bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two cases of esophageal carcinoma following corrosive esophagitis successfully treated with chemoradiation therapy
Authors: BURMEISTER Bryan H , WALPOLE Euan T , THOMAS Janine , SMITHERS B Mark
Published: June 2007

Background:  Ingestion of corrosive substances can be associated with severe damage to the esophagus, resulting in strictures. It is also known to be associated with an increased incidence of esophageal carcinoma. In many such cases surgery to cure the cancer is compromised by earlier surgery for corrosive damage or due to fibrosis.

Methods:  We reviewed a database of 1246 patients collected between 1988 and 2006 with esophageal cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas arising in two patients with previous corrosive esophagitis were identified.

Results:  Both patients were treated with definitive cisplatin‐based chemoradiation therapy. In both cases a complete response occurred and after a minimum follow up of 4 years, both cases remain in remission.

Conclusions:  We conclude that definitive chemoradiation therapy can be successful in the management of squamous cell carcinoma arising patients with corrosive esophagitis.
Effects of Exercise and Diet on Weight Gain During Nicotine Cessation in Rats1
Authors: Popp Kathryn A.
Published: June 2007

The present experiment examined the effects of exercise and the prevention of access to sweet food on nicotine cessation‐induced changes in body weight, body fat, and plasma insulin levels in rats. As in previous studies, nicotine administration reduced body weight gain and sweet food consumption, and nicotine cessation increased body weight gain and sweet food consumption. Exercise (swimming) reduced nicotine cessation‐induced increases in weight gain and body fat, and reduced plasma insulin levels. Preventing access to sweet food also reduces plasma insulin levels and body fat, but did not reduce weight gain. Insulin sensitivity is discussed as a possible mechanism for changes in body weight resulting from nicotine administration and cessation. In addition, the possible implications of these findings for behavioral and pharmacological interventions to prevent weight gain induced by smoking cessation are presented.
Stress and Multiple Potential Affiliates: Does Misery Choose Miserable Company?
Authors: Moore Philip J. , Kulik James A. , Mahler Heike I. M.
Published: June 2007

According to Schachter's (1959) emotional similarity hypothesis, individuals facing a threat will prefer to affiliate with others facing a more, rather than less, similar threat. Previous research has been limited largelyto hypothetical or one‐time affiliation choices within dyads in response tolaboratory stressors. This study examined affiliations between preoperativesurgical patients and their multiple hospital roommates. A multiple affiliation order (MAO) procedure was developed to assess participants' affiliation levels as a function of their similarity to their multiple roommates. Patients affiliated more with roommates who were likewise preoperative andthose with more similar health problems. Participants' anxiety levelsdid not moderate either of these effects. Other potential MAO applications are presented, and their implications for future research are discussed.
Biobehavioral Predictor Variables of Treatment Outcome in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders1
Authors: Bernstein Dana N. , Gatchel Robert J.
Published: June 2007

A biopsychosocial intervention approach has been found to be effective in the treatment of chronic medical conditions such as temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Recent research has begun to evaluate factors that may predict positive treatment response to such an approach. The present study was designed to assess the ability of two variables (a muscle disorder diagnosis and an elevation of Scale 3 on the MMPI‐2) to predict treatment outcomes in a sample of chronic TMD patients. A total of 121 patients with chronic TMD were randomly assigned to one of five different treatment conditions: biofeedback, cognitive‐behavioral skills training (CBST), combined CBST/biofeedback, no treatment/random control, or no treatment/not interested in treatment control. All patients were administered the standard Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for TMD at pretreatment. They were reevaluated at posttreatment and 1 year after intervention. There were also four patient classification groups: dual presence of MMPI‐2 Scale 3 elevation and an RDC muscle disorder diagnosis; MMPI‐2 Scale 3 elevation and no RDC muscle disorder diagnosis; no MMPI‐2 Scale 3 elevation and an RDC muscle disorder diagnosis; and no MMPI‐2 Scale 3 elevation and no RDC muscle disorder diagnosis. Results revealed that the patient classification group variable significantly affected posttreatment pain levels. Such findings have important treatment implications and also suggest the significant biopsychosocial underpinnings of a chronic medical condition such as TMD.
Eating Self‐Efficacy and Binge Eating Disorder in Obese Women
Authors: Clark Matthew M. , Forsyth Leighann H. , Lloyd‐Richardson Elizabeth E. , King Teresa K.
Published: June 2007

Investigators have begun to identify characteristics of obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) so that treatment programs can be tailored to meet the needs of this population. One important area in behavior change is self‐efficacy. However, the relationship between BED and eating self‐efficacy has received limited empirical investigation. In this study, obese women with BED had significantly lower eating self‐efficacy and higher levels of depression compared with non‐BED obese women. Additionally, the relationship between eating self‐efficacy and BED was not mediated by level of depression. If further investigations support these findings, programs for BED should incorporate skills to enhance eating self‐efficacy and foster strategies to manage negative affect.
Broadband multimode baffled piezoelectric cylindrical shell transducers
Authors: Oishi Tetsuro , Aronov Boris , Brown David A.
Published: June 2007

