bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Varietal characterization of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) by GC–MS analysis of hop cone extracts
Authors: Shellie Robert A. , Poynter Samuel D. H. , Li Jianfeng , Gathercole Jessica L. , Whittock Simon P. , Koutoulis Anthony
Published: December 2009

An approach is described for use in the varietal characterization of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) varieties. The study focuses on commercial hop varieties and was timed to coincide with the 2008 commercial hop harvest in Tasmania, Australia. Analysis of hop extracts was performed using GC–MS. A 60 m capillary column was employed to increase efficiency to permit the use of a quadrupole mass spectrometer in place of a time of flight mass spectrometer that is more commonly used for this type of analysis. A set of characterization functions were derived from discriminant analysis which were highly suitable for varietal characterization of the eight commercial varieties included in the study, namely Willamette, Victoria, Pride of Ringwood, Cascade, Southern Hallertau, Millennium, Southern Saaz, and Super Pride.
Analytical food control does not live up to expectations – What to do?
Authors: Grob Koni
Published: December 2009

There are good reasons to devote a special issue to food analysis. First of all it is a challenging field, extremely wide and complex. There is a need for many more methods and plenty of room for technical improvements, as will be shown in the articles presented in this issue. However, there are also structural problems to be discussed, which are as challenging as the technical issues. Analytical chemistry is primarily a tool and its development is directly linked to the success of the service it provides and the reputation it has. We analysts must, therefore, have an interest in the success of the tool we are developing, structural aspects of our profession, financial issues and perhaps even “politics”.
Coarse‐grained molecular dynamics modeling of DNA–carbon nanotube complexes
Authors: Zou Jian , Liang Wentao , Zhang Sulin
Published: December 2009

We present a coarse‐grained method to study the energetics and morphologies of DNA–carbon nanotube (DNA‐CNT) complexes in aqueous environment. In this method, we adopt an existing coarse‐grained DNA model in which each nucleotide is coarse‐grained by two interaction sites, one for the phosphate and sugar groups and the other for the base group. The interaction potentials between DNA sites and the carbon atoms on a CNT are parameterized through all‐atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The water molecules are treated implicitly using Langevin dynamics. The coarse‐grained DNA‐CNT model significantly improves the computational affordability, while captures the essential dynamics of DNA‐CNT interactions observed from all‐atom MD simulations. The coarse‐grained method enables us to efficiently simulate adhesion, encapsulation, and wrapping processes of a single‐stranded DNA molecule around CNTs. The simulation results agree with those obtained by all‐atom MD simulations in several aspects. Our coarse‐grained simulations provide useful guidelines in positioning DNA molecules on a CNT surface or graphene substrate in single‐molecule experimental studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase and activated insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor/insulin receptor: potential therapeutic targets in chordoma
Authors: Sommer Josh , Itani Doha M , Homlar Kelly C , Keedy Vicki L , Halpern Jennifer L , Holt Ginger E , Schwartz Herbert S , Coffin Cheryl M , Kelley Michael J , Cates Justin MM
Published: December 2009

Currently there is no effective chemotherapy for chordoma. Recent studies report co‐expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor (IGF1R) and its cognate ligand in chordoma, but it is unknown whether this receptor tyrosine kinase is activated in these tumours. Additionally, genetic studies have confirmed frequent deletions of chromosome 9p in chordomas, which encompasses the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) locus. Another gene in this region, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), is an essential enzyme of the purine salvage pathway and has therapeutic relevance because MTAP‐deficient cells are particularly sensitive to inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. We investigated whether these pathways might be potential therapeutic targets for chordoma. Paraffin‐embedded tissue samples from 30 chordomas were analysed by immunohistochemistry for expression of the phosphorylated isoforms of IGF1R or the insulin receptor (pIGF1R/pIR) and selected downstream signalling molecules, including BCL2‐associated agonist of cell death protein (BAD). Expression of CDKN2A and MTAP proteins was also assessed. Skeletal chondrosarcomas, benign notochordal cell tumours, and fetal notochord were studied for comparison. Phosphorylated IGF1R/IR was detected in 41% of chordomas, together with activated downstream signalling molecules, and pIGF1R/pIR was absent in benign notochordal cell tumours and fetal notochord. Thirty‐nine per cent of chordomas were negative for MTAP immunoreactivity. Patients with pIGF1R/pIR‐positive tumours showed significantly decreased median disease‐free survival in multivariate survival analysis (p = 0.036), whereas phosphorylation of BAD at serine‐99 was found to be associated with a favourable prognosis (p = 0.002). Approximately 40% of chordomas demonstrate evidence of activation of the IGF1R/IR signalling pathway or loss of a key enzyme in the purine salvage pathway. Aberrant signalling cascades and disrupted metabolic pathways such as these may represent opportunities for novel targeted therapeutic approaches for the treatment of chordoma. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adjuvant effects of ambient particulate matter monitored by proteomics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Authors: Kang Xuedong , Li Ning , Wang Meiying , Boontheung Pinmanee , Sioutas Constantinos , Harkema Jack R. , Bramble Lori A. , Nel Andre E. , Loo Joseph A.
Published: December 2009

