bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caring about care-givers: A study of child care workers in Cape Town
Authors: Block S.C.
Published: November 2012

Most of the available research on child care has focused on the child, rather than on the person who is providing the care. However, an understanding of the stresses facing the staff person and the ways in which he or she copes with them, is critical for ensuring that that person delivers high-quality care and teaching to the child (Maslach and Pines 1977, 105).
Adolessente dogters moet voorligting oor die ondersoek van die mamma en menstruasie kry
Authors: Ferreira A
Published: November 2012

Due to the anatomical and physiological changes which take place during puberty the adolescent girl is very aware of her own body. Therefore, puberty is the ideal time for teaching her about menstruation and self-examination of the breast. In this study it was found that a group of adolescent girls did not have enough information about these two subjects. It was found that the nurse has an important role in this regard because she is equipped to give the necessary information to both parents and their daughters.
Die effektiwiteit van verskillende leergeleenthede vir psigiatriese verpleegkunde studente vir die aanleer van interpersoonlike vaardighede
Authors: Uys L.R.
Published: November 2012

The effectiveness of learning opportunities involving either laboratory or real clinical situations in interpersonal skills as reflected by an empathy scale was evaluated. It was found that the laboratory experience effected a significantly larger gain in empathy.
Bestuursvaardigheidsevaluering
Authors: Cilliers Frans
Published: November 2012

The assessment of management skills, as a technique neglected by the nursing profession, is discussed. It forms a logical starting point to management training and development, and can be defined as a technique to pinpoint grey areas in management skills. The general methods in management assessment are discussed with special reference to the assessment centre technique. Specific management behaviour dimensions are presented and defined. Lastly and empirical study is reported wherein a mini-assessment centre was conducted on a group of nursing personnel. Although no behaviour assessment could objectively be reported, the participant’s reactions to the assessment are reported. From this it seems that management skill assessment can be seen as a valid technique in ascertaining management training and development needs in nursing.
Teenage Pregnancy: A contemporary problem of adolescence
Authors: Acres Lynette
Published: November 2012

Teenage pregnancy, particularly pregnancy in school-aged girls below the age of 17 years, is a major community health problem. The incidence of such pregnancies is increasing to what some believe are epidemic proportions.
Die verlede as eerste behandeling
Authors: Swart Marius
Published: November 2012

On admission to hospital a patient is questioned about his past — this thus being introductory treatment. The author goes on to illustrate that nurses through the ages have used their skills not only to treat patients, but also to alter circumstances to the patients’ advantage. The patient brings his personal, cultural and religious past into hospital with him and cognisance must be taken of this if we wish to succeed in our professional task.
A Moving Mesh Method for Kinetic/Hydrodynamic Coupling
Authors: Hu Zhicheng , Wang Heyu
Published: November 2012

This paper deals with the application of a moving mesh method for kinetic/hydrodynamic coupling model in two dimensions. With some criteria, the domain is dynamically decomposed into three parts: kinetic regions where fluids are far from equilibrium, hydrodynamic regions where fluids are near thermody-namical equilibrium and buffer regions which are used as a smooth transition. The Boltzmann-BGK equation is solved in kinetic regions, while Euler equations in hydrodynamic regions and both equations in buffer regions. By a well defined monitor function, our moving mesh method smoothly concentrate the mesh grids to the regions containing rapid variation of the solutions. In each moving mesh step, the solutions are conservatively updated to the new mesh and the cut-off function is rebuilt first to consist with the region decomposition after the mesh motion. In such a framework, the evolution of the hybrid model and the moving mesh procedure can be implemented independently, therefore keep the advantages of both approaches. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
A Direct Solver for Initial Value Problems of Rarefied Gas Flows of Arbitrary Statistics
Authors: Yang Jaw-Yen , Muljadi Bagus Putra , Li Zhi-Hui , Zhang Han-Xin
Published: November 2012

