bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethers
Authors: Mehlman Myron A.
Published: August 2012

Naturally occurring ethers may be constituents of essential oils and may be extracted from these sources. Although some ethers may appear naturally, they may be prepared synthetically from other chemicals or other ethers.

Symmetrical ethers are produced by the catalytic dehydration of their corresponding alcohols, for example, diethyl ether from ethanol. They are also obtained as by‐products from the formation of their corresponding esters or alcohols. Ethers may also be made by special synthesis procedures. Some ethers are obtained through the destructive distillation of selected hardwoods.

Ethers have a wide variety of industrial uses. Their commercial value is recognized in the following industries: rubber, plastics, paints and coatings, refrigeration, medicine, dentistry, petroleum, chemical, perfume, cosmetics, toiletries, and food.

The more volatile ethers have been used as liquid refrigerants, general anesthetics, commercial solvents, primers for gasoline engines, fuel additives, and rocket propellants. Other ethers have been used as alkylating agents in chemical syntheses of organic chemicals and in the manufacture of polymers. They are also used to denature alcohol. Halogenated ethers are used in the preparation of ion‐exchange resin, which is a modified polystyrene resin that is chloromethylated and then treated with a tertiary amine or with a polyamine. Ethers have wide use as commercial solvents and extractants for esters, gums, hydrocarbons, alkaloids, oils, resins, dyes, plastics, lacquers, and paints. They are used as dewaxing extractants for lubricating oils. Ethers have had limited use as cleaning and spotting agents. They are used as chemical intermediates in the manufacture of textile aids, such as dyes and resins. In the pharmaceutical industry, ethers are used as solvents, suspending agents, flavorings for oral drugs, and dental products. They are used to increase viscosity, as penetrants and wetting agents and as antioxidants and stabilizers. Ethers are used in foods as flavorings and in perfumes as fragrances. They are used as solvents for elastomers and for regenerating rubber. They have use as antiskinning agents in surface coatings and as weathering agents for paints and plastics. Ethers are also used in soaps. Ethers appear in heat transfer agents. Several industries use specific ethers for thickening, dispersing, suspending, binding, and film forming.

The data presented here are arranged according to the chemical structure of the compounds. An effort has been made to place the chemicals within each group in an order that represents an increase in chain length. Even though the number of chemicals in any one group is limited, it is possible to make general, comparative statements. This corresponds with the acute toxicity data available in theNIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.

The oral toxicity and concentrated vapor data indicate that as the chain length increases in the symmetrical ethers, the toxicity is reduced. The inverse is true for skin penetration toxicity.
Organic Peroxides
Authors: Reid Jon B. , Muianga Custodio V.
Published: August 2012

Peroxides are highly reactive molecules due to the presence of an oxygen‐oxygen linkage. Under activating conditions, the oxygen‐oxygen bond may be cleaved to form highly reactive free radicals. There have been several investigations into the types of physical hazards represented by organic peroxides. Most of the references reviewed indicate that peroxides exhibit low toxicity. However, their irritant actions on skin and eyes vary widely. The analytic method should be specific for each organic peroxide. NIOSH has fully validated the method for benzoyl peroxide. National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a report on the toxic effects oft‐butyl perbenzoate. The toxic properties of various peroxides such as peroxydicarbonates, peroxyesters, diacyl peroxides, peroxyesters, ketone peroxides, dialkyl peroxides, peroxyketals, hydroperoxides, and silyl peroxides have been presented in depth. Exposure assessment standards and regulations have also been discussed comprehensively for various compounds.
Synthetic Polymers
Authors: Walker Bailus , Stokes Lynette D.
Published: August 2012

The present chapter deals mainly with the nonbiological polymers. These polymers are synthetic materials used in plastics, fibers, and elastomers. The exponential growth in managing technology from conception to commercial development has fueled more research on polymers. Basic principles, concepts, general characteristics, toxicity, and occupational health surveillance program of these polymers have been discussed using databases of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA), and National Library of Medicine (NLM). Ethylene, propylene, and 1‐butene monomers act toxicologically as asphyxiant gases. Environmental stress cracking has been reported mainly with polyethylene, whereas polypropylene is more susceptible to oxidation. Polyethylene cross‐links on oxidation, whereas polypropylene degrades to form lower molecular weight products. Monomer residue has not been considered a risk factor for adverse health effects.
Human Health Effects of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Fields
Authors: Carpenter David O.
Published: August 2012

The present chapter deals with that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that has lower energy and longer wavelengths than the infrared, including the extra low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields from electricity and radiofrequency (RF) fields used in communication. The energies at these frequencies are not sufficient to directly break chemical bonds, and the question to be examined is whether they have sufficient energy to cause human disease by other mechanisms, particularly at intensities that do not cause measurable heating. Present research indicates a consistent pattern of elevated risk of cancer, especially leukemia, and some neurodegenerative diseases at ELF magnetic field levels commonly found in residences and occupations. The relationship between childhood magnetic field exposure and brain cancer is also reviewed. Human studies and meta‐analyses of research of mobile phone use show a consistent and elevated risk of brain cancer and acoustic neuroma upon intense and long‐term use. International and national standards of human exposure to ELF and RF frequencies are presented and found to be inadequate for the protection of human health. The evidence of human harm from excessive exposure to both ELF and RF is stronger and more consistent for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases than is commonly recognized. While there is less strong reproducibility and consistency for some other proposed health outcomes, this indicates only the need for more research with better exposure assessment.
Health Effects from Hand‐Transmitted Vibration
Authors: Mason Howard J.
Published: August 2012

