bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Biomechanical Comparison of Micromotion after Ankle Fusion Using 2 Fixation Techniques: Intramedullary Arthrodesis Nail or Ilizarov External Fixator
Authors: Fragomen Austin T. , Meyers Kathleen N. , Davis Nicole , Shu Hengsheng , Wright Timmothy , Rozbruch S. Robert
Published: March 2008

Background: In difficult ankle arthrodesis situations, intramedullary (IM) arthrodesis nails and external fixation are often considered in lieu of standard fusion techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of micromotion measured across an ankle fusion site stabilized with either an IM nail or with the Ilizarov external fixator. Materials and Methods: The relative bone mineral density of 8 pairs of human cadaveric lower legs was measured by DEXA scanning. One specimen from each pair was randomly assigned to be stabilized with a new generation IM nail and the other with an Ilizarov external fixator. Specimens were tested in compression, rotation, and dorsiflexion. Optical motion capture was used to measure the direct motion occurring at the fusion site. Results: No significant difference was found between the axial displacements ( p = 0.94), torsional displacement ( p = 0.07), or the dorsiflexion angular displacement ( p = 0.28) for the IM rod group and the external fixation group. A weak correlation was found between BMD and displacement. Conclusion: Both the new generation IM nail and the Ilizarov external fixator imparted excellent stability to the fusion site despite a wide range of bone mineral densities. Medialization of the talus, the ability to compress the nail, and the addition of a posterior-to-anterior locking screw were thought to improve the performance of the nail. Clinical Relevance: Both IM nail and Ilizarov external fixation provided excellent fusion site stability. The decision of which implant to use for complex arthrodesis should be dictated by the clinical needs.
α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes as Substrates for Asymmetric CC Bond Forming Reactions with Thiamin Diphosphate (ThDP)‐Dependent Enzymes
Authors: Cosp Anabel , Dresen Carola , Pohl Martina , Walter Lydia , Röhr Caroline , Müller Michael
Published: March 2008

The enzymes benzaldehyde lyase (BAL) from Pseudomonas fluorescens, benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) from Pseudomonas putida and pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae provide different CC bond forming possibilities of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Structure elucidation and determination of the absolute configuration of the products, which were obtained with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity were carried out. Selective 1,2‐reactivity with yields of 75% and >98% ee, for one single isomer (A) were obtained, by choosing the suitable enzyme in combination with the appropriate substrates. By varying enzymes or substrates the regioisomeric hydroxy ketones C, with up to >99% ee, can be obtained. The application of these new chiral building blocks in the synthesis of natural products or biological active substances is considerably facilitated by applying the different ThDP‐dependent enzymes as catalysts.

Abbreviations: BAL, benzaldehyde lyase; BFD, benzoylformate decarboxylase; PDC, pyruvate decarboxylase; His, hexahistidine; 2‐HPP, 2‐hydroxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐one; PAC, phenylacetylcarbinol; NTA, nitrilotriacetic acid; ThDP, thiamin diphosphate; wt, wild‐type.
Energy expenditure among farmers in developing countries: What do we know?
Authors: Dufour Darna L. , Piperata Barbara A.
Published: March 2008

The trend toward overweight and obesity in developing countries is often assumed to be due, in part, to reductions in energy expenditure associated with the transition from agrarian to urban lifestyles. In this article we first review the published studies on energy expenditure in farming populations living in developing countries, populations generally assumed to have high levels of energy expenditure. To facilitate comparison we express energy expenditure as physical activity level (PAL), i.e. the ratio of total daily energy expenditure to basal metabolic rate. Then, with the goal of better understanding variability in energy expenditure between different human groups, we focus on case studies of women farmers in Colombia and Brazil for whom we have good ethnographic data. The published studies reviewed indicate that most farmers have PAL values in the moderate physical activity range, but toward the high end of that range. PAL values of male farmers tend to be higher than female, and show greater seasonal variation. The case studies illustrate that women farmers, living in broadly similar environments, and dependent on the cultivation of the same crop can have quite different patterns of physical activity and hence PAL values. These differences are a function of differences in behavior related to social and cultural variables like the organization of work at the household level and perceptions of how food crops should be processed, as well as micro‐level ecological factors. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermal imidization behavior of aromatic polyimides by rigid‐body pendulum rheometer
Authors: Chiu Hsien‐Tang , Cheng Jui‐O
Published: March 2008

Two types of polyamic acid (PAA) precursors were synthesized via combining 3,3′,4,4′‐Oxydiphthalicdianhydride (ODPA) with 4,4′‐thioetherdianiline (TDA) and 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline (SDA), respectively. Thermal gravity analysis (TGA), rigid‐body pendulum rheometer experiment (RPR), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were combined to analyze the thermal imidization processes from precursors PAA to polyimides (PI). This procedure provides the new PAA‐PI system with new methods for observing the imidization behavior, thermal properties, and finding the optimization of processing conditions. The results of the TGA and FTIR imidization conversion analysis revealed that the PAA‐PI systems synthesized with identical dianhydride and different diamines have distinct reaction temperature regions and reaction speed. The inductive effect of withdrawing and releasing group and the rigidity‐flexibility of the molecular chain in the structure of molecular backbone chain influence the imidization reaction. We have seen from the RPR test results that the entire imidization reaction in every isothermal testing temperature reaches an equilibrium condition and completes the gradation reaction of each isothermal temperature within 20 min. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) of PIs increase with increasing the conversion rate from PAA into PI and the rigidity of molecular chain. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
Synthesis, characterization, and gas permeability of aromatic polyimides containing pendant phenoxy group
Authors: Kothawade Sandeep S. , Kulkarni Mahesh P. , Kharul Ulhas K. , Patil Anandrao S. , Vernekar Subhash P.
Published: March 2008

