bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) peptides through the regulation of hyaluronan metabolism affect osteosarcoma cell migration
Authors: Berdiaki Aikaterini , Datsis Georgios A. , Nikitovic Dragana , Tsatsakis Aristidis , Katonis Pavlos , Karamanos Nikos K. , Tzanakakis George N.
Published: March 2010

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) strongly stimulates hyaluronan (HA) synthesis and secretion of both normal and carcinogenic cells of the osteoblastic lineage and improves skeletal microarchitecture. HA, a glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is capable of transmitting ECM‐derived signals to regulate cellular function. In this study, we investigated whether the changes of HA metabolism induced by PTH (1–34) and PTH (7–84) peptides in moderately MG‐63 and well‐differentiated Saos 2 osteosarcoma cell lines, are correlated to their migration capabilities. Our results demonstrate that intermittent PTH (1–34) treatment significantly (P ≤ 0.01) supported the migration of MG‐63 cells, increased their HA‐synthase‐2 (HAS2) expression (P ≤ 0.001), and enhanced their high‐molecular size HA deposition in the pericellular matrix. Both increased endogenous HA production (P ≤ 0.01) and treatment with exogenous high‐molecular weight HA (P ≤ 0.05) correlated to a significant increase of MG‐63 cell migration capacity. Transfection with siHAS2 showed that PTH (1–34), mainly through HAS2, enhanced HA and regulated MG‐63 cell motility. Interestingly, continuous PTH (1–34) treatment stimulated both Saos 2 cell HAS2 (P ≤ 0.001) and HAS1 (P ≤ 0.001) isoform expression inhibited their HYAL2 expression (P ≤ 0.001) and modestly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced their migration. Therefore, the PTH (1–34) administration mode appears to distinctly modulate the migratory responses of the MG‐63 moderately and Saos 2 well‐differentiated osteosarcoma cell lines. Conclusively, the obtained data suggest that there is a regulatory effect of PTH (1–34), in an administration mode‐dependent manner, on HA metabolism that is essential for osteosarcoma cell migration. © 2010 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 62(5): 377–386, 2010
Comparison of broadband and ultrabroadband pulses at MHz and GHz pulse‐repetition rates for nonlinear femtosecond‐laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Studier Hauke , Breunig Hans Georg , König Karsten
Published: March 2010

Nonlinear optical imaging of human skin and of polychromatic microspheres was carried out to compare and evaluate the imaging properties of three different excitation femtosecond lasers: a spectrally tunable 80 MHz Ti: sapphire oscillator that produced 100 fs pulses (spectral width ∼10 nm) and two ultrabroadband Ti: sapphire oscillators with repetition rates of 85 MHz and 1 GHz. The latter of these two and the 100 fs laser were combined with a laser scanning microscope (TauMap). The intensities of images of the polychromatic microsphere samples obtained with both lasers are in accordance with the usual dependence of two‐photon processes on laser pulse parameters, i.e. the intensity is proportional to the square of the mean laser power and the reciprocal pulse duration. In contrast to that, skin images measured with all three different excitation sources with mean powers of each laser adjusted to the particular pulse length and repetition rate exhibited discrepancies from this relation. For characterization of the ultrabroadband GHz laser, the measurements are supplemented by spectra of second‐harmonic‐generation signals of urea and collagen. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Controlled application and removal of liposomal therapeutics: Effective elimination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin by double‐filtration plasmapheresisin vitro
Authors: Pütz Gerhard , Schmah Oliver , Eckes Jürgen , Hug Martin J. , Winkler Karl
Published: March 2010

Introduction:Nanoscale particle‐based drug delivery systems like long circulating liposomal doxorubicin show unique pharmacokinetic properties and improved toxicity profiles. Liposomal doxorubicin accumulates in tumor tissue due to the enhanced permeation and retention effect, but only a small fraction of a total dose reaches the tumor site. Accumulation of liposomal doxorubicin is much faster in tumor sites than in certain organs where dose limiting adverse effects occur. Finding a way to detoxify the predominant part of a given dose, circulating in the blood after accumulation is completed, will presumably reduce severe side effects during chemotherapy.

Methods:Elimination properties of therapeutic used pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®/Caelyx®) and therapeutic used double‐filtration plasmapheresis systems were evaluatedin vitroand in reconstituted human blood.

Results:Liposomes can be filtered by appropriate membranes without leakage of doxorubicin up to a pressure of 1 bar. At higher pressures, liposomes (∼85 nm) may squeeze through much smaller pores without significant leakage of doxorubicin, whereas decreasing pore size to ∼8 nm leads to increased leakage of doxorubicin. With therapeutic used apheresis systems, liposomal doxorubicin can be efficiently eliminated out of buffer medium and reconstituted human blood. No leakage of doxorubicin was detected, even when liposomes were circulating for 48 h in human plasma before apheresis.

