bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Problem of aspartimide formation in Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthesis using Dmab group to protect side chain of aspartic acid
Authors: Ruczyński JarosŁaw , Lewandowska Brygida , Mucha Piotr , Rekowski Piotr
Published: November 2007

The sequence‐dependent, acid‐ or base‐catalysed aspartimide formation is one of the most serious side reactions in solid‐phase synthesis of peptides containing aspartic acid. In the present work, we investigated the susceptibility of 4‐{N‐[1‐(4,4‐dimethyl‐2,6‐dioxocyclohexylidene)‐3‐methylbutyl]amino}benzyl (Dmab), an aspartic acid β‐carboxy side‐chain protecting group, for aspartimide formation. As a model, 15‐amino acid‐residue galanin fragment analogue containing the Asp‐Ala motif was used during Fmoc‐based solid‐phase synthesis. Our study showed a strong tendency of Dmab‐protected peptide to form aspartimide with unusual high efficiency. Furthermore, to investigate the susceptibility of Asp‐Ala motif for aspartimide formation during the synthesis using Asp(ODmab), a 5‐amino acid‐residue galanin fragment LGPDA, different types of resin linkers, variety of Fmoc‐deprotection conditions and coupling methods were applied. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Binding of nanoparticle receptors to peptide α‐helices using amino acid‐functionalized nanoparticles
Authors: Ghosh Partha S. , Han Gang , Erdogan Belma , Rosado Olga , Rotello Vincent M.
Published: November 2007

Nanoparticles provide large surface areas and controlled surface functionality and structure, making them excellent scaffolds for peptide recognition. A family of nanoparticles has been fabricated by amino acid functionalization to afford tailored surfaces. These particles are complementary to a tetraaspartate peptide (TAP) featuring cofacial anionic functionality when in the α‐helical conformation. The functional groups present on these nanoparticle surfaces provide a tool to investigate the contribution of various noncovalent interactions at the nanoparticle–peptide interface. The ability of these particles to enforce the folding of the peptide into an α‐helix was explored, demonstrating high helicity induction with particles featuring dicationic amino acids such as lysine or histidine, and little or no helix stabilization with hydrophobic amino acid termini. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and antibody recognition of synthetic antigens from MUC1
Authors: Bánóczi Zoltán , Mezõ Gábor , Windberg Emõke , Uray Katalin , Majer Zsuzsa , Hudecz Ferenc
Published: November 2007

In the altered form of MUC1 mucin associated with breast cancer, the highly immunogenic sequence PDTRPAP is exposed, and may be an immunologically relevant target for the development of diagnostics or cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we report the preparation and antibody binding properties of monomeric and dimeric MUC1 peptides containing the epitope region recognized by monoclonal antibody (mAb) C595. Peptides contained a single or two copies of the whole 20‐mer repeat unit (VTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPAHG) of MUC1 protein. MUC1 40‐mer peptides were prepared by the condensation of semi‐protected fragments of the repeat unit, in solution or by chemical ligation. In the first case, cyclohexyl‐type protecting groups were used for the synthesis of semi‐protected fragments by the Boc/Bzl strategy. Unprotected fragments were used in the chemical ligation to produce thioether linkages. In one of the fragments, a Gly residue was replaced by Cys at the C‐terminus and the other fragment was chloroacetylated at the N‐terminus. In addition, the short peptide APDTRPAPG, and its disulfide dimer, (APDTRPAPGC)2 were produced. The antibody binding properties of these MUC1 peptide constructs were tested by competition enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The short epitope region peptide, APDTRPAPG and its dimer (APDTRPAPGC)2 showed higher IC50 values (IC50 = 56.3 and 53.2 µmol/l, respectively). While the 20‐mer peptide (IC50 = 25.9 µmol/l) and more markedly its 40‐mer dimers (IC50 = 0.62 and 0.78 µmol/l) were recognized better. CD data obtained in water or in TFE indicated no significant conformational differences between the 20‐mer and 40‐mer peptides. We found a high level of similarity between the binding properties of the 40‐mer peptides with amide or thioether links, providing a new possibility to build up oligomeric MUC1 peptides by thioether bond formation. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of the effect of pictorial markings and warning labels on handling of packages in the DHL single‐parcel environment
Authors: Singh J. , Singh S. P. , Voss T. , Saha K.
Published: November 2007

Over the past two decades, there has been a heavy influx in the number of direct‐to‐consumer express shipments of packaged products. As a consequence, parcel delivery companies, such as DHL, FedEx and UPS, have strengthened their presence in air transport. This study measured and analysed the effect of moving single packages through air shipments in the USA using one of the newest service providers, DHL. The study also quantified the effect of placing pictorial markings and warning labels on mid‐sized and lightweight packages when using Next‐Day and 2nd Day services provided by the carrier DHL. Instrumented packages measuring 0.38  m × 0.34  m × 0.34  m and weighing 6.8  kg were shipped from Michigan to California and New York. A total of 48 trips were conducted to collect the data for this study.