An accurate and direct algorithm for solving the semiclassical Boltzmann equation with relaxation time approximation in phase space is presented for parallel treatment of rarefied gas flows of particles of three statistics. The discrete ordinate method is first applied to discretize the velocity space of the distribution function to render a set of scalar conservation laws with source term. The high order weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme is then implemented to capture the time evolution of the discretized velocity distribution function in physical space and time. The method is developed for two space dimensions and implemented on gas particles that obey the Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Computational examples in one- and two-dimensional initial value problems of rarefied gas flows are presented and the results indicating good resolution of the main flow features can be achieved. Flows of wide range of relaxation times and Knudsen numbers covering different flow regimes are computed to validate the robustness of the method. The recovery of quantum statistics to the classical limit is also tested for small fugacity values.
Systematic investigation of bromine monoxide in volcanic plumes from space by using the GOME-2 instrument
Authors: Hörmann C. , Sihler H. , Bobrowski N. , Beirle S. , Penning de Vries M. , Platt U. , Wagner T.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. During recent years, volcanic emissions turned out to be a natural source of bromine compounds in the atmosphere. While the inital formation process of bromine monoxide (BrO) has been successfully studied in local ground-based measurements at quiescent degassing volcanoes worldwide, literature on the chemical evolution of BrO on large spatial and temporal scales is sparse. The first space-based observation of a volcanic BrO plume following the Kasatochi eruption in 2008 demonstrated the capability of satellite instruments to monitor such events on a global scale. In this study, we systematically examined GOME-2 observations from January 2007 until June 2011 for significantly enhanced BrO slant column densities (SCDs) in the vicinity of volcanic plumes. In total, 772 plumes from at least 37 volcanoes have been found by using sulphur dioxide (SO2) as a tracer for a volcanic plume. All captured SO2 plumes were subsequently analysed for a simultaneous enhancement of BrO and the data were checked for a possible spatial correlation between the two species. Additionally, the mean BrO/SO2 ratios for all volcanic plumes have been calculated by the application of a bivariate linear fit. A total number of 64 volcanic plumes from at least 11 different volcanoes showed clear evidence for BrO of volcanic origin, revealing large differences in the BrO/SO2 ratios (ranging from some 10−5 to several 10−4) and the spatial distribution of both species. A close correlation between SO2 and BrO occurred only for some of the observed eruptions or just in certain parts of the examined plumes. For other cases, only a rough spatial relationship was found. We discuss possible explanations for the occurrence of the different spatial SO2 and BrO distributions in aged volcanic plumes.
Transient simulations of the carbon and nitrogen dynamics in northern peatlands: from the Last Glacial Maximum to the 21st century
Authors: Spahni R. , Joos F. , Stocker B. D. , Steinacher M. , Yu Z. C.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The development of northern high-latitude peatlands played an important role in the carbon (C) balance of the land biosphere since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). At present, carbon storage in northern peatlands is substantial and estimated to be 500 ± 100 Pg C (1 Pg C = 1015 g C). Here, we develop and apply a peatland module embedded in a dynamic global vegetation model (LPX). The peatland module features a dynamic nitrogen cycle, a dynamic C transfer between peatland acrotelm (upper oxic layer) and catotelm (deep anoxic layer), hydrology- and temperature-dependent respiration rates, and peatland specific plant functional types. Nitrogen limitation down-regulates average modern net primary productivity over peatlands by almost a factor of two. Decadal acrotelm-to-catotelm C fluxes vary between −20 and +50 g C m−2 yr−1 over the Holocene. Key model parameters are calibrated with reconstructed peat accumulation rates from peat-core data. The model reproduces the major features of the peat core data and of the observation-based modern circumpolar soil carbon distribution. Results from a set of simulations for possible evolutions of northern peat development and areal extent show that soil C stocks in modern peatlands increased by 365–550 Pg C since the LGM, of which 175–272 Pg C accumulated between 11 and 5 kyr BP. Furthermore, our simulations suggest a persistent C sequestration rate of 35–50 Pg C per 1000 yr in peatlands under current climate conditions, and that this C sink could either vanish or turn into a small source by 2100 AD depending on climate trajectories as projected for different representative greenhouse gas concentration pathways.
Emotion and Mood: Over 120 Years of Contemplation and Exploration inThe American Journal of Psychology
Authors: Altarriba Jeanette
Published: November 2012

Emotional states derived from stimuli such as visual objects, scenes, and films, linguistic input such as words and phrases, and other inputs such as music and humor have been examined over many decades in an attempt to understand how feelings are aroused and, in turn, how they influence behavior. From early introspectionists to modern-day social, clinical, and cognitive researchers studying the ways in which affect is derived from everyday conscious and unconscious experiences and how those experiences frame our perceptions for processing future encounters with emotional stimuli, over 120 years of work has been reported in The American Journal of Psychology. The current article provides an overview of the more salient and influential of those works and articulates the ways in which the reported findings influence our current explorations of emotion and mood.
The Vital Role of The American Journal of Psychology in the Early and Continuing History of Mental Chronometry
Authors: O’Shea Geoffrey , Bashore, Theodore R.
Published: November 2012

The American Journal of Psychology (AJP) was founded in 1887 by G. Stanley Hall during what Edwin G. Boring (1950) called the Period of Mental Chronometry and, consistent with the prevailing interests of the time, featured articles of relevance to scientists in this research domain. Contained in the early volumes of AJP were several articles that examined what have become some of the enduring issues faced by researchers studying the structure and timing of mental processing using reaction time (RT) procedures. Collectively, RT research published in AJP during its early years contributed to establishing mental chronometry as an important subfield of psychology. From 1900 to 1950 interest in mental chronometry waned, during what has been called its Dark Age. Nonetheless, interest in the effects of factors such as age and intelligence on total RT continued unabated. Numerous articles pertinent to these effects appeared in AJP. Finally, with the publication of Neisser’s (1963) seminal work on visual search, AJP played an important role in reviving interest in mental chronometry in the latter half of the 20th century and continues in its 125th year of existence to contribute pertinent articles on contemporary research in mental chronometry.
Neuropsychological Status in Older Adults Influences Susceptibility to False Memories
Authors: Meade Michelle L. , Geraci Lisa D. , Roediger, Henry L.
Published: November 2012