Conclusions:Convenient apheresis techniques are capable of a safe and efficient elimination of therapeutic used liposomal doxorubicin in an experimental model system. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Practical modeling of molecular systems with symmetries
Authors: Grudinin Sergei , Redon Stephane
Published: March 2010

A new method for efficient modeling of macromolecular systems with symmetries is presented. The method is based on a hierarchical representation of the molecular system and a novel fast binary tree‐based neighbor list construction algorithm. The method supports all types of molecular symmetry, including crystallographic symmetry. Testing the proposed neighbor list construction algorithm on a number of different macromolecular systems containing up to about 200,000 of atoms shows that (1) the current binary tree‐based neighbor list construction algorithm scales linearly in the number of atoms for the central subunit, and sublinearly for its replicas, (2) the overall computational overhead of the method for a system with symmetry with respect to the same system without symmetry scales linearly with the cutoff value and does not exceed 50% for all but one tested macromolecules at the cutoff distance of 12 Å. (3) the method may help produce optimized molecular structures that are much closer to experimentally determined structures when compared with the optimization without symmetry, (4) the method can be applied to models of macromolecules with still unknown detailed structure. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
Do anionic titanium dioxide nano‐clusters reach bulk band gap? A density functional theory study
Authors: Qu Zheng‐Wang , Zhu Hui
Published: March 2010

The electronic properties of both neutral and anionic (TiO2)n (n = 1–10) clusters are investigated by extensive density functional theory calculations. The predicted electron detachment energies and excitation gaps of anionic clusters agree well with the original experimental anion photoelectron spectra (APES). It is shown that the old way to analyze APES tends to overestimate vertical excitation gaps (VGA) of large anionic clusters, due to the nature of multiple electronic origins for the higher APES bands. Moreover, the VGA of anionic TiO2 clusters are evidently smaller than those of neutral clusters, which may also be the case for other metal oxide clusters with high electron affinity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
Investigation of the molecular surface area and volume: Defined and calculated by the molecular face theory
Authors: Gong Li‐Dong , Yang Zhong‐Zhi
Published: March 2010

Based on the molecular face (MF) theory, the molecular face surface area (MFSA) and molecular face volume (MFV) are defined. For a variety of organic molecules and several inorganic molecules, the MFSA and MFV have been studied and calculated in terms of an algorithm of our own via the Matlab package. The MFV shows a very good linear relationship with the experimentally measured critical molar volume. It is also found that the MFSA and MFV have significant linear correlations with those of the commonly used hard‐sphere model and the electron density isosurface. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
A NEMO potential that includes the dipole–quadrupole and quadrupole–quadrupole polarizability
Authors: Holt Asbjørn , Boström Jonas , Karlström Gunnar , Lindh Roland
Published: March 2010

To increase the accuracy of molecular force fields a systematical and balanced improvement of the various terms included is needed. In this work, we have followed this strategy to improve the quality of the NEMO potential for the formaldehyde dimer by introducing local quadrupole moments and higher‐order polarizabilities. It is found that inclusion of the quadrupole moment significantly improves the interaction potential. Furthermore, the inclusion of higher‐order polarizabilities up to quadrupole–quadrupole polarizability is shown to give a better description of the intermolecular interaction. In addition, it is demonstrated that localized properties based on MP2 densities reproduces the BSSE corrected MP2 interaction energy at large intermolecular separations. This is not the case for HF–SCF based properties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
Psychotherapy with rural religious fundamentalist clients
Authors: Aten Jamie D. , Mangis Michael W. , Campbell Clark
Published: March 2010

Successful psychotherapy with rural fundamentalist Christians requires psychologists to understand the clients' culture and worldview. They often rely heavily on religious authorities, interpret Scriptures literally, adhere to strict moral codes of behavior, and believe that they should evangelize those around them. Common therapeutic challenges include: spiritualizing problems, relational conflicts related to gender role expectations, addiction problems, and the religious agendas of family and clergy. We recommend that psychotherapists evaluate their own attitudes, collaborate with community gatekeepers, sensitively address clients' rigid beliefs, address religious differences, and take a holistic approach to treatment. A case example illustrates this approach. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 66:1–11, 2010.
Ethical challenges of practicing in rural areas
Authors: Werth James L. , Hastings Sarah L. , Riding‐Malon Ruth
Published: March 2010

Mental health professionals practicing in rural areas face ethical dilemmas different from those experienced by their urban counterparts and may find that the existing ethics literature and American Psychological Association (APA, 2002) ethics code not particularly helpful. We highlight parts of five standards from the APA ethics code to illustrate the dilemmas rural practitioners frequently confront and offer suggestions for how to handle them. We discuss competence, human relations, and confidentiality as specific areas and then examine assessment and therapy as broader situations in which dilemmas may occur. We use case examples to highlight complications that may arise in rural areas. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 66:1–12, 2010.
Large‐scale isolation and purification of C‐phycocyanin from the cyanobacteria Anabaena marina using expanded bed adsorption chromatography
Authors: Ramos Amparo , Acién F.Gabriel , Fernández‐Sevilla José M. , González Cynthia V. , Bermejo Ruperto
Published: March 2010

BACKGROUND: Phycobiliproteins are water soluble proteins useful as fluorescent markers of cells and macromolecules, and as natural colorants, and are anticarcinogenic. Although phycobiliproteins have many applications, their use is limited by the high cost of the purified macromolecules, mainly related with the cost of extraction and purification. In this study a fast and scalable method for preparative extraction and purification of C‐phycocyanin (C‐PC) from Anabaena marina is developed.