Pneumatic tools and rotating tools, such as grinders have been recorded as being used in many countries. Poorly maintained tools are well‐established causes of significantly increased transmission of vibrational energy into the hands of workers causing episodic finger blanching, symptoms of numbness and tingling and neurosensory deficit in the hands, and loss of grip strength. Collectively these health problems are termed HAVS and can become significantly disabling in severer cases. The term HAVS began to have widespread coinage as describing the range of vascular, neurosensory, and musculoskeletal problems associated with excessive exposure to HTV. There have been a number of reports that address the possible pathophysiological basis of the elements of HAVS. However, the exact relationship between the dose and either the vascular or neurosensory elements of HAVS has remained unclear as to how much the nature of the exposure data, often relying on retrospective exposure assessment, or the extent of individual susceptibility adds to the uncertainty or noise in any reported relationships. There has been considerable international effort to reduce exposures, especially through better ergonomically designed tools with lower vibration emissions.
Managing disruptive patients in health care: Necessary solutions to a difficult problem
Authors: Hodgson Michael J. , Mohr David C. , Drummond David J. , Bell Margaret , Van Male Lynn
Published: August 2012

Background

We sought to describe the components and processes in a violence risk assessment and management system, including electronic record requirements in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). We present information on system‐level variation among program elements and their association with perceived and measured effectiveness.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of Chiefs of Staff (COS) at 140 VA hospitals across the United States about specific disruptive behavior program elements, such as committee processes, patient referrals, and outcome patterns. We assessed COS perceived effectiveness of the processes. We compared COS perceptions with employee‐reported assault‐related incident rates and workers compensation lost time claim rates for assault‐related injuries for 2009 and 2010.

Results

We found the violence risk assessment and management system is heavily used, often with guidance to provide police protection for providers. COS respondents were generally satisfied with design and performance of the system. Committee processes and perceptions of effectiveness were associated with reduction in assault‐related incident rates.

Conclusions

VA's system was considered effective by system owners and users may be effective at reducing assaulted‐related injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:1009–1017, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An ergonomic assessment of the long handle blueberry harvesting rake
Authors: May Elizabeth , Scribani Melissa , Wyckoff Sherry , Bauer Robert , May John , Wyckoff Lynae , Jenkins Paul
Published: August 2012

Background

Previous work shows the superiority of the long‐handled blueberry harvesting rake (LHR) for worker preference and productivity compared to the short‐handle rake (SHR).

Methods

Post‐shift interviews on occurrence, location, and severity of pain, and video‐based observation of body postures enabled ergonomic assessment of Maine workers harvesting blueberries. Workers randomly crossed between LHR and SHR on consecutive work days. Wilcoxon tests compared proportions of specific body postures between LHR and SHR.

Results

Subjects used SHR for shorter work periods than LHR. Thirty workers provided interviews for both one LHR and one SHR shift. Assessment of these matched pairs suggested a trend toward less frequent overall pain (P = 0.07) and back pain (P = 0.11) with the LHR versus the SHR. Video tape analysis included 17 sets of observations (8 SHR and 9 LHR) on 12 individuals. Posture assessment showed more severe forward bend and squatting with the SHR and more moderate/neutral postures with the LHR.

Conclusion

Harvesting with the traditional SHR is likely to be associated with increased frequency of pain in general, and mid‐low back pain in particular, when compared to the newer LHR. This may well relate to the work postures associated with each rake. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:1051–1059, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thin dense films from polymer blend of thermoplastic elastomer and polyolefin by uniaxial stretching
Authors: Uenishi Masamoto , Fukushima Noriaki , Teramachi Masashi , Mizuta Masahiko , Kamo Jun , Tsuru Toshinori
Published: August 2012

Thin dense films composed of a thermoplastic elastomer [polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene butylene)‐block‐polystyrene triblock copolymer (SEBS)] and two polyolefins, poly(ethylene‐co‐ethylacrylate) and poly(ethylene‐co‐propylene), were obtained by blow molding, uniaxial hot stretching, and cooling to room temperature. In the resulting films, the dispersed polyolefin phase formed a 3D‐network structure which constrained the elastic recovery of the SEBS matrix phase. The presence of this network structure was a key factor in forming the thin dense films. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Relationships between in vitro drug dissolution and in vivo response
Authors: Langguth Peter , Marroum Patrick
Published: August 2012

In recent years there has been an effort to relate manufacturing variables to the performance of the dosage form from a clinical point of view (in terms of safety and efficacy). Consequently any control strategy or the establishment of meaningful specifications should take into consideration the clinical impact on the patient. Since plasma levels are considered to be one of the most useful surrogates for clinical safety (in that bioequivalent plasma levels are considered therapeutically equivalent) and dissolution is the best surrogate for bioavailability, it is a natural consequence that dissolution be used to establish the design space in which all the formulations would have similar safety and efficacy profiles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exchangeability of the flagellin (FliC) and the cap protein (FliD) among different species in flagellar assembly
Authors: Inaba Satoshi , Hashimoto Manami , Jyot Jeevan , Aizawa Shin‐Ichi
Published: August 2012

