bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Pyranoid and Furanoid Glycals from Glycosyl Sulfoxides by Treatment with Organolithium Reagents
Authors: Gómez Ana M. , Casillas Marta , Barrio Aitor , Gawel Anna , López J. Cristóbal
Published: June 2008

Glycosyl sulfoxides can be conveniently transformed into pyranoid or furanoid glycals by treatment with organolithium reagents. The more likely reaction pathway involves a sulfoxide/metal exchange reaction to generate a glycosyllithium derivative that undergoes β‐elimination of its C‐2 substituent. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Control and performance of health care systems. A comparative analysis of 19 OECD countries
Authors: Kotzian Peter
Published: June 2008

This paper performs an empirical comparison of health systems.

Health systems are seen as networks of delegation relationships among principals and agents, subject to agency problems. Following the institutional economics approach, a health system's efficiency is considered to be determined by the existence and treatment of agency problems. Agency problems can be controlled by mechanisms built into the health system, or can also be controlled by an external actor, for example, the government, either by using the instruments available or by conducting institutional reforms. To explain differences in the amenability of a country's health system to external governmental control, I combine the veto player approach and the incentives for societal actors to exert influence, into the concept of indirect veto players: the more indirect veto players exist, the less external control will be exercised.

I derive indicators capturing both forms of control and perform a comparison of health systems based on institutional and performance data. Using data reducing methods, I identify two dimensions of control underlying the institutional setting of the health system and three dimensions of health system performance. The relationships found between control and performance confirm the hypotheses derived from the adopted theoretical approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Steric repulsions, rotation barriers, and stereoelectronic effects: A real space perspective
Authors: Pendás A. Martín , Blanco M. A. , Francisco E.
Published: June 2008

Widely used chemical concepts like Pauli repulsion or hyperconjugation, and their role in determining rotation barriers or stereoelectronic effects, are analyzed from the real space perspective of the interacting quantum atoms approach (IQA). IQA emerges from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), but is free from the equilibrium geometry constraint of the former. A framework with both electronically unrelaxed and relaxed wavefunctions is presented that leads to an approximate correspondence between the IQA concepts and those used in the EDA (energy decomposition analysis) or NBO (natural bond orbital) procedures. We show that no net force acts upon the electrons in an electronically relaxed system, so that any reasonable definition of Pauli repulsion must involve unrelaxed state functions. Using antisymmetrized fragments clarifies that Pauli repulsions are energetically connected to the IQA deformation energies, leaving footprints in the finally relaxed states. Similarly, EDA or NBO hyperconjugative stabilizations are found to be naturally related to the IQA electron delocalization patterns. Applications to the rotation barrier of ethane and other simple systems are presented, and the very often forgotten role of electrostatic contributions in determining preferred conformations is highlighted. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
The transcription factors HeBlimp and HeT‐brain of an indirectly developing polychaete suggest ancestral endodermal, gastrulation, and sensory cell‐type specification roles
Authors: Arenas‐Mena Cesar
Published: June 2008

The expression of Blimp and T‐brain was characterized during embryogenesis of the indirectly developing polychaete Hydroides elegans. The expression of both genes in the vegetal blastomeres of this lophotrochozoan is restricted to the lateral and oral regions of the blastopore. Both transcription factors also have expression patterns consistent with ancestral neural functions. HeBlimp is expressed in a couple of animal cap cells and exhibits a marked left bias that correlates with earlier development of the left eye in H. elegans. HeT‐brain is expressed in animal cap blastomeres and eventually becomes restricted to apical tuft cells of early trochophore stages. The expression of Blimp and T‐brain among directly and indirectly developing bilaterians suggests ancestral sensory cell‐type specification, gastrulation by invagination, endoderm specification, mesoderm specification, and/or tripartite gut subdivision. These characterizations add to the long‐term goal of understanding the regulatory evolution functions that underlies complex life cycles in metazoans. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 310B:567–576, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of soapstock and deodorizer distillates of vegetable oils using gas chromatography
Authors: Dumont Marie‐Josée , Narine Suresh S.
Published: June 2008

Soapstock and deodorizer distillates are complex lipid mixtures that are produced in significant amounts by the vegetable oil refining process. These mixtures contain components such as fatty acids, sterols, squalene and tocopherols that have important commercial value and therefore their characterization and quantification are of interest. We describe here the development of a simple gas chromatography (GC) method based on a silylation derivatization technique coupled with the use of a medium polar column to separate the different classes of fatty compounds in these waste streams. This method is suitable for GC coupled with either a flame ionization detector or a mass spectrometer.
Multipliers of Laplace transform type for ultraspherical expansions
Authors: Martinez Teresa
Published: June 2008

We define and investigate the multipliers of Laplace transform type associated to the differential operator Lλf (θ) = –f ″(θ) – 2λ cot θf ′(θ) + λ2f (θ), λ > 0. We prove that these operators are bounded in Lp ((0, π), dmλ) and of weak type (1, 1) with respect to the same measure space, dmλ (θ) = (sin θ)2λ dθ. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease following fetal nigral transplantation
Authors: Herzog Jan , Pogarell Oliver , Pinsker Marcus O. , Kupsch Andreas , Oertel Wolfgang H. , Lindvall Olle , Deuschl Günther , Volkmann Jens
Published: June 2008

