bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Performance Phototransistors of a Planar Conjugated Copolymer
Authors: Dong Huanli , Bo Zhishan , Hu Wenping
Published: January 2011

A planar conjugated copolymer named HXS‐1 was applied in thin film phototransistors. Similar to organic field‐effect transistors using VG to control the source‐drain current, in phototransistors, the light is used to substitute VG as an independent variable to control the output of the transistors to realize light detection and signal magnification in a single organic device. All devices exhibited high performance with an on/off ratio up to 4.6 × 104 (the highest on/off ratio of organic or polymer phototransistors), which could be assigned to i) the wide absorption features of HXS‐1 in the whole UV‐vis range, ii) the ideal HOMO energy level of HXS‐1 (5.21 eV) to align with Au electrodes (5.2 eV) and iii) the high mobility of the polymer thin films (∼0.06 cm2/Vs). Moreover, the devices, both under continuous operation conditions and long term measurement conditions, exhibited excellent stability, indicating potential applications of the devices in polymer‐based optoelectronics.

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Family‐based and population‐based association studies validate PTPRD as a risk factor for restless legs syndrome
Authors: Yang Qinbo , Li Lin , Yang Rong , Shen Gong‐Qing , Chen Qiuyun , Foldvary‐Schaefer Nancy , Ondo William G. , Wang Qing Kenneth
Published: January 2011

Objective:

We previously mapped a genetic locus for restless legs syndrome (RLS) to chromosome 9p22‐24 (RLS3) and a later genome‐wide association study (GWAS) implicated the PTPRD gene at the RLS3 locus as a susceptibility gene for RLS. However, from the standpoint of genetics, the GWAS association needs to be validated by independent studies. In this study, we used both family‐based and population‐based association studies to assess the association between PTPRD and RLS in an American Caucasian population.

Methods:

We genotyped two intronic SNPs rs1975197 and rs4626664 in PTPRD in 144 family members from 15 families and a case control cohort of 189 patients and 560 controls. Direct DNA sequence analysis was used to screen coding exons and exon‐intron boundaries of PTPRD for rare mutations.

Results:

A family‐based sibling transmission disequilibrium test showed association of RLS with SNP rs1975197 (P = 0.015), but not with rs4626664 (P = 0.622). The association with rs1975197 was significantly replicated by a population‐based case control association study (allelic P = 0.0004, odds ratio = 1.68; genotypic P = 0.0013 and 0.0003 for an additive and dominant model, respectively). One rare p.E1639D variant was identified in exon 39 in kindred RLS40005. The rare D1639 allele did not co‐segregate with RLS in the family, suggesting that p.E1639D variant is not a causative mutation.

Conclusions:

This represents the first independent study to validate the association between PTPRD variants and RLS. Both family‐based and population‐based association studies suggest that PTPRD variant rs1975197 confers risk of RLS. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
The impact of non‐motor symptoms on health‐related quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Martinez‐Martin Pablo , Rodriguez‐Blazquez Carmen , Kurtis Monica M. , Chaudhuri K. Ray ,   on Behalf of the NMSS Validation Group
Published: January 2011

Background:

Non‐motor symptoms are detrimental to health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of Parkinson's disease patients. In this study, the Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) was used to assess the impact of the non‐motor symptoms on HRQoL of Parkinson's disease patients.

Methods:

In a multicenter, international, cross sectional study on 411 Parkinson's disease patients, the NMSS was applied along with clinical (Hoehn and Yahr staging and SCOPA‐Motor) and HRQoL measures (PDQ‐39, and EQ‐5D). Prevalence of non‐motor symptoms was determined also through the NMSS. The association of NMSS and SCOPA‐Motor with HRQoL measures and the differences in HRQoL scores between patients with and without non‐motor symptoms in each NMSS domain were estimated by non‐parametric statistics. Predictors of HRQoL were sought through multiple linear regression analyses.

Results:

Nocturia (68.4% of the sample), fatigue (65.9%), and dribbling saliva (56.7%), were the most frequent complaints. Total NMSS score: (1) showed a higher correlation coefficient (rS= 0.70) with the PDQ‐39 Summary Index (SI) than SCOPA‐Motor (rS= 0.58); (2) showed high‐moderate correlation (rS= 0.60 − 0.38) with all PDQ‐39 domains; and (3) was the best predictor of HRQoL as measured by the PDQ‐39 SI. For each NMSS domain, patients with symptoms had significantly worse HRQoL scores than patients without symptoms.

Discussion:

To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine in a holistic manner the impact of the non‐motor symptoms on HRQoL of Parkinson's disease patients. The results show that non‐motor symptoms have, as a whole, a greater impact on HRQoL than motor symptoms and non‐motor symptoms progression contributes importantly to HRQoL decline in patients with Parkinson's disease. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Akinetic‐rigid and tremor‐dominant Parkinson's disease patients show different patterns of FP‐CIT Single photon emission computed tomography
Authors: Eggers Carsten , Kahraman Deniz , Fink Gereon R. , Schmidt Matthias , Timmermann Lars
Published: January 2011

Objective:

To elucidate whether Parkinson's disease subtypes show a different pattern of Iodine‐123 fluoropropyl–;carbomethoxy‐3 β‐(FP‐CIT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) binding in accordance with neuropathological findings.

