bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vinegar
Authors: Webb A. Dinsmoor ,   Updated by Staff
Published: April 2007

Vinegar is a dilute (4–10%) water solution of acetic acid plus other organic and mineral constituents which vary greatly with the source material from which the vinegar comes.Acetobactercatalyzes oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. Ethanol comes fromSaccharomycesfermentation of sugary plant materials and from solutions of hydrolyzed starch. Ethanol also is synthesized from petroleum or other basic raw materials.

Prehistoric vinegars likely came from ambient microorganisms contacting sugary solutions such as diluted honey. Pasteur found in the mid‐nineteenth century that microorganisms were responsible for both alcoholic and acetous conversions, and modern technology has made possible the wide range of vinegars available today. Traditional Balsamic and Orleans types, with their complex and estery odors, are appreciated for table use, as are the simpler, less costly types produced by generator and submerged culture techniques. Many of these depend upon added herbs and spices for complexing the simple acid taste. For industrial and pickling purposes, very highly concentrated vinegars are available.

Techniques of vinegar production parallel those used in processing other clear liquid foods. Crushing, pressing, fermenting, heating, cooling, centrifuging, filtering, clarifying, stabilizing, blending, pasteurizing, and filling into bottles are the principal steps involved. Since vinegars are quite acid, contacting equipment must be stainless steel, plastic, glass, or wood.

Vinegar sales have increased 29% from 1993 to 2003. Overall nonfood applications increased 131% between 2004–2005. Vinegar is not only used for culinary applications, but for medicinal, cleaning personal care, and agricultural applications.
Ovotestes and XY sex reversal in a female with an interstitial 9q33.3‐q34.1 deletion encompassing NR5A1 and LMX1B causing features of genitopatellar syndrome
Authors: Schlaubitz Silke , Yatsenko Svetlana A. , Smith Laurie D. , Keller Kory L. , Vissers Lisenka E. , Scott Daryl A. , Cai Wei Wen , Reardon William , Abdul‐Rahman Omar A. , Lammer Edward J. , Lifchez Caroline A. , Magenis Ellen , Veltman Joris A. , Stankiewicz Pawel , Zabel Bernhard U. , Lee Brendan
Published: April 2007

We describe our findings in a 46,XY female with a clinical features of Genitopatellar syndrome (GPS) and confirmed hermaphroditism with ovotestes, and five additional patients with GPS. GPS is a genetic disorder characterized by renal and genital anomalies, joint dislocation, aplastic or hypoplastic and often displaced patellae, minor facial anomalies, and mental retardation. The genital anomalies clearly distinguish GPS from nail‐patella syndrome (NPS) that has similar features, but additionally shows hypoplastic finger‐ and toenails as found in the 46,XY female. In our patients no mutation was found in the coding regions of WNT4, WNT7A, TBX4, and LMX1B. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and array‐based comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) analysis showed a 3 Mb deletion of LMX1B, NR6A1, and NR5A1 (SF1) in the 46,XY female. This is the first report of a microdeletion causing haploinsuffiency of LMX1B and NR5A1. The deletion of LMX1B is responsible for the knee anomalies and the deletion of NR5A1 likely causes the sex reversal. Cytogenetic analysis of the five additional patients with diagnosed GPS failed to identify a similar microdeletion, or inversion of a potentially regulatory element between the two genes. This suggests that the locus 9q33‐9q34 can be excluded for GPS and that the presented case is unique in its combination of GPS and NPS features caused by a microdeletion associated with loss of function of LMX1B and NR5A1. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Smith–Magenis syndrome and moyamoya disease in a patient with del(17)(p11.2p13.1)
Authors: Girirajan Santhosh , Mendoza‐Londono Roberto , Vlangos Christopher N. , Dupuis Lucie , Nowak Norma J. , Bunyan David J. , Hatchwell Eli , Elsea Sarah H.
Published: April 2007

Chromosomal rearrangements causing microdeletions and microduplications are a major cause of congenital malformation and mental retardation. Because they are not visible by routine chromosome analysis, high resolution whole‐genome technologies are required for the detection and diagnosis of small chromosomal abnormalities. Recently, array‐comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) have been useful tools for the identification and mapping of deletions and duplications at higher resolution and throughput. Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome caused by deletion or mutation of the retinoic acid induced 1 (RAI1) gene and is often associated with a chromosome 17p11.2 deletion. We report here on the clinical and molecular analysis of a 10‐year‐old girl with SMS and moyamoya disease (occlusion of the circle of Willis). We have employed a combination of aCGH, FISH, and MLPA to characterize an ∼6.3 Mb deletion spanning chromosome region 17p11.2–p13.1 in this patient, with the proximal breakpoint within the RAI1 gene. Further, investigation of the genomic architecture at the breakpoint intervals of this large deletion documented the presence of palindromic repeat elements that could potentially form recombination substrates leading to unequal crossover. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Peptide products of the afp‐6 gene of the nematode Ascaris suum have different biological actions
Authors: Yew Joanne Y. , Davis Ralph , Dikler Sergei , Nanda Jennifer , Reinders Barbara , Stretton Antony O.
Published: April 2007