Hollow piezoelectric cylindrical shell transducers may be made directional for underwater acoustic applications by the use of suitable acoustical baffles and the operational bandwidth may be extended by using multiple resonant modes. A theoretical and experimental investigation was performed for circumferentially baffled piezoelectric cylindrical shell transducers operating in the zero and one modes of extensional vibration. The frequency responses and directivity patterns were analyzed under various conditions of energizing separate halves of electrodes. It was found that the broadest frequency response with nearly constant beamwidth can be obtained when the two halves of the piezoelectric ring are electromechanically excited 90deg out-of-phase. The experimental results obtained with a proof-of-concept transducer were in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Fresnel approximations for acoustic fields of rectangularly symmetric sources
Authors: Mast T. Douglas
Published: June 2007

A general approach is presented for determining the acoustic fields of rectangularly symmetric, baffled, time-harmonic sources under the Fresnel approximation. This approach is applicable to a variety of separable source configurations, including uniform, exponential, Gaussian, sinusoidal, and error function surface velocity distributions, with and without focusing in either surface dimension. In each case, the radiated field is given by a formula similar to that for a uniform rectangular source, except for additional scaling of wave number and azimuthal distance parameters. The expressions presented are generalized to three different Fresnel approximations that correspond, respectively, to diffracted plane waves, diffracted spherical waves, or diffracted cylindrical waves. Numerical results, for several source geometries relevant to ultrasonic applications, show that these expressions accurately depict the radiated pressure fields, except for points very near the radiating aperture. Highest accuracy near the source is obtained by choice of the Fresnel approximation most suited to the source geometry, while the highest accuracy far from the source is obtained by the approximation corresponding to diffracted spherical waves. The methods are suitable for volumetric computations of acoustic fields including focusing, apodization, and attenuation effects.
Time dependence of vocal tract modes during production of vowels and vowel sequences
Authors: Story Brad H.
Published: June 2007

Vocal tract shaping patterns based on articulatory fleshpoint data from four speakers in the University of Wisconsin x-ray microbeam (XRMB) database [J. Westbury, UW-Madison, (1994)] were determined with a principal component analysis (PCA). Midsagittal cross-distance functions representative of approximately the front 6cm of the oral cavity for each of 11 vowels and vowel–vowel (VV) sequences were obtained from the pellet positions and the hard palate profile for the four speakers. A PCA was independently performed on each speaker’s set of cross-distance functions representing static vowels only, and again with time-dependent cross-distance functions representing vowels and VV sequences. In all cases, results indicated that the first two orthogonal components (referred to as modes) accounted for more than 97% of the variance in each speaker’s set of cross-distance functions. In addition, the shape of each mode was shown to be similar across the speakers suggesting that the modes represent common patterns of vocal tract deformation. Plots of the resulting time-dependent coefficient records showed that the four speakers activated each mode similarly during production of the vowel sequences. Finally, a procedure was described for using the time-dependent mode coefficients obtained from the XRMB data as input for an area function model of the vocal tract.
Simulating listener errors in using genetic algorithms for perceptual optimization
Authors: Başkent Deniz , Edwards Brent
Published: June 2007

The genetic algorithm (GA) was previously suggested for fitting hearing aid or cochlear implant features by using listener’s subjective judgment. In the present study, two human factors that might affect the outcome of the GA when used for perceptual optimization were explored with simulations. Listeners with varying sensitivity in discriminating sentences of different intelligibility and with varying error rates in entering their judgment to the GA were simulated. A comparison of the simulation results with the results from human subjects reported by Başkent et al. Ear Hear. 28(3) 277–289 (2007) showed that these factors could reduce the performance of the GA considerably.
An investigation of Rubens flame tube resonances
Authors: Gardner Michael D. , Dix Gordon , Gee Kent L. , Giraud Jarom
Published: June 2007

The Rubens flame tube is a 100+ year-old teaching demonstration that allows observers to visualize acoustic standing wave behavior [H. Rubens and O. Krigar-Menzel, Ann. Phys. (Leipzig) 17, 149 (1905)]. Flammable gas inside the tube flows through holes drilled along the top and flames are then lit above. The tube is closed at one end and is driven with a loudspeaker at the other end. When the tube is driven at one of its resonance frequencies, the flames form a visual standing wave pattern as they vary in height according to the pressure amplitude in the tube. Although the basic performance of the tube has been explained [G. Ficken and C. Stephenson, Phys. Teach., 17, 306–310 (1979)], a previously unreported characteristic of some flame tubes has been observed and studied. This phenomenon involves an upward shift of the natural frequencies of the lower modes from what would ordinarily be expected in a closed-closed tube. Results from a numerical model suggest that the shift is primarily due to a Helmholtz resonance effect created by the drilled holes. The numerical results are compared to experimental findings and discussed.
Étude DFT des réactions de cycloaddition de type Diels–Alder sur le 4-aza-6-nitrobenzofuroxane
Authors: Ayadi Sameh , Abderrabba Manef
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this work is a theoretical study of Diels–Alder reactions between the 4-aza-6-nitrobenzofuroxan 1 with a series of dienophiles 3a–3c. From a thermodynamic and orbital point of view, we discuss the reactivity and the stereoselectivty of these reactions. Activation barriers in the Diels-Alder reactions of compound 1 with a series of dienophiles 3a–3c have been calculated and discussed.Key words: inverse electron demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA), DFT method, 4-aza-6-nitrobenzofuroxane.
N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS) — Selective and effective catalyst for trimethylsilylation of alcohols and phenols using hexamethyldisilazane and their regeneration under mild and neutral reaction conditions
Authors: Khazaei Ardeshir , Rostami Amin , Raiatzadeh Ayeh , Mahboubifar Marjan
Published: June 2007

