bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new biomarker for mitotic cells
Authors: Jacobberger James W. , Frisa Phyllis S. , Sramkoski R. Michael , Stefan Tammy , Shults Keith E. , Soni Deena V.
Published: December 2007

Many epitopes are phosphorylated during mitosis. These epitopes are useful biomarkers for mitotic cells. The most commonly used are MPM‐2 and serine 10 of histone H3. Here we investigated the use of an antibody generated against a phospho peptide matching residues 774–788 of the human retinoblastoma protein 1 (Rb) to detect mitotic cells. Human cell lines were stained with DNA dyes and antibodies reactive with epitopes defined by antibody MPM‐2, phospho‐S10‐histone‐H3, and the phospho‐serine peptide, TRPPTLSPIPHIPRC (phospho‐S780‐Rb). Immunoreactivity and DNA content were measured by flow and image cytometry. Correlation and pattern recognition analyses were performed on list mode data. Western blots and immunoprecipitation were used to investigate the number of peptides reactive with phospho‐S780‐Rb and the relationship between reactivity with this antibody and MPM‐2. Costaining for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to determine acid resistance of the phospho‐S780‐Rb epitope. Cell cycle related phospho‐S780‐Rb immunofluorescence correlated strongly with that of MPM‐2. Laser scanning cytometry showed that phospho‐S780‐Rb immunofluorescence is expressed at high levels on all stages of mitotic cells. Western blotting and immunoprecipitation showed that the epitope is expressed on several peptides including Rb protein. Costaining of BrdU showed that the epitope is stable to acid. Kinetic experiments showed utility in complex cell cycle analysis aimed at measuring cell cycle transition state timing. The phospho‐S780‐Rb epitope is a robust marker of mitosis that allows cytometric detection of mitotic cells beginning with chromatin condensation and ending after cytokinesis. Costaining of cells with DNA dyes allows discrimination and counting of mitotic cells and post‐cytokinetic (“newborn”) cells. To facilitate use without confusion about specificity, we suggest the trivial name, pS780 for this mitotic epitope. © 2007 International Society for Analytical Cytology
The Portuguese short form of the Eating Attitudes Test‐40
Authors: Pereira Ana Telma , Maia Berta , Bos Sandra , Soares Maria João , Marques Mariana , Macedo António , Azevedo Maria Helena
Published: December 2007

To develop a Portuguese short form, the Eating Attitudes Test‐40 (EAT‐40) was administered to a community sample of 922 female students and to a clinical sample of 63 females suffering from an eating disorder. With the EAT responses of the community sample a factor analysis was performed and items with factor loadings ≥ 0.30 were selected. Internal consistency was computed for both the instrument and the factors. To study the discriminant capacity the proportion of symptomatic answers and the mean scores were compared between the clinical (N = 63) and control (N = 63) samples. Three factors were extracted: Drive for Thinness (14 items, α = .839), Bulimic Behaviours (8 items, α = .670), Social Pressure to Eat (3 items, α = .758). The short form is composed of 25 items and shows good internal consistency = 0.839. Symptomatic answers for all items (except one) and total mean scores were significantly higher (p < .001) in the clinical sample than in community sample. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
A longitudinal study of perfectionism in adolescent onset anorexia nervosa‐restricting type
Authors: Nilsson Karin , Sundbom Elisabet , Hägglöf Bruno
Published: December 2007

This longitudinal study analyses self‐reported perfectionism, eating disorders and psychiatric symptoms during recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN). With a recovered design, a group of 68 previous patients with AN was studied in two follow‐up studies, 8 and 16 years after 1st admission to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP). Levels of perfectionism stayed the same while eating disorder symptoms and psychiatric symptoms decreased during recovery. Levels of perfectionism were inversely related to duration of remission so that individuals that had short illness duration had lower levels of perfectionism at both follow‐ups. Patients with initial high levels of perfectionism may be at risk for a long illness duration which we recommend clinicians to acknowledge. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Weathering of granite in Antarctica: II. Thermal stress at the grain scale
Authors: Hall Kevin , Guglielmin Mauro , Strini Andrea
Published: December 2007

