This negative point of view reflects a society which has yet to recognise the potential of the situation and adapt. Alongside ongoing efforts to increase lifespan and improve life quality, society and individuals must work to realise the opportunities rather than the perils of demographic change. Specifically, this article advocates care and rehabilitation of the elderly, enabling them to lead independent lives and to be active in society.
AN ANSWER TO VAN MILL’S QUESTION
Authors: YANG ER-GUANG , SHI WEI-XUE
Published: November 2008

van Mill et al. posed in ‘Classes defined by stars and neighborhood assignments’, Topology Appl.154 (2007), 2127–2134 the following question: Is a star-compact space metrizable if it has a Gδ-diagonal? In this paper, we give a negative answer to this question.
ON WEIGHTED INEQUALITIES WITH GEOMETRIC MEAN OPERATOR
Authors: LUOR DAH-CHIN
Published: November 2008

We give a characterization of pairs of weights for the validity of weighted inequalities involving certain generalized geometric mean operators generated by some Volterra integral operators, which include the Hardy averaging operator and the Riemann–Liouville integral operators. The estimations of the constants are also discussed. Our results generalize the work done by J. A. Cochran, C.-S. Lee, H. P. Heinig, B. Opic, P. Gurka, and L. Pick.
Effects of dietary amines on the gut and its vasculature
Authors: Broadley Kenneth J. , Akhtar Anwar M. , Herbert Amy A. , Fehler Martina , Jones Elen M. , Davies Wyn E. , Kidd Emma J. , Ford William R.
Published: November 2008

Trace amines, including tyramine and β-phenylethylamine (β-PEA), are constituents of many foods including chocolate, cheeses and wines and are generated by so-called ‘friendly’ bacteria such asLactobacillus,LactococcusandEnterococcusspecies, which are found in probiotics. We therefore examined whether these dietary amines could exert pharmacological effects on the gut and its vasculature. In the present study we examined the effects of tyramine and β-PEA on the contractile activity of guinea-pig and rat ileum and upon the isolated mesenteric vasculature and other blood vessels. Traditionally, these amines are regarded as sympathomimetic amines, exerting effects through the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve endings, which should relax the gut. A secondary aim was therefore to confirm this mechanism of action. However, contractile effects were observed in the gut and these were independent of noradrenaline, acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin receptors. They were therefore probably due to the recently described trace amine-associated receptors. These amines relaxed the mesenteric vasculature. In contrast, the aorta and coronary arteries were constricted, a response that was also independent of a sympathomimetic action. From these results, we propose that after ingestion, trace amines could stimulate the gut and improve intestinal blood flow. Restriction of blood flow elsewhere diverts blood to the gut to aid digestion. Thus, trace amines in the diet may promote the digestive process through stimulation of the gut and improved gastrointestinal circulation.
Acute effects of breakfasts containing α-lactalbumin, or gelatin with or without added tryptophan, on hunger, ‘satiety’ hormones and amino acid profiles
Authors: Nieuwenhuizen Arie G. , Hochstenbach-Waelen Ananda , Veldhorst Margriet A. B. , Westerterp Klaas R. , Engelen Mariëlle P. K. J. , Brummer Robert-Jan M. , Deutz Nicolaas E. P. , Westerterp-Plantenga Margriet S.
Published: November 2008

Proteins are the most satiating macronutrients. Tryptophan (TRP) may contribute to the satiating effect, as it serves as a precursor for the anorexigenic neurotransmitter serotonin. To address the role of TRP in the satiating properties of dietary protein, we compared three different breakfasts, containing either α-lactalbumin (high in TRP), gelatin (low in TRP) or gelatin with added TRP (gelatin+TRP, high in TRP), on appetite. Twenty-four subjects (22–29 kg/m2; aged 19–37 years) received a subject-specific breakfast at t = 0 with 10, 55 and 35 % energy from protein, carbohydrate and fat repectively in a randomised, single-blind design. Hunger, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, ghrelin, amino acid concentrations and energy intake during a subsequent lunch were determined. Suppression of hunger was stronger 240 min after the breakfast with α-lactalbumin compared with gelatin and gelatin+TRP. Total plasma amino acid concentrations were lower with α-lactalbumin compared with gelatin with or without TRP (from t = 180–240 min). TRP concentrations were higher after α-lactalbumin than after gelatin with or without TRP from t = 0–100 min, whereas from t = 100–240 min, TRP concentrations were lower after gelatin than after α-lactalbumin and gelatin+TRP. The plasma ratio of TRP to other large neutral amino acids (LNAA) was, only at t = 100 min, lower after gelatin+TRP than after the other breakfasts. Plasma amino acid responses, TRP concentrations and TRP:LNAA ratios were not correlated with hunger. GLP-1 and ghrelin concentrations were similar for all diets. Energy intake during a subsequent lunch was similar for all diets. Summarised, an α-lactalbumin breakfast suppresses hunger more than a gelatin or gelatin+TRP breakfast. This cannot be explained by (possible) differences found in TRP concentrations and TRP:LNAA ratios in the breakfasts and in plasma, as well as in ciruclating total amino acids, GLP-1 and ghrelin.
Effects of diet and cold exposure on rates of plasma leucine turnover and protein synthesis in sheep
Authors: SANO H. , SAWADA H. , TAKENAMI A. , AL-MAMUN M.
Published: November 2008

