bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational structure, capacity and reach of organizations involved in alcohol prevention: An assessment of stakeholders across five countries in East Africa
Authors: Raderalazasoa Gina , Swahn Monica , Balenger Adelaide , Kalema David , Mukantabana Crescence , Komba Sophia , Rukundo Aloysius , Okwarah Patrick
Published: April 2024

Aims: East African countries, classified as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are disproportionately harmed by alcohol consumption, and many countries lack strategies to address and prevent alcohol harm. This study draws on community input from stakeholders involved in alcohol harm prevention in five East African countries to identify organizational structures, capacity and outreach, and strategies for capacity building to address the high burden of alcohol harm more systematically.

Design/Setting/Participants: A cross-sectional survey was distributed in 2020 by the East Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance to their member alliances and stakeholders across five countries in East Africa (i.e., Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda). Analyses were computed based on 171 persons/organizations completing the survey. 

Measures: The East Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance Capacity Assessment Survey (EAAPACAS) included organizational size and funding, research capacity, priorities, and perceptions related to alcohol prevention and harm locally and nationally.

Results: The types of organizations, funding structures, and functions dedicated to alcohol prevention vary widely across countries, indicating great diversity and heterogeneity of organizations working on alcohol prevention and advocacy in East Africa. Most organizations relied on volunteer staff. Additionally, 51% reported that they did not know or did not meet their program needs with the available operational funds.

Conclusion: These organizations rely primarily on volunteers and face significant barriers in order to achieve their goals with their current budget, primarily derived from foundations and private donations. Overall, these findings indicate that the infrastructure for alcohol prevention is weak and fragmented in countries where national initiatives are limited or underfunded.
Avifaunal Diversity in Telangana State: A Case Study in Campus of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India
Authors: Reddy Vakiti Ravinder , Rajashekhar Mandla , Sunitha Vanam , Issai Aruna Sri , Gurumurthy Peddinti , Vaidyula Vasudeva Rao , Mounika Gotike
Published: April 2024

Population Studies on different agricultural and other bird species were carried out at Students farm, College farm, Agri biodiversity park, and Agricultural Research Institute farm areas of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) Campus in semiarid region of Telangana state covering an area of about 36 Sq.km. for a period of eleven years (2012 to 2023). Population diversity of 92 species of different birds, and their distribution within the university campus farm areas were recorded.  Important among them are 9 species namely: Blue rock pigeon (Columba livia), Spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis), Rose ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri),Common myna (Acridotheres tristis), House crow (Corvus splendens), House sparrow (Passer domesticus), Baya weaver bird (Ploceus philippinus), White throated munia (Lonchura malabarica), and Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) which depredate experimental field crops among them only  few birds such as: Rose ringed parakeets, House crows, House sparrows, Pigeons, Baya weavers, Peafowls and Munias were serious bird pests to major agricultural and horticultural crops. The University farm areas were found to be the most preferred habitat for many of these birds, it could be due to availability of food, breeding, roosting and resting sites in abundance because of more agricultural croplands and agro forestry trees.
Research for Drone Target Classification Method Using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Choi Soonhyeon , Cho Incheol , Hyun Junseok , Choi Wonjun , Sohn Sunghwan , Choi Jung-Woo
Published: April 2024

Classification of drones and birds is challenging due to diverse flight patterns and limited data availability. Previous research has focused on identifying the flight patterns of unmanned aerial vehicles by emphasizing dynamic features such as speed and heading. However, this approach tends to neglect crucial spatial information, making accurate discrimination of unmanned aerial vehicle characteristics challenging. Furthermore, training methods for situations with imbalanced data among classes have not been proposed by traditional machine learning techniques. In this paper, we propose a data processing method that preserves angle information while maintaining positional details, enabling the deep learning model to better comprehend positional information of drones. Additionally, we introduce a training technique to address the issue of data imbalance.
Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of copolymers based on N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐ethoxyethyl methacrylate for the controlled release of felodipine
Authors: Shelke Namdev B. , Vijay Kumar S. , Mahadevan K. M. , Sherigara B. S. , Aminabhavi Tejraj M.
Published: August 2008

The free‐radical copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with 2‐ethoxyethyl methacrylate (EOEMA) was carried out with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronotrile as an initiator in 1,4‐dioxane at 65°C. The resulting copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H‐NMR techniques. The composition of copolymers prepared at low conversion was determined by elemental analysis. An extended Kelen–Tudos method was used to estimate the reactivity ratios. The distribution of the monomer sequence along the copolymer chain was calculated with a statistical method based on the obtained reactivity ratios. Felodipine‐loaded microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique. The effect of NIPAAm with respect to EOEMA segments on the sustained release of felodipine from the microspheres was investigated. Scanning electron micrographs of the microspheres indicated the formation of spherical microparticles in the size range 15–53 μm, even after they were loaded with the drug. The in vitro release studies of felodipine from the NIPAAm/EOEMA microspheres performed in a pH 7.4 medium showed that the rate of drug release was enhanced by an increase in the amount of NIPAAm; the size of the microspheres also increased with increasing NIPAAm in the copolymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Improvement of the Nafion–polytetrafluoroethylene membranes for potential direct methanol fuel cell use by reduction of the methanol crossover
Authors: Tang Haolin , Pan Mu , Zhaohui Wan
Published: August 2008