Ambient particulate matter (PM) from air pollution is associated with exacerbation of asthma. The immunological basis for the adjuvant effects of PM is still not well understood. The generation of ROS and the resulting oxidative stress has been identified as one of the major mechanisms. Using a new intranasal sensitization model in which ambient PM is used as an adjuvant to enhance allergic inflammation (Li et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 2009, 117, 1116–1123), a proteomics approach was applied to study the adjuvant effects of ambient PM. The enhanced in vivo adjuvant effect of ultrafine particles correlates with a higher in vitro oxidant potential and a higher content of redox‐cycling organic chemicals. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteins from normal and sensitized mice were resolved by 2‐DE, and identified by MS. Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, complement C3, neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin, chitinase 3‐like protein 3, chitinase 3‐like protein 4, and acidic mammalian chitinase demonstrated significantly enhanced up‐regulation by UFP with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content and a higher oxidant potential. These proteins may be the important specific elements targeted by PM in air pollution through the ability to generate ROS in the immune system, and may be involved in allergen sensitization and asthma pathogenesis.
Kinetic model of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in microemulsions
Authors: O'Donnell Jennifer M. , Kaler Eric W.
Published: December 2009

A simplified kinetic model for RAFT microemulsion polymerization has been developed to facilitate the investigation of the effects of slow fragmentation of the intermediate macro‐RAFT radical, termination reactions, and diffusion rate of the chain transfer agent to the locus of polymerization on the control of the polymerization and the rate of monomer conversion. This simplified model captures the experimentally observed decrease in the rate of polymerization, and the shift of the rate maximum to conversions less than the 39% conversion predicted by the Morgan model for uncontrolled microemulsion polymerizations. The model shows that the short, but finite, lifetime of the intermediate macro‐RAFT radical (1.3 × 10−4–1.3 × 10−2 s) causes the observed rate retardation in RAFT microemulsion polymerizations of butyl acrylate with the chain transfer agent methyl‐2‐(O‐ethylxanthyl)propionate. The calculated magnitude of the fragmentation rate constant (kf = 4.0 × 101–4.0 × 103 s−1) is greater than the literature values for bulk RAFT polymerizations that only consider slow fragmentation of the macro‐RAFT radical and not termination (kf = 10−2 s−1). This is consistent with the finding that slow fragmentation promotes biradical termination in RAFT microemulsion polymerizations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 604–613, 2010
Synthesis and properties of phenothiazylene vinylene‐based polymers: New organic semiconductors for field‐effect transistors and solar cells
Authors: Son Seon‐Kyoung , Choi Yoon‐Suk , Lee Woo‐Hyung , Hong Yongtaek , Kim Jae‐Ryoung , Shin Won‐Suk , Moon Sang‐Jin , Hwang Do‐Hoon , Kang In‐Nam
Published: December 2009

A series of new phenothiazylene vinylene‐based semiconducting polymers, poly[3,7‐(4′‐dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene] (P1), poly[3,7‐(4′‐dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene‐alt‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] (P2), and poly[3,7‐(4′‐dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene‐alt‐2,5‐thienylene vinylene] (P3), have been synthesized via a Horner‐Emmons reaction. FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the configurations of the vinylene groups in the polymers were all‐trans (E). The weight‐averaged molecular weights (Mw) of P1, P2, and P3 were found to be 27,000, 22,000, and 29,000, with polydispersity indices of 1.91, 2.05, and 2.25, respectively. The thermograms for P1, P2, and P3 each contained only a broad glass transition, at 129, 167, and 155 °C, respectively, without the observation of melting features. UV–visible absorption spectra of the polymers showed two strong absorption bands in the ranges 315–370 nm and 450–500 nm, which arose from absorptions of the phenothiazine segments and the conjugated main chains. Solution‐processed field‐effect transistors fabricated from these polymers showed p‐type organic thin‐film transistor characteristics. The field‐effect mobilities of P1, P2, and P3 were measured to be 1.0 × 10−4, 3.6 × 10−5, and 1.0 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively, and the on/off ratios were in the order of 102 for P1 and P2, and 103 for P3. Atomic force microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis of thin films of the polymers show that they have amorphous structures. A photovoltaic device in which a P3/PC71BM (1/5) blend film was used as the active layer exhibited an open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.42 V, a short circuit current (JSC) of 5.17 mA cm−2, a fill factor of 0.35, and a power conversion efficiency of 0.76% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW cm−2) illumination. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 635–646, 2010
Influence of the Air Humidity on the Reduction of Bacillus Spores in a Defined Environment at Atmospheric Pressure Using a Dielectric Barrier Surface Discharge
Authors: Hähnel Marcel , von Woedtke Thomas , Weltmann Klaus‐Dieter
Published: December 2009

From literature different plasma species are known for their possibility to inactivate microorganisms. Most studies report on the inactivation of germs by UV light emitted from rare gas discharges like plasma‐jets or low pressure discharges or disruption of cell membranes due to charging effects.