Structurally diverse alcohols and phenols were trimethylsilylated in a clean and efficient reaction with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) based on the use of a catalytic amount of N-bromosuccinimide under both dichloromethane and solvent-free conditions at room temperature. Deprotection of trimethylsilyl ethers was also be achieved efficiently in the presence of a catalytic amount of NBS in methanol at ambient temperature.Key words: N-bromosuccinimide, solvent-free, alcohols, phenols, hexamethyldisilazane, trimethylsilyl ether, catalyst, detrimethylsilylation.
Intermolecular interactions and electronic properties in phosphino-(oligothiophene) palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes
Authors: Stott Tracey L , Wolf Michael O , Patrick Brian O
Published: June 2007

A series of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes containing diphenylphosphino-substituted oligothiophene ligands ranging from 1 to 3 thiophene rings in length have been prepared. Crystal structures of four of these complexes were determined via single X-ray crystal diffraction and the solid-state packing arrangements found to vary with both the metal and the thiophene-containing ligand. In some cases, π-stacking between thiophene rings are found for the oligothiophene ligands. Solution and solid-state absorption spectra of these complexes are reported.Key words: oligothiophenes, metal complexes, structural properties, electronic spectra.
Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of Pd(II) salicylaldimine complexes derived from aminophenols
Authors: Tardiff Bennett J , Smith Joshua C , Duffy Stephen J , Vogels Christopher M , Decken Andreas , Westcott Stephen A
Published: June 2007

Schiff bases, derived from the condensation of salicylaldehydes with 3- and 4-aminophenol, reacted with palladium(II) acetate to give the corresponding bis(N-arylsalicylaldiminato)palladium(II) complexes. These complexes have been found to be active catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with aryl boronic acids, using water as a solvent.Key words: cross-coupling, green chemistry, palladium, salicylaldimines, Schiff base, Suzuki–Miyaura.
CHAOTIC DYNAMICS OF A FIVE-DIMENSIONAL NONLINEAR NETWORK
Authors: JIANG XUEWEI , YUAN DI , XIAO YI
Published: June 2007

The dynamics of a five-dimensional nonlinear network based on the theory of Chinese traditional medicine is studied by the Lyapunov exponent spectrum, Poincaré, power spectrum and bifurcation diagrams. The result shows that this system has complex dynamical behaviors, such as chaotic ones. It also shows that the system evolves into chaos through a series of period-doubling bifurcations.
Joint Dynamics Modeling and Parameter Identification for Space Robot Applications
Authors: da Silva Adenilson R. , de Souza Luiz C. Gadelha , Schäfer Bernd
Published: June 2007

Long-term mission identification and model validation for in-flight manipulator control system in almost zero gravity with hostile space environment are extremely important for robotic applications. In this paper, a robot joint mathematical model is developed where several nonlinearities have been taken into account. In order to identify all the required system parameters, an integrated identification strategy is derived. This strategy makes use of a robust version of least-squares procedure (LS) for getting the initial conditions and a general nonlinear optimization method (MCS—multilevel coordinate search—algorithm) to estimate the nonlinear parameters. The approach is applied to the intelligent robot joint (IRJ) experiment that was developed at DLR for utilization opportunity on the International Space Station (ISS). The results using real and simulated measurements have shown that the developed algorithm and strategy have remarkable features in identifying all the parameters with good accuracy.
Stochastic Finite Element Technique for Stochastic One‐Dimension Time‐Dependent Differential Equations with Random Coefficients
Authors: Saleh M. M. , El-Kalla I. L. , Ehab M. M.
Published: June 2007

The stochastic finite element method (SFEM) is employed for solving stochastic one‐dimension time‐dependent differential equations with random coefficients. SFEM is used to have a fixed form of linear algebraic equations for polynomial chaos coefficients of the solution process. Four fixed forms are obtained in the cases of stochastic heat equation with stochastic heat capacity or heat conductivity coefficients and stochastic wave equation with stochastic mass density or elastic modulus coefficients. The relation between the exact deterministic solution and the mean of solution process is numerically studied.
Degenerate Differential Operators with Parameters
Authors: Shakhmurov Veli B.
Published: June 2007