A diamine containing a pendant phenoxy group, 1‐phenoxy‐2,4‐diaminobenzene, was synthesized and condensed with different aromatic dianhydrides [4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracorboxylic dianhydride, and pyromellitic dianhydride] by one‐step synthesis at a high temperature in m‐cresol to obtain polyimides in high yields. Most of the polyimides exhibited good solvent solubility and could be readily dissolved in chloroform, sym‐tetrachloroethane, N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and nitrobenzene. Their inherent viscosities were in the range of 0.33–1.16 dL/g. Wide‐angle X‐ray spectra revealed that these polymers were amorphous in nature. All these polyimides were thermally stable, having initial decomposition temperatures above 500°C and glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 248–281°C. The gas permeability of 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride and 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride based polyimides was investigated with pure gases: He, H2, O2, Ar, N2, CH4, and CO2. A polyimide containing a C(CF3)2 linkage showed a good combination of permeability and selectivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
Regulation of mammalian gene expression by retroelements and non‐coding tandem repeats
Authors: Tomilin Nikolai V.
Published: March 2008

Genomes of higher eukaryotes contain abundant non‐coding repeated sequences whose overall biological impact is unclear. They comprise two categories. The first consists of retrotransposon‐derived elements. These are three major families of retroelements (LINEs, SINEs and LTRs). SINEs are clustered in gene‐rich regions and are found in promoters of genes while LINEs are concentrated in gene‐poor regions and are depleted from promoters. The second class consists of non‐coding tandem repeats (satellite DNAs and TTAGGG arrays), which are associated with mammalian centromeres, heterochromatin and telomeres. Terminal TTAGGG arrays are involved in telomere capping and satellite DNAs are located in heterochromatin, which is implicated in transcription silencing by gene repositioning (relocalization). It is unknown whether interstitial TTAGGG sequences, which are present in many vertebrates, have a function. Here, evidence will be presented that retroelements and TTAGGG arrays are involved in regulation of gene expression. Retroelements can provide binding sites for transcription factors and protect promoter CpG islands from repressive chromatin modifications, and may be also involved in nuclear compartmentalization of transcriptionally active and inactive domains. Interstitial telomere‐like sequences can form dynamically maintained three‐dimensional nuclear networks of transcriptionally inactive domains, which may be involved in transcription silencing like classic heterochromatin. BioEssays 30:338–348, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of oxatomide in human plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: She Xiaodong , Wu Lili , Wei Huilin , Liu Weida , Chen Yun
Published: March 2008

A rapid, sensitive and specific high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of oxatomide in human plasma. Flunarizine hydrochloride was employed as the internal standard (IS). The analytes were chromatographically separated on a Shimadzu Shim‐pack VP‐ODS C18 column (250 × 2.0 mm i.d.) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and aqueous ammonium acetate solution (10 mm, pH 4.0; 85:15, v/v). Detection was performed on a single quadrupole mass spectrometer using an electrospray ionization interface with the selected‐ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The method showed excellent linearity (r = 0.9995) over the concentration range of 0.5–500 ng/mL with good accuracy and precision. The intra‐ and inter‐batch precisions were within 10% relative standard deviation. The recoveries were more than 90%. The validated method was successfully applied to a preliminary pharmacokinetic study of oxatomide in Chinese healthy male volunteers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometric assay suitable for quantitation of YM155, a novel small‐molecule survivin suppressant, in dog plasma
Authors: Minematsu Tsuyoshi , Felder Laurie , Oppeneer Todd , Sakazume Masashi , Oikawa Keishi , Hashimoto Tadashi , Usui Takashi , Kamimura Hidetaka
Published: March 2008

This paper describes a sensitive and selective liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for determination of the novel survivin suppressant YM155, 1‐(2‐methoxyethyl)‐2‐methyl‐4,9‐dioxo‐3‐(pyrazin‐2‐ylmethyl)‐4,9‐dihydro‐1H‐naphtho[2,3‐d]imidazolium, which is developed for the treatment of solid tumors. This method uses a liquid–liquid extraction from 0.25 mL of dog plasma. LC separation was carried out on a Genesis Silica column (50 mm × 3.0 mm i.d.) at a flow‐rate of 0.5 mL/min. Compounds were eluted using a mobile phase of 5 mm ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid in water–0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile, 17:83 (v/v). MS/MS detection was carried out with an MDS‐Sciex API3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in positive electrospray ionization mode. The standard curve was linear from 0.05 to 50 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.9968). The lower limit of quantitation was 0.05 ng/mL. Good intra‐ and inter‐day assay precision (within 7.4% RSD) and accuracy (within ±12.3%) were obtained. The extraction recovery was 66.2%. The method was successfully applied to preclinical pharmacokinetic studies in dogs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Salt Effect on Polymerizable Vesicles of Allyl Dodecyl Dimethylammonium Bromide and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate in Aqueous Solution
Authors: WANG Xiang‐Ying , ZENG Guang‐Ming , WANG Yi‐Lin , WANG Jin‐Ben , XU Xiao‐Hui , ZHOU Ting‐Ting , YAN Hai‐Ke
Published: March 2008