Flagellar filament self‐assembles from the component protein, flagellin or FliC, with the aid of the capping protein, HAP2 or FliD. Depending on the helical parameters of filaments, flagella from various species are divided into three groups, family I, II, and III. Each family coincides with the traditional classification of flagella, peritrichous flagella, polar flagella, and lateral flagella, respectively. To elucidate the physico‐chemical properties of flagellin to separate families, we chose family I flagella and family II flagella and examined how well the exchangeability of a combination of FliC and/or FliD from different families is kept in filament formation. FliC or FliD of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salty; family I) were exchanged with those of Escherichia coli (Escco; family I) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseae; family II). In a Salty fliC deletion mutant, Escco FliC formed short filaments, but Pseae FliC did not form filaments. In a Salty fliD deletion mutant, both Escco FliD and Pseae FliD allowed Salty FliC to polymerize into short filaments. In conclusion, FliC can be exchanged among the same family but not between different families, while FliD serves as the cap protein even in different families, confirming that FliC is essential for determining families, but FliD plays a subsidiary role in filament formation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nanostructural Studies of Fresh and Road‐Aged Practical Pt/SiO2 and Pt‐Pd/Al2O3 Diesel Oxidation Catalysts by using Aberration‐Corrected (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Ward Michael R. , Hyde Tim , Boyes Edward D. , Gai Pratibha L.
Published: August 2012

We report direct observations of nanostructural and compositional evolution in complex technological diesel oxidation nanocatalysts (DOCs) by using aberration‐corrected (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (AC‐(S)TEM) at the atomic level and nano‐beam electron diffraction (NBED). Two representative practical DOC systems with varying metal loading on different supports have been employed in the study. Nanostructural and compositional variations in fresh and road‐aged Pt nanocatalysts supported on SiO2 spheres (referred to as Pt‐only DOCs) and bimetallic Pt‐Pd nanocatalysts on γ‐Al2O3 (bimetallic DOCs) are quantified by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, ion chromatography, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Pt nanocatalysts on silica spheres are shown to maintain their spherical morphologies with stepped surfaces of low symmetry atomic planes. Nanoscale clusters and spherical nanoparticles are present in the fresh bimetallic DOCs. By using AC high‐angle annular dark‐field (HAADF) STEM, we elucidate atomic, structural and morphological changes in the aged nanocatalysts and discuss their behaviour. Notably, AC‐HAADF‐STEM and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy of the aged bimetallic DOC have shown that a majority of the nanoparticles remain spherical and only a minority of the particles show larger faceted particles with core‐shell‐like structures. The atomic level structural changes of the nanocatalysts on the two supports indicate that the metal loading, dispersion, initial nanoparticle size and the support play key roles in the stability and aging behaviour of the DOCs. The retention of spherical particles is important as they are believed to be more active for the oxidation of CO in the diesel engine exhaust. The results have important implications in the design of novel technological DOCs.
General Route to Multifunctional Uniform Yolk/Mesoporous Silica Shell Nanocapsules: A Platform for Simultaneous Cancer‐Targeted Imaging and Magnetically Guided Drug Delivery
Authors: Zhang Lingyu , Wang Tingting , Yang Lei , Liu Cong , Wang Chungang , Liu Haiyan , Wang Y. Andrew , Su Zhongmin
Published: August 2012

Hollow mesoporous SiO2 (mSiO2) nanostructures with movable nanoparticles (NPs) as cores, so‐called yolk‐shell nanocapsules (NCs), have attracted great research interest. However, a highly efficient, simple and general way to produce yolk‐mSiO2 shell NCs with tunable functional cores and shell compositions is still a great challenge. A facile, general and reproducible strategy has been developed for fabricating discrete, monodisperse and highly uniform yolk‐shell NCs under mild conditions, composed of mSiO2 shells and diverse functional NP cores with different compositions and shapes. These NPs can be Fe3O4 NPs, gold nanorods (GNRs), and rare‐earth upconversion NRs, endowing the yolk‐mSiO2 shell NCs with magnetic, plasmonic, and upconversion fluorescent properties. In addition, multifunctional yolk‐shell NCs with tunable interior hollow spaces and mSiO2 shell thickness can be precisely controlled. More importantly, fluorescent‐magnetic‐biotargeting multifunctional polyethyleneimine (PEI)‐modified fluorescent Fe3O4@mSiO2 yolk‐shell nanobioprobes as an example for simultaneous targeted fluorescence imaging and magnetically guided drug delivery to liver cancer cells is also demonstrated. This synthetic approach can be easily extended to the fabrication of multifunctional yolk@mSiO2 shell nanostructures that encapsulate various functional movable NP cores, which construct a potential platform for the simultaneous targeted delivery of drug/gene/DNA/siRNA and bio‐imaging.
Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of 1D and 3D Heterometallic Coordination Polymers with Triruthenium Building Blocks
Authors: Chan Sharon Lai‐Fung , Gao Song , Chui Stephen Sin‐Yin , Shek Lam , Huang Jie‐Sheng , Che Chi‐Ming
Published: August 2012