The possibility of ultrathin Nafion/expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes used as proton‐exchange membranes (PEMs) for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) was investigated in this study. Nafion/ePTFE membranes with a thickness of ∼ 14 μm were promoted by self‐assembling Pd nanoparticles on the surface to reduce the methanol crossover. The loading of the Pd nanoparticles assembled on the membranes was 1.6–1.8 μg/cm2 and had little effect on the high conductivity of the Nafion membranes. With the self‐assembly of Pd nanoparticles, the methanol permeation noticeably decreased from 340 to 28 mA/cm2. As a result, the open‐ circuit voltage of the Nafion/ePTFE membranes that were self‐assembled for 48 h had a more significant increase from 0.55 to 0.73 V. The reduction of methanol crossover significantly increased the DMFC voltage‐current performance, and this means that self‐assembled Nafion/polytetrafluoroethylene PEMs have promise in DMFCs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Reports, requests, and recipient design: The management of patron queries in online reference chats
Authors: Epperson Terrence W. , Zemel Alan
Published: August 2008

The related fields of ethnomethodology (EM), founded by Harold Garfinkel, and conversation analysis (CA), as epitomized by the work of Harvey Sacks, offer unique insights into the operation of virtual reference services (VRS). The tradition of phenomenology within library and information science (LIS) provides a context for this research, although EM/CA differs in important respects, providing a program for grounded empirical investigations. Relevant EM/CA research concerns include the documentary method of interpretation, trust, indexicality, instructed action, and sequential organization. Review of the LIS literature on reference interactions in both face‐to‐face and virtual settings reveals a tendency to impose analytic categories and classificatory schemes that obscure the extremely situated and collaborative nature of reference work; however, an EM/CA examination of transcripts from the first 4 months of a newly implemented VRS at a large university library suggests the need for a more nuanced approach. Close‐order examination of two chat reference transcripts reveals the interactional complexities and nuances that characterize even the most succinct encounters. Analyzing the reference query as a service request demonstrates how librarians deploy their interactional skills to address “face” concerns and ameliorate potentially problematic aspects of the reference encounter.
Importance of olfactory and visual signals of autumn leaves in the coevolution of aphids and trees
Authors: Holopainen Jarmo K.
Published: August 2008

Deciduous trees remobilize the nitrogen in senescing leaves during the process of autumn colouration, which in many species is associated with increased concentrations of anthocyanins. Archetti1 and Hamilton and Brown2 observed that autumn colouration is stronger in tree species facing a high diversity of specialist aphids. They proposed a coevolution theory that the bright colours in autumn might provide an honest signal of defence commitment, thus deterring migrant aphids from settling on the leaves. So far, there have been very few experimental results to support the hypothesis, and tree commitment to phenolics‐based defences has not shown direct protection against aphids. Predators and parasitoids have been found to be the major controllers of arboreal aphids. Indirect defences involve the emission of attractive volatile compounds that enhance the effectiveness of carnivorous enemies. The indirect defence hypothesis is presented to explain low aphid diversity on tree species that are green during autumn. The hypothesis suggests that green foliage can continue to produce herbivore‐inducible plant volatiles and maintain volatile‐based indirect plant defences against aphids until leaf abscission. BioEssays 30:889–896, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Visualisation of the vomeronasal pheromone response system
Authors: Keverne Eric B.
Published: August 2008

Mammalian vomeronasal receptors respond to pheromones conveying information on gender, reproductive status and individual recognition. The question arises as to how this information is coded, which parts of the code require combinatorial activity and whether or not there are specific receptor neurons committed to sex discrimination. Are there receptor neurons that are committed to responding for female or male pheromones? Is there a sex difference for the proportion of these receptors, bearing in mind that it is very much in the male's interest to distinguish the restricted oestrous phase of the female's cycle in order to successfully mate? Perhaps more intriguing is the complexity of individual recognition and whether or not the vomeronasal receptors actually possess this capacity. A recent paper in Science1 by Ron Yu and colleagues addresses these issues by literally visualising patterns of activity in VNO slices and determining what information is common across different individuals and what distinguishes them. BioEssays 30:802–805, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microfluidics meet cell biology: bridging the gap by validation and application of microscale techniques for cell biological assays
Authors: Paguirigan Amy L. , Beebe David J.
Published: August 2008