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight and tandem time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF and MALDI‐TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry were used to sequence and localize three novel, related neuropeptides in the nervous system of the nematode Ascaris suum, AMRNALVRFamide (AF21), NGAPQPFVRFamide (AF22), and SGMRNALVRFamide (AF23). The amino acid sequences were used to clone a novel neuropeptide gene (afp‐6) that encodes a precursor bearing a single copy of each of the peptides. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed that both the transcript and the peptides are expressed in a single cell in the ventral ganglion. Pharmacological studies of intact nematodes injected with these peptides, as well as physiological studies of responses to them in muscle tissue, motor neurons, and the pharynx, reveal that these peptides have potent bioactivity in the locomotory and feeding systems. Further exploration of their effects may contribute to our understanding of neuropeptide modulation of behavior and also to the development of compounds with anthelmintic relevance. J. Comp. Neurol. 502:872–882, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Radiation boundary conditions for wave‐like equations
Authors: Bayliss Alvin , Turkel Eli
Published: April 2007

In the numerical computation of hyperbolic equations it is not practical to use infinite domains. Instead, one truncates the domain with an artificial boundary. In this study we construct a sequence of radiating boundary conditions for wave‐like equations. We prove that as the artificial boundary is moved to infinity the solution approaches the solution of the infinite domain as O(r−m−1/2) for the m‐th boundary condition. Numerical experiments with problems in jet acoustics verify the practical nature and utility of the boundary conditions.
Singular limits of quasilinear hyperbolic systems with large parameters and the incompressible limit of compressible fluids
Authors: Klainerman Sergiu , Majda Andrew
Published: April 2007

Many interesting problems in classical physics involve the limiting behavior of quasilinear hyperbolic systems as certain coefficients become infinite. Using classical methods, the authors develop a general theory of such problems. This theory is broad enough to study a wide variety of interesting singular limits in compressible fluid flow and magneto‐fluid dynamics including new constructive local existence theorems for the time‐singular limit equations. In particular, the authors give an entirely self‐contained classical proof of the convergence of solutions of the compressible fluid equations to their incompressible limits as the Mach number becomes small. The theory depends upon a balance between certain inherently nonlinear structural conditions on the matrix coefficients of the system together with appropriate initialization procedures. Similar results are developed also for the compressible and incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations with periodic initial data independent of the viscosity coefficients as they tend to zero.
An improved single‐stage Flyback PFC converter for high‐luminance lighting LED lamps
Authors: Chiu Huang‐Jen , Huang Hsiu‐Ming , Yang Hong‐Tzer , Cheng Shih‐Jen
Published: April 2007

This paper presents a high‐performance LED lamp driver with an improved single‐stage Flyback configuration. A constant current control method is used to regulate the lamp current and brightness. A laboratory prototype has been built and tested. With the prototype, high efficiency, high power factor, and constant lamp current can be achieved under different pieces of LED series connection. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ras signaling modulates activity of the ecdysone receptor EcR during cell migration in the drosophila ovary
Authors: Hackney Jennifer F. , Pucci Christina , Naes Erin , Dobens Leonard
Published: April 2007

Ecdysone Receptor (EcR) mediates effects of the hormone ecdysone during larval molts, pupal metamorphosis, and adult female oogenesis. In the ovary, egg chamber formation requires interactions between the somatic follicle cell (FC) epithelium and the germ line nurse cell/oocyte cyst. Previous work has shown EcR is required in the germ line for egg chamber maturation, and here we examine EcR requirements in the FC at late stages of oogenesis. EcR protein is ubiquitous in the FC but its activity is restricted, visualized by activity of the “ligand sensor” hs‐GAL4‐EcR ligand binding domain fusion and EcRE‐lacZ reporter gene expression. GAL4‐EcR is activated in the FC by an ecdysone agonist and repressed by tissue‐specific Ras GTPase signals. To determine the significance of restricted sites of EcR activity in the FC, we used targeted misexpression of the dominant negative EcR (EcR‐DN) molecules EcRF645A and EcRW650A. EcR‐DN expression at stage 10 reduced EcRE‐lacZ expression in the nurse cell FC and resulted in abnormal FC migrations, including aberrant centripetal migration and dorsal appendage tube formation, leading to the formation of cup‐shaped eggs with shortened, branched dorsal appendages at stage 14. Clones of FC expressing EcR‐DN displayed cell‐autonomous increases in DE‐cadherin expression and abnormal epithelial junction formation. EcR‐DN expression caused thin eggshell phenotypes that correlated with both reduced levels of chorion gene expression and reduction in chorion gene amplification. Our results indicate that tissue‐specific modulation of EcR activity by the Ras signaling pathway refines temporal ecdysone signals that regulate FC differentiation and cadherin‐mediated epithelial cell shape changes. Developmental Dynamics 236:1213–1226, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensorless vector controlled converter for variable speed wind generation system using an induction generator
Authors: Ohyama Kazuhiro , Arinaga Shinji , Shigemizu Teturou
Published: April 2007