OFF‐period dyskinesias have been reported as a consequence of fetal nigral transplantation for Parkinson's disease. This type of dyskinesias may appear in patients even in the prolonged absence of antiparkinson medication and be aggravated by levodopa. Therefore, pharmacological therapeutic approaches in these patients are limited. Here we report two patients with bilateral fetal nigral grafts in the caudate and putamen subjected to deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) or subthalamic nucleus (STN). Clinical assessment was performed according to UPDRS and the clinical dyskinesia rating scale. In both patients, we found significant improvement in OFF‐period symptoms as well as levodopa‐induced dyskinesias. However, only GPi‐DBS led to a significant reduction of OFF‐period dyskinesias whereas STN‐DBS did not influence dyskinesias unrelated to external dopaminergic application. These findings, based on two case reports, highlight the pivotal role of the GPi in mediating dyskinesia‐related neural activity within the basal ganglia loop. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Effective connectivity profile: A structural representation that evidences the relationship between protein structures and sequences
Authors: Bastolla Ugo , Ortíz Angel R. , Porto Markus , Teichert Florian
Published: June 2008

The complexity of protein structures calls for simplified representations of their topology. The simplest possible mathematical description of a protein structure is a one‐dimensional profile representing, for instance, buriedness or secondary structure. This kind of representation has been introduced for studying the sequence to structure relationship, with applications to fold recognition. Here we define the effective connectivity profile (EC), a network theoretical profile that self‐consistently represents the network structure of the protein contact matrix. The EC profile makes mathematically explicit the relationship between protein structure and protein sequence, because it allows predicting the average hydrophobicity profile (HP) and the distributions of amino acids at each site for families of homologous proteins sharing the same structure. In this sense, the EC provides an analytic solution to the statistical inverse folding problem, which consists in finding the statistical properties of the set of sequences compatible with a given structure. We tested these predictions with simulations of the structurally constrained neutral (SCN) model of protein evolution with structure conservation, for single‐ and multi‐domain proteins, and for a wide range of mutation processes, the latter producing sequences with very different hydrophobicity profiles, finding that the EC‐based predictions are accurate even when only one sequence of the family is known. The EC profile is very significantly correlated with the HP for sequence‐structure pairs in the PDB as well. The EC profile generalizes the properties of previously introduced structural profiles to modular proteins such as multidomain chains, and its correlation with the sequence profile is substantially improved with respect to the previously defined profiles, particularly for long proteins. Furthermore, the EC profile has a dynamic interpretation, since the EC components are strongly inversely related with the temperature factors measured in X‐ray experiments, meaning that positions with large EC component are more strongly constrained in their equilibrium dynamics. Last, the EC profile allows to define a natural measure of modularity that correlates with the number of domains composing the protein, suggesting its application for domain decomposition. Finally, we show that structurally similar proteins have similar EC profiles, so that the similarity between aligned EC profiles can be used as a structure similarity measure, a property that we have recently applied for protein structure alignment. The code for computing the EC profile is available upon request writing to ubastolla@cbm.uam.es, and the structural profiles discussed in this article can be downloaded from the SLOTH webserver http://www.fkp.tu‐darmstadt.de/SLOTH/. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Solution structure of the yeast URN1 splicing factor FF domain: Comparative analysis of charge distributions in FF domain structures—FFs and SURPs, two domains with a similar fold
Authors: Bonet Roman , Ramirez‐Espain Ximena , Macias Maria J.
Published: June 2008

FF domains are present in three protein families: the splicing factors formin binding protein 11 (FBP11), Prp40, and URN1, the transcription factor CA150, and the p190RhoGTPase‐related proteins. This simplicity in distribution, however, is contrasted by the difficulty in defining their biological role. At best, the group of ligand FF domains can bind to form a motley crew with binding reports pointing also to negative/aromatic sequences, the tetratricopeptide repeat, the transcription factor TFII‐I and even to RNA. To expand our knowledge on the FF domain, we selected the FF domain present in the URN1 yeast splicing factor as the subject for structural studies. The URN1 protein is one of the two known proteins containing only one FF domain, making it the most simplified representative of FF domain‐containing splicing factors. The solution structure reveals that the domain adopts the classical FF fold, with a distinctive negatively charged patch on its surface. All available FF structures have a well‐conserved fold but variable electrostatic patches on their surfaces. These patches are unconserved, even for domains with similar pKas. To investigate potential binding sites in FF domains, we performed structural comparisons to other proteins with similar folds. In addition to the structures detected by SCOP, we included SURP domains, which also adopt the α1‐α2‐310‐α3 architecture. We observed that the main difference between all these structures resides in the orientation of the second helix. Remarkably, in DEK, SURP, and Prp40FF1 structures (the exception is the FBP11FF1 domain), the second helix participates in ligand recognition. Furthermore, SURP and Prp40FF1 binding sites also include the 310 helix, which forms a partially exposed hydrophobic cavity. This cavity is also present in at least CA150FF1 and FF2 structures. Thus, as with WW domains, the FF fold seems to have developed binding‐site variations to accommodate an abundant and variable set of ligands. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crystal structure of a chimera of human and plasmodium falciparum hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferases provides insights into oligomerization
Authors: Gayathri P. , Sujay Subbayya I. N. , Ashok Chethan S. , Selvi T. Senthamizh , Balaram Hemalatha , Murthy M. R. N.
Published: June 2008

