bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Controlled Polymerization of Ionic Monomers by Surface‐Initiated ATRP Using a Fluoroalcohol and Ionic Liquids
Authors: Kobayashi Motoyasu , Terada Masami , Terayama Yuki , Kikuchi Moriya , Takahara Atsushi
Published: April 2012

Surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of (2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (MTAC), 3‐(N‐2‐methacryloyloxyethyl‐N,N‐dimethyl) ammonatopropanesulfonate) (MAPS), and 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was carried out in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE) containing a small amount of 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride at 60 °C to produce well‐defined ionic polymer brushes and the corresponding free polymers with predictable number‐average molecular weight (Mn, 1×104−3×105 g mol−1) and narrow molecular weight dispersity (Mw/Mn<1.2). A first‐order kinetic plot for ATRP of MTAC and MAPS revealed a linear relationship between the monomer conversion index (ln([M]0/[M])) and polymerization time. Reduction in polymerization rates was observed with an increase in ionic liquid concentration. The Mn of both poly(MTAC) and poly(MAPS) increased in proportion to the conversion. The sequential polymerization of MAPS initiated with the chain ends of poly(MAPS) produced the postpolymer with quantitative efficiency. The thickness of the polymer brush was controllable from 5 to 100 nm based on the Mn of the polymer. These results suggest the successful control of the polymerization of sulfobetaine‐type methacrylates owing to the TFE and ionic liquids. In particular, the high affinity of TFE for the sulfobetaine monomers and polymers yielded a homogeneous polymerization media to improve surface‐initiated polymerization generating the polymer brushes on the substrate surface as well as the free polymers formed in the solution. The effect on ATRP of the chemical structure of ionic liquids and ligands for copper catalyst was also investigated.
CONTROL OF SWELLING OF SOIL UNDER CANAL LINING BY WETTING AND DRYING CYCLES
Authors: Ahmadi Hojjat , Rahimi Hassan , Rostami Maryam Ebrahimi
Published: April 2012

In the present research, the effects of cyclic wetting and drying on the swelling potential of clayey soils were investigated. For this purpose, three different clayey samples were collected from three irrigation project sites in Iran. The swelling tests were conducted in oedometer cells, where percent swell was measured in five wetting and drying cycles. To investigate the effects of initial moisture content of the soil on swell potential, the samples were tested at moisture contents at, below and above the shrinkage limit. The results of the experiments showed that for all samples, no matter at what the initial moisture content tested, swelling potential was considerably reduced as a result of the wetting and drying cycles. For some samples, maximum reduction in swelling was observed in the second cycle, while for others it occurred in the third or fourth cycle. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analgesic properties of loperamide differ following systemic and local administration to rats after spinal nerve injury
Authors: Chung C. , Carteret A.F. , McKelvy A.D. , Ringkamp M. , Yang F. , Hartke T.V. , Dong X. , Raja S.N. , Guan Y.
Published: April 2012

Background

The analgesic properties and mechanisms of loperamide hydrochloride, a peripherally acting opioid receptor agonist, in neuropathic pain warrant further investigation.

Methods

We examined the effects of systemic or local administration of loperamide on heat and mechanical hyperalgesia in rats after an L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL).

Results

 (1) Systemic loperamide (0.3–10 mg/kg, subcutaneous in the back) dose dependently reversed heat hyperalgesia in SNL rats, but did not produce thermal analgesia. Systemic loperamide (3 mg/kg) did not induce thermal antinociception in naïve rats; (2) systemic loperamide‐induced anti‐heat hyperalgesia was blocked by pretreatment with intraperitoneal naloxone methiodide (5 mg/kg), but not by intraperitoneal naltrindole (5 mg/kg) or intrathecal naltrexone (20 μg/10 μL); (3) local administration of loperamide (150 μg), but not vehicle, into plantar or dorsal hind paw tissue induced thermal analgesia in SNL rats and thermal antinociception in naïve rats; (4) the analgesic effect of intraplantar loperamide (150 μg/15 μL) in SNL rats at 45 min, but not 10 min, post‐injection was blocked by pretreatment with an intraplantar injection of naltrexone (75 μg/10 μL); (5) systemic (3.0 mg/kg) and local (150 μg) loperamide reduced the exaggerated duration of hind paw elevation to noxious pinprick stimuli in SNL rats. Intraplantar injection of loperamide also decreased the frequency of pinprick‐evoked response in naïve rats.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that both systemic and local administration of loperamide induce an opioid receptor‐dependent inhibition of heat and mechanical hyperalgesia in nerve‐injured rats, but that local paw administration of loperamide also induces thermal and mechanical antinociception.
Cerebral excitability is abnormal in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Olesen S.S. , Hansen T.M. , Graversen C. , Valeriani M. , Drewes A.M.
Published: April 2012

Background

We investigated whether patients with painful chronic pancreatitis (CP) present abnormalities in the cerebral response to experimental pain stimuli.