Our aim was to show the influence of air humidity and active plasma power in a simple atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier surface discharge on the reduction of Bacillus atrophaeus spores within a few minutes of treatment time. The plasma treatment time was varied at humidity levels between 0 and 70% relative moisture with a distance of 0.6 mm between the dielectric barrier and test strip. The obtained results have shown an influence of the air humidity on the spore inactivation rate which has been reached by plasma treatment. The plasma does not emit a significant amount of UV light below 320 nm. From these results the role of reactive species, especially the effect of hydroxyl radicals, is discussed.

magnified image
Degradation of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) Using Mechanically Alloyed Mg/Pd
Authors: Fidler Albo Rebecca L. , Legron Tamra , Gittings Michael J. , Elie Mark R. , Holland Saitta Erin , Sigman Michael E. , Geiger Cherie L. , Clausen Christian
Published: December 2009

A heterogenous catalytic system consisting of mechanically alloyed Mg/Pd particles has been used to degrade the peroxide explosive, triacetone triperoxide (TATP). The degradation of the TATP with the Mg/Pd particles (half life of 1.2×101 min) was compared to the degradation with microscale Mg particles (half life of 1.7×103 min) and 10% Pd on activated carbon (half life of 8.7×102 min). Combining the Mg and Pd on carbon (Pd/C) through a mechanical alloying process is shown to produce reactive particles that can be used to degrade TATP. The major product of the degradation of TATP with mechanically alloyed Mg/Pd particles was acetone. A material balance for carbon was also calculated for the degradation reaction with 94±5% (mean±standard deviation) of the TATP carbons accounted for in the production of acetone.
Robust output feedback control against disturbance filter uncertainty described by dynamic integral quadratic constraints
Authors: Dietz S. G. , Scherer C. W.
Published: December 2009

Motivated by a robust disturbance rejection problem, in which disturbances are described by an uncertain filter at the plant input, a convex solution is presented for the robust output feedback controller synthesis problem for a particularly structured plant. The uncertainties are characterized by an integral quadratic constraint (IQC) with general frequency‐dependent multipliers. By exploiting the structure of the generalized plant, linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐synthesis conditions are derived in order to guarantee a specified ℒ︁2‐gain or ℋ︁2‐norm performance level, provided that the IQC multipliers are described by LMI constraints. Moreover, it is shown that part of the controller variables can be eliminated. Finally, the rejection of non‐stationary sinusoidal disturbance signals is considered. In a numerical example, it is shown that specifying a bound on the rate‐of‐variation of the time‐varying frequency can improve the performance if compared with the static IQC multipliers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correction of bias from non‐random missing longitudinal data using auxiliary information
Authors: Wang Cuiling , Hall Charles B.
Published: December 2009

Missing data are common in longitudinal studies due to drop‐out, loss to follow‐up, and death. Likelihood‐based mixed effects models for longitudinal data give valid estimates when the data are missing at random (MAR). These assumptions, however, are not testable without further information. In some studies, there is additional information available in the form of an auxiliary variable known to be correlated with the missing outcome of interest. Availability of such auxiliary information provides us with an opportunity to test the MAR assumption. If the MAR assumption is violated, such information can be utilized to reduce or eliminate bias when the missing data process depends on the unobserved outcome through the auxiliary information. We compare two methods of utilizing the auxiliary information: joint modeling of the outcome of interest and the auxiliary variable, and multiple imputation (MI). Simulation studies are performed to examine the two methods. The likelihood‐based joint modeling approach is consistent and most efficient when correctly specified. However, mis‐specification of the joint distribution can lead to biased results. MI is slightly less efficient than a correct joint modeling approach and can also be biased when the imputation model is mis‐specified, though it is more robust to mis‐specification of the imputation distribution when all the variables affecting the missing data mechanism and the missing outcome are included in the imputation model. An example is presented from a dementia screening study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental Study of Lightning Surge Aspect for the Circuit Mounted Distribution and Telecommunication and Customer Systems: Aspect of Lightning Current According to Grounding System of Customer Equipments
Authors: Asakawa A. , Kuramoto S. , Kato J.
Published: December 2009

Experimental study of lightning current distribution in customers mounted a power line, customer equipments, and a telecommunication line has been carried out using 12‐MV impulse generator and actual sized test line. Four types of customer equipments such as earthing equipment, communication, antenna, and power supply equipments are modeled. The effects of earthing methods of a customer equipment, lead‐in method of the power line, and telecommunication lines and lightning striking points are investigated. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analytical Study on Lightning Surge Characteristics of a Rail Track
Authors: Arai Hideki , Watanabe Ikuo , Motoyama Hideki , Yokoyama Shigeru
Published: December 2009