This paper proposed two types of speed sensorless converters that can control rotational speed and electric power. One is based on a slip frequency control system. The other is based on a vector control system. The rotational speed of the wind turbine is estimated with the phase voltage and phase current of the induction generator by the adaptive rotor flux observer. The estimated wind turbine rotational speed ωrestis used as the feedback of the speed control loop in the converter control system. Also, the estimated rotor flux ϕ2destis used for the vector control. The simulation results confirm that both of them perform satisfactorily under the speed sensorless operation. The method based on the vector control system generates more electrical energy than does the method based on the slip frequency control system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 159(4): 62–75, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20323
Study of reverse recovery characteristic for 3‐kV 600‐A 4H‐SiC flat package type pn diodes
Authors: Ogata Syuji , Takayama Daisuke , Asano Katsunori , Sugawara Yoshitaka
Published: April 2007

3‐kV, 600‐A, 4H‐SiC flat package type pn diodes have been developed and their reverse recovery characteristics have been investigated. In spite of being pn junction diodes, the developed diodes have a short reverse recovery time of 0.153µs at room temperature. These diodes have one‐tenth lower recovery loss and one‐third lower recovery time than those of a commercialized 2.5‐kV Si diode in spite of a high blocking voltage. When this diode is used in a PWM inverter, the carrier frequency at which the on‐state loss is equal to the switching loss is 1.45 times the Si diode's frequency at 398 K. By using the developed diode, high‐voltage high‐frequency inverter operation can be realized. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 160(1): 10–17, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20557
Race, ethnicity, and higher education policy: The use of critical quantitative research
Authors: Teranishi Robert T.
Published: April 2007

Cross‐sectional frameworks, or between‐group approaches, in quantitative research in higher education have limitations that hinder what we know about the intersection of race and educational opportunities and outcomes.
Moving from probabilities to possibilities: Tasks for quantitative criticalists
Authors: Stage Frances K.
Published: April 2007

Most traditional models, frameworks, and findings that apply to the majority of students and faculty do not adequately apply to important subpopulations. The recommendations here will help researchers become more sensitive to the nuances among various educational subgroups, and to pay more attention to outliers.
Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation
Authors: Banyard Victoria L. , Moynihan Mary M. , Plante Elizabethe G.
Published: April 2007

The current study used an experimental design to evaluate a sexual violence prevention program based on a community of responsibility model that teaches women and men how to intervene safely and effectively in cases of sexual violence before, during, and after incidents with strangers, acquaintances, or friends. It approaches both women and men as potential bystanders or witnesses to behaviors related to sexual violence. Three hundred and eighty‐nine undergraduates participated and were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups or a control group. Results from the research reveal that up to 2 months after participating in either a one‐ or three‐session version of the program, participants in the treatment conditions showed improvements across measures of attitudes, knowledge, and behavior while the control group did not. Most program effects persisted at 4‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups. The program appeared to benefit both women and men. Implications and future directions for research are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 463–481, 2007.
Adolescent bicultural stress and its impact on mental well‐being among Latinos, Asian Americans, and European Americans
Authors: Romero Andrea J. , Carvajal Scott C. , Valle Fabian , Orduña Michele
Published: April 2007

The perception of bicultural stress, stress due to discrimination/prejudice, immigration, and acculturation, was investigated in relation to mental well‐being in a sample of urban Latino (n = 304), European American (n = 215), and Asian American (n = 131) 8th grade students. Bicultural stress was reported by all ethnic groups and was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and less optimism (only for females), after accounting for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and age. Latino and Asian American youth were more likely to report more stressors, although after controlling for sociodemographic variables the differences predominantly remained only between Asian Americans and European Americans. Lower socioeconomic status, male gender, and not speaking English also were associated with more stress. The negative impact of bicultural stress on adolescent depressive symptoms and optimism indicates the need for mental health researchers and service providers to consider the cultural context of stress for adolescents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 519–534, 2007.
Life change and instrumental support as predictors of illness in mothers of 6‐month‐olds
Authors: Lenz Elizabeth R. , Parks Peggy L. , Jenkins Louise S. , Jarrett Grace E.
Published: April 2007