Granular disintegration has long been recognized and referred to in weathering texts from all environments, including the Antarctic. Despite this universal identification and referral, few to no data exist regarding thermal conditions at this scale and causative mechanisms remain little more than conjecture. Here, as part of a larger weathering study, thermal data of individual grains (using infrared thermometry and ultra‐fine thermocouples) composing a coarse granite, as well as the thermal gradients in the outer 10 cm (using thermistors), were collected from a north‐facing exposure. Measurements were also made regarding the surface roughness of the rock. Based on recorded temperatures, the nature of the rock surface and the properties of the minerals, an argument is made for complex stress fields that lead to granular disintegration. Mineral to mineral temperature differences found to occur were, in part, due to the changing exposure to solar radiation through the day (and through seasons). Because the thermal conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion of quartz are not equal in all directions, coupled with the vagaries of heating, this leads to inter‐granular stresses. Although fracture toughness increases with a decrease in temperature, it is suggested that the tensile forces resulting from falling temperatures are able to exceed this and produce granular disassociation. The lack of equality with respect to crystal axis of both thermal conductivity and expansion in quartz further exacerbates the propensity to failure. Grain size and porosity also influence the thermal stresses and may help explain why some grains are held in place despite disassociation near the surface. While the data presented here appear to beg more questions than providing answers, they do provide a basis for better, more detailed studies of this important weathering scale. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weathering of granite in Antarctica: I. Light penetration into rock and implications for rock weathering and endolithic communities
Authors: Hall Kevin , Guglielmin Mauro , Strini Andrea
Published: December 2007

Where rocks are composed of translucent minerals, light penetrates the rock and, in so doing, impacts on the thermal conditions. Where minerals are not translucent all the heat transformation must be at the rock surface, and steep thermal gradients can occur. Where light does penetrate, a component of the incoming radiation is transformed to heat at differing depths within the rock, thereby decreasing the thermal gradient. Equally, light transmissive minerals facilitate endolithic communities, which can also play a role in rock weathering. The attribute of light transmission within rock and the impact this has on the resulting thermal conditions has not been considered within rock weathering studies. An attempt was made to monitor the amount of light penetrating the outer 2 mm of coarse granite under Antarctic summer conditions and to evaluate the thermal impact of this. It was found that the amount of light penetration at this site exceeded modeled or postulated values from biological studies and that it could significantly impact the thermal conditions within the outer shell of the rock. Although the resulting data highlighted a number of flaws in the experimental procedure, sufficient information was generated to provide the first assessment of the range of thermal responses due to light transmissive minerals in rock. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlated observation errors in data assimilation
Authors: Stewart L. M. , Dance S. L. , Nichols N. K.
Published: December 2007

Data assimilation provides techniques for combining observations and prior model forecasts to create initial conditions for numerical weather prediction (NWP). The relative weighting assigned to each observation in the analysis is determined by its associated error. Remote sensing data usually has correlated errors, but the correlations are typically ignored in NWP. Here, we describe three approaches to the treatment of observation error correlations. For an idealized data set, the information content under each simplified assumption is compared with that under correct correlation specification. Treating the errors as uncorrelated results in a significant loss of information. However, retention of an approximated correlation gives clear benefits. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CartGen: Robust, efficient and easy to implement uniform/octree/embedded boundary Cartesian grid generator
Authors: Tavakoli Rohallah
Published: December 2007