Methods

Contact heat‐evoked potentials (CHEPS) were recorded in 15 patients with CP and in 15 healthy volunteers during repetitive stimulation of the upper abdominal region (pancreatic ‘viscerotome’) and the right forearm (heterologous area). Three sequences of painful stimuli were applied at each site. Subjective pain scores were assessed by a visual analogue scale. Habituation was calculated as the relative change in CHEPS amplitudes between the first and the third stimulation sequence.

Results

As expected pain scores decreased in healthy volunteers during successive stimulations at both sites (i.e., habituation), while in the CP group, they remained unchanged. The cerebral response consisted of an early‐latency, low‐amplitude response (N1, contralateral temporal region) followed by a late, high‐amplitude, negative–positive complex (N2/P2, vertex). During successive stimulation of the pancreatic area, N2/P2 amplitude increased 25% in CP patients, while they decreased 20% in healthy volunteers (p = 0.006). After stimulation of the forearm, N2/P2 amplitudes increased 3% in CP patients compared to a decrease of 20% in healthy volunteers (p = 0.06).

Conclusions

Taken together, CP patients had an abnormal cerebral response to repetitive thermal stimuli. This was most prominent after stimulation of the upper abdominal area. As this area share spinal innervation with the pancreatic gland, these findings likely mirror distinctive abnormalities in cerebral pain processing.
Aldehyde-stress resulting from Aldh2 mutation promotes osteoporosis due to impaired osteoblastogenesis
Authors: Hoshi Hiroko , Hao Wu , Fujita Yoshinari , Funayama Atsushi , Miyauchi Yoshiteru , Hashimoto Kazuaki , Miyamoto Kana , Iwasaki Ryotaro , Sato Yuiko , Kobayashi Tami , Miyamoto Hiroya , Yoshida Shigeyuki , Mori Tomoaki , Kanagawa Hiroya , Katsuyama Eri , Fujie Atsuhiro , Kitagawa Kyoko , Nakayama Keiichi I. , Kawamoto Toshihiro , Sano Motoaki , Fukuda Keiichi , Ohsawa Ikuroh , Ohta Shigeo , Morioka Hideo , Matsumoto Morio , Chiba Kazuhiro , Toyama Yoshiaki , Miyamoto Takeshi
Published: April 2012

Osteoporosis is a complex disease with various causes, such as estrogen loss, genetics, and aging. Here we show that a dominant-negative form of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) protein, ALDH2*2, which is produced by a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs671), promotes osteoporosis due to impaired osteoblastogenesis. Aldh2 plays a role in alcohol-detoxification by acetaldehyde-detoxification; however, transgenic mice expressing Aldh2*2 (Aldh2*2 Tg) exhibited severe osteoporosis with increased levels of blood acetaldehyde without alcohol consumption, indicating that Aldh2 regulates physiological bone homeostasis. Wild-type osteoblast differentiation was severely inhibited by exogenous acetaldehyde, and osteoblastic markers such as osteocalcin, runx2, and osterix expression, or phosphorylation of Smad1,5,8 induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) was strongly altered by acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde treatment also inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in osteoblasts. The Aldh2*2 transgene or acetaldehyde treatment induced accumulation of the lipid-oxidant 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a transcription factor that promotes adipogenesis and inhibits osteoblastogenesis. Antioxidant treatment inhibited acetaldehyde-induced proliferation-loss, apoptosis, and PPARγ expression and restored osteoblastogenesis inhibited by acetaldehyde. Treatment with a PPARγ inhibitor also restored acetaldehyde-mediated osteoblastogenesis inhibition. These results provide new insight into regulation of osteoporosis in a subset of individuals with ALDH2*2 and in alcoholic patients and suggest a novel strategy to promote bone formation in such osteopenic diseases. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
An Acvr1 R206H knock-in mouse has fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
Authors: Chakkalakal Salin A , Zhang Deyu , Culbert Andria L , Convente Michael R , Caron Robert J , Wright Alexander C , Maidment Andrew DA , Kaplan Frederick S , Shore Eileen M
Published: April 2012

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP; MIM #135100) is a debilitating genetic disorder of dysregulated cellular differentiation characterized by malformation of the great toes during embryonic skeletal development and by progressive heterotopic endochondral ossification postnatally. Patients with these classic clinical features of FOP have the identical heterozygous single nucleotide substitution (c.617G > A; R206H) in the gene encoding ACVR1/ALK2, a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptor. Gene targeting was used to develop an Acvr1 knock-in model for FOP (Acvr1R206H/+). Radiographic analysis of Acvr1R206H/+ chimeric mice revealed that this mutation induced malformed first digits in the hind limbs and postnatal extraskeletal bone formation, recapitulating the human disease. Histological analysis of murine lesions showed inflammatory infiltration and apoptosis of skeletal muscle followed by robust formation of heterotopic bone through an endochondral pathway, identical to that seen in patients. Progenitor cells of a Tie2+ lineage participated in each stage of endochondral osteogenesis. We further determined that both wild-type (WT) and mutant cells are present within the ectopic bone tissue, an unexpected finding that indicates that although the mutation is necessary to induce the bone formation process, the mutation is not required for progenitor cell contribution to bone and cartilage. This unique knock-in mouse model provides novel insight into the genetic regulation of heterotopic ossification and establishes the first direct in vivo evidence that the R206H mutation in ACVR1 causes FOP. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Changes in bone biomarker concentrations and musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer patients initiating aromatase inhibitor therapy and women without a history of cancer
Authors: Gallicchio Lisa , MacDonald Ryan , Wood Bethany , Rushovich Errol , Fedarko Neal S , Helzlsouer Kathy J
Published: April 2012