The nonlocal boundary value problems for regular degenerate differential-operator equations with the parameter are studied. The principal parts of the appropriate generated differential operators are non-self-adjoint. Several conditions for the maximal regularity uniformly with respect to the parameter and the Fredholmness in Banach-valuedLp−spaces of these problems are given. In applications, the nonlocal boundary value problems for degenerate elliptic partial differential equations and for systems of elliptic equations with parameters on cylindrical domain are studied.
A New Iterative Algorithm for Approximating Common Fixed Points for Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings
Authors: Zhou HY , Cho YJ , Kang SM
Published: June 2007

Suppose that "Equation missing" is a nonempty closed convex subset of a real uniformly convex and smooth Banach space "Equation missing" with "Equation missing" as a sunny nonexpansive retraction. Let "Equation missing" be two weakly inward and asymptotically nonexpansive mappings with respect to "Equation missing" with sequences "Equation missing", "Equation missing", respectively. Suppose that "Equation missing" is a sequence in "Equation missing" generated iteratively by "Equation missing", "Equation missing", for all "Equation missing", where "Equation missing", "Equation missing", and "Equation missing" are three real sequences in "Equation missing" for some "Equation missing" which satisfy condition "Equation missing". Then, we have the following. (1) If one of "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" is completely continuous or demicompact and "Equation missing", then the strong convergence of "Equation missing" to some "Equation missing" is established. (2) If "Equation missing" is a real uniformly convex Banach space satisfying Opial's condition or whose norm is Fréchet differentiable, then the weak convergence of "Equation missing" to some "Equation missing" is proved.
OnT-Fuzzy Ideals in Nearrings
Authors: Akram Muhammad
Published: June 2007

We introduce the notion of fuzzy ideals in nearrings with respect to at-normTand investigate some of their properties. UsingT-fuzzy ideals, characterizations of Artinian and Noetherian nearrings are established. Some properties ofT-fuzzy ideals of the quotient nearrings are also considered.
Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Depressive Disorders, and Antidepressant Therapy
Authors: Paizanis Eleni , Hamon Michel , Lanfumey Laurence
Published: June 2007

There is a growing body of evidence that neural stem cells reside in the adult central nervous system where neurogenesis occurs throughout lifespan. Neurogenesis concerns mainly two areas in the brain: the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus and the subventricular zone, where it is controlled by several trophic factors and neuroactive molecules. Neurogenesis is involved in processes such as learning and memory and accumulating evidence implicates hippocampal neurogenesis in the physiopathology of depression. We herein review experimental and clinical data demonstrating that stress and antidepressant treatments affect neurogenesis in opposite direction in rodents. In particular, the stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis by all types of antidepressant drugs supports the view that neuroplastic phenomena are involved in the physiopathology of depression and underlie—at least partly—antidepressant therapy.
Limit Cycle for the Brusselator by He's Variational Method
Authors: Zhang Juan
Published: June 2007

He's variational method for finding limit cycles is applied to the Brusselator. The technique developed in this paper is similar to Kantorovitch's method in variational theory. The present theory can be applied not only to weakly nonlinear equations, but also to strongly ones, and the obtained results are valid for the whole solution domain.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic, and Antimicrobial Studies of Binuclear Metallocene (M = Ti, Zr, or Hf) Derivatives of Bis(mercaptoazoles)
Authors: Sinha Shilpi , Srivastava Akhilesh Kumar , Tripathi Chandra Mohan , Pandey Om Prakash , Sengupta Soumitra Kumar
Published: June 2007

The reactions of(η5−C5H5)2MCl2(M = Ti, Zr, or Hf) with mercaptoazoles(LH2), namely, bis(mercaptotriazoles), bis(mercap-tooxadiazoles), and bis(mercaptothiadiazoles) in 2 : 1 molar ratio, respectively, have been studied in dry tetrahydrofuran in the presence ofn-butylamine and the binuclear complexes of the type[{(η−C5H5)2M}2(L)](M = Ti/Zr/Hf) are obtained. Tentative structural conclusions are drawn for the reaction products based upon elemental analysis, electrical conductance, magnetic moment, and spectral data (UV-Vis, IR,H1NMR, andC13NMR). FAB-mass spectra of few complexes of each series were also carried out to confirm the binuclear structures. Studies were conducted to assess the growth-inhibiting potential of the complexes synthesized, and the ligands against various fungal and bacterial strains.
Stability of Functional Inequalities with Cauchy-Jensen Additive Mappings
Authors: Cho Young-Sun , Kim Hark-Mahn
Published: June 2007

We investigate the generalized Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional inequalities associated with Cauchy-Jensen additive mappings. As a result, we obtain that if a mapping satisfies the functional inequalities with perturbation which satisfies certain conditions, then there exists a Cauchy-Jensen additive mapping near the mapping.
Serum TNF-Alpha Level Predicts Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in Children
Authors: Zorena Katarzyna , Myśliwska Jolanta , Myśliwiec Małgorzata , Balcerska Anna , Hak Łukasz , Lipowski Paweł , Raczyńska Krystyna
Published: June 2007

