bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biliary hemorrhage after removal of an expandable metallic stent during liver transplantation
Authors: Narumi Shunji , Hakamda Kenichi , Toyoki Yoshikazu , Ishido Keinosuke , Nara Masaki , Yoshihara Syuichi , Sasaki Mutsuo
Published: October 2008

The self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has become a common device for palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstructions or benign strictures. Despite the ease of placement of SEMSs, their removal has been reported to be very difficult. Here, we report a case with primary sclerosing cholangitis who developed massive hemorrhage after intraoperative removal of a SEMS. Possible living donor liver transplantation (LT) was considered for a 49-year-old female with primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, her general condition did not meet the criteria for LT; therefore, she was referred back to her primary physician. Two years later, she developed jaundice, and her primary physician placed multiple SEMSs, 1 of which was placed across the papilla of Vater. She was evaluated rapidly, and underwent living donor LT. During the operation, the common bile duct was examined and an incision was made. A stent was found firmly embedded in the bile duct. Each wire of the SEMS was pinched and then successfully pulled out 1 by 1. Finally, all parts of the SEMS were removed. Before creating the Roux-en-Y limb, hemorrhage from the remnant bile duct was confirmed by examination of the duodenum and bile duct stump. The bile duct was sewn internally with monofilament stitches and compressed for 10 minutes. Finally, hemostasis was brought about and transplantation was completed successfully. Despite some reports regarding successful endoscopic removal of SEMSs, its removal in patients with portal hypertension coagulopathy is risky. SEMSs should not be placed in patients who are candidates for LT. Liver Transpl 14:1578–1581, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
A J-shaped subcostal incision reduces the incidence of abdominal wall complications in liver transplantation
Authors: Heisterkamp Joos , Marsman Hendrik A. , Eker Hassan , Metselaar Herold J. , Tilanus Hugo W. , Kazemier Geert
Published: October 2008

A novel J-shaped incision for liver transplantation was introduced in attempt to reduce the wound-related complication rate while maintaining comparable access. Some 58 consecutive patients with the classic Mercedes incision were compared with the following 60 consecutive patients with a J-shaped incision. Nine of 60 patients (15%) with a J-shaped incision were converted to an extensive incision. The duration of surgery did not differ between both groups, and relaparotomy rates were comparable in both groups (45% versus 31%, P = 0.487) whereas the early wound-related morbidity was significantly reduced in the J-shaped incision group (3% versus 19%, P = 0.009), as well as incisional hernia rate (7% versus 24%, P = 0.002, corrected for different length of follow-up). Other factors such as previous surgery, ascites, abdominal drainage, retransplantation, and indications for transplantation did not differ between both groups and were not predictive of wound-related morbidity or incisional hernia. We therefore conclude that a J-shaped incision should be the incision of choice in liver transplantation. This new, seemingly minor modification reduces wound infections, fascial dehiscence, and incisional hernia. Liver Transpl 14:1655–1658, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Immune reconstitution syndrome after voriconazole treatment for cryptococcal meningitis in a liver transplant recipient
Authors: Crespo Gonzalo , Cervera Carlos , Michelena Javier , Marco Francesc , Moreno Asunción , Navasa Miquel
Published: October 2008

A new entity that comprises symptomatic worsening of an infectious or inflammatory process despite appropriate treatment was described a few years ago in human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. This entity was defined as immune reconstitution syndrome, and it is believed to result from an intense inflammatory reaction in patients with an appropriately treated infection who recover immunological status. Recently, immune reconstitution syndrome has also been described in transplant recipients, although information is scarce because of its low incidence. Here we describe a new case of immune reconstitution syndrome in a liver transplant recipient after successful treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. Liver Transpl 14:1671–1674, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Task assignment, incentives and technological factors
Authors: De Paola Maria , Scoppa Vincenzo
Published: October 2008

In this paper, we examine the allocation of tasks between a principal and an agent considering their incentives to provide effort, their different abilities in handling tasks, and transmission costs. We focus our attention on two tasks: the first may be handled by the principal or by the agent, whereas the second is necessarily carried out by the agent. Under a fully decentralised organisation, the agent performs both tasks, whereas, under partial delegation, the principal handles the first task and transfers the outcome to the agent who handles the second task. Assuming technological complementarities, from our analysis it emerges that, if there is imperfect observability of effort, full delegation is better at eliciting effort by the agent in the second task, whereas, in comparison with partial delegation, it lowers effort in the first task. Although with contractible effort, the choice between the two organisational forms depends only on transmission costs and on the relative ability of its members, when moral hazard problems are taken into account, the organisational choice is related to the relative importance played by the two tasks in production. If the agent's task is relatively important in production, full delegation, encouraging a higher level of effort in this task, may be optimal, even if technological factors favour partial delegation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on Parkinson motor function—Systematic review of controlled clinical trials
Authors: Elahi Behzad , Elahi Behrad , Chen Robert
Published: October 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on motor signs in Parkinson's disease (PD). Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus bibliographic, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Relevant controlled clinical trials published between January 1985 and October 2007 were extracted, reviewed, and validated according to the study protocol. The outcome of interest was the motor section of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). We calculated the effect size for the included studies. Sensitivity analysis was performed to further assess factors that may change the results. Ten randomized, controlled clinical trials were included in the meta‐analysis. Pooling of the results from these trials yielded an effect size of −0.58 in UPDRS for high‐frequency rTMS studies and no significant effects for low‐frequency rTMS studies. The benefit of high‐frequency rTMS on motor signs in PD was confirmed by the meta‐analysis. Lower frequency rTMS had little effect on motor signs in PD. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Spanish web searching tools: An exploratory study
Authors: Morales‐Arroyo Miguel A. , Chang Yun‐Ke , Sanchez‐Guerrero Gabriel , Spink Amanda
Published: October 2008