The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) changes in bone formation (osteocalcin) and bone resorption (cross-linked N-telopeptides of bone type I collagen [NTXs]) markers, as well as calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone, over the first 6 months of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy among a cohort of breast cancer patients compared with a group of unexposed women without a history of cancer; and (2) whether bone marker changes were associated with musculoskeletal pain. Eligible breast cancer patients (n = 49) and postmenopausal women without a history of cancer (n = 117) were recruited and followed for 6 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, a questionnaire was administered to assess pain and medication use, and a blood sample was drawn. Results showed that, among the breast cancer patients, calcium concentrations decreased significantly (−7.8% change; p = 0.013) and concentrations of NTXs increased significantly from baseline to 6 months (9.6% change; p = 0.012). Changes were not observed for women in the comparison group. Statistically significant differences in percent change between the breast cancer patients and the women in the comparison group were observed for calcium at 6 months (−7.8% versus 0.0%; p = 0.025), phosphorus at 6 months (−5.1% versus 16.7%; p = 0.003), NTXs at 6 months (9.6% versus −0.7%; p = 0.017), and osteocalcin at 6 months (11.5% versus −3.6%; p = 0.016). No statistically significant associations were observed between bone turnover marker changes and musculoskeletal pain among the breast cancer patients, although baseline NTXs were higher among women with onset or increase in pain compared with those reporting no pain (p = 0.08). Findings from this study suggest that AIs cause changes in bone turnover during the first 6 months of treatment; however, these changes are not associated with musculoskeletal pain. Breast cancer patients initiating AI therapy should be assessed and monitored for fracture risk using known clinical risk factors, including bone density, and managed appropriately. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Application of MCM‐41‐SO3H as an Advanced Nanocatalyst for the Solvent Free Synthesis of Pyrano[3,2‐c]pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Rostamizadeh Shahnaz , Shadjou Nasrin , Hasanzadeh Mohammad
Published: April 2012

MCM‐41‐SO3H, an ordered mesoporous silica material in which MCM‐41 with covalently anchored sulfonic acid groups was used as an acidic catalyst for the rapid and ‘green’ synthesis of pyrano[3,2‐c]pyridine derivatives under solvent‐free conditions. Reusability of the catalyst, high yields, short reaction times, simplicity and easy workup are advantages of this novel synthetic procedure compared to the conventional methods reported in the literature.
Reaction Dynamics with Molecular Beams and Oriented Molecular Beams: A Tool for Looking Closer to Chemical Reactions and Photodissociations
Authors: Kasai Toshio , Che Dock‐Chil , Tsai Po‐Yu , Lin King‐Chuen
Published: April 2012

Experimental studies on reaction dynamics by use of molecular beams and oriented molecular beams are reviewed in order for looking closer to chemical reactions as well as photodissociations at the molecular level. We discuss about versatility and usefulness of the electrostatic hexapole sate‐selector as a non‐destructive selector for molecular structure analysis. Some experimental evidences on novel reaction dynamics in photodissociation and stereodynamics are presented followed by concluding remarks and future perspectives for controlling chemical reactions from the point of view of green chemistry, by manipulating molecular orientation without any catalyst nor by applying any external forces like intense electromagnetic field.
Regenerated cellulose membrane prepared with ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride as solvent using wheat straw
Authors: Chen Hong‐Zhang , Wang Ning , Liu Li‐Ying
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Currently, cellulose membranes are prepared by cellulose acetate hydrolysis or chemical derivatization dissolution and regeneration using cotton pulp or wood pulp. In this study, the concept ‘lignocelluloses biorefinery’ was used, and good quality long fiber was fractionated from wheat straw using clean technologies. The objective of this study is to develop wheat straw cellulose to prepare regenerated cellulose membrane with ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) as solvent.

RESULTS: Wheat straw cellulose (WSC) fractionated from wheat straw contained 93.6% α‐cellulose and the degree of polymerization (DP) was 580. WSC was dissolved directly without derivatization in [BMIM]Cl. With increase in dissolving temperature, the DP of the regenerated cellulose dropped, which resulted in a decrease in the intensity of regenerated cellulose membrane. After regeneration in [BMIM]Cl, the WSC transformed from cellulose I to cellulose II, and the crystallinity of the regenerated cellulose was lower than the original cellulose. The regenerated WSC membrane had good mechanical performance and permeability, the tensile strength and breaking elongation were 170 MPa and 6.4%, respectively, the pure water flux was 238.9 L m−2 h−1 at 0.3 MPa pressure, and the rejection of BSA was stabilized at about 97%.