In 2 experiments we examined the influence of frontal lobe function on older adults’ susceptibility to false memory in a categorized list paradigm. Using a neuropsychological battery of tests developed by Glisky, Polster, and Routhieaux (1995), we designated older adults as having high- or low-frontal function. Young and older adults studied and were tested on categorized lists using free report cued recall and forced report cued recall instructions, with the latter requiring participants to produce responses even if they had to guess. Under free report cued recall instructions, frontal lobe function was a strong predictor of false memories in older adults: Older adults who scored low on tests of frontal functioning demonstrated much higher levels of false recall than younger adults, whereas levels of false recall in high-frontal older adults were more similar to those of young adults. However, after forced report cued recall, high- and low-frontal older adults performed similarly to each other, and both demonstrated higher levels of false recall than young adults. On a final recognition test, high-frontal older adults in both the free report cued recall and forced report cued recall conditions were more successful than low- frontal older adults in using source information to reduce memory errors. The results indicate that older adults show higher levels of false recall than younger adults, but type of test (free report or forced report) and neuropsychological status of older adults mediate these effects. Low-frontal older adults are particularly susceptible to producing false memories on free report tests that entail source monitoring.
Analyzing the Components of Face-Name Forgetting Across 4 Weeks
Authors: Groninger Lowell D. , Guardado J. Luis
Published: November 2012

The present studies investigated forgetting processes across 4 weeks of names learned in response to faces. Our theoretical model assumes that there were 4 separate but interdependent aspects to a learned face-name unit. Each of these components (faces, names, face-name connections, and encoding cues to names that are stored during the original learning of names) has different forgetting rates across time. During retrieval, successful matching of faces with names depends on available memories for the first 3 components, whereas available memories for all 4 are necessary for successful recall of names. Results of the first study showed different forgetting curves for the 4 components, particularly the latter 2. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that cues associated with faces that serve as later retrieval cues for the recall of names are forgotten more quickly than face-name connections used to make identifying matches, and there was a very strong relationship between congruent cues at encoding and retrieval and the ability to recall target names after a 4-week interval. These results suggest that a profitable way to look at the learning of faces and names is to look at the components that break apart during forgetting.
Dosimetric Evaluation and Verification of External Beam 3-D Treatment Plans in Humanoid Phantom Using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs)
Authors: Rizwana Siddique  , Zaheer Uddin  , Muzaffar Hussain
Published: November 2012

Dosimetric Evaluation & Verification Of External Beam 3-D Treatment Plans In Humanoid Phantom have been carried out. In this study male anthromorphic phantom, model no.702 D, manufactured by Atom Ltd has been used. The plan was delivered to phantom and TLD- 100 was placed in cavities to evaluate and verify the dose delivered by implementing 3D treatment plans. TLD 100 was calibrated using SIEMENS PRIMUS PLUS Linear Accelerator with calibrated 6 MV X ray beam. We chose phantom skull, abdomen and pelvis region for making treatment plans and then doses by treatment plans have been verified by TLDs. 4%, 3.5% and 3% variation in the results was found for skull, pelvis and abdomen region respectively which is within the safe limit of accuracy i-e from 3% to 5 %. Before working with TLDs, it has also been found that thermoluminescent dosimeters were showing the linear response and results are reproducible for the dose range from 50 cGy to 200 cGy. This study has been performed at Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (KIRAN) during the year 2010-2011.
A semantic and pragmatic approach to verb particle constructions used in cartoons and puns
Authors: Naoui Khir Abdeljalil
Published: November 2012

Author/s

Abdeljalil Naoui KhirVirginia Military Institute, USA

 

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to discuss a special type of verb particle construction in English; namely, phrasal verbs used in cartoons and puns. Granted that the meaning of phrasal verbs may range from literal to idiomatic, their use in cartoons is artistically and linguistically exploited through a combination of verbal and non-verbal cues to convey humor, satire and fun. Our assumption is that this combination rests on the premise that a double reading of phrasal verbs in certain cartoons and puns is possible. To illustrate this, a sample of cartoons using phrasal verbs and puns (taken from www.ecenglish.com, English Teacher Online LLC) will be analyzed showing how the correspondence between the cartoon as a visual mode and the phrasal verb as a linguistic form can yield both literal interpretations and idiomatic ones. Phrasal verbs are also shown to violate Gricean maxims and to depend largely, in their interpretation, on extra linguistic factors.
Antiviral activity of dolutegravir in subjects with failure on an integrase inhibitor‐based regimen: week 24 phase 3 results from VIKING‐3
Authors: Nichols G , Mills A , Grossberg R , Lazzarin A , Maggiolo F , Molina J , Pialoux G , Wright D , Ait‐Khaled M , Huang J , Vavro C , Wynne B , Yeo J
Published: November 2012

Background

VIKING‐3 aimed to examine efficacy and safety of dolutegravir (DTG) 50 mg twice daily in patients with resistance to multiple ARV classes, including integrase inhibitors (INI).

Methods

RAL and/or EVG‐resistant (current or historical) adult subjects with screening plasma HIV‐1 RNA ≥500 c/mL and resistance to ≥2 other ART classes received open‐label DTG 50 mg BID while continuing their failing regimen (without RAL/EVG). At Day 8 the background regimen was optimised and DTG continued. Activity of the optimized background regimen (OBR) was determined by Monogram Net Assessment. Primary endpoints were antiviral efficacy at Day 8 and Week 24.