Polymerization reactions in vesicles are known to fix the vesicular structure to provide stabilized hollow colloidal nanoparticles used as biological membrane models, drug delivery vehicles, or templates for the synthesis of nanostructures. As a precursive work of polymerization directly from vesicles, a polymerizable surfactant, allyl dodecyl dimethylammonium bromide (ADDB) was synthesized, and spontaneous stable vesicles were formed from aqueous solutions of ADDB and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) in equimolar composition. The aqueous mixture of ADDB/SDS could form homogeneous solutions even at a high surfactant or sodium bromide (NaBr) concentration. Before polymerization, salt effect on the polymerizable vesicles was investigated by using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF‐TEM) measurements. It was interestingly revealed by the DLS method that the vesicle size increased from 83 nm in a salt‐free solution to 250 nm with increasing the salt concentration to 250 mmol/L, but decreased from 250 to 180 nm with increasing the salt concentration to 1000 mmol/L. The same meaningful trend was disclosed by the FF‐TEM measurements that when NaBr concentration was below 150 mmol/L the dispersed individual vesicle size was about 70 nm but it decreased to 20 nm while the NaBr concentration was above 400 mmol/L. The causation of increment of average aggregate radius can be attributed to the fusion and flocculation of vesicles observed clearly under a TEM imagine. The decrease of vesicle size results from the fact that, at a high salt concentration, electrolyte screens the interaction between the charged head groups, thus entropic increase drives big vesicles to decrease to small ones.
Supramolecular Architecture from a Sodium Coordination Polymer with a 3D Net Containing 3‐Aminopyrazine‐2‐carboxylic acid (APZC):Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structure of [Na2(APZC)2(μ‐H2O)2(μ3‐H2O)]n
Authors: TAYEBEE Reza , AMANI Vahid , KHAVASI Hamid Reza
Published: March 2008

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of a Na+ complex with ligand 3‐aminopyrazine‐2‐carboxylic acid were described. The resulting complex was characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV‐Vis, NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray diffraction method. The title compound crystallizes in the triclinic system with space group . The crystalline structure of this compound consists of supramolecular architectures involving strong intramolecular N–H···O in pyrazine molecules and intermolecular O–H···N, O–H···O, and N–H···N hydrogen bonds between substituted pyrazine and water molecules.
Facile Synthesis of 3‐Substituted‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrido‐[3,2‐d]pyrimidine‐2,4‐dione on Poly(ethylene glycol)
Authors: XIANG Feng‐Ying , LU Cui‐Fen , YANG Gui‐Chun , CHEN Zu‐Xing
Published: March 2008

An efficient and short route to synthesize pyrido[3,2‐d]pyrimidinediones was achieved using poly(ethylene glycol) as a soluble polymeric support and phase transfer catalyst. The poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was reacted with 2,3‐pyridinedicarboxylic anhydride to give PEG‐bound ester 1, which was transformed into corresponding PEG‐bound acyl azide 2. Then the PEG‐supported acyl azide 2 was rearranged, reacted with a series of amines and spontaneously cycled to give product 5 in 84%–88% overall yields.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterisation of 2,3‐Epoxy/ 3‐Chloro‐2‐hydroxy Propyl Derivatives of Quaternary Ammonium Salts:Useful Cationic Fixing Agents
Authors: SHARIF Saima , AHMAD Saeed , IZHAR‐UL‐HAQ Mian Muhammad
Published: March 2008

Eight mono‐reactive and four bis‐reactive 2,3‐epoxy/3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxy propyl derivatives of quaternary ammonium salts have been synthesised by reacting epichlorohydrin with suitable tertiary amines and diamines. Mono‐reactive derivatives also contain cyano and carboxylic groups in addition to 2,3‐epoxy/3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxy propyl groups. The structures of these quaternary ammonium salts have been characterised using IR and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. These quaternary ammonium chlorides have been applied to the cotton fabrics as pretreatments and aftertreatments and promising results have been obtained.
Fabrication of Alternate Stacking MnO2/MoS2 Layered Nanohybrid by a Sonochemistry Technology
Authors: SU Zhi‐Kui , CUI Yan‐Hua , TANG Xiu‐Hua , ZHOU Qing , LIU Zong‐Huai
Published: March 2008