The crystal structure of a chimera of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and human hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferases (HGPRT), which consists of the core of the protein from the human enzyme and the hood region from the Pf enzyme, has been determined as a complex with the product guanosine monophosphate (GMP). The chimera can utilize hypoxanthine, guanine, and xanthine as substrates, similar to the Pf enzyme. It exists as a monomer–dimer mixture in solution, but shifts to a tetramer on addition of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP). The structural studies reveal that the asymmetric unit of the crystal consists of two monomers of the chimeric HGPRT. Surprisingly, the dimer interface of the chimera is the less extensive AC interface of the parent HGPRTs. An analysis of the crystal structures of the various human HGPRTs provides an explanation for the oligomeric characteristics of the chimera. Pro93 and Tyr197 form part of crucial interactions holding together the AB interface in the unliganded or GMP‐bound forms of HGPRT, while Pro93 and His26 interact at the interface after binding of PRPP. Replacement of Tyr197 of human HGPRT by Ile207 in the chimera disrupts the interaction at the AB interface in the absence of PRPP. In the presence of PRPP, the interaction between Pro93 and His26 could restore the AB interface, shifting the chimeric enzyme to a tetrameric state. The structure provides valuable insights into the differences in the AB interface between Pf and human HGPRTs, which may be useful for designing selective inhibitors against the parasite enzyme. Protiens 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A “couplonic” approach to multilayer magneto‐photonic crystals
Authors: Boucher Y. G. , Bentivegna F. F. L. , Lyubchanskii I. L.
Published: June 2008

In the frame of an exact (non‐perturbative) formulation of the coupled‐mode theory, we describe the non‐reciprocal properties of a one‐dimensional multilayer magneto‐photonic crystal with alternate dielectric and magneto‐optical materials. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Perpendicular anisotropy in Fe/Ag multilayers
Authors: Balogh J. , Fetzer Cs. , Kaptás D. , Kiss L. F. , Szűcs I. S. , Dézsi I. , Vincze I.
Published: June 2008

The direction of the spontaneous magnetization changes from out of plane to in plane at around x = 0.6 in [Ag(2.6 nm)/Fe(x nm)]10 multilayers (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1) prepared on Si(111) substrate by vacuum evaporation. Transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements of removed samples with a thick capping layer are compared to conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements of samples on the Si substrate with a thin capping layer. The stress arising because of the application of a thick capping layer and the removal of the samples from the substrate is shown to have negligible effect on the spontaneous magnetization. The results support that the appearance of the perpendicular anisotropy below x = 0.6 is an intrinsic property of Fe/Ag multilayers. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Low Inflammatory Activation by Self‐Assembling Rosette Nanotubes in Human Calu‐3 Pulmonary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Journeay W. Shane , Suri Sarabjeet S. , Moralez Jesus G. , Fenniri Hicham , Singh Baljit
Published: June 2008

Rosette nanotubes (RNT) are a new class of metal‐free organic nanotubes synthesized through self‐assembly. Because of the wide range of potential biomedical applications associated with these materials, it is necessary to evaluate their potential in vitro toxicity. Here the cytotoxicity of a lysine‐functionalized nanotube (RNT‐K) in a human Calu‐3 pulmonary epithelial cell line is investigated. The cells were treated with media only (control), lysine (50 mg mL−1), RNT‐K (1, 5, and 50 µg mL−1), Min‐U‐Sil quartz microparticles (QM; 80 µg mL−1), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 µg mL−1). The supernatants were analyzed at 1, 6, and 24 h after treatment for the expression of three proinflammatory mediators: IL‐8, TNF‐α and EMAP‐II. Cellular viability determined with the Trypan blue assay is significantly reduced in the QM and high‐dose RNT‐treated groups. TNF‐α and EMAP‐II are undetectable by enzyme‐linked‐immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the supernatant of all groups. Although IL‐8 concentrations do not differ between treatments, its concentrations increase with time within each of the groups. Quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) of IL‐8 mRNA shows increased expression in the high‐dose RNT‐treated groups at both 1 and 6 h, while an adhesion molecule, ICAM‐1 mRNA, shows the greatest increase at 6 h in the QM‐treated group. In summary, RNT‐K neither reduces cell viability at moderate doses nor does it induce a time‐dependent inflammatory response in pulmonary epithelial cells in vitro.
Understanding current trends in family involvement
Authors: Carney‐Hall Karla C.
Published: June 2008

