bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IgA Myeloma and Still’s Disease in a patient with bilateral silicone breast implants
Authors: Yadav Punit , Ordyniec Iwona , Madi Salem
Published: April 2008

We report a case of a woman with bilateral silicone breast implants who presented with recurrent high grade fever, joint and muscle aches. An extensive workup failed to indicate an infectious source of her illness, so based on her symptoms a clinical diagnosis of Adult Onset Still’s disease was made. However, subsequent investigations revealed raised IgA paraprotein levels in her serum which led to a bone marrow examination. Bone marrow examination was consistent with IgA Myeloma. Chemotherapy was commenced which led to a decrease in the paraprotein level. In addition, she was treated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and intraarticular steroid injections which provided marked symptomatic relief. The case indicates a possible association of Myeloma and Adult Onset Still’s Disease in a patient with bilateral silicone breast implant.
Tracing Chemical Genealogy Through the Archives of the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Zurich
Authors: Finney Nathaniel S.
Published: April 2008

Aspects of the history of chemists and chemistry in the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Zurich are traced through chemical genealogy and retained samples from the chemical archives. The work of three OCI faculty members (Werner, Karrer and Eugster) who completed
their graduate studies in the Institute is highlighted.
Graduate School of Chemical and Molecular Sciences Zurich (CMSZH)
Authors: Sigel Roland K. O. , Wild Ferdinand
Published: April 2008

The Graduate School of Chemical and Molecular Sciences of the University of Zurich is a joint initiative of the 'Fachbereich' for Chemistry and Biochemistry. Oriented internationally, the Graduate School seeks to attract to Zurich talented prospective PhD students hailing from Switzerland,
Europe and all corners of the world interested in a research career in chemistry and other molecular sciences such a soft-matter physics and molecular biology.
From Insects to Bioinspired Catalysis
Authors: Woggon Wolf-D.
Published: April 2008

The author describes the events leading to his PhD studies at the University of Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Hans Schmid and the evolution of his research interests into the field of biological chemistry resulting in the completion of his habilitation at UZH and ultimately
a professorship at the University of Basel.
Professor Hans Schmid's Passion for Chemistry – Reminiscences of a PhD Student
Authors: Widmer Ulrich R.
Published: April 2008

Selected scientific and non-scientific accounts from my time in Professor Schmid's group at the Institute of Chemistry – UZH are presented and commented in terms of the impact they had on my subsequent work at Roche.
Studying Chemistry at the University of Zurich in the Sixties and Seventies of the Last Century: A Personal View
Authors: Karpf Martin
Published: April 2008

The author describes his diploma and PhD studies at the University of Zurich and the significant influence Prof. André Dreiding had on his development as a chemist and a person.
UZH: Alma Mater and Birthplace of Polyphor Ltd
Authors: Obrecht Daniel , Obrecht Jean-Pierre , Altorfer Michael
Published: April 2008

Daniel and Jean-Pierre Obrecht and Michael Altorfer present a brief account of the role that the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Zurich, has played in their scientific and professional development leading ultimately to a successful business and the development of a new
drug discovery technology.
175 Years of Chemistry at the University of Zurich: Tradition, Dedication and Vision
Authors: Siegel Jay S.
Published: April 2008

April 29th, 2008 marks 175 years that chemistry has thrived as a leading discipline at the University of Zurich and in the intellectual life of Zurich. This issue of CHIMIA is dedicated to honoring this venerable history and celebrating the exciting present-day activities that point
to positive future developments for chemistry in Zurich.
Experimental Evaluation of the Effects of a Research-Based Preschool Mathematics Curriculum
Authors: Clements Douglas H. , Sarama Julie
Published: April 2008

A randomized-trials design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a preschool mathematics program based on a comprehensive model of research-based curricula development. Thirty-six preschool classrooms were assigned to experimental ( Building Blocks), comparison (a different preschool mathematics curriculum), or control conditions. Children were individually pre- and posttested, participating in 26 weeks of instruction in between. Observational measures indicated that the curricula were implemented with fidelity, and the experimental condition had significant positive effects on classrooms’ mathematics environment and teaching. The experimental group score increased significantly more than the comparison group score (effect size = 0.47) and the control group score (effect size = 1.07). Early interventions can increase the quality of the mathematics environment and help preschoolers develop a foundation of mathematics knowledge.
The importance of treating cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Barnett Anthony H
Published: April 2008

Cardiometabolic risk factors are the combined vascular and metabolic components of risk that may lead to a cardiovascular event. There are numerous such factors. Underlying the concept of cardiometabolic risk is an association with excess visceral fat, leading to the dysregulation of the adipokines, the signalling proteins derived from adipose tissue. Changes in the levels of the adipokines – tumour necrosis factor-α, cholesteryl ester transfer protein and adiponectin, for example – can lead to alterations in insulin sensitivity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism. At present, specific cardiometabolic risk factors are commonly managed on an individual basis. We are now moving from the era of single risk factor intervention, however, to multiple risk factor intervention in people at high cardiovascular risk, with the additional possibility of using new drug classes to target the underlying cardiometabolic problems more effectively.
Aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and sleep-disordered breathing in morbidly obese females: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ybarra Juan , Planas Francesc , Pou Jose M
Published: April 2008

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is often encountered in morbid obesity (MO) in conjunction with insulin resistance (IR). Aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a promising marker for left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) in MO. We sought to explore the factors that may influence the relationships of SDB and IR with NT-proBNP in MO women.