The development of the effective and economical protection measures is vital for the railway signaling systems because the lightning damages cause the disruption of the railway transportation systems. In general, the railway signaling systems are set up at a wayside and directly connected to the rails through cables. The lightning surges can invade the railway signaling systems via the cables and cause damages to the systems. Accordingly, clarifying the propagation characteristics of lightning surges along the rails is essential to develop the lightning protection measures in the railway signaling systems. We have carried out the field tests to examine both surge impedance and surge propagation velocity of the rails. This paper proposes a calculation model of the surge propagation characteristics along the rails. We measured the frequency‐dependent four‐terminal parameters of the rails to estimate the distributed parameter adopted in the calculation model. The results of surge impedance and surge propagation velocity calculated by the proposed model almost agree with the experimental results. Moreover, the proposed model can calculate the surge attenuation along the rails. This model is applicable to the development of lightning protection measures for the railway signaling systems. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stochastic Resonance within the Auditory System Observed when Signal and Noise were Delivered to the Opposite Ears
Authors: Tanaka Keita , Uchikawa Yoshinori , Kawakatsu Masaki , Nemoto Iku
Published: December 2009

We measured auditory steady‐state responses (ASSRs) in magnetoencephalogram when an ongoing sinusoidal amplitude‐modulated tone is presented to the subject's left ear while bursts of white noise of various intensities were presented to the right ear. Because the power and coherence as functions of the noise intensities differed considerably among subjects, we used their maximum values as test statistics for testing the group data. The results showed a significant enhancement in the phase coherence of ASSRs obtained over the right temporal regions by the presence of white noise of appropriate intensity. The observed SR most likely occurred within the central nervous system. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integrated Optimization by Multi‐Objective Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Kawarabayashi Masaru , Tsuchiya Junichi , Yasuda Keiichiro
Published: December 2009

In this letter, integrated optimization system, a new framework of practical optimization, is expanded to multi‐objective optimization problem. This system is used in order to reduce the number of accesses to a simulator. On the basis of simulation results using some typical benchmark problems, it is shown that the proposed integrated optimization system enables to obtain relatively good Pareto solutions with drastic reduction in the number of function calls for evaluating the performance index values of systems. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Measurement of Rotation of Polarization Plane of Laser Radiation Propagating through Impulse Discharge in Air
Authors: Fukuchi Tetsuo , Shiina Tatsuo
Published: December 2009

Linearly polarized light propagating through an ionized region, with a nonzero component of the magnetic field parallel to the direction of propagation, experiences a rotation of the polarization plane due to the Faraday effect. Measurement of the rotation angle of the polarization plane can provide information regarding the electron density and discharge current of discharges in air. In this experiment, the rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized laser light propagating through an ionized region created by a spark discharge in air was examined. The rotation angle of the polarization plane was estimated from the change in the intensities of the mutually perpendicular polarization components. In the experiment using an air gap of length 1 m, the rotation angle was detected only when the laser beam intersected or passed through the immediate vicinity of the path of the spark discharge, and the measured rotation angle was 0.54 degrees. In another experiment using an air gap of length 0.77 m, the polarization rotation was confirmed to exhibit a temporal variation similar to the discharge current waveform. Furthermore, the effects due to the neutral density variation accompanying the discharge were shown to have no effect on the polarization rotation measurement. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of Electrode Systems on Numerical Estimation of Internal Human Body Impedance at Power Frequency
Authors: Hayashi Noriyuki , Tarao Hiroo , Isaka Katsuo
Published: December 2009

Internal body impedances Ri of an anatomically realistic human model were numerically calculated at 60 Hz under various current scenarios and electrode sizes. On the basis of the numerical results, the effects of electrode systems on Ri were investigated. It is found that Ri obtained for a two‐electrode model are larger than those for a four‐electrode model by a factor of up to about 1.3. This means that the body impedances measured by using the four‐wire method are smaller than the calculated ones by up to about 23%. At the end, it is concluded that, although the difference in the electrode systems is a cause of the disagreements between the calculated and measured body impedances, its effect is insufficient to fully reconcile the actual disagreements. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dynamic Load‐Aware Multicast Routing in Ad hoc Networks
Authors: Shimizu Koichi , Sawamura Takahiro , Haque Md. Enamul , Matsumoto Noriko , Yoshida Norihiko
Published: December 2009

In wireless ad hoc networks, collisions and congestion at some nodes cause degradation of network throughput. There have been some load‐aware routing protocols proposed for load distribution and balancing by detouring congested nodes. However, they are for unicast communication. This paper proposes a load‐aware protocol for the same purpose in multicast communication. The protocol has features to build a multicast tree with load distribution and balancing, and to reorganize the tree according to dynamic load changes. Simulation‐based preliminary experiments result in that the number of highly loaded members in a multicast tree was smaller with the proposed protocol than that with a conventional one. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Diagnostic precision of Doppler flow echocardiography in fetuses at risk for atrioventricular block
Authors: Bergman G. , Wahren‐Herlenius M. , Sonesson S.‐E.
Published: December 2009

Objective

To investigate the diagnostic precision of three Doppler methods in their ability to predict postnatal first‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational study carried out from December 1999 to March 2008, including 95 fetuses of anti‐SSA/Ro positive mothers undergoing weekly fetal echocardiograms at 18–24 weeks' gestation. Doppler‐derived AV time intervals for left ventricular inflow (MV), inflow and outflow (MV‐Ao) and superior vena cava a‐wave to aortic flow (SVC‐Ao) were compared with the PR interval on postnatal electrocardiography. Reference values for MV intervals were established from 102 healthy fetuses, with previously published reference ranges used for the two other methods. Bayesian and receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were performed.