The aim of this study was identification of the immunologic markers of the damage to the eye apparatus at early stages of diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 children. One hundred and eleven children with DM type 1 were divided into two groups: those with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and without retinopathy. All the children had their daily urine albumin excretion, HbA1c, C-peptide measured, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and ophthalmologic examination. Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum were measured by ELISA tests (Quantikine High Sensitivity Human by R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn, USA). The NPDR children demonstrated a significantly longer duration of the disease in addition to higher HbA1c, albumin excretion rate, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, as well as TNF-αand IL-6 levels than those without retinopathy. The logistic regression revealed that the risk of NPDR was strongly dependent on TNF-α[(OR 4.01; 95%CI 2.01–7.96)]. TNF-αappears to be the most significant predictor among the analyzed parameters of damage to the eye apparatus. The early introduction of the TNF-αantagonists to the treatment of young patients with DM type 1 who show high serum activity of the TNF-αmay prevent them from development of diabetic retinopathy.
Meteodiffusive Characterization of Algiers' Nuclear Research Reactor
Authors: Messaci Mourad
Published: June 2007

In the framework of the environmental impact studies of the nuclear research reactor of Algiers, we will present the work related to the atmospheric dispersion of releases due to the installation in normal operation, which dealt with the assessment of spatial distribution of yearly average values of atmospheric dilution factor. The aim of this work is a characterization of the site in terms of diffusivity, which is basic for the radiological impact evaluation of the reactor. The meteorological statistics result from the National Office of Meteorology and concern 15 years of hourly records. According to the nature and features of these data, a Gaussian-type model with wind direction sectors was used. Values of wind speed at release height were estimated from measurement values at 10 m from ground. For the assessment of vertical dispersion coefficient, we used Briggs' formulas related to a sampling time of one hour. Areas of maximum impact were delimited and points of highest concentration within these zones were identified.
Arsenic Metabolism, Genetic Susceptibility, and Risk of Premalignant Skin Lesions in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahsan Habibul , Chen Yu , Kibriya Muhammad G. , Slavkovich Vesna , Parvez Faruque , Jasmine Farzana , Gamble Mary V. , Graziano Joseph H.
Published: June 2007

We conducted a case-control study to investigate interindividual variability in susceptibility to health effects of inorganic arsenic due to arsenic metabolism efficiency, genetic factors, and their interaction. A total of 594 cases of arsenic-induced skin lesions and 1,041 controls was selected from baseline participants in a large prospective cohort study in Bangladesh. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for skin lesions were estimated in relation to the polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase ω1 and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genes, the percentage of monomethylarsonous acid (%MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (%DMA) in urine, and the ratios of MMA to inorganic arsenic and DMA to MMA. Water arsenic concentration was positively associated with %MMA and inversely associated with %DMA. The dose-response relationship of risk of skin lesion with %MMA was more apparent than those with other methylation indices; the ORs for skin lesions in relation to increasing %MMA quartiles were 1.00 (reference), 1.33 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.92-1.93], 1.68 (95% CI, 1.17-2.42), and 1.57 (95% CI, 1.10-2.26; P for trend = 0.01). The ORs for skin lesions in relation to the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677TT/1298AA and 677CT/1298AA diplotypes (compared with 677CC/1298CC diplotype) were 1.66 (95% CI, 1.00-2.77) and 1.77 (95% CI, 0.61-5.14), respectively. The OR for skin lesions in relation to the glutathione S-transferase ω1 diplotype containing all at-risk alleles was 3.91 (95% CI, 1.03-14.79). Analysis of joint effects of genotypes/diplotypes with water arsenic concentration and urinary %MMA suggests additivity of these factors. The findings suggest that arsenic metabolism, particularly the conversion of MMA to DMA, may be saturable and that differences in urinary arsenic metabolites, genetic factors related to arsenic metabolism, and their joint distributions modulate arsenic toxicity. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(6):1270–8)
Blood Folate Levels and Risk of Liver Damage and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Prospective High-Risk Cohort
Authors: Welzel Tania M. , Katki Hormuzd A. , Sakoda Lori C. , Evans Alison A. , London W. Thomas , Chen Gang , O'Broin Sean , Shen Fu-Min , Lin Wen-Yao , McGlynn Katherine A.
Published: June 2007

Background: Studies in experimental animals suggest that low folate levels may play a role in liver damage and hepatocarcinogenesis. To examine this association in humans, folate levels in blood and risk for subsequent liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were assessed in a population at high risk of liver cancer in China.

Methods: Four hundred fifteen hepatitis B surface antigen–positive participants of the Haimen City Cohort were prospectively followed between 1998 and 2002. Serum and RBC folate levels were determined at baseline. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus DNA levels were measured semiannually. Logistic regression modeling was used to examine the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA and HCC, whereas linear regression with a log-link function was used to examine ALT levels.