Results

183 subjects enrolled, 124 with INI‐resistance at screening and 59 with historical (but no screening) resistance. Population was advanced: at BL, median CD4 140, prior ART 13 yrs, 56% CDC Class C; 79% had >2 NRTI, 75% >1 NNRTI, and 70% >2 PI resistance‐associated mutations, and 61% had non‐R5 HIV detected. Of the 114 subjects who had the opportunity to complete 24 weeks on study before data cutoff, 72 (63%) had <50 c/mL RNA at Week 24 (SNAPSHOT algorithm). Mean HIV RNA declined by 1.4 log10 c/mL (95% CI: 1.3, 1.5; p < 0.001) at Day 8; response differed by genotype pathway (Table).

Primary INI mutations at BL
N
Mean HIV RNA (log 10) Change from BL (SD) at Day 8
%>1 log HIV RNA decline of <50 c/mL at Day 8

TOTAL
183
−1.4 (0.61)
82%

T66
1
−1.9
100%

Y143
28
−1.7 (0.42)
96%

N155
33
−1.4 (0.51)
82%

Q148 + ≤1 secondary mutation#
32
−1.1 (0.51)
69%

Q148 + ≥2 secondary mutations#
20
−1.0 (0.81)
48%

≥2 primary mutations
8
−1.4 (0.76)
75%

No primary mutations
60
−1.6 (0.55)
95%

Key secondary mutations comprised G140_ACS, L741, E138_AKT.

In subjects with Q148 pathway mutations, virologic response decreased with increasing number of secondary mutations. Background overall susceptibility score (OSS) was not associated with Wk 24 response: % <50 c/mL were 83%, 63%, 59% and 69% for OSS 0, 1, 2 and >2, respectively. Discontinuations due to adverse events were uncommon (6/183, 3%); the most common drug‐related AEs were diarrhoea, nausea and headache, each reported in only 5% of subjects.

Conclusion

A majority of the highly treatment‐experienced subjects in VIKING‐3 achieved suppression with DTG‐based therapy. Responses were associated with Baseline IN genotype but not OSS, highlighting the importance and independence of DTG antiviral activity. DTG had a low rate of discontinuation due to adverse events at 50 mg BID in this advanced patient population.
Selection in culture of HIV resistance to dolutegravir by mutations at integrase positions R263K and H51Y that diminish viral replication fitness
Authors: Mesplede T , Quashie P , Oliveira M , Underwood M , Wang R , Fujiwara T , Seki T , Wainberg M
Published: November 2012

Purpose of the study

We selected for resistance in tissue culture against dolutegravir (DTG), a second‐generation HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitor, which is now in phase 2/3 clinical trials, in order to try to characterize the resistance profile of this compound.

Methods

HIV‐1 of different subtypes was grown in both MT‐2 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells over protracted periods, with the concentration of DTG being incrementally increased from an initial concentration of 0.05 nM, i.e. 4 times less than the EC50. After a total of 6 months of growth, a final drug concentration of 50–100 nM was achieved, beyond which virus could no longer be grown. Viral DNA was then sequenced to reveal the presence of mutations that might confer resistance to DTG. The biological relevance of these mutations was confirmed through site‐directed mutagenesis experiments in which individual mutations or combinations of mutations were studied in comparison with wild‐type (wt) virus in tissue culture and with recombinant HIV integrase enzyme in biochemical assays.

Summary of results

The most common integrase resistance mutation to arise in subtype B and recombinant A/G viruses was R263K followed by H51Y. In the case of subtype C viruses, the most common mutation was G118R followed by H51Y. The presence of R263K alone conferred an approximate 3–6‐fold level of resistance to DTG in culture, a 30% drop in levels of recombinant integrase strand transfer activity, as well as an approximate 20–30% loss in viral replicative capacity. Biochemical experiments indicated that the t½ residency times of DTG for subtype B and C viruses for wt integrase were 26 h and 38 h, respectively, and for R263K, 16h and 22h, respectively. In contrast, H51Y by itself did not significantly affect either strand transfer activity or resistance to DTG. However, the combination of R263K together with H51Y led to an increase in levels of DTG resistance to about 15‐fold accompanied by an ~50% loss in both viral replication capacity and integrase strand transfer activity.

Conclusions

R263K and H51Y can combine to augment levels of resistance to DTG yet result in a more severe attenuation of viral replication capacity and integrase strand transfer activity than R263K alone. These data suggest that viruses containing both mutations may be at a severe replicative disadvantage and help to explain why primary resistance to DTG is so rare to arise in clinical studies performed to date.
My favourite 10 publications of 2011–2012
Authors: Cahn P
Published: November 2012

As the published literature on HIV therapy continues to grow, it becomes increasing difficult for treating physicians to keep up to date with the latest developments. For example, several thousands of papers have been published since HIV10 in the HIV literature. Websites such as HIV Drug Therapy, which includes a section on new HIV publications, can be a great help, providing a brief summary of interesting papers that have been recently published. In my presentation, I will review what I believe to be some of the most useful and key papers that have been published in the last 2 years.
Pregnant women with HIV on ART in Europe: how many achieve the aim of undetectable viral load at term and are able to deliver vaginally?
Authors: Aebi‐Popp K , Mulcahy F , Glass T , Rudin C , de Tejada B Martinez , Bertisch B , Grawe C , Scheibner K , Hoesli I , Thorne C
Published: November 2012

Purpose of the study

Mother‐to‐child transmission rates in Europe are below 1% in HIV‐infected women on successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) irrespective of mode of delivery. Consequently, most national guidelines updated between 2001 and 2009 recommended vaginal deliveries for women with undetectable or very low viral load (VL). The aim of this study was to explore the impact of these new guidelines on the rates of vaginal deliveries following complete viral suppression on cART.

