bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development, Optimisation and Validation of a Stability‐Indicating HPLC Method of Achyrobichalcone Quantification using Experimental Designs
Authors: Carini Juliana P. , Kaiser Samuel , Ortega George G. , Bassani Valquiria L.
Published: September 2012

Introduction

Achyrobichalcone is a new biflavonoid found in Achyrocline satureioides. It is structurally similar to other bioactive bichalcones that were proven to exert anti‐cancer activity. Recently we isolated several achyrobichalcone batches on a semi‐preparative scale, showing the need to assess the quality and stability of this substance by analytical methods.

Objective

To develop and validate a stability‐indicating HPLC method of achyrobichalcone quantification using experimental designs.

Method

The method was developed and optimised by Box–Behnken design using column temperature, flow rate and acetonitrile content in the mobile phase as factors and system suitability parameters as responses. Validation parameters were determined according to official compendiums. Robustness was determined by Plackett–Burman design. Stability of achyrobichalcone was assessed in alkaline, acid, oxidative, thermal and photolytic stress conditions.

Results

The ideal chromatographic conditions were defined from the optimisation: 37 % of acetonitrile, flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and 33°C temperature. All factors were significant for the resolution between achyrobichalcone and impurities peaks and for the retention factor. The mathematical model developed exhibited a good predictive capacity, and the design proved suitable. The HPLC method was successfully validated, being linear, specific, accurate and precise. The robustness test revealed that the flow rate and detection wavelength should be strictly controlled, as they affect achyrobichalcone concentration. The analyte was unstable only in alkaline media.

Conclusion

The new method developed affords evaluation of the quality of achyrobichalcone obtained by isolation, and indicates the stability of the molecule under various stress conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and properties of in‐situ polymerized polyurethane/stearate intercalated layer double hydroxide nanocomposites
Authors: Kotal Moumita , Srivastava Suneel Kumar , Manu Saraswathi Kesavapillai , Saxena Aravind Kumar , Pandey Kailash Nath
Published: September 2012

The present work deals with the effect of stearate intercalated layered double hydroxide (St‐LDH) loadings on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, adhesive and flame retardant properties of polyurethane (PU)/St‐LDH nanocomposites prepared by the in situ polymerization method. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed that exfoliation takes place at 3 wt% loading followed by intercalation at higher filler loadings in the PU matrix. The exfoliated structure has been further verified by atomic force microscopy. The measurements of stress‐strain, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, lap shear strength and peel strength analysis showed that the nanocomposites containing 3 wt% St‐LDH exhibit excellent improvement in tensile strength (ca 175%) and log storage modulus (ca 14%), while PU/St‐LDH (5 wt%) possesses optimum improvement in glass transition temperature (ca 6 °C), lap shear strength (200%) and peel strength (130%) over neat PU. In addition, the gradual improvements in limiting oxygen index value with St‐LDH loading indicated the higher effectiveness in providing better barrier properties as well as better flame retardant behavior. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Foaming behaviour and cell structure of poly(lactic acid) after various modifications
Authors: Yu Long , Toikka Gary , Dean Katherine , Bateman Stuart , Yuan Qiang , Filippou Con , Nguyen Tri
Published: September 2012

Improving the melt strength of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is of continuing strategic research interest since a low melt strength results in poor processability of foaming and blowing film. PLA was modified in various ways including crosslinking, chain extension, grafting, blending, plasticizing and nucleation to improve its melt strength. This work focuses on the effect of melt strength after various modifications on foaming behaviour and cell structures of PLA foam. Cell density was increased and cell structure became more uniform with increasing melt strength, in particular when the melt strain was also increased after modification. With increasing melt strength the phenomenon of open and ruptured cells was decreased. The foaming window was widened with increasing melt strength, in particular after crosslinking, chain extension and blending with elastomer. Molecular weight, thermal properties and viscosity of PLA after various modifications were also studied and used to explain the foaming behaviour and foam structures. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Revealing phosphoproteins playing role in tobacco pollen activated in vitro
Authors: Fíla Jan , Matros Andrea , Radau Sonja , Zahedi René Peiman , Čapková Věra , Mock Hans‐Peter , Honys David
Published: September 2012

The transition between the quiescent mature and the metabolically active germinating pollen grain most probably involves changes in protein phosphorylation status, since phosphorylation has been implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes. Given that, only a minor proportion of cellular proteins are phosphorylated at any one time, and that phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated forms of many proteins can co‐exist within a cell, the identification of phosphoproteins requires some prior enrichment from a crude protein extract. Here, we have used metal oxide/hydroxide affinity chromatography (MOAC) based on an aluminum hydroxide matrix for this purpose, and have generated a population of phosphoprotein candidates from both mature and in vitro activated tobacco pollen grains. Both electrophoretic and nonelectrophoretic methods, allied to MS, were applied to these extracts to identify a set of 139 phosphoprotein candidates. In vitro phosphorylation was also used to validate the spectrum of phosphoprotein candidates obtained by the MOAC phosphoprotein enrichment. Since only one phosphorylation site was detected by the above approach, titanium dioxide phosphopeptide enrichment of trypsinized mature pollen crude extract was performed as well. It resulted in a detection of additional 51 phosphorylation sites giving a total of 52 identified phosphosites in this set of 139 phosphoprotein candidates.
Synthesis of polystyrene nanoparticles “armoured” with nanodimensional graphene oxide sheets by miniemulsion polymerization
Authors: Che Man S. H. , Thickett Stuart C. , Whittaker Michael R. , Zetterlund Per B.
Published: September 2012