Microscale techniques have been applied to biological assays for nearly two decades, but haven't been widely integrated as common tools in biological laboratories. The significant differences between several physical phenomena at the microscale versus the macroscale have been exploited to provide a variety of new types of assays (such as gradient production or spatial cell patterning). However, the use of these devices by biologists seems to be limited by issues regarding biological validation, ease of use, and the limited available readouts for assays done using microtechnology. Critical validation work has been done recently that highlights the current challenges for microfluidic methods and suggest ways in which future devices might be improved to better integrate with biological assays. With more validation and improved designs, microscale techniques hold immense promise as a platform to study aspects of cell biology that are not possible using current macroscale techniques. BioEssays 30:811–821, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolution of Xmrk: an oncogene, but also a speciation gene?
Authors: Schartl Manfred
Published: August 2008

Genes that exert their function when they are introduced into a foreign genetic background pose many questions to our current understanding of the forces and mechanisms that promote either the maintenance or divergence of gene functions over evolutionary time. The melanoma inducing Xmrk oncogene of the Southern platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) is a stable constituent of the genome of this species. It displays its tumorigenic function, however, almost exclusively only after inter‐populational or, even more severely, interspecific hybridization events. The Xiphophorus hybrid melanoma system has gained attention in biomedical research as a genetic model for studying tumor formation. From an evolutionary perspective, a prominent question is: how could this gene persist over millions of years? An attractive hypothesis is that Xmrk, acting as a detrimental gene in a hybrid genome, could be a speciation gene that shields the gene pool of its species from mixing with other closely related sympatric species. In this article, I briefly review our current knowledge of the molecular genetics and biochemical functions of the Xmrk gene and discuss aspects of its evolutionary history and presence with respect to this idea. While Xmrk as a potentially injurious oncogene has clearly survived for millions of years, its role as a speciation gene has to be questioned. BioEssays 30:822–832, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Engineered enzymes for chemical production
Authors: Luetz Stephan , Giver Lori , Lalonde James
Published: August 2008

In order to enable competitive manufacturing routes, most biocatalysts must be tailor‐made for their processes. Enzymes from nature rarely have the combined properties necessary for industrial chemical production such as high activity and selectivity on non‐natural substrates and toleration of high concentrations of organic media over the wide range of conditions (decreasing substrate, increasing product concentrations, solvents, etc.,) that will be present over the course of a manufacturing process. With the advances in protein engineering technologies, a variety of enzyme properties can be altered simultaneously, if the appropriate screening parameters are employed. Here we discuss the process of directed evolution for the generation of commercially viable biocatalysts for the production of fine chemicals, and how novel approaches have helped to overcome some of the challenges. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 647–653. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emulating human perception of motion similarity
Authors: Tang Jeff K. T. , Leung Howard , Komura Taku , Shum Hubert P. H.
Published: August 2008

Evaluating the similarity of motions is useful for motion retrieval, motion blending, and performance analysis of dancers and athletes. Euclidean distance between corresponding joints has been widely adopted in measuring similarity of postures and hence motions. However, such a measure does not necessarily conform to the human perception of motion similarity. In this paper, we propose a new similarity measure based on machine learning techniques. We make use of the results of questionnaires from subjects answering whether arbitrary pairs of motions appear similar or not. Using the relative distance between the joints as the basic features, we train the system to compute the similarity of arbitrary pair of motions. Experimental results show that our method outperforms methods based on Euclidean distance between corresponding joints. Our method is applicable to content‐based motion retrieval of human motion for large‐scale database systems. It is also applicable to e‐Learning systems which automatically evaluates the performance of dancers and athletes by comparing the subjects' motions with those by experts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supramolecular Domains in Mixed Peptide Self‐Assembled Monolayers on Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Duchesne Laurence , Wells Geoff , Fernig David G. , Harris Sarah A. , Lévy Raphaël
Published: August 2008

Self‐organization in mixed self‐assembled monolayers of small molecules provides a route towards nanoparticles with complex molecular structures. Inspired by structural biology, a strategy based on chemical cross‐linking is introduced to probe proximity between functional peptides embedded in a mixed self‐assembled monolayer at the surface of a nanoparticle. The physical basis of the proximity measurement is a transition from intramolecular to intermolecular cross‐linking as the functional peptides get closer. Experimental investigations of a binary peptide self‐assembled monolayer show that this transition happens at an extremely low molar ratio of the functional versus matrix peptide. Molecular dynamics simulations of the peptide self‐assembled monolayer are used to calculate the volume explored by the reactive groups. Comparison of the experimental results with a probabilistic model demonstrates that the peptides are not randomly distributed at the surface of the nanoparticle, but rather self‐organize into supramolecular domains.
Stereoselective Synthesis of 4‐Dehydroxydiversonol Employing Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalysed Domino Reactions
Authors: Tietze Lutz F. , Spiegl Dirk A. , Stecker Florian , Major Julia , Raith Christian , Große Christian
Published: August 2008

