bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Second trimester maternal serum ADAM12 levels in Down's syndrome pregnancies
Authors: Donalson Kim , Turner Steve , Wastell Hilary , Cuckle Howard
Published: September 2008

Objective

To estimate the utility of maternal serum ADAM12 as a Down's syndrome marker.

Methods

Samples from 71 Down's syndrome affected pregnancies were retrieved from − 20 °C storage together with 710 controls matched for gestation and storage time. ADAM12 was measured prior to identification of the affected pregnancies, and expressed in multiples of the gestation‐specific median (MoM).

Results

The median ADAM12 level in the affected pregnancies was 1.36 MoM with a 10th–90th centile range of 0.90–1.94 MoM compared with 1.01 and 0.65–1.52 MoM in the unaffected control pregnancies (P = < 0.0001, two‐side Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test). The Mahalanobis distance between the medians was 0.96 compared with 0.92, 1.18, 1.07 and 1.24 for α‐fetoprotein, intact human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), unconjugated estriol and inhibin‐A respectively in the same samples. In unaffected pregnancies there were highly statistically significant correlations between ADAM12 and each of the other markers; in the affected pregnancies the only significant correlations were with hCG (P≤0.0001) and inhibin‐A (P≤0.05). Statistical modelling predicted that ADAM12 as a fifth marker could increase the detection rate by 2–3% or reduce the false‐positive rate by 0.9–1.7%.

Conclusions

ADAM12 is a second trimester marker of Down's syndrome, with discriminatory power similar to existing markers. It could be considered in multi‐marker combinations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of body mass index, pre‐vaccination serum progesterone levels and anti‐anthrax protective antigen immunoglobulin G on injection site adverse events following anthrax vaccination in women
Authors: Zhang Yujia , Martin Stacey W. , Rose Jr Charles E. , Biagini Raymond E. , Franzke Laura H. , Smith Jerry P. , Sammons Deborah L. , Robertson Shirley A. , McNeil Michael M.
Published: September 2008

Background

In 2002, CDC initiated the Anthrax Vaccination Program (AVP) to provide voluntary pre‐exposure anthrax vaccination for individuals at high risk for exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores. The AVP offered an opportunity to investigate hypothesized reasons for a reported gender difference in injection site adverse events (AEs) following anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA).

Objectives

To evaluate in women the impact of body mass index (BMI), pre‐vaccination serum progesterone levels, and pre‐vaccination anti‐anthrax protective antigen immunoglobulin G concentrations (anti‐PA IgG) on the occurrence of AEs following subcutaneous AVA vaccination.

Methods

Participants' BMI was determined at enrollment. Also, pre‐vaccination blood samples were assayed for serum progesterone and anti‐PA IgG. Post‐vaccination solicited AEs were recorded by participants using a 4‐day diary card.

Results

Obese group had an elevated risk for arm soreness. Decreased pre‐vaccination serum progesterone level was associated with arm swelling. Increased pre‐vaccination anti‐PA IgG was associated with itching on the arm; and within the obese group, was associated with arm swelling, lump or knot, redness, soreness, and warmth.

Conclusions

In AVA vaccinated women, obesity was associated with arm soreness and decreased pre‐vaccination serum progesterone levels were associated with increased rate of arm swelling. Increased pre‐vaccination anti‐PA IgG may be associated with an increased frequency of itching on the arm, and in obese women, may increase the occurrence of arm swelling, lump or knot, redness, and warmth. Administering AVA according to a woman's menstrual phase may reduce the occurrence of certain injection site reactions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preferential formation of electroactive crystalline phases in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/organically modified silicate nanocomposites
Authors: Ramasundaram Subramaniyan , Yoon Sun , Kim Kap Jin , Park Cheolmin
Published: September 2008

The role of organically modified silicate (OMS), Lucentite STN on the formation of β‐crystalline phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is investigated in the present study. The OMS was solution blended with PVDF and cast on glass slide to form PVDF‐OMS nanocomposites. Solution cast samples were subjected to various thermal treatments including annealing (AC‐AN), melt‐quenching followed by annealing (MQ‐AN), and melt‐slow cooling (MSC). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the crystalline structure of thermally treated samples. As a special effort, the combination of in situ thermal FT‐IR, WAXD, and DSC studies was utilized to clearly assess the thermal properties. FT‐IR and WAXD results of MQ‐AN samples revealed the presence of β‐phase of PVDF. Ion‐dipole interaction between the exfoliated clay nanolayers and PVDF was considered as a main factor for the formation of β‐phase. Melt‐crystallization temperature and subsequent melting point were enhanced by the addition of OMS. Solid β‐ to γ‐crystal phase transition was observed from in situ FT‐IR and WAXD curves when the representative MQ‐AN sample was subjected to thermal scanning. Upon heating, β‐phase was found to disappear through transformation to the thermodynamically stable γ‐phase rather than melting directly. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2173–2187, 2008
Step‐like melting mechanisms of isothermally crystallized isotactic polypropylene
Authors: Medellín‐Rodríguez Francisco J. , Mata‐Padilla Manuel , Sánchez‐Valdes Saul , Vega‐Díaz Sofia , Dávalos‐Montoya Olga
Published: September 2008