The extent to which life change after birth of a baby and instrumental support of parenting predict the occurrence of illness in mothers of 6‐month‐olds was studied. Mothers (N = 155) were selected from an urban clinic and from the birth records of a suburban hospital. All data were collected with questionnaires and interviews in mothers' homes when infants were 6 months old. Age, race, socioeconomic status, and prior illness were used as control variables in the analyses. Life change and intensity of support were positively related, and size of the support network was negatively related to illness. There was no evidence for the buffering effect of support. Findings confirmed that life change helps predict postpartal illness, and revealed that characteristics of instrumental support differ in their importance as predictors.
Vacancy, stability, and turnover of registered nurses in hospitals
Authors: Prescott Patricia A.
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine if organizational, administrative, and practice factors differentiate among hospitals and patient care units as to registered nurse vacancy, stability, and turnover rates. Data from 90 patient care units in 15 hospitals are reported. Results from stepwise multiple regression indicate that 52% of the variability in vacancy, 56% of the variance in registered nurse stability, and 42% of the variance in relative turnover rates were explained by seven variables. Important predictors included nursing workload, characteristics of nurse staffing and practice, as well as job satisfaction. These findings indicate that a combination of organizational attributes and staff attitudes are important for understanding nurse staffing.
Planning by expert and novice nurses in cases of varying complexity
Authors: Corcoran Sheila A.
Published: April 2007

The question addressed in this study was: what are the relationships among task complexity and nursing expertise and the planning processes of generating, evaluating, and choosing alternative actions? Eleven hospice nurses, six experts, and five novices were asked to think aloud as they developed drug administration plans to control patients' pain in three hypothetical cases of varying complexity. The results indicated that subjects varied the number of alternative actions generated and their approaches to alternative evaluation as functions of task complexity. Experts generated more drug alternative actions, were more specific in evaluating alternative actions, and developed better plans than did novices.
Maternal anxiety and sensitive mothering behavior in diabetic and nondiabetic women
Authors: Schroeder‐Zwelling Elaine , Hock Ellen
Published: April 2007

To evaluate the effects of a high‐risk pregnancy on development of the maternal‐infant relationship, the differences in anxiety, sensitive maternal behavior, and maternal separation anxiety in diabetic and nondiabetic mothers were examined. The findings imply that a high‐risk pregnancy may not always be accompanied by increased anxiety or disturbances in sensitive maternal behavior. Questions are raised regarding the influences of demographic factors on maternal behavior and the differences that chronic versus sudden onset high‐risk pregnancy factors might have on maternal anxiety and behavior. The findings also reinforce the influence of supportive medical and nursing care throughout a high‐risk pregnancy.
Activating clinical inferences: A component of diagnostic reasoning in nursing
Authors: Westfall Una E. , Tanner Christine A. , Putzier Donnajo , Padrick Karen P.
Published: April 2007

In this exploratory study, nursing inferences were examined within a framework of information processing theory. Verbal responses to a patient simulation by 28 nursing students and 15 practicing nurses were used as data. Six different categories of inferences were identified. Inferences most frequently activated across educational levels were those about immediate situational concerns. Practicing nurses activated significantly more complex inferences than the student groups. In each group, the majority of inferences were activated during the first half of the encounter. These results of this preliminary analysis support the proposition that inference activation is an important component of the diagnostic reasoning process used by both nurses and nursing students.
Spirituality and well‐being in terminally ill hospitalized adults
Authors: Reed Pamela G.
Published: April 2007

Initial research into the significance of spirituality among terminally ill adults was extended. Two hypotheses were examined using three groups of 100 adults matched on age, gender, education, and religious background: a) Terminally ill hospitalized adults indicate a greater spiritual perspective than nonterminally ill hospitalized adults and healthy nonhospitalized adults. b) Spiritual perspective is positively related to well‐being among terminally ill hospitalized adults. All 300 participants completed the Spiritual Perspective Scale, Index of Well‐Being, and other information. Planned comparisons analysis results supported the first hypothesis; low but significant correlation lent support to the second hypothesis. Differences among groups on recent change in spiritual views also were examined; a significantly larger number of terminally ill adults indicated a change toward increased spirituality than did nonterminally ill or healthy adults.
Health perceptions and lifestyles of the elderly
Authors: Speake Dianne L. , Cowart Marie E. , Pellet Kathleen
Published: April 2007

Adoption of a healthy lifestyle can slow physical decline and improve well being of the elderly. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of six aspects of a healthy lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, stress management, self actualization, health responsibility, and interpersonal support) with selected demographic variables, perceived health status, and health locus of control in the well elderly. The sample consisted of 297 volunteers. Pearson product‐moment correlations and stepwise multiple regression procedures revealed that perceived health status and health locus of control were significant predictors of healthy lifestyles. Demographic variables, posited as modifying factors, were found to be associated with perceived health and locus of control but were not predictive of lifestyle practices.
Influences of the social network on choice and duration of breast‐feeding in mothers of preterm infants
Authors: Kaufman Karyn J. , Hall Lynne A.
Published: April 2007