Results: There was a statistically significant inverse association between serum folate level and ALT level. ALT levels decreased with each quartile increase in serum folate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.97 for the highest compared with the lowest quartile; Ptrend = 0.002). After exclusion of three persons with prevalent HCC, 20 (4.9%) of the 412 study participants developed HCC during follow-up, with a median time between enrollment and HCC diagnosis of 2.66 years (interquartile range, 1.8-4.1). When comparing persons in the lowest quartile RBC folate to persons in all other quartiles, the analysis found that higher RBC folate levels were associated with reduced risk of hepatocarcinogenesis (odds ratio, 0.33, 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.86; Ptrend = 0.02).

Conclusions: This study suggests that increased folate levels in humans may be inversely associated with the development of liver damage and HCC. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;6(6):1279–82)
Polymorphisms in Oxidative Stress–Related Genes Are Not Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk in Heavy Smokers
Authors: Choi Ji-Yeob , Neuhouser Marian L. , Barnett Matt , Hudson Matthew , Kristal Alan R. , Thornquist Mark , King Irena B. , Goodman Gary E. , Ambrosone Christine B.
Published: June 2007

Oxidative stress, associated with aging and inflammation, is likely to play a role in the etiology of prostate cancer. We evaluated potential associations between gene variants that result in reduced neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS; MnSOD Ala-16Val, CAT −262 C>T, and GPX1 Pro200Leu) and prostate cancer risk among 724 men with incident prostate cancer who participated in the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) cohort, a randomized trial for the prevention of lung cancer among men with a history of smoking and/or asbestos exposure. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by logistic regression. Nested case-control analyses included study participants with available DNA (n = 533 cases and 1,470 controls), matched for race, age, and length of follow-time. Overall, there were no associations between genotypes of MnSOD, CAT, and GPX1 and prostate cancer risk, although among men diagnosed before age 65, CAT TT genotype was associated with increased risk (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.97-3.95). Further analyses stratified by factors related to environmental oxidative stress exposures did not modify associations. When calculating the number of risk alleles of MnSOD, CAT, and GPX1 hypothetically related to reduced protection against ROS, there was a nonsignificant relationship between prostate cancer and carriage of five or more risk alleles, in comparison to men with less than five risk alleles (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.90-4.42). In conclusion, it does not seem that variants in MnSOD, CAT, or GPX1 have an influence on prostate cancer risk in this cohort of men who were smokers or exposed to asbestos, although it is possible that cumulative defects in protection from oxidative stress may result in increased risk of the disease. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(6):1115–20)
Revitalizing Stagnated Policy Processes
Authors: Termeer Catrien J. A. M. , Kessener Brechtje
Published: June 2007

Many complex policy processes face stagnations. People involved sense that continuing along existing paths will not produce those outcomes that are desired and deemed necessary. But changing and developing new action strategies is difficult. This article presents the results of an action research that was conducted with civil servants of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. They worked on policy aimed at sustainable agriculture but deadlocked on existing ways of organizing, structuring, and thinking. The configuration approach, a social-cognitive approach of change, provided the theoretical basis. The research reveals hidden configurations, including their fixated frames and patterns perpetuating them. Based on these insights, some suitable interventions are developed. In addition, the research itself proves to be an intervention in its own right that contributes to revitalizing the stagnated processes.
Effect of superimposed oscillations on creep behaviour of Al – 2 4·.5Cu and Al – 2 4·5Cu – 2 0·1In (wt-%) alloys containing θ′ precipitates
Authors: El-Rehim A. F. Abd
Published: June 2007

The behaviour of both transient and steady state creep of Al – 4·5Cu and Al – 4·5Cu – 0·1In (wt-%) alloys was investigated using a constant stress where torsional oscillations of different frequencies and shear strain amplitudes were operated at various working temperatures. An augment in both transient and steady state creep rates was observed by increasing both frequency and shear strain amplitude of the applied oscillations. The mean values of the activation energy of both alloys for both creep stages were found to be equal to that quoted for dislocation intersection mechanism.
FEM analysis to predict development of structure during extrusion and subsequent solution soak cycle
Authors: Flitta I. , Sheppard T. , Peng Z.
Published: June 2007

Materials which form the surface and subcutaneous layers of an extrudate experience large deformations when they traverse the die land, which, added to the inhomogeneous caused by the dead metal zone, leads to considerable modifications to the deformation parameters when compared with the remainder of the extrusion. The distribution of structure is therefore greatly inhomogeneous. Reference to both empirical and physical models of the recrystallisation process indicates that nucleation and growth will differ at these locations in those alloys that are usually solution treated and aged subsequent to the deformation process. Since static recrystallisation (SRX) has a significant influence on many of the properties of the extrudate, it is therefore essential to provide the methodology to predict these variations. In the present work, a physical model based on dislocation density, subgrain size and misorientation is modified and integrated into the commercial FEM codes, FORGE2 and FORGE3 to study the changes of the microstructure. Axisymmetrical and shape extrusion are presented as examples. The evolution of the substructure influencing SRX is studied. The metallurgical behaviours of axisymmetric extrusion and that of shape extrusion are compared. The predicted results show an agreement with the experimental measurement. The distribution of equivalent strain, temperature compensated strain rate and temperatures is also presented to aid in interpretation. Importantly the properties of hard alloys improve with the increase in the temperature of the extrusion. This phenomenon is discussed and theoretically justified.
Dispersion strengthening in vanadium microalloyed steels processed by simulated thin slab casting and direct charging Part 2 – Chemical characterisation of dispersion strengthening precipitates
Authors: Wilson J. A. , Craven A. J. , Li Y. , Baker T. N.
Published: June 2007