The results show that for the Next‐Day and 2nd Day service, packages with labels, as compared with those without labels, were subjected to approximately the same number of drops for shipment to California, and approximately 35% less drops for shipments to New York. The drop‐height data for the shipments are presented in terms of drop heights associated with the 90, 95 and 99th percentile of occurrence. Impact orientation is also discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality of orange juice in barrier packaging material
Authors: Berlinet C. , Brat P. , Ducruet V.
Published: November 2007

The vitamin C content and the colour of orange juice made from concentrate were measured during 9 months of storage at 20°C either under artificial light or in darkness. The packaging materials used were glass, standard monolayer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and multilayer PET (PET/nylon and oxygen scavenger/PET) containers. In this experiment, all bottles were sealed with aluminium foil in order to avoid any cap effect. The results showed that in plastic packaging materials, the loss of vitamin C was related to the oxygen permeability, and that glass provided the best preservation of ascorbic acid. No statistical difference (p < 0.05) was revealed between the vitamin C content in the juice stored under artificial light or in darkness, whatever the packaging used. The modification of colour was studied with the L, a* and b* values during storage at 20°C under artificial light. L and b* decreased, revealing a reduction of lightness and yellow colour of the juice, whereas a* increased, due to the formation of brown pigments. This change in colour was partly related to the oxygen permeability of the packaging used.

The losses of aroma compounds by permeation through the bottle (PET) and the cap (high‐density polyethylene, HDPE) have also been investigated. The results showed that permeation mainly took place through the cap. The use of a multilayer cap [HDPE with internal barrier layer of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/EvOH/LDPE] considerably limited the permeation of the aroma compounds studied, whatever the PET bottle used. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of phenolic compounds in the crude extract of Hedysarum multijugum by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Yang Min , Wang Wei , Sun Jianghao , Zhao Yuying , Liu Yi , Liang Hong , Guo De‐an
Published: November 2007

The fragmentation behavior of four types of phenolic compounds: coumestans, pterocarpenes, benzofurans and isoflavones, were studied using electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (ESI‐MSn) (n = 2–5) in negative ion mode. Losses of methyl (15 Da), CO (28 Da), CO2 (44 Da), isopropyl (43 Da) and isobutenyl (55 Da) were dominating fragmentation patterns. Different positions and numbers of the substituents also led to the different fragmentation behavior. These fragmentation rules were applied for the identification of constituents in methanolic extracts of Hedysarum multijugum, in which 29 compounds were characterized, including nine new compounds. The method established in this study could be applied to the comprehensive quality control of the herb and its formulations. It could also be applied to the biological and pharmacological research of traditional Chinese medicines. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron ionization mass spectra of aryl‐ and benzyl‐substituted 2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐5,7(1H,6H)‐diones
Authors: Martiskainen Olli , Kivelä Henri , Matosiuk Dariusz , Szacon Elzbieta , Rzadkowska Marzena , Pihlaja Kalevi
Published: November 2007

The electron ionization mass spectra of the 1‐phenyl‐, 1‐benzyl‐ and 6‐benzyl‐1‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐5,7(1H,6H)‐dione derivatives were recorded at 70 eV to find out the effects of substituents on their fragmentations. Fragmentation pathways were studied using B/E and B2/E scans. Some fragmentations involved the loss of C3HO2 or carbon suboxide. The possibility of keto‐enol tautomerism was also studied. For comparison selected compounds were studied using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to reveal the presence of possible tautomerism. Some ions including [MOH]+ and [MHCO]+ and NMR results indicate that the enol form is predominant both in the gas and in the liquid phase. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of propolis polyphenols absorption in humans by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Gardana Claudio , Simonetti Paolo , Berti Cristiana , Pietta Piergiorgio
Published: November 2007

Propolis has various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, immunostimulating and antiinflammatory, which are generally ascribed to the polyphenolic fraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption of the main polyphenols [caffeic acid (CA), pinobanksin‐5methyl ether (P‐5ME), pinobanksin (Pb), chrysin (C), pinocembrin (P), galangin (G), pinobanksin‐3‐acetate, pinobanksin esters and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE)] from a dewaxed and standardized extract of propolis (EPID®). Fifteen healthy volunteers consumed 5 mL EPID® in water, corresponding to 125 mg of flavonoids. Blood samples were collected before, each hour for 8 h and 24 h after EPID® intake. After deconjugation byβ‐glucuronidase/sulfatase the plasma samples were analyzed by a selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method using morin as internal standard (I.S.). A kinetic profile characterized by two tmax, respectively at 1 h and about 5 h post‐ingestion, was observed in all the subjects. The two peaks may be due to enterohepatic cycling. Among the various polyphenols ingested, only P‐5ME, Pb, C, P and G were detected in plasma and Cmaxt1hwere 65.7 ± 13.3, 46.5 ± 12.7, 79.5 ± 18.6, 168.1 ± 16.3 and 113.7 ± 16.8 ng/mL, respectively. These levels decreased significantly after 8 h and were no longer detectable 24 h after EPID® intake. The recovery of the extraction for CA, Pb, C, P, G and I.S. from spiked plasma was 95.2 ± 3.1, 93.1 ± 3.6, 91 ± 2.5, 96.4 ± 4.2, 93.4 ± 2.4 and 85.5 ± 2.4%, respectively. The results of this study evidence that flavonoids from EPID® are absorbed, metabolized and Pb‐5ME and G seem to have apparent absorption, measured as (AUC/dose), higher than C, P and Pb. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid determination of amino acid incorporation by stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)
Authors: Schmidt Frank , Strozynski Margarita , Salus Sandra S. , Nilsen Hilde , Thiede Bernd
Published: November 2007

Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) has evolved to be a major technique for quantitative proteomics using cell cultures. We developed a rapid method to follow and determine the incorporation of arginine and lysine. Analysis of the heavy state is required to avoid quantification errors. Moreover, the mixture of light and heavy states can be exploited to normalize the protein amount for subsequent relative quantification experiments. Therefore, peptides from different cell lines were extracted with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). This analysis was highly reproducible and was performed in less than 2 h, significantly faster than other methods for the same purpose. Similar peptide mass profiles were obtained for human EBV‐transformed B, Jurkat T, and HeLa cells as well as for mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Proteolytic fragments of 27 human proteins were identified with 56 peptides by MALDI‐MS/MS and can be used as a database for these kinds of experiments. Sequencing revealed that the peptides were predominantly amino‐ and carboxy‐terminal protein fragments displaying a specificity characteristic of the acidic proteases cathepsin D and E. Many of the identified peptides contained arginine and/or lysine, allowing determination of the incorporation rate of these amino acids. Furthermore, the rate of conversion of arginine into proline could be monitored easily. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrospray ionization mass spectral studies of N,N‐dialkylaminoethane‐2‐sulphonic acids
Authors: Lakshmi V. V. S. , Prabhakar S. , Murty M. R. V. S. , Vairamani M.
Published: November 2007

Oxidative reactions of VX type compounds and N,N‐dialkylaminoethane‐2‐thiols that are precursors for VX compounds produce N,N‐dialkylaminoethane‐2‐sulphonic acids, N(R1)(R2)‐CH2‐CH2SO3H (where R1 and R2 = methyl, ethyl, n‐propyl and isopropyl, 1–10), as the degradation products, and these degradation products are considered as markers for the detection of chemicals listed in the schedules of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) chemicals. Off‐site detection of such degradation products in aqueous samples is an important task in the verification of CWC‐related chemicals. Here we report a simple method involving the direct analysis of aqueous samples using positive and/or negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) for the screening, detection and identification of N,N‐dialkylaminoethane‐2‐sulphonic acids, avoiding sample preparation and chromatographic steps. The positive ion ESI mass spectra of all the compounds result in abundant [M+Na]+ ions, and the negative ion spectra show abundant [M−H]− ions to confirm their molecular weight. The collision‐induced dissociation spectra of [M+Na]+ and [M−H]− give characteristic product ions by which it is easy to detect and identify all the studied N,N‐dialkylaminoethane‐2‐sulphonic acids including those of isomeric compounds. The method is successfully applied to detect the spiked chemical, N,N‐diisopropylaminoethane‐2‐sulphonic acid, present in a water sample received in a proficiency test. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sequentially testing for a gene–drug interaction in a genomewide analysis
Authors: Kelly Patrick , Zhou Yinghui , Whitehead John , Stallard Nigel , Bowman Clive
Published: November 2007

Assaying a large number of genetic markers from patients in clinical trials is now possible in order to tailor drugs with respect to efficacy. The statistical methodology for analysing such massive data sets is challenging. The most popular type of statistical analysis is to use a univariate test for each genetic marker, once all the data from a clinical study have been collected. This paper presents a sequential method for conducting an omnibus test for detecting gene–drug interactions across the genome, thus allowing informed decisions at the earliest opportunity and overcoming the multiple testing problems from conducting many univariate tests.

We first propose an omnibus test for a fixed sample size. This test is based on combining F‐statistics that test for an interaction between treatment and the individual single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). As SNPs tend to be correlated, we use permutations to calculate a global p‐value. We extend our omnibus test to the sequential case. In order to control the type I error rate, we propose a sequential method that uses permutations to obtain the stopping boundaries. The results of a simulation study show that the sequential permutation method is more powerful than alternative sequential methods that control the type I error rate, such as the inverse‐normal method. The proposed method is flexible as we do not need to assume a mode of inheritance and can also adjust for confounding factors. An application to real clinical data illustrates that the method is computationally feasible for a large number of SNPs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian approach for sample size determination in method comparison studies
Authors: Yin Kunshan , Choudhary Pankaj K. , Varghese Diana , Goodman Steven R.
Published: November 2007