RESULTS: The method developed consists in the extraction of phycobiliproteins using repeated single contact strategy, separation being performed by expanded bed adsorption (EBA) chromatography using Streamline‐DEAE. Optimal conditions for EBA were obtained at small scale, using a 15 mm internal diameter column, these being a sample load of 0.9 mg C‐PC mL−1 adsorbent, an expanded bed volume twice the settled bed volume and a sample viscosity of 1.109 mP. The process was then scaled up 36 times, the success of the scale‐up process being verified. Finally, to obtain pure C‐PC conventional ion‐exchange chromatography was utilized.

CONCLUSION: Small diameter columns was shown to be useful to simulate the behavior of larger diameter columns for use in scaled up systems. Expanded bed adsorption was demonstrated to be a scalable technology allowing large quantities of C‐PC to be obtained, maintaining high protein recovery while reducing both processing cost and time. The proposed methodology allows recovery of more than 62% of the C‐PC contained in the biomass in the form of pure C‐PC concentrates. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Identification of carbonylation sites in apomyoglobin after exposure to 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal by solid‐phase enrichment and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Rauniyar Navin , Prokai‐Tatrai Katalin , Prokai Laszlo
Published: March 2010

Identification of protein carbonylation because of covalent attachment of a lipid peroxidation end‐product was performed by combining proteolytic digestion followed by solid‐phase hydrazide enrichment and liquid chromatography (LC)–electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using both collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and electron capture dissociation (ECD). To evaluate this approach, we selected apomyoglobin and 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (4‐HNE) as a model protein and a representative end‐product of lipid peroxidation, respectively. Although the characteristic elimination of 4‐HNE (156 Da) in CID was found to serve as a signature tag for the modified peptides, generation of nearly complete fragment ion series because of efficient peptide backbone cleavage (in most cases over 75%) and the capability to retain the labile 4‐HNE moiety of the tryptic peptides significantly aided the elucidation of primary structural information and assignment of exact carbonylation sites in the protein, when ECD was employed. We have concluded that solid‐phase enrichment with both CID‐ and ECD‐MS/MS are advantageous during an in‐depth interrogation and unequivocal localization of 4‐HNE‐induced carbonylation of apomyoglobin that occurs via Michael addition to its histidine residues. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minerals from Macedonia. XXVI. Characterization and spectra–structure correlations for grossular and uvarovite. Raman study supported by IR spectroscopy
Authors: Makreski Petre , Runčevski Tomče , Jovanovski Gligor
Published: March 2010

The characterization and spectra–structure correlations of grossular and uvarovite garnets by Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were carried out. Attention was focused on the explanation of the spectral differences between both minerals from structural and compositional points of view because they are isomorphous and share the general chemical formula [Ca3Y2(SiO4)3; Y = Al (grossular) and Cr (uvarovite)]. It was established that the prominent spectral differences are mainly due to the presence of various Y3+ cations and the possibility for their interchange. It was found that the substitution of Al3+ with Cr3+ promotes blue shifting of the high‐energy Raman bands (SiO4 stretchings) and red shifting of the corresponding IR bands. This peculiar observation is explained by the introduction of two different effects that promote band shifting in opposite directions—the effect of different cation crystal field stabilization energies versus the effect of different cation masses and radii. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zwitterionic polymeric monoliths for HILIC/RP mixed mode for CEC separation applications
Authors: Guerrouache Mohamed , Pantazaki Anastasia , Millot Marie‐Claude , Carbonnier Benjamin
Published: March 2010

Polymer‐based monoliths with zwitterionic surface character were synthesized in capillary columns following a two‐step approach to provide versatile electrochromatographic stationary phases exhibiting potentiality of both hydrophilic interaction and RP separation modes. UV‐initiated free radical copolymerization of N‐acryloxysuccinimide and ethylene dimethacrylate was performed using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator and toluene as porogen. One of the originalities of this approach relies on the dual role of the N‐acryloxysuccinimide monomer that is successively used during the preparation protocol to first covalently graft chromatographic selectors on the monolith surface via simple nucleophilic substitution reaction and then to generate negative charges through hydrolysis of remaining N‐hydroxysuccinimide units. In this respect, the grafting of hexyldiamine affords potential cationic surface charges. It is shown that it is possible to tune, controlling the pH of the mobile phase, the intensity and direction of the generated EOF. Moreover, the nature of the interfacial interaction process responsible for the observed separations is well governed by the composition of the mobile phase. Polymer backbone hydrophilization is proposed as an efficient way to improve the HILIC behavior of poly(N‐acryloxysuccinimide‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) based monolithic CEC columns together with the grafting of an alkyldiamine incorporating a shorter aliphatic segment.
Agglomerated silica monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction LC
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammed E. A. , Zhou Ting , Lucy Charles A.
Published: March 2010