Ru3(TSA)6 (1; H2TSA=2‐thiosalicylic acid), which bears six peripheral carboxylate groups and was isolated in the form [NEt4]1.5[Ru3(HTSA)2(TSA)4](OAc)0.5⋅3.5 H2O, serves as a building block for assembly of heterometallic coordination polymers. Treatment of 1 with [Fe(acac)3] (acac=acetylacetonate) in EG/H2O (EG=ethylene glycol) afforded 1D Ru3–Fe coordination polymer 2 by means of the connection of the building block 1 through iron centers. Treatment of 1 with MnCl2 in EG resulted in the formation of 1D Ru3–Mn3 coordination polymer 3, which features self‐assembled polynuclear linking units Mn3(OCH2CH2O)3, each of which contains a planar Mn3O3 ring. By treating 1 with Gd(NO3)3 and NaHCO3 in EG, a 3D Ru3–Gd6 coordination polymer 4 was obtained; this 3D coordination polymer features unprecedented Gd6(μ3‐CO3)4 units. The magnetic properties of 1–4, along with DFT calculations on the electronic structure of 1, are also described.
Evidence of Photoinduced Charge Separation in the Metal–Organic Framework MIL‐125(Ti)‐NH2
Authors: de Miguel Maykel , Ragon Florence , Devic Thomas , Serre Christian , Horcajada Patricia , García Hermenegildo
Published: August 2012

Herein, we describe the photochemical behavior of the porous metal–organic framework MIL‐125(Ti)‐NH2, built up from cyclic Ti8O8(OH)4 oxoclusters and 2‐aminoterephthalate ligands. While MIL‐125(Ti)‐NH2 does not emit upon excitation at 420 nm, laser flash photolyses of dry samples (diffuse reflectance) or aqueous suspensions (transmission) of the solid have allowed detecting a transient characterized by a continuous absorption from 390 to 820 nm decaying in the sub‐millisecond timescale, which is quenched by oxygen. This transient has been attributed to the charge‐separation state. Firm evidence for this assignment was obtained by lamp irradiation of aqueous suspensions of MIL‐125(Ti)‐NH2 in the presence of electron‐donor (N,N,N′N′‐tetramethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine) or electron‐acceptor (methylviologen) probe molecules, which has allowed the visual detection of the corresponding radical ions, in agreement with the occurrence of photoinduced charge separation in MIL‐125(Ti)‐NH2.
Cellobiose Hydrolysis and Decomposition by Electrochemical Generation of Acid and Hydroxyl Radicals
Authors: Kwon Youngkook , Kleijn Steven E. F. , Schouten Klaas Jan P. , Koper Marc T. M.
Published: August 2012

This paper addresses the hydrolysis of cellobiose to glucose and its further decomposition with electrochemically generated acid (H+) on a platinum electrode, and with electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals (OH.) on boron‐doped diamond (BDD). The results are compared with the hydrolysis promoted by conventional acid (H2SO4) and OH. (from Fenton’s reaction) and supported by product analysis by using online HPLC (for soluble products) and online electrochemical mass spectrometry (for CO2). Cellobiose hydrolysis follows a first‐order reaction, which obeys Arrhenius’ law over the temperature range from 25–80 °C with different activation energies for the acid‐ and radical‐promoted reaction, that is, approximately 118±8 and 55±1 kJ mol−1, respectively. The high local acidity with electrochemically generated H+ on the Pt electrode increases the rate of glucose formation, however, the active electrode (PtOx) interacts with glucose and decomposes it further to smaller organic acids. In addition, O2 formed during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) lowers the selectivity of glucose by forming side‐products. OH. generated on a BDD electrode first hydrolyzes the cellobiose to glucose, but rapidly attacks the aldehyde on glucose, which is further decomposed to smaller aldoses and finally formaldehyde, which is subsequently oxidized electrochemically to formic acid.
Phytoestrogen intake from foods, during adolescence and adulthood, and risk of breast cancer by estrogen and progesterone receptor tumor subgroup among Ontario women
Authors: Anderson Laura N. , Cotterchio Michelle , Boucher Beatrice A. , Kreiger Nancy
Published: August 2012

