bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of polymer embedded iron oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Peluso Antonio , Pagliarulo Vito , Carotenuto Gianfranco , Pepe Giovanni P. , Davino Daniele , Visone Ciro , Longo Angelo , Capezzuto Filomena
Published: August 2009

Optical plastics filled by nano‐sized magnetic particles may have relevant applications in magneto‐optics. Here, an in‐situ method for the preparation of magnetic nanoparticles embedded in polystyrene by thermal decomposition of iron mercaptide is described. Transparent ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic nanocomposites have been produced using iron (II) and iron (III) mercaptides. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2774–2777, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24733
Microwave operation of sub‐micrometer gate surface channel MESFETs in polycrystalline diamond
Authors: Calvani P. , Corsaro A. , Sinisi F. , Rossi M. C. , Conte G. , Giovine E. , Ciccognani W. , Limiti E.
Published: August 2009

Submicron gate‐length metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) were fabricated on hydrogen‐terminated—large grain polycrystalline diamond. Devices showed high drain‐source current (140 ma/mm) and large transconductance values (50 ms/mm), with a cut‐off frequency ft = 10 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency, fmax, up to 35 GHz. These values are obtained through the fabrication of devices with geometry and active region dimensions (200–500 nm gate length) compatible with available microelectronic technologies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2786–2788, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24738
An empirical method to identify patterns in the course of psychotic episodes of people with schizophrenia
Authors: Burti Lorenzo , Mazzi Mariangela , Koeter Maarten , Schene Aart , Helm Hedda , Puschner Bernd , Bindman Jonathan , Leese Morven , Thornicroft Graham , Tansella Michele
Published: August 2009

Objective: This paper illustrates the process of constructing, selecting and applying simple measures in order to empirically derive patterns of course of psychotic episodes in schizophrenia.

Method: Data were collected with a composite instrument constructed for a multi‐centre, follow‐up randomized controlled trial of adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia. The instrument included a retrospective weekly assessment of psychotic/non‐psychotic status, which was used to derive the measures, and the DSM‐IV course specifiers.

Results: The measures discriminated well between different course patterns and identified homogeneous clusters of subjects which correlated with the groups derived from the DSM‐IV course specifiers.

Conclusions: The new measures provide an empirical basis to identify specific patterns of course and to differentiate patients according to pre‐defined criteria. They can be used in follow‐up studies as measures of outcome, to investigate correlations between variables and to identify potential predictors of outcome. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linearly many faults in 2‐tree‐generated networks
Authors: Cheng Eddie , Lipták László , Sala Fred
Published: August 2009

In this article we consider a class of Cayley graphs that are generated by certain 3‐cycles on the alternating group An. These graphs are generalizations of the alternating group graph AGn. We look at the case when the 3‐cycles form a “tree‐like structure,” and analyze its fault resiliency. We present a number of structural theorems and prove that even with linearly many vertices deleted, the remaining graph has a large connected component containing almost all vertices. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2010
A robust branch‐cut‐and‐price algorithm for the heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem
Authors: Pessoa Artur , Uchoa Eduardo , Poggi de Aragão Marcus
Published: August 2009

This article presents a robust branch‐cut‐and‐price algorithm for the heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem (HFVRP), vehicles may have distinct capacities and costs. The columns in the formulation are associated to q‐routes, a relaxation of capacitated elementary routes that makes the pricing problem solvable in pseudopolynomial time. Powerful new families of cuts are also proposed, which are expressed over a very large set of variables. Those cuts do not increase the complexity of the pricing subproblem. Experiments are reported where instances with up to 75 vertices were solved to optimality, a major improvement with respect to previous algorithms. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Neighborhood conditions for graphs to be super restricted edge connected
Authors: Wang Shiying , Li Jing , Wu Lihong , Lin Shangwei
Published: August 2009

Restricted edge connectivity is a more refined network reliability index than edge connectivity. For a connected graph G = (V, E), an edge set S ⊆ E is a restricted edge cut if G − S is disconnected and every component of G − S has at least two vertices. The restricted edge connectivity of G is defined as the cardinality of a minimum restricted edge cut. G is super restricted edge connected if every minimum restricted edge cut of G isolates one edge. In this article, we present several neighborhood conditions for a graph to be super restricted edge connected. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2010
Wavelength assignment in multifiber star networks
Authors: Bian Zhengbing , Gu Qian‐Ping
Published: August 2009