Methods

A pooled analysis of data on HIV‐1‐positive women enrolled in the Swiss Mother & Child HIV Cohort Study and the European Collaborative Study with a live birth between 2000 and 2010 was carried out. Deliveries were classified as occurring pre‐ or post‐publication of national guidelines recommending vaginal delivery in women with low/ undetectable VL for each country.

Summary of results

Overall, 2527 mothers, 2848 deliveries and 2903 births were included from 10 countries. The women were mostly Caucasian (44%) or black (47%) and had a median age of 31 at the time of delivery. They were diagnosed with HIV a median of 3.3 years before pregnancy and 84% were CDC stage A with a median CD4 cell count of 450 cells/mm3. 17% reported a history of injecting‐drug use (IDU) and 3% current IDU. 29% of women conceived on cART, 63% started in pregnancy and 8% received no antenatal ART. The most common regimen used was PI based cART (50%). Of the deliveries, elective caesarean section (CS) was carried out in 58%, emergency CS in 17% and vaginal delivery in 23%. Of 1869 women with a VL measure within the last trimester of pregnancy, only 65% had undetectable HIV‐RNA. Overall, 21% of all deliveries occurring before the guideline change were vaginal, increasing to 48% subsequently. The proportion of women with undetectable VL having a CS decreased from 29% before to 13% after the guidelines update.

Conclusions

Nearly half of all deliveries subsequent to European guideline changes were vaginal. Nevertheless, there are missed opportunities to achieve fully suppressed viral load at time of delivery and to deliver vaginally in HIV infected women. Further evaluation of treatment regimens, adherence data and barriers to treatment is planned within these cohorts.
On Proton Conductivity in Porous and Dense Yttria Stabilized Zirconia at Low Temperature
Authors: Scherrer Barbara , Schlupp Meike V.F. , Stender Dieter , Martynczuk Julia , Grolig Jan G. , Ma Huan , Kocher Peter , Lippert Thomas , Prestat Michel , Gauckler Ludwig J.
Published: November 2012

The electrical conductivity of dense and nanoporous zirconia‐based thin films is compared to results obtained on bulk yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramics. Different thin film preparation methods are used in order to vary grain size, grain shape, and porosity of the thin films. In porous films, a rather high conductivity is found at room temperature which decreases with increasing temperature to 120 °C. This conductivity is attributed to proton conduction along physisorbed water (Grotthuss mechanism) at the inner surfaces. It is highly dependent on the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere. At temperatures above 120 °C, the conductivity is thermally activated with activation energies between 0.4 and 1.1 eV. In this temperature regime the conduction is due to oxygen ions as well as protons. Proton conduction is caused by hydroxyl groups at the inner surface of the porous films. The effect vanishes above 400 °C, and pure oxygen ion conductivity with an activation energy of 0.9 to 1.3 eV prevails. The same behavior can also be observed in nanoporous bulk ceramic YSZ. In contrast to the nanoporous YSZ, fully dense nanocrystalline thin films only show oxygen ion conductivity, even down to 70 °C with an expected activation energy of 1.0 ± 0.1 eV. No proton conductivity through grain boundaries could be detected in these nanocrystalline, but dense thin films.
An In Situ Simultaneous Reduction‐Hydrolysis Technique for Fabrication of TiO2‐Graphene 2D Sandwich‐Like Hybrid Nanosheets: Graphene‐Promoted Selectivity of Photocatalytic‐Driven Hydrogenation and Coupling of CO2 into Methane and Ethane
Authors: Tu Wenguang , Zhou Yong , Liu Qi , Yan Shicheng , Bao Shanshan , Wang Xiaoyong , Xiao Min , Zou Zhigang
Published: November 2012

A novel, in situ simultaneous reduction‐hydrolysis technique (SRH) is developed for fabrication of TiO2‐‐graphene hybrid nanosheets in a binary ethylenediamine (En)/H2O solvent. The SRH technique is based on the mechanism of the simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide (GO) into graphene by En and the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles through hydrolysis of titanium (IV) (ammonium lactato) dihydroxybis, subsequently in situ loading onto graphene through chemical bonds (Ti–O–C bond) to form 2D sandwich‐like nanostructure. The dispersion of TiO2 hinders the collapse and restacking of exfoliated sheets of graphene during reduction process. In contrast with prevenient G‐TiO2 nanocomposites, abundant Ti3+ is detected on the surface of TiO2 of the present hybrid, caused by reducing agent En. The Ti3+ sites on the surface can serve as sites for trapping photogenerated electrons to prevent recombination of electron–hole pairs. The high photocatalytic activity of G‐TiO2 hybrid is confirmed by photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to valuable hydrocarbons (CH4 and C2H6) in the presence of water vapor. The synergistic effect of the surface‐Ti3+ sites and graphene favors the generation of C2H6, and the yield of the C2H6 increases with the content of incorporated graphene. The work may open a new doorway for new significant application of graphene for selectively catalytic C–C coupling reaction
New multicomponent distillation configurations with simultaneous heat and mass integration
Authors: Shenvi Anirudh A. , Shah Vishesh H. , Agrawal Rakesh
Published: November 2012