Studies involving two methods for measuring a continuous response are regularly conducted in health sciences to evaluate agreement of a method with itself and agreement between methods. Notwithstanding their wide usage, the design of such studies, in particular, the sample size determination, has not been addressed in the literature when the goal is the simultaneous evaluation of intra‐ and inter‐method agreement. We fill this need by developing a simulation‐based Bayesian methodology for determining sample sizes in a hierarchical model framework. Unlike a frequentist approach, it takes into account uncertainty in parameter estimates. This methodology can be used with any scalar measure of agreement available in the literature. We demonstrate this for four currently used measures. The proposed method is applied to an ongoing proteomics project, where we use pilot data to determine the number of individuals and the number of replications needed to evaluate the agreement between two methods for measuring protein ratios. We also apply our method to determine the sample size for an experiment involving measurement of blood pressure. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting accrual in clinical trials with Bayesian posterior predictive distributions
Authors: Gajewski Byron J. , Simon Stephen D. , Carlson Susan E.
Published: November 2007

Investigators need good statistical tools for the initial planning and for the ongoing monitoring of clinical trials. In particular, they need to carefully consider the accrual rate—how rapidly patients are being recruited into the clinical trial. A slow accrual decreases the likelihood that the research will provide results at the end of the trial with sufficient precision (or power) to make meaningful scientific inferences. In this paper, we present a method for predicting accrual. Using a Bayesian framework we combine prior information with the information known up to a monitoring point to obtain a prediction. We provide posterior predictive distributions of the accrual. The approach is attractive since it accounts for both parameter and sampling distribution uncertainties. We illustrate the approach using actual accrual data and discuss practical points surrounding the accrual problem. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The intellectual structure of the strategic management field: an author co‐citation analysis
Authors: Nerur Sridhar P. , Rasheed Abdul A. , Natarajan Vivek
Published: November 2007

This paper complements a recent study by Ramos‐Rodriguez and Ruiz‐Navarro (2004) that investigated the intellectual structure of the strategic management field through co‐citation analysis. By using authors as the units of analysis and incorporating all the citations that are included in the Science Citation Index and the Social Science Citation Index, we trace the evolution of the intellectual structure of the strategic management field during the period 1980–2000. Using a variety of data analytic techniques such as multidimensional scaling, factor analysis, and Pathfinder analysis, we (1) delineate the subfields that constitute the intellectual structure of strategic management; (2) determine the relationships between the subfields; (3) identify authors who play a pivotal role in bridging two or more conceptual domains of research; and (4) graphically map the intellectual structure in two‐dimensional space in order to visualize spatial distances between intellectual themes. The analysis provides insights about the influence of individual authors as well as changes in their influence over time. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic behavior of tall buildings under wind: insights from full‐scale monitoring
Authors: Kijewski‐Correa Tracy , Pirnia J. David
Published: November 2007

The wind‐induced response of tall buildings is inherently sensitive to structural dynamic properties like frequency and damping ratio. The latter parameter in particular is fraught with uncertainty in the design stage and may result in a built structure whose acceleration levels exceed design predictions. This reality has motivated the need to monitor tall buildings in full‐scale. This paper chronicles the authors' experiences in the analysis of full‐scale dynamic response data from tall buildings around the world, including full‐scale datasets from high rises in Boston, Chicago, and Seoul. In particular, this study focuses on the effects of coupling, beat phenomenon, amplitude dependence, and structural system type on dynamic properties, as well as correlating observed periods of vibration against finite element predictions. The findings suggest the need for time–frequency analyses to identify coalescing modes and the mechanisms spurring them. The study also highlighted the effect of this phenomenon on damping values, the overestimates that can result due to amplitude dependence, as well as the comparatively larger degree of energy dissipation experienced by buildings dominated by frame action. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC): the first large‐scale integration of wind turbines in a building
Authors: Smith Richard F. , Killa Shaun
Published: November 2007

This paper describes the design evolution of the large‐scale wind turbines proposed for the Bahrain Trade Center. It will describe the details of the wind turbines and their control, showing how several innovative ideas have come together and have been technically validated to produce the design for this unique building. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of complex geometry on Tall Towers
Authors: Scott David , Farnsworth David , Jackson Matt , Clark Matt
Published: November 2007

Advancements in the application of computational capabilities to the design and analysis of building structures has enabled the realization of tall buildings with complex geometries. This paper explores some of the design issues and tools used to achieve cost effective solutions for tall, tapering, twisting, or leaning towers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delta‐NT and center‐specific ultrasound nuchal translucency medians
Authors: Santiago J. C. , Ramos‐Corpas D.
Published: November 2007

Objectives

Two methods have been proposed for standardizing measures of nuchal translucency thickness (NT) for risk calculation in first‐trimester screening for chromosomal defects: differential delta NT (delta‐NT) and multiples of the median (MoM) of NT. There is currently some debate as to which of these is more appropriate. The aims of this study were to determine whether delta‐NT could be extrapolated successfully from one center‐specific NT reference curve to another and thus to empirically calculate the likelihood ratios (LRs) of delta‐NT.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of a database of 4248 singleton pregnancies, including 13 cases of Down syndrome. The delta‐NT was extrapolated to the reference curve of the NT values of the original group of patients for whom the LRs were calculated empirically, using a scale factor. The Down syndrome risk was calculated by standardizing the NT, using both extrapolated delta‐NT and MoM methods, both for the screening based on maternal age and NT alone, and for the combined screening, in which biochemical markers are also taken into account. We analyzed detection rates and false positives, the precision of the risk prediction obtained by each of the methods and the effectiveness when each of the methods was used with a cut‐off point based on a fixed post‐test risk.