Phytoestrogen intake may reduce breast cancer risk and limited evidence suggests this association may hold for hormone receptor‐positive tumors only. The study aims were to assess whether the association between phytoestrogen intake during adolescence and adulthood and breast cancer risk varies by estrogen and progesterone receptor (ERPR) tumor subgroup. Cases were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry (2002–2003), and ERPR status was ascertained from pathology reports for 81% of cases (n = 2,438). Controls were identified through random digit dialing of Ontario households (n = 3,370). Published phytoestrogen food values were applied to food frequency questionnaire responses to assess isoflavone, lignan and total phytoestrogen intake, during adolescence and adulthood. Polytomous multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for association between phytoestrogen intake and breast cancer risk by hormone receptor ERPR tumor subgroups. Among premenopausal women, few associations were observed for adolescent or adult phytoestrogen intake across all tumor subgroups. Among postmenopausal women, adolescent phytoestrogen intake (isoflavone, lignan and total) was associated with reduced risk across all hormone receptor subgroups; however, statistical significance was most consistent within the ER+PR+ subgroup. For example, ER+PR+ postmenopausal breast cancer risk was associated with adolescent phytoestrogen intake (highest vs. lowest: OR = 0.79; 95% confidence interval: 0.65–0.96). Among all women and postmenopausal women, ORs for high adult lignan intake were all below 1.0 within each tumor subgroup, suggesting reduced breast cancer risk, although none reached statistical significance. In conclusion, adolescent phytoestrogen intake was associated with reduced postmenopausal breast cancer, particularly for ER+PR+ tumor subgroup.
Role of HOXB7 in regulation of progression and metastasis of human lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yuan Weiwei , Zhang Xuelin , Xu Yu , Li Shasha , Hu Yide , Wu Shiyong
Published: August 2012

Dysregulation of homeobox B7 (HOXB7), a member of the homeobox genes family, was suggested to play a role in regulation of tumorigenesis and metastases of some cancers. However, the functions of HOXB7 in association with lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) have not been investigated. The correlation between the level of HOXB7 expression and cancer progression in patients is not known. In this study, through analysis of 75 LAC samples and their corresponding normal lung epithelium tissues immunohistochemistry (IHC), we demonstrate that HOXB7 was overexpressed in LAC specimens compared to their paired normal lung epithelium tissues. Increased expression of HOXB7 was associated with poor clinical outcomes, correlating significantly with a short survival time in patients who had LAC. Moreover, HOXB7 expression level was correlated with the tumor status (P = 0.028), nodal status (P = 0.012) and tumor stage (P = 0.029) in lung adenocarcinoma. Silencing HOXB7 inhibited cell growth and metastases in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our results suggest that HOXB7 promotes LAC progression by enhancing proliferation and metastasis. The increased expression of HOXB7 in LAC is a potential prognostic indicator for patients, and HOXB7 could be a novel target for treatment of LAC patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A strategy for selecting among alternative models for continuous longitudinal data
Authors: Knafl George J. , Beeber Linda , Schwartz Todd A.
Published: August 2012

Linear mixed models (LMMs) can be used to analyze continuous longitudinal response variables of research studies. Specific aims are then addressed through tests of fixed effects comparing means. However, generated fixed effects results can vary according to the choice of the covariance structure, and so strategies for selecting a model should be utilized first to identify an appropriate covariance structure. We describe alternative LMMs for analyzing continuous longitudinal data and discuss a strategy for using model selection criteria to choose among those models. This is accomplished through the analysis of an exemplar data set considering a wide variety of alternative models for the means, variances, and correlations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 35:647–658, 2012
Investigation on thermoresponsive behavior of biodegradable poly(γ‐glutamic acid)‐graft‐L‐phenylalanine ethyl ester
Authors: Lertworasirikul Amornrat , Choothong Nu‐orn , Yoshida Hiroaki , Matsusaki Michiya , Kida Toshiyuki , Laobuthee Apirat , Akashi Mitsuru
Published: August 2012

The thermosensitivity of biodegradable and non‐toxic amphiphilic polymer derived from a naturally occurring polypeptide and a derivative of amino acid was first reported. The amphiphilic polymer consisted of poly(γ‐glutamic acid) (γ‐PGA) as a hydrophilic backbone, and L‐phenylalanine ethyl ester (L‐PAE) as a hydrophobic branch. Poly(γ‐glutamic acid)‐graft‐L‐phenylalanine (γ‐PGA‐graft‐L‐PAE) with grafting degrees of 7–49% were prepared by varying the content of a water‐soluble carbodiimide (WSC). γ‐PGA‐graft‐L‐PAE with a grafting degree of 49% exhibited thermoresponsive phase transition behavior in an aqueous solution at around 80°C. The copolymers with grafting degrees in the range of 30–49% showed thermoresponsive properties in NaCl solution. A clouding temperature (Tcloud) could be adjusted by changing the polymer concentration and/or NaCl concentration. The thermoresponsive behavior was reversible. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Survival and development of a stored‐product pest, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and its natural enemy, the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), on transgenic Bt maize
Authors: Hansen Lise S , Lövei Gábor L , Székács András
Published: August 2012

Background

The effect of transgenic maize (Zea mays L.) containing a lepidopteran‐specific Bt toxin on a stored‐product pest, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, and its parasitoid, Lariophagus distinguendus Förster, was examined in the laboratory to test the impact of transgenic maize on stored‐product pests and their biological control.

Results

Weevils were not harmfully affected by transgenic Bt maize in their development characteristics (development time, body mass), and females emerging from transgenic maize kernels were larger. However, significantly fewer parasitoid females emerged from weevils that developed in transgenic kernels, although parasitoids did not develop more slowly and were not different in size or mass from their conspecifics emerging from hosts in non‐transgenic maize kernels.