Polystyrene particles “armoured” with nanosized graphene oxide (GO) sheets have been prepared by aqueous miniemulsion polymerization of styrene, exploiting the amphiphilic properties of GO in the absence of conventional surfactants. The nanoscale GO sheets were prepared from graphite nanofibers of diameter approximately 100 nm based on a novel procedure, thus effectively ensuring the absence of larger sheets. Polymerization proceeded to high conversion with minor coagulation, with final number‐average particle diameters of approximately 500 nm, but relatively broad particle size distributions. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed particles with a textured surface, consistent with the expected morphology. Interestingly, analysis of GO sheets recovered from the polymerization revealed that the GO sheets are partially reduced during the polymerization—approximately 50% of the initial carboxyl groups of the GO were lost, consistent with some loss in colloidal stability at high conversion. The overall approach offers a convenient and attractive synthetic route to novel graphene‐based polymeric nanostructures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
An Investigation of the Antidepressant Action of Xiaoyaosan in Rats Using Ultra performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Combined with Metabonomics
Authors: Gao Xiao‐Xia , Cui Jie , Zheng Xing‐Yu , Li Zhen‐Yu , Choi Young‐Hae , Zhou Yu‐Zhi , Tian Jun‐Sheng , Xing Jie , Tan Xiao‐Jie , Du Guan‐Hua , Qin Xue‐Mei
Published: September 2012

A rapid, highly sensitive, and selective method was applied in a non‐invasive way to investigate the antidepressant action of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) using ultra performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS) and chemometrics. Many significantly altered metabolites were used to explain the mechanism. Venlafaxine HCl and fluoxetine HCl were used as chemical positive control drugs with a relatively clear mechanism of action to evaluate the efficiency and to predict the mechanism of action of XYS. Urine obtained from rats subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was analyzed by UPLC‐MS. Distinct changes in the pattern of metabolites in the rat urine after CUMS production and drug intervention were observed using partial least squares–discriminant analysis. The results of behavioral tests and multivariate analysis showed that CUMS was successfully reproduced, and a moderate‐dose XYS produced significant therapeutic effects in the rodent model, equivalent to those of the positive control drugs, venlafaxine HCl and fluoxetine HCl. Metabolites with significant changes induced by CUMS were identified, and 17 biomarker candidates for stress and drug intervention were identified. The therapeutic effect of XYS on depression may involve regulation of the dysfunctions of energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and gut microflora changes. Metabonomic methods are valuable tools for measuring efficacy and mechanisms of action in the study of traditional Chinese medicines. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Substructure‐based annotation of high‐resolution multistage MSn spectral trees
Authors: Ridder Lars , van der Hooft Justin J. J. , Verhoeven Stefan , de Vos Ric C. H. , van Schaik René , Vervoort Jacques
Published: September 2012

RATIONALE

High‐resolution multistage MSn data contains detailed information that can be used for structural elucidation of compounds observed in metabolomics studies. However, full exploitation of this complex data requires significant analysis efforts by human experts. In silico methods currently used to support data annotation by assigning substructures of candidate molecules are limited to a single level of MS fragmentation.

METHODS

We present an extended substructure‐based approach which allows annotation of hierarchical spectral trees obtained from high‐resolution multistage MSn experiments. The algorithm yields a hierarchical tree of substructures of a candidate molecule to explain the fragment peaks observed at consecutive levels of the multistage MSn spectral tree. A matching score is calculated that indicates how well the candidate structure can explain the observed hierarchical fragmentation pattern.

RESULTS

The method is applied to MSn spectral trees of a set of compounds representing important chemical classes in metabolomics. Based on the calculated score, the correct molecules were successfully prioritized among extensive sets of candidates structures retrieved from the PubChem database.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the inclusion of subsequent levels of fragmentation in the automatic annotation of MSn data improves the identification of the correct compounds. We show that, especially in the case of lower mass accuracy, this improvement is not only due to the inclusion of additional fragment ions in the analysis, but also to the specific hierarchical information present in the MSn spectral trees. This method may significantly reduce the time required by MS experts to analyze complex MSn data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potential strategies and biosafety protocols used for dual‐use research on highly pathogenic influenza viruses
Authors: Du Lanying , Li Ye , Gao Jimin , Zhou Yusen , Jiang Shibo
Published: September 2012