We performed a cross-sectional pilot study involving 110 asymptomatic MO (44.5±0.7 kg/m2) young women. SDB risk was assessed using a modified version of the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ). IR was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and adiponectin levels. LVD was assessed using NT-proBNP and echocardiograms.

In this study, NT-proBNP levels and LVD increased significantly along the BQ strata. Multiple regression analysis identified BQ and log-transformed HOMA as the independent variables predicting as much as 48.0% of the variability of logNT-proBNP.

In conclusion, NT-pro-BNP levels are independently predicted by SDB and IR in asymptomatic MO women. Larger prospective studies are warranted.
Patients with the metabolic syndrome and a disturbed cortisol balance display more microalbuminuria
Authors: Janssen Sarah F , Twickler Theodorus B , Jublanc Christel , Cramer Maarten J , Bruckert Eric
Published: April 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and an imbalance in cortisol metabolism express increased urinary albumin excretion compared to those patients with metabolic syndrome alone.

Seventy-four patients with MetS were evaluated using a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) to identify disturbed cortisol balance (cortisol levels > 50 nmol/L after LDDST). The level of albumin in the urine was also evaluated.

Disturbed cortisol balance was found in 8% of all evaluated patients with MetS. Microalbuminuria was present significantly more often (p<0.01) in those patients with MetS and an imbalance in cortisol metabolism compared with patients suffering MetS alone (urine albumin: 210 mg/L vs. 26 mg/L, respectively, p<0.01).

A substantial percentage of patients with MetS had inappropriate cortisol homeostasis. Of importance, excretion of urinary albumin was increased in these patients. This observation may indicate that this subgroup within the MetS population has a higher cardiovascular risk and possible increased endothelial dysfunction, with a subsequent need for stricter control to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Technology and Epistemology: Environmental Mentalities and Urban Water Usage
Authors: Stuart Nicole
Published: April 2008

This paper examines the mentalities associated with the transformation of ‘nature’ into urban life in industrial societies, with particular reference to the conversion of rainwater into tap water. It argues that industrial technologies dissociate urban dwellers from the natural environment upon which they depend. The paper maintains that this dissociation has contributed to mentalities encouraging the depletion and degradation of water resources and critically examines technological strategies for managing urban water use. The paper argues that epistemological systems must be reformed in conjunction with changing technological systems before environmental management strategies are likely to succeed. It concludes by suggesting ways in which urban water provision could be transformed so as to encourage greater ecological awareness and activism.
The Ways that Nature Matters: The World and the Earth in the Thought of Hannah Arendt
Authors: Chapman Anne
Published: April 2008

One of the many sets of distinctions made by Hannah Arendt was that between the world and the earth. I give two different interpretations of this distinction then set out four different ways in which nature matters to us, depending on whether nature is regarded as world or as earth, and whether humans are seen as biological beings or as beings who create and inhabit a world. These different ways are represented in different forms of environmentalism and theories of environmental ethics. The controversy over wind farms in the UK as an instance in which two of the different ways that nature matters come into conflict with each other.
Against Holism: Rethinking Buddhist Environmental Ethics
Authors: James Simon P.
Published: April 2008

Environmental thinkers sympathetic to Buddhism sometimes reason as follows: (1) A holistic view of the world, according to which humans are regarded as being ‘one’ with nature, will necessarily engender environmental concern; (2) the Buddhist teaching of ‘emptiness’ represents such a view; therefore (3) Buddhism is an environmentally-friendly religion.

In this paper, I argue that the first premise of this argument is false (a holistic view of the world can be reconciled with a markedly eco-unfriendly attitude) as is the second (in speaking of emptiness, Buddhist thinkers are not proposing an ‘ecological’ conception of the world). Yet the conclusion is, I suggest, true: Buddhism is in certain respects environmentally-friendly, not for the reasons cited above, but because of the view, encapsulated in its teachings and practices, that certain dispositions to treat the natural environment well are an integral part of human well-being.
Local Deliberation and the Favouring of Nature
Authors: Zwart Ivan
Published: April 2008

The central contention of theories of deliberative democracy is that deliberative arrangements should encourage (but by no means guarantee) the support of interests that are general to all. Democratic theorists have also suggested that the natural environment will be a likely beneficiary following public deliberation, given the inherent rationality in supporting interests that will lead to the long-term survival of the planet. This paper addresses the question of general environmental interests through two case studies in Australian local government and argues there are at least three factors that affect the ability of notionally deliberative arrangements to deliver outcomes that appear favourable to the natural environment.
A 'Sportsman's Paradise': The Effects of Hunting on the Avifauna of the Gippsland Lakes
Authors: Dow Coral
Published: April 2008