Layered manganese oxide was delaminated in a tetramethylammonium hydroxide by sonicating treatment for 20 min. LiMoS2 with a layered structure was soaked in a 10−4 mol·L−1 HNO3 solution, then added to the delaminated MnO2 colloid by ultrasonic treatment, and alternate stacking MnO2/MoS2 nanohybrid with a novel layered structure was fabricated by using a sonochemistry technology. A new hybridization method between two kinds of inorganic nanosheets with the same charge character was developed.
Glycolipid‐activated NKT cells support the induction of persistent plasma cell responses and antibody titers
Authors: Devera T. Scott , Shah Hemangi B. , Lang Gillian A. , Lang Mark L.
Published: March 2008

NKT cell activation with CD1d‐binding glycolipid α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GC) enhances antibody responses to co‐administered T‐dependent antigen. The efficacy of α‐GC relative to other CD1d‐binding glycolipids and adjuvants is not known. There is little information on how NKT cells affect antibody production beyond initial booster‐stimulated recall responses. We therefore tested the hypothesis that α‐GC stimulates induction of plasma cells and antibody responses as effectively as Th1‐ and Th2‐skewing variants of α‐GC and several other adjuvants. C57BL/6 and CD1d–/– mice were immunized with nitrophenol‐conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (NP‐KLH) plus α‐GC or NP‐KLH plus adjuvants before administration of an NP‐KLH booster and assessing antibody responses and plasma cell frequency. α‐GC boosted long‐term antibody responses as efficiently as all other agents tested and induced plasma cells that were detected in bone marrow 13 weeks after immunization. We then determined whether NKT cells were required in the presence of other adjuvants. CD1d–/– mice had a reduced induction of plasma cells in response to NP‐KLH/Alum as compared to C57BL/6 mice. However, NKT cells were not required for the continued presence of those cells that were induced. Although NKT cells are capable of inducing persistent plasma cell responses, they may not play a major role in supporting longevity post‐induction.
A new method for assigning common spot boundaries for multiple gels in two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis
Authors: Rye Morten Beck , Færgestad Ellen M. , Alsberg Bjørn K.
Published: March 2008

The benefits of defining common spot boundaries when several gels from 2‐DE are compared and analyzed have lately been stressed by both commercial software producers and users of this software. Though the importance of common spot boundaries is clearly stated, few reports exist that target this issue explicitly. In this study a method for defining common spots boundaries is developed, called the spot density method. The method consists of the following steps: segmentation and spot identification on each individual gel, transferring the spot‐center coordinates for all gels onto a single new gel, collecting spot centers clustered together in the new gel and finally assigning pixels and new spot boundaries based on the spots in each cluster. The method is compared to a synthetic gel approach, and validated by visual inspection of three representative areas in the gels. The gel images need to be aligned prior to segmentation and spot identification, but the method can be used regardless of the choice of segmentation procedure. This makes the method an easy extension to existing methods for spot identification and matching. Conclusions based on the visual inspection are that the spot density method identifies partly overlapping spots and low‐intensity spots better than the synthetic gel approach.
A new volume of fluid method in three dimensions—Part I: Multidimensional advection method with face‐matched flux polyhedra
Authors: Hernández J. , López J. , Gómez P. , Zanzi C. , Faura F.
Published: March 2008

A multidimensional advection scheme in 3D based on the use of face‐matched flux polyhedra to integrate the volume fraction evolution equation is proposed. The algorithm tends to reduce the formation of ‘over/undershoots’ by alleviating the over/underlapping of flux polyhedra, thus diminishing the need to use local redistribution algorithms. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed advection algorithm, which are analyzed using different tests with prescribed velocity field, compare well with other multidimensional advection methods proposed recently. The algorithm is also applied, in combination with a Navier–Stokes solver, to reproduce the impact of a water droplet falling through air on a pool of deep water. The interfacial curvature is calculated using a height‐function technique with adaptive stencil adjustment, which provides improved accuracy in regions of low grid resolution. The comparison of the numerical results with experimental results shows a good degree of agreement. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Curcumin downregulates H19 gene transcription in tumor cells
Authors: Novak Kujundžić Renata , Grbeša Ivana , Ivkić Mirko , Katdare Meena , Gall‐Trošelj Koraljka
Published: March 2008

Curcumin (diferuloymethane), a natural compound used in traditional medicine, exerts an antiproliferative effect on various tumor cell lines by an incompletely understood mechanism. It has been shown that low doses of curcumin downregulate DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) which is upregulated in many malignances. The activity of TOP2A is required for RNA polymerase II transcription on chromatin templates. Recently, it has been reported that CTCF, a multifunctional transcription factor, recruits the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (LS Pol II) to its target sites genome‐wide. This recruitment of LS Pol II is more pronounced in proliferating cells than in fully differentiated cells. As expression of imprinted genes is often altered in tumors, we investigated the potential effect of curcumin treatment on transcription of the imprinted H19 gene, located distally from the CTCF binding site, in human tumor cell lines HCT 116, SW 620, HeLa, Cal 27, Hep‐2 and Detroit 562. Transcription of TOP2A and concomitantly H19 was supressed in all tumor cell lines tested. Monoallelic IGF2 expression was maintained in curcumin‐treated cancer cells, indicating the involvement of mechanism/s other than disturbance of CTCF insulator function at the IGF2/H19 locus. Curcumin did not alter H19 gene transcription in primary cell cultures derived from normal human tissues. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 1781–1792, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute phase phospholipids related to the cardiolipin of mitochondria in the sera of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), and other diseases attributed to chemicals, Gulf War, and marine toxins
Authors: Hokama Yoshitsugi , Empey‐Campora Cara , Hara Cynthia , Higa Nicole , Siu Nathaniel , Lau Rachael , Kuribayashi Tina , Yabusaki Kenichi
Published: March 2008