Influenza A viruses (IAVs), particularly the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, have posed a substantial threat to public health worldwide. Although the laboratory generation of the mutant influenza virus H5N1 with airborne transmissibility among mammals, which has been considered as a dual‐use research, may benefit the development of effective vaccines and therapeutics against the emerging infectious agents, it may also pose threats to national biosecurity, laboratory biosafety, and/or public health. This review introduces the classification and characterization of IAVs, pinpoints historic pandemics and epidemics caused by IAVs, emphasizes the significance and necessity of biosafety, summarizes currently established biosafety‐related protocols for IAV research, and provides potential strategies to improve biosafety protocols for dual‐use research on the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and other emerging infectious agents. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A nonparametric test for Markovianity in the illness‐death model
Authors: Rodríguez‐Girondo Mar , de Uña‐Álvarez Jacobo
Published: September 2012

Multistate models are useful tools for modeling disease progression when survival is the main outcome, but several intermediate events of interest are observed during the follow‐up time. The illness‐death model is a special multistate model with important applications in the biomedical literature. It provides a suitable representation of the individual's history when a unique intermediate event can be experienced before the main event of interest. Nonparametric estimation of transition probabilities in this and other multistate models is usually performed through the Aalen–Johansen estimator under a Markov assumption. The Markov assumption claims that given the present state, the future evolution of the illness is independent of the states previously visited and the transition times among them. However, this assumption fails in some applications, leading to inconsistent estimates. In this paper, we provide a new approach for testing Markovianity in the illness‐death model. The new method is based on measuring the future–past association along time. This results in a detailed inspection of the process, which often reveals a non‐Markovian behavior with different trends in the association measure. A test of significance for zero future–past association at each time point is introduced, and a significance trace is proposed accordingly. Besides, we propose a global test for Markovianity based on a supremum‐type test statistic. The finite sample performance of the test is investigated through simulations. We illustrate the new method through the analysis of two biomedical data analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of 0.36 wt% C High Strength TRIP‐Assisted Steel
Authors: Ghosh Swarup Kumar , Chattopadhyay Partha Protim
Published: September 2012

Phase evolution in a 0.36 wt% C steel has been studied by thermodynamic calculation and dilatometric analysis with an aim to achieve high strength TRIP‐assisted steel with bainitic microstructure. The equilibrium phase fraction calculated as the function of temperature indicated the formation of δ‐ferrite (≈98%) at 1417°C. In contrast, similar calculation under para‐equilibrium condition exhibited transformation of δ‐ferrite to austenite at the temperature below 1300°C. During further cooling two‐phase (α+γ) microstructure has been found to be stable at the intercritical temperature range. The experimentally determined CCT diagram has revealed that adequate hardenability is achievable in the steel under continuous cooling condition at cooling rate >5°C s−1. In view of the aforesaid results, the steel has been hot rolled and subjected to different process schedule conducive to the evolution of bainitic microstructure. The hot rolled steel has exhibited reasonably good tensile properties. However, cold deformation of the hot rolled sample followed by intercritical annealing and subsequent isothermal bainitic transformation has resulted in high strength (>1000 MPa) with attractive elongation due to the favorable work hardening condition during plastic deformation offered by the multiphase microstructure.
Nation‐wide litter fall data from 21 forests of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project in Japan
Authors: Suzuki Satoshi N. , Ishihara Masae I. , Nakamura Masahiro , Abe Shin , Hiura Tsutom , Homma Kosuke , Higa Motoki , Hoshino Daisuke , Hoshizaki Kazuhiko , Ida Hideyuki , Ishida Ken , Kawanishi Motohiro , Kobayashi Kazutaka , Kuraji Koichiro , Kuramoto Shigeo , Masaki Takashi , Niiyama Kaoru , Noguchi Mahoko , Nomiya Haruto , Saito Satoshi , Sakai Takeshi , Sakimoto Michinori , Sakio Hitoshi , Sato Tamotsu , Shibano Hirofumi , Shibata Mitsue , Suzuki Maki , Takashima Atsushi , Tanaka Hiroshi , Takagi Masahiro , Tashiro Naoaki , Tokuchi Naoko , Yoshida Toshiya , Yoshida Yumiko
Published: September 2012

This data paper reports litter fall data collected in a network of 21 forest sites in Japan. This is the largest litter fall data set freely available in Japan to date. The network is a part of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project launched by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. It covers subarctic to subtropical climate zones and the four major forest types in Japan. Twenty‐three permanent plots in which usually 25 litter traps were installed were established in old‐growth or secondary natural forests. Litter falls were collected monthly from 2004, and sorted into leaves, branches, reproductive structures and miscellaneous. The data provide seasonal patterns and inter‐annual dynamics of litter falls, and their geographical patterns, and offer good opportunities for meta‐analyses and comparative studies among forests.
Surface Activity and Cleavability of Gemini Surfactants Featuring Hydrophilic Spacer Groups
Authors: Su Shuenn‐Kung , Lin Li‐Huei , Lai Yu‐Ching
Published: September 2012