Conclusion

The emergence of female parasitoids was reduced in transgenic Bt maize, and this effect cannot be explained by the known lepidopteran‐specific toxicity of Bt Cry1Ab toxin.
Competing localization and quantum interference effects in Fe0.9Co0.1Si
Authors: Samatham S. Shanmukharao , Venkateshwarlu D. , Gangrade Mohan , Ganesan V.
Published: August 2012

Unusual magnetoresistance observed in weak itinerant ferromagnetic metal Fe0.9Co0.1Si is addressed. We invoke localization effects significantly contributing to the positive magnetoresistance apart from quantum interference effects (QIE), a new mechanism for magnetoresistance at low temperatures. QIE are dominant only at very low temperatures while localization effects are progressive out of the sub‐Kelvin domain. Dominance of localization effects in Kelvin range with increasing applied magnetic field is demonstrated. An unconventional effect of magnetic field on resistivity, favors a least dominant role of ferromagnetic correlations. The H–T phase diagram explore the regions of H3/2 (paramagnetic region) and QIE (Δσ ∝ H1/2) and its extension into the paramagnetic region. A new region of linear field dependence of MC (Δσ ∝ H) is also found and reported. Qualitative analysis of thermopower and its correspondence with electrical resistivity strengthens the concept that the same electrons are responsible for both electrical and magnetic properties. It is also reported that the onset of magnetic and QIE effects is well above TC.
Peer‐to‐peer distributed text classifier learning in PADMINI
Authors: Zhu Xianshu , Mahule Tushar , Dutta Haimonti , Arora Sugandha , Kargupta Hillol , Borne Kirk
Published: August 2012

Popular Internet document repositories, such as online newspapers, digital libraries, and blogs store large amount of text and image data that are frequently accessed by large number of users. Users' input through collaborative commenting or tagging can be very useful in organizing and classifying documents. Some web sites (e.g. Google Image Labeler) support a collection of tags and labels, but a large fraction of these sites do not currently support such activities. Moreover, relying upon centrally controlled web‐service providers for such support is probably not a good idea if the objective is to make the collaborative inputs publicly available. Often, business entities offering such web‐based tagging environments end up owning and monetizing the result of the collective effort. This paper takes a step toward addressing this problem—it proposes a peer‐to‐peer (P2P) system (PADMINI), powered by distributed data mining algorithms. In particular, it focuses on learning a P2P classifier from tagged text data. This paper describes the PADMINI system and the distributed text classifier learning components; text classification is posed as a linear program and an asynchronous distributed algorithm is used to solve it. It also presents extensive empirical results on text data obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) proposal abstract database. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 2012
Collaboration Cubed: Isolated Mainstream Teachers Become ESL Experts to School Systems
Authors: Verplaetse Lorrie Stoops , Ferraro Marisa , Anderberg Ann
Published: August 2012

This article reports on mainstream teachers who took part in a federally funded master's in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) program and through a series of collaborative efforts have become experts in their own school systems and leaders in English as a second language (ESL) teacher preparation throughout their region. Southern Connecticut State University's Training for All Teachers (TAT) Program addressed the needs of three medium‐sized urban school districts in the geographically isolated, historically underserved eastern half of Connecticut by offering teachers the opportunity to pursue the master's degree in bilingual education and TESOL via a satellite program. All three districts serve significant English language learner populations and had failed to make annual progress benchmarks. Through this experience, 10 teachers from the three districts earned a master's degree in TESOL and state certification in bilingual education and/or ESL. This article chronicles three programmatic collaborative efforts that played a significant role in this process: collaborative class‐based research projects, ongoing Community of Practice activities, and commitments to pay it forward.
Higher-spin fermionic gauge fields and their electromagnetic coupling
Authors: Henneaux Marc , Gómez Gustavo Lucena , Rahman Rakibur
Published: August 2012

Abstract

We study the electromagnetic coupling of massless higher-spin fermions in flat space. Under the assumptions of locality and Poincaré invariance, we employ the BRST-BV cohomological methods to construct consistent parity-preserving off-shell cubic 1 − s − s vertices. Consistency and non-triviality of the deformations not only rule out minimal coupling, but also restrict the possible number of derivatives. Our findings are in complete agreement with, but derived in a manner independent from, the light-cone-formulation results of Metsaev and the string-theory-inspired results of Sagnotti-Taronna. We prove that any gauge-algebra-preserving vertex cannot deform the gauge transformations. We also show that in a local theory, without additional dynamical higher-spin gauge fields, the non-abelian vertices are eliminated by the lack of consistent second-order deformations.
How do cities and regions adapt to socio-economic crisis? Towards an institutionalist approach to urban and regional resilience
Authors: Lang Thilo
Published: August 2012

This paper depicts resilience as a systemic ‘adaptive capacity’ to cope with social and economic crisis situations at the urban and regional level. It argues that the notion of resilience has to be conceptualised in such a way that processes of and (institutional) frameworks for decision making are recognized. Such an understanding suggests a new institutionalist approach to governance may be useful, one highlighting dominant norms, perceptions and paradigms leading to particular forms of action. Under the axiom of a socially constructed world the benefit of the notion of resilience as an analytical tool in urban and regional studies lies in a better understanding of change in complex systems of socio-spatial interdependencies. It thus has the potential to fill a gap in new institutional theory and contemporary governance research.
Protective effects of an anti‐melanocortin‐4 receptor scFv derivative in lipopolysaccharide‐induced cachexia in rats
Authors: Peter Jean-Christophe , Rossez Hélène , Weckering Marjorie , Zipfel Géraldine , Lecourt Anne-Catherine , Owen Joshua B. , Banks William A. , Hofbauer Karl G.
Published: August 2012