This study examined 328 CFS sera in a study with 17 CCFP, 8 Gulf War Veterans (GWV), 24 Prostate Cancer (PC), and 52 normal sera in the modified Membrane Immunobead Assay (MIA) procedure for CTX. Three hundred and twenty‐eight CFS patients' sera were examined by the modified MIA with purified MAb‐CTX and 91.2% gave a titre ≥1:40. 76% of the 17 CCFP sera samples and 100% of the 8 GWV sera samples also had a titre ≥1:40. 92.3% of 52 normal sera showed titres of 1:20 or less, while 4 gave titres of ≥1:40. In addition, 41 sera were examined for Anti‐Cardiolipin (aCL) by a commercial ELISA procedure with 87.8% demonstrating IgM, IgM+IgA, or IgM+IgG aCL antibodies. These results showed mostly the IgM aCL antibody alone in the sera samples. In addition, 41 serum samples were examined for aCL, with 37 showing positive for aCL, representing 90.2% positive for the three disease categories examined: CFS, CCFP and GWV. Examination for antiMitochondrial‐M2 autoantibody (aM‐M2) in 28 patients (CFS (18), CCFP (5), and GWV (5)) was negative for aM‐M2. Inhibition analysis with antigens, CTX, CFS “Acute Phase Lipids”, commercial Cardiolipin (CL) and 1,2‐Dipalmitoyl‐sn‐Glycero‐3‐[Phospho‐L‐Serine] (PS) and antibodies, MAb‐CTX and aCL from patients' serum show that the phospholipids in CL and CTX are antigenically indistinguishable with antibodies MAb‐CTX and CFS‐aCL. Preliminary chemical analyses have shown the lipids to be phospholipids associated with CL of the mitochondria. We designate this “Acute Phase Lipid” comparable to “Acute Phase Proteins” (C‐reactive protein (CRP) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA)) in inflammatory conditions. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:99–105, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque assessment in healthy children and in children diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome
Authors: Fatoye Francis A. , Palmer Shea T. , Macmillan Fiona , Rowe Philip J. , van der Linden Marietta L.
Published: March 2008

Background: Impairment of joint proprioception in patients with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) has been well documented. Both joint proprioception and muscle torque are commonly assessed in patients with musculoskeletal complaints. It is unknown, however, if these measures change significantly on repeated application in healthy children and in children with HMS.

Aim: To investigate the between‐days repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque in these groups.

Methods: Twenty children (10 healthy and 10 with HMS), aged eight to 15 years, were assessed on two separate occasions (one week apart) for joint kinaesthesia (JK), joint position sense (JPS), and the extensor and knee flexor muscle torque of the knee. JK was measured using threshold to detection of passive movement. JPS was measured using the absolute angular error (AAE; the absolute difference between the target and perceived angles). Knee extensor and flexor muscle torque was normalized to body weight.

Results: Intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICC) for JK, extensor and flexor muscle torque were excellent in both groups (range 0.83 to 0.98). However, ICC values for JPS tests were poor to moderate in the two groups (range 0.18 to 0.56). 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were narrow in both cohorts for JK and muscle torque (indicating low systematic error) but wide for the JPS tests. 95% LOA also demonstrated that the measuring instruments used in this study had low between‐days systematic error.

Conclusions: Based on ICC and 95% LOA, the repeatability of JK and muscle torque measurements was excellent in both healthy children and those with HMS. The JPS test can only be assessed with poor to moderate repeatability. The use of the JPS test in these children should be undertaken with caution. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An adaptive wavelet viscosity method for hyperbolic conservation laws
Authors: Castaño Díez Daniel , Gunzburger Max , Kunoth Angela
Published: March 2008

We extend the multiscale finite element viscosity method for hyperbolic conservation laws developed in terms of hierarchical finite element bases to a (pre‐orthogonal spline‐)wavelet basis. Depending on an appropriate error criterion, the multiscale framework allows for a controlled adaptive resolution of discontinuities of the solution. The nonlinearity in the weak form is treated by solving a least‐squares data fitting problem. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2008
Mapping of stress distribution in woven‐fabric composites
Authors: Shady E. , Gowayed Y.
Published: March 2008

Mapping of the stress distribution in composite materials, both at the fiber/matrix interface and in the composite constituents, is important to understand the material mechanical response. Stress mapping can help predict composite behavior under certain stresses especially failure or delamination. In this work, two analytical models were proposed to map the stress distribution at fiber, matrix and fiber/matrix interface utilizing the concept of stress superposition. The first model dealt with the fiber in the longitudinal direction considering axisymmetric conditions. The second model addressed the fiber stress distribution in the transverse direction. Experimental data from four‐point flexural tests of woven fabric composites was processed using the Graphical Integrated Numerical Analysis (pcGINA) to obtain the maximum stress in the target laminate and this value was used as the input for the two analytical models. The value for the maximum interfacial shear stress was calculated using the models and results were compared to pull‐out fiber test values obtained from literature. Good agreement was observed between the model calculations and the literature data. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Crystallization behavior and morphology of poly(propylene terephthalate) copolymers containing neopenthyl glycol moieties
Authors: Soccio M. , Lotti N. , Finelli L. , Munari A.
Published: March 2008