We consider the wavelength assignment problem in WDM optical networks with multiple parallel fibers: Given a setPof paths, assign a color to each path such that the number of paths with the same color containing any link is at most the number of fibers in the link. Assuming the number of fibers in each link is fixed, we study two optimization problems. One is to minimize the number of colors for coloringP. The other is to color as many paths ofPas possible with a given number of colors. We show that both the minimization and the maximization problems are NP‐hard in star networks with a uniform odd number of fibers. We give polynomial time optimal algorithms for the minimization and maximization problems in star networks with an even number of fibers and in the generalized star networks with a uniform even number of fibers. We also give a 1.58‐approximation algorithm for the maximization problem in the generalized star networks with an arbitrary number of fibers. The algorithms for the maximization problem in the generalized stars are based on our newly developed algorithm, which optimally solves the call control problem in the generalized star networks. The call control algorithm is of independent interest. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2010
Synthesis and fluorescence properties of dysprosium‐coordinated with high‐Tg polyaryletherketones containing carboxyl side groups
Authors: Liu Dan , Yu Hao , Wang Zhonggang , Xin Lei , You Jia , Li Guiyang
Published: August 2009

A series of novel dysprosium coordination polymers were synthesized using new high‐Tg carboxyl‐containing polyaryletherketones (PEKs) as macromolecular ligands and a small molecule, 1,10‐phenanthroline, as co‐ligand. The FTIR, WAXD, and UV–Vis results indicated that the dysprosium ions were coordinated simultaneously with carboxyl group of PEKs and 1,10‐phenanthroline, and homogeneously distributed along the polymer backbone. These obtained dysprosium coordination polymers showed excellent film‐formation properties. Moreover, all the dysprosium coordination polymers could exhibit the intense characteristic emission of dysprosium ions under UV excitation. Meanwhile, the emission intensity increased with increasing dysprosium ion content, and no obvious fluorescence quenching happened at the Dy3+ ion content up to 10.71 wt%, which was attributed to the very rigid structure of PEK and synergistic coordination effect of PEK and 1,10‐phenanthroline. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent progress in understanding the pathology of malignant melanoma
Authors: Kuphal Silke , Bosserhoff Anja
Published: August 2009

Recently, several important findings on melanoma development and progression have accelerated progress towards a molecular understanding of melanoma biology. Furthermore, the development of experimental tools, such as a wide range of cell lines and animal models of metastasis, has turned melanoma into a model for general tumour research. However, it has also become evident that melanoma is distinct from other tumours with regard to its cellular origin and pathophysiological mechanisms. This review focuses on important new findings that have contributed to a greater understanding of the molecular processes leading to melanoma. Translating these innovative new results into potent therapeutic approaches will require even more effort. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chain reaction of amyloid fibril formation with induction of basement membrane in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy
Authors: Misumi Yohei , Ando Yukio , Ueda Mitsuharu , Obayashi Konen , Jono Hirofumi , Su Yu , Yamashita Taro , Uchino Makoto
Published: August 2009

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils caused by a point mutation in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. Despite data from a number of in vitro studies of TTR amyloidogenesis, many questions, including where and how these fibrils form in vivo and what is the impact of amyloid deposition on tissues, remain unanswered. Here, we analysed the relationship between amyloid fibril formation and micro‐environmental changes by using autopsy cardiac tissues from 11 patients with FAP and a smooth muscle cell line. Ultrastructural studies of cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells showed that amyloid fibrils formed first at the basement membrane and that amorphous non‐fibrillar TTR deposits and premature fibrils predominated during the early stage of amyloid deposition. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that expression of major components of the basement membrane, such as collagen IV, laminin, and fibronectin, increased in parallel with the accumulation of TTR amyloid fibrils. In vitro studies with a vascular smooth muscle cell line revealed that synthetic TTR aggregates increased expression of these basement membrane components. Serum levels of collagen IV in FAP patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Our data thus indicate that TTR amyloid fibrils formed first at the basement membrane and that expression of basement membrane components that was induced by amyloid deposition contributed to further amyloid deposition. This chain reaction may have important implications for FAP pathogenesis. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards a unified view of the solvatochromism of phenolate betaine dyes
Authors: Domínguez Moisés , Rezende Marcos Caroli
Published: August 2009

An attempt has been made in order to unify the three types of solvatochromisms (negative, positive and inverted) of phenolate betaine dyes by a working model which describes them as particular cases of a general behavior. The model, based on the calculation (gas phase) of the chemical hardness of donor and acceptor fragments, was applied to 56 examples from the literature. As a result, the investigated compounds were grouped according to the sum of the hardnesses of their (non‐interacting) fragments, this sum being larger for a negative, intermediate for an inverted, and smaller for a positive solvatochromic behavior. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A partial nudged elastic band implementation for use with large or explicitly solvated systems
Authors: Bergonzo Christina , Campbell Arthur J. , Walker Ross C. , Simmerling Carlos
Published: August 2009