Results

The risk calculation using extrapolated delta‐NT presented an effectiveness profile that was similar to that obtained using MoMs, both when NT was used as the sole marker and when it was used in combination with biochemical markers. The precision of the risk prediction was similar with both methods.

Conclusions

Delta‐NT can be extrapolated for use in risk calculation between two populations with different distributions and medians of NT values. The precision of the risk estimate obtained is similar to that derived using MoMs. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frontomaxillary and mandibulomaxillary facial angles at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks in fetuses with trisomy 18
Authors: Borenstein M. , Persico N. , Strobl I. , Sonek J. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: November 2007

Objective

To define the relative position of the maxilla and mandible in fetuses with trisomy 18 at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.

Methods

A three‐dimensional (3D) volume of the fetal head was obtained before karyotyping at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation in 36 fetuses subsequently found to have trisomy 18, and 200 chromosomally normal fetuses. The frontomaxillary facial (FMF) angle and the mandibulomaxillary facial (MMF) angle were measured in a mid‐sagittal view of the fetal face.

Results

In the chromosomally normal group both the FMF and MMF angles decreased significantly with crown–rump length (CRL). In the trisomy 18 fetuses the FMF angle was significantly greater and the angle was above the 95th centile of the normal range in 21 (58.3%) cases. In contrast, in trisomy 18 fetuses the MMF angle was significantly smaller than that in normal fetuses and the angle was below the 5th centile of the normal range in 12 (33.3%) cases.

Conclusions

Trisomy 18 at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation is associated with both mid‐facial hypoplasia and micrognathia or retrognathia that can be documented by measurement of the FMF angle and MMF angle, respectively. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical Modification of Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil to Improve its Functional Properties for Candles
Authors: Wang Liping , Wang Tong
Published: November 2007

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (PHVO) has recently been used to make vegetable oil‐based candles. However, its use is limited primarily to container candles because of its inherent physical properties, such as brittleness when a hard material is produced, and greasiness when it is soft by low degree of hydrogenation. Such material lacks the most desired cohesiveness and elasticity compared to the commercial petroleum paraffin and beeswax. To improve the cohesiveness and thermal properties of PHVO, epoxidation, ring‐opening reaction, and esterification were conducted to introduce new functional groups into the fatty acyl chain of PHVO. These newly synthesized derivatives or waxes were also mixed with the fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSO) or PHVO base materials. Hardness and cohesiveness of the new waxes and the mixtures were measured with a texture analyzer. Their thermal properties were analyzed with a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the introduction of hydroxyl (OH) group significantly improved the cohesiveness of PHVO. The melting range of PHVO also increased after the reactions. However, the hardness of the new wax was lower than those of commercial paraffin wax or beeswax. For wax mixtures, the hardness of dihydroxy wax was significantly improved by the addition of FHSO, however, the cohesiveness was negatively affected by the amount of FHSO added. Both the melting and the crystallization ranges were widened by mixing the derivatives with the base materials.
Sedation protocols for Ponseti clubfoot Achilles tenotomy
Authors: Bor Noam , Katz Yeshayahu , Vofsi Oded , Herzenberg John E. , Zuckerberg Aaron L.
Published: November 2007

Purpose

Ponseti clubfoot management requires percutaneous tenotomy in 90% of cases, typically with local anesthesia. We report two light sedation protocols for outpatient tenotomy.

Methods

Operating room protocol: 24 patients (36 club feet; mean age at tenotomy, 70 days) underwent mask induction with oxygen/nitrous oxide. Pediatric intensive care unit protocol: five patients (eight club feet; mean age at tenotomy, 119 days) underwent intravenous propofol infusion with supplemental oxygen.

Results

All patients were discharged several hours after surgery with no complications. Anesthesia that is administered intravenously might have less risk of bronchial reaction than anesthesia that is administered by inhalation.

Conclusions

Our light sedation protocols offer safe alternatives to general anesthesia. Disadvantages include increased cost when compared with local anesthesia. Light sedation can be used effectively and has advantages when treating older infants who might struggle while under local anesthesia.
The Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire adapted for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients in China: Reliability and validity analysis
Authors: Zhao Li , Zhang Yong , Sun Xiaotang , Du Qing , Shang Lei
Published: November 2007

Study design

Outcome investigation to verify the internal consistency, reproducibility and validity of the adapted Chinese version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with idiopathic scoliosis.