The melting behavior and the crystallization kinetics of random poly(propylene/neopenthyl terephthalate) copolymers (PPT‐PNT) were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. Multiple endotherms were evidenced in the PPT‐PNT samples, due to melting and recrystallization processes, similarly to PPT. By applying the Hoffman‐Weeks' method, the Tm° of the copolymers was derived. Baur's equation described well the Tm‐composition data. The isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to the Avrami's treatment. The introduction of NT units decreased the crystallization rate in comparison to pure PPT. Values of the Avrami's exponent close to three were obtained in all cases, regardless of Tc, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predeterminated nuclei and characterized by three dimensional spherulitic growth. As a matter of fact, space‐filling spherulites were observed by optical microscopy at all Tcs. Banded spherulites were found for PPT‐PNT5 and PPT‐PNT10, the band spacing being affected by both Tc and composition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 818–830, 2008
Magnetron–AF Plasma Polymerization
Authors: Yasuda Hirotsugu
Published: March 2008

The magnetron–AF (audio frequency) plasma polymerization has the following unique advantageous features for industrial scale operation. 1) The dissociation glow in form of a toroidal glow shifts the main deposition from the electrode surface to the gas phase. 2) The toroidal glow electrode surface receives no or very little deposition of the plasma polymer, which makes the stable and prolonged operation of the plasma polymerization possible. 3) The magnetic field confines the glow volume to within the inter electrode volume, which dramatically reduces the deposition elsewhere in the reactor. 4) The magnetic field lowers the breakdown voltage of molecules dramatically, and makes it possible to operate plasma polymerization in low‐pressure domains with the characteristics of a low‐voltage/high‐current process.

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Thermoluminescence glow‐peak shape methods based on mixed order kinetics
Authors: Kitis George , Chen Reuven , Pagonis Vasilis
Published: March 2008

The peak shape methods used in thermoluminescence (TL) theory to evaluate the activation energy E, are based on first and second order kinetics equations. For the intermediate kinetic orders the peak shape methods are based on the empirical theory of general order kinetics. In the present work we derive peak shape methods based on the physically meaningful mixed order kinetics model. The derived equations are tested for their accuracy and are compared with other peak shape methods existing in the TL literature. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Plant extracts from central Asia showing antiinflammatory activities in gene expression assays
Authors: Dey Moul , Ripoll Christophe , Pouleva Reneta , Dorn Ruth , Aranovich Irina , Zaurov David , Kurmukov Anvar , Eliseyeva Marietta , Belolipov Igor , Akimaliev Anarbek , Sodombekov Ishenbay , Akimaliev Djamin , Lila Mary Ann , Raskin Ilya
Published: March 2008

Plant natural products remain a good resource for the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals. A mouse macrophage‐based quantitative, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) system was optimized to screen plant extracts for antiinflammatory activities using three well known genetic markers of inflammation. Plants used for extraction were taxonomically identified and vouchered species from two Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, collected through the International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) program. The mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase‐2, interleukin 1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase genes in RAW macrophages was determined quantitatively in response to treatment with plant extracts applied at 100 µg/mL. The screening of 1000 extracts from 449 plant species belonging to 68 plant families resulted in 75 extracts (7.5%) showing strong (75% or higher inhibition) activity against at least one target gene. Many extracts showed qualitative and quantitative differences in the levels of activities against each target gene. Extracts identified from this screen were able to reduce inflammatory symptoms in vivo, thereby validating the screening approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Commentary on Front and backstages of the diminished routinization of innovations, An entrepreneurial perspective on the firm‐environment relationship, and Cross‐boundary disruptors
Authors: Covin Jeffrey G.
Published: March 2008

The papers by Bartunek, Trullen, Immediato, and Schneider (Front and backstages of the diminished routinization of innovations: what innovation research makes public and organizational research finds behind the scenes), Smith and Cao (An entrepreneurial perspective on the firm‐environment relationship), and Burgelman and Grove (Cross‐boundary disruptors: powerful interindustry entrepreneurial change agents) address the topic of change. The specific foci of these papers are quite different. While commonalities among the papers are certainly identifiable, highlighting the value of these writings is perhaps better achieved by focusing on their unique contributions to the change literature rather than by seeking to identify points of theoretical overlap within the broad domain of change. With this belief in mind, this commentary reviews several of the principal contributions of the three papers to the change literature. Promising research directions pertaining to the topic of change that build directly on observations made in the papers are then discussed. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Tissue kallikrein deficiency aggravates cardiac remodelling and decreases survival after myocardial infarction in mice
Authors: Pons Sandrine , Griol‐Charhbili Violaine , Heymes Christophe , Fornes Paul , Heudes Didier , Hagege Albert , Loyer Xavier , Meneton Pierre , Giudicelli Jean‐François , Samuel Jane‐Lise , Alhenc‐Gelas François , Richer Christine
Published: March 2008

Background:

Tissue kallikrein (TK) is a major kinin‐releasing enzyme present in arteries. TK is involved in cardioprotection in the setting of acute myocardial ischaemia but its role in post‐ischaemic heart failure (HF), a major cause of delayed mortality after myocardial infarction (MI), is unknown.