The stereoselective synthesis of 4‐dehydroxydiversonol (4) employing enantioselective palladium‐catalysed domino processes such as the domino Wacker–Heck and the domino Wacker‐carbonylation reaction for the formation of the central chroman moiety is described. Thus, reaction of 8 with palladium(II) trifluoroacetate [Pd(OTFA)2] in the presence of carbon monoxide, methanol and the 2,2′‐ bis(oxazolin‐2‐yl)‐1,1'‐binaphthyl (BOXAX) ligand 17 led to 19 in 80 % yield and 96 % ee. Similarly, the chroman 7 was prepared using 8 and methyl acrylate (9) as starting material. Hydrogenation of the double bond, oxidation of the benzylic methylene group and intramolecular acylation of chromanone 6 provided the tetrahydroxanthenone core 5, from which the synthesis of 4 was completed. The relative configuration of 4 could be established by crystal structure analysis.
Enantioselective recognitions of chiral molecular tweezers containing imidazoliums for amino acids
Authors: Su Xiaoyu , Luo Kui , Xiang Qingxiang , Lan Jingbo , Xie Rugang
Published: August 2008

Two kinds of novel chiral molecular tweezers containing imidazoliums were synthesized from L‐alanine, L‐phenylalanine, and L‐glutamic acid. They are constructed by the chiral imidazolium pincers and two different spacers which are 1,3‐bis (bromomethyl)benzene and 2,6‐bis(bromomethyl)pyridine, respectively. The enantioselective recognition of L‐ and D‐amino acid derivatives by these molecular tweezers was investigated by UV spectroscopic titration experiments and good enantioselectivities were obtained, which are highly sensitive to whether the spacer has the binding site and the pincers has the other aromatic rings besides imidazolium ring. The host molecular 3b.2PF6− showed remarkable enantioselectivity for N‐Boc protected histidine methyl ester, affording KL/KD of 5.10. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Racial disparities in recurrence among patients with early‐stage endometrial cancer
Authors: Maxwell G. Larry , Tian Chunqiao , Risinger John I. , Hamilton Chad A. , Barakat Richard R.
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND.

Population‐based studies suggest that, because of inequalities in treatment, black women with localized endometrial cancer have shorter survival compared with white women. The objective of the current investigation was to determine whether there is a racial disparity in outcome between black patients and white patients with early‐stage endometrial cancer treated similarly in a clinical trial setting.

METHODS.

A retrospective review of 110 black patients and 1049 white patients with stage I and II endometrial cancer (graded according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grading system) was performed using data from a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial performed by the Gynecologic Oncology Group that evaluated postoperative estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and the risk of cancer recurrence. Demographic, pathologic, treatment, and outcome‐related data were collected and analyzed using regression and survival analysis.

RESULTS.

Estimates of recurrence‐free survival suggested that black patients may be more likely to have disease recurrence, particularly those receiving ERT. Within a median follow‐up of 3 years, 5 of 56 black patients with endometrial cancer in the ERT group were identified with recurrent disease compared with only 8 of 521 white patients. Adjusted for age, body mass index, and tumor grade, the relative risk of recurrence among blacks in the ERT group was 11.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.86‐43.59; P = .0005).

CONCLUSIONS.

The findings of the current study suggested that recurrence‐free survival may be shorter among black women with stage I endometrial cancer, even in a clinical trials setting in which patients receive similar treatment and follow‐up. This increased risk of recurrence appeared to be most evident in black women with endometrial cancer who maintained ERT after primary treatment. Cancer 2008. Published 2008 by the American Cancer Society.
Psychologists' judgements of diagnostic activities: deviations from a theoretical model
Authors: Groenier Marleen , Pieters Jules M. , Hulshof Casper D. , Wilhelm Pascal , Witteman Cilia L. M.
Published: August 2008

In this article, we describe an investigation into the diagnostic activities of practicing clinical psychologists. Two questionnaires were filled in by 313 psychologists. One group of psychologists (N = 175) judged the necessity of diagnostic activities; the other group (N = 138) selected the activities they would actually perform. Results showed that more participants thought that diagnostic activities were necessary than there were participants who intended to actually perform those activities. Causal analysis, by generating and testing diagnostic hypotheses to form an integrated client model with an explanation for the problem, was judged least necessary and would not be performed. We conclude that a discrepancy exists between the number and types of activities psychologists judged to be necessary and they intend to actually perform. The lack of attention for causal analysis is remarkable as causal explanations are crucial to effective treatment planning. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flow cytometric investigations of diploid and tetraploid plants and in vitro cultures of Datura stramonium and Hyoscyamus niger
Authors: Weber Jost , Georgiev Vasil , Pavlov Atanas , Bley Thomas
Published: August 2008