An efficient and easy to implement method to generate Cartesian grids is presented. The presented method generates various kinds of Cartesian grids such as uniform, octree and embedded boundary grids. It supports the variation of grid size along each spatial direction as well as anisotropic and non‐graded refinements. The efficiency and ease of implementation are the main benefits of the presented method in contrast to the alternative methods. Regarding octree grid generation, applying a simple and efficient data compression method permits to store all grid levels without considerable memory overhead. The presented method generates octree grids up to a 13‐level refinement (81923grids on the finest level) from a complicated geometry in a few minutes on the traditional desktop computers. The FORTRAN 90 implementation of the presented method is freely available under the terms of the GNU general public license. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparison of tropical temperature trends with model predictions
Authors: Douglass David H. , Christy John R. , Pearson Benjamin D. , Singer S. Fred
Published: December 2007

We examine tropospheric temperature trends of 67 runs from 22 ‘Climate of the 20th Century’ model simulations and try to reconcile them with the best available updated observations (in the tropics during the satellite era). Model results and observed temperature trends are in disagreement in most of the tropical troposphere, being separated by more than twice the uncertainty of the model mean. In layers near 5 km, the modelled trend is 100 to 300% higher than observed, and, above 8 km, modelled and observed trends have opposite signs. These conclusions contrast strongly with those of recent publications based on essentially the same data. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Production of α‐amylase by Aspergillus oryzae As 3951 in solid state fermentation using spent brewing grains as substrate
Authors: Xu Hui , Sun Lanping , Zhao Daqing , Zhang Bin , Shi Yazhong , Wu Yahua
Published: December 2007

BACKGROUND: The optimisation of nutrient levels for the production of α‐amylase by Aspergillus oryzae As 3951 in solid state fermentation (SSF) with spent brewing grains (SBG), an inexpensive substrate and solid support, was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and Box–Behnken design (BBD).

RESULTS: In the first optimisation step a PBD was used to evaluate the influences of related factors. Corn steep liquor, CaCl2 and MgSO4 were found to be the most compatible supplements to the substrate of SBG and influenced α‐amylase activity positively. In the second step the concentrations of these three nutrients were optimised using a BBD. The final concentrations (g/g dry substrate basis) in the medium optimised with RSM were 1.8% corn steep liquor, 0.22% CaCl2 and 0.2% MgSO4 · 7H2O using SBG as the solid substrate. The average α‐amylase activity reached 6186 U g−1 dry substrate under the optimised conditions at 30 °C after 96 h. Under the optimised conditions of SSF an approximately 17.5% increase in enzyme yield was observed.

CONCLUSION: SBG was found to be a good substrate for the production of α‐amylase by A. oryzae As 3951 under SSF. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Microbiological quality of fresh fruit and vegetable products in Catalonia (Spain) using normalised plate‐counting methods and real time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR)
Authors: Badosa Esther , Trias Rosalia , Parés Dolors , Pla Maria , Montesinos Emilio
Published: December 2007

BACKGROUND: Commercially available fruits and raw and ready‐to‐eat vegetables (n = 445) were examined for aerobic, coliform, and yeast and mould counts using normalised methods. Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) after enrichment.

RESULTS: Aerobic plate counts ranged from < 10 to > 109 colony‐forming units (CFU) g−1, with the lowest and highest counts recorded for fruits and sprouts respectively. The highest incidence level of coliforms was found in ready‐to‐eat vegetables, with up to 65.7% of samples containing from 5 to 9 log10CFU g−1. Yeasts and moulds showed their highest incidence level between 5 and 6 log10 CFU g−1, with an overall range from < 2 to 9 log10 CFU g−1. Salmonella spp., Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes were detected in 0.67, 2.7 and 0.9% respectively of the total samples examined.