CONCLUSION: Wheat straw cellulose fractionated from wheat straw satisfied the requirement to prepare regenerated cellulose membrane using ionic liquid [BMIM]Cl as solvent. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimization of the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of steam‐exploded wheat straw for maximum glucose and xylose recovery
Authors: Marcos Mónica , García‐Cubero María Teresa , González‐Benito Gerardo , Coca Mónica , Bolado Silvia , Lucas Susana
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: The enzymatic hydrolysis of steam‐exploded wheat straw using commercial enzyme complexes has been studied. A cellulase enzyme complex (Accellerase 1500), along with specific xylanase complements (Accellerase‐XC and Accellerase‐XY) provided by Genencor, have been used to enhance glucose and xylose recovery.

A systematic study with response surface methodology (RSM) was used to check the effect of the operating conditions: pH (4–5), temperature (50–60 °C) and enzyme/substrate ratio (0.1–0.5 mL gcellulose−1) on the enzymatic hydrolysis with Acellerase 1500 to maximize the sugar yield. Xylanases were used as complements to increase the release of xylose.

RESULT: Statistical results from ANOVA analysis demonstrated that the enzymatic hydrolysis was clearly improved by temperature and enzyme/substrate ratio. The optimum conditions for higher glucose and xylose releases were obtained with the higher enzyme dosage ratio (0.5 mL g−1cellulose), 50 °C and pH 4.

CONCLUSION: Model validation at optimum operating conditions showed good agreement between the experimental results and the predicted responses for a confidence level of 95%.

The use of the xylanase complements, Accellerase‐XY (accessory xylanase enzyme complex) and Accellerase‐XC (accessory xylanase/cellulase enzyme complex), increases the conversion of hemicellulose. Accellerase‐XC supplementation was more effective, obtaining an increase in yields of glucose and xylose of 11.8% and 23.6%, respectively, using a dosage of 0.125 mL g−1cellulose. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin D and a possible role of melanocytes during tail resorption in tadpoles of a tropical toad
Authors: Mahapatra Cuckoo , Mahapatra Pravati Kumari
Published: April 2012

Programmed cell death during anuran tail resorption is primarily brought about by apoptosis. Cathepsin D, a lysosomal aspartyl protease, is involved in the death of tail tissues. Thus, anuran tail resorption presents an ideal model to study cathepsin‐mediated cell death during vertebrate development. Present study describes the trend of specific activity of cathepsin D in the tail of different developmental stages and immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin D in the tail tissues of the common Asian toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus. Cathepsin D was involved in programmed cell death in epidermis, muscle, spinal cord, and blood cells in the resorbing tail. Interestingly, it was also involved in the pre‐resorbing tail before visible tail resorption which indicates initiation of cell death even before actually the tail resorbs. Melanocytes were found to be one of the causative agents in degrading tail tissues and were associated with the degradation of muscle, epidermis and spinal cord of the resorbing tail. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An improved truly meshless method based on a new shape function and nodal integration
Authors: Razmjoo Hooman , Movahhedi Masoud , Hakimi Ahmad
Published: April 2012

An improved truly meshless method is presented for three‐dimensional (3D) electromagnetic problems. In the proposed method, the computational time for the construction of the introduced shape function is lower than the other meshless methods considerably. An efficient and stable nodal integration technique based on the Taylor series extension is also used in the proposed meshless method. Weak‐form formulations adopted for creating discretized system equations of electrostatic and electromagnetic 3D problems are also presented. In the proposed fast truly meshless method, unlike in traditional meshless schemes where background mesh is utilized to compute integrals, nodal integration is used to avoid meshing. The numerical solutions for electrostatic and electromagnetic problems show that the presented method is a robust meshfree method and possesses better computational properties compared with traditional meshless methods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Main moisture sources affecting lower Yangtze River Basin in boreal summers during 2004–2009
Authors: Bin Chen , Xiang‐De Xu , Tianliang Zhao
Published: April 2012