Objective

To develop this questionnaire for the outcome measurement in treating Chinese adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and evaluate its metric qualities.

Summary of background data

The SRS-22 questionnaire has proven to be a valid instrument for clinical assessment of patients with idiopathic scoliosis and has been successfully translated into Spanish and Turkish. In most developing countries, however, quality of life and psychological health have been poorly described when treating children with idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

Trans-cultural adaptation of the SRS-22 questionnaire was carried out according to the International Quality of Life Assessment Project guidelines. The final version was approved by a committee of experts. The questionnaire was completed by 86 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who had been treated with a brace; this included 11 males and 75 females, aged from 10 to 18 years (mean 13.9 years). Curve magnitude ranged from 25° to 45° (mean 35.6°). A subgroup of 30 patients completed the questionnaire again in 3 or 4 weeks.

Results

Five common factors were acquired from factorial analysis, and the cumulative contribution ratio was 67.66%. The overall alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.88. Coefficients for individual domains were as follows: function/activity, 0.70; pain, 0.80; self-image, 0.80; mental health, 0.88; and satisfaction, 0.81. The questionnaire as a whole had a test–retest correlation coefficient of 0.97. Test–retest correlation coefficients for individual domains were as follows: function, 0.85; pain, 0.96; self-image, 0.96; mental health, 0.95; and satisfaction, 0.91.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of the SRS-22 questionnaire is eligible in terms of reliability and validity, and can be used to measure HRQoL for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients in Mainland China.
Fish oil attenuates adrenergic overactivity without altering glucose metabolism during an oral glucose load in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Delarue Jacques , Guillodo Marie-Paule , Guillerm Sophie , Elbaz Anthony , Marty Yanic , Clèdes Jacques
Published: November 2007

Haemodialysis patients display an increased cardiac mortality, which may be partly related to increased sympathoadrenal activity and insulin resistance. Fish oil decreases adrenal activation induced by mental stress and has an insulin sensitizing effect in healthy subjects. Whole-body glucose metabolism after oral glucose was studied in eight haemodialysis patients before and after a 3-week oral fish oil supplementation (i.e. EPA + DHA at 1·8 g/d). Plasma glucose fluxes were traced by using [6,6-2H2]glucose infusion. Substrate oxidation was determined by using indirect calorimetry. Each patient was studied in the basal state and over the 6 h following absorption of a 1 g/kg glucose load. Energy expenditure in response to glucose re-increased over the last 2 h of the experiment (P < 0·05), which coincided with an increase in plasma catecholamines, especially epinephrine (P < 0·05), strongly suggesting a sympathoadrenal overactivity. Fish oil supplementation blunted both re-increase in thermogenic response and concomitant increase in plasma epinephrine, but not in plasma norepinephrine, over the last 2 h of the experiment. Fish oil did not alter either whole-body glucose metabolism or substrate oxidation. These data show that in haemodialysis patients, fish oil attenuates adrenal overactivity induced by oral glucose but does not modulate whole-body glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Multivitamin and dietary supplements, body weight and appetite: results from a cross-sectional and a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study
Authors: Major Geneviève C. , Doucet Eric , Jacqmain Mélanie , St-Onge Myriam , Bouchard Claude , Tremblay Angelo
Published: November 2007

Two studies were conducted to compare characteristics of consumers and non-consumers of vitamin and/or dietary supplements (study 1) and to assess the effect of a multivitamin and mineral supplementation during a weight-reducing programme (study 2). Body weight and composition, energy expenditure, and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores were compared between consumers and non-consumers of micronutrients and/or dietary supplements in the Québec Family Study (study 1). In study 2, these variables and appetite ratings (visual analogue scales) were measured in forty-five obese non-consumers of supplements randomly assigned to a double-blind 15-week energy restriction ( − 2930 kJ/d) combined with a placebo or with a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Compared with non-consumers, male consumers of vitamin and/or dietary supplements had a lower body weight (P < 0·01), fat mass (P < 0·05), BMI (P < 0·05), and a tendency for greater resting energy expenditure (P = 0·06). In women, the same differences were observed but not to a statistically significant extent. In addition, female supplements consumers had lower disinhibition and hunger scores (P < 0·05). In study 2, body weight was significantly decreased after the weight-loss intervention (P < 0·001) with no difference between treatment groups. However, fasting and postprandial appetite ratings were significantly reduced in multivitamin and mineral-supplemented women (P < 0·05). Usual vitamin and/or dietary supplements consumption and multivitamin and mineral supplementation during a weight-reducing programme seems to have an appetite-related effect in women. However, lower body weight and fat were more detectable in male than in female vitamin and/or dietary supplements consumers.
CRIMINALISING COPYRIGHT: A STORY OF PUBLISHERS, PIRATES AND PIECES OF EIGHT
Authors: Alexander Isabella
Published: November 2007