Methods:

We analyzed a database of consecutive patients with FP‐CIT scan (n = 190) over a 3‐year period and identified 122 patients (50 women, 72 men, mean age 62 ± 11.1 years) with a diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Patient's characteristics and FP‐CIT scan results were analyzed and compared for the subgroups tremor‐dominant versus akinetic‐rigid and equivalent type of Parkinson's disease.

Results:

The analysis of all Parkinson's disease patients showed a significant difference between the FP‐CIT uptake in the subgroups tremor‐dominant and akinetic‐rigid. After matching these samples for age, disease duration, disease severity (Hoehn & Yahr grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale score), and levodopa‐equivalent dose, these findings were balanced between both groups (n = 23/23) without a significant difference (P > 0.05). However, there was a clear, significant association of visually analyzed shapes of the striatum in FP‐CIT SPECT and clinical Parkinson's disease subtype.

Conclusion:

These results confirm neuropathological models for a reduced dopaminergic projection to the dorsal putamen in akinetic‐rigid patients as well as the lateral putamen and caudate nucleus in tremor‐dominant patients in vivo. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
The risk of valvular regurgitation in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with dopamine receptor agonists
Authors: Rasmussen Vibeke Guldbrand , Østergaard Karen , Dupont Erik , Poulsen Steen Hvitfeldt
Published: January 2011

Objectives:

Several observational studies suggest an association between treatment with ergoline‐derived dopamine agonists and valvular regurgitation. In this article, we present an overview of the literature and conduct a meta‐analysis.

Methods:

Observational studies addressing the frequency of moderate or severe valvular regurgitation among ergoline‐treated patients with Parkinson's disease were considered for a meta‐analysis. Pooled risk estimates and the risk of increased pulmonary artery pressure were calculated.

Results:

The pooling of data from well‐designed observational studies documented that both pergolide (RR = 3.05 [1.71–5.44]) and cabergoline (RR = 6.38 [3.17–12.81]) represent a substantially increased risk of developing moderate to severe valvular regurgitation. In addition, pergolide, but not cabergoline, was associated with an increase in pulmonary artery pressure.

Conclusions:

The present meta‐analysis confirmed a statistically significant association between pergolide and cabergoline treatment and the risk of moderate to severe valvular regurgitation. An association between bromocriptine and valvular regurgitation cannot be entirely ruled out. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Chemoinformatics as a Theoretical Chemistry Discipline
Authors: Varnek Alexandre , Baskin Igor I.
Published: January 2011

Here, chemoinformatics is considered as a theoretical chemistry discipline complementary to quantum chemistry and force‐field molecular modeling. These three fields are compared with respect to molecular representation, inference mechanisms, basic concepts and application areas. A chemical space, a fundamental concept of chemoinformatics, is considered with respect to complex relations between chemical objects (graphs or descriptor vectors). Statistical Learning Theory, one of the main mathematical approaches in structure‐property modeling, is briefly reviewed. Links between chemoinformatics and its “sister” fields – machine learning, chemometrics and bioinformatics are discussed.
A 3‐node flat triangular shell element with corner drilling freedoms and transverse shear correction
Authors: Zhang Yun , Zhou Huamin , Li Jianhui , Feng Wei , Li Dequn
Published: January 2011

The formulation, implementation and testing of simple, efficient and robust shell finite elements have challenged investigators over the past four decades. A new 3‐node flat triangular shell element is developed by combination of a membrane component and a plate bending component. The ANDES‐based membrane component includes rotational degrees of freedom, and the refined nonconforming element method‐based bending component involves a transverse shear correction. Numerical examples are carried out for benchmark tests. The results show that compared with some popular shell elements, the present one is simple but exhibits excellent all‐around properties (for both membrane‐and bending‐dominated situations), such as free of aspect ratio locking, passing the patch test, free of shear locking, good convergence and high suitability for thin to moderately thick plates. The developed element has already been adopted in a warpage simulation package for injection molding. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A spectral element approach for the stability of delay systems
Authors: Khasawneh Firas A. , Mann Brian P.
Published: January 2011

We describe a spectral element approach to study the stability and equilibria solutions of Delay differential equations (DDEs). In contrast to the prototypical temporal finite element analysis (TFEA), the described spectral element approach admits spectral rates of convergence and allows exploiting hp‐convergence schemes. The described approach also avoids the limitations of analytical integrations in TFEA by using highly accurate numerical quadratures—enabling the study of more complicated DDEs. The effectiveness of this new approach is compared with well‐established methods in the literature using various case studies. Specifically, the stability results are compared with the conventional TFEA and Legendre collocation methods whereas the equilibria solutions are compared with the numerical simulations and the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) solutions. Our results reveal that the presented approach can have higher rates of convergence than both collocation methods and the HPM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of organoclay loading and electron beam irradiation on the physico‐mechanical properties of low‐density polyethylene/ethylene‐vinyl acetate blend
Authors: Shojaei A. , Behradfar A. , Sheikh N.
Published: January 2011