Plant in vitro systems are valuable sources for the production of biological active substances. However, changed profiles of secondary metabolites, and low, variable yields possibly caused by genetic instabilities complicate their industrial implementation. DNA profiling of plant in vitro cultures may provide data for the selection of highly producing in vitro cultures. Diploid and tetraploid Datura stramonium and Hyoscyamus niger plant as well as calli, and hairy root lines derived from them were analyzed by flow cytometry. Plant in vitro cultures undergo several cycles of endoreduplication more than the explants from which they were obtained. The highest cycle values were observed in calli (e.g. 1.19 for diploid H. niger) possibly induced by the growth factors. However, hairy roots cultivated without growth factor exhibited significant degrees of endoreduplication (cycle value 0.88 for diploid H. niger). Sets of five hairy root lines from each plant and ploidy level showed consistent within‐set ploidy patterns. The ploidy profiles of investigated plant in vitro and in vivo differ. For the first time we report that hairy roots of two Solanaceae species undergo endoreduplication. Theploidy profiles of in vitro cultures (hairy roots and calli) seem to be influenced by the genome size, the growth factors applied, and the type of in vitro culture. The transformation of several hairy root lines showed no differences in the ploidy patterns. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
An energy‐efficient localized topology control algorithm for wirelessad hocand sensor networks
Authors: Liu Haitao , Zhang Baoxian , Zheng Jun , Mouftah Hussein T.
Published: August 2008

Topology control plays an important role in the design of wirelessad hocand sensor networks and has demonstrated its high capability in constructing networks with desirable characteristics such as sparser connectivity, lower transmission power, and smaller node degree. However, the enforcement of a topology control algorithm in a network may degrade the energy‐draining balancing capability of the network and thus reduce the network operational lifetime. For this reason, it is important to take into account energy efficiency in the design of a topology control algorithm in order to achieve prolonged network lifetime. In this paper, we propose a localized energy‐efficient topology control algorithm for wirelessad hocand sensor networks with power control capability in network nodes. To achieve prolonged network lifetime, we introduce a concept called energy criticality avoidance and propose an energy criticality avoidance strategy in topology control and energy‐efficient routing. Through theoretical analysis and simulation results, we prove that the proposed topology control algorithm can maintain the global network connectivity with low complexity and can significantly prolong the lifetime of a multi‐hop wireless network as compared with existing topology control algorithms with little additional protocol overhead. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust blind PIC with adaptive despreader and improved interference estimator
Authors: Shakya Indu , Ali Falah H. , Stipidis Elias
Published: August 2008

An effective design of multistage parallel interference cancellation (PIC) receiver using blind adaptive (BA) despreader and pre‐respreader interference estimator for uplink CDMA is proposed and analysed. A novel algorithm is designed, which exploits constant modulus (CM) property of the users' transmitted signals and inherent channel condition to perform adaptive despreading based on minimum error variance criteria. This is carried out by BA weighting of each chip signal for accurate tracking of the desired user's signal power and hence for more improved data detection at the output of each stage of PIC. Furthermore, the despreader weights are used within the adaptive pre‐respreader interference estimation and cancellation to obtain online scaling factors during every symbol period, without any knowledge of users' channels or the use of training sequences. It is found that this way of estimation is optimal in minimum mean squared error sense, and hence, significant reduction in interference and noise variance is observed in detection and estimation of the desired users' signals compared with conventional PIC. Bit error probability of the proposed PIC is obtained using Gaussian Approximation method. Extensive simulation results are shown, which demonstrate impressive performance advantage in fading environments, high system loading, and severe near far conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative analysis of microtubule dynamics during adhesion‐mediated growth cone guidance
Authors: Lee Aih Cheun , Suter Daniel M.
Published: August 2008

During adhesion‐mediated neuronal growth cone guidance microtubules undergo major rearrangements. However, it is unknown whether microtubules extend to adhesion sites because of changes in plus‐end polymerization and/or translocation dynamics, because of changes in actin–microtubule interactions, or because they follow the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we used fluorescent speckle microscopy to directly quantify microtubule and actin dynamics in Aplysia growth cones as they turn towards beads coated with the cell adhesion molecule apCAM. During the initial phase of adhesion formation, dynamic microtubules in the peripheral domain preferentially explore apCAM‐beads prior to changes in growth cone morphology and retrograde actin flow. Interestingly, these early microtubules have unchanged polymerization rates but spend less time in retrograde translocation due to uncoupling from actin flow. Furthermore, microtubules exploring the adhesion site spend less time in depolymerization. During the later phase of traction force generation, the central domain advances and more microtubules in the peripheral domain extend because of attenuation of actin flow and clearance of F‐actin structures. Microtubules in the transition zone and central domain, however, translocate towards the adhesion site in concert with actin arcs and bundles, respectively. We conclude that adhesion molecules guide neuronal growth cones and underlying microtubule rearrangements largely by differentially regulating microtubule–actin coupling and actin movements according to growth cone region and not by controlling plus‐end polymerization rates. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008
IR Laser‐Induced Carbothermal Reduction of Silica
Authors: Urbanová Markéta , Pokorná Dana , Bakardjieva Snejana , Šubrt Jan , Bastl Zdeněk , Pola Josef
Published: August 2008