Hydrophilic interaction LC (HILIC) has gained wide acceptance in recent years due to its ability to retain and separate polar compounds such as pharmaceuticals. Most commercial HILIC phases are particle based, which limit the speed with which HILIC separations can be performed. Herein, agglomerated silica monolithic columns are prepared by electrostatically attaching polyionic latex particles onto a silica monolith by simply flushing a suspension of the ionic latex through a silica monolith. Such phases retain the high efficiency and permeability of the native silica monolith, while the agglomerated phase is easy to introduce and provides excellent mass transfer. High %ACN in the mobile phase dramatically increases the efficiency and retention, consistent with HILIC behavior. Test analytes such as benzoates, nucleotides and amino acids are separated with plate heights of 25–110 μm. The high permeability of monoliths allows HILIC separations to be performed with baseline resolution in less than 15 s. Electrostatic repulsion‐hydrophilic liquid interaction chromatographic retention behavior of the latex‐coated monoliths is verified using amino acids as test analytes.
Green hydrophilic interaction chromatography using ethanol–water–carbon dioxide mixtures
Authors: dos Santos Pereira Alberto , Girón Ana Jiménez , Admasu Engdawork , Sandra Pat
Published: March 2010

In hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), best results are obtained with high concentrations of acetonitrile. In the framework of green chromatography, different concentrations of carbon dioxide were added to the mobile phases acetonitrile–water and ethanol–water and the impact on retention and separation in HILIC using bare silica as stationary phase was explored. The features of HILIC using enhanced‐fluidity mobile phases are illustrated with the analysis of the nucleobases and a mixture containing the nucleobases and cortisol, flurbiprofen, theophylline and caffeine. For both organic constituents, the elution window is widened in function of the carbon dioxide concentration and selectivity changes. At high concentrations of carbon dioxide in ethanol, separations were similar to those obtained with acetonitrile without carbon dioxide addition.
Protein glycosylation analysis by HILIC‐LC‐MS of Proteinase K‐generated N‐ and O‐glycopeptides
Authors: Zauner Gerhild , Koeleman Carolien A. M. , Deelder André M. , Wuhrer Manfred
Published: March 2010

Analysis of protein glycosylation is essential in order to correlate certain disease types with oligosaccharide structures on proteins. Here, a method for the MS characterization of site‐specific protein glycosylation is presented. Using asialofetuin and fetuin as model substances, a protocol for glycopeptide dissection was developed based on unspecific proteolysis by Proteinase K. The resulting glycopeptides were then resolved by nanoscale hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography‐electrospray multistage MS. The early elution range of O‐glycopeptides was clearly separated from the late elution range of N‐glycopeptides. Glycopeptides were analyzed by ion trap‐MS/MS, which revealed fragmentations of glycosidic linkages and some peptide backbone cleavages; MS3 spectra predominantly exhibited cleavages of the peptide backbone and provided essential information on the peptide sequence. The previously reported N‐ and O‐glycan attachment sites of fetuin could be confirmed; moreover using our method, the occupation of a new, additional O‐glycosylation site serine 296 was found. In conclusion, this approach appears to be a valuable technique for in‐depth analysis of the site‐specific N‐glycosylation and O‐glycosylation of individual glycoproteins.
Differential diagnosis of muscle tension dysphonia and adductor spasmodic dysphonia using spectral moments of the long‐term average spectrum
Authors: Houtz Daniel R. , Roy Nelson , Merrill Ray M. , Smith Marshall E.
Published: March 2010

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) can mimic the voice characteristics of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) contributing to diagnostic confusion and inappropriate management. Elevated spectral noise has been reported in MTD, which may aid in differential diagnosis. The long‐term average spectrum (LTAS) can be compared to a Gaussian bell curve using spectral moments analysis. Four moments describe features of the LTAS: spectral mean (moment 1), standard deviation (moment 2), skewness (moment 3), and kurtosis (moment 4). This investigation evaluated spectral moments analysis of the LTAS as an objective test to distinguish ADSD from MTD.

Study Design:

Case‐control comparison.

Methods:

Pretreatment voice samples from 59 subjects with MTD (10 males and 49 females) and 41 subjects with ADSD (19 males and 22 females) were analyzed. Groups were separated by gender, adjusted for age, and results from the analysis were compared across different analyzing bandwidths. Diagnostic precision estimates were calculated including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios.