The nudged elastic band method (NEB) can be used to find a minimum energy path between two given starting structures. This method has been available in the standard release of the Amber9 and Amber10 suite of programs. In this article, a novel implementation of this method will be discussed, in which the nudged elastic band method is applied to only a specific, user‐defined subset of atoms in a particular system, returning comparable results, and minimum energy pathways as the standard implementation for an alanine dipeptide test system. This allows incorporation of explicit solvent with simulated systems, which may be preferred in many cases to an implicit solvent model. From a computational standpoint, this implementation of NEB also reduces the communication overhead inside the code, resulting in better performance for larger systems. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Evaluation of uncertainties in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy intensities associated with different methods and procedures for background subtraction. II. Spectra for unmonochromated Al and Mg X‐rays
Authors: Powell C. J. , Conny J. M.
Published: August 2009

We report uncertainties in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) intensities arising from commonly used methods and procedures for subtraction of the spectral background. These uncertainties were determined from a comparison of XPS intensities reported by volunteer analysts and the corresponding intensities expected for a set of simulated XPS spectra. We analyzed peak intensities from 16 sets of data (submitted from 15 institutions) for a group of 12 spectra that had been simulated for an unmonochromated Al‐Kα source and similar intensities from 20 sets of data (submitted from 17 institutions) that had been simulated for an unmonochromated Mg‐Kα source. Each reported intensity was compared with an expected intensity for the particular integration limits chosen by each analyst and known from the simulation design. We present ratios of the reported intensities to the expected intensities for the background‐subtraction methods chosen by the analysts. These ratios were close to unity in most cases, as expected, but deviations were found in the results from some analysts, particularly if shakeup was present. We showed that better results for the Shirley and Tougaard backgrounds were obtained when analysts determined peak intensities over certain energy ranges or integration limits. We then were able to suggest integration limits that should be a useful guide in the determination of peak intensities for other XPS spectra. The use of relatively narrow integration limits with the Shirley and linear backgrounds, however, will lead to measures of peak intensity that are less than the total intensities. Although these measures may be satisfactory for some quantitative analyses, errors in quantitative XPS analyses can occur if there are changes in XPS lineshapes or shakeup fractions with change of chemical state. The use of curve‐fitting equations to fit an entire spectrum will generally exclude the shakeup contribution to the intensity of the main peak, and any variation in the shakeup fraction with change of chemical state will not be taken into account. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Family ownership and acquisition behavior in publicly‐traded companies
Authors: Miller Danny , Le Breton‐Miller Isabelle , Lester Richard H.
Published: August 2009

Much of the literature on corporate acquisitions has focused on managerial incentives for making acquisitions but has underemphasized the role played by the social context of major shareholders. This study of Fortune 1000 firms argues that the priorities and risk preferences of family owners can have important implications not only for the volume but also for the diversifying nature of their acquisitions. Agency and family business perspectives are used to derive expectations concerning the acquisitions behavior of family owners. Consistent with both perspectives, and owners' desire to reduce business risk, we find that family ownership is inversely related to the number and dollar volume of acquisitions. However, whereas agency theorists differ about how ownership concentration influences whether acquisitions are diversified, the family firm literature is more definitive. The latter suggests that given family owners' desire to retain control of their firms for offspring, their wealth must remain concentrated. Hence they can most easily reduce the risk of their wealth portfolio by diversifying the business—that is, through diversifying acquisitions. Consistent with this logic, we found the propensity to make diversifying acquisitions to increase with the level of family ownership. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Characterizations of Four New Metal Phosphonates with Layered Structure
Authors: Liu Lei , Li Jing , Sun Zhen‐Gang , Dong Da‐Peng , Zhang Na , Lu Xin , Wang Wei‐Nan , Tong Fei
Published: August 2009

By using piperazine as a structure‐directing agent, four new metal phosphonates with layered structure, [pzH2]0.5[ML(H2O)]·1.5H2O [M = Co (1), Ni (2), Zn (3)] and [pz]0.5[Sb2L2]·H2O (4) (H3L = 2‐hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid; pz = piperazine), have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Compounds 1–3 are isostructural and comprise MO6 octahedra and CPO3 tetrahedra connected by [O3PCH(OH)CO2]3– to form a 2D layered structure with a one‐dimensional channel system along the a axis direction. In compound 4, two SbO4E trigonal bipyramids (E is a lone pair of electrons, which occupy an axial position) are interconnected into a dimer by corner‐sharing. The so‐built dimers are bridged by the CPO3 tetrahedra into a 2D layered structure with a one‐dimensional channel system in the c axis direction. The protonated piperazine cations for compounds 1–3 and the piperazine molecules for compound 4 are located between two adjacent layers.
Proximal ulna stress fracture and stress reaction of the proximal radius associated with the use of crutches: a case report and literature review
Authors: Venkatanarasimha Nanda , Kamath Sridhar , Kambouroglou G. , Ostlere Simon J.
Published: August 2009