Results

The prevalence of first‐degree AV block at birth was 13.8%. Using a cut‐off at the upper 95% confidence limit, MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao time intervals had a sensitivity of 91.7%, and negative predictive value and negative likelihood ratio of 98.4% and 0.10, respectively. The corresponding positive predictive value/positive likelihood ratio for MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao were 42.3%/4.5 and 47.8%/5.7, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao were 0.87 and 0.89, respectively (both P < 0.001), with generated cut‐offs for abnormal AV time intervals at 134–138 and 132–138 ms. MV time intervals using a cut‐off at the upper 95% confidence limit had a sensitivity of just 50% and an AUC of 0.74 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao Doppler methods make it possible to identify nearly all fetuses with first‐degree AV block at birth and to exclude conduction disturbances in the case of a normal AV time measurement but at the cost of a positive predictive value of 50%. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urban heat island effects on estimates of observed climate change
Authors: Parker David E.
Published: December 2009

Urban heat islands are a result of the physical properties of buildings and other structures, and the emission of heat by human activities. They are most pronounced on clear, calm nights; their strength depends also on the background geography and climate, and there are often cool islands in parks and less‐developed areas. Some old city centers no longer show warming trends relative to rural neighbourhoods, because urban development has stabilised. This article reviews the effects that urban heat islands may have on estimates of global near‐surface temperature trends. These effects have been reduced by avoiding or adjusting urban temperature measurements. Comparisons of windy weather with calm‐weather air temperature trends for a worldwide set of observing sites suggest that global near‐surface temperature trends have not been greatly affected by urban warming trends; this is supported by comparisons with marine surface temperatures. The use of dynamical‐model‐based reanalyses to estimate urban influences has been hindered by the heterogeneity of the data input to the reanalyses and by biases in the models. However, improvements in reanalyses are increasing their utility for assessing the surface air temperature record. High‐resolution climate models and data on changing land use offer potential for future assessment of worldwide urban warming influences. The latest assessments of the likely magnitude of the residual urban trend in available global near‐surface temperature records are summarized, along with the uncertainties of these residual trends. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Detection and Attribution
Total Thyroidectomy Is Superior to Subtotal Thyroidectomy for Management of Graves’ Disease in the United States
Authors: Wilhelm Scott M. , McHenry Christopher R.
Published: December 2009

Background

In the United States, Graves’ disease is most commonly treated with radioiodine, yet thyroidectomy remains an important option for correcting hyperthyroidism. In many countries, limited access to thyroid hormone makes subtotal thyroidectomy the procedure of choice. In the United States, where levothyroxine is widely available, we hypothesized that total (TT) or near‐total thyroidectomy (NT) is superior to subtotal thyroidectomy (ST) for long‐term control of Graves’ disease.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who underwent ST, NT, or TT for Graves’ disease between 1990 and 2008 was conducted. Differences in rates of disease recurrence were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Rates of parathyroid autotransplantation, complications, gland weight, and final pathology were determined.

Results

A total of 136 patients with Graves’ disease were treated with thyroidectomy. Average age was 36.4 ± 11.3 years (range: 16–81 years) and 88% were female. From 1990 to 1994, 10 patients underwent ST and 6 had NT. Since then, all patients have undergone TT (n = 120). There was a significantly higher rate of recurrence for ST (30%) compared to NT (0%; P = 0.15) and TT (0%; P < 0.0001). Parathyroid autotransplantation was performed in 36 (26.5%) patients, only 2 of whom underwent ST or NT. Transient postoperative hypocalcemia was more common after TT (P = 0.04). No patient in any group had permanent hypoparathyroidism. Two TT pts had transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.