In this study we prepared and characterized a series of novel ester‐linked gemini surfactants, featuring ester bonds in their structures, through the reactions of polyethylene glycol (PEG400) with various fatty acids (C8–C18). These gemini surfactants exhibit excellent surface activities, as evidenced by their surface tension, wetting power, and low‐foaming and buffer abilities. We examine the influence of the concentrations of the ester‐linked gemini surfactants on the surface tension, from which we obtain the critical micelle concentrations. Under basic conditions, each of these cleavable surfactants decomposes into a water‐insoluble fatty acid and two water‐soluble products; in contrast, they are stable under neutral and acidic conditions.
Prooxidant Activity of Polar Lipid Oxidation Products in Bulk Oil and Oil‐in‐Water Emulsion
Authors: Kittipongpittaya Ketinun , Chen Bingcan , Panya Atikorn , McClements David Julian , Decker Eric A.
Published: September 2012

Lipid oxidation products can arise when oils are subjected to high temperature and exposed to oxygen. Many of these oxidation products have higher polarity than the original triacylglycerols due to the incorporation of oxygen. These polar oxidation products could have a negative impact on oxidative stability by acting as prooxidants. In this study, the influence of polar lipid oxidation products on the oxidative stability of bulk oils and oil‐in‐water emulsions was investigated. Polar compounds were isolated from used frying oil by silica gel column chromatography. They were added to bulk stripped corn oil (with/without reverse micelles formed by dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, DOPC) and oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsion to evaluate their prooxidative activity. Polar compounds increased lipid oxidation in bulk oil with and without DOPC. The presence of DOPC reverse micelles decreased the prooxidant activity of the polar oxidation products. On the other hand, there was no significant effect of the polar compounds on oxidation of O/W emulsions. To gain a better understanding of the polar compounds responsible for the prooxidant effect, linoleic acid and linoleic hydroperoxide were added into bulk oil at the same concentration as those in the polar fraction of the frying oil. However, they did not show the same prooxidative activity compared to oil with the polar fraction.
Lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of sub-clinical psychosis symptoms in a community cohort of 50-year-old individuals
Authors: Rössler W. , Hengartner M.P. , Ajdacic-Gross V. , Haker H. , Angst J.
Published: September 2012

Background:

Estimation of prevalence rates of sub-clinical psychosis symptoms can vary considerably depending on the methodology used. Furthermore, discussions are ongoing how prevalence rates may differ across various syndromes.

Method:

We analyzed data from the prospective Zurich Study, assessing sub-clinical psychosis with a semi-structured clinical interview in a community cohort of 50 years old individuals. The higher-order factors of psychosis symptoms were analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis to validate the a priori specified symptom-structure. Further associations were examined with contingency tables and logistic regressions.

Results:

The confirmatory factor analysis was consistent with a structure with four higher-order syndromes. Those different syndromes were labeled “thought disorder” (lifetime prevalence = 10.6%), “ego disorder” (4.8%), “hallucination” (9.7%), and “schizotypy” (28.2%). A strong discrepancy was noted between the 12-month prevalence of any symptoms and those considered to be severe. Twelve-month prevalence rates of distressful syndromes ranged from 0.1% for hallucinations up to 6.6% for schizotypy. The most strongly interrelated syndromes were thought disorder and ego disorder (OR = 12.4).

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate a continuity of sub-clinical psychosis within the general population even though only a small proportion suffers from distressing symptoms. Our analyses showed that the syndromes identified here are similar to those found in full-blown schizophrenia, albeit in an attenuated form.
Is ADHD severity in adults associated with the lifetime prevalence of comorbid depressive episodes and anxiety disorders?
Authors: Simon V. , Czobor P. , Bitter I.
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

The objective of the present study was to examine the association between ADHD severity and the lifetime prevalence of comorbid depressive episodes and anxiety disorders in adults with ADHD.

Subjects/materials and methods:

Analyses were based on data of the Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) and a parent study examining the epidemiology of adult ADHD in 17 GP practices in Budapest, Hungary. Subjects between 18 and 60 years were included in the screening phase (n = 3529). Out of 279 positively screened subjects 161 participated in a clinical interview and completed the CAARS to confirm the diagnosis. We applied four diagnostic criteria: “DSM-IV”; “No-onset” (DSM-IV criteria without the specific requirement for onset); “Symptoms-only” (DSM-IV symptom criterion only); and “Reduced symptoms-only” (DSM-IV symptom criterion with a reduced threshold for symptom count). The MINI PLUS 5.0 was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity.

Results:

ADHD severity, as measured by the CAARS ADHD Index, showed a significant positive association with the prevalence of comorbid depressive episodes in all but the “ADHD_No-onset” group (“DSM-IV”: F[1.23] = 8.39, P = 0.0081; “No-onset”: F(1.27) = 0.97, P = 0.3346; “Symptoms-only”: F[1.55] = 30.79, P < 0.0001; “Reduced symptoms-only”: F(1.62) = 26.69, P < 0.0001).