Results:

No significant spectral differences were found between men in both groups. However, significant between‐group differences were identified for all spectral moments for women. Logistic stepwise regression identified that spectral standard deviation (moment 2) uniquely distinguished women with MTD and ADSD. No other spectral moments contributed significant discriminatory information.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that moment 2 of the LTAS provides respectable diagnostic precision by highlighting spectral noise differences between females with MTD and ADSD. Automated spectral moments analysis deserves further attention as a possible test for differential diagnosis. Laryngoscope, 2010
Kinematic study of whole body center of mass position during gait in Parkinson's disease patients with and without festination
Authors: Merello Marcelo , Fantacone Natalia , Balej Jorge
Published: March 2010

Gait festination (FE) can cause serious disability in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. It is argued that the center of pressure position (COP) and body center of mass (COM) are possibly implicated in FE pathogenesis. The relationship between them remains unclear. The goal of this study was to determine spatiotemporal relationships between COM and COP in PD and to explore whether FE arises as a consequence of lack of physiological link between COP and COM during step stride. Twenty patients with idiopathic PD, in OFF state and 17‐age‐matched control subjects completed a 10‐m walking protocol. PD patients were divided in two groups: those with FE and those without (NF). COM position, excursion, and its relationship with COP, as well as other kinematic parameters were analyzed. COM displacement along the horizontal and vertical plane was significantly lower in FE patients as was the maximum position on the movement direction axis compared with controls or NF patients. Significant difference in minimal COM position in FE patients was also observed. The percentage of stride time during which COM was situated ahead of COP along the movement axis in FE patients was significantly greater than for controls or NF patients. This would seem to indicate that FE patients are constantly attempting to align COP to COM, causing FE. The explanation might be that FE arises as a postural strategy to align COP within the area of COM displacement. Findings illustrate a putative role for postural strategies in the treatment of FE. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Prescribing patterns of antiparkinsonian agents in Europe
Authors: Rosa Mário Miguel , Ferreira Joaquim J. , Coelho Miguel , Freire Rita , Sampaio Cristina
Published: March 2010

In the 1990s, previous knowledge and randomized controlled trials supported the establishment of today's therapeutic recommendations in Parkinson's disease (PD). Scientific evidence allows different options for the treatment of PD. Patterns of use of antiparkinsonian agents (APA) across European countries may thus reflect these options. We wanted to describe patterns of use of APA in Europe and characterize the changes in prescription habits between 2003 and 2007. We investigated APA outpatient sales in 26 European countries where all commercially available APA were studied. Data for molecules and brand names were collected through IMS Health. Treatment per 1000 inhabitants daily (DID) was obtained from the WHO defined daily dose. Prescription pattern changes were evaluated by market share. Prescription patterns varied widely. In most countries, levodopa/dopamine agonists accounted for half of the drug use; whereas in others, anticholinergics, MAO inhibitors and amantadine prevailed. The greatest increase occurred with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and levodopa. There was an increase in dopamine agonists and a decrease in anticholinergics. For a 6.8% dose consume increase, there was a 41.1% sales increase (in euros). We showed an increase in the consumption of APA over 5 years. There was significant heterogeneity in the use of APA in Europe, suggesting differences in drug treatment. Costs of medication increased more than did dose consume, implying an increase in the cost of individual patient treatment. Published evidence does not explain the observed differences in the prescribing of APA. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
In vivo demonstration of microstructural brain pathology in progressive supranuclear palsy: A DTI study using TBSS
Authors: Knake Susanne , Belke Marcus , Menzler Katja , Pilatus Ulrich , Eggert Karla M. , Oertel Wolfgang H. , Stamelou Maria , Höglinger Günter U.
Published: March 2010

We investigated DTI changes, potentially indicating alterations of microstructure and brain tissue integrity in 13 patients with probable progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, Richardson syndrome) at stage III or less and 10 age‐matched controls using a whole brain analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. DTI images were analyzed using tract‐based spatial statistics, a hypothesis‐free technique. Fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD) were determined. In patients with PSP, significant increases in FA (P < 0.0001), an unspecific measure of microstructural tissue integrity, were found in the cerebellum and in the superior cerebellar peduncle bilaterally, in the fornix, the body of the corpus callosum and the olfactory region, when compared with age‐matched healthy controls. Further, regional reductions in AD (P < 0.0001), an indicator of altered axonal integrity, were observed in the pons, the right substantia nigra and the cerebellar white matter bilaterally. Significant increases in RD (P < 0.0001), a potential measure of altered myelin integrity, occurred bilaterally in the superior cerebellar peduncle, the cerebellar white matter, the vermis of the cerebellum, the fornix, the body of the corpus callosum, and the olfactory region. RD values in the superior cerebellar peduncle discriminated patients with PSP and controls with high sensitivity (0.92) and specificity (1.0). The findings are supported by neuropathological studies. Our data suggest the usefulness of this clinically available new technique as a possible tool for differential diagnosis. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Thermographic measurement and numerical weather forecast along a highway road surface
Authors: Bouris D. , Theodosiou T. , Rados K. , Makrogianni M. , Koutsoukos K. , Goulas A.
Published: March 2010