In this work, well known Brugma's configurations are shown to be only a subset of a much larger proposed set of simultaneously heat and mass integrated configurations. Furthermore, a systematic classification that allows the exploration of the entire set of simultaneously heat and mass integrated distillation configurations is described. The classification can be used as an underlying principle of any synthesis algorithm and helps identify several novel simultaneously heat and mass integrated distillation configurations for separating a multicomponent feed. A hitherto unknown class of simultaneously heat and mass integrated configurations characterized by strategic side‐stream withdrawals is also described. These new configurations provide an array of novel energy efficient options for the nonazeotropic distillation processes. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 272–282, 2013
Electrocatalytic Properties of Carbosilane‐Based Hyperbranched Polymers Functionalized with Interacting Ferrocenyl Units
Authors: de la Cruz Gonzalo , Schüle Hanna , Losada José , García‐Armada M. Pilar , Frey Holger , Alonso Beatriz , Casado Carmen M.
Published: November 2012

Two types of hyperbranched ferrocene‐containing polycarbosilanes were obtained by hydrosilylation of polydiallylmethylsilane (hb‐PDAMS) and polymethyldiundecenylsilane (hb‐PMDUS) with diferrocenylmethylsilane. The redox properties of both polymers have been investigated both in solution and confined onto platinum electrodes. The electrocatalytic activity of polymer‐modified electrodes toward the reduction of oxygen as well as the electrochemical reduction and oxidation of hydrogen peroxide has been examined.
The Formal Total Synthesis of FR252921 – An Immunosuppressant
Authors: Yadav J. S. , Sengupta Sandip
Published: November 2012

The formal total synthesis of FR252921 is described. The key steps include the preparation of three fragments starting from 1,4‐butanediol, (R)‐malic acid, and prenol, respectively, followed by two consecutive peptide couplings of the three fragments. Other key steps involve an allene‐type rearrangement or enyne isomerization to install the triene moiety, a Seebach methylation, a Julia olefination to construct the trisubstituted diene unit, and an enzymatic resolution strategy to generate the C‐18 stereocenter.
A novel synergistic effect of iron depletion on antiangiogenic cancer therapy
Authors: Ohara Toshiaki , Noma Kazuhiro , Urano Shinichi , Watanabe Shinichiro , Nishitani Seishi , Tomono Yasuko , Kimura Fumiaki , Kagawa Shunsuke , Shirakawa Yasuhiro , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: November 2012

Iron is an essential element for both normal and cancer cells in humans. Treatment to reduce iron levels has been shown to suppress tumor growth in vivo. However, iron depletion monotherapy by iron decreased treatment has not been thought to be superior to ordinary chemotherapy and is not part of the standard therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer. Iron depletion is also known to reduce serum hemoglobin and oxygen supply to the tissue, which indicates that iron depletion may induce angiogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that iron depletion with antiangiogenic therapy can have a novel therapeutic effect in the treatment of cancer. Human nonsmall cell carcinoma cell lines A549 and H1299 were used in our study. An iron‐deficient diet and an iron chelator were used to simulate an iron‐depleted condition. The antitumor effects of iron depletion and antiangiogenic therapy were determined on A549 xenograft mice. The iron‐depleted condition produced by an iron‐deficient diet suppressed tumor growth. Tumor tissue from the iron‐deficient diet group showed that cancer cell proliferation was suppressed and hypoxia was induced. Microvessel density of this group was increased which suggested that the iron‐depleted condition induced angiogenesis. Bevacizumab administration had a synergetic effect on inhibiting the tumor growth on Day 39. An iron‐depleted condition inhibited cancer cell proliferation and reciprocally induced angiogenesis. Bevacizumab synergistically enhanced the iron‐depleted antitumor effect. Treatment to deplete iron levels combined with anti‐angiogenic therapy could induce a novel therapeutic effect in the treatment of cancer.
Comparison of two commercial ELISA systems for evaluating anti‐EBNA1 IgG titers
Authors: Dobson Ruth , Topping Joanne , Giovannoni Gavin
Published: November 2012