Discussion and conclusion:

Results indicate that ADHD symptom severity increases in association with lifetime comorbidity with depression.
Syncytiotrophoblast‐derived microparticle shedding in early‐onset and late‐onset severe pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Chen Yu , Huang Yajuan , Jiang Rongzhen , Teng Yincheng
Published: September 2012

Objective

To determine the concentration of syncytiotrophoblast‐derived microparticles (STBMs) in the maternal circulation and the rate of syncytiotrophoblast apoptosis in the placenta of patients with early‐onset and late‐onset severe pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

A prospective case–control study was conducted that enrolled 15 women with early‐onset severe pre‐eclampsia, 15 women with late‐onset severe pre‐eclampsia, and 10 women with normal pregnancies. Plasma STBM levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, while placental levels of active caspase‐3 were determined by western blotting. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with STBMs and the proliferation and apoptosis rates of the HUVECs assessed.

Results

Levels of STBMs in the early‐onset group (71.2 ± 20.7 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those detected in the late‐onset group (41.9 ± 29.7 ng/mL) and the control group (26.3 ± 11.2 ng/mL) (P < 0.05). The amount of active caspase‐3 was increased in the early‐onset (0.85 ± 0.61) and late‐onset groups (0.77 ± 0.46) relative to the control group (0.32 ± 0.15) (P < 0.05). Proliferation of HUVECs was inhibited, while apoptosis was elevated, following co‐culture with STBMs.

Conclusion

Shedding of STBMs into the maternal circulation occurs in greater amounts in early‐onset pre‐eclampsia than in late‐onset pre‐eclampsia.
The linear spin-up of a stratified, rotating fluid in a square cylinder
Authors: Foster M. R. , Munro R. J.
Published: September 2012

Here we present experimental and theoretical results for how a stratified fluid, initially rotating as a solid body with constant angular velocity, $\Omega $, within a closed cylinder of square cross-section, is spun up when subject to a small, impulsive increase, $ \mrm{\Delta} \Omega $, in the cylinder’s rotation rate. The fluid’s adjustment to the new state of solid rotation can be characterized by: (a) an inviscid, horizontal starting flow which conserves the vorticity of the initial condition; (b) the eruption of Ekman layer fluid from the perimeter region of the cylinder’s base and lid; (c) horizontal-velocity Rayleigh layers that grow into the interior from the container’s sidewalls; and (d) the formation and decay of columnar vortices in the vertical corner regions. Asymptotic results describe the inviscid starting flow, and the subsequent interior spin-up that occurs due to the combined effects of Ekman suction through the base and lid Ekman layers, and the growth of the sidewall Rayleigh layers. Attention is focused on the flow development over the spin-up time scale ${T}_{s} = {E}^{\ensuremath{-} 1/ 2} {\Omega }^{\ensuremath{-} 1} $, where $E$ is the Ekman number. (The spin-up process over the much longer diffusive time scale, ${T}_{d} = {E}^{\ensuremath{-} 1} {\Omega }^{\ensuremath{-} 1} $, is not considered here.) Experiments were performed using particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) to measure horizontal velocity components at fixed heights within the flow interior and at regular stages during the spin-up period. The velocity data obtained are shown to be in excellent agreement with the asymptotic theory.
Differences in dietary intakes, food sources and determinants of total flavonoids between Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study
Authors: Zamora-Ros Raul , Knaze Viktoria , Luján-Barroso Leila , Romieu Isabelle , Scalbert Augustin , Slimani Nadia , Hjartåker Anette , Engeset Dagrun , Skeie Guri , Overvad Kim , Bredsdorff Lea , Tjønneland Anne , Halkjær Jytte , Key Timothy J. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Mulligan Angela A. , Winkvist Anna , Johansson Ingegerd , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. Bas , Peeters Petra H. M. , Wallström Peter , Ericson Ulrika , Pala Valeria , de Magistris Maria Santucci , Polidoro Silvia , Tumino Rosario , Trichopoulou Antonia , Dilis Vardis , Katsoulis Michael , María Huerta José , Martínez Virginia , Sánchez María-José , Ardanaz Eva , Amiano Pilar , Teucher Birgit , Grote Verena , Bendinelli Benedetta , Boeing Heiner , Förster Jana , Touillaud Marina , Perquier Florence , Fagherazzi Guy , Gallo Valentina , Riboli Elio , González Carlos A.
Published: September 2012

A greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean (MED) diet is associated with a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases. This dietary pattern is based on higher consumption of plant products that are rich in flavonoids. We compared the total flavonoid dietary intakes, their food sources and various lifestyle factors between MED and non-MED countries participating in the EPIC study. Flavonoid intakes and their food sources for 35 628 subjects, aged 35–74 years and recruited between 1992 and 2000, in twenty-six study centres were estimated using standardised 24 h dietary recall software (EPIC-Soft®). An ad hoc food composition database on flavonoids was compiled using analytical data from the United States Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases. Moreover, it was expanded to include using recipes, estimations of missing values and flavonoid retention factors. No significant differences in total flavonoid mean intake between non-MED countries (373·7 mg/d) and MED countries (370·2 mg/d) were observed. In the non-MED region, the main contributors were proanthocyanidins (48·2 %) and flavan-3-ol monomers (24·9 %) and the principal food sources were tea (25·7 %) and fruits (32·8 %). In the MED region, proanthocyanidins (59·0 %) were by far the most abundant contributor and fruits (55·1 %), wines (16·7 %) and tea (6·8 %) were the main food sources. The present study shows similar results for total dietary flavonoid intakes, but significant differences in flavonoid class intakes, food sources and some characteristics between MED and non-MED countries. These differences should be considered in studies about the relationships between flavonoid intake and chronic diseases.
Fractional urinary fluoride excretion of 6–7-year-old children attending schools in low-fluoride and naturally fluoridated areas in the UK
Authors: Zohoori F. V. , Walls R. , Teasdale L. , Landes D. , Steen I. N. , Moynihan P. , Omid N. , Maguire A.
Published: September 2012

F is an important trace element for bones and teeth. The protective effect of F against dental caries is well established. Urine is the prime vehicle for the excretion of F from the body; however, the relationship between F intake and excretion is complex: the derived fractional urinary F excretion (FUFE) aids understanding of this in different age groups. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between (1) total daily F intake (TDFI) and daily urinary F excretion (DUFE), and (2) TDFI and FUFE in 6–7-year-olds, recruited in low-F and naturally fluoridated (natural-F) areas in north-east England. TDFI from diet and toothbrushing and DUFE were assessed through F analysis of duplicate dietary plate, toothbrushing expectorate and urine samples using a F-ion-selective electrode. FUFE was calculated as the ratio between DUFE and TDFI. Pearson's correlation and regression analysis were used to investigate the relationship between TDFI and FUFE. A group of thirty-three children completed the study; twenty-one receiving low-F water (0·30 mg F/l) and twelve receiving natural-F water (1·06 mg F/l) at school. The mean TDFI was 0·076 (sd0·038) and 0·038 (sd0·027) mg/kg per d for the natural-F and low-F groups, respectively. The mean DUFE was 0·017 (sd0·007) and 0·012 (sd0·006) mg/kg per d for the natural-F and low-F groups, respectively. FUFE was lower in the natural-F group (30 %) compared with the low-F group (40 %). Pearson's correlation coefficient for (1) TDFI and DUFE was +0·22 (P= 0·22) and for (2) TDFI and FUFE was − 0·63 (P< 0·001). In conclusion, there was no correlation between TDFI and DUFE. However, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between FUFE and TDFI.
AFRICA IN INDIAN INK: URDU ARTICULATIONS OF INDIAN SETTLEMENT IN EAST AFRICA
Authors: GREEN NILE
Published: September 2012

This article examines an Urdu travelogue written in 1901 to analyze the discursive frameworks by which Africa was rendered knowable to Indian settlers. As a vernacular ethnography written for a readership of Punjabi migrants associated with the Uganda Railway, the travelogue provides our earliest direct evidence of colonial Indian attitudes towards the peoples and landscapes of East Africa. Envisioning the region as at once an imperial and Islamic settlement zone, the travelogue documents the emergence of an ‘imperial-Islamicate’ discourse that incorporated both littoral and interior East Africa into an industrializing oceanic culture area.
TESTED LOYALTIES: POLICE AND POLITICS IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1939–63
Authors: SHEAR KEITH
Published: September 2012

Well into their rule, at a time when South Africa was increasingly perceived as a police state, the Nationalists, the party of apartheid, depended for the implementation of their policies on structures and personnel inherited from previous governments. Even in the South African Police, the institution most associated with the country's authoritarian reputation, key developments of the early apartheid decades originated in and cannot properly be understood without reference to the preceding period. A legacy of conflict between pro- and anti-war white policemen after 1939 was particularly significant. Concentrating on the careers and views of illustrative officers, notably members of the Special Branch, rather than on ‘the police’ in abstraction, this article analyses the complexities and continuities in the South African state's handling of domestic dissent in the years before and after the apartheid election of 1948.
‘When we launched the government's agenda…’: aid agencies and local politics in urban Africa
Authors: Esser Daniel E.
Published: September 2012