Web search engines are now major tools that people use to find information on the Web. Few studies have examined the extent and functionality of these Web searching tools that support Spanish‐speaking users. Our study identified 72 publically available Spanish‐language‐supporting Web search engines. The research questions are the following: a) What Web searching tools are available to Spanish speaking users?, b) What are the features of these tools?, c) What are the current web search engine restrictions? d) What are the functionalities of multimedia Web search engines that allow searching in Spanish? The Web functionality methodology developed by Tjondronegoro and Spink was adapted and modified to examine the functionality of Spanish Web search engines. The findings include: (1) limited set of Web search features for Spanish‐speaking users, (2) a lack of Spanish language interfaces, (3) lack of functionality in 18% of the Web searching tools examined, and (4) due to the high interest in Spanish language media, a need for multimedia Web search tools to support Spanish language users. Further research is needed to examine the needs of Spanish language users and the development of Spanish language Web search tools.
Effects of different field weights on search performance in digital libraries: A preliminary study
Authors: Zhang Xiangmin , Li Yuelin , Zhang Ying , Grenier Gerry , Trivedi Mehul , Gischlar Douglass
Published: October 2008

The objective of this research was to examine the effect of major metadata fields on fielded searching in digital libraries. The effectiveness of title, abstract plus full‐text was investigated in an IEEE Xplore test bed. Weights on the three components were varied in five schemes (i.e. five runs) to retrieve relevant documents for twenty different search questions in five subject areas. The five weighting schemes were combinations of low, middle (default), and high weight on title, abstract and full‐text. The top 50 search results of each search question, retrieved by each run, were evaluated for relevance by five human assessors, each responsible for one subject area. Average Precision (AP) scores as the performance measure were calculated and then compared among these runs. The direct comparisons of APs did not find significant differences among the five runs. However, the results demonstrate a better performance for the run with low weight on title but high weight on both abstract and full‐text. This scheme also retrieved the least portion of ephemeral documents. A significant difference was found between the general search question and specific question from one of the runs. This research was a preliminary work towards optimizing weighting assignments among metadata fields and ultimately improving information retrieval performance in digital libraries.
Best‐answer selection criteria in a social Q&A site from the user‐oriented relevance perspective
Authors: Kim Soojung , Oh Jung Sun , Oh Sanghee
Published: October 2008

As an attempt to better understand how people seek, share, and evaluate information in a social Q&A environment, this study identifies the selection criteria people employ when they select best answers in Yahoo! Answers in the context of relevance research. Using content analysis, we analyzed the comments people left upon the selection of best answers to their own questions. From 1,200 samples of comments, only 465 mentioned the specific reasons for their selection, thus becoming eligible for analysis. Through an iterative process of evaluating the types of comments, the best‐answer selection criteria were inductively derived and grouped into seven value categories: Content value, Cognitive value, Socio‐emotional value, Information source value, Extrinsic value, Utility, and General statement. While many of the identified criteria overlap with those found in previous relevance studies, the Socio‐emotional value was particularly prominent in this study, especially when people ask for opinions and suggestions. These findings reflect the characteristics of a social Q&A site and extend our understanding of the relevance of an electronic environment where people bring their every day problem‐solving and decision‐making tasks.
A rare case of forearm hypoplasia from 18th‐century Gdańsk, Poland
Authors: Gładykowska‐Rzeczycka J. J. , Mazurek T.
Published: October 2008

The case of forearm hypoplasia with anterior displacement of the radius (transverse forearm deficiency, TFD) presented in this article was noted in skeleton no. 72 recovered from one of the crypts of St John's Church in Gdan´sk. The remains are those of a woman who died in the latter half of the 18th century. Hypoplasia affects the right forearm, whilst the other bones of this extremity are atrophied to varying degrees. Similar traits are apparent on the surviving ribs and the sternal manubrium. The very poorly preserved spinal column shows scoliosis and a fused block of three vertebrae (Th3–5). As pointed out by Mann et al. (1992), materials recovered from the excavation provide historical confirmation of the existence of a link between congenital abnormalities affecting the upper extremities and idiopathic scoliosis. They also offer an opportunity to compare these deformities with those brought about by mothers taking thalidomide. A brief outline of the history of palaeoteratology is presented, drawing attention to the small number of cases described in the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytokine signalling by gp130 regulates gastric mucosal healing after ulceration and, indirectly, antral tumour progression
Authors: Judd Louise M , Ulaganathan Meera , Howlett Meegan , Giraud Andrew S
Published: October 2008

The cytokines IL‐6 and IL‐11, which signal via the receptor gp130, have been implicated in various gut pathologies, including inflammation and wound healing. We used mouse cytokine signalling mutants to evaluate the role of gp130 pathways in gastric ulceration and healing and the effect of spatially remote fundic ulceration on antral tumour progression, since compromised wound healing may impact tumourigenesis. Glacial acetic acid applied to the serosal surface of stomachs from wild‐type, gp130757FF, IL‐6−/− and IL‐11 receptor (R)α−/− mice was used to induce discrete haemostasis/necrosis and resultant mucosal ulceration. Wound pathology and mRNA expression of key cytokine target genes were examined 2 and 14 weeks after ulcer induction. The outcome of fundic ulceration on antral tumour development in gp130757FF mice was also examined. Chemical haemostasis in gp1307575FF mice produces more severe gastric ulcers than in wild‐type mice. Lack of IL‐6 produces more severe ulceration, while loss of IL‐11Rα less severe ulcers, suggesting a role for IL‐11 in ulcer induction. Increased expression of ulcer‐associated IL‐11 and its established mitogenic target genes RegI, IIIβ and IIIγ paralleled severe ulceration in gp130757FF mice. In this model, coincident with fundic ulceration, antral tumour development was inhibited and correlated with decreased RegI, IIIβ and IIIγ and reduced MMP9 and 13 expression. IL‐11‐driven transcription via gp130 contributes to the gastric mucosal response to ulceration. Fundic mucosal ulceration modulates antral growth factor and metalloproteinase gene expression, thereby contributing to restricted tumour growth. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control of morphology of sulfonated syndio‐polystyrene membranes through constraints imposed by siloxane networks
Authors: Lavorgna M. , Fusco L. , Piscitelli F. , Mensitieri G. , Agoretti P. , Borriello A. , Mascia L.
Published: October 2008

The incorporation of siloxane networks in sulfonated polystyrene membranes by the sol‐gel process was used to explore the possibility of developing low cost membrane for direct methanol fuel cells. A precursor solution of a hydrophobic siloxane network was allowed to diffuse and react into sulfonated syndio‐polystyrene ionomeric membranes. The organic‐inorganic hybrid domains so produced were able to reduce considerably the swelling of the ionomeric polymer in water, thereby increasing the dimensional stability of membranes. The physical and chemical properties of the sulfonated and hybrids membranes were examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. The water uptake and the ionic conductivity were also evaluated at temperatures up to 60° C. It was found that both the unmodified sulfonated membranes and the corresponding hybrid exhibited a two‐phase morphology, consisting of crystalline lamellar domains embedded in the amorphous ionomeric polymer, featuring segregated hydrophobic/hydrophilic domains with characteristic separation lengths ranging between 3.9 and 1.7 nm. The presence of inorganic domains not only increased the dimensional stability of the membrane, by reducing the water uptake, but also decreased the rate of methanol crossover. Furthermore it was found that the inorganic network stabilizes the membrane morphology, enhancing the retention of proton conductivity after aging in water. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Enhanced lateral current transport via the front N+ diffused layer of n‐type high‐efficiency back‐junction back‐contact silicon solar cells
Authors: Granek Filip , Hermle Martin , Huljić Dominik M. , Schultz‐Wittmann Oliver , Glunz Stefan W.
Published: October 2008

N‐type back‐contact back‐junction solar cells were processed with the use of industrially relevant structuring technologies such as screen‐printing and laser processing. Application of the low‐cost structuring technologies in the processing of the high‐efficiency back‐contact back‐junction silicon solar cells results in a drastic increase of the pitch on the rear cell side. The pitch in the range of millimetres leads to a significant increase of the lateral base resistance. The application of a phosphorus doped front surface field (FSF) significantly reduces the lateral base resistance losses. This additional function of the phosphorus doped FSF in reducing the lateral resistance losses was investigated experimentally and by two‐dimensional device simulations. Enhanced lateral majority carrier's current transport in the front n+ diffused layer is a function of the pitch and the base resistivity. Experimental data show that the application of a FSF reduces the total series resistance of the measured cells with 3.5 mm pitch by 0.1 Ω cm2 for the 1 Ω cm base resistivity and 1.3 Ω cm2 for the 8 Ω cm base resistivity. Two‐dimensional simulations of the electron current transport show that the electron current density in the front n+ diffused layer is around two orders of magnitude higher than in the base of the solar cell. The best efficiency of 21.3% was obtained for the solar cell with a 1 Ω cm specific base resistivity and a front surface field with sheet resistance of 148 Ω/sq. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, kinetic study, and application of Ti[O(CH2)4OCHCH2]4 in ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and radical polymerization
Authors: Li Peichun , Zerroukhi Amar , Chen Jianding , Chalamet Yvan , Jeanmaire Thomas , Xia Zhean
Published: October 2008

Ti[O(CH2)4OCHCH2]4, used for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone, was synthesized through the ester‐exchange reaction of titanium n‐propoxide and 1,4‐butanediol vinyl ether, and its chemical structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanism and kinetics of Ti[O(CH2)4OCHCH2]4‐initiated bulk polymerization of ε‐caprolactone were investigated. The results demonstrate that Ti[O (CH2)4OCHCH2]4‐initiated polymerization of ε‐caprolactone proceeds through the coordination‐insertion mechanism, and all the four alkoxide arms in Ti[O (CH2)4OCHCH2]4 share a similar activity in initiating ROP of ε‐caprolactone. The polymerization process can be well predicted by the obtained kinetic parameters, and the activation energy is 106 KJ/mol. Then, the rheological method was employed to investigate the feasibility of producing the crosslinked poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐poly (n‐butyl acrylate) network by using Ti[O(CH2)4OCHCH2]4 as the ROP initiator. The tensile test demonstrates that the in situ generated crosslinked PCL‐PBA network in PMMA matrix provides the possibility of ameliorating the tensile properties of PMMA. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7773–7784, 2008
Studies on structure property relationship in a polymer–clay nanocomposite film based on (PAN)8LiClO4
Authors: Sharma A. L. , Shukla Namrata , Thakur Awalendra K.
Published: October 2008

A new combination of ionically conducting polymer–clay nanocomposites based on (PAN)8LiClO4 + x wt % montmorillonite (unmodified) clay has been prepared using the standard solution cast process. X‐Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals strong interaction of polymer salt complex (PS) with the montmorillonite matrix evidenced by changes in d001 spacing of the clay and enhancement in the clay gallery width on composite formation possibly due to intercalation of polymer–salt complex into nanometric clay galleries. Evidences of such an interaction among polymer–ion–clay components of the composite matrix has also been observed in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum results. FTIR results clearly indicated cation (Li+) coordination at nitrile (CN) site of the polymer backbone along with appearance of a shoulder suggesting strong evidence of polymer–ion interaction. Addition of clay into the PS matrix has been observed to affect ion–ion interaction resulting from ion dissociation effect at low clay loading in the PNC films. Complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) analysis has provided a response comprising of a semicircular arc followed by a spike attributed respectively, to the bulk conduction and electrode polarization at the interfaces. Electrical transport appears to be predominantly ionic (tion = 0.99) with significant improvement in the electrical conductivity and thermal stability properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2577–2592, 2008
Positron annihilation and free volume studies in polymer glasses
Authors: Shantarovich V. P.
Published: October 2008

In this article, the interconnections between the ortho‐positronium (the bound state of the positron and electron having parallel orientation of spins, TPs) pick‐off annihilation characteristics and concentration and effective size of elementary free volumes in polymer structures are discussed. Free volume parameters are responsible for many important properties of polymers such as permeability to gases, selectivity, ageing mechanical strength, etc. However, the ways of quantitative estimations of size distributions of the free volume elements on the bases of experimental data are sometime not obvious. Various approaches to this problem are analyzed in this review mostly on examples of glassy polymer membrane materials. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2485–2503, 2008
Growth of lung function in children with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Field Joshua J. , DeBaun Michael R. , Yan Yan , Strunk Robert C.
Published: October 2008

Lung disease is a common cause of morbidity among children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Although cross‐sectional studies of children with SCD describe abnormal pulmonary function, the pattern of lung function growth in these children compared to children in the general population is not known. To provide preliminary evidence that growth of lung function is attenuated in children with SCD, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with hemoglobin SS (HbSS) ages 6–19 years who received at least two spirometry assessments for clinical care. The growth of lung function in these cases was compared to age, gender, and race‐specific children without SCD or respiratory complaints from the Harvard Six Cities Study (H6CS). Seventy‐nine children with HbSS contributed 363 spirometry measurements (mean per child = 4.6, median = 4.0, range = 2–17) and 255 controls contributed 1,543 spirometry measurements (mean per child = 6.1, median = 6.0, range = 2–13). Longitudinal forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) was lower for boys and girls with HbSS compared to children in the general population,P = 0.031 andP = 0.002, respectively. When compared to the H6CS cohort, girls with HbSS showed lower longitudinal forced vital capacity (FVC) (P < 0.001) and FEV1/FVC (0.038); there was no difference in FVC or FEV1/FVC between boys in the HbSS and H6CS cohort. We conclude that growth of lung function is reduced in children with HbSS compared to children in the general population. Gender may influence the risk of developing abnormal lung function and airway obstruction in children with HbSS. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1061–1066. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reproductive and sexual health in boys with cystic fibrosis: What do parents know and say?
Authors: Frayman Katherine B. , Cerritelli Belinda , Wilson John , Sawyer Susan M.
Published: October 2008

Objective

Improved life expectancy in cystic fibrosis (CF) alters the significance of developmentally relevant aspects such as sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Men with CF report parents are an important source of information about infertility, but parent perspectives remain unknown. The aim of this study was to systematically explore parents' knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding the SRH education of their sons.

Patients and Methods

Eligible participants were parents of boys with CF aged at least 6 years who completed a 61‐item written questionnaire that was developed to measure parent knowledge and education about CF‐specific aspects of SRH, and parent attitudes and behaviors about the CF‐specific sexuality education of their sons.

Results

Eighty‐four mothers (82%) and 64 fathers (70%) completed the questionnaire. All but one knew of probable infertility, being primarily informed at the time of diagnosis. Since then, 19% of parents reported subsequent discussions of SRH with their son's CF specialist, mostly initiated by parents. Adolescence was considered the most appropriate time for the initial education of boys. Sixty percent of parents worried how their sons would react. Ninety‐five percent of parents said that they (alone or together with the CF specialist) should first inform their sons of probable infertility. Only 30% of parents were satisfied with their current knowledge.

Conclusion

These parents are well informed about male infertility in CF. However, they have had little opportunity for subsequent discussion of SRH with health professionals since their son's diagnosis. As boys mature, subsequent SRH discussions by health professionals with parents are indicated. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1107–1116. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incidence of cystic fibrosis in the Albanian population
Authors: Festini Filippo , Taccetti Giovanni , Repetto Teresa , Mannini Claudia , Neri Stella , Bisogni Sofia , de Martino Maurizio
Published: October 2008

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life‐threatening genetic disease in the Western world. Its incidence varies between 1:4,000 and 1:2,500 among Europeans. No data are available on the incidence of CF among Albanians, mainly due to difficulties of the local health system.

Goals

To estimate the incidence of CF and the prevalence of healthy carrier status among Albanian ethnic people; to evaluate the incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns.

Methods

We used the database of the newborn screening of Tuscany, Italy for the period 1991–2005. Children born to both Albanian parents in Tuscany were identified and incidences were calculated.

Results

The incidence of CF among Albanians (1/555, 99% CI: 1/2,980–1/306) was significantly higher than the rest of the Tuscan population (1/4,101, 99% CI: 1/5,564–1/3,248). The prevalence of CF carrier status among Albanians living in Tuscany is estimated to be 1/12 (99%CI 1/27–1/9) while in the rest of the Tuscan population it is 1/32 (99%CI 1/37–1/28). The incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns (1/55 99%CI: 1/74–1/44) was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (1/84, 99%CI 1/88–1/82).

Conclusion

The incidence of CF among Albanians is considerably higher than expected. Albanian people have a risk to give birth to children with CF higher than the rest of Europeans. The implementation of a newborn screening program in Albania, together with a CF follow up program is highly advisable. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1124–1129. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First observation of dynamic shape changes of a gold nanoparticle catalyst under reaction gas environment by transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Ueda Kouta , Kawasaki Tadahiro , Hasegawa Hitoshi , Tanji Takayoshi , Ichihashi Mikio
Published: October 2008

The surface structure of catalytic gold nanoparticles was observed dynamically during CO oxidation using an environmental‐cell transmission electron microscope (E‐cell TEM) system. In the developed system, the gold catalyst specimen can be set under the reaction gas condition by separating it from the vacuum using ultra‐thin carbon films. We have developed a method capable of yielding for carbon films 8‐nm thick, capable of withstanding a gas pressure of 2 atm. In situ observations using the above system indicated marked changes in the surface shape of the gold nanoparticle catalyst during the reaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cowden Syndrome: A Critical Review of the Clinical Literature
Authors: Pilarski Robert
Published: October 2008

Cowden syndrome (CS) is a multi‐system disease involving hamartomatous overgrowth of tissues of all three embryonic origins and increased risks for thyroid, breast and possibly other cancers. Benign breast, thyroid, uterine and skin lesions are also common. Approximately 80% of patients with CS have an identifiable germline mutation in the PTEN gene. The majority of the existing data on the frequencies of component clinical features have been obtained from compilations of case reports in the literature, many of which predate the establishment in 1996 of consensus diagnostic criteria. Many of these reports also suffer from ascertainment bias which emphasized the dermatologic features of the disease. This paper presents an overview of Cowden syndrome focusing on a critical evaluation of the major literature on the component cancers, benign features, and molecular findings in CS, noting the limitations of the published data.
FISH in der Diagnostik hämatologischer Neoplasien
Authors: Bacher U. , Haferlach C.
Published: October 2008

Sämtliche hämatologische Neoplasien zeigen eine große klinische Variabilität. Allerdings lassen sich die Entitäten in eine Vielzahl von Prognose bestimmenden Subtypen auf der Basis genetischer Marker einteilen. Die individuelle Abstimmung der Therapie erfordert daher eine exakte Klassifikation des genetischen Subtyps. In Verbindung mit der Chromosomenanalyse spielt die Fluoreszenz-in-situ-Hybridisierung (FISH) dabei eine zentrale Rolle – für die weitere Aufklärung von Befunden der Chromosomenanalyse, z. B. bei akuten Leukämien, oder die Klassifikation diverser Subtypen, wie bei den Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen. In Abhängigkeit von der Erkrankung kommt der FlSH-Analyse eine unterschiedliche Bedeutung zu. Sie wird zum einen als Methode der ersten Wahl zur genetischen Charakterisierung einer Erkrankung, z. B. des multiplen Myeloms, angewandt, oder kommt in Kombination mit der Chromosomenbänderungsanalyse zum Einsatz. Ferner kommt ihr eine essenzielle Bedeutung zu, wenn eine rasche Bestätigung einer Diagnose erforderlich ist, wie bei der akuten Promyelozytenleukämie mit t(15;17)/PML-RARA-Rearrangement, bei der ein sofortiger Therapiebeginn mit All-trans-Retinsäure (ATRA) notwendig ist.
Exosomal sorting of the cytoplasmic domain of bovine leukemia virus TM Env protein
Authors: De Gassart Aude , Trentin Bernadette , Martin Marianne , Hocquellet Agnès , Bette‐Bobillo Pascale , Mamoun Robert , Vidal Michel
Published: October 2008

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles that are released into the extracellular compartment as a consequence of fusion of multivesicular endosomes with the plasma membrane. To unravel the molecular basis of protein sorting into exosomes, we have made a chimeric protein containing the cytosolic domain of the transmembrane subunit of the viral Env protein of BLV and the ectodomain of CD8 (CDTM‐BLV–CD8). When expressed in K562 cells known to constitutively secrete exosomes, the chimera was found to be very efficiently targeted to the released vesicles. Very interestingly, the cytosolic domain of the Env protein contains peptide motifs potentially recognized by components of the ESCRT machinery that could be related to chimera sorting into the vesicles. Then, quantifying the chimera secretion, we investigated the site of exosome biogenesis in K562 cells using a pharmacological approach. We present different arguments indicating that CDTM‐BLV–CD8‐containing exosomes are likely formed from a recycling endosomal/TGN compartment.
The influence of body mass index on in vitro fertilization outcome
Authors: Orvieto Raoul , Meltcer Simion , Nahum Ravit , Rabinson Jacob , Anteby Eyal Y. , Ashkenazi Jacob
Published: October 2008

Objective

To examine whether body mass index (BMI) influences the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods

We studied 516 IVF cycles, 438 undergone by nonobese (BMI ≤ 30) and 78 by obese (BMI > 30) women who all had an a priori favorable prognosis (age < 40 years and first, second, or third IVF cycle).

Results

Pregnancy was achieved in 122 (27.9%) nonobese and 12 (15.4%) obese women. The obese women required significantly longer stimulation and more gonadotropin ampoules, and had lower peak estradiol levels and a significantly lower fertilization rate; obese poor responders had a significantly lower pregnancy rate than nonobese poor responders; and the prevalence of poor responders was significantly higher among obese than nonobese women (28.2% vs 16.9%, P < 0.04).

Conclusion

While the likelihood of poor responders was increased among obese women, reasonable conception rates were achieved in nonobese poor responders, and were comparable to the rates in nonobese and obese normal responders.
The origin of low-Be quartz-fluorite field at the Ermakovskoe high-grade F-Be-ore deposit
Authors: Damdinova L.B. , Reyf F.G.
Published: October 2008

With geological, mineralogical, and petrographic methods, thermometry, and microprobe analysis of fluid inclusions, the structure and formation conditions of a specific orebody (zone 12) of the Ermakovskoe F-Be deposit have been established. This orebody is similar in fluorite content to other orebodies of the deposit (28.7 and 24.6%, respectively) but has the lowest average content of Be (~0.1% BeO against 1.19%). It is shown that in contrast to high-grade apocarbonate ores, the Ermakovskoe deposit formed mainly through the filling of the cavities of host rocks (syenites and schists) rather than the rock replacement. Calcium necessary for the formation of fluorite was supplied, most likely, as complexes Na2CaF4 and Ca2Cl3F by moderately saline (11.5–12.5 wt.% NaCl equiv.) F-rich (=0.3 mole/kg) solutions. The fluorite was deposited as a result of the solution cooling from ≥430 to 250 °C. Microprobe analysis of fluid inclusions showed that the solutions of ore zone 12 were similar in Be concentration to near-neutral and alkaline solutions that produced high-grade apocarbonate ores of the deposit but were of acid composition (pH≈4 at 350 °C). Cooling of such solutions to 100 °C is not accompanied by the decrease in the solubility of prevailing Be fluorcomplexes, which accounts for the low BeO content in the orebody of zone 12.
Pain and the pharmacogenetics at the fuzzy border between pain physiopathology and pain treatment
Authors: Govoni Stefano , Regazzi Mario , Ranzani Guglielmina Nadia
Published: October 2008

Nociceptive pain is time limited and severe nociceptive pain normally responds well to treatment with opioids, On the contrary, neuropatic pain is frequently chronic, and tends to have a less robust response to treatment with opioids. The unsolved problem of insufficient pain treatment at clinical level, including both wanted analgesic effects and unwanted side effects, is a stimulus to expand the knowledge on the physiophatology of pain and on the involved molecular mechanisms. In particular, it is important not only to better understand the molecular mechanisms associated to drugs effects but also to characterize the genetic traits underlying pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) mechanisms related to drugs. Literature analysis reveals that there are interesting genetic polymorphisms that are associated either to the sensitivity to pain and to PD response to drugs, or to the metabolic and excretion pathways. Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics holds the promise that drugs might in the next future be tailor‐made for individuals and adapted to each person's own genetic background. Collected information, allowing to design combined therapies and to dissect analgesic from addictive properties of opioids within a given patient, will also contribute to contrast the persisting opiophobia in medical practice.
Pathophysiology of pain: from theory to clinical evidence
Authors: Jensen Troels Staehelin
Published: October 2008

Following damage to the nociceptive signalling system or sustained activation of this a series of plastic changes occur. These changes includes development of increased responses to a noxious stimulus (hyperalgesia), pain evoked by low‐intensity normally innocuous stimuli (allodynia), persistence after cessation of stimulation (aftersensations), spread of pain to surrounding non‐damaged areas and an increase of pain after repetitive stimulation. The nociceptive system serves a warning role in acute pain states, which is necessary for survival. But in chronic pain conditions the noceiceptive system serves no purpose at all. Basic studies have shown a cascade of neurobiological events underlying the plastic changes but there is still a gap in how these molecular and cellular translate into clinical manifestations as they are seen in three fundamental different forms of chronic pain: inflammatory, neuropathic and generalized types of pain
Medical use of opioids: What drives the debate? A brief commentary
Authors: Ballantyne Jane C.
Published: October 2008

Medical advances have not obviated the need for opioids to relieve pain and suffering. There are no better analgesics. Pain and suffering have not abated. Scientific endeavor has helped unravel some of the mechanisms of pain and addiction; yet the compelling and addictive properties of opioids continue to plague their use. This article explores the factors that drive the current debate about the use of opioids to relieve the suffering of patients with chronic intractable pain.
Introgression of a disrupted cadherin gene enables susceptibleHelicoverpa armigerato obtain resistance toBacillus thuringiensistoxin Cry1Ac
Authors: Yang Y.-H. , Yang Y.-J. , Gao W.-Y. , Guo J.-J. , Wu Y.-H. , Wu Y.-D.
Published: October 2008

A disrupted allele (r1) of a cadherin gene (Ha_BtR) is genetically associated with incompletely recessive resistance toBacillus thuringiensistoxin Cry1Ac in a Cry1Ac-selected strain (GYBT) ofHelicoverpa armigera. Ther1allele ofHa_BtRwas introgressed into a susceptible SCD strain by crossing the GYBT strain to the SCD strain, followed by repeated backcrossing to the SCD strain and molecular marker assisted family selection. The introgressed strain (designated as SCD-r1, carrying homozygousr1allele) obtained 438-fold resistance to Cry1Ac, >41-fold resistance to Cry1Aa and 31-fold resistance Cry1Ab compared with the SCD strain; however, there was no significant difference in susceptibility to Cry2Aa between the integrated and parent strains. It confirms that the loss of function mutation ofHa_BtRalone can confer medium to high levels of resistance to the three Cry1A toxins inH. armigera. Reciprocal crosses between the SCD and SCD-r1 strains showed that resistance to Cry1Ac in the SCD-r1 strain was completely recessive. Life tables of the SCD and SCD-r1 strains on artificial diet in the laboratory were constructed, and results showed that the net replacement rate (R0) did not differ between the strains. The toxicity of two chemical insecticides, fenvalerate and monocrotophos, against the SCD-r1 strain was not significantly different from that to the SCD strain. However, larval development time of the SCD-r1 strain was significantly longer than that of the SCD strain, indicating a fitness cost of slower larval growth is associated withHa_BtRdisruption inH. armigera.
THE CLAUSE-INITIAL POSITION IN L2 GERMAN DECLARATIVES : Transfer of Information Structure
Authors: Bohnacker Ute , Rosén Christina
Published: October 2008

This article investigates the information structure of verb-second (V2) declaratives in Swedish, German, and nonnative German. Even though almost any type of element can occur in the so-called prefield, the clause-initial preverbal position of V2 declaratives, we have found language-specific patterns in native-speaker corpora: The frequencies of prefield constituent types differ substantially between German and Swedish, and Swedish postpones new (rhematic) information and instead fills the prefield with given (thematic) elements and elements of no or low informational value (e.g., expletives) to a far greater extent than German. We compare Swedish learners of German to native controls matched for age and genre (Bohnacker, 2005, 2006; Rosén, 2006). These learners master the syntactic properties of V2 but start their sentences in nonnative ways. They overapply the Swedish principle of rheme later in their second language German, indicating first language (L1) transfer at the interface of syntax and information structure, especially for structures that are frequent in the L1.
TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE GENUS MANILKARA (SAPOTACEAE) IN MADAGASCAR
Authors: Plana V. , Gautier L.
Published: October 2008

A revision of the five Madagascan species of the genus Manilkara (Sapotaceae) is presented, including a key, descriptions, diagnostic characters, ecological notes and a distribution map. Of the seven species originally described by Aubréville, Manilkara tampoloensis is placed in synonymy with M. boivinii, and M. sohihy is removed from the genus and placed within the existing Labramia boivinii (Pierre) Aubrév.
NEW SPECIES AND NEW COMBINATIONS IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN GENUS LESSINGIANTHUS (ASTERACEAE: VERNONIEAE)
Authors: Dematteis M.
Published: October 2008

Two new species of the South American genus Lessingianthus (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) are described and illustrated. One of these species, Lessingianthus arctatus, bears a resemblance to L. linearis (Spreng.) H.Rob. and L. rosmarinifolius (Less.) H.Rob., but can be separated from them by its almost glabrous phyllaries, solitary heads and longer internodes. The other new taxon, Lessingianthus longicuspis, can be easily separated from L. cataractarum (Hieron.) H.Rob. and L. bardanoides (Less.) H.Rob., and other taxa of the genus, by the combination of petiolate leaves, aristate phyllaries and inflorescence bracts alternate to the heads. Four other taxa previously included in Vernonia are transferred to the genus Lessingianthus.
A NOTE ON OIL DEPENDENCE AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY
Authors: Aguiar-Conraria Luís , Wen Yi
Published: October 2008

We show that dependence on foreign energy can increase economic instability by raising the likelihood of equilibrium indeterminacy, hence making it easier for fluctuations driven by self-fulfilling expectations to occur. This is demonstrated in a standard neoclassical growth model. Calibration exercises, based on the estimated share of imported energy in production for several countries, show that the degree of reliance on foreign energy for many countries can easily make an otherwise determinate and stable economy indeterminate and unstable.
ON FUNCTIONAL CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREMS FOR LINEAR RANDOM FIELDS WITH DEPENDENT INNOVATIONS
Authors: KO MI-HWA , KIM HYUN-CHULL , KIM TAE-SUNG
Published: October 2008

For a linear random field (linear p-parameter stochastic process) generated by a dependent random field with zero mean and finite qth moments (q>2p), we give sufficient conditions that the linear random field converges weakly to a multiparameter standard Brownian motion if the corresponding dependent random field does so.
Intra-Party Politics and Minority Coalition Government in South Korea
Authors: KIM YOUNGMI
Published: October 2008

This paper examines the internal dynamics of Korean political parties to understand why the minority coalition government of Kim Dae-jung suffered from political stalemate or deadlocks in the legislature. It shows that a focus on the size of the government in terms of a majority status in the legislature does not offer a convincing explanation of why the Kim Dae-jung administration slid towards ungovernability. Instead better insights come from an analysis of party organization, an aspect of party politics rarely examined through in-depth analysis. The paper shows that in terms of the key dimensions of organization (leadership type, factionalism, funding, linkage role) Korean political parties fail to connect citizens to the political system.
Legislative Party Switching and Executive Coalitions
Authors: MERSHON CAROL
Published: October 2008

In parliamentary systems, legislative parties are the building blocks for executive coalitions. A standard assumption in the large literature on coalition politics is that legislative parties form fixed units from one election to the next. Under some conditions, however, this assumption falls flat. For instance, about one-fourth of legislators in the Italian lower house switched parties between 1996 and 2001. How is legislative party switching linked to the politics of executive coalitions? This paper examines how government composition affects the direction of party switching, and how party switching affects the reallocation of cabinet office. I devote in-depth scrutiny to Italy. Subsidiary country cases, chosen to maximize institutional variation, are Australia, Britain, Canada, France, and Spain.
Stochastic modeling of the auroral electrojet index
Authors: Anh V. V. , Yong J. M. , Yu Z. G.
Published: October 2008

Substorms are often identified by bursts of activities in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system characterized by the auroral electrojet (AE) index. The highly complex nature of substorm‐related bursts suggests that a stochastic approach would be needed. Stochastic models including fractional Brownian motion, linear fractional stable motion, Fokker‐Planck equation and Itô‐type stochastic differential equation have been suggested to model the AE index. This paper provides a stochastic model for the AE in the form of fractional stochastic differential equation. The long memory of the AE time series is represented by a fractional derivative, while its bursty behavior is modeled by a Lévy noise with inverse Gaussian marginal distribution. The equation has the form of the classical Stokes‐Boussinesq‐Basset equation of motion for a spherical particle in a fluid with retarded viscosity. Parameter estimation and approximation schemes are detailed for the simulation of the equation. The fractional order of the equation conforms with the previous finding that the fluctuations of the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system as seen in the AE reflect the fluctuations in the solar wind: they both possess the same extent of long‐range dependence. The introduction of a fractional derivative term into the equation to capture the extent of long‐range dependence together with an inverse Gaussian noise input describe the right amount of intermittency inherent in the AE data.