A prospective analytic study was conducted to examine the influences of the social network on the choice and duration of breast‐feeding among 125 mothers of preterm infants. The Influence of Specific Referents (ISR) Scale was used to measure mothers' perceptions of the wishes of seven social referents regarding feeding choice and to assess mothers' motivation to comply with their referents' wishes. Referents included family members, friends, and health care professionals. Mothers choosing to breast‐feed reported greater influence from referents than those choosing to formula‐feed. Among the 88 mothers who initiated breast‐feeding or expression, the number of supports reported by mothers was the most influential factor on duration of lactation. Women with no source of support were six times more likely to cease lactation than women with six sources of support.
Nursing turnover: An integrated model
Authors: Parasuraman Saroj
Published: April 2007

An integrated model of turnover incorporating personal, organizational, and job experience variables as well as job attitudes and behavioral intentions as predictors of voluntary turnover among staff nurses was tested. Results confirmed the hypothesis that intention to leave would be the most immediate determinant of actual turnover. Pesonal, organizational, and job experience variables were found to influence voluntary turnover only indirectly through their effects on three attitudinal variables: felt stress, job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and intention to leave. As hypothesized, the strength of the intention‐turnover relationship decreased as the time interval between expressed intentions and turnover behavior increased.
Pain location: Validity and reliability of body outline markings by hospitalized children and adolescents
Authors: Savedra Marilyn C. , Tesler Mary D. , Holzemer William L. , Wilkie Diana J. , Ward Judith Ann
Published: April 2007

Although pain location is an important assessment parameter, little research has addressed validity and reliability of a body outline in pediatric populations. In a descriptive study, validity and reliability of markings on a body outline were examined in a convenience sample of 8‐ to 17‐year‐old hospitalized children (n= 175). Children marked their pain location on a body outline. Each child then pointed to the pain location on his/her body as a nurse data collector, blind to the child's markings, recorded the location on a second body outline. Data were obtained to substantiate the pain location. Findings provide strong support for the validity and reliability of a body outline and for its inclusion in a multidimensional pediatric pain tool.
Black and latina womens' aids related knowledge, attitudes, and practices
Authors: Flaskerud Jacquelyn H. , Nyamathi Adeline M.
Published: April 2007

As part of a larger study designed to provide an AIDS education and prevention program for low‐income black and Latina women in Los Angeles County, a pilot study of black (n = 51) and Latina (n = 56) womens' AIDS related knowledge, attitudes and practices was conducted to gather baseline data and to test an instrument that would measure these variables. The factors underlying the instrument were identified and reliability coefficients were determined. The need for changes in the format and administration of the instrument was identified due to nonresponse to some items. There were sociodemographic differences between the two groups of women as well as differences in knowledge and attitudes. In general, black women had more knowledge of AIDS than Latina women and more positive attitudes. Practices did not differ. Both groups denied drug use and multiple sexual partners.
Identifying critical defining characteristics of nursing diagnoses using magnitude estimation scaling
Authors: Kinney Marguerite , Guzzetta Cathie E.
Published: April 2007

The question addressed in this study was: Can the critical defining characteristics (CDCs) of nursing diagnoses be determined by magnitude estimation scaling (MES)? MES was used by having 32 nurse subjects numerically estimate the magnitude of each characteristic of anxiety and of sleep pattern disturbance on each of three concept dimensions: importance, frequency, and competency. Geometric means of the stimuli for each of the concept dimensions were computed and correlated with each other. Strong correlations between the characteristics and the concept dimensions were obtained. It was concluded that MES is a useful technique for identifying the CDCs and operational definitions of nursing diagnoses.
Symptom beliefs and actual blood glucose in type II diabetes
Authors: O'Connell Kathleen A. , Hamera Edna K. , Schorfheide Ann , Guthrie Diana
Published: April 2007

The relationships of blood glucose levels to symptoms and symptom beliefs were examined in this study of persons (N=51) with Type II diabetes. Analyses revealed that 88% of the subjects had at least one symptom that was substantially correlated with blood glucose levels. However, subjects' symptom beliefs (symptoms subjects believe are the best indicators of high or low blood glucose levels) were largely unrelated to actual blood glucose levels. Thus, subjects were often mistaken about which of their symptoms were accurate indicators of blood glucose levels. Analyses also showed that the accuracy of symptom beliefs for low blood glucose was positively related to metabolic control.
Message framing, dispositional optimism, and follow‐up for abnormal papanicolaou tests
Authors: Lauver Diane , Rubin Mary
Published: April 2007

The effects of alternatively framed messages and dispositional optimism on follow‐up for abnormal Papanicolaou tests were studied. Participants (N=116) had a mean age of 24; 94% were black, 67% had a high school education, and 82% received public assistance. A message about losses without follow‐up or gains with follow‐up was randomly given. Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test and attendance was defined as coming or not coming within 6 weeks of contact. Logistic regressions of attendance on framing and optimism did not reveal significant relationships. Exploratory analyses revealed that personal and familial history of disease were related to attendance. Explanations for the findings and implications for research are delineated.
Living with diabetes: Perceptions of well‐being
Authors: Lundman Berit , Asplund Kjell , Norberg Astrid
Published: April 2007