Background

Cachexia is a complex syndrome defined by weight loss due to an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass with or without loss of body fat. It is often associated with anorexia. Numerous results from experimental studies suggest that blockade of the melanocortin‐4 receptor (MC4R) could be an effective treatment for anorexia and cachexia. In a previous study, we reported the basic pharmacological properties of a blocking anti‐MC4R mAb 1E8a and its scFv derivative in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

In the present study, we further characterized the mode of action of the 1E8a scFv, evaluated its pharmacokinetic properties in mice, and assessed its therapeutic potential in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cachexia model in rats.

Results

In vitro, scFv enhanced the efficacy of the endogenous inverse agonist Agouti‐related protein. After intravenous (i.v.) administration in mice, the scFv penetrated the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and reached its central sites of action: the scFv brain–serum concentration ratios increased up to 15‐fold which suggests an active uptake into brain tissue. In telemetry experiments, i.v. administration of the scFv in rats was well tolerated and only induced slight cardiovascular effects consistent with MC4R blockade, i.e., a small decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. In the model of LPS‐induced anorexia, i.v. administration of scFv 1E8a prevented anorexia and loss of body weight. Moreover, it stimulated a myogenic response which may contribute to the preservation of muscle mass in cachexia.

Conclusion

The pharmacological profile of scFv 1E8a suggests its potential value in the treatment of cachexia or anorexia.
Post‐translational modification of the RhoGTPase activating protein 21, ARHGAP21, by SUMO2/3
Authors: Bigarella Carolina L. , Vieira Ferro Karla P. , Barcellos Karin S.A. , Martins-de-Souza Daniel , Traina Fabiola , Novello José C. , Olalla Saad Sara T. , Archangelo Leticia Fröhlich
Published: August 2012

ARHGAP21 is a 217 kDa RhoGAP protein shown to modulate cell migration through the control of Cdc42 and FAK activities. In the present work a 250 kDa‐ARHGAP21 was identified by mass spectrometry. This modified form is differentially expressed among cell lines and human primary cells. Co‐immunoprecipitations and in vitro SUMOylation confirmed ARHGAP21 specific modification by SUMO2/3 and mapped the SUMOylation site to ARHGAP21 lysine K1443. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that ARHGAP21 co‐localizes with SUMO2/3 in the cytoplasm and membrane compartments. Interestingly, our results suggest that ARHGAP21 SUMOylation may be related to cell proliferation. Therefore, SUMOylation of ARHGAP21 may represent a way of guiding its function.
‘Looking as Little Like Patients as Persons Well Could’: Hypnotism, Medicine and the Problem of the Suggestible Subject in Late Nineteenth-Century Britain
Authors: Chettiar Teri
Published: August 2012

During the late nineteenth century, many British physicians rigorously experimented with hypnosis as a therapeutic practice. Despite mounting evidence attesting to its wide-ranging therapeutic uses publicised in the 1880s and 1890s, medical hypnosis remained highly controversial. After a decade and a half of extensive medical discussion and debate surrounding the adoption of hypnosis by mainstream medical professionals – including a thorough inquiry organised by the British Medical Association – it was decisively excluded from serious medical consideration by 1900. This essay examines the complex question of why hypnosis was excluded from professional medical practice by the end of the nineteenth century. Objections to its medical adoption rarely took issue with its supposed effectiveness in producing genuine therapeutic and anaesthetic results. Instead, critics’ objections were centred upon a host of social and moral concerns regarding the patient’s state of suggestibility and weakened ‘will-power’ while under the physician’s hypnotic ‘spell’. The problematic question of precisely how far hypnotic ‘rapport’ and suggestibility might depart from the Victorian liberal ideal of rational individual autonomy lay at the heart of these concerns. As this essay demonstrates, the hypnotism debate was characterised by a tension between physicians’ attempts to balance their commitment to restore patients to health and pervasive middle-class concerns about the rapid and ongoing changes transforming British society at the turn of the century.
Supplementary Note
Authors: Hoernlé A. W.
Published: August 2012

The diet at present used fot the African workers in the gold mines on the Rand is described in the preceding article by Dr. Orenstein, of the Central Mining Group. Dr. Orenstein is in charge of all health and welfare control for the Central Mines, and his recommendations are generally followed also by all the other mining groups on the Rand. A few comments on the diet may perhaps enable readers to visualize, in a more personal way, one of the largest undertakings in feeding great numbers of human beings from common kitchens that exists anywhere in the world.
To Members of the Institute
Authors: Waddington E. J.
Published: August 2012

It will be clear from the Report presented by the Admnistrative Director to the Executive Council (published elsewhere in this number) that the officers of the Institute have been giving much thought to the need fro increasing the annual income available for the general purpose of the Institute. This matter was very fully ducussed by the Council at its recent meeting, and it ws resolved that the annual subscription to the Institute should be increased, as from January 1954, to 35s. The need for this decision is greatly regretted, but it should be pointed out that, in spite of constantly rising costs, the subscription has only risen by 5s. since the Institute's foundation in 1926, and that the present rate of subscription barely covers the cost of printing and distributing the Journal.
The Past and Future of the Institute
Authors: Hailey Lord
Published: August 2012