The influence of electron beam (EB) irradiation and organoclay (OC) loading on the properties of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) blends was investigated. The samples were subjected to the EB irradiation with the dose values of 50 and 250 kGy. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), gel content, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties were utilized to analyze the characteristics of the LDPE/EVA blends with and without OC at different irradiation dosages. Gel content analysis showed that the OC promotes considerably the insoluble part so that the LDPE/EVA blends filled with OC become fully crosslinked at 250 kGy; possibly through the formation of further crosslinks between OC and polymer chains. The samples irradiated by EB showed enhanced mechanical properties due to the formation of three‐dimensional networks. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that combined OC loading and radiation‐induced crosslinking improved thermal stability of LDPE/EVA blends considerably. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gastric adenocarcinoma in children and adolescents
Authors: Subbiah Vivek , Varadhachary Gauri , Herzog Cynthia E. , Huh Winston W.
Published: January 2011

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is an extremely rare cancer in children with very limited information on the clinical presentation and outcome. We report five pediatric patients with GAC‐treated between 1990 and 2008 at our institution. Median age at diagnosis was 17 years (range: 8–17). Our case series suggests that pediatric GAC patients present with diffuse metastatic disease (four patients) and with patterns of spread similar to adult GAC. Initial chemotherapy was mainly platinum‐based. Median time to progression was 4 months. The only long‐term survivor was a patient with localized disease who had complete surgical removal of primary tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 524–527. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of antioxidant metabolites by solvent extraction from sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga)
Authors: Zheng Weifa , Zhang Meimei , Zhao Yanxia , Miao Kangjie , Pan Shenyuan , Cao Feng , Dai Yucheng
Published: January 2011

Introduction – The sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) are effective therapeutic agents to treat several human malignant tumours and other diseases without unacceptable toxic side‐effects.

Objective – To investigate solvent effects on metabolic profiles and antioxidant activities of extracts of Chaga.

Methodology – Chaga was extracted by petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water. Solvent effects on metabolites in the extracts were assayed by NMR‐based metabolomic analysis. Antioxidant activities were indicated as capacities for scavenging superoxide anion, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals.

Results – Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts contained primarily lanostane‐type triterpenoids (LT), whereas the extracts of ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol were characterised by the predominant presence of hispidin analogues and LT, and water extracts by polysaccharides and phenolic compounds. The ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water extracts revealed remarkable potential for scavenging the tested radicals, while those of petroleum ether and chloroform did not. Polyphenols are the major contributors for quenching the tested free radicals, while in LT only compounds 16, 17 and 22 participated in scavenging hydroxyl radicals.

Conclusion – Polyphenols in Chaga are the principles for quenching free radicals while polysaccharides and a few LT compounds contribute partially in scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. NMR‐based metabolomic analysis is a useful method by which to correlate 1H‐NMR spectra of Chaga extracts with their antioxidant activities, and this allows the prediction of potentials for scavenging free radicals by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A systematic study of the polyphenolic composition of aqueous extracts deriving from several Cistus genus species: evolutionary relationship
Authors: Barrajón‐Catalán Enrique , Fernández‐Arroyo Salvador , Roldán Cristina , Guillén Emilio , Saura Domingo , Segura‐Carretero Antonio , Micol Vicente
Published: January 2011

Introduction – Cistaceae is a large family of shrubs widely spread over the Mediterranean area. It includes Helianthemum, Halimium and Cistus genus. Cistus genus contains approximately 20 species distributed in three subgenus. The essential oil of Cistus species has been thoroughly studied, but the polyphenolic composition of the aerial parts of the different Cistus species needs further characterisation.

Objective – To perform a comparative analysis of the qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic composition of the aerial parts of the most commonly distributed Spanish Cistus species in order to find a relationship between chemotype and subgenus.

Methodology – Thirteen aqueous extracts derived from 10 different Cistus species were analysed by using HPLC with diode array‐detection coupled to electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry technique (HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS). Their major compounds were identified and ellagitannins were quantified. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the most relevant compounds to find out the statistical association between chemotype and variety.

Results – Three main groups of compounds were found, i.e. ellagitannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids derivatives. The polyphenolic profile was specific for each species, although the abundance of some compounds also varied depending on the soil type. Whereas C. ladanifer, C. salviifolius, C. populifolius and C. libanotis were specially rich in ellagitannins, C. clusii, C. laurifolius and C. monspeliensis contained significant amounts of flavonoids and much less ellagitannins. In contrast, C. crispus, C. incanus and C. albidus showed a polyphenolic profile mostly based on flavonoids. PCA analysis showed a strong relationship between Cistus subgenus and its chemotype based on the most relevant water‐soluble polyphenolic compounds.