High IgG titers against the Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen, EBNA‐1, have been strongly correlated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. ELISAs are used frequently to measure EBNA‐1 titers, however concerns remain regarding the accuracy of results. Ordering absolute results into rank quintiles for analysis may be preferable. Using 120 serum samples, two commercially available ELISAs (produced by DiaSorin and VirionSerion) were compared, both in terms of absolute results and rank quintiles. The positive predictive value of the VirionSerion ELISA was 99.1% when compared to the DiaSorin ELISA, however, the negative predictive value was 64.3%. Sensitivity and specificity were acceptable at 95.5% and 90.0%, respectively. There was poor correlation between absolute results, R2 = 0.49; and the kappa coefficient for rank quintiles was low at 0.23. Although sensitivity and specificity appear adequate, the poor negative predictive value and kappa coefficient are of major concern. Care must be taken when selecting assays for experimental use. J. Med. Virol. 85:128–131, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shedding of polyomavirus in the saliva of immunocompetent individuals
Authors: Robaina Tatiana F. , Mendes Gabriella S. , Benati Fabrício J. , Pena Giselle A. , Silva Raquel C. , Montes Miguel A.R. , Janini Maria Elisa R. , Câmara Fernando P. , Santos Norma
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the frequency of BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV in the saliva of healthy individuals. Samples were analyzed for the presence of polyomaviruses (BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV) DNA by real‐time PCR. Of the 291 samples tested, 71 (24.3%) were positive for at least one of the screened polyomaviruses. Specifically, 12.7% (37/291) were positive for WUV, 7.2% (21/291) positive for BKV, 2.4% (7/291) positive for KIV, and 0.3% (1/291) positive for JCV. BKV and WUV co‐infections were detected in 1.7% (5/291) of individuals. No other co‐infection combinations were found. The mean number of DNA copies was high, particularly for WUV and BKV, indicating active replication of these viruses. Polyomavirus detection was higher among individuals 15–19 years of age (46.0%; 23/50) and ≥50 years of age (33.3%; 9/27). However, the detection rate in the first group was almost 1.7× greater than the latter. WUV infections were more frequent in individuals between the ages of 15 and 19 years and the incidence decreased with age. By contrast, BKV excretion peaked and persisted during the third decade of life and KIV infections were detected more commonly in subjects ≥50 years old. These findings reinforced the previous hypotheses that saliva may be a route for BKV transmission, and that the oral cavity could be a site of virus replication. These data also demonstrated that JCV, WUV, and KIV may be transmitted in a similar fashion. J. Med. Virol. 85:144–148, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new paradigm for the diagnosis and management of unknown primary tumors of the head and neck: A role for transoral robotic surgery
Authors: Mehta Vikas , Johnson Paul , Tassler Andrew , Kim Seungwon , Ferris Robert L. , Nance Melonie , Johnson Jonas T. , Duvvuri Umamaheswar
Published: November 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

In 2% to 3% of patients with cancer metastatic to cervical lymph nodes, a primary tumor will not be found despite exhaustive diagnostic efforts. The treatment for these patients includes cervical lymphadenectomy followed by radiation to areas with increased risk of harboring a mucosal primary. Wide‐field radiation therapy increases the incidence of xerostomia and dysphagia. Localizing a primary tumor has thus both therapeutic and quality‐of‐life implications, allowing possible complete surgical excision, concentrated radiation therapy, and potential deintensification of adjuvant therapy. With improved visualization and freedom of motion, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is an innovative surgical modality that allows resection of oropharyngeal subsites with minimal morbidity.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Methods:

Ten patients with unknown primary tumors of the head and neck were identified. All patients underwent a cervical biopsy, positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography, formal endoscopy, and bilateral tonsillectomy. When the initial endoscopy and biopsies did not localize a primary tumor, all patients underwent transoral robotic base of tongue resection.

Results:

Evaluation of the patients' oropharyngeal mucosa using the robot did not reveal an obvious lesion and no palpable tumors were appreciated in the resected specimens. In 9/10 (90%) patients, pathologic examination revealed invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) with a mean diameter of 0.9 cm.

Conclusions:

Unknown primary SCCA presents a diagnostic challenge to the head and neck surgeon. We present a small series of tumors that would have been treated as unknown primaries under traditional diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. TORS base of tongue resection identified primary tumors in 90% patients with minimal morbidity. Laryngoscope, 2013
Quality of life of oropharyngeal cancer patients with respect to treatment strategy and p16‐positivity
Authors: Broglie Martina A. , Soltermann Alex , Haile Sarah R. , Röösli Christof , Huber Gerhard F. , Schmid Stephan , Stoeckli Sandro J.
Published: November 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To assess the quality of life in long‐term survivors with oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC), compare the results with our historic cohort in relation to the radiation technique, and explore the influence of treatment strategy and p16 expression on quality of life (QoL).

Study Design:

Retrospective chart analysis and patient response to EORTC QLQ‐C30 and EORTC QLQ‐H&N35 survey questionnaires.

Methods:

98/120 (82%) survivors treated by primary intensity modulated chemoradiation (n = 55), or surgery with (n = 30) or without (n = 13) adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), completed and returned the questionnaires.

Results:

Surgically treated patients complained about significantly less troubles with dry mouth and teeth compared to the nonsurgically treated group. Comparing patients treated with surgery alone and those receiving any kind of RT (primary or adjuvant) the latter group complained about significantly more problems. Patients with p16‐positive tumors demonstrated significantly higher tumor stages, but significantly better scores in physical and role functions.

Conclusions:

Early disease can be treated with high long‐term QoL by surgery alone. Primary surgery with postoperative RT in selected patients with limited primary tumors and advanced neck disease renders excellent QoL. Our results suggest that IMRT is superior to former radiation techniques with regard to QoL, and should be considered as standard of care in patients undergoing RT for OPSCC. Patients with p16 positive tumors appear to show not only a better outcome but also report on a better QoL. Laryngoscope, 2013
Test/retest repeatability of effect contralateral acoustic stimulation on the magnitudes of distortion product ototacoustic emissions
Authors: Kumar U. Ajith , Methi Raksha , Avinash M. C.
Published: November 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Contralateral inhibition of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) has become an important tool to assess the functioning of the medial olivocochlear efferents in humans. However, before this measurement can be applied clinically, the test/retest repeatability needs to be established. Therefore, the current study aimed at evaluating intra‐ and intersession test/retest repeatability of contralateral inhibition of DPOAE at 2f1–f2.