The complex melting behavior of isotactic polypropylene, after isothermal crystallization, was studied within the context of step‐like melting mechanisms which were previously proposed for high temperature polymers. The morphological characteristics of the melting process were also studied as a function of molecular weight, and close similarities were observed with respect to high temperature polymers. Positive birefringence crystals of low molecular weight samples developed double melting behavior in three steps. The first melting step was assigned to continuous melting of secondary crosshatch reversing lamellae, together with recrystallization of the remaining isothermal crystals. In the second melting step (first melting endotherm), crystals tended to lose their original coarse negative birefringence due to melting of secondary reversing branching. This effect rendered new, finer texture, but still negative birefringence crystals. In the third melting step (second melting endotherm), there was a combination of melting of two crystal populations, one consisting of the remaining fraction of reversing primary crystals, and the other consisting of nonreversing primary crystals. A crosshatch secondary branching model was therefore proposed to explain the overall results. Mixed birefringence spherulites of high molecular weight samples displayed similar, although proportional, behavior under identical crystallization and melting conditions corroborating the proposed melting mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2188–2200, 2008
A novel missense mutation in the PHOX2Bgene is associated with late onset central hypoventilation syndrome
Authors: Parodi Sara , Baglietto Maria Pia , Prato Alessio Pini , Caroli Francesco , Garaventa Alberto , Ceccherini Isabella , Ottonello Giancarlo
Published: September 2008

We report the case of a 15‐month‐old male suffering from Late Onset Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome and recto‐sigmoid Hirschsprung's disease, an association that has not been reported thus far. Nevertheless, our patient showed a missense mutation of the PHOX2B gene already known in isolated late onset central hypoventilation, resulting in a substitution of the Ala140 residue with a Glu residue (p.A140E). The present association of LO‐CHS and HSCR in a patient harboring a rare and atypical PHOX2B mutation allows to refine the mutational spectrum of this disease and suggests individualized ventilatory care along with specific surgical and oncological approaches. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1036–1039. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Respiratory impedance and response to salbutamol in healthy Vietnamese children
Authors: Vu Lan T.T. , Demoulin Bruno , Nguyen Yen T. , Nguyen Mai T.H. , Marchal François
Published: September 2008

A high incidence of childhood asthma has been reported in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, indicating a need to document lung function in these children. The degree of airway obstruction and reversibility may be evaluated from the forced oscillation assessment of respiratory resistance to reactance (Rrs, Xrs). Appropriate controls are necessary for a proper interpretation of patients. The aim of the study was to provide reference values on Rrs and Xrs and response to salbutamol in healthy Vietnamese children. One hundred seventy‐five children aged 6–11 year recruited from one public school in Ha Noi were studied. Measurements were obtained at baseline and after 200 µg inhaled salbutamol. Significant correlations were disclosed between Rrs or Xrs and standing height (P < 0.0001). Salbutamol significantly decreased Rrs (from 7.1 ±  1.9 hPa.sec/L to 6.2 ± 1.8 hPa.sec/L, P < 0.0001) and increased Xrs (from −1.22 ± 0.64 to −0.91 ± 0.61 hPa.sec/L, P < 0.0001). Rrs response to salbutamol lower limit of 95% confidence interval was −38% from baseline Rrs and, Xrs upper limit was +16% from baseline impedance. It is concluded that reference values for respiratory impedance (Zrs) and thresholds for clinically relevant response to bronchodilator are provided in primary school Vietnamese children. A smaller slope for the observed Rrs–body height relationship is suggested with reference to relevant studies in healthy Caucasians. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1013–1019. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sera proteomic biomarker profiling in HIV‐1 infected subjects with cognitive impairment
Authors: Rozek Wojciech , Horning Jayme , Anderson James , Ciborowski Pawel
Published: September 2008

HIV‐1 infection of the brain commonly leads to cognitive impairments (CIs). In its most severe form, HIV‐1 associated dementia (HAD) is associated with advanced immune suppression and debilitating loss of memory, behavioral, and motor functions. Despite significant research activities, diagnosis remains one of exclusion. Bioimaging, neuropsychological testing, and viral and immune biomarkers serve to support but not define a diagnosis of HIV‐1 associated CI. This is timely and required as brain injury triggered by HIV‐1 can be controlled, in part, by antiretroviral medicines. The recent development of proteomics has opened new ways to study viral–host interactions which may provide new insight into treatment and disease monitoring. To this end, we developed a proteomics platform for HIV‐1 associated CI biomarker discovery and used it to perform a pilot study for sera‐associated HAD proteins. A 2‐DE map of a serum proteome was focused on differentially expressed proteins. Differential expression of two proteins was validated by Western blot tests identifying afamin and ceruloplasmin as a potential biomarkers for CI associated with advanced HIV‐1 infection.
Simultaneous determination of endogenous deoxynucleotides and phosphorylated nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using ion‐pair liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
Authors: Coulier Leon , van Kampen Jeroen J. A. , de Groot Ronald , Gerritsen Henk W. , Bas Richard C. , van Dongen William D. , Brüll Lars P. , Luider Theo M.
Published: September 2008