Aim:

To determine whether TK deficiency in the mouse influences survival and cardiac remodelling after MI.

Methods:

MI was induced in 10 week‐old male TK‐deficient mice and wild‐type littermates. Survival was assessed up to 14 months. Cardiac morphological and functional parameters were serially measured by echocardiography. In another experiment, myocardial capillary density and NOS content were evaluated at 3 months.

Results:

Infarct size was similar in both genotypes. MI resulted in severe cardiac dysfunction. Up to 12 months after MI, TK−/− mice displayed an increased mortality rate (P < 0.05, relative risk of death = 3.41) and aggravation of left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation by comparison with TK+/+ (+18% and +27% respectively, both P < 0.05). NOS1 and NOS3 were abnormally regulated in the heart of TK+/+ mice after MI.

Conclusions:

TK exerts a protective role in HF in mice. Coronary effects are probably involved. As partial genetic deficiency in TK activity occurs in humans, TK‐deficient subjects may be at increased risk of mortality in HF.
Neck muscles cross‐sectional area in adolescents with and without headache – MRI study
Authors: Oksanen Airi , Erkintalo Minna , Metsähonkala Liisa , Anttila Pirjo , Laimi Katri , Hiekkanen Heikki , Salminen Jouko J. , Aromaa Minna , Sillanpää Matti
Published: March 2008

Background: Cervical musculature may play an important role in the genesis of tension‐type headache. However, there are no reports on a possible association between the morphometrical features of the neck flexion and extension muscles and adolescence headache.

Aim: To examine differences in neck flexion and extension muscles cross‐sectional area (CSA) in adolescents with and without headache.

Methods: A population‐based sample of 17‐year‐old adolescents with migraine (N=19), tension‐type headache (N=24) and healthy controls without headache (N=22) was examined. CSA of the neck muscles was measured from axial T1‐weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI).

Results: Boys with tension‐type headache showed significantly smaller CSA of right sternocleidomastoid muscle than boys with migraine and girls with tension‐type headache showed significantly smaller CSA of combined right sternocleidomastoid and scalenus muscles than girls with migraine. In addition, boys with migraine had significantly larger CSA of both right sternocleidomastoid and combined right sternocleidomastoid and scalenus muscles, and left semispinalis capitis muscle and combined left semispinalis and splenius muscles than boys without headache. In boys and girls no other significant differences were observed in the CSA of neck flexion or extension muscles.

Conclusions: This preliminary work demonstrates that both girls and boys with tension‐type headache and migraine have differences in the size of neck flexion muscles, especially unilaterally. In boys, unilaterally increased size of neck flexion and extension muscles is associated with migraine. These findings, if confirmed in further studies, may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications for rehabilitation of adolescents with headache.
Clothing up DNA for all seasons: Histone chaperones and nucleosome assembly pathways
Authors: Rocha Walter , Verreault Alain
Published: March 2008

In eukaryotes, the packaging of DNA into chromatin is essential for cell viability. Several important DNA metabolic events require the transient disruption of chromatin structure, but cells have evolved a number of elaborate pathways that operate throughout the cell cycle to prevent the deleterious effects of chromatin erosion. In this review, we describe a number of distinct nucleosome assembly pathways that function during DNA replication, transcription, cellular senescence and early embryogenesis. In addition, we illustrate some of the physiological consequences associated with defects in nucleosome assembly pathways.
Extracellular catalase activity protects cysteine cathepsins from inactivation by hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Hervé-Grépinet Virginie , Veillard Florian , Godat Emmanuel , Heuzé-Vourc'h Nathalie , Lecaille Fabien , Lalmanach Gilles
Published: March 2008

The resistance of secreted cysteine cathepsins to peroxide inactivation was evaluated using as model THP‐1 cells. Differentiated cells released mostly cathepsin B, but also cathepsins H, K, and L, with a maximum of endopeptidase activity at day 6. Addition of non‐cytotoxic concentrations of H2O2 did not affect mRNA expression levels and activity of cathepsins, while the catalase activity remained also unchanged, consistently with RT‐PCR analysis. Conversely inhibition of extracellular catalase led to a striking inactivation of secreted cysteine cathepsins by H2O2. This report suggests that catalase may participate in the protection of extracellular cysteine proteases against peroxidation.
Regardless of genotype, offspring of VIP‐deficient female mice exhibit developmental delays and deficits in social behavior
Authors: Lim Maria A. , Stack Conor M. , Cuasay Katrina , Stone Madeleine M. , McFarlane Hewlet G. , Waschek James A. , Hill Joanna M.
Published: March 2008