Dilution of [1-13C]leucine (Leu) and open-circuit calorimetry were used to determine the effects of diet and cold exposure on rates of plasma Leu turnover, Leu oxidation, and whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) in sheep. The experiment was designed as a crossover design for two 23-day periods. Six adult sheep were assigned to two dietary treatments, medium (Me-diet) and high (Hi-diet) intake, and were fed either 515 or 830 kJ/kg BW0·75per day of metabolizable energy intake, respectively. The temperature in the chamber was changed from a thermoneutral environment (23°C) to a cold environment (2–4°C) for 5 days (the 18th to 23rd day of the experiment). Turnover rate of both plasma Leu and WBPS were greater (P<0·01) for the Hi-diet compared with the Me-diet and increased (P<0·01) during cold exposure. Leucine oxidation rate was numerically greater (P=0·10) for the Hi-diet compared with the Me-diet and increased (P=0·03) during cold exposure. No significant diet×environment interaction was detected in the rates of plasma Leu turnover, Leu oxidation or WBPS. It is concluded that plasma Leu kinetics and WBPS were influenced by intake level and increased during cold exposure, but the responses to cold exposure were not modified by intake level in sheep under the conditions of the present experiment.
RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN BODY MASS INDICES FOR MALE CONVICTS IN NINETEENTH CENTURY PENNSYLVANIA
Authors: CARSON SCOTT ALAN
Published: November 2008

This paper demonstrates that although modern BMIs have increased, 19th century Middle-Atlantic black and white BMIs were in the normal range; neither underweight nor obese individuals were common. Farmers’ BMIs were consistently heavier than non-farmers. Philadelphia residents’ BMIs were lower than elsewhere within Pennsylvania, indicating that urbanization and agricultural commercialization were associated with current biological living standards in urbanized areas.
Acute cannabis use causes increased psychotomimetic experiences in individuals prone to psychosis
Authors: Mason O. , Morgan C. J. A. , Dhiman S. K. , Patel A. , Parti N. , Patel A. , Curran H. V.
Published: November 2008

Background

Epidemiological evidence suggests a link between cannabis use and psychosis. A variety of factors have been proposed to mediate an individual's vulnerability to the harmful effects of the drug, one of which is their psychosis proneness. We hypothesized that highly psychosis-prone individuals would report more marked psychotic experiences under the acute influence of cannabis.

Method

A group of cannabis users (n=140) completed the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI) once while acutely intoxicated and again when free of cannabis. A control group (n=144) completed the PSI on two parallel test days. All participants also completed a drug history and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Highly psychosis-prone individuals from both groups were then compared with individuals scoring low on psychosis proneness by taking those in each group scoring above and below the upper and lower quartiles using norms for the SPQ.

Results

Smoking cannabis in a naturalistic setting reliably induced marked increases in psychotomimetic symptoms. Consistent with predictions, highly psychosis-prone individuals experienced enhanced psychotomimetic states following acute cannabis use.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that an individual's response to acute cannabis and their psychosis-proneness scores are related and both may be markers of vulnerability to the harmful effects of this drug.
Weather patterns and Legionnaires' disease: a meteorological study
Authors: RICKETTS K. D. , CHARLETT A. , GELB D. , LANE C. , LEE J. V. , JOSEPH C. A.
Published: November 2008

This study examined the impact of meteorological conditions on sporadic, community-acquired cases of Legionnaires' disease in England and Wales (2003–2006), with reference to the 2006 increase in cases. A case-crossover methodology compared each case with self-controlled data using a conditional logistic regression analysis. Effect modification by quarter and year was explored. In total, 674 cases were entered into the dataset and two meteorological variables were selected for study based on preliminary analyses: relative humidity during a case's incubation period, and temperature during the 10–14 weeks preceding onset. For the quarter July–September there was strong evidence to suggest a year, humidity and temperature interaction (Wald χ2=30·59, 3 d.f., P<0·0001). These findings have implications for future case numbers and resource requirements.
Short Note: Increase in feeding by the tick, Ixodes uriae, on Adélie penguins during a prolonged summer
Authors: Benoit Joshua B. , Lopez-Martinez Giancarlo , Elnitsky Michael A. , Lee Richard E. , Denlinger David L.
Published: November 2008