The overwhelming increase of parental involvement reported by today's college administrators requires a careful understanding of today's parents, their influence, and their expectations.
Fast analysis of rapeseed glucosinolates by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Biston R. , Dardenne P. , Cwikowski M. , Marlier M. , Severin M. , Wathelet J‐P.
Published: June 2008

Industry and plant breeders require fast methods to analyze glucosinolates in rapeseed. We tested the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for this analysis and developed calibration equations on a large population of whole seeds. Reference methods used are high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of desulphoglucosinolates, a glucose‐release method after purification on an anion exchange column and a palladium test. In the range from 2 to 107 μM/g and after transformation of the data in first derivative, a correlation coefficient of 0.99 was observed, as well as standard errors of estimated values of 2.15, 2.52, 2.67 and 4.07 for samples analyzed by HPLC, GLC, glucose and the palladium test, respectively. With different wavelengths, a limited calibration test on seeds containing from 4 to 40 μM/g gives a standard error of 1.91 μM/g (HPLC).
Mathematical simulation of an oilseed press
Authors: Vadke Vivek S. , Sosulski F. W. , Shook C. A.
Published: June 2008

A mathematical model of an oilseed press was developed by superimposition of filtration analysis on screw extrusion theory to calculate press throughput and residual oil content in presscake for a given press geometry and physical properties of oilseed. The model predicted that press performance would improve, i.e., the throughput would increase and residual oil would decrease, if the press were cooled during operation. Longer presses would also give higher throughputs with lower residual oil contents. The predicted effects of changes in shaft speed and choke opening on press performance agreed reasonably well with experimental results obtained on a small laboratory press. A relatively large error of 9.0% in the prediction of throughput could be attributed to changes in viscosity of oilseed mass occurring during its passage through the press. It is expected that use of ‘expression’ analysis in place of the simple filtration analysis would improve the predictive ability of the model.
As Cuba Awakes
Authors: Sardiñas Oswaldo José Payá
Published: June 2008

Addressing the social and political position of the Cuban people, the author gives an account of a very personal struggle to bring liberty and solidarity to the Cuban people. Vividly describing his efforts and experiences, the reception he has received from hostile quarters and the untiring work of the Foro Cubana campaign, Mr. Paya presents the pressing case for Cuban self-governance and determination.
Political Party Building in Eastern Europe
Authors: Van Laarhoven Jan
Published: June 2008

In the years following the Velvet Revolution, Eastern European countries have been engaged in the endeavour of building democracy and its inherent values. Many political organisations and parties have contributed to the development of democratic systems in the region, supporting local parties in the process of democracy building. This article emphasises the value of such contributions, especially in terms of ideology and building trust. In describing different approaches to party assistance, the author analyses the main challenges in the development of political parties in Eastern Europe, highlighting some cases of successful cooperation.
Diffusion tensor imaging in schizophrenia
Authors: Kyriakopoulos Marinos , Bargiotas Theodoros , Barker Gareth J. , Frangou Sophia
Published: June 2008

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging technique that is increasingly being used for the non-invasive evaluation of brain white matter abnormalities. In this review, we discuss the basic principles of DTI, its roots and the contribution of European centres in its development, and we review the findings from DTI studies in schizophrenia. We searched EMBASE, PubMed, PsychInfo, and Medline from February 1998 to December 2006 using as keywords ‘schizophrenia’, ‘diffusion’, ‘tensor’, and ‘DTI’. Forty studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria of this review were included and systematically reviewed. White matter abnormalities in many diverse brain regions were identified in schizophrenia. Although the findings are not completely consistent, frontal and temporal white matter seems to be more commonly affected. Limitations and future directions of this method are discussed.
Increased cytoplasmic levels of CIS, SOCS1, SOCS2, or SOCS3 are required for nuclear translocation
Authors: Lee Kyeong-Hee , Moon Kyeong-Jin , Kim Hyung Sik , Yoo Byong Chul , Park Seoyoung , Lee Ho , Kwon Soim , Lee Eun Sook , Yoon Sungpil
Published: June 2008

We investigated the cellular localization of ectopically‐expressed CIS, SOCS1, SOCS2 and SOCS3 proteins. We found that SOCS proteins localize to the nucleus where they reduce Stat3 proteins and that the presence of proteasome inhibitors increased SOCS nuclear localization. Our results indicate that increased nuclear localization resulted from increased levels of SOCS proteins in the cytoplasm. Finally, we demonstrate that the same effect occurs with endogenously‐expressed SOCS proteins. These observations suggest that increased cytoplasmic levels of proteins in the SOCS family are regulated through nuclear translocation.
Involvement of the vascular wall in regenerative processes after CA1 ischemic neuronal death
Authors: Salazar‐Colocho Pablo , Del Río Joaquín , Frechilla Diana
Published: June 2008