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are activated intracellularly to their triphosphate (TP) form, which compete with endogenous deoxynucleotide‐triphosphates (dNTP) as substrate for HIV reverse transcriptase. The activity of NRTIs is thus described by the NRTI‐TP‐to‐dNTP ratio in relevant cell types. Therefore, we developed an ion‐pair (IP) LC‐MS method for the simultaneous analysis of the mono‐, di‐, and TP forms of NRTIs and endogenous deoxynucleosides in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The IP‐LC method was applied on an IT mass spectrometer using the MS‐mode as well as on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using the MS/MS mode. The MS/MS approach on the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer demonstrated the best clinical applicability due to its higher sensitivity. The LOD (minimum amount on column) were 25 fmol for the TP forms of zidovudine, lamivudine, and stavudine, as well as for their endogenous dNTP counterparts. The linearity (R2) of the calibration curves were>0.99. The obtained LOD readily allow for clinical applications using just one million PBMC obtained from HIV‐infected patients under therapy.
Proteomic identification of proteins in the human brain: Towards a more comprehensive understanding of neurodegenerative disease
Authors: Caudle W. Michael , Pan Sheng , Shi Min , Quinn Thomas , Hoekstra Jake , Beyer Richard P. , Montine Thomas J. , Zhang Jing
Published: September 2008

Proteomics has revealed itself as a powerful tool in the identification and determination of proteins and their biological significance. More recently, several groups have taken advantage of the high‐throughput nature of proteomics in order to gain a more in‐depth understanding of the human brain. In turn, this information has provided researchers with invaluable insight into the potential pathways and mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, e.g., Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Furthermore, these findings likely will improve methods to diagnose disease and monitor disease progression as well as generate novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Despite these advances, comprehensive understanding of the human brain proteome remains challenging, and requires development of improved sample enrichment, better instrumentation, and innovative analytic techniques. In this review, we will focus on the most recent progress related to identification of proteins in the human brain under normal as well as pathological conditions, mainly Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, their potential application in biomarker discovery, and discuss current advances in protein identification aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of the brain.
MALDI‐MS derived prognostic protein markers for resected non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Baogang J. , Gonzalez Adriana L. , Kikuchi Takefumi , Yanagisawa Kiyoshi , Massion Pierre P. , Wu Huiyun , Mason Stephen E. , Olson Sandy J. , Shyr Yu , Carbone David P. , Caprioli Richard M.
Published: September 2008

Protein signals obtained directly from frozen lung tissue sections using MALDI‐MS were used to predict nodal involvement and survival in resected non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have identified a list of these protein signals and further evaluated their prognostic values for NSCLC using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Kaplan‐Meier analysis was used to assess the mortality risk associated with the prognostic protein IHC‐staining intensities. The combined IHC scores of calmodulin, thymosin β4, and thymosin β10 were found to be correlated with NSCLC patient survival (p = 0.004). Furthermore, low cofilin‐1 IHC‐staining intensity was found to be correlated with a better outcome for patients with negative lymph node status (p = 0.006) while high cofilin‐1 IHC‐staining intensity was found to be correlated with a better outcome for patients with positive node status (p = 0.034). In conclusion, the prognostic protein signals selected using MALDI‐MS can be identified and tested by IHC in formalin‐fixed tissue samples. MALDI‐MS‐derived protein signals can be potentially translated to a conventional clinical setting to aid in the prognosis of patients with NSCLC at the molecular level.
Chaperone action of a versatile small heat shock protein from Methanococcoides burtonii, a cold adapted archaeon
Authors: Laksanalamai Pongpan , Narayan Suchithra , Luo Haibin , Robb Frank T.
Published: September 2008

The Methanococcoides burtonii small heat shock protein (Mb‐sHsp) is an αB‐crystallin homolog that delivers protein stabilizing and protective functions to model enzymes, presumably reflecting its role as a molecular chaperone in vivo. Although the gene encoding Mb‐shsp was cloned from a cold‐adapted microorganism, the Mb‐sHsp is an efficient protein chaperone at temperatures far above the optimum growth temperature of M. burtonii. We show that Mb‐sHsp can prevent aggregation in E. coli cell free extracts at 60°C for 4 h and can stabilize bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase for 3 h at 50°C. Surface plasmon resonance was used to determine the binding affinity of Mb‐sHsp for denatured proteins. Mb‐sHsp bound tightly to denatured lysozyme but not to the native form. When Mb‐Cpn and Mg2+‐ATP were added to the reaction, bound lysozyme was released from Mb‐sHsp establishing that Mb‐Cpn is able to off‐load folding intermediates from Mb‐sHsp. In addition, Mb‐sHsp and Mb‐Cpn also function cooperatively to protect an enzyme substrate. Through characterization of these M. burtonii chaperones, we were able to reconstitute a key heat shock regulated protein folding function of this cold adapted organism in vitro. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The osmolyte betaine promotes protein misfolding and disruption of protein aggregates
Authors: Natalello Antonino , Liu Jing , Ami Diletta , Doglia Silvia Maria , de Marco Ario
Published: September 2008