Conclusions – Chemical composition of the leaves' aqueous extracts from plants belonging to the Cistus genus is strongly related to their subgenus, in agreement to previous taxonomical and phylogenetic divisions. In contrast, soil and climate are less influencing factors. Leucocistus and Halimioides subgenus showed a higher content in ellagitannins. However, Cistus subgenus had higher flavonoid content. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flow‐induced crystallization during isotactic polypropylene film casting
Authors: Lamberti Gaetano
Published: January 2011

In this work, a previously proposed model for flow‐induced crystallization of polymers was slightly modified and successfully applied in describing film casting experiments performed working with isotactic polypropylene. In this process, the melt experiences flowing conditions, during the cooling. The effect of flow on crystallization kinetics was accounted for by the entropic increase of melting point because of the orientation effect of the flow. The orientation of the macromolecules was described by means of a nonlinear dumbbell model, and the entropic shift was calculated on the basis of the rubber elasticity theory. The flow‐induced crystallization model, using reasonable values for relaxation time, was proved able to quantitatively predict the enhancement effect of the flow as an increase of spherulite nuclei density and growth rate, in presence of low‐level flows (Deborah number <1–10). The morphology changes due to higher level of flow (fine grained, fibrils, shish‐kebab) were not predicted by this approach. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Point‐bonded electrospun polystyrene fibrous mats fabricated via the addition of poly(butylacrylate) adhesive
Authors: Park Dae‐Kwang , Park Soo‐Jin , Baek Woo‐Il , Kanjwal Muzafar A. , Kim Hak‐Yong
Published: January 2011

Because of poor mechanical strength, applications of electrospun polystyrene (PS) fibrous mats are quite limited. The introduction of various concentrations of poly (butylacrylate) adhesives (PBAs) into PS solutions led to the fabrication of point‐bonded electrospun PS fibrous mats with good mechanical strength. The morphologies of PS/PBA fibers with varying PBA content (0−50 wt%) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results were compared with pure PS and PBA fibers fabricated with various solvents. SEM images indicated that point‐bonded PS/PBA fibers were uniformly distributed with an average diameter of 1–2 μm. On increasing concentration of PBA up to 20 wt%, porous PS/PBA fibrous mats were obtained. However, solid films were formed at very high concentrations of PBA. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of PS/PBA fibrous mats increased up to 52.4 and 2.7 MPa, respectively. The resultant enhancement of the mechanical properties of PS fibrous mats on addition of PBA increases the number of potential applications of these materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Preparation and characterization of polylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate) polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer
Authors: Zhong Qian , Ren Jie , Wang Qinfeng
Published: January 2011

Polylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate) poly(ester‐urethane) (PLAEU) thermoplastic elastomer was obtained by melt chain extending reaction with polylactide‐block‐poly(butylene adipate)‐block‐polylactide (PBLA) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). PBLA was previously prepared with L‐lactide and poly(butylene adipate) diol (PBA diol). Experimental parameters including feed ratio, polymerization temperature, and time were optimized. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of PLAEU surpassed 105 g/mol. In contrast to corresponding PBLA, the crystallinity and melt temperature (Tm) of PLAEU decreased, whereas its glass transition (Tg) shifted to high temperature due to the “pseudoextension” structure of polylactide (PLA) block. Additionally, the crystallinity and Tm of PLAEU were subject to crystallization method and molecular weight. The tensile strength of PLAEU varied from 6.61 to 24.41 MPa and elongation from 190% to 780%. Therefore, the mechanical properties of PLAEU can be regulated by altering the length ratio of PLA to PBA block. The high elasticity of PLAEU can be explained with phase separation mechanism. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Poly[octanediol‐co‐(citric acid)‐co‐(sebacic acid)] elastomers: novel bio‐elastomers for tissue engineering
Authors: Djordjevic Ivan , Choudhury Namita Roy , Dutta Naba K , Kumar Sunil
Published: January 2011

This review focuses on a new class of elastomers, namely poly[octanediol‐co‐(citric acid)‐co‐(sebacic acid)] (p(OCS)), synthesised from 1,8‐octanediol, citric acid and sebacic acid in a catalyst‐free polyesterification reaction. The review begins with a detailed description of the synthesis, characterisation and structure–property–performance relationship of some reported elastomers suitable for tissue engineering. The control of the physicochemical properties of the new p(OCS) by simple variation of initial monomer concentrations in polyesterification forms the pivotal part of the synthesis. As tissue engineering requires complex designs, thin films and porous three‐dimensional structures of p(OCS) were fabricated to demonstrate their ease of processing. The fundamental material properties of p(OCS) are discussed for p(OCS) pre‐polymers and final polymers. The elastomers exhibit versatility in mechanical properties, hydration and hydrolytic degradation, as determined by their chemical structure. Surface analysis of spin‐coated p(OCS) suggests that the surface morphology, chemistry and concentration of the surface functional groups can be controlled simply by varying the initial citric acid/sebacic acid concentration in polyesterification. These tunable molecular architectures and material properties are crucial in biological interactions. Thein vitrobiocompatibility testing of p(OCS) with MG63 osteoblast‐like cells suggests that p(OCS) is an excellent candidate for potential elastic biomaterials for tissue engineering applications without the need for any post‐synthesis modification. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Copolymers of fluorene and thiophene with conjugated side chain for polymer solar cells: Effect of pendant acceptors
Authors: Fan Haijun , Zhang Zhiguo , Li Yongfang , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: January 2011