This study presented a quantitative climatology of atmospheric moisture affecting the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) region in boreal summer season, as well as the spatial evolution of atmospheric moisture passage towards the target regions. A three‐dimensional Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART was driven by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Final Operational Global Analysis data combined with a backtracking scheme, and the transport contributions to the moisture budget over the YRB region was identified through the continuous calculation of changes in specific humidity along the FLEXPART back trajectories of all air masses residing over this region for a period of six summers of year 2004–2009. The back trajectory analysis revealed four major moisture sources contributed to the YRB summer water vapour with different transport timescales: the East China Sea (17.5%), South China Sea (26.6%), Indian peninsula and the Bay of Bengal (20.5%) and Arabian Sea (13.6%). The properties of moisture sources and its transport processes are dominated by the Asian Summer Monsoon regimes. The Tibetan Plateau also acts as an effective barrier for the meridional moisture transport, leading to distinct moisture sinks at the southern slope. In contrast to the previous results, the tropical western Pacific only plays a minor role in the water vapour contributors. The importance of the four source areas varies over the summer: East and South China Sea sources persist throughout the summer, whereas the Indian peninsula, the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea sources reach the strongest moisture supply to the YRB region only in high summer (July), showing a close association with the March of Asian monsoon. The further evaluation shows that the inter‐annual variability of precipitation over YRB is strongly related to the moisture sources in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Lower‐limb joint mechanics after total hip arthroplasty during sitting and standing tasks
Authors: Lamontagne Mario , Beaulieu Mélanie L. , Varin Daniel , Beaulé Paul E.
Published: April 2012

While the effect of total hip arthroplasty on the operated limb mechanics is well documented, little is known on its effect on the contralateral limb. The purpose of this study was to measure the joint mechanics of both lower limbs during the tasks of sit‐to‐stand and stand‐to‐sit. Twenty total hip arthroplasty patients and 20 control participants performed three trials of each task from which 3D lower‐limb joint kinematics and kinetics were obtained. Total hip arthroplasty patients exhibited lower operated‐hip joint flexion, extension moments, and power, occurring most frequently near seat‐on and seat‐off. Despite these reduced kinetic variables in the operated hip, the joints of the non‐operated limb generated similar joint kinetics as the matched control participants. These results indicated the patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty could adopt a strategy that allowed them to reduce moments and power generated at the operated lower‐limb joints without overcompensating with the non‐operated leg. Although such a strategy may be desirable given that higher loads can increase friction and accelerate wear of the prosthesis, reduced loading may be an indication of inadequate muscle strength that needs to be addressed. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1611–1617, 2012
Strongly enhanced levels of sclerostin during human fracture healing
Authors: Sarahrudi Kambiz , Thomas Anita , Albrecht Christian , Aharinejad Seyedhossin
Published: April 2012

Sclerostin (SOST), an antagonist of Wnt signaling, is an important negative regulator of bone formation. However, no data on the role of SOST in the human fracture healing have been published so far. This study addressed this issue. Seventy‐five patients with long bone fractures were included into the study and divided in two groups. The first group contained 69 patients with normal fracture healing. Six patients with impaired fracture healing formed the second group. Thirty‐four volunteers donated blood samples as control. Serum samples were collected over a period of 1 year following a standardized time schedule. In addition, SOST levels were measured in fracture hematoma and serum of 16 patients with bone fractures. Fracture hematoma contained significantly higher SOST concentrations compared to patient's serum. SOST levels in fracture hematoma and in patient's serum were both significantly higher than in the serum of controls. Highly elevated SOST serum concentrations were found in patients with physiological fracture healing. SOST levels were decreased in patients with impaired fracture healing. However, this difference was not statistically significant. This is the first study to provide evidence of strongly enhanced SOST levels in patients with bone fracture. The results indicate local and systemic involvement of SOST in humans during fracture healing. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1549–1555, 2012
Soil‐solution speciation by MINEQL+4.6 model and plant uptake of Cd and Zn by barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) after application of different phosphate fertilizers
Authors: Mohamed Mahdy Ahmed
Published: April 2012

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the immediate effect of application of mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP), single superphosphate (SSP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizers containing varying concentrations of Cd on (1) chemical speciation of Cd and Zn in soil solution by chemical‐equilibrium calculations (MINEQL+4.6 model), (2) growth of barley plants, (3) concentrations of Cd, P, and Zn in soil solution and plant tissue, as well as total plant accumulation of Cd, P, and Zn, and (4) monitoring pH and element changes during incubation periods following phosphate application. Results show that, in general, the pH of soil solution increased during the first 40 d of incubation, then declined. Also, at the end of incubation period, pH of soil solution was affected by fertilization source and fertilization rate. The concentration of Cd in soil solution changed with time. Phosphate fertilization (p < 0.05) or fertilizer source (p < 0.05) showed consistent effects. Also, the application of phosphate fertilizers with three rates significantly increased Zn concentrations in soil solution during the first half (0–30 d) of incubation period and then decreased but still more than in the control. In general, application of different sources of phosphate at 100 g kg–1 did not change the dominant forms of Cd in soil solution during all incubation time intervals. Speciation of Zn in the control after 30 d of incubation had changed, in comparison to 10 d of incubation, and the dominant forms were Zn2+, ZnOH+, ZnHCO3, ZnCO3(aq), and Zn(OH)2(aq). Adding phosphate fertilizer significantly increased both shoot and root dry weight compared to control, indicating P was a growth‐limiting factor in the control plants. The Zn concentrations in shoot and root were lower in the TSP‐ and SSP‐fertilizers treatment than those in the MAP and fertilizer treatments at all rates of fertilization. Adding phosphate increased the Cd : Zn and P : Zn ratios in the shoot and root tissue, with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Phosphate fertilization greatly increased the total accumulation of Cd of barley compared with the control plants (p < 0.001), with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Source and rate of fertilizers, and their interactions had significant effect (p < 0.05) on Cd accumulation in the whole plant.
Zinc priming promotes seed germination and seedling vigor of rice
Authors: Prom‐u‐thai Chanakan , Rerkasem Benjavan , Yazici Atilla , Cakmak Ismail
Published: April 2012