On 6 December 2006, the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property unveiled its much-anticipated report investigating whether intellectual property law was still “fit for purpose in an era of globalisation, digitisation and increasing economic specialisation”. The Review, which had one year in which to cover the entire field of intellectual property law, concluded that there was no need for radical overhaul of the system. However, it did make a number of recommendations for reform and one area it considered to be particularly important was strengthening enforcement of IP rights. In recent years, concerns about the inadequate enforcement of intellectual property laws have focused mainly on copyright law and the entertainment industries. More specifically, they have centred on the opportunities for copyright infringement offered by digital technology and the internet. The music industry was the first to find itself out of its depth in the brave new digital world, and the film industry quickly followed. “Piracy”, we are told, is now rife and must be fought at every opportunity.
FAITH IN THE COURTS: RELIGIOUS DRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Authors: Gibson Nicholas
Published: November 2007

We live in “an age of increasingly multicultural societies”. This multiplicity of cultures brings with it diversity and differences: religious beliefs form one, but arguably an increasingly important, point of distinction within our societies today – both between religious and non-religious people and between people of different faiths. Recent and current events – local and global – emphasise the importance for society of maintaining adequate means of mediating between different and divergent interests in matters of faith.
INFERRING FUTURE BREACH: TOWARDS A UNIFYING TEST OF ANTICIPATORY BREACH OF CONTRACT
Authors: Liu Qiao
Published: November 2007

The doctrine of anticipatory breach was officially first established in a famous 1853 case, enabling a party to a contract to terminate it and sue for damages immediately after the other party refused to fulfil its part, despite the fact that the time stipulated for the latter's performance had not arrived. The doctrine has since been employed by counsel as a vehicle to justify a premature termination of contract in numerous legal battles. It was perhaps with the confidence in such vast general judicial experience that Lord Wilberforce once declared that the rules determining the existence of an anticipatory breach constituted “one of the more perspicuous branches of the law of contract”. With due respect, however, his Lordship seemed to be too optimistic on that occasion. When one takes a closer look at decided cases, it is hard to resist the conclusion that this area of law is still plagued with inconsistency, uncertainty and incoherence. Where the existence of an anticipatory breach of contract is in dispute, the courts have been applying two distinct approaches to fact patterns of the same nature. A major cause for this disparity is the courts' failure to realise in some cases that the cases they are dealing with are anticipatory breach cases and should be subjected to a uniform test. This cognitive failure is largely attributable to the fact that, although the term “anticipatory breach” itself was criticised on several occasions, little has been done to illuminate the very nature of an anticipatory breach of contract and what distinguishes it from what we normally conceive of as a breach of contract, namely an “actual breach” of contract. Another cause of the disparity of the courts' approaches is perhaps English law's case-to-case, piecemeal methodology. Pragmatic though this methodology may be, it is sometimes necessary to amass the fragmented pieces and fit them into a clear and stable conceptual structure, thereby bringing the law to a higher level of generalisation. It is the purpose of this article to propose a general legal test for all types of anticipatory breach on the basis of an exposition of its nature and hopefully to bring order, rationality and unity to this chaotic area of law.
Islamism and Social Reform in Kerala, South India
Authors: OSELLA FILIPPO , OSELLA CAROLINE
Published: November 2007

This paper critiques ethnographic tendencies to idealise and celebratesufi‘traditionalism’ as authentically South Asian. We perceive strong academic trends of frank distaste for reformism, which is then inaccurately—and dangerously buttressing Hindutva rhetoric—branded as going against the grain of South Asian society. This often goes along with (inaccurate) branding of all reformism as ‘foreign inspired’ orwah'habi. Kerala'sMujahids(Kerala Naduvathul Mujahideen [KNM]) are clearly part of universalistic trends and shared Islamic impulses towards purification. We acknowledge the importance to KNM of longstanding links to the Arab world, contemporary links to the Gulf, wider currents of Islamic reform (both global and Indian), while also showing how reformism has been producing itself locally since the mid-19th century. Reformist enthusiasm is part of Kerala-wide patterns discernable across all religious communities: 1920s and 1930s agitations for a break from the 19th century past; 1950s post-independence social activism; post 1980s religious revivalism. Kerala's Muslims (like Kerala Hindus and Christians) associate religious reformism with: a self-consciously ‘modern’ outlook; the promotion of education; rallying of support from the middle classes. There is a concomitant contemporary association of orthoprax traditionalism with ‘backward’, superstitious and un-modern practices, troped as being located in rural and low-status locations.
Memory-guided saccade abnormalities in schizophrenic patients and their healthy, full biological siblings
Authors: Landgraf S. , Amado I. , Bourdel M.-C. , Leonardi S. , Krebs M.-O.
Published: November 2007

Background

Ocular-motor inhibition errors and saccadic hypometria occur at elevated rates in biological relatives of schizophrenic patients. The memory-guided saccade (MS) paradigm requires a subject to inhibit reflexive saccades (RSs) and to programme a delayed saccade towards a remembered target.

Method

MS, RS, and central fixation (CF) tasks were administered to 16 patients who met the criteria for DSM-IV schizophrenia, 19 of their psychiatrically healthy siblings, and 18 controls.