Pharmacological studies indicate that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may be necessary for normal embryonic development in the mouse. For example, VIP antagonist treatment before embryonic day 11 resulted in developmental delays, growth restriction, modified adult brain chemistry and reduced social behavior. Here, developmental milestones, growth, and social behaviors of neonates of VIP‐deficient mothers (VIP +/−) mated to VIP +/− males were compared with the offspring of wild type mothers (VIP +/+) mated to VIP +/+ and +/− males, to assess the contributions of both maternal and offspring VIP genotype. Regardless of their own genotype, all offsprings of VIP‐deficient mothers exhibited developmental delays. No delays were seen in the offspring of wild type mothers, regardless of their own genotype. Body weights were significantly reduced in offspring of VIP‐deficient mothers, with VIP null (−/−) the most affected. Regardless of genotype, all offspring of VIP‐deficient mothers expressed reduced maternal affiliation compared with wild type offspring of wild type mothers; +/− offspring of wild type mothers did not differ in maternal affiliation from their wild type littermates. Play behavior was significantly reduced in all offsprings of VIP‐deficient mothers. Maternal behavior did not differ between wild type and VIP‐deficient mothers, and cross‐fostering of litters did not change offspring development, indicating that offspring deficits were induced prenatally. This study illustrated that the VIP status of a pregnant mouse had a greater influence on the growth, development and behavior of her offspring than the VIP genotype of the offspring themselves. Deficiencies were apparent in +/+, +/− and −/− offspring born to VIP‐deficient mothers; no deficiencies were apparent in +/− offspring born to normal mothers. These results underscore the significant contribution of the uterine environment to normal development and indicate a potential usefulness of the VIP knockout mouse in furthering the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders with social behavior deficits such as autism.
Regulation of RALDH‐1, RALDH‐3 and CYP26A1 by transcription factors cVax/Vax2 and Tbx5 in the embryonic chick retina
Authors: Golz Sarah , Mühleisen Thomas , Schulte Dorothea , Mey Jörg
Published: March 2008

In vertebrate development, polarity of the dorsal–ventral eye axis is determined by the spatially restricted expression of transcription factors cVax/Vax2 in the ventral retina and Tbx5 in the dorsal retina. In addition, an early gradient of retinoic acid (RA) has been suggested to be involved in this process. Using retroviral transfection of the early eye anlage of chick embryos we investigated whether cVax/Vax2 and Tbx5 regulate the expression of enzymes that determine the retinal distribution of RA. Transfection of cVax/Vax2 completely abolished the spatial expression pattern of the RA synthesizing enzyme RALDH‐1, of the RA degrading enzyme Cyp26A1 and caused an ectopic expression of RALDH‐3 in the dorsal retina. Transfection of Tbx5 did not significantly alter the distribution of RALDH‐1 and RALDH‐3 but caused additional patches of Cyp26 outside of its normal domain of expression. The distribution of RA was experimentally changed either by ectopic expression of Cyp26A1, or by applications of RA. These manipulations did not affect the distribution of cVax/Vax2 or interfere with development of the retinotectal projection from dorsal retinal ganglion cells. The results show that in the chick retina the compartmentalized expression of RA metabolizing enzymes requires the spatially restricted expression of the transcription factors cVax/Vax2 and Tbx5. On the other hand, RA may not be decisive for the correct retinal projection toward the optic tectum.
Ageostrophic instabilities in a horizontally uniform baroclinic flow along a slope
Authors: SUTYRIN GEORGI. G.
Published: March 2008

The normal modes of a horizontally uniform, vertically sheared flow over a sloping bottom are considered in two active layers underneath a deep motionless third layer. The variations of the layer thickness are assumed to be small to analyse the sixth-order eigenvalue problem for finite-Froude-number typical for oceanic currents. The dispersion curves for the Rossby waves and the Poincaré modes of inertia–gravity waves (IGW) are investigated to identify the different types of instabilities that occur if there is a pair of wave components which have almost the same Doppler-shifted frequency related to crossover of the branches when the Froude number increases. Simple criteria for ageostrophic instabilities due to a resonance between the IGW and the Rossby wave because of the thickness gradient in either the lower or middle layer, are derived. They exactly correspond to violation of sufficient Ripa's conditions for the flow stability. In both cases the growth rate and the interval of unstable wavenumbers are shown to be proportional to the square root of the corresponding gradient of the layer thickness. These types of ageostrophic instability can coexist (and with Kelvin–Helmholtz instability). However, their role in generating unbalanced motions and mixing processes in geophysical fluids appears limited due to small growth rates and narrow intervals of the unstable wavenumbers in comparison to Kelvin–Helmholtz instability.
Relentless colonialism: the case of the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) and the Basarwa in Botswana
Authors: Nthomang Keitseope
Published: March 2008

Colonial processes continue to dominate many indigenous peoples' development programmes in countries around the world. This paper examines some of the underlying factors that contribute to continued failure in the implementation of the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) in Botswana. It argues that the problem is not just failed implementation, but a more fundamental problem found in its philosophy, which suggests relentless colonialism. This paper is based on the empirical findings of a recent study in one Basarwa settlement in Botswana and draws on the practical experience of the author. Case examples from this study are used to unravel and illustrate embedded colonial practices of the RADP. Recommendations from the findings argue for the development of a ‘decolonising approach to development practice’ that may respond effectively to problems that resulted from relentless colonialism.