The involvement of vascular wall in response to neuronal death was challenged here using a transient forebrain ischemia model in gerbil, which causes CA1 neuronal death and trigger neurogenesis in hippocampus. We found an important vascular reaction in CA1 5 days after ischemia evaluated by Von Willebrand factor and Vimentin immunoreactivity, as well as increased expression of angiogenic and neurogenic regulators: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2). Analysing the morphology and cell phenotype by confocal microscopy, we confirmed the colocalization of the neurogenic markers (bromodeoxyuridine–neuronal nuclei–TOPRO‐3) in newborn cells associated to vascular walls in CA1 and dentate gyrus of hippocampus 32 days after ischemia. The results indicate that vascular tissues may participate in neurogenesis after brain ischemia, reinforce the notion that blood vessels represent a source of neuronal progenitor cells in damaged brain areas and suggest that molecular and cellular manipulation of the vascular wall may expand the possibilities of novel regenerative therapies.
The noncommutative geometry of k-graph C*-algebras
Authors: Pask David , Rennie Adam , Sims Aidan
Published: June 2008

This paper is comprised of two related parts. First we discuss which k-graph algebras have faithful traces. We characterise the existence of a faithful semifinite lower-semicontinuous gauge-invariant trace on C* (Λ) in terms of the existence of a faithful graph trace on Λ.

Second, for k-graphs with faithful gauge invariant trace, we construct a smooth (k,∞)-summable semifinite spectral triple. We use the semifinite local index theorem to compute the pairing with K-theory. This numerical pairing can be obtained by applying the trace to a KK-pairing with values in the K-theory of the fixed point algebra of the Tk action. As with graph algebras, the index pairing is an invariant for a finer structure than the isomorphism class of the algebra.
Women, Labour, and Public Policy: Female Labour Market Integration in OECD Countries. A Comparative Perspective
Authors: STADELMANN-STEFFEN ISABELLE
Published: June 2008

This article investigates the influence of political measures and instruments on women's employment in OECD countries. The policy dimension builds the central explanatory category filling the ‘black box’ between political institutions and the decision-making process on the one hand, and policy outcome on the other. Unlike former comparative studies on the relationship between women's employment and public policies, this article analyses a much larger country sample, looking at 28 OECD countries as well as a broader range of policies. Additionally, path analyses are conducted, modelling direct and indirect causal effects on women's labour market integration. The analyses show that while the cultural, economic and political framework can create a positive environment for women's employment in general, ‘women-friendly’ public policies are important, and are necessary for the more intensive and egalitarian labour market integration of women compared to that of men.
Outcome in infants less than 3 kilograms for placement of saphenous venous homografts as systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunts
Authors: Erez Eldad , Bush David , Tam Vincent K.H. , Doublin Nancy A. , Stakes Jeanie
Published: June 2008

Background

Establishing stable and adequate flow of blood to the lungs using a systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt in infants with low birth weight may involve significant morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience with this procedure in patients weighing less than 3 kilograms.

Methods

Between June, 2002, and June, 2007, we placed systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunts in 32 infants weighing less than 3 kilograms, the range being 1.8 to 2.86 kg, with a median of 2.5 kg. The median age at placement of the shunt was 8 days, with a range from 2 to 70 days. In 17 patients (53%), the anatomic defects had produced a functionally univentricular heart, while 15 (47%) had defects which permitted staging to biventricular repair. Patients staged to univentricular palliation were much more likely to have a circulation dependent on the arterial duct as compared with those staged to biventricular palliation (p < 0.001). The latter patients tended to have smaller pulmonary arteries, significantly the left pulmonary artery, which has a median diameter of 3.6 versus 2.0 mm, p = 0.01. In all patients a saphenous venous homograft was used as the conduit, its size ranging in diameter from 2.5 to 4 mm, with a median of 3.0 mm.

Results

The overall hospital mortality rate for the entire cohort was 6.25%, with 2 patients dying. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to length of stay in intensive care or hospital. Follow-up has ranged from 3 months to 4.7 years, with a mean of 2.1 years). Of those with functionally univentricular hearts, 3 have subsequently died, along with 1 patient having a biventricular circulation (p = 0.3). All deaths occurred before takedown of the shunt. A trend toward longer survival was noted in those with biventricular as compared to functionally univentricular circulations (p = 0.06).

Conclusion

Systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunts can be constructed safely in infants with biventricular physiology born with low weight. Those having functionally univentricular circulations carry an increased rate of mortality for the period of shunting. Using the saphenous venous homograft permits use of smaller grafts, which does not significantly increase the risk for thrombosis or survival when compared to previous studies using polytetrafluoroethylene grafts.
Definitional and human constraints on structural annotation of English
Authors: SAMPSON GEOFFREY , BABARCZY ANNA
Published: June 2008

The limits on predictability and refinement of English structural annotation are examined by comparing independent annotations, by experienced analysts using the same detailed published guidelines, of a common sample of written texts. Three conclusions emerge. First, while it is not easy to define watertight boundaries between the categories of a comprehensive structural annotation scheme, limits on inter-annotator agreement are in practice set more by the difficulty of conforming to a well-defined scheme than by the difficulty of making a scheme well defined. Secondly, although usage is often structurally ambiguous, commonly the alternative analyses are logical distinctions without a practical difference – which raises questions about the role of grammar in human linguistic behaviour. Finally, one specific area of annotation is strikingly more problematic than any other area examined, though this area (classifying the functions of clause-constituents) seems a particularly significant one for human language use. These findings should be of interest both to computational linguists and to students of language as an aspect of human cognition.
Multimodel projections of climate change from short‐lived emissions due to human activities
Authors: Shindell Drew T. , Levy Hiram , Schwarzkopf M. Daniel , Horowitz Larry W. , Lamarque Jean‐Francois , Faluvegi Greg
Published: June 2008