A group of 192 adult insulin‐dependent diabetic patients free from manifest late complications were asked, through mailed questionnaires, about the influence of the disease on their daily life and about their feelings of well‐being. Well‐being was measured using 11 semantic differentials comprised of bi‐polar adjectives. Only a minority of patients reported that the disease caused them considerable problems in daily life. The greatest problems occurred in connection with regularity in daily life (26% of subjects) and diet management (24%). Although a large proportion of the patients were very concerned about retinopathy (45%), other complications were of great concern for only 10 to 25%. Younger age was significantly associated with more problems in daily life and more worries about complications. There also were associations between younger age and feelings of anxiety, lack of freedom, insecurity, and reduced self‐esteem. Most of the patients, both men and women, had a general feeling of well‐being. Living with insulin‐dependent diabetes appears to be quite consistent with experiencing well‐being and feeling fit provided that no severe complications have developed.
Pregnant moments: The process of conception in infertile couples
Authors: Sandelowski Margarete , Harris Betty Glenn , Holditch‐Davis Diane
Published: April 2007

This report is an explication of the process of conception in infertile couples as illuminated by 24 infertile couples and a comparison group of 6 couples with no fertility impairments. Employing techniques generic to grounded theory research, the investigators found that infertile couples lived conception as a series of biological and phenomenological moments. The process of biomedically‐assisted conception consisted of three components including: (a) forcing conception; (b) resolving conceptional ambiguity; and (c) reconciling conception as an idea and as an event. The findings suggest the need for a re‐examination of current orientations to pregnancy time and space and appraisal of couples' interpretations of conception. In addition, the convergence of the conception experiences of infertile and fertile couples raises questions about the meaning of normal conception in the current technological context of reproduction.
Dynamic vulcanization of recycled milk pouches (LDPE–LLDPE) and EPDM blends using dicumyl peroxide
Authors: Choudhury Arup , Adhikari Basudam
Published: April 2007

The viability of thermomechanical recycling of post‐consumer milk pouches (blend of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)) and its scope for suitable engineering applications were investigated. The effects of blending with ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and subsequent curing using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on the macromolecular structure and properties of recycled polyethylene (PE) blends were studied. The crosslinking efficiency of recycled PE/EPDM blends and possible thermooxidative degradation of recycled polymer upon peroxide curing was assessed using torque and gel content measurements along with infrared spectroscopic analysis. Both the torque and gel content of the blends varied with DCP crosslinking reactions and also were affected by oxidative degradation. In view of the electrical application area of this recycled blend material, the dielectric breakdown strength and volume resistivity were measured. The mechanical performance and thermal stability of recycled PE/EPDM blends improved with progressive crosslinking by DCP but deteriorated somewhat at higher DCP dose. Scanning electron microscopy showed good interface bonding between recycled polymer and dispersed EPDM phase in the cured blends compared to the non‐cured blends. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Differential recovery of membrane proteins after extraction by aqueous methanol and trifluoroethanol
Authors: Zhang Huoming , Lin Qingsong , Ponnusamy Sukumar , Kothandaraman Narasimhan , Lim Teck Kwang , Zhao Changqing , Kit Hon Sook , Arijit Biswas , Rauff Mary , Hew Choy‐Leong , Chung Maxey Ching Ming , Joshi Shashikant B. , Choolani Mahesh
Published: April 2007

Cell membrane proteome analysis is limited by inherent membrane hydrophobicity. Conventional membrane protein extraction techniques use detergents, chaotropes and organic acids that require sample clean‐up or pH adjustment, and are associated with significant sample loss. We extracted membrane proteins from red blood cells (RBCs) using methanol (MeOH), trifluoroethanol (TFE) and urea, and identified membrane proteins using 2‐D LC coupled with MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS. We show that organic solvents MeOH‐ and TFE‐based methods have membrane protein analysis efficiencies comparable to urea, and are complementary for the recovery of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides. The mean grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) value of identified peptides from the TFE‐based method (−0.107) was significantly higher than that of the MeOH‐based method (−0.465) (p<0.001). Sequential and adjunctive use of the organic solvents MeOH and TFE increases the number of proteins identified, and the confidence of their identification. We show that this strategy is effective for shotgun membrane proteome analysis.
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry investigations of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) produced by monoacylphosphine oxide photoinitiation
Authors: Wyzgoski Faith J. , Polce Michael J. , Wesdemiotis Chrys , Arnould Mark A.
Published: April 2007