We report a case of complete stress fracture of the ulna and stress reaction of the radius resulting from the use of crutches in an overweight patient with severe lower extremity arthritis. Plain radiograph showed an undisplaced complete fracture of the proximal metaphysis of the ulna. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to exclude a pathological cause in view of the unusual fracture site, which confirmed the plain radiographic findings and additionally demonstrated a stress reaction in the proximal radius. There are three cases of stress fracture of the ulnar diaphysis resulting from the use of crutches reported previously in the English literature and a further case of bilaterally symmetrical ulnar diaphysial fracture reported in the Danish literature. We report the first case of ulnar metaphysis stress fracture with concomitant stress reaction of the radius.
The relationship between anemia at admission and outcome in patients older than 60 years with hip fracture
Authors: Hagino Tetsuo , Ochiai Satoshi , Sato Eiichi , Maekawa Shingo , Wako Masanori , Haro Hirotaka
Published: August 2009

Background

We have reported that the functional outcome in elderly with hip fracture is related to age at admission, dementia, and anemia. In this study, we examined the relationship between hemoglobin level at admission and walking ability, as well as survival outcome at discharge.

Materials and methods

We studied 394 patients aged 60 years or older treated at our hospital for hip fracture since 1997. Anemia was defined as an admission hemoglobin level <13.0 g/dl for men and <12.0 g/dl for women. The relationships between anemia status with age at admission, gender, fracture type, residence before injury, walking ability at discharge, length of hospital stay, and survival outcome were analyzed.

Results

Anemia was observed in 266 of 394 patients. Univariate analysis identified no relationship between the status of anemia and age, gender, walking ability before injury, treatment modality, or length of hospital stay. On the other hand, 106 of 266 patients in the anemic group were residing in institutions, and as many as 72.9% of patients in the anemic group had trochanteric fracture. For walking ability at discharge, 92 of 128 patients without anemia were ambulatory compared with only 130 of 266 patients with anemia, with a significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, there were 15 in-hospital deaths in the anemic group compared with one death in the nonanemic group. Multivariate analysis identified three independent items: age, fracture type, and walking ability at discharge, as related to the status of anemia.

Conclusions

Hemoglobin level at admission is related to outcome in patients with hip fracture.
Combined Dislocation of the Trapezium and the Trapezoid: A Case Report with Review of the Literature
Authors: Clarke Sylvan E. , Raphael James R.
Published: August 2009

Dislocation of the either the trapezium or the trapezoid are both rare injuries, even among carpal dislocations. We report a case of combined volar trapezium dislocation and dorsal trapezoid dislocation with other concomitant injuries. A review of the literature regarding trapezium and trapezoid dislocations as well as the treatment of these injuries is presented.
A Laboratory Decanting Procedure to Simulate Whole Stillage Separation in Dry‐Grind Corn Ethanol Process
Authors: Wang Hui , Wang Tong , Pometto Anthony L. , Johnson Lawrence A.
Published: August 2009

In the dry‐grind corn ethanol industry, horizontal decanter centrifuges are used to separate the whole stillage into wet grains and thin stillage. The wet grains mixed with condensed thin stillage are dried to form dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS). In order to investigate the effect of different corn breaking treatments on increasing oil partitioning in thin stillage, a laboratory method is needed to simulate industrial decanting where a typical thin stillage is produced. The thin stillage obtained using a conventional laboratory centrifuge had much lower solids content and less than one‐half of the dry‐matter yield compared to the industry counterpart because the conventional laboratory centrifuge and industry decanter centrifuge have different separation mechanisms. By evaluating the properties of industrial thin stillage and the mechanism of industrial decanter centrifugation, a laboratory decanting device was designed and a decanting procedure, the multiple‐wash centrifugal filtration (MWCF) method, was developed. This method involves multiple steps of filtration under centrifugal force after washing the solids with the liquid generated from the same mash. Four cycles of MWCF produced a thin stillage with similar solids content (7.3 vs. 7.2%), dry‐matter yield (54.2 vs. 54.7%), and wet yield (83.3 vs. 80.6%) compared to industrial thin stillage. The presence of ethanol did not influence the laboratory decanting results, which indicates the application robustness of this laboratory thin stillage preparation method.
Current concepts of the pathogenesis of endometriosis
Authors: Osuga Yutaka
Published: August 2009