Ixodes uriae White is the only tick species found in Antarctica, and in our research area at Palmer Station it feeds predominantly on Adélie penguins. At the beginning of the summer the ticks leave their off-host aggregation sites, feed on penguins, then subsequently return to their off-host habitats, where they remain until the next summer (Benoit et al. 2007). These ticks have been implicated as a competent vector for Borrelia spirochetes (Olsen et al. 1993) and tick-borne viruses (Nuttall 1984), and are thought to impact development, cause anaemia, alter the thermoregulation, and even lead to the death of penguins (Gauthier-Clerc et al. 1998, Mangin et al. 2003). In this report, we note a striking increase in the number of fed ticks found near Adélie penguin rookeries in 2007 compared to 2006, suggesting that the longer and warmer summer of 2007 may have permitted more ticks to find their hosts. High levels of parasitism could be detrimental to the already declining Adélie penguin populations near Palmer Station (Fraser & Patterson 1997).
Boundedness of solutions of a non-local reaction–diffusion model for adhesion in cell aggregation and cancer invasion
Authors: SHERRATT JONATHAN A. , GOURLEY STEPHEN A. , ARMSTRONG NICOLA J. , PAINTER KEVIN J.
Published: November 2008

Adhesion of cells to one another and their environment is an important regulator of many biological processes but has proved difficult to incorporate into continuum mathematical models. This paper develops further the new modelling approach proposed by Armstronget al. (A continuum approach to modelling cell–cell adhesion,J. Theor. Biol. 243: 98–113, 2006). The models studied in the present paper use an integro-partial differential equation for cell behaviour, in which the integral represents the sensing by cells of their local environment. This enables an effective representation of cell–cell adhesion, as well as random cell movement, and cell proliferation. The authors use this modelling approach to investigate the ability of cell–cell adhesion to generate spatial patterns during cell aggregation. The model is also extended to give a new representation of cancer growth, whose solutions reflect the balance between cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion in regulating cancer invasion. The non-local term in these models means that there is no standard theory from which one can deduce the boundedness required for biological realism: specifically, solutions for cell density must lie between zero and a positive density corresponding to close cell packing. Here the authors derive a number of conditions, each of which is sufficient for the required boundedness, and they demonstrate numerically that cell density increases above the upper bound for some parameter sets not satisfying these conditions. Finally the authors outline what they regard as the main mathematical challenges for future work on boundedness in models of this type.
Lumbale Spinalkanalstenose – Claudicatio spinalis. Pathophysiologie, Klinische Aspekte und Therapie
Authors: Cadosch D. , Gautschi O. P. , Fournier J.-Y. , Hildebrandt G.
Published: November 2008

Die lumbale Spinalkanalstenose (SKS) ist als Einengung des Spinalkanals mitsamt neuralen und vaskulären Strukturen durch das umgebende Knochen- und Weichteilgewebe definiert. Bei Patienten über 65 Jahren gehört die SKS zu den häufigsten Ursachen von Kreuzschmerzen, mit oder ohne Schmerzausstrahlung in die Beine. Die Prävalenz wird aufgrund der steigenden Lebenserwartung zunehmen. Leitsymptom ist die Claudicatio spinalis, mit lumboglutealen oder ischialgieformen Schmerzen, die beim Gehen auftreten und zu einer Einschränkung der Gehstrecke führen. Die typische Symptomkonstellation von Claudicatio spinalis mit subjektiver Beinschwäche führt zur Verdachtsdiagnose. Das bildgebende Verfahren der Wahl zur Diagnosestellung ist heutzutage die Magnetresonanztomographie. Eine konservative Therapie ist initial in den meisten Fällen ausreichend. Die Operationsindikation ist gegeben, wenn die Schmerzen und die Einschränkung der Gehstrecke nicht mehr toleriert werden. Eine zusätzliche Fusion muss bei degenerativer Spondylolisthese und anderen pathomorphologischen Veränderungen, die zu einer Instabilität führen, in Betracht gezogen werden. Konservative und operative Behandlungsziele beinhalten primär neben der Schmerzlinderung die Verbesserung der körperlichen Funktionalität, Mobilität und allgemeinen Lebensqualität.