Effective winter maintenance of motorways is highly dependent on local topography and weather and can be a significant economic factor in overall maintenance costs. In the present paper, a temperature profile of a highway road surface is obtained through infrared thermography measurements and then compared to numerical weather forecasts using the COAMPS (Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System) mesoscale weather prediction model. The highway under examination is a 26 km portion of the Egnatia motorway in northern Greece, which includes a number of twin‐bore tunnels and cantilever bridges. Points of significant temperature variation are found at tunnel exits but the trend in the temperature profile is similar over different days of observations. Comparison of mesoscale numerical forecasts with measured values of air and road surface temperature shows encouraging agreement under typical clear winter night conditions with moderate wind. This suggests that current weather prediction modelling capabilities may be acceptable as a useful first approximation but also shows the gap that must be filled for accurate prediction of local road surface conditions. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
The use of a temporal analogue to predict future traffic accidents and winter road conditions in Sweden
Authors: Andersson Anna , Chapman Lee
Published: March 2010

Slippery roads due to ice and snow are a major cause of road traffic accidents in Sweden during the winter. This paper investigates the hypothesis that as the climate becomes increasingly milder there will be a reduction in the number of accidents in winter. Two months are compared in this analysis; one colder and drier than average, the other warmer and wetter than average. Despite the differences in weather between the 2 years, there was approximately the same number of accidents in both cases, although the exact cause of these accidents varied. It is concluded that using the warmer month as a temporal analogue, the accident rate in Sweden will not fall under current climate change scenarios. This result is attributed to the fact that drivers become more complacent in milder weather conditions where the risk of slippery roads is reduced. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Application of HR‐MAS NMR in the solid‐phase synthesis of a glycopeptide using Sieber amide resin
Authors: Carvalho Luísa R. , Corvo Marta C. , Enugala Ramu , Marques M. Manuel B. , Cabrita Eurico J.
Published: March 2010

The solid‐phase synthesis (SPS) of a structurally complex glycopeptide, using Sieber amide resin, was monitored by high resolution magic angle spinning NMR, demonstrating the further application of this technique. A synthetic peptidoglycan derivative, a precursor of a biologically active PGN, known to be involved in the cellular recognition, was prepared by SPS. The synthesis involved the preparation of an N‐alloc glucosamine moiety and the synthesis of a simple amino acid sequence L‐Ala‐D‐Glu‐L‐Lys‐D‐Ala‐D‐Ala. Last step consisted the coupling, on solid‐phase, of the protected muramyl unit to the peptide chain. Proton spectra with good suppression of the polystyrene signals in swollen resin samples were obtained in DMF‐d7 as a solvent and by using a nonselective 1D TOCSY/DIPSI‐2 scheme, thus allowing to follow the SPS without losses of compound and cleavage from the resin. The assignment of the proton spectra of the resin‐bound amino acid sequence and of the bound glycopeptide was achieved through the combination of MAS COSY, TOCSY and NOESY. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complete 1H, 13C, 19F and 31P NMR data assignment of CWC‐related chemicals N,N‐dialkyl‐P‐alkyl phosphonamidic fluorides
Authors: Sharma Mamta , Raghavender Goud D. , Gupta A. K. , Suryanarayana M. V. S.
Published: March 2010

The complete multinuclear 1H, 13C, 31P and 19F NMR data of symmetrically substituted amines containing N,N‐dialkyl‐P‐alkyl phosphonamidic fluorides are presented. Assignment was achieved, using various one‐and two‐dimensional NMR experiments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A mixed integer programming for robust truss topology optimization with stress constraints
Authors: Kanno Yoshihiro , Guo Xu
Published: March 2010

This paper presents a mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation for robust topology optimization of trusses subjected to the stress constraints under the uncertain load. A design‐dependent uncertainty model of the external load is proposed for dealing with the variation of truss topology in the course of optimization. For a truss with the discrete member cross‐sectional areas, it is shown that the robust topology optimization problem can be reduced to an MIP problem, which is solved globally. Numerical examples illustrate that the robust optimal topology of a truss depends on the magnitude of uncertainty. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Indicators of poverty and social exclusion in a global context
Authors: Marlier Eric , Atkinson A. B.
Published: March 2010

The measurement of poverty and social exclusion is analytically and operationally relevant at all levels of policymaking. Here our focus is on national governments making policy in a global or multinational context such as the European Union (EU). In this process, social indicators are playing a growing role, and we need to stand back and examine their construction and use. In this paper, we argue on the basis of EU experience for a principle‐based approach and explore the possible architecture of indicators of poverty and social exclusion in a multinational context. We consider the implementation of a set of indicators and their contribution to the policy process. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Using non‐monetary deprivation indicators to analyze poverty and social exclusion: Lessons from Europe?
Authors: Nolan Brian , Whelan Christopher T.
Published: March 2010