We use the GISS (Goddard Institute for Space Studies), GFDL (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) and NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) climate models to study the climate impact of the future evolution of short‐lived radiatively active species (ozone and aerosols). The models used mid‐range A1B emission scenarios, independently calculated the resulting composition change, and then performed transient simulations to 2050 examining the response to projected changes in short‐lived species and to changes in both long‐lived and short‐lived species together. By 2050, two models show that the global mean annual average warming due to long‐lived GHGs (greenhouse gases) is enhanced by 20–25% due to the radiatively active short‐lived species. One model shows virtually no effect from short‐lived species. Intermodel differences are largely related to differences in emissions projections for short‐lived species, which are substantial even for a particular storyline. For aerosols, these uncertainties are usually dominant, though for sulfate uncertainties in aerosol physics are also substantial. For tropospheric ozone, uncertainties in physical processes are more important than uncertainties in precursor emissions. Differences in future atmospheric burdens and radiative forcing for aerosols are dominated by divergent assumptions about emissions from South and East Asia. In all three models, the spatial distribution of radiative forcing is less important than that of climate sensitivity in predicting climate impact. Both short‐lived and long‐lived species appear to cause enhanced climate responses in the same regions of high sensitivity rather than short‐lived species having an enhanced effect primarily near polluted areas. Since short‐lived species can significantly influence climate, regional air quality emission control strategies for short‐lived pollutants may substantially impact climate over large (e.g., hemispheric) scales.
Diversity and abundance of diazotrophic microorganisms in the South China Sea during intermonsoon
Authors: Moisander Pia H , Beinart Roxanne A , Voss Maren , Zehr Jonathan P
Published: June 2008

The spatial heterogeneity of diversity and abundance of diazotrophs were investigated off the Vietnamese coast in the South China Sea (SCS). The study area extended from the Mekong River plume to the shelf region and beyond to stations extending to 1700 m depth. The SCS diazotroph community, based on nifH gene diversity, had components closely related to sequences from open ocean, estuarine, saltmarsh and microbial mat communities. Rarefaction analysis suggested that by using a 97% similarity operational taxonomic unit definition, the majority of nifH sequence diversity in the samples was covered by the 384 nifH clones obtained. The majority of the nifH sequences recovered fell into two clusters: one comprised of Trichodesmium sequences and the other an α-proteobacterial group. Unicellular cyanobacterial groups A and B, and symbiotic filamentous cyanobacterial diazotrophs were detected sporadically. Trichodesmium was by far the most abundant diazotroph, with up to 6 × 105nifH gene copies per liter. Quantitative PCR probe–primer sets were designed and used to quantify two proteobacterial groups, revealing abundances up to 103–104nifH gene copies per liter, with the highest abundances in the photic zone. Major components of the clone library were also revealed by a nifH microarray and multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis. MDS showed that samples from the >10 μm size fraction from 0- to 5-m depths clustered separately from the rest of the samples, primarily due to the abundance of Trichodesmium sequences. The SCS diazotroph community has a relatively low diversity and is a mixture of both estuarine and oceanic fingerprints.
Analysis of Adiponectin Gene and Comparison of Its Expression in Two Different Pig Breeds
Authors: Daniele Aurora , Cammarata Rosalinda , Masullo Mariorosario , Nerone Giuseppe , Finamore Francesca , D'Andrea Mariasilvia , Pilla Fabio , Oriani Giovannangelo
Published: June 2008

Adiponectin, an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue (AT), exerts beneficial pleiotropic effects on obesity‐related metabolic diseases. We have analyzed the adiponectin gene (ACDC) and its expression in two genetically different breeds of pigs, lean type, large white (LW) and fat type, Casertana (CE). DNA, RNA, and protein extracts from 10 LW and 10 CE pigs were analyzed by sequence analysis, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fast protein liquid chromatography, and northern and western blotting. Sequence analysis revealed an identity of 100% between the ACDC gene from the two breeds, but the expression of the adiponectin protein was higher in LW than in CE pigs. We identified sexual dimorphism of adiponectin in both breeds, namely a balanced distribution of the low isoforms (∼50 kDa), whereas the middle isoforms (∼75–150 kDa) were increased in sows. In conclusion, in this study, we demonstrate that adiponectin is produced and secreted differently in the two breeds of pig, namely adiponectin is more abundant in LW than in CE. Moreover, the visceral AT of LW expresses more adiponectin than the subcutaneous AT. This relationship is absent in CE. These observations provided the first evidence that adiponectin expression is correlated with the “fat” phenotype in pig.
Monitoring the Obesity Epidemic in France: The Obepi Surveys 1997–2006
Authors: Charles Marie‐Aline , Eschwège Eveline , Basdevant Arnaud
Published: June 2008