CONCLUSION: The samples analysed can be gathered into two main groups, one showing low microbial counts (fruits) and a second group (raw whole leaves and roots and packed ready‐to‐eat vegetables) with higher microbial contamination. Although incidence levels of pathogenic bacteria reported here are in the lower range of those reported elsewhere, positive detections highlight the importance of good hygienic measures throughout the whole food chain. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Rest‐induced suppression of anterior horn cell excitability as measured by F waves: Comparison between volitionally inactivated and control muscles
Authors: Taniguchi Shoichi , Kimura Jun , Yanagisawa Toshiyuki , Okada Fumiaki , Yamada Thoru , Taniguchi Shinichirou , Ootsuka Takanobu
Published: December 2007

To test the hypothesis that the anterior horn cells become hypoexcitable in the absence of central drive, we recorded F waves simultaneously from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) before and after volitionally inactivating one muscle (target) while periodically contracting the other muscle (control). In 14 healthy subjects, F waves recorded from the target muscle showed a progressive decrease in persistence and amplitude (whether counting all 100 trials or only detectable responses) after muscle relaxation for 1, 3, and 6 hours, followed by a quick recovery upon brief muscle contraction. We conclude that volitional inactivation suppresses the F waves of the target muscle without equally affecting the control muscle innervated by the same nerve. The history of activity of a muscle should therefore be taken into account in clinical testing, especially when the study of a paretic muscle shows abnormal F‐wave excitability. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Changes in short afferent inhibition during phasic movement in focal dystonia
Authors: Richardson Sarah Pirio , Bliem Barbara , Lomarev Mikhail , Shamim Ejaz , Dang Nguyet , Hallett Mark
Published: December 2007

Impaired surround inhibition could account for the abnormal motor control seen in patients with focal hand dystonia, but the neural mechanisms underlying surround inhibition in the motor system are not known. We sought to determine whether an abnormality of the influence of sensory input at short latency could contribute to the deficit of surround inhibition in patients with focal hand dystonia (FHD). To measure digital short afferent inhibition (dSAI), subjects received electrical stimulation at the digit followed after 23 ms by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded over abductor digiti minimi (ADM) during rest and during voluntary phasic flexion of the second digit. F‐waves were also recorded. We studied 13 FHD patients and 17 healthy volunteers. FHD patients had increased homotopic dSAI in ADM during flexion of the second digit, suggesting that this process acts to diminish overflow during movement; this might be a compensatory mechanism. No group differences were observed in first dorsal interosseous. Further, no differences were seen in the F‐waves between groups, suggesting that the changes in dSAI are mediated at the cortical level rather than at the spinal cord. Understanding the role of these inhibitory circuits in dystonia may lead to development of therapeutic agents aimed at restoring inhibition. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of semi‐IPN hydrogels consisted of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum for colon‐specific drug delivery
Authors: Li Shengfang , Liu Xianli
Published: December 2007

The semi‐IPN hydrogels consisting of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum (GG) are prepared at room temperature using water as solvent. 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) is entrapped in the hydrogel in the synthesis of hydrogel and all entrapment efficiencies are found above 85%. The hydrogel shows excellent pH‐sensitivity. It exhibited minimum swelling in an acidic pH medium through the formation of a complex hydrogen‐bonded structure and maximal swelling due to the electrostatic repulsion due to the ionization of the carboxylic groups in pH 7.4 medium. The degradation in vitro shows that the degree of degradation (R%) depended on the concentration of cross‐linking agent and content of GG. The hydrogel shows a minimum release of 5‐ASA due to the complex hydrogen bonded structure of the hydrogels in the medium of pH 2.2. The enzymatic degradation of hydrogels by cecal bacteria can accelerate the release of 5‐ASA entrapped in the hydrogel in pH 7.4 medium. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School‐based promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption in multiculturally diverse, urban schools
Authors: Blom‐Hoffman Jessica
Published: December 2007

Rates of childhood overweight1

The term childhood overweight as opposed to childhood obesity is used in this article. This term is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (2007a) nomenclature for describing children's weight status. For children, weight status is determined by a BMI percentile using age‐ and gender‐specific normative data. Underweight is defined as a child being below the 5th percentile based on the age‐ and gender‐specific norms, Normal Weight is defined as being between the 5th and the 84th percentile, At Risk for Overweight is defined as being between the 85th and the 94th percentile, and Overweightis defined as at or above the 95th percentile. For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/childrens_BMI/about_childrens_BMI.htm.