In this work the effect of betaine on the structure and aggregation of the GST‐GFP fluorescent fusion protein was studied by different complementary techniques, including electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism, and FTIR spectroscopy. Although osmolytes are known to be protein stabilizers in vivo, the effect of betaine on the structure and aggregation of our model protein was found to be strictly concentration dependent. We demonstrated that, by changing betaine concentration, it was possible to tune the formation of protein soluble assemblies and insoluble aggregates, as well as to disaggregate preformed aggregates. In particular, at a critical concentration of betaine between 5 and 7.5 mM, the protein precipitated into macroscopic prefibrillar structures, rich in intermolecular β‐sheets, which were found to bind thioflavine T and to be inaccessible to protease. Instead, at higher betaine concentration (10–20 mM) the misfolded protein lost its fluorescence, but formed soluble assemblies with hydrodynamic radius of about 16 nm. These structures displayed a reduced propensity to further aggregate under thermal treatment. In addition, betaine at this high concentration was also found to disrupt large preformed aggregates, obtained under different conditions, into protein soluble assemblies. It is the first time that a disaggregation process has been described for a chemical chaperone. A mechanism for the betaine concentration‐dependent effect on protein misfolding, aggregation, and disaggregation is proposed and its possible physiological implications are discussed. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Germination requirements for 29 terrestrial and wetland wild plant species appropriate for phytotoxicity testing
Authors: White Andrea L , Boutin Céline , Dalton Rebecca L , Henkelman Bettina , Carpenter David
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: Species selected for phytotoxicity testing have been limited to a few standard crop species owing to restrictive recommendations at the regulatory level. However, guidelines by the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) were recently amended in 2006 to include a list of herbaceous non‐crop plant species suitable for testing. The objective of this study was to outline the optimum germination requirements for a selection of wild species for which seeds were readily available from commercial suppliers.

RESULTS: Of the 29 herbaceous terrestrial and wetland species included in this study, all achieved 50% germination and 23 reached > 70% germination to meet the criterion outlined in the OECD guidelines. Most species attained their maximum germination within 14 days or less. Cold stratification of imbibed seeds improved germination for 14 species. Increasing sowing soil depth did not improve seed germination. The variance attained in this experiment between replicates was low, especially for species with > 70% germination (standard error ∼5%).

CONCLUSION: The present study showed that 23 of the 29 species tested required minimal pretreatments and produced consistent, reliable and uniform germination reaching at least 70%. The inclusion of wild plant species in regulatory testing should be given real consideration. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Synthesis, characterization, absolute structural determination and antifungal activity of a new chlorinated aromatic avenaciolide analogue
Authors: Castelo‐Branco Pedro A , Rubinger Mayura MM , Guilardi Silvana , Leite Vanessa M , dos Santos Adeliane R , de C Alves Leandro , Lariucci Carlito , Vencato Ivo , Piló‐Veloso Dorila , Zambolim Laércio
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: Avenaciolide, a natural product isolated from Aspergillus avenaceus H. Smith, possesses several interesting biological properties, such as antifungal and antibacterial activities and inhibition of glutamate transport in mitochondria. In a study aiming to discover new compounds with antifungal activity, a bis‐γ‐lactone analogous to avenaciolide was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and infrared and NMR spectroscopy.

RESULTS: The absolute structures of this compound and of the synthetic precursor (also a bis‐γ‐lactone) were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The bis‐γ‐lactones synthesized crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P212121, and the crystal packings are supported by CH···O hydrogen bonds. The compound showed antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc., while the synthetic precursor was inactive under the in vitro test conditions employed.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that it is not only the bis‐γ‐lactone skeleton that is important to antifungal activity. The latter also depends on the presence of the exocyclic double bond possibly due to a Michael addition type reaction with the fungal enzymes. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Investigations on Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a biocontrol agent in the protection of cashew plantations
Authors: Dwomoh Emmanuel A , Afun Jakpasu VK , Ackonor Joseph B , Agene VN
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) has become a very important non‐traditional tree crop in Ghana. The crop is, however, attacked by sap‐sucking insects, particularly the mosquito bug, Helopeltis schoutedeni Reuter, the leaf‐footed bug, Pseudotheraptus devastans (Dist.), and the coreid bug, Anoplocnemis curvipes (F.), which feed on shoots, panicles and fruits. Their damage is characterised by withering of the latter. In Ghana, Oecophylla longinoda Latr. occurs in large numbers on cashew and other native plants, but little is known about its relationship with insect pests. The relationship between O. longinoda and shoot and panicle damage by sap‐sucking bugs and the effectiveness of O. longinoda as a biocontrol agent in the protection of cashew as compared with two chemical insecticides, lambda‐cyhalothrin (Karate®) and cypermethrin + dimethoate (Cyperdim®), were therefore investigated at Bole in the northern region of Ghana.

RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between numbers of O. longinoda nests and pest damage. Trees treated with cypermethrin + dimethoate (969 mg AI mL−1 tree−1) and lambda‐cyhalothrin (100 mg AI mL−1 tree−1) recorded the smallest bug numbers, followed by O. longinoda. Trees infested by Oecophylla longinoda and trees treated with cypermethrin + dimethoate and with lambda‐cyhalothrin had less than 6% pest damage to shoots, panicles and fruits, while water‐sprayed trees recorded damage as high as 36.8% (shoots) in February, 32.9% (panicles) in February and 37.8% (fruits) in March. Cypermethrin + dimethoate again recorded the highest (485.0 kg ha−1) nut yield, followed by O. longinoda (431.0 kg ha−1), with water recording the lowest (93.0 kg ha−1) nut yield.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that O. longinoda can be used to control some sucking bugs as effectively as some insecticides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Isobutyl amides—potent compounds for controlling Diatraea saccharalis
Authors: Debonsi Hosana M , Miranda José E , Murata Afonso T , de Bortoli Sérgio A , Kato Massuo J , Bolzani Vanderlan S , Furlan Maysa
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: A dichloromethane‐methanol extract of the seeds of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) and two isobutyl amides, 4,5‐dihydropiperlonguminine (1) and pellitorine (2), which were isolated by chromatographic methods, were assayed for their lethality against the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

RESULTS: Bioassays were carried out with fourth‐instar caterpillars through topical application of test solutions to the dorsal surface of the prothorax, and dose–response correlations were determined. Significant insect mortalities were observed 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment at concentrations of ≥ 100 µg insect−1. The LD50 and LD90 values for compound 1 were 92.83 and 176.50 µg insect−1, and for compound 2 they were 91.19 and 184.56 µg insect−1.

CONCLUSION: According to the LD50 and LD90 for compounds 1 and 2, it can be inferred that the values reflect an acute lethal response to both compounds, based on interaction(s) of the toxicants with a primary target or series of targets. Thus, the amides were demonstrated to have potential value in the control of the sugarcane borer. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of the new pyrazole carboxamide fungicide penthiopyrad on late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut
Authors: Culbreath Albert K , Brenneman Tim B , Kemerait Robert C , Hammes Glenn G
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: Management of early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori.), late leaf spot [Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & MA Curtis) Deighton] and stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southeastern USA is heavily dependent upon sterol biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI) and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. Effective new fungicides with different modes of action could improve overall disease control and extend the utility of the current fungicides. Penthiopryad is a pyrazole carboxamide fungicide being evaluated for use on peanut. Field experiments were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the effect of a range of rates (0–0.36 kg AI ha−1) of penthiopyrad on leaf spot and stem rot and the relative efficacy of penthiopyrad and current fungicide standards chlorothalonil, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin.

RESULTS: Leaf spot control in plots treated with penthiopyrad at 0.20 kg AI ha−1 or higher was similar to or better than that for the chlorothalonil standard. The incidence of stem rot for all penthiopyrad treatments was usually less than that for the tebuconazole or azoxystrobin standard treatments. Pod yields for all penthiopyrad treatments were similar to or higher than those for the respective standards.

CONCLUSION: Penthiopyrad has excellent potential for management of late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut, and may complement current SBI and QoI fungicides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Ultra‐subwavelength focusing of light by a monolayer of metallic nanoshells with an adsorbed defect
Authors: Yannopapas Vassilios , Vitanov Nikolay V.
Published: September 2008

We study theoretically the focusing properties of a two‐dimensional periodic array of silver‐coated silica nanospheres. The array contains an adsorbed nanosphere of the same type which serves as point source when the array is illuminated by a plane wave. By using a rigorous multiple‐scattering theory we show that under plane wave illumination, the array focuses the incident light in a tight area with size of about 1/70 of the wavelength. At the same time, the near‐field is amplified by three orders of magnitude. The frequency corresponding to the focusing and amplification effects depends on the thickness of the silver nanoshell offering a tunable response of the structure. The latter can find application in optical trapping, lithography and imaging below the diffraction limit. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Resonating broken symmetry CI approach for ion‐radical systems: Comparison with UHF, hybrid‐DFT, and CASSCF‐DFT
Authors: Nishihara S. , Yamanaka S. , Ukai T. , Nakata K. , Kusakabe K. , Yonezawa Y. , Nakamura H. , Takada T. , Yamaguchi K.
Published: September 2008

The resonating broken‐symmetry configuration interaction (RBS‐CI) approach, in which we employ two spin‐unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF) solutions as the basis, is applied for the ion‐radical systems. The RBS‐CI results are compared with those of UHF, various hybrid density functional theory (DFT), and CASSCF‐DFT. The hybrid DFT leads to the spurious delocalized state as is well known, whereas the UHF to the localized state. The CASSCF‐DFT results show that the excess electron localized, missing the spatial symmetry of the systems. On the other hand, the Res‐HF CI results satisfy the spatial symmetry as well as the Perdew, Parr, Levy, and Balduz's relation, implying that this method is so‐called many‐electron self‐interaction free (ME‐SIF), whereas all other methods are not ME‐SIF. These results suggest that the RBS‐CI approach will become not only a powerful ab initio approach, but also a guideline to construct a new exchange‐correlation functional of hybrid‐DFT, for the ion‐radical systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Theoretical study of interactions between cysteine and perfluoropropanoic acid in gas and aqueous phase
Authors: Holmes Tiffani M. , Doskocz Jacek , Wright Terrance , Hill Glake A.
Published: September 2008