Pulsed IR‐laser irradiation of silica in the presence of gaseous hydrocarbons (benzene or ethyne) results in carbothermal reduction of silica by hydrocarbon decomposition products and allows deposition of amorphous solids which were analyzed by FTIR, Raman, X‐ray photoelectron and Auger spectra and by electron microscopy and revealed as nanosized carbon–silicon oxycarbide composites containing crystalline silica domains. The reported IR laser‐induced process is the first approach to deposition of nanosized carbon–silicon oxycarbide composites. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Cell adhesion and proliferation are reduced on stainless steel coated with polysaccharide‐based polymeric formulations
Authors: Vicario Pasquale P. , Lu Zichun , Grigorian Irina , Wang Zheng , Schottman Tom
Published: August 2008

Hydromer's polymeric formulations F200™ and F202™ were evaluated after application to a synthetic substrate for effects on cell adhesion and proliferation. A significant reduction in cell adhesion was observed when cells grown on medical‐grade stainless steel coated with these polymers were stained and examined under a fluorescence microscope. This reduction in cell adhesion/proliferation was confirmed when cells were isolated and analyzed by the MTS cell proliferation assay. The rate of growth of cells on F200‐ and F202‐coated stainless steel monitored over a period of 7 days was significantly less than that observed on uncoated stainless steel, suggesting that the rate of growth of cells was reduced. The adhesion/proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to coated substrates was also decreased significantly, indicating that the reduction in cell adhesion/proliferation is not restricted to only fibroblasts. Additional studies have indicated that the adhesion/proliferation of murine fibroblasts and human endothelial cells to stainless coated with a modified formulation exhibiting a high degree of lubricity was also significantly reduced. This lubricious formulation was also observed to be effective in reducing platelet adhesion, data supporting the view that lubricity also contributes to a reduction in cell and platelet adhesion. The application of these polymeric coatings on devices designed for medical implantation may not only prevent thrombus formation but may also retard the process of restenosis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Predictors of grief following the death of one's child: the contribution of finding meaning
Authors: Keesee Nancy J. , Currier Joseph M. , Neimeyer Robert A.
Published: August 2008

This study examined the relative contribution of objective risk factors and meaning‐making to grief severity among 157 parents who had lost a child to death. Participants completed the Core Bereavement Items (CBI; Burnett, Middleton, Raphael, & Martinek, 1997), Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG; Prigerson et al., 1995), questions assessing the process and degree of sense‐making and benefit‐finding, and the circumstances surrounding their losses. Results showed that the violence of the death, age of the child at death, and length of bereavement accounted for significant differences in normative grief symptoms (assessed by the CBI). Other results indicated that the cause of death was the only objective risk factor that significantly predicted the intensity of complicated grief (assessed by the ICG). Of the factors examined in this study, sense‐making emerged as the most salient predictor of grief severity, with parents who reported having made little to no sense of their child's death being more likely to report greater intensity of grief. Implications for clinical work are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 64:1–19, 2008.
Skull anatomy of the miniaturized gecko Sphaerodactylus roosevelti (Squamata: Gekkota)
Authors: Daza Juan D. , Abdala Virginia , Thomas, Richard , Bauer Aaron M.
Published: August 2008

A detailed description of the skull and jaw of the gecko Sphaerodactylus roosevelti is presented. The bones are described articulated and isolated with special consideration given to the type of suture among joining elements. S. roosevelti was compared with 109 gekkotan species to evaluate the osteological variation and to find characters for cladistic analysis. Changes in the skull associated with the miniaturization process are discussed within the sphaerodactylid geckos. A noticeable increase of overlapping sutures was observed in the snout of the smallest sphaerodactylids compared to other gekkotans. This pattern is convergent with that in miniaturized pygopodids and may be attributed to adaptations for decreasing mechanical resistance of the cranium during feeding or burrowing. New cranial characters support Sphaerodactylinae as a monophyletic group and should be useful for resolving questions such as their relationship with other gekkotans. J. Morphol. 269:1340–1364, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A kinetic study of guest displacement reactions on a host–guest complex with a photoswitchable calixarene
Authors: Letzel Matthias C. , Schäfer Christian , Novara Francesca R. , Speranza Maurizio , Rozhenko Alexander B. , Schoeller Wolfgang W. , Mattay Jochen
Published: August 2008

The displacement processes of several guests, incorporated in a calixarene host system, were investigated in the gas phase by electrospray ionization‐Fourier transform‐ion cyclotron resonance (ESI‐FT‐ICR) mass spectrometry. The complexes resulting from a resorcin[4]arene host with ammonia and sec‐butylamine guests were isolated in an ICR‐cell, separately using both states of the photoswitch as well as two reference systems for the open and closed forms of the photoswitchable host. The isolated complexes were forced to exchange the guest by using methylamine, ethylamine and sec‐butylamine, resulting in different reaction rates for all the measured systems. Especially, the reaction rates of both states of the photoswitch are dependent on the provided guest. Potential side effects like proton exchanges were examined by an H/D‐exchange experiment. The results were investigated and supported by quantum chemical calculations (DFT). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oscore: a combined score to reduce false negative rates for peptide identification in tandem mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Shao Chen , Sun Wei , Li Fuxin , Yang Ruifeng , Zhang Ling , Gao Youhe
Published: August 2008