The Gippsland Lakes form an extensive lake system in south-eastern Australia that is fed by rivers draining the Australian Alps. Until the engineered opening of a permanent entrance to the sea in 1889 they were predominantly a freshwater system, regularly inundated by floodwaters that formed marginal wetlands locally known as morasses. Historical sources document an environment of avifaunal abundance, particularly of waterfowl. Although scientists have explained Australian avifaunal decline on habitat modification, historical sources suggest that on the Gippsland Lakes European interaction with nature in the form of hunting had a significant impact in the period before widespread habitat modification in the twentieth century.
Soil: A Real and Imagined Environment for Australian Organic Farmers and Gardeners in the 1940s
Authors: Jones Rebecca
Published: April 2008

Early organic farmers and gardeners of the 1940s in Australia approached organic practice with a set of ideals about nature, but their experience of cultivating the land, growing plants and raising animals often contradicted this ideal. Here I explore the disparity between real and imagined environments in Australian organic farming and gardening. I will consider a significant period in the development of organic growing, the decade after the end of the Second World War, when Australia's first organic societies were established in south eastern Australia. Organic growers attempted to change their environments to fit their imaginings, and in turn their ideals were adapted to fit Australian environmental realities. Weaving real and imagined environments created a form of farming and gardening that was both a set of practical methods for managing the land and a set of environmental ideals.
Return to Eden: Van Diemen's Land and the Early British Settlement of Australia
Authors: Boyce James
Published: April 2008

Tasmania (formerly known as Van Diemen's Land) received approximately 72,000 convicts, mainly from the British Isles and Ireland, between 1803 and 1853, and convicts and their descendants formed the large majority of the population of the island colony throughout this time. This article focuses on the environmental experience of this unusual settler population especially in the first decades of settlement. It argues that, contrary to the dominant paradigm of Australian history, the new land was not experienced as a hostile or forbidding place, but a comparatively benign refuge from the brutality of servitude. The argument is put that Australian environmental history has been distorted by a failure to recognise that the rigorous attempts to reproduce English society - social and environmental - were largely undertaken by a relatively small group of free settlers. The dramatically different experience of convict settlers demonstrates the importance of considering the extent to which socio-economic background shaped the environmental encounter.
Book Reviews
Authors: Ballinger Robyn , Gill Erin
Published: April 2008

Erica Nathan, Lost Waters: A History of a Troubled Catchment (ROBYN BALLINGER)
Andrea Gaynor, Harvest of the Suburbs:An Environmental History of Growing Food in Australian Cities (ERIN GILL)
Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on central haemodynamics in essential hypertension: results of a randomised trial
Authors: Schneider Markus P , Delles Christian , Klingbeil Arnfried U , Ludwig Malte , Kolloch Rainer E , Krekler Michael , Stumpe Klaus O , Schmieder Roland E
Published: April 2008

Objective. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to lower central augmentation index (cAI), an index of arterial wave reflection, more than β-blockers. We tested whether this is also true for long-term treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

Methods. One-hundred and fifty-six subjects with essential hypertension were randomised to treatment with either irbesartan or atenolol. cAI and central blood pressure (BP) were determined by pulse wave analysis from the radial and the carotid artery after six and after 18 months treatment.

Results. Peripheral and central systolic and diastolic BP were reduced to a similar extent A in the two groups. cAI was reduced with irbesartan, but increased with atenolol (derived from the carotid artery: -6±10 vs. -4±12% after six months, p<0.001; —4±12 vs. +1±11% after 18 months; p=0.011). Furthermore, central to peripheral pulse pressure (PP) amplification was unaffected by treatment with irbesartan, but decreased with atenolol.

Conclusions. Although treatment with irbesartan and atenolol similarly decreased peripheral and central BP, only treatment with irbesartan had beneficial effects on arterial wave reflection and preserved PP amplification. These haemodynamic effects may at least partly explain the reported differential effects of ARB versus β-blocker treatment on cardiovascular mortality in patients with essential hypertension.
Investigating Sequence Space: How Important is the Spatial Arrangement of Functional Groups in the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction Catalyst H‐Pro‐Pro‐Asp‐NH2?
Authors: Revell Jefferson D. , Wennemers Helma
Published: April 2008

H‐Pro‐Pro‐Asp‐NH2 1 is a versatile catalyst for asymmetric aldol reactions. Within the catalyst structure, both the N‐terminal secondary amine and the carboxylic acid are crucial for efficient catalysis. Here, the importance of the arrangement of these two functional groups towards each other was examined. Several analogues of H‐Pro‐Pro‐Asp‐NH2 were prepared in which the secondary amine and the carboxylic acid occupy different positions. Evaluation of their catalytic properties revealed that the placement of these two functional groups is highly critical for efficient catalysis. Even seemingly small structural modifications, for example, one methylene group more or less, can modify the catalytic properties significantly. The results demonstrate the difficulty in rationally designing a peptidic catalyst and the value of combinatorial smart screening methods for catalyst discovery. Abbreviations: Fmoc=9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; HCTU=2‐(6‐chloro‐1H‐benzotriazole‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate; MSNT=1‐(mesitylene‐2‐sulfonyl)‐3‐nitro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole; TNBS=2,4,6‐trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid.
Iridium Catalysts with Chiral Imidazole‐Phosphine Ligands for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Vinyl Fluorides and other Olefins
Authors: Kaukoranta Päivi , Engman Mattias , Hedberg Christian , Bergquist Jonas , Andersson Pher G.
Published: April 2008