The interaction of perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPA) with the amino acid cysteine was investigated using density functional theory. Previous studies suggest that the peroxisome proliferator chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid, is circulated throughout the body by way of sulfur‐containing amino acids. We present conformational analysis of the interactions of PFPA, a small model of perfluorooctanoic acid, with the sulfur‐containing amino acid which occur by the process of hydrogen bonding, in which the hydrogen of the sulfhydryl group interacts with the carboxyl oxygen, and the amino nitrogen forms a hydrogen bond with the hydrogen of the OH group of the fluorinated alkyl. We also show in our structures a recently characterized weak nonbonded interaction between divalent sulfur and a main chain carboxyl oxygen in proteins. B3LYP calculated free energies and interaction energies predict low‐energy, high‐interaction conformations for complex systems of perfluorinated fatty acid interactions with cysteine. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Lower bounds in communication complexity based on factorization norms
Authors: Linial Nati , Shraibman Adi
Published: September 2008

We introduce a new method to derive lower bounds on randomized and quantum communication complexity. Our method is based on factorization norms, a notion from Banach Space theory. This approach gives us access to several powerful tools from this area such as normed spaces duality and Grothendiek's inequality. This extends the arsenal of methods for deriving lower bounds in communication complexity.

As we show, our method subsumes most of the previously known general approaches to lower bounds on communication complexity. Moreover, we extend all (but one) of these lower bounds to the realm of quantum communication complexity with entanglement.

Our results also shed some light on the question how much communication can be saved by using entanglement. It is known that entanglement can save one of every two qubits, and examples for which this is tight are also known. It follows from our results that this bound on the saving in communication is tight almost always. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2009
Toxicity and bioaccumulation of the insecticide “Raid” in Wister rats
Authors: Achudume Albert C. , Nwoha Polycarp C. , Ibe Joseph N.
Published: September 2008

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of the insecticide “Raid” was determined to assess total animal dietary exposures in a nonoccupational environment. The study focused primarily on dietary exposure concentrations (25–960 μg/g) of the ingredients of Raid administered to rats for 10 days. Tissue concentrations of the insecticide were determined by a high‐pressure liquid chromatography method, whereas established methods were used to assess the tissue levels of glucose‐6‐phosphate and lactic acid dehydrogenase. Results show that animal mortality progressively increased with increasing concentrations while growth (in weight) decreased. Bioaccumulation of the insecticide in the tissues was in the order of lipid > muscle > liver > brain. The indices of toxicity showed no significant effect in brain, but significant reduction of glucose‐6‐phosphatase and lactic acid dehydrogenase levels were observed in muscle and liver. These results suggest an inhibition of some key metabolic enzymes resulting from accumulation of the insecticide components in the tissues. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009.
Variational integrators for constrained dynamical systems
Authors: Leyendecker S. , Marsden J.E. , Ortiz M.
Published: September 2008

A variational formulation of constrained dynamics is presented in the continuous and in the discrete setting. The existing theory on variational integration of constrained problems is extended by aspects on the initialization of simulations, the discrete Legendre transform and certain postprocessing steps. Furthermore, the discrete null space method which has been introduced in the framework of energy‐momentum conserving integration of constrained systems is adapted to the framework of variational integrators. It eliminates the constraint forces (including the Lagrange multipliers) from the time‐stepping scheme and subsequently reduces its dimension to the minimal possible number. While retaining the structure preserving properties of the specific integrator, the solution of the smaller dimensional system saves computational costs and does not suffer from conditioning problems. The performance of the variational discrete null space method is illustrated by numerical examples dealing with mass point systems, a closed kinematic chain of rigid bodies and flexible multibody dynamics and the solutions are compared to those obtained by an energy‐momentum scheme.
Is Therapy Necessary After Distal Biceps Tendon Repair?
Authors: Edwin E. Spencer , Tisdale Anita , Kostka Kevin , Ivy Robert E.
Published: September 2008

The EndoButton technique of distal biceps tendon repair provides strong biomechanical fixation. This strength of fixation may allow earlier postoperative range of motion (ROM). A retrospective review of 15 male patients undergoing single incision EndoButton repairs was used. Six subjects participated in conventional supervised postoperative rehabilitation while nine subjects were allowed unrestricted ROM after 2 weeks. Final ROM, time to full ROM, and Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were compared. There was a significant difference for time to full ROM ( p<0.05). The mean time to full ROM was 8.67 weeks for the supervised therapy group and 4.38 weeks for the unrestricted group. There were no reruptures in either group. There were no significant differences in final ROM or DASH scores. These data suggest that unrestricted ROM results in a quicker return to full ROM without an increased risk of rerupture.
Dirt and Grime in Bathrooms: Their Chemical Composition and the Origin of the Triacylglycerols Contained Therein
Authors: Hisanaga Koji , Yamada Kaoru , Tsutsui Takuya , Tanizawa Yoshiaki
Published: September 2008