The compositions of sub-15 nm particles in six related vanadium high strength low alloy steels, made by simulated thin slab direct charged casting, have been determined using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Such particles are considered to be responsible for dispersion hardening. For the first time, particles down to 4 nm in size have had their composition fully determined. In all the steels, the particles were nitrogen and vanadium rich and possibly slightly substoichiometric carbonitrides. Equilibrium thermodynamics predicted much higher carbon to metal atomic ratios than observed in all cases so that kinetics and mechanical deformation clearly control the precipitation process. Thus it is important to formulate the steel with this in mind.
Dispersion strengthening in vanadium microalloyed steels processed by simulated thin slab casting and direct charging Part 1 – Processing parameters, mechanical properties and microstructure
Authors: Li Y. , Wilson J. A. , Craven A. J. , Mitchell P. S. , Crowther D. N. , Baker T. N.
Published: June 2007

A study simulating thin slab continuous casting followed by direct charging into an equalisation furnace has been undertaken based on six low carbon (0·06 wt-%) vanadium microalloyed steels. Mechanical and impact test data showed that properties were similar or better than those obtained from similar microalloyed conventional thick cast as rolled slabs. The dispersion plus dislocation strengthening was estimated to be in the range 80–250 MPa. A detailed TEM/EELS analysis of the dispersion sized sub 15 nm particles showed that in all the steels, they were essentially nitrides with little crystalline carbon detected. In the steels V–Nb, V–Ti and V–Nb–Ti, mixed transition metal nitrides were present. Modelling of equilibrium precipitates in these steels, based on a modified version of ChemSage, predicted that only vanadium rich nitrides would precipitate in austenite but that the C/N ratio would increase through the two phase field and in ferrite. The experimental analytical data clearly point to the thin slab direct charging process, which has substantially higher cooling rates than conventional casting, nucleating non-equilibrium particles in ferrite which are close to stoichiometric nitrides. These did not coarsen during the final stages of processing, but retained their highly stable average size of, ∼7 nm resulting in substantial dispersion strengthening. The results are considered in conjunction with pertinent published literature.
Modelling hot plane strain compression test Part 3 – Effect of asymmetric conditions
Authors: Mirza M. S. , Sellars C. M.
Published: June 2007

Finite element analysis has been used to study possible causes of asymmetrical deformation in plane strain compression tests and their consequences. It is shown that U shaped or Z shaped distortion of the specimens can arise from temperature gradients, lateral offset of the tools and non-uniform lubrication, which causes different coefficients of friction at the top and bottom tools, or a changing coefficient of friction across the width of the tools. When the tools are rigid, the stress–strain curves are the same as for specimens deformed symmetrically under the same mean, but uniform conditions. With changing friction conditions across the width of the tools, the lateral load generated can be sufficiently large to cause lateral displacement of the tools in experimental practice. Computation with the top tool free to rotate leads to severe asymmetry and a small reduction in the level of the stress–strain curve.
Triple junction energy and prospects for measuring it
Authors: King A. H.
Published: June 2007

By considering three different experiments that might be used to measure the energy of triple junctions, we demonstrate some less than obvious properties of these defects. Grain boundary triple junctions in polycrystals are shown to have distinct energy components some of which relate to their structure, but also another of which is determined only by the grain size. Complications of each of the proposed experimental techniques are discussed and it is shown why there have not yet been any convincing measurements of triple junction energy.
Stretch-flangeability of strong multiphase steels
Authors: Chatterjee S. , Bhadeshia H. K. D. H.
Published: June 2007

Stretch-flangeability measures the ability of a material to form into a complex shape. The parameter is often related to simple properties derived from tensile tests. An attempt is made here to discover the best way to exploit tensile test data to indicate flangeabilty. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength of steel is the single most important criterion that correlates with stretch-flangeability.
Thermal expansion characteristic of Ni53·6Mn27·1Ga19·3 alloy with columnar structure
Authors: Rudajevová A. , Frost M. , Jäger A.
Published: June 2007

As cast ingot of the polycrystalline shape memory Ni53·6Mn27·1Ga19·3 alloy was composed of columnar and equiaxed grains. Dilatation characteristics of the samples with columnar grains were studied in the temperature range of 25–370°C and compared with the dilatation characteristics of the samples with equiaxed grains. The results show that shape memory effect strongly depends on the microstructure. Preferred orientation of crystallites in the columnar structure determines its memory strain. The alloy with columnar structure was also examined after predeformation in compression. Two kinds of strains were found in the predeformed samples. Dilatation characteristics of the non-deformed and predeformed martensite show anomalous behaviour.
One-pot Preparation of Mesoporous Silica Particles Having Mesopore Surface Functionalized with Poly(propylene oxide) Chains
Authors: Urata Chihiro , Yamauchi Yusuke , Mochizuki Dai , Kuroda Kazuyuki
Published: June 2007