The objective of the study was to describe the prevalences of obesity in French adults over a 9‐year period. Mailed questionnaire surveys, in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006, sampled 20,000 representative French households by the method of quotas. Weight, height, and waist circumference were reported by all members of the selected households ≥18‐years. Obesity was defined according to the WHO criteria, BMI >30 kg/m2. The prevalence of adult obesity increased progressively from 8.6% (95% confidence interval: 8.2–8.8) in 1997 to 13.1% (12.7–13.5) in 2006. The increase affected all ages, socioeconomic strata, and regions. Although the prevalence of obesity increased in parallel in men and women from 1997 to 2003, the rate of increase was lower in men between 2003 and 2006. These surveys showed a sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity in France in recent years contrasting with a stable prevalence in the 1980s. The results of the first Obepi surveys prompted the French government to implement a Nutrition and Health National Plan in 2001. Regular monitoring of obesity prevalence in France and neighboring countries is needed to compare future trends.
Food Insecurity Is not Associated With Lower Energy Intakes
Authors: Zizza Claire A. , Duffy Patricia A. , Gerrior Shirley A.
Published: June 2008

We examined the association between food insecurity and total daily energy intakes in American men and women. We estimated the number of daily snacks and meals consumed by individuals in different food security categories. Also, we calculated the energy contribution, energy density, and food group sources of those snacks and meals. Using the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined the Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) and dietary information from the 24‐h recall. Differences in energy intakes between groups were not significant. Women who were food insecure without hunger (FIWOH) and food insecure with hunger (FIWH) had significantly fewer meals than food secure (FS) women. The energy contribution of each meal and the total energy contributed from snacking were both significantly greater for FIWOH women than for FS women. The number of meals was significantly lower whereas the daily number of snacking occasions and the total energy from snacking were significantly increased for FIWOH men relative to FS men. FIWOH men consumed snack foods that had significantly lower energy density than those consumed by FS men. Among men and women, the major sources of meal energy were the grain group, the meat, poultry, and fish group, and the sugar, sweets, and beverages group whereas the major source of snacking energy was the sugar, sweets, and beverages group. Total energy intakes were not different for FI individuals; however, their meal and snack behaviors were different. Focusing solely on total energy intake would miss important consequences of food insecurity.
Prolactin and Insulin Ultradian Secretion and Adipose Tissue Lipoprotein lipase Expression in Severely Obese Women After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Mingrone Geltrude , Manco Melania , Iaconelli Amerigo , Gniuli Donatella , Bracaglia Roberto , Leccesi Laura , Calvani Menotti , Nolfe Giuseppe , Basu Subhabrata , Berria Rachele
Published: June 2008

Background: Hyperprolactinemia is associated with obesity. Furthermore, in human adipose tissue cultured in vitro, prolactin (PRL) inhibited lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity via functional PRL receptors.

Objective: Tostudy PRL and insulin ultradian rhythm and subcutaneous adipose tissue LPL mRNA and protein expressions in severely obese women before and after malabsorptive bariatric surgery.

Methods and Procedures: Seven severely obese, fertile women were studied twice, once before and the second time 1 year after bilio‐pancreatic diversion (BPD), when the weight was stable for at least 3 months. Metabolizable energy intake and 24‐h energy expenditure (EE) were measured. Fourier and PULSEFIT analyses were applied to 24‐h hormonal time‐series to study daily fluctuations and hormonal clearance. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by euglycemic‐hyperinsulinemic clamp. Quantitative‐competitive reverse transcriptase‐PCR and western blot analysis were used to measure LPL gene expression.

Results: Spontaneous 24‐h PRL secretion was significantly reduced after BPD (mean‐daily release, 128.4 ± 28.1 μg/l vs. 67.2 ± 9.2 μg/l distribution volume (Vd/l·24 h), P = 0.02); insulin secretion also was significantly reduced (499.9 ± 204.0 μg/Vd/l·24 h vs. 85.6 ± 21.0 μg/Vd/l·24 h, P = 0.0001). Metabolizable energy/kgFFM did not change significantly after BPD. Twenty‐four‐hour EE, but not 24‐h EE/FFM, was significantly decreased after BPD (P < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity significantly (P < 0.0001) increased after BPD from 21.41 ± 1.92 to 68.62 ± 5.03 μmol/kgFFM/min. LPL mRNA concentration (from 42.63 ± 4.21% to 19.00 ± 2.74% of cyclophilin mRNA, P = 0.001) as well as LPL protein level (from 8.94 ± 2.73 to 3.16 ± 1.05 as ratios of protein of interest vs. housekeeping protein, P = 0.038) significantly decreased after BPD. The major determinant of PRL secretion was insulin secretion, whereas the best predictors of LPL expression were insulin and PRL secretion rates.