Non‐monetary indicators of deprivation are now widely used in studying poverty in Europe. While measuring financial resources remains central, having reliable information about material deprivation adds to the ability to capture poverty and social exclusion. Non‐monetary indicators can help improve the identification of those experiencing poverty and understand how it comes about. They are most productively used when multidimensionality is explicitly taken into account, both in framing the question and in empirical application. While serious methodological and measurement issues remain to be addressed, material deprivation indicators allow for new insights in making poverty comparisons across countries and analyzing changes over time. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Treatment of primary CNS germinomatous germ cell tumors with chemotherapy prior to reduced dose whole ventricular and local boost irradiation
Authors: Khatua Soumen , Dhall Girish , O'Neil Sharon , Jubran Rima , Villablanca Judith G. , Marachelian Araz , Nastia Arti , Lavey Robert , Olch Arthur J. , Gonzalez Ignacio , Gilles Floyd , Nelson Marvin , Panigrahy Ashok , McComb Gordon , Krieger Mark , Fan Jing , Sposto Richard , Finlay Jonathan L.
Published: March 2010

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a reduced irradiation dose strategy for newly diagnosed primary central nervous system (CNS) germinomas.

Methods

Twenty patients with histologically diagnosed localized pure germinoma (n = 19) or germinoma with a mature teratoma component (n = 1) received four cycles of carboplatin and etoposide at 3‐week intervals. In 18 patients, chemotherapy was followed by whole ventricular irradiation to 21.6–25.5 Gy with a simultaneous integrated or sequential primary site boost to 30–30.6 Gy. Initial tumor markers for beta‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCGβ) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) were evaluated in serum and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Endoscopic biopsies were performed in 12 patients and partial resections in the remaining 8 patients at diagnosis. Neurocognitive function was evaluated periodically following treatment.

Results

Eighteen of 20 patients are without evidence of residual or recurrent tumor. Both relapsing patients were subsequently determined to harbor malignant non‐germinomatous germ cell tumor (NGGCT). This retrospective study shows that the Kaplan–Meier estimates of event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years for all 20 patients were 89.5 ± 7.1% and 100%, respectively. Neurocognitive function was well preserved in all 19 evaluable patients.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy followed by reduced dose whole ventricular and local boost irradiation appears to be effective in patients with localized pure CNS germinoma with evidence of preservation of neurocognitive function. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;55:42–46. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First‐trimester serum marker distribution in singleton pregnancies conceived with assisted reproduction
Authors: Engels M. A. J. , Kooij M. , Schats R. , Twisk J. W. R. , Blankenstein M. A. , van Vugt J. M. G.
Published: March 2010

Objective

To evaluate marker distribution of free β‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (fβ‐hCG) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) in singleton pregnancies conceived by assisted reproduction techniques (ART).

Methods

In vitro fertilization (IVF) (n = 203) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (n = 192) cases from a database of 14 645 first‐trimester combined tests (overall study group) were selected and matched to 1164 controls for gestational age at sample date and maternal age.

Results

In the IVF group and ICSI group, lnPAPP‐A was lower (IVF 6.74 vs 7.08; P = 0.0001; ICSI 6.59 vs 7.07; P = 0.0001) compared with the matched controls. Lnfβ‐hCG was lower in the IVF group (3.75 vs 3.90; P = 0.005) but not significantly different in the ICSI group (3.87 vs 3.93; P = 0.27). The computed correction factors for PAPP‐A and fβ‐hCG were 1.42 and 1.17 for the IVF group and 1.56 and 1.05 for the ICSI group.

The false‐positive rate (FPR) in the IVF and ICSI group compared with the matched controls was higher (IVF 10.3% vs 8.6% and ICSI 10.9% vs 7.5%). In the overall age‐biased [maternal age significantly lower compared with all ART and control groups] study group the FPR was 6.8%.

Conclusion

The increase in FPR in the ART groups can be explained by decreased PAPP‐A values. Therefore, an adjustment in risk analysis for Down syndrome is suggested. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Left ventricle shortening fraction: a comparison between euploid and trisomy 21 fetuses in the first trimester
Authors: Calda Pavel , Brestak Miroslav , Tomek Viktor , Ostadal Bohuslav , Sonek Jiri
Published: March 2010

Objectives

Measurement of the shortening fraction of the left ventricle (SFLV) is an objective way to assess systolic performance. The aim of the study was to compare first trimester SFLV values in euploid fetuses to those in fetuses with trisomy 21.