The present study evaluated effects of seed zinc (Zn) priming at concentrations from 0 to 25 mM ZnSO4 on seedling vigor and viability in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Zinc priming substantially increased Zn concentration in the husk, but not in brown rice. The movement of primed Zn from the husk into the inner layers of rice seed during germination was suggested by Zn concentration declining in the husk coinciding with the increase in brown rice over time (r = –0.62; p < 1%), which did not happen in unprimed seed. Zinc priming significantly enhanced seedling growth and development up to 5 mM. Germination rate, root number, and dry weight were much higher than in unprimed seed, but higher Zn concentrations (10 and 25 mM) depressed seedling vigor. Priming rice seed with 2.5 mM Zn also improved the germination rate of rice in a Zn‐deficient soil, with or without soil Zn application. The results confirm that priming rice seed with Zn can improve germination and seedling vigor and for the first time show how Zn requirement of germinating rice seed and seedlings can be met by the prime Zn accumulated in the husk.
Suitability of inorganic and organic amendments for in situ immobilization of Cd, Cu, and Zn in a strongly contaminated Kastanozem of the Mashavera valley, SE Georgia. I. Effect of amendments on metal mobility and microbial activity in soil
Authors: Hanauer Thomas , Jung Stephan , Felix‐Henningsen Peter , Schnell Sylvia , Steffens Diedrich
Published: April 2012

The aim was to find an adequate, cost‐efficient in situ remediation technique for the Mashavera valley, a mining area in SE Georgia heavily contaminated with Cd, Cu, and Zn. A 12‐month experiment was conducted to test: iron grit, natural zeolite, biochar, and Divergan® (a scavenger) for soil melioration. The amendments were added in different concentrations to the topsoil of a Kastanozem. Mobile metal concentrations decreased with increasing concentrations of amendments in the sequence Divergan® >> iron grit ≈ natural zeolite > biochar. In the same order amendments enhanced activities of soil microbial respiration, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase; microbial C also followed this trend. A sequential extraction confirmed a shift from easily mobilized to heavily bound fractions. The addition of 2% (w/w) of Divergan® was sufficient to lower mobile trace metal concentrations below German thresholds by chemisorption, and soil microbial activity was significantly increased. The effects of all other treatments were at a much lower level and not found suitable due to needed application rates.
Performance of a proportion‐based approach to meta‐analytic moderator estimation: results from Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Aguirre‐Urreta Miguel I. , Ellis Michael E. , Sun Wenying
Published: April 2012

This research investigates the performance of a proportion‐based approach to meta‐analytic moderator estimation through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. This approach is most useful when the moderating potential of a categorical variable has not been recognized in primary research and thus heterogeneous groups have been pooled together as a single sample. Alternative scenarios representing different distributions of group proportions are examined along with varying numbers of studies, subjects per study, and correlation combinations. Our results suggest that the approach is largely unbiased in its estimation of the magnitude of between‐group differences and performs well with regard to statistical power and type I error. In particular, the average percentage bias of the estimated correlation for the reference group is positive and largely negligible, in the 0.5–1.8% range; the average percentage bias of the difference between correlations is also minimal, in the −0.1–1.2% range. Further analysis also suggests both biases decrease as the magnitude of the underlying difference increases, as the number of subjects in each simulated primary study increases, and as the number of simulated studies in each meta‐analysis increases. The bias was most evident when the number of subjects and the number of studies were the smallest (80 and 36, respectively). A sensitivity analysis that examines its performance in scenarios down to 12 studies and 40 primary subjects is also included. This research is the first that thoroughly examines the adequacy of the proportion‐based approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is it merely a myth that alcoholic beverages such as red wine can be cardioprotective?
Authors: Stockley Creina S.
Published: April 2012

It has been suggested that although the negative impact of alcohol consumption varies from person to person, on a global level the adverse effect of alcohol on cardiovascular disease outweighs any protective effect by between two‐ and three‐fold. This is inaccurate. There is a proven positive relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease that is acknowledged by the World Health Organization. For example, moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 25%, such that alcohol consumption per se accounts for − 4.7% of the total cardiovascular disease burden in Australia. Correspondingly, cardiovascular disease accounted for 34% of the total number of deaths in Australia in 2008, and 18% of the overall burden of disease in Australia in 2003, with coronary heart disease and stroke contributing over 80% of this burden. Australia is not substantially different from other developed countries having similar demographics to, and the same leading causes of burden as, other high‐income developed countries. This article examines the suggestions and evidence surrounding the relationship between light‐to‐moderate alcohol consumption and benefits to human health. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Tourism and identity‐related motivations: why am I here (and not there)?
Authors: Bond Nigel , Falk John
Published: April 2012