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been widely used in proteomics studies. Multiple algorithms have been developed for assessing matches between MS/MS spectra and peptide sequences in databases. However, it is still a challenge to reduce false negative rates without compromising the high confidence of peptide identification. In this study, we developed the score, Oscore, by logistic regression using SEQUEST and AMASS variables to identify fully tryptic peptides. Since these variables showed complicated association with each other, combining them together rather than applying them to a threshold model improved the classification of correct and incorrect peptide identifications. Oscore achieved both a lower false negative rate and a lower false positive rate than PeptideProphet on datasets from 18 known protein mixtures and several proteome‐scale samples of different complexity, database size and separation methods. By a three‐way comparison among Oscore, PeptideProphet and another logistic regression model which made use of PeptideProphet's variables, the main contributor for the improvement made by Oscore is discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrophilic aromatic substitution and single‐electron transfer (SET) by the phenylium ion in the gas phase: characterization of a long‐lived SET intermediate
Authors: Yao Shengjun , Zhang Xiang , Zhou Jing , Qian Rong , Xu Zhe , Fang Fang , Wei Yuanlong , Wang Cuihong , Yuan Shuai , Guo Yinlong
Published: August 2008

Gas‐phase mass spectrometric studies and calculations were performed for the reaction of naked phenylium ion with several benzene halides. From these reactions, the molecular ion for biphenyl as the predominant product was obtained only from the reaction of phenylium ions with iodobenzene and bromobenzene. Furthermore, through the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of the ion at m/z 281, the only dissociation observed is the loss of a phenyl radical, which indicates that a single‐electron transfer (SET) mechanism might have occurred within the reaction. Additionally, according to the comparison between the CID experiments of those isomeric compounds of the σ‐complexes and the CID experiment of the ion at m/z 281 captured in the ion trap, we have also defined the captured ion at m/z 281 as an SET‐intimate ion pair rather than those of σ‐complexes or the diphenyliodonium. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical and experimental studies of cationized uracil complexes in the gas phase
Authors: Zins Emilie‐Laure , Rochut Sophie , Pepe Claude
Published: August 2008

Cationized uracil clusters were generated in the gas phase by electrospray ionization (ESI). Mass spectrometry experiments showed that with particular experimental conditions, decameric uracil clusters are magic number clusters. MS/MS experiments demonstrated that the structure of these decameric uracil clusters depends substantially on the size and the charge of the cation. On the basis of the ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemistry calculations, structures for these decameric clusters were proposed. These structures are in agreement with the experimental mass spectra of modified nucleobases. Theoretical calculations showed that complexes experimentally observed using ESI‐MS techniques, are not naturally the most stable in the gas phase. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrafast spectroscopy of ZnO/ZnMgO quantum wells
Authors: Davis J.A. , Jagadish C.
Published: August 2008

We review recent work studying the dynamics in zinc oxide quantum wells (QWs) using ultrafast optical spectroscopy. These materials present exciting possibilities for optoelectronic device applications. In order to develop these applications, it is important to understand the mechanisms of the electronic processes occurring in ZnO/ZnMgO QWs. In this review, we discuss the excitonic lifetime and the impact of the internal electric field, the potential profile, phonons, and defects. We also discuss coherence dynamics and the observation of biexcitons at room temperature.
Novel Polyolefins Containing Crystallizable Isotactic Polystyrene Side Chains
Authors: Gall Barbara T. , McCahill Jennifer , Stephan Douglas W. , Mülhaupt Rolf
Published: August 2008

Vinyl‐terminated isotactic polystyrene macromonomers were copolymerized with ethylene and 1‐octene to new polyolefin graft copolymers with crystallizable polystyrene side chains. The iPS content was varied from 4 to 78 wt.‐% using different metallocene and halfsandwich catalysts. No solubility problems of the stereoregular macromonomer occured, because iPS does not crystallize during polymerization. In addition the polymers show nanophase separation of the polyolefin backbone and the iPS side chains. The crystallization of iPS, having a melting point of about 200 °C, can be achieved by annealing. This synthesis strategy allows the fabrication of a new class of thermoplastic elastomers with improved heat distortion temperatures.

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Carboxylic acid‐containing benzoxazines as efficient catalysts in the thermal polymerization of benzoxazines
Authors: Andreu R. , Reina J. A. , Ronda J. C.
Published: August 2008

The autocatalytic thermal polymerization behavior of three benzoxazine monomers containing carboxylic acid functionalities is reported. Several mixtures of these carboxylic monomers and 3‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine were prepared and their thermal polymerization behavior was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. The acid character of these reactive monomers increases the concentration of oxonium species, thus catalyzing the benzoxazine ring opening reaction. In this way the polymerization temperature decreased by as much as 100 °C in some cases. The existence of decarboxylation processes at high temperatures has been established by FTIR‐ATR and related to the increase in thermal stability observed by TGA in some cases. A relationship between the presence of carboxylic groups in the resulting materials and their flame retardancy behavior has also been established. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6091–6101, 2008
Asymmetric, regio‐ and stereo‐selective alternating copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide catalyzed by chiral chromium Salan complexes
Authors: Li Bo , Wu Guang‐Peng , Ren Wei‐Min , Wang Yi‐Ming , Rao Dun‐Yan , Lu Xiao‐Bing
Published: August 2008