Conclusions

Subtotal thyroidectomy resulted in 30% long‐term failure to correct Graves’ hyperthyroidism. We saw no recurrences and no increase in postoperative complications in the TT group. We feel that TT is safe and superior to ST for management of Graves’ disease in the United States.
Increased prevalence of mutant null alleles that cause hereditary fructose intolerance in the American population
Authors: Coffee Erin M. , Yerkes Laura , Ewen Elizabeth P. , Zee Tiffany , Tolan Dean R.
Published: December 2009

Mutations in the aldolase B gene (ALDOB) impairing enzyme activity toward fructose‐1‐phosphate cleavage cause hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). Diagnosis of the disease is possible by identifying known mutant ALDOB alleles in suspected patients; however, the frequencies of mutant alleles can differ by population. Here, 153 American HFI patients with 268 independent alleles were analyzed to identify the prevalence of seven known HFI‐causing alleles (A149P, A174D, N334K, Δ4E4, R59Op, A337V, and L256P) in this population. Allele‐specific oligonucleotide hybridization analysis was performed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified genomic DNA from these patients. In the American population, the missense mutations A149P and A174D are the two most common alleles, with frequencies of 44% and 9%, respectively. In addition, the nonsense mutations Δ4E4 and R59Op are the next most common alleles, with each having a frequency of 4%. Together, the frequencies of all seven alleles make up 65% of HFI‐causing alleles in this population. Worldwide, these same alleles make up 82% of HFI‐causing mutations. This difference indicates that screening for common HFI alleles is more difficult in the American population. Nevertheless, a genetic screen for diagnosing HFI in America can be improved by including all seven alleles studied here. Lastly, identification of HFI patients presenting with classic symptoms and who have homozygous null genotypes indicates that aldolase B is not required for proper development or metabolic maintenance.
Recombinant follicle‐stimulating hormone (follitropin alfa) for ovulation induction in Japanese patients with anti‐estrogen‐ineffective oligo‐ or anovulatory infertility: results of a phase II dose–response study
Authors: Taketani Yuji , Kelly Eduardo , Yoshimura Yasunori , Hoshiai Hiroshi , Irahara Minoru , Mizunuma Hideki , Saito Hidekazu , Andoh Kazumichi , Bebia Zourab , Yanaihara Takumi
Published: December 2009

Purpose

To determine the optimal regimen of recombinant human follicle‐stimulating hormone (r‐hFSH) for ovulation induction (OI) in Japanese women with amenorrhea I or anovulatory infertility.

Methods

In this randomized, double‐blind, dose‐finding study, women aged 20–39 years were enrolled. Patients underwent a chronic low‐dose step‐up regimen with starting doses of r‐hFSH of 37.5 IU (group L; n = 62), 75 IU (group M; n = 62) or 150 IU (group H; n = 60). Primary endpoint was time to achieve a dominant follicle with mean diameter ≥18 mm. Secondary endpoints included percentage of patients producing a dominant follicle ≥18 mm, achieving ovulation, and biochemical pregnancy.

Results

Median time to achieve a dominant follicle ≥18 mm was 14 days (group L; 87.7%), 10 days (group M; 98.4%), and 8 days (group H; 94.5%). In group M, ovulation occurred in 95.1% of patients, with pregnancy in 18.0%, compared with 86.0% and 15.8% in group L, and 50.9% and 9.1% in group H, respectively. Twelve patients developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (nine in group H). Most adverse events in groups L and M were mild in severity.

Conclusions

A starting dose of 75 IU r‐hFSH was associated with a favorable efficacy and safety profile for OI in Japanese women.
Depraved and Disorderly
Authors: Damousi Joy
Published: December 2009

This innovative book marks a new way of looking at convict women. It tells their stories in a powerful and evocative way, drawing out broader themes of gender and sexual disorder and race and class dynamics in a colonial context. It considers the convict past in light of contemporary concerns, looking at the cultural meanings of aspects of life in the colony: on ships, in the factories and in orphanages. Using startlingly original research, Joy Damousi considers such varied topics as headshaving as punishment in the prisons and the subversive nature of laughter and play, as well as analysing the language of pollution, purity and abandonment. She also dicusses the nature of sexual relationships, including evidence of lesbianism. The book shows how understanding about sexual and racial difference was crucial for both the maintenance and disturbance of colonial society, and became a focus for cultural anxiety.
Early Recordings and Musical Style
Authors: Philip Robert
Published: December 2009

Until recently, early recordings were regarded as little more than old-fashioned curiosities by musicians. Scholars and musicians now are beginning to realise their importance as historical documents which preserve the performance of composers and the musicians with whom they worked. In this fascinating study, Robert Philip argues that recordings of the early twentieth-century provide an important and hitherto neglected resource in the history of musical performance. The book concentrates on aspects of performance which underwent the greatest change in the early twentieth century, including rhythm, rubato, vibrato, and portamento. The final chapters explore some of the implications of these changes, both for the study of earlier periods and for the understanding of our own attitudes to the music of the past.
The Plan of God in Luke-Acts
Authors: Squires John T.
Published: December 2009

This study examines one significant theological theme in Luke-Acts, that of 'The plan of God'. It traces the way this theme is developed throughout Luke-Acts, both through direct statements by the writer and through various associated means such as divine appearances, signs and wonders, the fulfilment of prophecy, and indications of fate as of necessity. Dr Squires locates Luke's use of this theme in the context of the history-writing of the Hellenistic period, noting numerous passages in those works which illumine Luke's theological purposes. His book shows how the notion of the plan of God is used by Luke as he writes to confirm his readers' faith, encouraging them to bear witness to this faith, and equipping them for the task of defending it.
Prices, Food and Wages in Scotland, 1550–1780
Authors: Gibson A. J. S. , Smout T. C.
Published: December 2009