This paper examines past and present literature relating to identity development and identity‐related tourism motivation. It presents a theoretical model of identity‐related tourism motivation that is based on multidimensional rather than unidimensional theories of identity as well as acknowledging both individual and social influences on identity development. It is argued that identity‐related motivations are fundamental to all tourist experiences and vital to understanding not only why individuals engage in tourism but what benefits they derive from the experience, suggesting that tourism is often used by individuals as a means to explore, maintain and even disengage from particular aspects of identity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of Channeled Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Oriented Tissue Engineering
Authors: Sun Chenghui , Jin Xiaobing , Holzwarth Jeremy M. , Liu Xiaohua , Hu Jiang , Gupte Melanie J. , Zhao Yaoming , Ma Peter X.
Published: April 2012

A tissue‐engineering scaffold resembling the structure of the natural extracellular matrix can often facilitate tissue regeneration. Nerve and tendon are oriented micro‐scale tissue bundles. In this study, a method combining injection molding and thermally induced phase separation techniques is developed to create single‐ and multiple‐channeled nanofibrous poly(L‐lactic acid) scaffolds. The overall shape, the number and spatial arrangement of channels, the channel wall matrix architecture, the porosity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds are all tunable. The porous NF channel wall matrix provides an excellent microenvironment for protein adsorption and the attachment of PC12 neuronal cells and tendon fibroblast cells, showing potential for neural and tendon tissue regeneration.

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The Glycopolymer Code: Synthesis of Glycopolymers and Multivalent Carbohydrate–Lectin Interactions
Authors: Becer C. Remzi
Published: April 2012

Glycopolymers are becoming more and more important in understanding biological interactions due to their unique recognition properties. Macromolecules with different chain lengths, compositions and architectures provide enormous diversity in the formation of primary and secondary structures that have a major effect on multivalent binding to lectins. It is crucial to control the precise structure of macromolecules to achieve specific and selective carbohydrate‐lectin binding. The use of advanced synthesis techniques to prepare well‐defined glycopolymers and selected advanced analytical techniques to study multivalent interactions are highlighted in this Feature Article.
Premotor Parkinson's disease: Concepts and definitions
Authors: Siderowf Andrew , Lang Anthony E.
Published: April 2012

Parkinson's disease (PD) has a prodromal phase during which nonmotor clinical features as well as physiological abnormalities may be present. These premotor markers could be used to screen for PD before motor abnormalities are present. The technology to identify PD before it reaches symptomatic Braak Stage 3 (substantia nigra compacta [SNc] involvement) already exists. The current challenge is to define the appropriate scope of use of predictive testing for PD. Imaging technologies such as dopamine transporter imaging currently offer the highest degree of accuracy for identifying premotor PD, but they are expensive as screening tools, and abnormalities on these studies would only be evident at Braak Stage 3 or higher. Efficiency is greatly enhanced by combining imaging with a prescreening test such as olfactory testing. This 2‐step process has the potential to greatly reduce costs while retaining diagnostic accuracy. Alternatively, or in concert with this approach, evaluating high‐risk populations (eg, patients with rapid eye movement behavior disorder or LRRK2 mutations) would enrich the sample for cases with underlying PD. Ultimately, the role of preclinical detection of PD will be determined by the ability of emerging therapies to influence clinical outcomes. As such, implementation of large‐scale screening strategies awaits the arrival of clearly safe and effective therapies that address the underlying pathogenesis of PD. Future research will establish more definitive biomarkers capable of revealing the presence of disease in advance of SNc involvement with the promise of the potential for introducing disease‐modifying therapy even before the development of evidence of dopamine deficiency. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Identifying prodromal Parkinson's disease: Pre‐Motor disorders in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Postuma Ronald B. , Aarsland Dag , Barone Paolo , Burn David J. , Hawkes Christopher H. , Oertel Wolfgang , Ziemssen Tjalf
Published: April 2012

Increasing recognition that Parkinson's disease (PD) may start outside of the substantia nigra has led to a rapidly expanding effort to define prodromal stages of PD, before motor signs permit classical diagnosis. Many of these efforts center around the identification of clinical non‐motor symptoms and signs of disease. There is now direct evidence that olfaction, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), constipation, and depression can be present in prodromal PD. In addition, there is suggestive evidence that visual changes, other autonomic symptoms, and subtle cognitive changes may also be present at prodromal stages. A critical issue in utility of these prodromal markers will be assessment of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Although these have yet to be fully defined, olfactory deficits, some visual changes, and autonomic symptoms occur in the majority of PD patients at diagnosis, suggesting good potential sensitivity. However, with the exception of RBD and perhaps some specific autonomic measures, specificity, and positive predictive value of these markers may be insufficient to be used alone as identifiers of prodromal disease. The evidence for the utility of olfaction, RBD, autonomic markers, visual changes, mood disorders, and cognitive loss as markers of prodromal PD and the potential sensitivity and specificity of these markers are summarized. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
The validation of international consultation on incontinence questionnaires in the Greek language
Authors: Stavros Athanasiou , Themistoklis Grigoriadis , Niki Kyriakidou , George Giannoulis , Aristidis Antsaklis
Published: April 2012

Aims

The objective of this study was to validate four specific International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ) modules in the Greek language: (i) the ICIQ‐FLUTS long form (ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF), (ii) the ICIQ‐FLUTS, (iii) the ICIQ‐FLUTS‐SEX, and (iv) the ICIQ‐Vaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (ICIQ‐VS), originally validated in English.