It is a source of great pleasure to me, as it must be to all our friends here, that we are once again able to meet in an International Conference after the long years of war and its aftermath. I need not speak of what the War has meant to national welfare or the private lives of many here. But it was inevitable that it should have gravely affected the progress of the cultural studies to which this Institute is devoted, not merely because it has made so serious an interruption in their pursuit, but because it has for a time severed the international contacts and broken up the intellectual partnerships on which much of the vitality of our work depended. Even to-day, it is not easy to foresee the time when some of these partnerships can be resumed in their old form, much as we might ourselves hope that changes in national relations should not be an obstacle to association in the field of cultural studies.
Examining a solar‐climate link in diurnal temperature ranges
Authors: Laken Benjamin , Čalogović Jasa , Shahbaz Tariq , Pallé Enric
Published: August 2012

A recent study has suggested a link between the surface level diurnal temperature range (DTR) and variations in the cosmic ray (CR) flux. As the DTR is an effective proxy for cloud cover, this result supports the notion that widespread cloud changes may be induced by the CR flux. If confirmed, this would have significant implications for our understanding of natural climate forcings. Here, we perform a detailed investigation of the relationships between DTR and solar activity (total solar irradiance and the CR flux) from more than 60 years of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and observations from meteorological station data. We find no statistically significant evidence to suggest that the DTR is connected to either long‐term solar periodicities (11 or 1.68‐year) or short‐term (daily timescale) fluctuations in solar activity, and we attribute previous reports on the contrary to an incorrect estimation of the statistical significance of the data. If a CR–DTR relationship exists, based on the estimated noise in DTR composites during Forbush decrease (FD) events, the DTR response would need to be larger than 0.03°C per 1% increase in the CR flux to be reliably detected. Compared with a much smaller rough estimate of −0.005°C per 1% increase in the CR flux expected if previous claims that FD events cause reductions in the cloud cover are valid, we conclude it is not possible to detect a solar related responses in station‐based or reanalysis‐based DTR data sets related to a hypothesized CR–cloud link, as potential signals would be drowned in noise.
Reconstruction of tissue‐engineered bone with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and partially deproteinized bone in vitro
Authors: Han Xuesong , Liu Liu , Wang Fuke , Zhao Xian , Zhao Deping , Dai Xiaoming , Li Yisong
Published: August 2012

We have explored the optimal seeding density and timing for transplantation of the tissue‐engineered bone with BMMSCs (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) and PDPB (partially deproteinized bone) in vitro. Rabbit BMMSCs of different densities were seeded into PDPB generated from fresh pig vertebrates to reconstruct tissue‐engineered bone in vitro. Adhesion and proliferation of BMMSCs were analysed by MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide] assay from which growth curves of BMMSCs on the PDPB materials were generated. The data show that BMMSCs began to adhere to PDPB after 24 h of primary culture, all groups reaching peak growth on the 6th day, after which the value of A decreased gradually and reached a plateau phase. The optimal BMMSCs seeding density of 5×106/ml achieved an excellent adhesion and proliferation activity on PDPB. In summary, the best cell seeding density of constructing tissue‐engineered bone with BMMSCs in vitro is 5×106/ml, the optimal timing to transplant is the 6th day.
Human embryonic stem cell differentiation into insulin secreting β‐cells for diabetes
Authors: Bose Bipasha , Shenoy Sudheer P , Konda Sudhakar , Wangikar Pralhad
Published: August 2012

hESC (human embryonic stem cells), when differentiated into pancreatic β ILC (islet‐like clusters), have enormous potential for the cell transplantation therapy for Type 1 diabetes. We have developed a five‐step protocol in which the EBs (embryoid bodies) were first differentiated into definitive endoderm and subsequently into pancreatic lineage followed by formation of functional endocrine β islets, which were finally matured efficiently under 3D conditions. The conventional cytokines activin A and RA (retinoic acid) were used initially to obtain definitive endoderm. In the last step, ILC were further matured under 3D conditions using amino acid rich media (CMRL media) supplemented with anti‐hyperglycaemic hormone‐Glp1 (glucagon‐like peptide 1) analogue Liraglutide with prolonged t½ and Exendin 4. The differentiated islet‐like 3D clusters expressed bonafide mature and functional β‐cell markers‐PDX1 (pancreatic and duodenal homoeobox‐1), C‐peptide, insulin and MafA. Insulin synthesis de novo was confirmed by C‐peptide ELISA of culture supernatant in response to varying concentrations of glucose as well as agonist and antagonist of functional 3D β islet cells in vitro. Our results indicate the presence of almost 65% of insulin producing cells in 3D clusters. The cells were also found to ameliorate hyperglycaemia in STZ (streptozotocin) induced diabetic NOD/SCID (non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency) mouse up to 96 days of transplantation. This protocol provides a basis for 3D in vitro generation of long‐term in vivo functionally viable islets from hESC.