Methods

We measured SFLV in 56 fetuses from 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days. The left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) and left ventricular systolic diameter (LVSD) were measured offline, and SFLV was calculated. The data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

We found a significant difference in the SFLV measurements between the group of 49 euploid fetuses and the 7 fetuses with trisomy 21 [38.00 (95% CI: 33.72–42.27) vs 49.93 (95% CI: 43.72–56.13)] (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference in the nuchal translucency measurements between the two groups: 1.78 mm (95% CI: 1.08–2.48 mm) in the euploid population versus 5.06 mm (95% CI: 3.61–6.71 mm) in the fetuses with trisomy 21 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the group of euploid fetuses and the group of trisomy 21 fetuses in the following parameters: CRL (chorionic villus sampling), LVDD and LVSD.

Conclusions

SFLV is a well‐defined, simple measurement of systolic function of the fetal myocardium. SFLV values in fetuses with trisomy 21 appear to be significantly higher than in euploid fetuses. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
End‐capping double‐chain stranded polypseudorotaxanes using lengthily tunable poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) blocks via atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Tong Xinming , Gao Peng , Zhang Xiaowen , Ye Lin , Zhang Ai‐ying , Feng Zeng‐guo
Published: March 2010

Owing to a large cavity, γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD) can form double‐chain inclusion complexes with linear polymeric chains such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(ε‐caprolactone). However, to date few reports have focused on the end‐capping of these kinds of fascinating supramolecular entities. In this study, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was employed to prepare double‐chain stranded polyrotaxanes (PRs) with lengthily tunable poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) blocks as bulky end‐cappers. ATRP of HEMA was carried out using pseudopolyrotaxanes (PPRs) self‐assembled from a distal 2‐bromoisobutyryl end‐capped PEG (BriB‐PEG‐iBBr) with varying amounts of γ‐CDs as macroinitiator in the presence of Cu(I)Br/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine in aqueous solution at room temperature. The resulting PRs were demonstrated by the unique H‐like double‐chain stranded supramolecular architecture end‐capped with lengthily tunable PHEMA blocks. When the feed molar ratio of γ‐CD:BriB‐PEG‐iBBr varied from 5 to 60 in PPRs, the feed molar ratio in PRs was found to remain at around 20 with a higher yield. ATRP was successfully applied to prepare double‐chain stranded PRs end‐capped with lengthily tunable PHEMA blocks. This provides a protocol for the preparation of novel H‐like PR‐based block copolymers. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Why intensive interventions are necessary for students with severe reading difficulties
Authors: Vaughn Sharon , Denton Carolyn A. , Fletcher Jack M.
Published: March 2010

This article reviews research related to intensive interventions within a Response to Intervention framework. We review the research from studies that provided different levels of intensity of intervention with the goal of establishing a case that movement through less intensive tiers of intervention may not be an effective and responsible approach to addressing the reading difficulties of some students, particularly those with significant reading difficulties or disabilities. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A measure of emergent literacy for students with severe developmental disabilities
Authors: Baker Joshua N. , Spooner Fred , Ahlgrim‐Delzell Lynn , Flowers Claudia , Browder Diane M.
Published: March 2010

This study examined the underlying structure of the Nonverbal Literacy Assessment (NVLA), an instrument designed to measure emergent literacy for K–fourth‐grade students with severe developmental disabilities. The NVLA was conceptualized as having six constructs that reflected emergent literacy skills: (a) phonemic awareness, (b) phonics, (c) comprehension, (d) vocabulary, (e) listening comprehension, and (f) text awareness. Confirmatory factor analysis using data from 207 student administrations was used to examine the six‐factor model and two alternative models. Results suggested that all three models fit the data, but the high corrections coefficients among the constructs suggested that a one‐factor model of emergent literacy was the best‐fitting model. Implications and limitations are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emotional Intelligence and Its Relationship to Transformational Leadership and Key Project Manager Competences
Authors: Clarke Nicholas
Published: March 2010

Key dimensions of project manager behaviors considered to be associated with successful project outcomes have included both appropriate collaborative behaviors and transformational leadership. More recently, emotional intelligence has been suggested as a unique area of individual differences that is likely to underpin sets of behaviors in this area. Based on a sample of 67 UK project managers, it was found that emotional intelligence ability measures and empathy explained additional variance in the project manager competences of teamwork, attentiveness, and managing conflict, and the transformational leadership behaviors of idealized influence and individualized consideration, after controlling for cognitive ability and personality.
Multi‐Layer Fragment Arresting Jacket for High Density PETN Pressing Operation
Authors: Kaur Simran , Gupta Shallu , Pal Dinesh Kumar , Raychaudhuri Tusharkanti
Published: March 2010

Safety is one of the main concerns while pressing high explosives. Many initiating devices consist of a pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) high density column, which is pressed manually in a pneumatic press using a die–plunger assembly. An accidental initiation of the pellet while pressing may lead to severe damages to the press and injuries to the operator. In this paper, a multi‐layer jacket is proposed to be used around the die–plunger assembly during pressing to absorb the energy released by PETN, reduce the shock pressure and arrest fragments in case of an accidental initiation/explosion. The design is based on the stress–strain characteristics of the materials and impedance mismatch principle.