Chiral chromium complexes of tetradentate N,N′‐disubstituted bis(aminophenoxide) (designated as Salan, a saturated version of Schiff‐base Salen ligand) in conjunction with an ionic quaternary ammonium salt can efficiently catalyze the copolymerization of CO2 with racemic propylene oxide (rac‐PO) at mild conditions to selectively afford completely alternating poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) with ∼ 95% head‐to‐tail linkages and moderate enantioselectivity. These new catalyst systems predominantly exceed the previously much‐studied SalenCr(III) systems in catalytic activity, polymer enantioselectivity, and stereochemistry control. The chiral diamine backbone, sterically hindered substitute groups on the aromatic rings, and the presence of sp3‐hydridized amino donors and its N,N′‐disubstituted groups in chiral SalanCr(III) complexes all play significant roles in controlling polymer stereochemistry and enantioselectivity. Furthermore, a relationship between polycarbonate enantioselectivity and its head‐to‐tail linkages in relation to regioselective ring‐opening of the epoxide was also discussed on the basis of stereochemical studies of PPCs derived from the copolymerization of CO2 with chiral PO at various conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6102–6113, 2008
Studies into Laser Ignition of Confined Pyrotechnics
Authors: Ahmad S. Rafi , Russell D. Anthony
Published: August 2008

Ignition tests were carried out on three different pyrotechnics using laser energy from the multimode output from an Ar‐Ion laser (av) at 500 nm and a near‐IR diode laser pigtailed to a fibre optic cable and operating at 808 nm. The pyrotechnics investigated were: G20 black powder, SR44 and SR371C. The confined ignition tests were conducted in a specially designed ignition chamber. Pyrotechnics were ignited by a free space beam entering the chamber through an industrial sapphire window in the case of the Ar‐ion laser. For the NIR diode laser, fibre was ducted through a block into direct contact with the pyrotechnic. The Ar‐Ion laser was chosen as this was found to ignite all three pyrotechnics in the unconfined condition. It also allowed for a direct comparison of confined/unconfined results to be made. The threshold laser flux densities to initiate reproducible ignitions at this wavelength were found to be between ∼12.7 and ∼0.16 kW cm−2. Plotted on the ignition maps are the laser flux densities versus the start of ignition times for the three confined pyrotechnics. It was found from these maps that the times for confined ignition were substantially lower than those obtained for unconfined ignition under similar experimental conditions. For the NIR diode laser flux densities varied between ∼6.8 and ∼0.2 kW cm−2. The minimum ignition times for the NIR diode laser for SR371C (∼11.2 ms) and G20 (∼17.1 ms) were faster than those achieved by the use of the Ar‐ion laser. However, the minimum ignition time was shorter (∼11.7 ms) with the Ar‐ion laser for SR44.
Dickkopf‐1 expression increases early in prostate cancer development and decreases during progression from primary tumor to metastasis
Authors: Hall Christopher L. , Daignault Stephanie D. , Shah Rajal B. , Pienta Kenneth J. , Keller Evan T.
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) frequently metastasizes to the bone and induces osteoblastic lesions. We previously demonstrated through over‐expression of the Wnt inhibitor dickkopf‐1 (DKK‐1) that Wnts contribute to the osteoblastic component of PCa osseous lesions in vivo.

METHODS

To test the clinical significance of DKK‐1 expression during PCa progression, tissue microarrays were stained for DKK‐1 protein by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

DKK‐1 expression index (EI) was found to increase in PIN and primary lesions compared to non‐neoplastic tissue (106 ± 10 vs. 19 ± 6, respectively, where the EI is the product of the percent expression and staining intensity). DKK‐1 expression was also found to be higher in all PCa metastatic lesions (56 ± 21 EI) compared to non‐neoplastic tissues but was significantly decreased versus primary PCa lesions (P < 0.008). The decline in DKK‐1 correlated with a shift of β‐catenin staining from the nucleus to the cytoplasm suggesting possible mechanism for the observed decrease in DKK‐1 levels during PCa progression. Within metastatic lesions, DKK‐1 expression was least abundant in PCa bone metastases relative to all soft tissue PCa metastatic lesions except lymph node metastases. High DKK‐1 expression within PCa metastases was further associated with shorter over‐all patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these data demonstrate that elevated DKK‐1 expression is an early event in PCa and that as PCa progresses DKK‐1 expression declines, particularly in advanced bone metastases. The decline of DKK‐1 in bone metastases can unmask Wnts' osteoblastic activity. These data support a model in which DKK‐1 is a molecular switch that transitions the phenotype of PCa osseous lesions from osteolytic to osteoblastic. Prostate 68: 1396–1404, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.