New chiral bidentate imidazole‐phosphine ligands have been prepared and evaluated for the iridium‐catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins. The imidazole‐phosphine‐ligated iridium catalysts hydrogenated trisubstituted olefins with the same sense of enantiodiscrimination as known iridium catalysts possessing oxazole and thiazole as N‐donors. The imidazole‐based catalysts were shown to hydrogenate vinyl fluorides, in some cases with the highest ee values published to date.
Reassessment of occupational exposure limits
Authors: Stouten Hans , Ott Heidi , Bouwman Carolien , Wardenbach Peter
Published: April 2008

Background

Although the Netherlands currently has its own procedure for evaluating chemical compounds and setting occupational exposure limits (OELs), most of these limits were originally adopted in the 1970s from threshold limit values (TLVs) set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). However, beginning in the late 1980s, criticism about non‐scientific considerations being used to set TLV's suggested that TLVs might not offer sufficient health protection to workers. This situation prompted the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to request that the Health Council of the Netherlands reassess the health protection of MAC values that were contained in the 1994 Dutch MAC list.

Methods

Criteria documents were prepared for 161 compounds. They were evaluated by a committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands consisting of international experts who reassessed the toxicological hazards of these substances and recommended, whenever possible, health‐based OELs. The results of the reassessment by the Health Council were compared with the MAC values of the 1994 Dutch MAC list, ACGIH TLVs, and existing German OELs.

Results

The toxicological database met the committee's criteria for a health‐based OEL for only about 40% of the compounds.

Conclusions

Many older MAC values were either too high or not scientifically supported and therefore not health‐based. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:407–418, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Back injuries among union carpenters in Washington State, 1989–2003
Authors: Lipscomb Hester J. , Cameron Wilfrid , Silverstein Barbara
Published: April 2008

Background

There is limited information on occupational back pain specific to carpenters despite their known exposures to recognized occupational risk factors and limited opportunities for modified work due to the predominantly heavy nature of their work.

Methods

By combining union records with worker's compensation claims, we describe work‐related back injuries, including associated medical diagnoses, among a well‐defined cohort of union carpenters between 1989 and 2003. High risk subgroups were explored based on age, gender, union tenure, and predominant type of work. Paid lost time claims were contrasted to less serious events, and injuries sustained from overexertion activities were contrasted with those sustained through more acute trauma.

Results

Back injuries occurred at an overall rate of 6.2/200,000 hours worked. Most injuries were coded in the compensation records as sprains, but there was little agreement between these nature of injury codes and ICD9 diagnosis codes. Injury rates declined most significantly over time for injuries secondary to overexertion. In multivariate analyses, we observed similar patterns of risk for the types of claims evaluated despite disparate mechanisms and severity. Those who worked predominantly in residential carpentry or drywall installation were consistently at greatest risk.

Conclusions

Overexertion injuries from manual materials handling activities are responsible for the largest burden of back injuries among these carpenters, but a growing proportion of injuries result from acute traumatic events. Interventions are called for which specifically address risk among residential carpenters and drywall installers. These data provide additional evidence that Bureau of Labor Statistics data underestimate work‐related injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:463–474, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High risk studies and developmental antecedents of anxiety disorders
Authors: Hirshfeld‐Becker Dina R. , Micco Jamie A. , Simoes Nicole A. , Henin Aude
Published: April 2008

The past two decades have witnessed significant growth in our understanding of the developmental antecedents of anxiety disorders. In this article, we review studies of offspring at risk for anxiety disorders, longitudinal studies of the course of anxiety disorders in clinical, epidemiologic, and at‐risk samples, studies of hypothesized temperamental risk factors for anxiety, and give a brief overview of the literature on environmental risk factors. Clear developmental antecedents to anxiety disorders identified include (1) childhood anxiety disorders [in particular, separation anxiety and overanxious disorder/general anxiety disorder (GAD)], (2) behavioral inhibition which predicts later social phobia, (3) anxiety sensitivity which predicts later panic disorder, and (4) negative affectivity, which predicts a spectrum of psychopathology including anxiety disorders. Further prospective studies are needed to examine the roles of environmental factors such as parenting practices, peer influences, stressful life events, and perinatal stressors. Future studies could benefit from (1) beginning earlier in development and following individuals into adulthood, (2) assessing the overlap between multiple temperamental constructs, (3) greater use of observational measures of temperament and of parent–child and peer interactions, (4) greater attention to parental psychopathology which may confound associations noted, (5) exploration of other features of anxiety disorders (neurofunctional correlates, cognitive features, other aspects of emotional regulation) as potential precursors, and (6) intervention studies exploring whether modifying developmental antecedents can alter the course of anxiety disorders. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of cupric ion on thermal degradation of chitosan
Authors: Ou Chun‐Yan , Li Si‐Dong , Li Cheng‐Peng , Zhang Chao‐Hua , Yang Lei , Chen Chong‐Peng
Published: April 2008