Endometriosis is a disease that causes the health of women of reproductive age to deteriorate. The implantation theory is the most widely accepted pathogenesis of the disease, although many points remain poorly understood concerning this theory. According to this theory, regurgitated endometrial debris has to go through various sequential events for the disease to develop. Recent studies have elucidated several aspects of these events. A remarkably reduced gene expression of GnRH II and an increase in uterine contraction‐induced IL‐8 secretion are suggested to be pathogenic changes in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. An increased level of osteoprotegerin in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis is suggested to impede tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL)‐induced apoptosis of endometriotic cells. An increase in the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor and a decrease in the concentration of interferon gamma‐inducible protein‐10 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis may stimulate the angiogenesis and development of endometriosis. Midkine, the concentration of which is very high in the follicular fluid of the ovary, may stimulate the growth of endometriosis at the time of ovulation. Immune cells, such as macrophages, lymphocytes, mast cells, and neutrophils, in endometriotic lesions are suggested to play important roles in the progression of the disease. For example, IL‐4 from Th2 cells, IL‐17 from Th17 cells, tryptase from mast cells, and some serine proteases from neutrophils have been shown to stimulate endometriotic stromal cells, suggesting their specific roles in endometriosis. Interestingly, adiponectin, a key factor in metabolism, also appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. These novel findings sustain the current understanding of the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Stem/progenitor cells and the regeneration potentials in the human uterus
Authors: Maruyama Tetsuo
Published: August 2009

The human uterus is unique in that it possesses the tremendous regenerative capacity required for cyclical regeneration and remodeling throughout a woman's reproductive life. Not only must the uterus rapidly enlarge to accommodate the developing fetus, the endometrium must also regenerate with each menstrual cycle. This plasticity of the reproductive system has recently been highlighted. My research group and collaborators showed that functional endometrial tissue could be regenerated from only a small number of singly dispersed human endometrial cells, transplanted beneath the kidney capsule of severely immunodeficient mice. This artificially generated endometrium resembles the natural endometrium, and contains human blood vessels that invade the mouse kidney parenchyma. Additionally, it mimics normal hormone‐dependent changes including proliferation, differentiation, and tissue breakdown (menstruation). The regenerative capacity of endometrial cells makes them ideal candidates for tissue reconstitution, angiogenesis, and human–mouse chimeric vessel formation. The smooth muscle cells of the uterus (myometrium) share the plasticity of the endometrium. This is evidenced by their capacity for dramatic, repeatable, pregnancy‐induced enlargement. Regeneration and remodeling in the female reproductive tract allude to the existence of endometrial and myometrial stem cell systems. We have recently isolated candidate populations of adult stem cells from both the human endometrium and myometrium. Characterization of these endometrial and myometrial cells, along with the study of the mechanisms controlling their regeneration, will improve the understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the female reproductive tract. Furthermore, myometrial and endometrial stem‐like cells might also represent a novel source of biological material that could be used for the reconstruction of not only the human uterus but other organs as well.
Function of tau protein in adult newborn neurons
Authors: Fuster-Matanzo Almudena , de Barreda Elena Gómez , Dawson Hana N. , Vitek Michael P. , Avila Jesús , Hernández Félix
Published: August 2009

Levels of tau phosphorylation are high during the developmental period of intense neurite outgrowth, but decrease later. We here investigated whether tau protein plays a role in adult neurogenesis. First we demonstrate that new neurons generated in the subgranular zone express tau in a hyperphosphorylated form. Phospho‐tau expression colocalized with doublecortin but not with glial fibrillary acidic protein, Ki67 or calbindin. The same was observed in the subventricular zone. Tau knockout mice did not show a significant decrease in the number of doublecortin‐positive cells, although a deficit in migration was observed. These findings suggest that basal tau phosphorylation present in adult animals is in part due to neurogenesis, and from Tau knockout mice it seems that tau is involved in normal migration of new neurons.
Body fat, insulin resistance, energy expenditure and serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin and resistin before, during and after pregnancy in healthy Swedish women
Authors: Eriksson Britt , Löf Marie , Olausson Hanna , Forsum Elisabet
Published: August 2009