Two copolymers of fluorene and thiophene with conjugated side‐chain pending acceptor end group of cyanoacetate (P2) and malononitrile (P3) were synthesized. Both polymers exhibit good thermal stability and low highest occupied molecular orbital level (−5.5 eV). In comparison with P2, P3 exhibits stronger UV–vis absorption and higher hole mobility. Polymer solar cells based on P3:PC71BM exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 1.33% under AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2, which is three times of that based on P2:PC71BM. The higher efficiency is attributed to better absorption, higher hole mobility, and the reduced phase separation scale in P3:PC71BM blend. The aggregate domain size in P3:PC71BM blend is 50 nm, much smaller than that in P2:PC71BM blend (200 nm). Tiny difference in the end groups on side chains of P2 and P3 leads to great difference in phase separation scale, charge transport, and efficiency of their photovoltaic devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Adapting an in‐person patient–caregiver communication intervention to a tailored web‐based format
Authors: Zulman Donna M. , Schafenacker Ann , Barr Kathryn L. C. , Moore Ian T. , Fisher Jake , McCurdy Kathryn , Derry Holly A. , Saunders Edward W. , An Lawrence C. , Northouse Laurel
Published: January 2011

Background: Interventions that target cancer patients and their caregivers have been shown to improve patient‐caregiver communication, support, and emotional well‐being.

Objective: To adapt an in‐person communication intervention for cancer patients and caregivers to a web‐based format, and to examine the usability and acceptability of the web‐based program among representative users.

Methods: A tailored, interactive web‐based communication program for cancer patients and their family caregivers was developed based on an existing in‐person, nurse‐delivered intervention. The development process involved: (1) building a multidisciplinary team of content and web design experts, (2) combining key components of the in‐person intervention with the unique tailoring and interactive features of a web‐based platform, and (3) conducting focus groups and usability testing to obtain feedback from representative program users at multiple time points.

Results: Four focus groups with 2–3 patient–caregiver pairs per group (n = 22 total participants) and two iterations of usability testing with four patient–caregiver pairs per session (n = 16 total participants) were conducted. Response to the program's structure, design, and content was favorable, even among users who were older or had limited computer and Internet experience. The program received high ratings for ease of use and overall usability (mean System Usability Score of 89.5 out of 100).

Conclusions: Many elements of a nurse‐delivered patient–caregiver intervention can be successfully adapted to a web‐based format. A multidisciplinary design team and an iterative evaluation process with representative users were instrumental in the development of a usable and well‐received web‐based program. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening for psychological and physical distress in a cancer inpatient treatment setting: a pilot study
Authors: Clark Paul G. , Rochon Edith , Brethwaite Drucilla , Edmiston Kirsten K.
Published: January 2011

Objective: Although several large distress studies have been conducted in outpatient oncology treatment settings, there are few, if any, studies that describe the incidence of psychological and physical distress in the inpatient oncology treatment setting. This pilot study hypothesized that inpatients experience levels of psychological distress that are equivalent to or greater than those reported in large outpatient studies. The study also sought to contribute to physical and psychological symptom distress incidence data.

Methods: Using two measures designed to screen for psychological and physical distress, the Brief Symptom Inventory—18 and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, 52 oncology patients were screened within 24 h of admission to a hospital oncology unit.

Results: Nearly two‐thirds of the inpatient respondents reported levels of psychological distress that were not only within the clinically significant range but also at a rate that was nearly double that found in the outpatient distress screening studies that have been conducted to date. The physical symptoms most often rated at the severe level included fatigue (34.6%), pain (27.4%), and dry mouth (25.5%).

Conclusions: Failure to screen for psychological and physical symptom distress has lead to under recognition of a population that may have higher levels of distress than their outpatient counterparts and could potentially lead to uneven access to biopsychosocial support. Results support the notion that routinely screening for psychological and physical distress should become a first step in the assessment of the biopsychosocial needs of people receiving inpatient treatment for cancer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘The greatest thing in the world is the family’: the meaning of social support among Black Caribbean and White British patients living with advanced cancer
Authors: Koffman Jonathan , Morgan Myfanwy , Edmonds Polly , Speck Peter , Higginson Irene J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose: Little is known about the perceptions and meanings of social support among black and minority ethnic groups living with advanced cancer in the UK. The aim of this study was to explore social support networks and their meaning among Black Caribbean and White British patients living with advanced cancer.

Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 26 Black Caribbean and 19 White British cancer patients and analysed using the framework approach.

Results: In all, 25 of 26 Black Caribbean and 18 of 19 White British participants volunteered views on the presence of social support in their lives. The presence of a spouse or partners was an indispensable feature within the social support networks in both ethnic groups. More Black Caribbean than White British participants referred to the presence of social networks made through their church communities as being a source of practical and emotional support.

Conclusions: We recommend that when health and social‐care professionals perform an assessment interview with patients from cultural backgrounds different to their own, opportunities should be made for patients to express information about their social support networks. This will help them to better understand their place alongside statutory services. Spouses and partners should be given greater recognition of their contribution in order to continue with their important role. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlations of Uncertainties of Composite Propellant Strand Burner Burning Rate Measurement for Quality Control
Authors: Liu Tai‐Kang
Published: January 2011

This study acquired, classified, and analyzed more than 3500 repeated‐measured steady state strand burner burning rate data from our quality control data bank as well as from open literature. The large size of consistent data from our resource were employed for the construction of a model that correlates burning rate standard deviations with average burning rates for both within‐batch lots and among‐batch lots. An increase in standard deviations with burning rates was observed for both correlations. Both correlations exhibit an R2‐statistic larger than 0.82 within burning rate range of 3.4–38.6 mm s−1, and both correlations provide predictions in good agreements with some good quality published data. These two correlations may serve as feasible burning rate standard deviation tolerance reference when conducting composite propellants production quality control or burning rate data reproducibility checkup. Moreover, the confidence limits of parameters from the derived within‐batch correlation equation allow assessing the maximum pressure‐exponent uncertainties within selected burning rate range, thus provide insightful considerations to pressure‐exponent tolerance assignment for propellants under development or production.
Crystal structure of the sensory domain of Escherichia coli CadC, a member of the ToxR‐like protein family
Authors: Eichinger Andreas , Haneburger Ina , Koller Christiane , Jung Kirsten , Skerra Arne
Published: January 2011

The membrane‐integral transcriptional activator CadC comprises sensory and transcriptional regulatory functions within one polypeptide chain. Its C‐terminal periplasmic domain, CadCpd, is responsible for sensing of environmental pH as well as for binding of the feedback inhibitor cadaverine. Here we describe the crystal structure of CadCpd (residues 188–512) solved at a resolution of 1.8 Å via multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) using a ReCl62− derivative. CadCpd reveals a novel fold comprising two subdomains: an N‐terminal subdomain dominated by a β‐sheet in contact with three α‐helices and a C‐terminal subdomain formed by an eleven‐membered α‐helical bundle, which is oriented almost perpendicular to the helices in the first subdomain. Further to the native protein, crystal structures were also solved for its variants D471N and D471E, which show functionally different behavior in pH sensing. Interestingly, in the heavy metal derivative of CadCpd used for MAD phasing a ReCl62− ion was found in a cavity located between the two subdomains. Amino acid side chains that coordinate this complex ion are conserved in CadC homologues from various bacterial species, suggesting a function of the cavity in the binding of cadaverine, which was supported by docking studies. Notably, CadCpd forms a homo‐dimer in solution, which can be explained by an extended, albeit rather polar interface between two symmetry‐related monomers in the crystal structure. The occurrence of several acidic residues in this region suggests protonation‐dependent changes in the mode of dimerization, which could eventually trigger transcriptional activation by CadC in the bacterial cytoplasm.
Electron transfer flavoprotein domain II orientation monitored using double electron‐electron resonance between an enzymatically reduced, native FAD cofactor, and spin labels
Authors: Swanson Michael A. , Kathirvelu Velavan , Majtan Tomas , Frerman Frank E. , Eaton Gareth R. , Eaton Sandra S.
Published: January 2011

Human electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) is a soluble mitochondrial heterodimeric flavoprotein that links fatty acid β‐oxidation to the main respiratory chain. The crystal structure of human ETF bound to medium chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase indicates that the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) domain (αII) is mobile, which permits more rapid electron transfer with donors and acceptors by providing closer access to the flavin and allows ETF to accept electrons from at least 10 different flavoprotein dehydrogenases. Sequence homology is high and low‐angle X‐ray scattering is identical for Paracoccus denitrificans (P. denitrificans) and human ETF. To characterize the orientations of the αII domain of P. denitrificans ETF, distances between enzymatically reduced FAD and spin labels in the three structural domains were measured by double electron‐electron resonance (DEER) at X‐ and Q‐bands. An FAD to spin label distance of 2.8 ± 0.15 nm for the label in the FAD‐containing αII domain (A210C) agreed with estimates from the crystal structure (3.0 nm), molecular dynamics simulations (2.7 nm), and rotamer library analysis (2.8 nm). Distances between the reduced FAD and labels in αI (A43C) were between 4.0 and 4.5 ± 0.35 nm and for βIII (A111C) the distance was 4.3 ± 0.15 nm. These values were intermediate between estimates from the crystal structure of P. denitrificans ETF and a homology model based on substrate‐bound human ETF. These distances suggest that the αII domain adopts orientations in solution that are intermediate between those which are observed in the crystal structures of free ETF (closed) and ETF bound to a dehydrogenase (open).
Quantification of 15‐F2t‐isoprostane in human plasma and urine: results from enzyme‐linked immunoassay and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry cannot be compared
Authors: Klawitter Jelena , Haschke Manuel , Shokati Touraj , Klawitter Jost , Christians Uwe
Published: January 2011