The thermal degradation of chitosan and chitosan–cupric ion compounds in nitrogen was studied by thermogravimetry analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA) in the temperature range 30–600°C. The effect of cupric ion on the thermal degradation behaviors of chitosan was discussed. Fourier transform‐infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray diffractogram (XRD) analysis were utilized to determine the micro‐structure of chitosan–cupric ion compounds. The results show that FTIR absorbance bands of NH, CN, COC etc. groups of chitosan are shifted, and XRD peaks of chitosan located at 11.3, 17.8, and 22.8° are gradually absent with increasing weight fraction of cupric ion mixed in chitosan, which show that there are coordinating bonds between chitosan and cupric ion. The results of thermal analysis indicate that the thermal degradation of chitosan and chitosan–cupric ion compounds in nitrogen is a two‐stage reaction. The first stage is the deacetylation of the main chain and the cleavage of glycosidic linkages of chitosan, and the second stage is the thermal destruction of pyranose ring of chitosan and the decomposition of residual carbon, in which both are exothermic. The effect of cupric ion on the thermal degradation of chitosan is significant. In the thermal degradation of chitosan–cupric ion compounds, the temperature of initial weight loss (Tst), the temperature of maximal weight loss rate (Tmax), that is, the peak temperature on the DTG curve, and the peak temperature (Tp) on the DTA curve decrease, and the reaction activation energy (Ea) varies with increasing weight fraction of cupric ion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis of copolymer beads with various phenolic derivatives attached via different linkages and their antioxidation activity
Authors: Ogata Tomonari , Maeda Shuuji , Kawasaki Tomonori , Kurihara Seiji , Nonaka Takamasa
Published: April 2008

Macroporous copolymer beads with various phenolic derivatives introduced via three types of linkages—amide, methylene, and ether—were prepared from chloromethyl styrene/tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate copolymer beads. The antioxidation activity of these phenolic copolymer beads was investigated by the measurement of the inhibition activity against the hydroperoxidation of 1,4‐dioxane. The phenolic copolymer beads with the dihydroxybenzene moiety exhibited the highest antioxidation activity, and the antioxidation activity of methylene‐ or ether‐linked phenolic copolymer beads was higher than that of amide‐linked copolymer beads. Thus, the antioxidation activity of the phenolic copolymer beads was affected by not only the kinds of phenolic moieties attached but also the type of linkage group. In addition, the swelling of the copolymer beads in an organic solvent was greatly affected by the linkage type of the phenolic copolymer beads. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Polymer blends based on poly(vinyl chloride) and biodegradable aliphatic–aromatic copolyester
Authors: Andričić B. , Kovačić T. , Perinović S. , Klarić I.
Published: April 2008

Blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and biodegradable aliphatic–aromatic copolyester (AAC) were prepared, and their physical, thermal, and mechanical properties were studied. Biodegradation in the presence of the lipases of Rhisopus arrhisus or Candida cilindracea was monitored as well. The physical properties of the blends, such as density and softening temperature, were between those of each component. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that the blend components were completely amorphous and miscible. Obviously, PVC suppressed the crystallization of the partially crystalline copolyester. AAC was the thermally more stable component, and it seemed to improve the thermooxidative stability of PVC in the blends. The lipases of R. arrhisus and C. cilindracea no doubt catalyzed the ester hydrolysis of AAC, although the PVC matrix limited the rate and extent of the hydrolysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Crosslinked, electrospun chitosan–poly(ethylene oxide) nanofiber mats
Authors: Vondran Jennifer L. , Sun Wei , Schauer Caroline L.
Published: April 2008

Mechanical characterization of nanofiber mats is an underexplored area in biomaterial engineering. In this study, a chitosan–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer blend was electrospun and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) for various time periods. The tensile and compressive mechanical integrity of the nanofibers was analyzed with increasing exposure to vapor crosslinking. Solubility, scanning electron microscopy characterization, Fourier transform infrared, uniaxial tensile tests, and nanoindentation analyses were used to identify these trends. The mechanical studies confirmed that the GA vapor crosslinking increased the stiffness and decreased the ductility of the electrospun mats. Increased exposure time to crosslinking led to changes in the mat surface color and resistance to dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy fiber counts verified that exposure to GA vapor crosslinking increased the average fiber diameter. By the use of vapor phase deposition, mechanical properties continued to change throughout the study. The crosslinking exposure time could be chosen to accommodate in vivo mechanical loading. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Microcellulose fibers‐filled epoxy foams
Authors: Stefani P. M. , Perez C. J. , Alvarez V. A. , Vazquez A.
Published: April 2008