Healthy human pregnancy is associated with changes in food intake, body fatness, energy expenditure and insulin resistance. However, available knowledge is limited regarding the physiological basis of these changes. Published evidence suggests that so-called adipokines (i.e. leptin, adiponectin and resistin) have significant roles when such changes are established. We explored, throughout a complete pregnancy, relationships between total body fat (TBF), energy expenditure, insulin resistance (homeostasic model of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR) and serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin and resistin. Such concentrations were assessed before pregnancy in gestational weeks 8, 14, 20, 32 and 35, and 2 weeks postpartum in twenty-three healthy women. TBF, BMR (n 23) and HOMA-IR (n 17) were assessed before pregnancy in gestational weeks 14 and 32 and 2 weeks postpartum. TBF (%) was correlated with HOMA-IR (r 0·68–0·79, P < 0·01) and with serum leptin (r 0·85–0·88, P < 0·001) before and during pregnancy. Serum leptin was correlated with HOMA-IR (r 0·53–0·70, P < 0·05) before and during pregnancy. Serum adiponectin was inversely correlated with HOMA-IR in gestational week 32 (r − 0·52, P < 0·05). When HOMA-IR was regressed on TBF (%), the slope of the regression line was 0·046 before pregnancy, which was significantly (P < 0·05) different from the corresponding value, 0·111, in gestational week 32. The results indicate that pregnancy has an enhancing effect on the relationship between body fatness and insulin resistance. This effect, possibly mediated by leptin, may represent a mechanism by which offspring size is regulated in response to the nutritional situation of the mother.
Supplementation of DHA but not DHA with arachidonic acid during pregnancy and lactation influences general movement quality in 12-week-old term infants
Authors: van Goor Saskia A. , Janneke Dijck-Brouwer D. A. , Doornbos Bennard , Erwich Jan Jaap H. M. , Schaafsma Anne , Muskiet Frits A. J. , Hadders-Algra Mijna
Published: August 2009

DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) are important for neurodevelopment. A traditional neonatal neurological examination and the evaluation of general movement quality are sensitive techniques for assessing neurodevelopment in young infants. Mildly abnormal general movements at 3 months have been associated with a non-optimal current brain condition. We investigated whether supplementation of DHA during pregnancy and lactation influences the infant's brain development and whether additional AA modulates this effect. Healthy women were randomly assigned to DHA (220 mg/d, n 42), DHA+AA (220 mg each/d, n 41) or control (n 36), from about week 17 (range 14–20 weeks) of pregnancy until 12 weeks postpartum. The control and the DHA+AA groups had approximately comparable dietary DHA/AA ratios. The standardised neonatal neurological examination was carried out at 2 weeks. General movement quality was assessed at 2 and 12 weeks. Neither DHA alone nor DHA+AA influenced outcomes in the traditional examination. General movement quality of infants in the DHA group was lower than that of infants in the other two groups, especially at 12 weeks: 61 % of the infants in the DHA group showed mildly abnormal general movements compared with 31 % in the control group (P = 0·008) and 34 % in the DHA+AA group (P = 0·015). We conclude that general movement quality at 12 weeks is sensitive to the maternal dietary DHA/AA balance.
Lupin protein isolate and cysteine-supplemented casein reduce calcification of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice
Authors: Weisse Kristin , Brandsch Corinna , Hirche Frank , Eder Klaus , Stangl Gabriele I.
Published: August 2009

Protein from lupin is supposed to have anti-atherogenic effects due to its lipid-lowering properties in laboratory animals. It is further suggested that the amino acid cysteine plays a crucial role in this aspect. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of lupin protein and cysteine-supplemented casein with those of casein on atherosclerotic lesion development in apoE-deficient mice. For that purpose, thirty mice were fed an egg albumin-based Western-type diet containing test protein (100 g/kg) for 4 months. ApoE-deficient mice fed the lupin protein or the cysteine-supplemented casein had more than 50 % less aortic calcification than mice fed casein (P < 0·05). The quantified lesion area as a percentage of the total surface area, as well as the collagen and fat content of the lesions were not different between the three groups of mice. The concentration of VLDL TAG was higher in mice fed the lupin protein and the cysteine-supplemented casein than in mice fed casein (P < 0·05). The cholesterol concentrations of VLDL, LDL and HDL from mice fed the lupin protein and cysteine-supplemented casein were not different compared with the mice fed casein. Also, the plasma concentrations of homocysteine, Ca, inorganic phosphate, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in plasma and liver did not differ between the three groups of mice. The present study shows that lupin protein and cysteine-supplemented casein compared with casein reduce the calcification of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice. This effect seems not to be mediated by effects on plasma lipoproteins, homocysteine and circulating minerals.
UNNATURAL DEATHS AMONG NUNS AND MONKS: IS THERE A BIOLOGICAL FORCE BEHIND MALE EXTERNAL CAUSE MORTALITY?
Authors: LUY MARC
Published: August 2009

It is still unclear if and how biological factors contribute to excess male mortality due to ‘external causes’ (accidents, injuries, homicides and suicides). Sex hormones and reproductive roles are supposed to drive sex differences in behaviours increasing the male external cause mortality risk. This study analyses the external cause mortality of Catholic nuns and monks from three Bavarian cloisters whose similar environments allow the impact of biological factors to be isolated from a number of confounding causes. Using obituaries, entries in the profession books of religious orders and cemetery registers 2533 deaths of nuns and monks could be linked to a specific cause of death for the years 1946–2005, of which 69 belong to the group of external cause deaths. External cause mortality of the Bavarian cloistered and the West German general population has been compared by means of standardized mortality rates (SMRs) for ages 45 onwards using the European age standard for the age groups 45–64, 65–74 and 75+. Whereas nuns show statistically significantly lower external cause mortality than the general female population, monks' external cause mortality parallels or even exceeds that of general population males. These findings contradict the reproductive role hypothesis and provide some evidence for the sex hormones hypothesis.
Subverting Democracy: Elite Rule and the Limits to Political Participation in Post-War El Salvador
Authors: WOLF SONJA
Published: August 2009