Political realities in the capital cities of impoverished countries emerging from violent conflict illustrate how local actors can be hindered in conducting political affairs independently from the interests and influence of national governments as well as international agencies. This experience problematises the argument that the main cause of political impasse in African cities governed by opposition parties is incomplete decentralisation, whereby a devolution of responsibilities is not matched by a downward reallocation of resources. Although resulting competition constrains local governments' opportunities to deliver basic services, we need to look beyond the national scale to uncover the drivers of institutional change and gauge the promise of donor-driven local political empowerment. Urban politics in Africa continues to be shaped by global aid discourses, which are translated into local policy frameworks through interest convergence between international and national actors. The case of Freetown, Sierra Leone provides an illustration of such macro-level alignment and resulting local frictions. At the same time, it also demonstrates how local politics have challenged the technocratic, apolitical reinvention of urban governance in the global South perpetuated by the international aid industry.
USING BEST-WORST SCALING IN HORIZON SCANNING FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Gallego Gisselle , Bridges John F.P. , Flynn Terry , Blauvelt Barri M. , Niessen Louis W.
Published: September 2012

Objectives: There is a growing need for efficient procedures for identification of emerging technologies by horizon scanning systems. We demonstrate the value of best-worst scaling (BWS) in exploring clinicians’ views on emerging technologies that will impact outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the next 5 to 10 years.

Methods: Clinicians in Asia, Europe, and the United States were surveyed and their views about eleven emerging technologies relevant to HCC were explored using BWS (case 1). This involved systematically presenting respondents with subsets of five technologies and asking them to identify those that will have the most and least impact on HCC within 5 to 10 years. Statistical analysis was based on sequential best-worst and analyzed using conditional logistic regression.

Results: A total of 120 clinicians uniformly distributed across ten countries completed the survey (37 percent response rate). Respondents were predominately hepatologist (41 percent) who focused on HCC (65 percent) and had national influence in this field (39 percent). Respondents viewed molecular targeted therapy (p < .001) and early detection of HCC (p < .001) as having most potential, while improved surgical techniques (p < .001) and biopsy free HCC diagnostics (p < .001) were viewed upon negatively.

Conclusions: We demonstrate that BWS could be an important research tool to facilitate horizon scanning and HTA more broadly. Our research demonstrates the value of including clinicians’ preferences as a source of data in horizon scanning, but such methods could be used to incorporate the opinions of a broad array of stakeholders, including those in advocacy and public policy.
ORDER SETS IN HEALTH CARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THEIR EFFECTS
Authors: Chan Alvita J. , Chan Julie , Cafazzo Joseph A. , Rossos Peter G. , Tripp Tim , Shojania Kaveh , Khan Tanya , Easty Anthony C.
Published: September 2012

Objectives: Order sets are widely used in hospitals to enter diagnosis and treatment orders. To determine the effectiveness of order sets in improving guideline adherence, treatment outcomes, processes of care, efficiency, and cost, we conducted a systematic review of the literature.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in various databases for studies published between January 1, 1990, and April 18, 2009. A total of eighteen studies met inclusion criteria. No randomized controlled trials were found.

Results: Outcomes of the included studies were summarized qualitatively due to variations in study population, intervention type, and outcome measures. There were no important inconsistencies between the results reported by studies involving different types of order sets. While the studies generally suggested positive outcomes, they were typically of low quality, with simple before-after designs and other methodological limitations.

Conclusions: The benefits of order sets remain eminently plausible, but given the paucity of high quality evidence, further investigations to formally evaluate the effectiveness of order sets would be highly valuable.
DEUS EX MACHINA OR E-SLAVE? PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF HEALTHCARE ROBOTICS IN THE GERMAN PRINT MEDIA
Authors: Laryionava Katsiaryna , Gross Dominik
Published: September 2012

Objectives: The news media plays a central role in providing information regarding new medical technologies and exerts an influence on their social perception, understanding, and assessments. This study, therefore, analyzes how healthcare robotics are portrayed in the German print news media. It examines whether the risks and opportunities of new medical technologies are presented in a balanced manner and investigates whether or not print media coverage of these technologies is affected by science-fiction discourse, in which robots appear mostly as a threat to humans.

Methods: Ten years of German print media coverage (2000–2010) have been studied by means of systematic, standardized content analysis.

Results: Reporting focuses predominantly on beneficial advancements in medical practice and the advantages of robotics for patients, medical staff, and society. The results show that the dominant relationship between robots and humans that is transmitted in print media in medical contexts is positive, with robots mostly portrayed as assistants, colleagues, or even friends. Only a small number of articles report ethical questions and risks.

Conclusions: In contrast to science-fiction discourse, the German print media provides a positive picture of robotics to the lay public.
EARLY AWARENESS AND ALERT SYSTEMS: AN OVERVIEW OF EUROSCAN METHODS
Authors: Gutierrez-Ibarluzea Iñaki , Simpson Sue , Benguria-Arrate Gaizka ,   the Members of EuroScan International Network
Published: September 2012

Objectives: Early awareness and alert (EAA) activities are increasingly recognized to be an important component of the health technology assessment (HTA) process. Sharing information on methods used in this discipline is vital to ensure the development of sustainable systems. The objectives of this study is to outline the approach taken to share the different methods that members of the EuroScan International Network use by producing a methods toolkit; and to provide an overview of the similarities and differences in methods adopted by EAA systems.