Bathrooms provide environments that encourage the formation of biofilms and mold on the hard surfaces of bathtubs and tile walls. To prevent such microbe‐produced grime from spreading, methods such as bleaching and scrubbing may be commonly employed. The removal of dirt before the mold can grow is much more important, however, and therefore clarification of the composition and the accumulation mechanism of dirt and grime is needed. The grime collected from the shower walls of home bathrooms in our previous study consisted mainly of calcium soap, surfactants, fatty acids, and triacylglycerols. The triacylglycerols were suggested as playing an important role in the accumulation of grime, and in the present study we focused on their detailed composition and origin. A non‐aqueous reverse‐phase HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS enabled us to characterize the small amount of triacylglycerols, but their MS/MS spectra were complicated by the presence of a number of product ions. Furthermore, there were no characteristic ions that allowed us to identify the triacylglycerols. Therefore, we adopted a new methodology in which only two ESI‐MS/MS spectra corresponding to two m/z ranges in MS spectra (m/z 800–900 and 850–950) were acquired instead of a number of MS/MS spectra corresponding to each MS signal. This made it possible to estimate the origin of triacylglycerols by comparing the spectral patterns of the grime with those of the standard materials, with the desired convenience and quickness. The origin of the triacylglycerols should be closely related to the accumulation mechanism, though the triacylglycerols in the grime examined in the present study came mostly from human sebum instead of bath products and other sources.
Links between parenting and extra‐familial relationships: Nature or nurture?
Authors: Pike Alison , Eley Thalia C.
Published: September 2008

The current paper examined associations between parenting and both peer group characteristics and friendship quality within a genetically sensitive design. Participants were aged 12–19 years (approximately equal numbers of males and females), including 424 sibling pairs and 1185 twin pairs, of whom 328 were MZ, 311 were DZ same‐sex, 463 were DZ opposite‐sex and 83 were of unknown zygosity. The adolescents provided self‐report questionnaire measures of parental discipline, friendship quality, and peer group characteristics. All three relationship measures were moderately to substantially heritable. The novel and provocative finding, that adolescents' genetic propensities are largely responsible for the overlap seen between parental discipline strategies and friendship quality, is discussed in terms of its implications for socialization theory and understanding of adolescent relationships.
Safety and efficacy of fluticasone furoate in pediatric patients with perennial allergic rhinitis
Authors: Máspero Jorge F. , Rosenblut Andres , Finn Albert , Lim Junghee , Wu Wei , Philpot Edward
Published: September 2008

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of once‐daily (QD) fluticasone furoate (FF) nasal spray in children with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR).

Study Design

A global, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study.

Subjects and Methods

Pediatric patients (aged 2–11 years; n = 558) with PAR received once‐daily placebo, FF 110 μg, or FF 55 μg for 12 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by nasal symptom scores. General safety and corticosteroid‐specific safety (nasal and ophthalmic examinations, and hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal assessments) were assessed.

Results

No findings of clinical concern were identified from the safety assessments. For primary efficacy analysis of mean change from baseline over the first 4 weeks of treatment in daily reflective total nasal symptom score, FF 55 μg demonstrated significant improvement (P = 0.003) compared with placebo; however, the improvement for FF 110 μg versus placebo did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.073).

Conclusion

FF QD was well tolerated and demonstrated efficacy in children aged 2 to 11 years with PAR.
Eating behaviours of non-obese individuals with and without familial history of obesity
Authors: Paradis Ann-Marie , Godin Gaston , Lemieux Simone , Pérusse Louis , Vohl Marie-Claude
Published: September 2008

The aim of the present study was to examine whether eating behaviours and their subscales are associated with familial history of obesity (FHO) in a cohort of 326 non-obese men and women. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviours (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire) and dietary intakes (FFQ) have been determined in a sample of 197 women and 129 men. A positive FHO (FHO+) was defined as having at least one obese first-degree relative and a negative FHO (FHO − ) as no obese first-degree relative. Men with FHO+ had higher scores of cognitive dietary restraint and flexible restraint than men with FHO − . In women, those with FHO+ had a higher score of disinhibition than women with FHO − . In both men and women, eating behaviours were not significantly associated with the number of obese family members. However, having an obese mother was associated with higher scores of cognitive dietary restraint, flexible restraint and rigid restraint in women. These findings demonstrate that eating behaviours of non-obese subjects are different according to the presence or absence of obese family members. More specifically, having an obese mother is associated with a higher dietary restraint score in women.
The Portrayal of Aquila and Priscilla in Acts: The Question of Sources
Authors: WALKER WILLIAM O.
Published: September 2008