After decades of authoritarianism and a twelve-year civil war ended by a negotiated peace agreement in 1992, El Salvador is a markedly different country. Despite important changes, however, public institutions have remained largely unresponsive, acute social exclusion persists and violent crime has soared. Rather than the possibly inevitable by-products of a post-conflict situation, these and other developments are the consequences of a regression from an incipient electoral democracy to electoral authoritarianism. The elite-controlledAlianza Republicana Nacionalista(ARENA) party had more to gain from the preservation of the status quo than from democratic changes and only accepted a politically inclusive system to restore the oligarchy's dominant position through electoral politics. Uncommitted to democratic consolidation, successive ARENA administrations maintained an institutional façade of democracy to reproduce authoritarian governance and defend elite interests.
NEUROBIOLOGICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF LANGUAGE IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Authors: Eigsti Inge-Marie , Schuh Jillian M.
Published: August 2009

As a neurodevelopmental disorder, autism is characterized by impairments and differences at the levels of both brain and behavior. Communicative impairments in autism are a core feature of the disorder, and a rapidly expanding literature is exploring language in autism using the tools of cognitive neuroscience, particularly electroencephalography and brain imaging. Recent research indicates consistent differences in the degree to which language-specific processes are lateralized in the brain, and it also suggests that language impairments are linked to differences in brain structure that may lead to inefficient coordination of activity between different neural assemblies to achieve a complex cognitive task, defined as functional connectivity. We review findings from current work and suggest that neurobiological data are critical in our ability to understand the mechanisms underlying behavioral differences in communicative skills. Going beyond simple dichotomies between delayed versus deviant development, we can use such data to ask whether behavior reflects processes that are merely inefficient or, instead, whether impairments at the behavioral level reflect fundamental differences in brain organization and the networks involved in various tasks.
IMAGES OF THE MULTILINGUAL BRAIN: THE EFFECT OF AGE OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Authors: Wattendorf Elise , Festman Julia
Published: August 2009

Is it the age of second language acquisition (AoA) that primarily determines the manner of cerebral representation of multiple languages in the brain, or is it proficiency? Here, we review recent neuroimaging studies that aimed at investigating AoA effects by comparing early with late (usually with L2 acquisition onset after 6 years of age) bilinguals during a variety of language tasks on a number of languages. Most studies did indeed report AoA effects. Of particular interest is that the region mainly found to functionally differ between early and late bilinguals is the left inferior frontal gyrus, which was modulated during syntactic processing, word generation, and sentence generation. Additionally, differences were observed in gray-matter density of the posterior parietal cortex as well as in right-hemisphere involvement. Interestingly, despite some convergence of findings from a localizational point of view, underlying causes of organizational and functional differences for the effect of AoA on bilingual language processing still remain to be uncovered. Hypotheses currently used for explaining activation differences are described (notably cortical efficiency, executive control, neuroanatomical changes, and right-hemisphere involvement) in relation to AoA and language proficiency.
BILINGUAL APHASIA: ADAPTED LANGUAGE NETWORKS AND THEIR CONTROL
Authors: Green David W.
Published: August 2009

This review focuses on the nature of language recovery in bilingual individuals poststroke and on the effectiveness of treatment. I consider neuropsychological and neuroimaging articles on bilingual aphasic individuals in the period 2003–2007. I examine the extent to which current evidence supports the notion that different languages are represented in distinct processing areas or are distributed in shared areas with common organizing principles. I argue for the second possibility with the extent of recovery affected by prior proficiency and current usage. I also argue that certain patterns of deficit indicate a problem in controlling the language in use rather than a representational deficit per se. Most studies concern chronic aphasic patients, and detailed studies of the effects of treatment and any plastic changes in response to such treatment remain sparse. I conclude with suggestions to further the understanding of recovery and treatment. To advance further, we need to understand the range of pathways in normal bilinguals that support a given language task, so that neural patterns associated with task performance poststroke can be properly interpreted. Imaging regional changes in blood flow immediately poststroke can help identify the regions and pathways associated with the recovery of function. Functional imaging studies of recovery and treatment in the chronic stage are also critical.
LANGUAGE AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Authors: Murray Laura L.
Published: August 2009