Results

Patients and siblings showed elevated MS error rates reflecting a failure to inhibit RSs to a visible target, as required by the task. In contrast to controls, prior errors did not improve MS accuracy in patients and siblings.

Conclusions

The specific characteristics of the elevated MS error rate help to clarify the nature of the disinhibition impairment found in schizophrenics and their healthy siblings. Failure to inhibit premature saccades and to improve the accuracy of subsequent volitional saccades implicates a deficit in spatial working-memory integration, mental representation and/or motor learning processes in schizophrenia.
Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for non-recovery from common mental disorder: results from the longitudinal follow-up of the National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
Authors: Haynes J. C. , Farrell M. , Singleton N. , Meltzer H. , Araya R. , Lewis G. , Wiles N. J.
Published: November 2007

Background

Alcohol is commonly considered to be associated with persistence of common mental disorder (CMD; anxiety/depression). However no community-based longitudinal studies have investigated the direction of causality.

Method

We examined the association between alcohol consumption and recovery from CMD using data on 706 community-based subjects with CMD who were followed for 18 months. Alcohol consumption at baseline was defined as hazardous drinking [Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) ⩾8], binge drinking (defined as six or more units of alcohol on one occasion, approximately two to three pints of commercially sold beer) and dependence.

Results

When compared with a non-binge-drinking group, non-recovery at follow-up was associated with binge drinking on at least a monthly basis at baseline, although the confidence interval (CI) included unity [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% CI 0.89–2.45]. There was also weak evidence that alcohol dependence was associated with non-recovery (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.67–2.81). There was little evidence to support hazardous drinking as a risk factor for non-recovery (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.67–1.88).

Conclusions

Binge drinking may be a potential risk factor for non-recovery from CMD, although the possibility of no effect cannot be excluded. Larger studies are required to refute or confirm this finding.
Pathways to suicidality across ethnic groups in Canadian adults: the possible role of social stress
Authors: Clarke D. E. , Colantonio A. , Rhodes A. E. , Escobar M.
Published: November 2007

Background

Ethnicity is an important determinant of mental health outcomes including suicidality (i.e. suicidal ideation and suicide attempt). Understanding ethnic differences in the pathways to suicidality is important for suicide prevention efforts in ethnically diverse populations. These pathways can be conceptualized within a social stress framework.

Method

The study examines ethnic differences in the pathways to suicidality in Canada within a social stress framework. Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1 (CCHS 1.1) and path analysis, we examined the hypotheses that variations in (1) socio-economic status (SES), (2) sense of community belonging (SCB), (3) SES and SCB combined, and (4) SES, SCB and clinical factors combined can explain ethnic differences in suicidality.

Results

Francophone whites and Aboriginals were more likely to report suicidality compared to Anglophone whites whereas visible minorities and Foreign-born whites were least likely. Disadvantages in income, income and education, income and its combined effect with depression and alcohol dependence/abuse led to high rates even among the low-risk visible minority group. Indirect pathways for Asians differed from that of Blacks and South Asians, specifically through SCB. With the exception of SCB, Aboriginals were most disadvantaged, which exacerbated their risk for suicidality. However, their strong SCB buffered the risk for suicidality across pathways. Disadvantages in education, income and SCB were associated with the high risk for suicidality in Francophone whites.

Conclusions

Francophone whites and Aboriginals had higher odds of suicidality compared to Anglophone whites; however, some pathways differed, indicating the need for targeted program planning and prevention efforts.
STRATEGY-PROOF JUDGMENT AGGREGATION
Authors: DIETRICH FRANZ , LIST CHRISTIAN
Published: November 2007

Which rules for aggregating judgments on logically connected propositions are manipulable and which not? In this paper, we introduce a preference-free concept of non-manipulability and contrast it with a preference-theoretic concept of strategy-proofness. We characterize all non-manipulable and all strategy-proof judgment aggregation rules and prove an impossibility theorem similar to the Gibbard--Satterthwaite theorem. We also discuss weaker forms of non-manipulability and strategy-proofness. Comparing two frequently discussed aggregation rules, we show that “conclusion-based voting” is less vulnerable to manipulation than “premise-based voting”, which is strategy-proof only for “reason-oriented” individuals. Surprisingly, for “outcome-oriented” individuals, the two rules are strategically equivalent, generating identical judgments in equilibrium. Our results introduce game-theoretic considerations into judgment aggregation and have implications for debates on deliberative democracy.
THE DISCURSIVE DILEMMA AS A LOTTERY PARADOX
Authors: DOUVEN IGOR , ROMEIJN JAN-WILLEM
Published: November 2007

List and Pettit have stated an impossibility theorem about the aggregation of individual opinion states. Building on recent work on the lottery paradox, this paper offers a variation on that result. The present result places different constraints on the voting agenda and the domain of profiles, but it covers a larger class of voting rules, which need not satisfy the proposition-wise independence of votes.