The dynamic‐mechanical behavior of epoxy foams reinforced with microcellulose fibers was investigated. Microcellulose fibers were obtained from sisal fibers by a several step process which includes chlorination, alkaline extraction, and bleaching. To analyze the effect of cellular structure on DMA properties, unreinforced and reinforced unfoamed epoxy samples were also used. SEM experiments demonstrated that the addition of microfiber modified the final morphology, decreasing the average cell size and increasing the number of cells per volume unit. The dynamic‐mechanical behavior of the reinforced samples, unfoamed epoxy and foamed epoxy, showed improvements with respect to the unreinforced ones, but the effect was remarkable in the second case. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis, Cytotoxicity and Protein Kinase C Inhibition of Arylpyrrolylmaleimides
Authors: Xu Gui‐Qing , Zhang Chong , Zhang Lei , Zhou Xing‐Lu , Yang Bo , He Qiao‐Jun , Hu Yong‐Zhou
Published: April 2008

A series of novel arylpyrrolylmaleimides was synthesized and evaluated for their in‐vitro cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines and their protein‐kinase C inhibitory activity. Some of the compounds showed high or moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines. Compound 6b is the most promising compound against the tested cancer cell lines; 6d and 6e showed moderate protein‐kinase C inhibition. Structure–activity relationships are discussed based on the experimental data obtained.
Novel bioabsorbable salicylate‐based polymer as a drug‐eluting stent coating
Authors: Jabara Refat , Chronos Nicolas , Robinson Keith
Published: April 2008

Background: Permanent polymers used in current drug‐eluting stents (DES) can trigger chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions, which may contribute to the increased risk of late thrombosis and rebound restenosis. Therefore, optimal polymer selection and the use of completely absorbable but biocompatible polymers are expected to minimize these risks. Objectives: We sought to evaluate a novel, potentially innately anti‐inflammatory, bioabsorbable salicylate‐based polymer as a DES coating, in a clinically relevant animal model. Methods: Four types of stents were implanted in pig coronary arteries using QCA to optimize stent apposition: bare metal stents (BMS); salicylic acid/adipic acid bioabsorbable polymer‐only coated metal stents (SA/AA); biostable polymeric sirolimus‐eluting stents (Cypher™); and metal stents coated with salicylic acid/adipic acid bioabsorbable polymer containing sirolimus (SA/AA + S). The dose density of sirolimus was 8.3 μg/mm of stent length (similar to Cypher™) with in vitro studies demonstrating elution over 30 days and complete polymer degradation in 37 days. Animals underwent angiographic restudy and were terminated at 1 month for complete histopathologic and histomorphometric analyses. Results: Both SA/AA + S and Cypher™ stents had significantly lower angiographic % stenosis when compared with BMS and SA/AA polymer‐only groups (6 ± 4% and 5 ± 4% vs. 15 ± 7% and 16 ± 5%, respectively, P < 0.001). Intimal thickness was lower for SA/AA + S and Cypher™ than for BMS (0.14 ± 0.06 and 0.13 ± 0.04 mm vs. 0.23 ± 0.05 mm, respectively, P < 0.001). Histologic % area stenosis was also lower for SA/AA + S and Cypher™ when compared with BMS (22 ± 7% and 23 ± 6% vs. 33 ± 5%, respectively, P < 0.001). There was a strong trend toward reduced inflammatory response in the SA/AA and SA/AA + S when compared with BMS and Cypher™ groups (P = 0.072). Conclusions: This study shows favorable vascular compatibility and efficacy for a novel bioabsorbable salicylate‐based polymer as a DES coating, and supports further research and development of this unique class of polymer materials for applications in cardiovascular devices. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tuning the Nucleophilicity in Cyclopropenylidenes
Authors: Schoeller Wolfgang W. , Frey Guido D. , Bertrand Guy
Published: April 2008

Cyclopropenylidenes are Hückel aromatic π systems in which one of the ring atoms is a carbene center. Quantum chemical calculations at the density functional level of theory, supplemented by coupled‐cluster calculations, indicate that there is a sizeable energy separation between the lowest‐energy singlet and triplet states of these species. Amino groups considerably increase the energy difference between these two states, whereas electron‐withdrawing substituents decrease it. The 1,1‐dimerization products of cyclopropenylidenes, namely, triafulvalenes, have been investigated. The calculations show that, without steric hindrance and considerable electronic stabilization, cyclopropenylidenes are kinetically unstable and dimerize. Different substituents (alkyl, silyl, terphenyl, amino, and phosphoraneiminato) were probed to tune the frontier orbital energies of cyclopropenylidenes. Accordingly, it is predicted that by a suitable choice of substituents at the olefinic positions, cyclopropenylidenes can be more nucleophilic than their five‐membered ring congeners, namely, imidazol‐2‐ylidenes.
Transport Processes at α‐Quartz–Water Interfaces: Insights from First‐Principles Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Adeagbo Waheed A. , Doltsinis Nikos L. , Klevakina Ksenia , Renner Jörg
Published: April 2008

Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (CP–MD) simulations are performed at high temperature and pressure to investigate chemical interactions and transport processes at the α‐quartz–water interface. The model system initially consists of a periodically repeated quartz slab with O‐terminated and Si‐terminated (1000) surfaces sandwiching a film of liquid water. At a temperature of 1000 K and a pressure of 0.3 GPa, dissociation of H2O molecules into H+ and OH− is observed at the Si‐terminated surface. The OH− fragments immediately bind chemically to the Si‐terminated surface while Grotthus‐type proton diffusion through the water film leads to protonation of the O‐terminated surface. Eventually, both surfaces are fully hydroxylated and no further chemical reactions are observed. Due to the confinement between the two hydroxylated quartz surfaces, water diffusion is reduced by about one third in comparison to bulk water. Diffusion properties of dissolved SiO2 present as Si(OH)4 in the water film are also studied. We do not observe strong interactions between the hydroxylated quartz surfaces and the Si(OH)4 molecule as would have been indicated by a substantial lowering of the Si(OH)4 diffusion coefficient along the surface. No spontaneous dissolution of quartz is observed. To study the mechanism of dissolution, constrained CP–MD simulations are done. The associated free energy profile is calculated by thermodynamic integration along the reaction coordinate. Dissolution is a stepwise process in which two SiO bonds are successively broken. Each bond breaking between a silicon atom at the surface and an oxygen atom belonging to the quartz lattice is accompanied by the formation of a new SiO bond between the silicon atom and a water molecule. The latter loses a proton in the process which eventually leads to protonation of the oxygen atom in the cleaved quartz SiO bond. The final solute species is Si(OH)4.
Importance of Home Visits in Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Kazancioglu Rumeyza , Ozturk Savas , Yucel Lamia , Guvenc Sinem , Ekiz Serpil , Dogan Sevel
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment option that enables patients to perform dialysis in their own homes without being separated from social life. This study assessed the training provided by the PD unit to patients practicing self‐treatment at home.

METHODS

Thirty‐two patients (13 women, 19 men; mean age: 44.3 ± 15.3 years) answered a training assessment form comprising 31 questions during home visits. The answers were evaluated according to the incomplete/complete information system and assessed by percentage statistics.

RESULTS

The mean number of correct answers was 26.4 ± 3.28/31 (81%). Questions related to feeding, constipation, changing room, peritonitis, infections, medication, and material were those most often incorrectly answered.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients were observed to perceive the said information in a detailed manner. Lack of information about food to be avoided proved the importance of a dietitian. Also, patients focused only on peritonitis and had incomplete knowledge about the symptoms of and how to prevent place‐of‐exit and tunnel infections. This indicates that training should be repeated and tested at predetermined intervals.
Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation
Authors: Falciola Caroline A. , Alexakis Alexandre
Published: April 2008

Over the past decade, much effort has been put on designing efficient chiral ligands and screening of the different parameters that govern the main challenges of asymmetric SN2′ reactions, namely chemo‐, regio‐ and enantioselectivity. This review traces the evolution of the methodologies for creating stereogenic centers through asymmetric copper‐catalyzed allylic alkylation with the use of different organometallic reagents and their subsequent applications. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Separation of cytokinin isomers with a partial filling‐micellar electrokinetic chromatography‐mass spectrometry approach
Authors: Ge Liya , Tan Swee Ngin , Yong Jean W. H. , Hua Lin , Ong Eng Shi
Published: April 2008

A new method based on partial filling‐MEKC (PF‐MEKC) directly coupled to ESI‐MS was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of 13 structurally similar cytokinins, including various geometric and positional isomers of cytokinins. On the basis of the resolution of the neighboring isomer peaks, different parameters (i.e., pH and concentration of buffer, surfactant concentrations, length of the injected micellar plug, organic modifier, and applied separation voltage) were optimized to achieve a satisfactory PF‐MEKC separation. Under optimum conditions, the separation of 13 cytokinin standards was accomplished within 25 min. MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring detection was carried out to obtain sufficient selectivity. PF‐MEKC‐MS/MS allowed for the direct identification and confirmation of the cytokinins present in banana (Musa spp.) pulp sample after extraction and purification. Finally, trans‐zeatin riboside (ZR) and trans‐zeatin (Z) were unambiguously identified in banana pulp. It is anticipated that the current PF‐MEKC‐MS method can be applied to analyze cytokinins in a wide range of biological samples.
In‐line solid‐phase extraction preconcentration in capillary electrophoresis‐tandem mass spectrometry for the multiresidue detection of quinolones in meat by pressurized liquid extraction
Authors: Lara Francisco J. , García‐Campaña Ana M. , Alés‐Barrero Fermín , Bosque‐Sendra Juan M.
Published: April 2008

We have developed and validated a CE‐MS/MS method using an in‐line SPE device (analyte concentrator, AC) to determine eight quinolones of veterinary use whose maximum residue levels in animal edible tissues are established by the EU Council Regulation 2377/90, i.e., danofloxacin, sarafloxacin, ciprofloxacin, marbofloxacin, enrofloxacin, difloxacin, oxolinic acid, and flumequine. Different parameters affecting the AC performance, such as its design (in this case frit‐free), the kind of sorbent (Oasis® MCX), sample pH, volume, and composition of the elution plug and injection time were studied. The method was validated using standard solutions obtaining LODs between 17 and 59 ng/L. Finally, a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method was developed to determine these antibiotics in chicken muscle samples. The whole analytical method was validated in terms of linearity (r2 ≥ 0.992), recoveries (63–112%), repeatability and intermediate precision (RSD ≤ 20%), LODs (40–140 ng/kg) and LOQs (130–470 ng/kg), showing the usefulness of the combination of in‐line SPE‐CE‐MS/MS with PLE for the identification and simultaneous quantification of eight regulated quinolone antibiotics in chicken muscle at very low concentration levels.
Institutional research and external reporting: The major data seekers
Authors: Brown Jennifer A.
Published: April 2008