Study Design:

Prospective Test/Retest Reliability Study.

Methods:

Contralateral inhibition of DPOAE magnitudes were measured in the right ear of 24 adult male participants. To assess the intrasession repeatability, measurements were repeated without altering the position of the DPOAE probe (single‐probe‐fit). To assess intersession reliability, measurements were repeated on 8 different days (multiple‐probe‐fit). Repeatability of inhibition of DPOAE magnitudes was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha, interclass correlations, standard error of measurement, and its 95% confidence interval and smallest detectable difference.

Results:

DPOAE magnitudes were highly stable and repeatable across different recording sessions. However, test/retest reliability coefficients of DPOAE inhibition magnitudes were less than satisfactory for all the frequencies, in both single‐probe‐fit and multiple‐probe‐fit modes.

Conclusions:

Results of the present study showed that contralateral inhibition magnitudes of DPOAEs varied considerably, even though DPOAEs magnitudes remained essentially the same across different recording sessions. As reliability is an essential aspect of any clinical procedure, it is suggested that at present contralateral inhibition of DPOAEs should not be used clinically to evaluate the medial efferent system. Laryngoscope, 2012
Influence of fluorinated substituent and terminal length on phase behavior of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers with a biphenyl mesogen
Authors: Jiang Guoliang , Cai Huanhuan , Shen Zhihao , Fan Xinghe , Zhou Qifeng
Published: November 2012

A series of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers, poly{2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl 4′‐hydroxy‐2‐vinylbiphenyl‐4‐carboxylate} (PF3Cm, where m is the number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy groups, and m = 1, 4, 6, and 8), the side chain of which contains a biphenyl core with a fluorocarbon substituent at one end and an alkoxy unit of varying length on the other end, were designed and successfully synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization. For comparison, poly{butyl 4′‐hydroxy‐2‐vinylbiphenyl‐4‐carboxylate} (PC4Cm), similar to PF3Cm but with a butyl group instead of the fluorocarbon substituent, was also prepared. Differential scanning calorimetric results reveal that the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of the two series of polymers decrease as m increases and Tgs of the fluorocarbon‐substituted polymers are higher than those of the corresponding butyl‐substituted polymers. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements show that the mesophase structures of these polymers are dependent on the number of the carbon atoms in the fluorocarbon substituent and the property of the other terminal substituent. Polymers with fluorocarbon substituents enter into columnar nematic phases when m ≥ 4, whereas the polymer PF3C1 exhibits no liquid crystallinity. For polymers with butyl substituents, columnar nematic phases form when the number of carbon atoms at both ends of the side chain is not equal at high temperatures and disappear after the polymers are cooled to ambient temperature. However, when the polymer has the same number of carbon atoms at both ends of the side chain, a hexagonal columnar phase develops, and this phase remains after the polymer is cooled. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Multifunctional amphiphilic siloxane architectures using sequential, metal‐free click ligations
Authors: Rambarran Talena , Gonzaga Ferdinand , Brook Michael A.
Published: November 2012

Polysiloxanes or silicones are a class of macromolecules widely used in commerce because of their exceptional properties. Their derivatization leads to functional silicones with added value and properties, such as surfactants and liquid crystals, among many others. However, most silicone surfactants are monofunctional, owing to the synthetic challenges associated with the introduction of multiple functional groups onto the hydrolytically sensitive siloxane backbone. Thus, general routes to surface active silicones with multiple and different functional groups are not available. Herein, a synthetic strategy is reported that permits sequential derivatization of silicones with hydrophiles including oligo(ethylene oxides), carboxylic acids, and bromoalkylesters using a simple metal‐free Click reaction: the process benefits from mild conditions, extremely high yields and does not generate any by‐products, allowing the facile preparation of di‐ and trifunctional silicones that could not be readily obtained using traditional methods. The products exhibit amphiphilic characteristics as demonstrated through interfacial tension measurements that yielded the critical aggregation concentration of selected compounds. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Shear-strengthening of reinforced & prestressed concrete beams using FRP: Part I — Review of previous research
Authors: Ary Moustapha Ibrahim , Kang Thomas H. -K.
Published: November 2012

Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) are used to enhance the behavior of structural components in either shear or flexure. The research conducted in this paper was mainly focused on the shear-strengthening of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams using FRP. The main objective of the research was to identify the parameters affecting the shear capacity provided by FRP and evaluate the accuracy of analytical models. A review of prior experimental data showed that the available analytical models used to estimate the added shear capacity of FRP struggle to provide a unified design equation that can predict accurately the shear contribution of externally applied FRP. In this study, the ACI 440.2R-081 model and the model developed by Triantafillou and Antonopoulos2 were compared with the prior experimental data. Both analytical models failed to provide a satisfactory prediction of the FRP shear capacity. This study provides insights into potential reasons for the unsatisfactory prediction.