The chain‐end‐group composition was determined by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) analyses of low‐molecular‐weight polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) produced by free‐radical polymerization with a monoacylphosphine oxide, (2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl) diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), as a photoinitiator. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) fractionation of the PS and PMMA samples with initial polydispersities of 1.81 and 2.81, respectively, yielded improved MALDI‐TOF MS spectra. Spectral analyses of the PS fractions showed distributions attributable to PS having two diphenylphosphinyl ends and PS having one diphenylphosphinyl end and/or one 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl end, indicating that a combination of PS radicals with the highly reactive diphenylphosphine oxide group at one end of the chains was the predominant mode of termination. MALDI‐TOF MS results for PMMA fractions provided evidence for termination primarily by disproportionation, but structure determination was confounded by the presence of isobaric peaks. Discernible peaks were obtained by MALDI‐TOF MS analyses of GPC fractions of TPO‐initiated poly(methyl‐d3 methacrylate‐d5), in which the major product was PMMA with a diphenylphosphinyl end group and an abstracted deuterium end group, whereas the minor combination product had two diphenylphosphinyl chain ends. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2161–2171, 2007
Pilot study of safety and tolerability of inhaled hypertonic saline in infants with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Subbarao Padmaja , Balkovec Susan , Solomon Melinda , Ratjen Felix
Published: April 2007

Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) positively affects both lung function and pulmonary exacerbations in children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Early initiation of treatment may potentially reduce lung function decline and improve outcome of CF patients. However, the safety and tolerability of HS have not been established in infants and young children. We conducted a prospective trial of inhaled HS in infants with CF. Raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RVRTC) maneuvers were performed at baseline, 10 min after salbutamol inhalation and 15 min after inhalation of a 7% HS solution. Oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and cough frequency were recorded during each inhalation. A clinically important change in lung function was defined a priori as a change in FEV 0.5 of ≥20%. Thirteen infants (5 female) aged 25–140 weeks were enrolled in the study. Overall, there was no difference between FEV0.5 or FEF25–75 at baseline, after bronchodilator or after HS. Respiratory and heart rate as well as oxygen saturation remained stable during inhalation of the HS. Three infants had cough during inhalation; one of the infants woke up due to cough but recovered within 5 min. No other side effects were observed during or immediately after inhalation. There was no difference in microbiologic yield between pre‐ and post‐HS throat swabs. In this pilot study, inhalation of HS was well tolerated in CF infants. These results support a study of the efficacy of HS in this age group. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:471–476. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shedding of the p75NTR neurotrophin receptor is modulated by lipid rafts
Authors: Gil Carles , Cubí Roger , Aguilera José
Published: April 2007

Protein ectodomain shedding is the proteolytic release of the extracellular domain of membrane‐bound proteins. Neurotrophin receptor p75NTR is known to be affected by shedding. The present work provides evidence, in rat brain synaptosomes, that p75NTR is present in detergent‐resistant membranes (DRM), also known as lipid rafts, only in its full‐length form. Disrupting the integrity of lipid rafts causes solubilization of p75NTR after detergent treatment and enhancement of the shedding. Analyses of the enzymes described as being responsible for p75NTR shedding, i.e. tumor necrosis factor α convertase (TACE) and presenilin‐1 (PS1), revealed that TACE is absent in DRM, while variable proportions of the C‐terminal and N‐terminal fragments of PS1 are found. In summary, our results point to a role of lipid rafts in the modulation of the shedding of the p75NTR receptor.
Satellite glial cells in the trigeminal ganglion as a determinant of orofacial neuropathic pain
Authors: Vit Jean-Philippe , Jasmin Luc , Bhargava Aditi , Ohara Peter T.
Published: April 2007

Satellite glial cells (SGCs) tightly envelop the perikarya of primary sensory neurons in peripheral ganglion and are identified by their morphology and the presence of proteins not found in ganglion neurons. These SGC-unique proteins include the inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1, the connexin-43 (Cx43) subunit of gap junctions, the purinergic receptor P2Y4 and soluble guanylate cyclase. We also present evidence that the small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel SK3 is present only in SGCs and that SGCs divide following nerve injury. All the above proteins are involved, either directly or indirectly, in potassium ion (K+) buffering and, thus, can influence the level of neuronal excitability, which, in turn, has been associated with neuropathic pain conditions. We used in vivo RNA interference to reduce the expression of Cx43 (present only in SGCs) in the rat trigeminal ganglion and show that this results in the development of spontaneous pain behavior. The pain behavior is present only when Cx43 is reduced and returns to normal when Cx43 concentrations are restored. This finding shows that perturbation of a single SGC-specific protein is sufficient to induce pain responses and demonstrates the importance of PNS glial cell activity in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain.
Glial differentiation and the Gcm pathway
Authors: Soustelle Laurent , Giangrande Angela
Published: April 2007

One of the most challenging issues in developmental biology is to understand how cell diversity is generated. The Drosophila nervous system provides a model of choice for unraveling this process. First, many neural stem cells and lineages have been identified. Second, major molecular pathways involved in neural development and associated mutations have been characterized extensively in recent years. In this review, we focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the generation of glia. This cell population relies on the expression of gcm fate determinant, which is necessary and sufficient to induce glial differentiation. We also discuss the recently identified role of gcm genes in Drosophila melanogaster and vertebrate neurogenesis. Finally, we will consider the Gcm pathway in the context of neural stem cell differentiation.
Iron Chelated Cyclic Peptide, Ferrichrysin, for Oral Treatment of Iron Deficiency: Solution Properties and Efficacy in Anemic Rats
Authors: Suzuki  , Fukuda  , Irie  , Hata
Published: April 2007