This 1994 book is a study of Scottish price history and a major contribution to the economic and social history of early modern and pre-industrial Britain. Using the remarkable series of 'fiars' prices for grains and other contemporary sources, Gibson and Smout focus, in particular, on the prices of grain, meal and animal products, and assess how Scots artisans and labourers could survive in an economy that could pay only very low money wages. The authors show how the Scottish people experienced fluctuations in welfare both in the longer term from generation to generation, and within a given life-cycle. The Scottish records on prices and wages are a unique historical resource, to which Gibson and Smout have applied both traditional and quantitative historical techniques. In so doing they produced a powerful contribution to the perennial debate on the standard of living of ordinary people prior to the onset of industrialization.
The Liberation Movement in Russia 1900–1905
Authors: Galai Shmuel
Published: December 2009

Historians of the Russian Revolution naturally tend to concentrate their attention upon the Bolshevik 'victors' and on the Mensheyiks - ideologically the closest of their rivals, - and to neglect other political movements. For the Russian Liberals at least, Dr Galai redresses this imbalance. This book traces the nineteenth-century origins of the Liberation Movement (also known as the Liberal Movement), the social and historical conditions which led to its formation in the first years of the twentieth century, its policies, influence, initial success and ultimate failure. Against the background of the political and social crisis culminating in the 1905 Revolution, Dr Galai traces the stages by which the Liberation Movement became supreme among the forces of opposition but ultimately was defeated and disintegrated. It failed to fulfil its aim of replacing Tsarist autocracy by a constitutional-democratic regime and to demonstrate effectively that there was an alternative to the extremes of Tsarism and Bolshevism.
Analytic Pro-P Groups
Authors: Dixon J. D. , Du Sautoy M. P. F. , Mann A. , Segal D.
Published: December 2009

The first edition of this book was the indispensable reference for researchers in the theory of pro-p groups. In this second edition the presentation has been improved and important new material has been added. The first part of the book is group-theoretic. It develops the theory of pro-p groups of finite rank, starting from first principles and using elementary methods. Part II introduces p-adic analytic groups: by taking advantage of the theory developed in Part I, it is possible to define these, and derive all the main results of p-adic Lie theory, without having to develop any sophisticated analytic machinery. Part III, consisting of new material, takes the theory further. Among those topics discussed are the theory of pro-p groups of finite coclass, the dimension subgroup series, and its associated graded Lie algebra. The final chapter sketches a theory of analytic groups over pro-p rings other than the p-adic integers.
The Greeks in Australia
Authors: Tamis Anastasios
Published: December 2009

The Greeks have made an enormous contribution to Australian cultural and social life, and this book vividly tells their story. Beginning with an examination of the conditions in Europe that led to migration, it details the role of the Greeks in Australian settlement, the two large waves of Greek migration in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the ways in which the Greeks have maintained a solid sense of Greek cultural expression. Numbering approximately half a million, the Greek community in Australia comprises the second largest ethnic minority after the Italians. The contribution of Greek settlers to the large industrial cities and other major urban centres modernised them by injecting new ideas into the economic, social and political life of their new environment. The role of Greek settlers has been vital in building the nation we have today.
Shakespeare and the Power of Performance
Authors: Weimann Robert , Bruster Douglas
Published: December 2009

Focusing on the practical means and media of Shakespeare's stage, this study envisions horizons for his achievement in the theatre. Bridging the gap between today's page- and stage-centred interpretations, two renowned Shakespeareans demonstrate the artful means by which Shakespeare responded to the competing claims of acting and writing in the Elizabethan era. They examine how the playwright explored issues of performance through the resonant trio of clown, fool and cross-dressed boy actor. Like this trio, his deepest and most captivating characters often attain their power through the highly performative mode of 'personation' – through playing the character as an open secret. Surveying the whole of the playwright's career in the theatre, Shakespeare and the Power of Performance offers not only compelling ways of approaching the relation of performance and print in Shakespeare's works, but also new models for understanding dramatic character itself.
Living with Uncertainty
Authors: Zimmerman Michael J.
Published: December 2009

Every choice we make is set against a background of massive ignorance about our past, our future, our circumstances, and ourselves. Philosophers are divided on the moral significance of such ignorance. Some say that it has a direct impact on how we ought to behave - the question of what our moral obligations are; others deny this, claiming that it only affects how we ought to be judged in light of the behaviour in which we choose to engage - the question of what responsibility we bear for our choices. Michael Zimmerman claims that our ignorance has an important bearing on both questions, and offers an account of moral obligation and moral responsibility that is sharply at odds with the prevailing wisdom. His book will be of interest to a wide range of readers in ethics.
The Keyboard Sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti and Eighteenth-Century Musical Style
Authors: Sutcliffe W. Dean
Published: December 2009