Parkinson's disease, the most common progressive neurological movement disorder worldwide, causes slow deterioration of subcortical structures and dopamine deficiency, and the disruption of circuits connecting frontal lobe and basal ganglia regions. Although the motor and cognitive consequences of these structural and physiological changes have been well-documented, only a limited, albeit growing, empirical literature has examined the integrity of language abilities in individuals with Parkinson's disease. This article reviews recent advances in that literature that have furthered our understanding of the quantitative and qualitative changes in morphosyntactic, lexical-semantic, and discourse levels of language functioning associated with Parkinson's disease. This article also discusses the theoretical and applied implications of these linguistic symptoms and provides suggestions to forward this line of research.
Constraints on onsets and codas of words and phrases
Authors: Flack Kathryn
Published: August 2009

For any phonotactic restriction on syllable onsets and codas, it can be shown that parallel restrictions are attested at edges of each higher prosodic domain. Onsets can be required at the beginnings of syllables, words or utterances, codas can be banned at the ends of any of these constituents and so on. This paper argues that these restrictions follow from constraint schemata: any markedness constraint on syllable onsets or codas (MOnsor MCoda) is part of a family of constraints (MOns(Ons/PCat) or MCoda(Coda/PCat)) which imposes parallel restrictions on initial onsets or final codas of each prosodic domain. These prosodic domain-edge markedness constraints can induce epenthesis, deletion or other segmental changes at domain edges; they can also shape the prosodic structure of words.
On the role of locality in learning stress patterns
Authors: Heinz Jeffrey
Published: August 2009

This paper presents a previously unnoticed universal property of stress patterns in the world's languages: they are, for small neighbourhoods, neighbourhood-distinct. Neighbourhood-distinctness is a locality condition defined in automata-theoretic terms. This universal is established by examining stress patterns contained in two typological studies. Strikingly, many logically possible – but unattested – patterns do not have this property. Not only does neighbourhood-distinctness unite the attested patterns in a non-trivial way, it also naturally provides an inductive principle allowing learners to generalise from limited data. A learning algorithm is presented which generalises by failing to distinguish same-neighbourhood environments perceived in the learner's linguistic input – hence learning neighbourhood-distinct patterns – as well as almost every stress pattern in the typology. In this way, this work lends support to the idea that properties of the learner can explain certain properties of the attested typology, an idea not straightforwardly available in optimality-theoretic and Principle and Parameter frameworks.
Perceptions of caregivers following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children with congenitally malformed hearts
Authors: Srinivasan Ramesh , O’Neill Catherine , Blumenow Wendy , Dalzell A. Mark
Published: August 2009

Introduction

While the usefulness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is clearly established in the nutritional support of children with neurodisability, the role in substituting for prolonged nasogastric feeding in children with congenitally malformed hearts is a relatively recent development. There are no previously published experiences of the perceptions of parents or those providing care following the insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in such children.

Methods

Descriptive qualitative survey of parental perceptions using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Results

We obtained completed 27 point semi-structured questionnaires from 38 providers of care for children with congenitally malformed hearts. Time taken to feed their children reduced significantly after the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, from 30 to 60 minutes previously to 15 minutes subsequently. The frequency of feeding also reduced significantly, from 6 times a day to 4 to 5 times a day. Those providing care perceived significant reductions in pre-procedural symptoms, the ease of administering medications, and noted an enhanced level of happiness in their children. Of those providing care, 97% were highly satisfied with the procedure, with 15 parents (40%) wishing that the operation was done earlier, while the remainder considered it had been done at the appropriate time.

Conclusions

Those caring for children with congenitally malformed hearts perceive significant improvements in the symptoms, wellbeing, and ease of administering medication for their children after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Of the group, 97% regarded the procedure as the appropriate means of assisting nutritional support.
Coenzyme Q10 improves diastolic function in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kocharian Armen , Shabanian Reza , Rafiei-Khorgami Mohammad , Kiani Abdolrazagh , Heidari-Bateni Giv
Published: August 2009

We aimed to determine the effect of supplementation with coenzyme Q10 on conventional therapy of children with cardiac failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. In a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, we randomized 38 patients younger than 18 years with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy to receive either coenzyme Q10, chosen for 17 patients, or placebo, administered in the remaining 21. Echocardiographic systolic and diastolic function parameters were determined for every patient at baseline, and after 6 months of supplementation. The index score for cardiac failure in children as established in New York was used for assessing the functional class of the patients. After 6 months supplementation, 10 patients randomized to receive coenzyme Q10 showed improvements in the grading of diastolic function, this being significantly more than that achieved by those randomized to the placebo group (p value = 0.011). The mean score for the index of cardiac failure index for those receiving coenzyme Q10 was also lower than the control group (p value = 0.024).

Our results, therefore, indicate that administration of coenzyme Q10 is useful in ameliorating cardiac failure in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy through its significant effect on improving diastolic function.