Ferrichrysin (Fcy), which is produced by Aspergillus oryzae and is present in foods used for human consumption, belongs to a group of hydroxamate siderophore ferric iron chelators. Fcy (100 mg/mL) dissolves completely at both pH 2.0 and 7.0, being very stable at a wide range of pH, high temperatures and pressures, with little reactivity to dietary iron absorption inhibitors, phytic acid, tannic acid, and catechin. We studied the effect of Fcy in male Sprague-Dawley rats with iron-deficiency anemia, which were separated into three different dietary groups (n = 5) and supplementing diets as follows: (i) ferric citrate, (ii) heme iron concentrate, and (iii) Fcy (35 mg Fe/kg diet) for three weeks. Fcy exhibited the same beneficial effect in improving iron deficiency anemia as ferric citrate, being significantly greater than the effect of heme iron. The iron concentration of liver in the Fcy group was 35% greater than that in the ferric citrate group. These findings indicate that Fcy could be an efficient oral iron supplement to prevent or treat iron deficiency.
On modeling boundary layer and gravity‐driven fluid mud transport
Authors: Hsu T.‐J. , Traykovski P. A. , Kineke G. C.
Published: April 2007

A model for fine sediment transport processes in the fluvial and coastal environment is proposed based on a simplified two‐phase formulation. This simplified approach for fine‐sediment transport is essentially single‐phased; however, it retains several critical mechanisms originated from the complete two‐phase formulation. By incorporating closures of carrier fluid turbulence and turbulent suspension and rheology of the sediment, the model is first tested with laboratory measurements of flow velocity and concentration for fine‐sand transport driven by steady currents. Next, particle diameter and density are prescribed in the model according to fractal dimensions of typical flocs for fluid mud observed on the continental shelf. The model is able to predict the dynamics of tidal‐driven lutocline behavior observed on the Amazon shelf and wave‐supported gravity‐driven fluid mud transport measured at the Po prodelta. Model results also indicate strong interplay between flow turbulence and fluid‐mud concentration, suggesting that the mechanism of sediment‐induced stratification on damping the carrier fluid turbulence is crucial in determining the fluid mud behavior. Results are encouraging for incorporation in the future of more comprehensive descriptions on floc dynamics, mud‐bed consolidation and various mud rheology closures.
Pathways of signal transduction employed by vertebrate Hedgehogs
Authors: Riobo Natalia A. , Manning David R.
Published: April 2007

Signalling by Hh (Hedgehog) proteins is among the most actively studied receptor-mediated phenomena relevant to development and post-embryonic homoeostatic events. The impact of signalling by the Hh proteins is profound, and work pertaining to the presentation of these proteins and the pathways engaged by them continues to yield unique insights into basic aspects of morphogenic signalling. We review here the mechanisms of signalling relevant to the actions of Hh proteins in vertebrates. We emphasize findings within the past several years on the recognition of, in particular, Sonic hedgehog by target cells, pathways of transduction employed by the seven-pass transmembrane protein Smoothened and end points of action, as manifest in the regulation of the Gli transcription factors. Topics of extended interest are those regarding the employment of heterotrimeric G-proteins and G-protein-coupled receptor kinases by Smoothened. We also address the pathways, insofar as known, linking Smoothened to the expression and stability of Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3. The mechanisms by which Hh proteins signal have few, if any, parallels. It is becoming clear in vertebrates, however, that several facets of signalling are shared in common with other venues of signalling. The challenge in understanding both the actions of Hh proteins and the overlapping forms of regulation will be in understanding, in molecular terms, both common and divergent signalling events.
Systematic study of microwave absorption, heating, and microstructure evolution of porous copper powder metal compacts
Authors: Ma J. , Diehl J. F. , Johnson E. J. , Martin K. R. , Miskovsky N. M. , Smith C. T. , Weisel G. J. , Weiss B. L. , Zimmerman D. T.
Published: April 2007

We present a systematic study of the absorption, heating behavior, and microstructure evolution of porous copper powder metal compacts subjected to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation and explain our observations using known physical mechanisms. Using a single-mode microwave system, we place the compacts in pure electric (E) or magnetic (H) fields and compare the heating trends. We also investigate the effect of particle size on the same. The observed trends and the differences between E- and H-field heating are reflected in the dramatic changes in the conductivity, permittivity, and permeability of the samples. These property changes are effected by the microstructure evolution during heating in the two types of fields. We also find that the observed dependence of the initial microwave heating on particle size is suggestive of single-particle behavior.