W. Dean Sutcliffe investigates one of the greatest yet least understood repertories of Western keyboard music: the 555 keyboard sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti. Scarlatti occupies a position of solitary splendour in musical history. The sources of his style are often obscure and his immediate influence is difficult to discern. Further, the lack of hard documentary evidence has hindered musicological activity. Dr Sutcliffe offers not just a thorough reconsideration of the historical factors that have contributed to Scarlatti's position, but also sustained engagement with the music, offering both individual readings and broader commentary of an unprecedented kind. A principal task of this book is to remove the composer from his critical ghetto (however honourable) and redefine his image. In so doing it will reflect on the historiographical difficulties involved in understanding eighteenth-century musical style.
Chromatic Transformations in Nineteenth-Century Music
Authors: Kopp David
Published: December 2009

David Kopp's book develops a model of chromatic chord relations in nineteenth-century music by composers such as Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and Brahms. The emphasis is on explaining chromatic third relations and the pivotal role they play in theory and practice. The book traces conceptions of harmonic system and of chromatic third relations from Rameau through nineteenth-century theorists such as Marx, Hauptmann and Riemann, to the seminal twentieth-century theorists Schenker and Schoenberg and on to the present day. Drawing on tenets of nineteenth-century harmonic theory, contemporary transformation theory and the author's own approach, the book presents a clear and elegant means for characterizing commonly acknowledged but loosely defined elements of chromatic harmony, and integrates them as fully fledged entities into a chromatically based conception of harmonic system. The historical and theoretical argument is supplemented by plentiful analytic examples.
The Politics of Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica
Authors: Mori Anatole
Published: December 2009

Apollonius Rhodius' epic poem, the Argonautica, is one of the most important and influential literary productions of the Hellenistic period. This book shows how the retelling of a heroic adventure set in the generation before the Trojan War engages the political, religious, and ethical dynamics of its day by alluding to the real-world context of the early Ptolemaic dynasty as well as to poetic and other models. Through a hegemonic typology that ranges from the just and theocratic to the duplicitous and lawless, Apollonius characterizes the political heirs of Alexander the Great as pious, civilized rulers. This interpretation goes beyond previous studies by examining the political resonance of religious activity in the poem, and by relating these formulations (especially where they concern Apollonius' departures from his literary predecessors) to the ideological construction of Hellenic identity in third-century Egypt.
Religious Identity in Late Antiquity
Authors: Sandwell Isabella
Published: December 2009

Studies of religious interaction in the fourth century AD have often assumed that the categories of 'pagan', 'Christian' and 'Jew' can be straightforwardly applied, and that we can assess the extent of Christianization in the Graeco-Roman period. In contrast, in this 2007 text, Dr Sandwell tackles the fundamental question of attitudes to religious identity by exploring how the Christian preacher John Chrysostom and the Graeco-Roman orator Libanius wrote about and understood issues of religious allegiance. By comparing the approaches of these men, who were living and working in Antioch at approximately the same time, she strives to get inside the process of religious interaction in a way not normally possible due to the dominance of Christian sources. In so doing she develops approaches to the study of Libanius' religion, the impact of John Chrysostom's preaching on his audiences and the importance of religious identity to fourth-century individuals.
Unthinking the Greek Polis
Authors: Vlassopoulos Kostas
Published: December 2009

This 2007 study explores how modern scholars came to write Greek history from a Eurocentric perspective and challenges orthodox readings of Greek history as part of the history of the West. Since the Greeks lacked a national state or a unified society, economy or culture, the polis has helped to create a homogenising national narrative. This book re-examines old polarities such as those between the Greek poleis and Eastern monarchies, or between the ancient consumer and the modern producer city, in order to show the fallacies of standard approaches. It argues for the relevance of Aristotle's concept of the polis, which is interpreted in an intriguing manner. Finally, it proposes an alternative way of looking at Greek history as part of a Mediterranean world-system. This interdisciplinary study engages with debates on globalisation, nationalism, Orientalism and history writing, while also debating developments in classical studies.
Greek Laughter
Authors: Halliwell Stephen
Published: December 2009

The first book to offer an integrated reading of ancient Greek attitudes to laughter. Taking material from various genres and contexts, the book analyses both the theory and the practice of laughter as a revealing expression of Greek values and mentalities. Greek society developed distinctive institutions for the celebration of laughter as a capacity which could bridge the gap between humans and gods; but it also feared laughter for its power to expose individuals and groups to shame and even violence. Caught between ideas of pleasure and pain, friendship and enmity, laughter became a theme of recurrent interest in various contexts. Employing a sophisticated model of cultural history, Stephen Halliwell traces elaborations of the theme in a series of important texts: ranging far beyond modern accounts of 'humour', he shows how perceptions of laughter helped to shape Greek conceptions of the body, the mind and the meaning of life.