Quantification of F2‐isoprostanes is considered a reliable index of the oxidative stress status in vivo. Several immunoassays and chromatography/mass spectrometry‐based assays are available for 15‐F2t‐isoprostane quantification. However, it remains unclear if results of immunoassays using different assays can be compared with those of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) assays. Previous studies comparing enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and more specific gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assays have already indicated that ELISAs may overestimate 15‐F2t‐isoprostane concentrations in human plasma.

Concentrations of 15‐F2t‐isoprostane in 25 human plasma and urine samples were measured by three commercially available ELISA assays (Assay Designs, Cayman Chemical and Oxford Biomedical Research) and compared with the concentrations measured with a validated, semi‐automated high‐throughput HPLC tandem mass spectrometry assay (LC/LC‐MS/MS).

All three ELISAs measured substantially higher 15‐F2t‐isoprostane concentrations (2.1–182.2‐fold higher in plasma; 0.4–61.9‐fold higher in urine) than LC/LC‐MS/MS. Utilization of solid‐phase extraction (SPE) columns, especially isoprostane affinity purification columns, brought ELISA isoprostane urine concentrations closer to the LC/LC‐MS/MS results. However, SPE did not have much of an effect on ELISA plasma concentrations which remained significantly higher than corresponding LC/LC‐MS/MS results. A poor correlation not only between LC/LC‐MS/MS and immunoassay results, but also among the immunoassays was found.

Especially in plasma, ELISAs grossly overestimate 15‐F2t‐isoprostane concentrations and are not comparable with each other or with LC/LC‐MS/MS. It is most disturbing that a sample with relatively high concentrations measured with one ELISA may show low concentrations with another ELISA, and vice versa, potentially affecting the conclusions drawn from such data. The use of specific mass spectrometry‐based assays seems advisable. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effective analysis of rotundone at below‐threshold levels in red and white wines using solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Mattivi F. , Caputi L. , Carlin S. , Lanza T. , Minozzi M. , Nanni D. , Valenti L. , Vrhovsek U.
Published: January 2011

Rotundone is an oxygenated sesquiterpene belonging to the family of guaianes, giving the ‘peppery’ aroma to white and black pepper and to red wines. Here we describe a novel, convenient protocol for the synthesis of rotundone, starting from a commercially available compound and requiring only two reaction steps, and an improved, faster method of GC separation (30 min) with selective quantisation of rotundone using tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with d5‐rotundone as internal standard. With limits of detection (LODs) of 1.5 ng/L in white wine and 2.0 ng/L in red wine, intraday repeatability CV values of 6% and 5% at 50 ng/L and 500 ng/L and interday repeatability CV values of 13% and 6% at 50 ng/L and 500 ng/L, respectively, the improved protocol provides the desired sensitivity and selectivity for routine analysis of rotundone in both white and red wines. Initial application of this method highlighted the presence of unexpectedly high concentrations of rotundone, thus explaining the origin of the distinctive peppery aroma in Schioppettino and Vespolina red wines and in Gruener Veltliner white wines. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification and structural elucidation of new caprazamycins from Streptomyces sp. MK730–62F2 by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Siebenberg Stefanie , Kaysser Leonard , Wemakor Emmanuel , Heide Lutz , Gust Bertolt , Kammerer Bernd
Published: January 2011

The development of reliable analytic methods, capable of separating mixtures of secondary metabolites as well as providing structural information, is essential for the investigation of secondary metabolites, e.g. from Streptomyces. Here we report a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) method using a triple quadrupole mass analyzer for the structural elucidation of caprazamycins and liposidomycins from culture extracts of the wild‐type producer strains. Comparison of the fragmentation patterns in positive as well as in negative ionization mode revealed several characteristic product ions used for identification of six new caprazamycins. Furthermore, a chromatographic method for the purification of nucleosides from cell cultures using a boronic acid gel was adapted for the partial purification of the culture extracts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Information in the sample covariate distribution in prevalent cohorts
Authors: Cook Richard J. , Bergeron Pierre‐Jérôme
Published: January 2011