Discussion: The restriction of lipid metabolizable energy rather than weight loss seems to be responsible for both reduction in PRL circulating levels and normalization of its secretion rhythm after bariatric surgery. Furthermore, the reduced adipose tissue LPL expression, being significantly correlated with the decrease in insulin and PRL, suggests a role of hyperinsulinemia and hyperprolactinemia in inducing and sustaining obesity.
Electrical conductivity and translational diffusion in the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid
Authors: Sangoro J. , Iacob C. , Serghei A. , Naumov S. , Galvosas P. , Kärger J. , Wespe C. , Bordusa F. , Stoppa A. , Hunger J. , Buchner R. , Kremer F.
Published: June 2008

Broadband dielectric and terahertz spectroscopy (10−2–10+12Hz) are combined with pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR) to explore charge transport and translational diffusion in the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid. The dielectric spectra are interpreted as superposition of high-frequency relaxation processes associated with dipolar librations and a conductivity contribution. The latter originates from hopping of charge carriers on a random spatially varying potential landscape and quantitatively fits the observed frequency and temperature dependence of the spectra. A further analysis delivers the hopping rate and enables one to deduce—using the Einstein–Smoluchowski equation—the translational diffusion coefficient of the charge carriers in quantitative agreement with PFG-NMR measurements. By that, the mobility is determined and separated from the charge carrier density; for the former, a Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann and for the latter, an Arrhenius temperature dependence is obtained. There is no indication of a mode arising from the reorientation of stable ion pairs.
Interfacial properties of semifluorinated alkane diblock copolymers
Authors: Pierce Flint , Tsige Mesfin , Borodin Oleg , Perahia Dvora , Grest Gary S.
Published: June 2008

The liquid-vapor interfacial properties of semifluorinated linear alkane diblock copolymers of the form F3C(CF2)n−1(CH2)m−1CH3 are studied by fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The chemical composition and the conformation of the molecules at the interface are identified and correlated with the interfacial energies. A modified form of the Optimized Parameter for Liquid Simulation All-Atom (OPLS-AA) force field of Jorgensen and co-workers [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 6638 (1984); 118, 11225 (1996); J. Phys. Chem. A 105, 4118 (2001)], which includes specific dihedral terms for H–F blocks-and corrections to the H–F nonbonded interaction, is used together with a new version of the exp-6 force field developed in this work. Both force fields yield good agreement with the available experimental liquid density and surface tension data as well as each other over significant temperature ranges and for a variety of chain lengths and compositions. The interfacial regions of semifluorinated alkanes are found to be rich in fluorinated groups compared to hydrogenated groups, an effect that decreases with increasing temperature but is independent of the fractional length of the fluorinated segments. The proliferation of fluorine at the surface substantially lowers the surface tension of the diblock copolymers, yielding values near those of perfluorinated alkanes and distinct from those of protonated alkanes of the same chain length. With decreasing temperatures within the liquid state, chains are found to preferentially align perpendicular to the interface, as previously seen.
Emissivity-corrected power loss calibration for lock-in thermography measurements on silicon solar cells
Authors: Kasemann Martin , Walter Benjamin , Meinhardt Christoph , Ebser Jan , Kwapil Wolfram , Warta Wilhelm
Published: June 2008

This paper describes power loss calibration procedures with implemented emissivity correction. The determination of our emissivity correction matrix does neither rely on blackbody reference measurements nor on the knowledge of any sample temperatures. To describe the emissivity-corrected power calibration procedures in detail, we review the theory behind lock-in thermography and show experimentally that the lock-in signal is proportional to the power dissipation in the solar cell. Experiments show the successful application of our emissivity correction procedure, which significantly improves the informative value of lock-in thermography images and the reliability of the conclusions drawn from these images.
Effect of KrF excimer laser irradiation on the properties of ZnO thin films
Authors: Zhao Yan , Jiang Yijian
Published: June 2008

At room temperature, the effect of KrF pulsed excimer laser irradiation on the structural, photoluminescence, and electrical properties and on the surface morphology of ZnO thin films under different laser energy densities was investigated. Compared to the as grown sample, at an irradiation energy density of about 450 mJ/cm2, the ZnO thin film exhibits a series of desirable properties: UV emission is distinctly higher, resistivity is decreased by three orders of magnitude, and the surface is flat and smooth and, at the same time, it maintains a good epitaxial orientation and a wurtzite crystal lattice structure. UV emission enhancement after laser irradiation is discussed in detail. It is suggested that the mechanism responsible for the UV enhancement is the increase in donors and not the improvement in the crystalline quality.
Geometric phase effects in resonance-mediated scattering: H+H2+ on its lowest triplet electronic state
Authors: Juanes-Marcos Juan Carlos , Varandas António J. C. , Althorpe Stuart C.
Published: June 2008

We report a quantum dynamics study of H+H2+ (v0=0,j0=0) scattering on its lowest triplet state, for J=0 total angular momentum and total energies up to 1.85eV. This provides a benchmark example of indirect resonance-mediated reaction in presence of a conical intersection (CI). Visualization of time-dependent wave packets shows significant “looping” around the CI, which is facilitated by long-lived H3+ scattering resonances, predominant at low energies. State-to-state inelastic transition probabilities exhibit a highly oscillatory structure and pronounced geometric phase effects, which, in contrast to direct reactions, are more strongly marked at lower energies.