Methods: A Delphi technique was used to develop the methods toolkit. Structured questionnaires were used to identify the sources used in the identification of emerging technologies and to determine the methods used by agencies to carry out EAA activities.

Results: A methods toolkit incorporating guidance on all of the stages described by EuroScan members was produced. The toolkit and an accompanying checklist presents users with different methods that can be adopted to suit their needs. The comparative analysis demonstrates that different methods are being used by EAA systems dependent on resources available and customer requirements. Differences in identification, filtration, prioritization, and assessment are apparent along with the role of collaborators in these processes.

Conclusions: The methods used by EAA systems are not homogeneous resulting in a toolkit constructed on the basis of “one size doesn't fit all.” Methods in this discipline are developing continually to accommodate changes in health systems and the HTA world. Differences between agencies and the sharing of ideas and experiences enable EAA agencies to adapt to these developments.
IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL EARLY AWARENESS AND ALERT SYSTEM FOR NEW AND EMERGING HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES IN ITALY: THE COTE PROJECT
Authors: Migliore Antonio , Perrini Maria Rosaria , Jefferson Tom , Cerbo Marina
Published: September 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a national Early Awareness and Alert (EAA) system for the identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies in Italy.

Methods: In 2008, Agenas, a public body supporting Regions and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in health services research, started a project named COTE (Observatory of New and Emerging Health Technologies) with the ultimate aim of implementing a national EAA system. The COTE project involved all stakeholders (MoH, Regions, Industry, Universities, technical government bodies, and Scientific Societies), in defining the key characteristics and methods of the EAA system. Agreement with stakeholders was reached using three separate workshops.

Results: During the workshops, participants shared and agreed methods for identification of new and emerging health technologies, prioritization, and assessment. The structure of the Horizon Scanning (HS) reports was discussed and defined. The main channels for dissemination of outputs were identified as the EuroScan database, and the stakeholders’ Web portals. During the final workshop, Agenas presented the first three HS reports produced at national level and proposed the establishment of a permanent national EAA system.

Conclusions: The COTE Project created the basis for a permanent national EAA system in Italy. An infrastructure to enable the stakeholders network to grow was created, methods to submit new and emerging health technologies for possible evaluation were established, methods for assessment of the technologies selected were defined, and the stakeholders involvement was delineated (in the identification, assessment, and dissemination stages).
ENGAGING CLINICIANS IN EVIDENCE-BASED DISINVESTMENT: ROLE AND PERCEPTIONS OF EVIDENCE
Authors: Watt Amber M. , Willis Cameron D. , Hodgetts Katherine , Elshaug Adam G. , Hiller Janet E.
Published: September 2012

Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine how evidence from systematic review (SR) is perceived and negotiated by expert stakeholders in considering a technology for potential disinvestment.

Methods:An evidence-informed stakeholder engagement examined results from a diagnostic accuracy SR of vitamin B12and folate tests. Pathologists deliberated around the SR findings to generate an informed contribution to future policy for the funding of B12and folate tests. Deliberations were transcribed and subject to qualitative analysis.

Results:Pathologists did not engage with findings from the SR in depth; rather they sought to contest the terms of the problem driving the review and attempted to reframe it. Pathologists questioned the usefulness of SR outcomes given the variable definitions of B12deficiency and deferred addressing disinvestment options specifically pertaining to B12testing. However,folatetesting was proffered as a potential disinvestment candidate, based upon pathologists' definition of “appropriate” evidence beyond the bounds of the SR.

Conclusions:The value of SR to informing disinvestment deliberations by expert stakeholders may be a function of timing as well as content. Engagement of stakeholders in co-produced evidence may be required at two levels: (i) Early in the synthesis phase to help shape the SR and harmonize expert views with the available evidence (including gaps); (ii) Collaboration in primary research to fill evidence-gaps thus supporting evidence-based disinvestment. Without this, information asymmetry between clinically engaged experts and decision makers may preclude the collaborative, informed, and technical discussions required to generate productive policy change.
The French noun phrase in preschool children with SLI: morphosyntactic and error analyses
Authors: ROYLE PHAEDRA , STINE ISABELLE
Published: September 2012

We studied spontaneous speech noun-phrase production in eight French-speaking children with SLI (aged 5 ; 0 to 5 ; 11) and controls matched on age (4 ; 10 to 5 ; 11) or MLU (aged 3 ; 2 to 4 ; 1). Results showed that children with SLI prefer simple DP structures to complex ones while producing more substitution and omission errors than controls. The three groups also showed distinct error patterns. Children with SLI appeared to have difficulty with phonological processes involved in liaison, elision, and contraction, whereas control children tended to make more lexical errors. These data support models of reduced morphosyntactic and syntactic abilities in this population, and suggest that morphophonological processes should also be integrated into descriptive models of SLI.