Methods of estimation and inference about survival distributions based on length‐biased samples are well‐established. Comparatively little attention has been given to the assessment of covariate effects in the context of length‐biased samples, but prevalent cohort studies often have this objective. We show that, like the survival distribution, the covariate distribution from a prevalent cohort study is length‐biased, and that this distribution may contain parametric information about covariate effects on the survival time. As a result, a likelihood based on the joint distribution of the survival time and the covariates yields estimates of covariate effects which are at least as efficient as estimates arising from a traditional likelihood which conditions on covariate values in the length‐biased sample. We also investigate the empirical bias of estimators arising from a joint likelihood when the population covariate distribution is misspecified. The asymptotic relative efficiencies and empirical biases under model misspecification are assessed for both proportional hazards and accelerated failure time models. The various methods considered are applied in an illustrative analysis of risk factors for death following onset of dementia using data collected in the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polymorph‐ and Size‐Dependent Uptake and Toxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles in Living Lung Epithelial Cells
Authors: Andersson Per Ola , Lejon Christian , Ekstrand‐Hammarström Barbro , Akfur Christine , Ahlinder Linnéa , Bucht Anders , Österlund Lars
Published: January 2011

The cellular uptake and distribution of five types of well‐characterized anatase and rutile TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in A549 lung epithelial cells is reported. Static light scattering (SLS), in‐vitro Raman microspectroscopy (μ‐Raman) and transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) reveal an intimate correlation between the intrinsic physicochemical properties of the NPs, particle agglomeration, and cellular NP uptake. It is shown that μ‐Raman facilitates chemical‐, polymorph‐, and size‐specific discrimination of endosomal‐particle cell uptake and the retention of particles in the vicinity of organelles, including the cell nucleus, which quantitatively correlates with TEM and SLS data. Depth‐profiling μ‐Raman coupled with hyperspectral data analysis confirms the location of the NPs in the cells and shows that the NPs induce modifications of the biological matrix. NP uptake is found to be kinetically activated and strongly dependent on the hard agglomeration size—not the primary particle size—which quantitatively agrees with the measured intracellular oxidative stress. Pro‐inflammatory responses are also found to be sensitive to primary particle size.
Developing UPPAAL over 15 years
Authors: Behrmann Gerd , David Alexandre , Larsen Kim Guldstrand , Pettersson Paul , Yi Wang
Published: January 2011

UPPAAL is a tool suitable for model checking real‐time systems described as networks of timed automata communicating by channel synchronizations and extended with integer variables. Its first version was released in 1995 and its development is still very active. It now features an advanced modeling language, a user‐friendly graphical interface, and a performant model checker engine. In addition, several flavors of the tool have matured in recent years. In this paper, we present how we managed to maintain the tool during 15 years, its current architecture with its challenges, and we give the future directions of the tool. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing Camille, a text editor for Rodin
Authors: Bendisposto Jens , Fritz Fabian , Jastram Michael , Leuschel Michael , Weigelt Ingo
Published: January 2011

Initially, the Rodin platform for Event‐B did away with a textual representation for models. In this paper, we explain why a textual representation was required after all and we present the semantic‐aware text editor Camille for Rodin. We explain the design choices of Camille, such as splitting the syntax into two‐levels for machine and formula syntax. We also describe the challenges, such as synchronizing the textual representation with the Rodin database, and how they were overcome using an EMF abstraction layer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A model‐driven process for engineering a toolset for a formal method
Authors: Arcaini Paolo , Gargantini Angelo , Riccobene Elvinia , Scandurra Patrizia
Published: January 2011

This paper presents a model‐driven software process suitable to develop a set of integrated tools around a formal method. This process exploits concepts and technologies of the Model‐driven Engineering (MDE) approach, such as metamodelling and automatic generation of software artifacts from models. We describe the requirements to fulfill and the development steps of this model‐driven process. As a proof‐of‐concept, we apply it to the Finite State Machines and we report our experience in engineering a metamodel‐based language and a toolset for the Abstract State Machine formal method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The CoreASM modeling framework
Authors: Farahbod Roozbeh , Glässer Uwe
Published: January 2011

Engineering complex distributed systems calls for systematic approaches that build on well‐defined methodological frameworks and supporting computational tools. This paper addresses the specification, design, and development of thetextsfCoreASM modeling framework, focusing on a set of features that any comprehensive framework and tool environment for modeling and analysis of complex distributed systems should provide. We discuss the key design features, the underlying design principles, and the lessons learned using CoreASM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The inadequacies of “Science for All” and the necessity and nature of a socially transformative curriculum approach for african American science education
Authors: Mutegi Jomo W.
Published: January 2011

“Science for All” is a mantra that has guided science education reform and practice for the past 20 years or so. Unfortunately, after 20 years of “Science for All” guided policy, research, professional development, and curricula African Americans continue to participate in the scientific enterprise in numbers that are staggeringly low. What is more, if current reform efforts were to realize the goal of “Science for All,” it remains uncertain that African American students would be well‐served. This article challenges the idea that the type of science education advocated under the “Science for All” movement is good for African American students. It argues that African American students are uniquely situated historically and socially and would benefit greatly from a socially transformative approach to science education curricula designed to help them meet their unique sociohistorical needs. The article compares the curriculum approach presented by current reform against a socially transformative curriculum approach. It concludes with a description of research that could support the curricular approach advocated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 301–316, 2011