Mesoporous silica particles having mesopore surface functionalized with poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) chains were prepared in one pot by using newly designed triethoxysilyl-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers with structure-directing and surface-modifying dual functions.
A simple technique for blood collection in the opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Authors: Moore D. M.
Published: June 2007

The left and right brachiocephalic veins were used for rapid collection of 5-10 ml blood samples in adult opossums. These vessels were also used to collect 0·5-1 ml blood samples in 120-day-old opossums. The animals were anaesthetized with 30 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride given intramuscularly prior to blood collection.
Adenovirus pneumonia in guineapigs: an experimental reproduction of the disease
Authors: Kunstýř I. , Maess J. , Naumann Susanne , Kaup F. J. , Kraft V. , Knocke K. W.
Published: June 2007

The recently described virus-induced pneumonia in guineapigs (Naumann et al., 1981) was experimentally reproducible in newborn animals, though not in preadult animals. Baby hamsters and newborn rats were also not susceptible to infection. 10 of 11 infected newborn guineapigs developed pathological changes identical with those found in spontaneous cases. The incubation period was from 5 to 10 days. The agent could not be cultivated in vitro, and therefore no applicable serological tests could be established. The morphology of the virus, its intranuclear location, the course of the disease and the histopathological and ultra-structural changes strongly suggest that the virus is an adenovirus specific for guineapigs. The virus did not cross-react with human or fowl adenoviruses. It was ether resistant and non-oncogenic in baby rats and hamsters. During a 5-year period we registered a total of 51 spontaneous death cases diagnosed as adenovirus pneumonia in our experimental guineapigs, 4 from own breeding colony.
Excretion of B virus in monkeys and evidence of genital infection
Authors: Zwartouw H. T. , Boulter E. A.
Published: June 2007

3 different types of observation all demonstrated that B virus ( Herpesvirus simiae) infection of monkeys was not confined to the mouth but was also a genital infection. (1) Latent B virus was reactivated in a seropositive female monkey, which was immunosuppressed with antilymphocyte globulin, and infectious virus was excreted in the genital tract. (2) During an epizootic in a breeding colony, B virus was isolated from 4 genital and 3 oral sites as well as from a skin lesion. (3) In cultures of sensory nerve ganglia taken from seropositive monkeys, B virus was recovered more frequently from ganglia subserving the genital region than the oral region.
Effects of Homozygosity of the nude (rnu) gene in an inbred strain of rats: Studies of lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs in different age groups of nude rats of LEW background at a stage in the gene transfer
Authors: Hougen H. P. , Klausen B.
Published: June 2007

Several age groups of nude homozygous rnu/rnu and heterozygous rnu/+ rats of the same genetic background at an early stage of back-crossing (LEW/Mol) were compared as to body and organ weights, histological appearance and cell density of lymphoid organs, haematological values and differential counts of bone marrow and peripheral blood. No thymic tissue was found in the nude animals. 7-week-old nudes were smaller than control animals and had relatively larger non-lymphoid organs and cell-depleted peripheral lymphoid organs. Other age groups showed little difference. Peripheral blood of nude rats showed no signs of lymphopaenia in contrast with the findings in nude mice. The number of thoracic duct lymphocytes was, however, significantly smaller in all age groups of the nude rats, and the bone marrow tended to contain fewer lymphocytes.
Biological features of the new A2G-adr mouse mutant with abnormal muscle function
Authors: Watkins W. Jean , Watts D. C.
Published: June 2007

A new mouse mutant (A2G- adr) with abnormal muscle function is described and has been compared with the 129 Re dystrophic mouse. The mutation, which is due to an autosomal gene defect, results in myotonic-like spasms, progressive muscle weakness and a reduced lifespan. Affected animals were consistently lighter than normal littermates; comparison of organ weights and organ-to-bodyweight ratios indicated a slower growth rate in the mutants.
Effect of partial ileal bypass on ileum morphology in cholesterol-fed pigs
Authors: Schouten J. A. , Beynen A. C. , Meijer S. , Hoitsma H. F. W.
Published: June 2007

We have studied ileum morphology in pigs 3·5 months after partial ileal bypass (PIB) surgery. PIB caused a reduction in the length of the bypassed ileum by 60%, while the circumference was decreased by about 70%. We did not find evidence for dilatation of the functional, neo-terminal ileum. These results in pigs are contrary to those found earlier in rabbits. This may be of importance concerning the choice of animal model to study the effects of PIB.
Reliable diagnosis of Trichosomoides crassicauda in the urinary bladder of the rat
Authors: Cornish J. , Vanderwee M. A. , Findon G. , Miller T. E.
Published: June 2007

Two reliable methods are described for identifying infection of laboratory rats with the nematode Trichosomoides crassicauda. The first is a rapid method where cryostat sections of the rat urinary bladder are stained with acridine orange and viewed under a fluorescence microscope. The second involves the stabilization of the bladder surface prior to examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).