External reporting responsibilities generally fall under the domain of the Institutional Research office, including mandatory data submissions as well as voluntary surveys.
Negative effect of [bmim][PF6] on the catalytic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase: mechanism and prevention
Authors: Zhang Yun , Huang Xirong , Li Yuezhong
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: [bmim][PF6] is a hydrophobic ionic liquid which could be considered as an environmentally friendly solvent for biocatalysis. In pure [bmim][PF6], however, alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast (YADH) has no catalytic activity. The aim of the present work was (1) to quantitatively study the negative effect of [bmim][PF6] on the catalytic activity of YADH and the related mechanism and (2) to made an attempt to lessen the negative effect of [bmim][PF6] on YADH by microemulsifying [bmim][PF6].

RESULTS: The activity of YADH in the homogeneous solution formed by H2O, CH3CH2OH and [bmim][PF6] decreased rapidly with the increase of the molar fraction of [bmim][PF6]. The inhibitory effect of [bmim][PF6] on YADH was probably caused by the competition of the imidazole group of [bmim][PF6] with the coenzyme NAD+ for the binding sites on YADH. In a water‐in‐[bmim][PF6] microemulsion, YADH was catalytically active due to the formation of the interfacial membrane of the nonionic surfactant TritonX‐100, which separated YADH from [bmim][PF6] and avoided the direct inactivation of [bmim][PF6] on YADH. Under optimal conditions, the activity of YADH was as high as 51 µmol L−1 min−1.

CONCLUSION: [bmim][PF6] was an inhibitor of YADH and its negative effect on YADH could be lessened by its microemulsification. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Spanish experience with German psychology prior to World War I
Authors: Mülberger Annette
Published: April 2008

An increase in interest for German scientific psychology followed the rise of liberalism in late nineteenth‐century Spain. This paper deals with Spanish scholars' endeavors to participate in German psychology: It outlines the intellectual and institutional background of Spanish preoccupation with German philosophy and psychology, and deals with the personal experience and testimony of two Spanish philosophers, Eloy Luis André and Juan Vicente Viqueira López, who traveled to Leipzig, Berlin, and Göttingen between 1909 and 1914 to gain firsthand experience in the nascent science of psychology in Germany at that time. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rapid magnetic resonance elastography of muscle using one‐dimensional projection
Authors: Bensamoun Sabine F. , Glaser Kevin J. , Ringleb Stacie I. , Chen Qingshan , Ehman Richard L. , An Kai‐Nan
Published: April 2008

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of 1D MR elastography (MRE) to rapidly assess skeletal muscle stiffness in vivo.

Materials and Methods

Shear waves were induced in the vastus medialis muscle (VM) using a pneumatic driver at 90 Hz and 2D MRE data were collected. Spatially selective excitations were used to produce 1D projections of MRE data oriented along the direction of propagating waves in the muscle. Data were collected with the thigh muscles relaxed and contracted at 20% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and the knee flexed at 30°.

Results

The muscle stiffness measured at rest and in contraction with 1D MRE was 3.69 ± 0.80 kPa and 9.52 ± 2.74 kPa, respectively, and 4.36 ± 0.98 kPa and 9.22 ± 1.29 kPa, respectively, with the 2D MRE technique.

Conclusion

Muscle stiffness measured using 1D MRE was in agreement with 2D MRE while reducing the scan time by a factor of 4. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonlinear-laser effects in NH4H2PO4 (ADP) and ND4D2PO4 (DADP) single crystals: almost two-octave multi-wavelength Stokes and anti-Stokes combs, cascaded lasing in UV and visible ranges with the involving of the second and third harmonic generation
Authors: Kaminskii A A , Dolbinina V V , Rhee H , Eichler H J , Ueda K , Takaichi K , Shirakawa A , Tokurakawa M , Dong J , Jaque D
Published: April 2008

We report the experimental investigation of nonlinear cascaded lasing χ(3) ↔ χ(2) effects in UV and visible ranges and high-order Stokes and anti-Stokes generation covering spectral space of about 18000 cm-1 by stimulated Raman scattering and multi-wave mixing processes under one-micron picosecond pumping in the paraelectric state of NH4H2PO4 and ND4D2PO4 single crystals. All recorded Raman induced laser wavelengths are identified and attributed to their SRS-promoting vibration modes. Brief review of nonlinear-laser processes in non-centrosymmetric phosphates of KH2PO4-family and some physical properties of NH4H2PO4 and ND4D2PO4 are given as well.