This study argues in three stages that virtually everything the Book of Acts says about Aquila and Priscilla can be derived or inferred from materials in the Pauline letters or can plausibly be attributed to the author's own literary, theological, and/or apologetic agenda. The argument supports the following propositions: (a) that the author of Acts knew and used at least some of the Pauline letters, (b) that Acts reflects a distinctly anti-feminist bias, (c) that the author's agenda included an anti-Marcionite component, and (d) that Acts is to be dated in the second century and perhaps as late as the middle of the century.
Αρραβων as Pledge in Second Corinthians
Authors: KWON YON-GYONG
Published: September 2008

This article argues that αρραβων in 2 Corinthians (1.22 and 5.5) does not mean ‘down payment’ or ‘first installment’ but ‘pledge’ without any sense of pars pro toto. After showing that the meaning of the word depends on its context, the study goes on to examine the two occurrences of the word, concluding that Paul either appeals to the Spirit as God's pledge for his apostolicity (1.22) or as a pledge for the surety of bodily resurrection (5.5). The common view that αρραβων depicts the Spirit as the present realization of salvation is thus exegetically unfounded.
The Dragon Spitting Frogs: On the Imagery of Revelation 16.13–14
Authors: WITETSCHEK STEPHAN
Published: September 2008

In Rev 16.13–14 we encounter minor characters of the book's diabolic bestiary, ‘three unclean spirits like frogs’ that proceed from the mouths of the Dragon and the two Beasts. This article attempts to understand this detail in relation to the metaphorical connotations other ancient Greek and Jewish writers attributed to frogs: they were mostly connected with silliness and loquaciousness. In this context, the picturesque detail of frog-like demons belongs to John's strategy of reassuring his audiences by ridiculing the Dragon and the Beasts and the powers they represent.
The Testimonium Flavianum in Syriac and Arabic
Authors: WHEALEY ALICE
Published: September 2008

‘Agapius of Hierapolis’ and Michael the Syrian's versions of the Testimonium Flavianum, a passage about Jesus from Josephus' Jewish Antiquities, both derive from the Syriac translation of Eusebius of Caesarea's Historia Ecclesiastica. Michael's Testimonium is more authentic than Agapius' Testimonium, and it is more authentic than the textus receptus in reading that Jesus was ‘thought to be the Messiah’. Some features of Agapius' Testimonium previously considered to be more authentic than the textus receptus can be explained by distinctive readings in the Syriac text that Agapius used.
The legislative and political contexts surrounding dementia care in India
Authors: BRIJNATH BIANCA R.
Published: September 2008

Currently there is no specific policy on dementia care in India. Rather, the responsibility for care for people with dementia is not clearly articulated and formal care services straddle mental health and aged care. The result is that much care is placed upon individual families. This paper critically reviews Indian legislative and policy documents on this field of care, namely, theMental Health Act 1987, the National Mental Health Programme, the National Policy on Older Persons and theSenior Citizen's Act 2007. The invisibility of dementia care in public policy translates into the absence of adequate treatment facilities and mental health staff, and leaves informal care-giving unsupported. This gap is replicated in mental health and dementia-care research and literature in India, with little being known about how family carers respond to the experiences of care-giving, manage the stigma, and access support. As India, like other middle-income and low-income countries, is experiencing an increase in its older population, more research is needed to develop the epidemiological, medical and anthropological understanding of ageing, dementia and care. This knowledge is vital to understanding the cultural context of the disease and must also be incorporated into public health policy if there is to be effective management of the rising need for personal care.
The interaction of age and gender in illness narratives
Authors: SEALE CLIVE , CHARTERIS-BLACK JONATHAN
Published: September 2008

Recognition of the greater capacity of older women to draw on supportive social networks has now supplemented an earlier focus of research into gender and ageing which portrayed older men as a ‘privileged gerontocracy’ because of their greater access to financial resources and spousal care. This study of the experiences of cancer among people of three different age groups conducted a comparative keyword analysis of their narratives to consider the gender differentiation of a third resource: access to medical information and personnel. The analysed narratives were sampled from a large archive of research interviews. It was found that older men with cancer demonstrated a greater involvement with medicine as an expert system than younger men or women or older women. This stemmed from their social confidence when interacting with doctors and their interest in treating their illness as a ‘problem’ to be fixed with medico-scientific solutions. Compared with younger men and women of all ages, older men were less likely to draw on informal social and family networks for support, or to discuss in a direct style the emotional dimension of illness experience. Our findings contrast with other studies that have reported linguistic disadvantage in older people in elderly care settings, which underlines the importance of context for linguistic studies.
An empirical test of new developments in coalition theory for the design of international environmental agreements
Authors: FINUS MICHAEL , SÁIZ M. ELENA , HENDRIX ELIGIUS M.T.
Published: September 2008

We consider new developments in coalition theory for the design of international environmental agreements (IEAs). Applying an empirical model on climate change that comprises benefit and cost estimates from abatement for 12 world regions, we analyze how the design of an agreement affects the success of self-enforcing IEAs. We analyze single versus multiple coalitions, open versus exclusive membership with majority and unanimity voting, and no transfers versus transfers with four different transfer schemes.