Methods

The English questionnaires were initially translated into Greek, then back‐translated into English and final modifications were made after testing the questionnaires on a sample of patients. To validate the translated questionnaires, the following tests were undertaken: Content/face validity, internal consistency (reliability) and stability (test–retest reliability).

Results

A total of 122 women participated in the study. Eighty‐nine presented with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or urinary incontinece (UI) symptoms and 33 attended an outpatient gynecological clinic without POP/UI symptoms. All modules showed excellent content/face validity (missing values 0–2.5%). Cronbach's alpha test for internal consistency showed satisfactory to excellent reliability (0.876 for ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF, 0.85 for ICIQ‐FLUTS, and 0.83 for ICIQ‐VS), with the exception ICIQ‐FLUTS‐SEX which was 0.69. The test–retest reliability showed moderate to near‐perfect agreement (weighted kappa value 0.52–0.99).

Conclusions

The Greek versions of the ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF, ICIQ‐FLUTS, and ICIQ‐VS questionnaires were successfully validated. Our data showed that the ICIQ FLUTS‐SEX questionnaire, as it stands in its current English version, cannot be reliably used to assess sex symptoms in the Greek female population. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:1141–1144, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of the effective connectivity of resting state networks in Alzheimer's disease: a functional MRI study combining independent components analysis and multivariate Granger causality analysis
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Zhang Yumei , Bai Lijun , Yan Hao , Dai Ruwei , Zhong Chongguang , Wang Hu , Wei Wenjuan , Xue Ting , Feng Yuanyuan , You Youbo , Tian Jie
Published: April 2012

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the cognitive and memory decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is coupled with abnormal functions of focal brain regions and disrupted functional connectivity between distinct brain regions, as well as losses in small‐world attributes. However, the causal interactions among the spatially isolated, but functionally related, resting state networks (RSNs) are still largely unexplored. In this study, we first identified eight RSNs by independent components analysis from resting state functional MRI data of 18 patients with AD and 18 age‐matched healthy subjects. We then performed a multivariate Granger causality analysis (mGCA) to evaluate the effective connectivity among the RSNs. We found that patients with AD exhibited decreased causal interactions among the RSNs in both intensity and quantity relative to normal controls. Results from mGCA indicated that the causal interactions involving the default mode network and auditory network were weaker in patients with AD, whereas stronger causal connectivity emerged in relation to the memory network and executive control network. Our findings suggest that the default mode network plays a less important role in patients with AD. Increased causal connectivity of the memory network and self‐referential network may elucidate the dysfunctional and compensatory processes in the brain networks of patients with AD. These preliminary findings may provide a new pathway towards the determination of the neurophysiological mechanisms of AD. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RISING WITH THE TIDE WITHOUT FLIPPING THE BOAT — ANALYZING THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF FISCAL CAPACITY BUILDING IN CHINA
Authors: Ho Alfred Tat‐Kei , Niu Meili
Published: April 2012

While many developing countries experience a short period of economic boom and then spiral quickly into periods of deficit, currency fluctuation, and indebtedness, China has been able to sustain rapid economic growth and maintain solid fiscal capacity for the past 30 years, even during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s and the global recession in the beginning of the 21st century. This article examines three key strategies behind China's fiscal success — its flexibility in adapting tax policies to the changing economic and social conditions, its success in realigning the intergovernmental fiscal relationship in 1994 and forcing subnational governments to become more entrepreneurial in revenue generation, and its pursuit of institutional reforms since the mid‐1990s to improve the government's capacity in budgeting and financial management. The article evaluates the implications of the Chinese experience for other developing countries and discusses the future challenges of fiscal reforms in China. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the phase behaviour of organic semiconductors
Authors: Stingelin Natalie
Published: April 2012

The physical organisation, from the molecular to the macroscale, of functional organic matter such as polymer semiconductors can profoundly affect the properties and features of the resulting architectures and their consequent performance when used as active layers in organic optoelectronic devices, including organic thin‐film field‐effect transistors, organic light‐emitting diodes or organic photovoltaic cells. Here, we present a survey on the principles of structure development from the liquid phase of this interesting and broad class of materials with focus on how to manipulate their phase transformations and solid‐state order to tailor and manipulate the final ‘morphology’ towards technological and practical applications. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry