bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Recycling Compartment Trafficking of CD1a Is Essential for Its Intersection and Presentation of Lipid Antigens
Authors: Cernadas Manuela , Cavallari Marco , Watts Gerald , Mori Lucia , De Libero Gennaro , Brenner Michael B.
Published: December 2009

A major step in understanding differences in the nature of Ag presentation was the realization that MHC class I samples peptides transported to the endoplasmic reticulum from the cytosol, whereas MHC class II samples peptides from lysosomes. In contrast to MHC class I and II molecules that present protein Ags, CD1 molecules present lipid Ags for recognition by specific T cells. Each of the five members of the CD1 family (CD1a–e) localizes to a distinct subcompartment of endosomes. Accordingly, it has been widely assumed that the distinct trafficking of CD1 isoforms must also have evolved to enable them to sample lipid Ags that traffic via different routes. Among the CD1 isoforms, CD1a is unusual because it does not have a tyrosine-based cytoplasmic sorting motif and uniquely localizes to the early endocytic recycling compartment. This led us to predict that CD1a might have evolved to focus on lipids that localize to early endocytic/recycling compartments. Strikingly, we found that the glycolipid Ag sulfatide also localized almost exclusively to early endocytic and recycling compartments. Consistent with colocalization of CD1a and sulfatide, wild-type CD1a molecules efficiently presented sulfatide to CD1a-restricted, sulfatide-specific T cells. In contrast, CD1a:CD1b tail chimeras, that retain the same Ag-binding capacity as CD1a but traffic based on the cytoplasmic tail of CD1b to lysosomes, failed to present sulfatide efficiently. Thus, the intracellular trafficking route of CD1a is essential for efficient presentation of lipid Ags that traffic through the early endocytic and recycling pathways.
Naturally Occurring Altered Peptide Ligands Control Salmonella-Specific CD4+ T Cell Proliferation, IFN-γ Production, and Protective Potency
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Ertelt James M. , Lai Joseph C. , Rowe Jared H. , Avant Ross A. , Way Sing Sing
Published: December 2009

T cell activation required for host defense against infection is an intricately regulated and precisely controlled process. Although in vitro studies indicate that three distinct stimulatory signals are required for T cell activation, the precise contribution of each signal in regulating T cell proliferation and differentiation after in vivo infection is unknown. In this study, altered peptide ligands (APLs) derived from the protective Salmonella-specific FliC Ag and CD4+ T cells specific for the immune-dominant FliC431–439 peptide within this Ag were used to determine how changes in TCR stimulation impact CD4+ T cell proliferation, differentiation, and protective potency. To explore the prevalence and potential use of altered TCR stimulation by bacterial pathogens, naturally occurring APLs containing single amino acid substitutions in putative TCR contact residues within the FliC431–439 peptide were identified and used for stimulation under both noninfection and infection conditions. On the basis of this analysis, naturally-occurring APLs that prime proliferation of FliC-specific CD4+ T cells either more potently or less potently compared with the wild-type FliC431–439 peptide were identified. Remarkably, despite these differences in proliferation, all of the APLs primed reduced IFN-γ production by FliC431–439-specific CD4+ T cells after stimulation in vivo. Moreover, after expression of the parental FliC431–439 peptide or each APL in recombinant Listeria monocytogenes, only CD4+ T cells stimulated with the wild-type FliC431–439 peptide conferred significant protection against challenge with virulent Salmonella. These results reveal important and unanticipated roles for TCR stimulation in controlling pathogen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation, differentiation, and protective potency.
Iron Chloride/4‐Acetamido‐TEMPO/Sodium Nitrite‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to the Aldehydes
Authors: Yin Weili , Chu Changhu , Lu Qiongqiong , Tao Jianwei , Liang Xinmiao , Liu Renhua
Published: December 2009

A variety of 4‐substituted 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidyl‐1‐oxy (TEMPO) derivatives has been screened for their ability in the oxidation of primary alcohols to the aldehydes with dioxygen under mild conditions. An evaluation of the efficiency of these 4‐substituted TEMPO derivatives in the alcohol oxidation may allow an insight into the effect of the structural variations of TEMPO on the oxidation of alcohols, which should facilitate catalyst design and screening efforts. Based on the screening results of 4‐substituted TEMPO derivatives, the catalyst comprised of 4‐acetamido‐TEMPO, iron chloride and sodium nitrite, has been developed for the highly efficient oxidation of a wide range of primary alcohols including primary aliphatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes under mild conditions.
Tuning Adsorption via Strain and Vertical Ligand Effects
Authors: Hoster Harry E. , Alves Otávio B. , Koper Marc T. M.
Published: December 2009

We report on the structure and electrochemical adsorption properties of well‐defined pseudomorphic Pt mono‐ and multilayers on Ru(0001). These act as model surfaces for Pt(111) with slightly decreased affinity to adsorbed hydrogen (Had) and hydroxyl (OHad). In cyclic voltammograms, this is reflected in more negative/positive potential regions for the reversible adsorption of upd‐Had/OHad, respectively, compared to Pt(111). For upd‐Had, we show that the corresponding trends can be predicted with high accuracy by density functional theory (DFT). In particular, the upd‐Had onset regions can be precisely simulated using the Had adsorption energies from DFT, the layer thickness distribution from STM, and the base voltammogram of Pt(111) as reference.
Ausführung von zweischaligem Mauerwerk
Authors: Figge Dieter
Published: December 2009

Außenwände müssen neben statischen Anforderungen vor allem Witterungsbeanspruchungen aus Wind, Schlagregen und Temperatur·sowie auch Anforderungen aus Schall‐, Wärme‐ und Brandschutz·erfüllen. Zweischalige Wände sind wegen ihrer Funktionstrennung daher als Außenwände besonders leistungsfähig und lassen sich je nach Erfordernis bis zur gewünschten Qualität und Anforderung optimieren.

Die tragende Konstruktion aus Hintermauerwerk übernimmt die Aufgaben der Statik, des Brandschutzes, des Schallschutzes und der Wärmespeicherung; die Wärmedämmung gewährleistet einen flexibel planbaren winterlichen und sommerlichen Wärmeschutz.

Die Vormauerschale stellt den Witterungsschutz selbst bei hohen Anforderungen sicher und trägt vor allem der Ästhetik eines Gebäudes Rechnung.
Außen‐ und Innenputz auf Kalksandstein‐Wänden
Authors: Prepens Manfred
Published: December 2009

Putz wird ein‐ oder mehrlagig in bestimmter Dicke aufgetragen und erreicht seine endgültigen Eigenschaften durch Verfestigung am Bauteil. Eine Putzlage wird in einem Arbeitsgang durch eine oder mehrere Schichten des gleichen Mörtels hergestellt. Die unteren Lagen sind der Unterputz, die oberste Lage ist der Oberputz.

Die Lagen eines Putzes (Unter‐, Oberputz), die in ihrer Gesamtheit und in Wechselwirkung mit dem Putzgrund die Anforderungen an den Putz erfüllen, werden als Putzsystem bezeichnet.
Perimeterdämmung – Aufgaben, Anforderungen und Ausführung
Authors: Korff Hans‐Klaus
Published: December 2009

Durch die immer weiter verschärften Vorschriften, siehe ENEV 2009, kommt auch der Dämmung erdberührter Bauteile mehr und mehr Bedeutung zu. Dem allgemeinen Trend folgend, werden auch immer mehr Kellerräume zum Arbeitsraum, Gästezimmer oder Hobbyraum umgewandelt. Bei Neubauten wird eine solche Nutzung gleich mit eingeplant mit der Folge, dass auch die Kellerwände und der Boden bei immer mehr Objekten entsprechend gedämmt werden müssen. Die Perimeterdämmung ist dafür eine gute und auch bewährte Bauweise.
A Very Rare Hydrogen‐Bridged Hexanuclear CuII Complex Containing a Triangular Cu3O Core Capped by an Unusual Triply Coordinated Perchlorate Anion
Authors: Maity Debdulal , Mukherjee Pampa , Ghosh Ashutosh , Drew Michael G. B. , Diaz Carmen , Mukhopadhyay Gurucharan
Published: December 2009

An unusual hexanuclear CuII complex, [{[Cu(NHDEPO)]3(μ3‐O)(O3ClO)}2(μ‐H)]·7ClO4·4H2O (1) was prepared starting from Cu(ClO4)2·6H2O and the oxime‐based Schiff base ligand NHDEPO (= 3‐[3‐(diethylamino)propylimino]butan‐2‐one oxime). Structural characterization of the complex reveals that it consists of two triangular Cu3O units, the copper ions being at the corners of an equilateral triangle, separated by an O···O distance of 2.447(5) Å, held together solely by a proton. In each triangle, the copper atoms are in square‐pyramid environments. The equatorial plane consists of the bridging oxygen of the central OH– (O2–) group together with three atoms (N, N, O) of the Schiff base. An unusual triply coordinated perchlorate ion (μ3‐κO:κO′:κO″) interacts in axial position with the three copper ions. Variable‐temperature (2–300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements show that complex 1 is antiferromagnetically coupled (J = –148 cm–1). The EPR data at low temperature clearly indicates the presence of spin frustration phenomenon in the complex.
Ammonia Borane as a Hydrogen Carrier: Dehydrogenation and Regeneration
Authors: Smythe Nathan C. , Gordon John C.
Published: December 2009

Interest in sustainable non‐hydrocarbon‐based fuels for transportation has grown as the realization that the supply of fossil fuels is limited and the deleterious environmental effects of burning them has come into public focus. The use of hydrogen (H2) has been proposed as an alternative, but its use in pure form is undesirable due to the high pressures or low temperatures required to store useful quantities. Approaches to ameliorate this issue, which stem from the low volumetric energy density of H2, include the pursuit of sorbents capable of containing H2 in greater density than liquid H2 at reasonable temperatures and pressures, metal hydrides such as NaBH4, and chemical hydrides such as ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3). AB contains 19.6 wt.‐% H2, which is well suited to practical applications, but issues with extracting the optimal quantities of H2 at reasonable temperatures and at useful rates as well as recycling of the spent fuel back into AB with good efficiency and reasonable cost remain to be solved. These problems are inextricably intertwined, as the needs of the regeneration process dictate which catalysts are used (i.e. what kind of spent fuel is generated). This Microreview focuses on recent developments in transition metal complexes for the catalytic dehydrogenation of AB. Neither solvolysis of AB nor thermolysis of AB in the absence of a catalyst are covered in this review.
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Cobalt, Nickel and Copper Phosphanylthiolato Complexes
Authors: Fernández Patricia , Sousa‐Pedrares Antonio , Romero Jaime , Durán María L. , Sousa Antonio , Pérez‐Lourido Paulo , García‐Vázquez José A.
Published: December 2009

Neutral cobalt, nickel and copper complexes of a series of phosphanylthiol ligands PhnP(C6H4SH‐2)3–n (n = 1, 2) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR (1H and 31P) spectroscopy, FAB mass spectrometry and X‐ray structural analysis. All of the compounds, with the exception of [Co{Ph2PC6H4S‐2}2], were synthesized by electrochemical oxidation of the anodic metal (cobalt, nickel or copper) in an acetonitrile solution of the appropriate ligand and a small amount of tetramethylammonium perchlorate as an electrolytic carrier. The presence of an additional coligand (PPh3, dppe, dppm or bipy) in the cell led to the synthesis of mixed complexes in one step. The crystal structures of [Co{Ph2P(O)C6H4S‐2}2] (1), [Co2{PhP(C6H4S‐2)2}2(μ‐N2)(bipy)2] (2), [Ni2{PhP(C6H4S‐2)2}2] (3), [Ni2{PhP(C6H4S‐2)2}2(μ‐dppe)]·CH2Cl2 (4), [Cu2{Ph2PC6H4S‐2}2(PPh3)2] (5), [Cu2{PhP(C6H4S‐2)2}(PPh3)2(CH3CN)] (6), [Cu2{Ph2PC6H4S‐2}2(μ‐dppe)] (7) and [Cu2{Ph2PC6H4S‐2}2(μ‐dppm)] (8) are discussed.
Synthesis and anti‐bacterial activity of new series of 4‐(substituted biphenyl‐4‐yl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo/thioxo‐1,2,3, 4‐tetrahydro‐pyrimidine‐5‐carboxylic acid ethyl ester
Authors: Nagawade Rahul R. , Shinde Devanand B.
Published: December 2009

magnified image

New series of 4‐(substituted biphenyl‐4‐yl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐pyrimidine‐5‐carboxylic acid ethyl ester and 4‐(substituted biphenyl‐4‐yl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐thioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐pyrimidine‐5‐carboxylic acid ethyl ester has been synthesized and the structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of 1H NMR, Mass (ES/MS), elemental analysis, and melting point. In‐vitro antibacterial activity (MIC activity) was evaluated and compared with standard drugs ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and trovafloxacin. Most of the compounds in this new series have shown moderate antibacterial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative organisms. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).
Hepatitis C virus recombinants are rare even among intravenous drug users
Authors: Viazov Sergei , Ross Stefan S. , Kyuregyan Karen K. , Timm Joerg , Neumann‐Haefelin Christoph , Isaeva Olga V. , Popova Oksana E. , Dmitriev Petr N. , El Sharkawi Fathia , Thimme Robert , Michailov Michail I. , Roggendorf Michael
Published: December 2009

Systematic studies of the circulation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recombinants in different parts of the world have been initiated only recently, and no detailed information on this subject is available. The aim of the current investigation was to determine the frequency of HCV recombinants in intravenous drug users (IVDU) from two European countries. HCV RNA from serum samples was tested by RT‐PCR with primers derived from the core and NS5B regions with subsequent sequencing and genotype assignment. The 118 samples from Germany (100%) and 45 out of 47 (96%) sera from Russia demonstrated concordant genotyping results. In the two genotype discrepant sera from Russia 2k/1b recombinants were identified. In order to test the hypothesis that the individuals from the IVDU group might be multiply exposed to various genotypes, 145 out of 165 genotyped serum samples, which were found to be positive for anti‐NS4 antibodies, were serotyped with the Murex HCV serotyping kit that is based on detection of antibodies to type‐specific peptides derived from the NS4 proteins of different HCV genotypes. Discrepancy in genotype and serotype attributions was observed in 11% cases. Retesting of 99 type 1a or 3a samples with a set of type‐ and subtype‐specific primers revealed the presence of a mixed infection only in one case (1a/3a). Thus, the cases of the mixed infection with different HCV genotypes as well as the recombinant forms of HCV are very rare even in such a highly exposed group as IVDU. J. Med. Virol. 82:232–238, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Emergence of new norovirus variants and genetic heterogeneity of noroviruses and sapoviruses in children admitted to hospital with diarrhea in Thailand
Authors: Khamrin Pattara , Maneekarn Niwat , Thongprachum Aksara , Chaimongkol Natthawan , Okitsu Shoko , Ushijima Hiroshi
Published: December 2009

Enteric caliciviruses, including noroviruses (NoVs) and sapoviruses (SaVs), are recognized as important etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis with considerable genetic diversity. In this study, fecal specimens collected from 147 infants and young children admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis in 2005 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, were screened for NoVs and SaVs by reverse transcription‐multiplex polymerase chain reaction (RT‐multiplex PCR). Ten isolates (6.8%) belonged to NoV GII genogroup and five (3.4%) were positive for SaVs. GII/4 was the most predominant genotype of NoVs, followed by GII/15, GII/6, and GII/12. Surprisingly, NoVs GII/1, GII/2, GII/3, GII/7, and GII/16 genotypes, which were detected previously during the 2002–2004 survey, were not detected in 2005. Conversely, NoVs GII/6, GII/12, and GII/15 appeared in 2005 but were not detected during the 2002–2004 survey. The only genotype found to be common, as the most predominant genotype, in both surveys was NoV GII/4. Similar findings were also observed for SaVs, that is, the GI/2 and GIV detected during 2002–2004 were not detected in 2005, while GI/5 and GII/3 detected in 2005 were not detected previously during the 2002–2004 surveillance. In addition, comprehensive genetic evolutionary analysis of NoV GII/4 genotype demonstrated that the majority of GII/4 detected in this study (CMH002/05, CMH005/05, CMH042/05, and CMH083/05) were classified as new NoV variants and fell into subtype GII/4‐d (Hunter'04‐like cluster). Only one NoV GII/4 strain (CMH142/05) belonged to subtype GII/4‐e. The data indicated heterogeneity and highly dynamic genotypic distribution of NoVs and SaVs circulating in children admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand. J. Med. Virol. 82:289–296, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification, quantitation, and method validation for flavan‐3‐ols in fermented ready‐to‐drink teas from the Italian market using HPLC‐UV/DAD and LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Cordero Chiara , Canale Francesca , Rio Daniele Del , Bicchi Carlo
Published: December 2009

The present study is focused on flavan‐3‐ols characterizing the antioxidant properties of fermented tea (Camellia sinensis). These bioactive compounds, object of nutritional claims in commercial products, should be quantified with rigorous analytical procedures whose accuracy and precision have been stated with a certain level of confidence. An HPLC‐UV/DAD method, able to detect and quantify flavan‐3‐ols in infusions and ready‐to‐drink teas, has been developed for routine analysis and validated by characterizing several performance parameters. The accuracy assessment has been run through a series of LC‐MS/MS analyses. Epigallocatechin, (+)‐catechin, (−)‐epigallocatechingallate, (−)‐epicatechin, (−)‐gallocatechingallate, (−)‐epicatechingallate, and (−)‐catechingallate were chosen as markers of the polyphenolic fraction. Quantitative results showed that samples obtained from tea leaves infusion were richer in polyphenolic antioxidants than those obtained through other industrial processes. The influence of shelf‐life and packaging material on the flavan‐3‐ols content was also considered; markers decreased, with an exponential trend, as a function of time within the shelf life while packaging materials demonstrated to influence differently the flavan‐3‐ol fraction composition over time. The method presented here provides quantitative results with a certain level of confidence and is suitable for a routine quality control of iced teas whose antioxidant properties are object of nutritional claim.
Efficient removal of unwanted signals in NMR spectra using the filter diagonalization method
Authors: Dai Bin , Eads Charles D.
Published: December 2009

It is often desirable to selectively remove corrupting or uninteresting signals from complex NMR spectra without disturbing overlapping or nearby signals. For biofluids in particular, removal of solvent and urea signals is important for retaining quantitative accuracy in NMR‐based metabonomics. This article presents a novel algorithm for efficient filtering of unwanted signals using the filter diagonalization method (FDM). Unwanted signals are modeled in the time domain using FDM. This modeled signal is subtracted from the original free induction decay. The resulting corrected signal is then processed using established workflow. The algorithm is found to be reliable and fast. By eliminating large, broad, uninteresting signals, many spectra can be subjected to fully automated absolute value processing, allowing objective preparation of spectra for pattern recognition analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developmental competence of morphologically poor oocytes in relation to follicular size and oocyte diameter in the pig
Authors: Kim Jinyoung , You Jinyoung , Hyun Sang‐Hwan , Lee Gene , Lim Jeongmook , Lee Eunsong
Published: December 2009

The objective of this study was to assess the practical usefulness of morphologically poor oocytes (MPCOCs) in relation to follicular size and oocyte diameter. Oocytes collected from medium (3–8 mm in diameter) and small (<3 mm) follicles were classified into five categories of morphologically good oocytes (MGCOCs) from medium follicles (MA, control), MPCOCs with larger and smaller diameters from medium follicles (ML and MS, respectively), and those from small follicles (SL and SS, respectively). The oocytes were examined for maturation and developmental competence after parthenogenesis and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Nuclear maturation of ML oocytes (91%) was similar to that of control oocytes (94%), but higher than MS (80%), SL (79%), and SS (63%) oocytes. This pattern was also observed in the intracellular glutathione level, p34cdc2 kinase activity, and gene (CDK1, PCNA, and ERK2) expression levels in in vitro‐matured oocytes. ML oocytes showed a similar proportion of blastocyst formation (20%) after SCNT to control oocytes (21%). In addition, the use of ML oocytes resulted in a 50% farrowing rate with 1.8% efficiency of piglet production after SCNT embryo transfer, while control oocytes showed a 60% farrowing rate with 2.4% production efficiency. Our results demonstrate that MPCOCs, if appropriately selected, have a comparable ability to MGCOCs in supporting not only in vitro blastocyst formation, but also development to term in vivo after SCNT. These oocytes can be used as a source for in vitro production of embryos with normal in vivo viability in pigs. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77: 330–339, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rocking vibrations of a rigid embedded foundation in a poroelastic half‐space
Authors: Hu X. Q. , Cai Y. Q. , Ding G. Y. , Wang J.
Published: December 2009

This paper presents an analysis of the rocking vibrations of a rigid cylindrical foundation embedded in poroelastic soil. The foundation is subjected to time‐harmonic rocking excitation and is perfectly bonded to the surrounding soil. The soil underlying the foundation base is represented by a homogeneous poroelastic half‐space, whereas the soil along the side of the foundation is modeled as an independent poroelastic stratum composed of a series of infinitesimally thin layers. The behavior of the soil is governed by Biot's poroelastodynamic theory. The contact surface between the foundation base and the poroelastic soil is assumed to be smooth and either fully permeable or impermeable. The dynamic interaction problem is solved by employing a simplified analytical method. Some numerical results for the nondimensional rocking dynamic impedance and nondimensional angular displacement amplitude of the foundation are presented to show the effect of nondimensional frequency of excitation, poroelastic material parameters, hydraulic boundary condition, depth ratio and mass ratio of the foundation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of micro fracture in human Haversian cortical bone under transverse tension using extended physical imaging
Authors: Budyn É. , Hoc Thierry
Published: December 2009

We propose a procedure to investigate local stress intensity factors at the scale of the osteons in human Haversian cortical bone. The method combines a specific experimental setting for a three‐point bending millimetric specimen and a numerical method using the eXtended Finite Element Method (X‐FEM). The interface between the experimental setting and the numerical method is ensured through an imaging technique that analyses the light microscopy observations to import the geometrical heterogeneity of the Haversian microstructures, the boundary conditions and appearing crack discontinuities into the numerical model. The local mechanical elastic Young's moduli are measured by nano‐indentation, and the Poisson ratios are determined by an imaging technique of the stress–strain fields. The model is able to access three scales of measurement: the macro scale of the material level (mm), the micro scale inside the Haversian material for stress–strain fields (10–100µm), and the sub‐micro scale for the crack opening profiles (1–10µm ) and fracture parameters (stress intensity factors). The model is applied to several patients at different aging stages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxygen‐sensing properties of 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylporphinato platinum(II) and palladium(II) covalently bound on poly(isobutyl‐co‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate)
Authors: Obata Makoto , Matsuura Noriko , Mitsuo Kazunori , Nagai Hiroki , Asai Keisuke , Harada Masafumi , Hirohara Shiho , Tanihara Masao , Yano Shigenobu
Published: December 2009

A novel methacrylate monomer bearing 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylporphyrinato palladium(II) (PdTPP) (monomer 1a) was synthesized and copolymerized with isobutyl methacrylate (IBM) and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEM) to give poly (IBM‐co‐TFEM) bearing PdTPP (copolymer 2a) as a dye‐conjugated oxygen‐permeable polymer for pressure‐sensitive paint applications. The introduction of PdTPP into copolymer 2a was confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The Stern–Volmer plots of the copolymer 2a and a mixture of PdTPP and poly(IBM‐co‐TFEM) both showed downward curvature, unlike that of the platinum complex analogue (copolymer 2b) previously reported. The plots were successfully fitted with a two‐site model to give two distinct Stern–Volmer constants (KSV1 and KSV2) and the partition ratio f1. Interestingly, the f1 values for the copolymer 2a were almost constant at about 0.98, whereas those of the mixture of PdTPP and poly(IBM‐co‐TFEM) increased from 0.889 to 0.967 as the temperature was increased. This finding suggests that there are two distinct microheterogeneities, one temperature‐dependent and the other temperature‐independent, in the mixture of PdTPP and poly(IBM‐co‐TFEM). The dye‐conjugation approach effectively eliminates the temperature‐dependent, but not the temperature‐independent microheterogeneity. The luminescence decays of copolymers 2a and 2b and the corresponding mixtures in the absence of oxygen indicated that the temperature‐dependent microheterogeneity involves an oxygen diffusion process, whereas the temperature‐independent one appears to be inherent nature in PdTPP. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 663–670, 2010
Polyester/organo‐graphite oxide composite: Effect of organically surface modified layered graphite on structure and physical properties of poly(ε‐caprolactone)
Authors: Hua Lei , Kai Weihua , Liang Zhichao , Inoue Yoshio
Published: December 2009

Silylated graphite oxide (sGO) was selected as suitable filler to improve the mechanical and electrical conductive properties of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). The composites of PCL and sGO were prepared by solution blending method. By modifying the surface of GO with silylation reagent (octyltrichlorosilane), the interlayer space of graphite oxide (GO) was increased and an excellent dispersion of the modified GO in the organic solvent and into the PCL matrix was achieved. The structures and physical properties of the sGO/PCL composites were characterized by the fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and volume resistivity measurements. It indicated that the PCL/sGO composites formed an exfoliated structure from the WAXD study. The tensile strength and Young′s modulus of PCL increased with the addition of sGO. It was also found that a small amount of the sGO platelets in the composite could act as a nucleating agent and accelerated the crystallization of PCL. Further, the addition of the sGO platelets into the PCL matrix increased the volume electrical conductivity of PCL. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 294–301, 2010
The hydrogen bond and free volume property of poly(ether‐urethane) irradiated by neutron
Authors: Chen Z. , Huang W. , Fang P. F. , Yu W. , Wang S. J. , Xiong J. , Xu Y. S.
Published: December 2009

Poly(ether‐urethane) (PEU) was irradiated by neutron in different atmospheres. The hydrogen bonding interaction was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and the microstructure of PEU had been investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The gas products were detected by gas chromatography after irradiation. The results demonstrated that the irradiation led to more hydrogen bonded carbonyl in PEU, smaller relative free volume fraction, and narrower free volume distribution. It suggested that increasing hydrogen bonds would result in the collapse of free volume. The irradiation induced micro‐phase merging together and the presence of oxygen would accelerate this tendency, which was revealed by PALS. All the results indicated that the chain relaxation led to more hydrogen bonds, and the hydrogen bonding interaction suppressed the free volume. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 381–388, 2010
Women with advanced breast cancer and their spouses: diversity of support and psychological distress
Authors: Hasson‐Ohayon Ilanit , Goldzweig Gil , Braun Michal , Galinsky Daliah
Published: December 2009

Objective: The current study examines the effect of perceived support from different agents (spouse, family, friends, religion—spirituality) on psychological distress experienced by women with advanced breast cancer and their male spouses.

Methods: In all, 150 couples consisting of women with advanced breast cancer and their spouses completed the Cancer Perceived Agent of Support Questionnaire and the Brief Symptom Inventory Scale.

Results: Spouses reported more psychological distress (global, depression and anxiety) than patients. Both patients and spouses report a similar level of spousal support, and spouses reported a lower level of support provided from family and friends. Perceived support in the current study contributed significantly to the explanations of global psychological distress, depression and anxiety both for patients and their spouses. However, the specific agents of support that were significant in explaining these outcomes varied between patients and their spouses. For patients, family support received by both patient and partner was the most important source of support, protecting from psychological distress, while for the male partners, support from friends was most important. Religious‐based support was found to contribute negatively to the psychological distress of the patient and spouse.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes the role of breast cancer spouses as care receivers in parallel to their role as caregivers, which is especially important in light of the high psychological distress reported by the spouses. The findings support the buffering effect, which different agents of support have against psychological distress while facing cancer for both patients and spouses. Patients and spouses differ with regard to the agents of support possessing this buffering effect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fetal interrupted aortic arch: 2D‐4D echocardiography, associations and outcome
Authors: Volpe P. , Tuo G. , De Robertis V. , Campobasso G. , Marasini M. , Tempesta A. , Gentile M. , Rembouskos G.
Published: December 2009

Objectives

To analyze fetal two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiographic characteristics of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) and its different types, to explore whether the use of 4D ultrasound with B‐flow imaging and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) can improve prenatal diagnostic accuracy, and to describe associations and outcome.

Methods

The study comprised IAA fetuses examined exclusively by 2D conventional echocardiography during the period from 1994 to 2003, and those identified by conventional echocardiography and examined further by 4D ultrasound with B‐flow imaging and STIC during the period January 2004 to July 2008, identified among fetuses examined at two referral centers for congenital heart defects (CHD). Postnatal follow‐up was available in all cases. Karyotyping and fluorescent in‐situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for the DiGeorge critical region (22q11.2) were performed in all cases.

Results

Twenty‐two cases of isolated IAA (15 Type B and seven Type A, seven and three of which, respectively, underwent B‐flow imaging and STIC) were detected among 2520 cases of fetal CHD. In seven of the 15 Type B cases, a right subclavian artery arose anomalously (ARSA). 2D echocardiography failed to distinguish the type of IAA in only two cases and the ARSA in five of the seven cases. B‐flow imaging and STIC successfully identified IAA types in all 10 cases examined and clearly visualized the origin and course of the ARSA, including cervical ones. FISH detected 22q11.2 microdeletion in 10 of the 15 Type B cases and an unusual association with Type A in one of the seven cases. Fetal/neonatal outcome included: eight terminations of pregnancy, one intrauterine death and four postoperative deaths in the neonatal period, and nine neonates were alive after surgery at a mean follow‐up time of 58 months (range, 4 months–13 years).

Conclusion

Our results confirm the feasibility of prenatal characterization of IAA and its different types based on 2D echocardiographic examination, albeit with some limitations in the thorough assessment. 4D ultrasound with B‐flow imaging and STIC can apparently facilitate visualization and detailed examination of the anatomical features of the IAA types, including visualization of the neck vessels, thus supplying additional information with respect to 2D sonography. As for the known association with microdeletion 22q11.2, our data indicate that Types A and B are distinct, there being a close association only with IAA Type B. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cycles and trends in solar irradiance and climate
Authors: Lean Judith L.
Published: December 2009

How—indeed whether—the Sun's variable energy outputs influence Earth's climate has engaged scientific curiosity for more than a century. Early evidence accrued from correlations of assorted solar and climate indices, and from recognition that cycles near 11, 88 and 205 years are common in both the Sun and climate.1, 2 But until recently, an influence of solar variability on climate, whether through cycles or trends, was usually dismissed because climate simulations with (primarily) simple energy balance models indicated that responses to the decadal solar cycle would be so small as to be undetectable in observations.3 However, in the past decade modeling studies have found both resonant responses and positive feedbacks in the ocean‐atmosphere system that may amplify the response to solar irradiance variations.4, 5 Today, solar cycles and trends are recognized as important components of natural climate variability on decadal to centennial time scales. Understanding solar‐terrestrial linkages is requisite for the comprehensive understanding of Earth's evolving environment. The attribution of present‐day climate change, interpretation of changes prior to the industrial epoch, and forecast of future decadal climate change necessitate quantitative understanding of how, when, where, and why natural variability, including by the Sun, may exceed, obscure or mitigate anthropogenic changes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Climate Forcing
Tyrosinemia type 1 and Angelman syndrome due to paternal uniparental isodisomy 15
Authors: Ferrer‐Bolufer Irene , Dalmau Jaime , Quiroga Ramiro , Oltra Silvestre , Orellana Carmen , Monfort Sandra , Roselló Mónica , De La Osa Alberto , Martinez Francisco
Published: December 2009

Uniparental isodisomy arises when an individual inherits two copies of a specific chromosome from a single parent, which can unmask a recessive mutation or cause a problem of genetic imprinting. Here we describe an exceptional case in which the patient simultaneously presents tyrosinemia type 1 and Angelman syndrome. The genetic studies showed that the patient presents paternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 15, with absence of the maternal homolog. As a consequence of this isodisomy, the patient is homozygous for the mutation IVS12+5G>A in the FAH gene, located in the chromosomal region 15q23‐25, causing tyrosinemia type 1. The mutation was inherited from his father in double dosage, whereas the mother is not a carrier, which implies that the recurrence risk in the family is negligible. On the other hand, the lack of maternal contribution causes Angelman syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a loss of maternal gene expression in chromosome region 15q11‐q13, and more specifically, of the UBE3A gene. This gene shows a tissue‐specific imprinting, and only the maternally derived allele is expressed in certain areas of the brain. We observed through a literature review that uniparental disomy probably occurs more frequently than suspected, although it is more usually detected when the uniparental disomy implies the appearance of a disease because of the gene imprinting or by reduction to homozygosity of a recessive mutation. The conclusion is that uniparental disomy should always be considered when more than one genetic disease mapping to the same chromosome is present in a patient.
Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought
Authors: Smith Ruth
Published: December 2009

In this wide-ranging and challenging book, Ruth Smith shows that the words to Handel's oratorios reflect the events and ideas of their time and have far greater meaning than has hitherto been realized. She explores literature, music, aesthetics, politics and religion to reveal Handel's works as conduits for eighteenth-century thought and sensibility. She provides a full picure of Handel's librettists and shows how their oratorio texts express key moral-political preoccupations and engage with contemporary ideological debate. British identity, the need for national unity, the conduct of war, the role of government, the authority of the Bible, the purpose of literature, the effect of art - these and many more concerns are addressed in the librettos. The book thus enriches our understanding of Handel, his times, and the relationships between music and its intellectual contexts.
The Paradox of Salvation
Authors: Doble Peter
Published: December 2009

This study refutes the allegation that the author of Luke–Acts showed no systematic thought about the significance of Jesus's death, that is, he has no theologia crucis. Peter Doble focuses sharply on the Gospel's death scene and explores those features which appear in Luke alone, then extends the results into the longer account of Jesus's final days in Jerusalem. In the final section Doble demonstrates how specific words and patterns from Wisdom shape and fill Luke's retelling of the story of Jesus's entrapment, trials and death. Luke wanted his readers to understand that what had happened to Jesus was not a humiliating rejection but in accord with scripture's presentation of God's plan for salvation, and he modelled traditional material about Jesus's road to the crucifixion around an explanatory model which he drew from Wisdom.
Codex Bezae
Authors: Parker David C.
Published: December 2009

Codex Bezae is one of the most important primary sources in New Testament scholarship. Together with Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus it represents one of our most significant links back to the early Church and its origins. Since its rediscovery in the sixteenth century, the riddles posed by its general appearance and its textual characteristics have continued to fascinate scholars, and David Parker here offers a comprehensive study of Codex Bezae. This book aims to cast light on the story behind this most enigmatic of manuscripts. Data are presented here that makes possible a reconstruction of the stages of copying from which the manuscript descends. An appraisal of the earliest correctors of the Codex enables the author to extend his picture of its history to the medieval period.
Recombination in Semiconductors
Authors: Landsberg Peter T.
Published: December 2009

This book is devoted to the main aspects of the physics of recombination in semiconductors. It is the first book to deal exclusively and comprehensively with the subject, and as such is a self-contained volume, introducing the concepts and mechanisms of recombination from a fundamental point of view. Professor Landsberg is an internationally acknowledged expert in this field, and while not neglecting the occasional historical insights, he takes the reader to the frontiers of current research. Following initial chapters on semiconductor statistics and recombination statistics, the text moves on to examine the main recombination mechanisms: Auger effects, impact ionisation, radiative recombination, defect and multiphonon recombination. The final chapter deals with the topical subject of quantum wells and low-dimensional structures. Altogether the book covers a remarkably wide area of semiconductor physics. The book will be of importance to physicists, electronic engineers and applied mathematicians who are studying or researching the physics and applications of semiconductors. Some parts of the book will be accessible to final-year undergraduates.
The Limits of Power
Authors: Rosen Christine Meisner
Published: December 2009

Chicago, Boston, and Baltimore all suffered terrible fires in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Residents of these cities agreed that the destruction caused by the fires provided them with a special opportunity to improve their inadequately built cities. This book examines these rebuildings, using each to examine in close detail the process of city growth. The massive population growth and economic expansion of the nineteenth century necessitated that every aspect of the urban environment be redeveloped. Yet, at virtually every stage of city growth, the achievement of environmental adaptation lagged significantly behind the need for change. The innovative features of this book will make it useful to all readers interested in city growth. By drawing on several fields of the social sciences, the author develops a conceptual framework for explaining the barriers to environmental improvement; and through the historical narrative, the usefulness of this framework is demonstrated.
Five Things to Know About the Australian Constitution
Authors: Irving Helen
Published: December 2009

In this excellent new book, Helen Irving delves into the mystery that is the Australian constitution by discussing the major national debates of recent years. Many people want to understand and take part in the debate about constitutional issues but they face a significant hurdle: the constitution is almost unreadable. It does not mean what it says, and nor does it say what it means. There are many myths in circulation about what the constitution says and as many assumptions about what it does. Helen Irving, one of this country's foremost constitutional experts, puts various constitutional confusions to rest, and invites a general audience into an understanding of the issues that were once reserved for experts.
Virgil on the Nature of Things
Authors: Gale Monica R.
Published: December 2009

The Georgics has for many years been a source of fierce controversy among scholars of Latin literature. Is the work optimistic or pessimistic, pro- or anti-Augustan? Should we read it as a eulogy or a bitter critique of Rome and her imperial ambitions? This book suggests that the ambiguity of the poem is the product of a complex and thorough-going engagement with earlier writers in the didactic tradition: Hesiod, Aratus and - above all - Lucretius. Drawing on both traditional, philological approaches to allusion, and modern theories of intertextuality, it shows how the world-views of the earlier poets are subjected to scrutiny and brought into conflict with each other. Detailed consideration of verbal parallels and of Lucretian themes, imagery and structural patterns in the Georgics forms the basis for a reading of Virgil's poem as an extended meditation on the relations between the individual and society, the gods and the natural environment.
Solon and Early Greek Poetry
Authors: Irwin Elizabeth
Published: December 2009

The poetry of archaic Greece gives voice to the history and politics of the culture of that age. This 2005 book explores the types of history that have been, and can be, written from archaic Greek poetry, and the role this poetry had in articulating the social and political realities and ideologies of that period. In doing so, it pays particular attention to the stance of exhortation adopted in early Greek elegy, and to the political poetry of Solon. Part I of this study argues that the singing of elegiac paraenesis in the elite symposium reflects the attempt of symposiasts to assert a heroic identity for themselves within this wider polis community. Part II demonstrates how the elegy of Solon both confirms the existence of this elite practice, and subverts it; Part III looks beyond Solon's appropriations of poetic traditions to argue for another influence on Solon's political poetry, that of tyranny.
Women and the Comic Plot in Menander
Authors: Traill Ariana
Published: December 2009

Taking a fresh look at mistaken identity in the work of an author who helped to introduce the device to comedy, in this book Professor Traill shows how the outrageous mistakes many male characters in Menander make about women are grounded in their own emotional needs. The core of the argument derives from analysis of speeches by or about women, with particular attention to the language used to articulate problems of knowledge and perception, responsibility and judgement. Not only does Menander freely borrow language, situations, and themes from tragedy, but he also engages with some of tragedy's epistemological questions, particularly the question of how people interpret what they see and hear. Menander was instrumental in turning the tragic theme of human ignorance into a comic device and inventing a plot type with enormous impact on the western tradition. This book provides original insights into his achievements within their historical and intellectual context.
Plato's Meno
Authors: Scott Dominic
Published: December 2009

Given its brevity, Plato's Meno covers an astonishingly wide array of topics: politics, education, virtue, definition, philosophical method, mathematics, the nature and acquisition of knowledge and immortality. Its treatment of these, though profound, is tantalisingly short, leaving the reader with many unresolved questions. This book confronts the dialogue's many enigmas and attempts to solve them in a way that is both lucid and sympathetic to Plato's philosophy. Reading the dialogue as a whole, it explains how different arguments are related to one another and how the interplay between characters is connected to the philosophical content of the work. In a new departure, this book's exploration focuses primarily on the content and coherence of the dialogue in its own right and not merely in the context of other dialogues, making it required reading for all students of Plato, be they from the world of classics or philosophy.
The Roman Clan
Authors: Smith C. J.
Published: December 2009

The gens, a key social formation in archaic Rome, has given rise to considerable interpretative problems for modern scholarship. In this comprehensive exploration of the subject, Professor Smith examines the mismatch between the ancient evidence and modern interpretative models influenced by social anthropology and political theory. He offers a detailed comparison of the gens with the Attic genos and illustrates, for the first time, how recent changes in the way we understand the genos may impact upon our understanding of Roman history. He develops a concept of the gens within the interlocking communal institutions of early Rome, which touches on questions of land ownership, warfare and the patriciate, before offering an explanation of the role of the gens and the part it might play in modern political theory. This significant work makes an important contribution not only to the study of archaic Rome, but also to the history of ideas.