have reached epidemic proportions (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), and schools have been called on to play a role in the prevention of this medical condition. This article describes a multiyear health promotion effort—the Athletes in Service fruit and vegetable (F&V) promotion program—which is based on social learning theory for urban, elementary school children in kindergarten through third grade. Children participate in the program for a period of 3 years. The goals of the program are to increase opportunities for children to be more physically active during the school day and to help students increase their F&V consumption. This article describes the F&V promotion components of the program that were implemented in year 1, including implementation integrity and treatment acceptability data. Year 1 evaluation data demonstrated that the program is acceptable from the perspective of school staff and was implemented by school staff with high levels of integrity. Hallmarks of the program's successful implementation and high acceptability include (a) having a school‐based program champion; (b) designing the program to include low‐cost, attractive, interactive materials; (c) including many school staff members to facilitate a culture of healthy eating in the school; and (d) spreading out implementation responsibilities among the multiple staff members so that each individual's involvement is time efficient. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topological resonance energy, bond resonance energy, and circuit resonance energy
Authors: Aihara Jun‐ichi
Published: December 2007

Circuit resonance energy (CRE) is a key quantity that links energetic and magnetic criteria of aromaticity for a polycyclic π‐system. Topological resonance energy (TRE) correlates well with the sum of CREs for an entire π‐system. We found that bond resonance energy (BRE), so far defined to estimate the degree of kinetic stability for a polycyclic π‐system, also correlates very well with the corresponding quantity defined with CREs. These findings justify the view that graph‐theoretical quantities, such as TRE and BRE, can be used safely even though they rely on unrealistic reference structures. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dendritic macromers for hydrogel formation: Tailored materials for ophthalmic, orthopedic, and biotech applications
Authors: Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: December 2007

Dendritic macromolecules are well‐defined highly branched macromolecules synthesized via a divergent or convergent approach. A salient feature of the macromolecules described herein, and a goal of our research effort, is to prepare dendritic macromolecules suitable for in vitro and in vivo use by focusing on biocompatible building blocks and biodegradable linkages. These dendritic macromolecules can be subsequently crosslinked to form hydrogels using a photochemical acrylate‐based or a chemical ligation strategy. The properties—mechanical, swelling, degradation, and so forth—of the hydrogels can be tuned by altering the composition, crosslinking chemistry, wt %, generation number and so forth. The utility and diverse applicability is demonstrated through successful use of these hydrogels in three unique applications: hydrogel adhesives for repairing corneal wounds, hydrogel scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering, and hydrogel reaction chambers for high throughput screening of molecular recognition events. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 383–400, 2008.
Improved compound‐specific δ13C analysis of n‐alkanes for application in palaeoenvironmental studies
Authors: Zech Michael , Glaser Bruno
Published: December 2007

We present an optimized method for compound‐specific stable carbon isotope (δ13C) analysis of n‐alkanes. For sample preparation, the traditionally used Soxhlet extraction was replaced by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). δ13C values of individual n‐alkanes – measured using gas chromatography–combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC‐C‐IRMS) – were first drift‐corrected with regularly discharged pure CO2 pulses as reference gas and, secondly, corrected for the amount dependence of the δ13C values by co‐analyzing standards with varying analyte concentrations. Finally, the δ13C values were calibrated against two internal standards. The improved method was applied to selected sediment samples from a palaeoenvironmental study in subtropical NE Argentina. The measured δ13C values of all long‐chain n‐alkanes (nC27, nC29, nC31 and nC33), representing biomarkers for terrestrial plants, correlate significantly with the δ13C of bulk organic matter (δ13CTOC). The latter is hence corroborated as a proxy for C3‐C4 vegetation changes. Furthermore, the δ13C variations reveal higher amplitudes for nC31 and nC33 than for nC27 and nC29, indicating that the former n‐alkanes mainly derive from C3 and/or C4 grasses, whereas the latter homologues mainly derive from C3 plants (trees and shrubs). Except for the lowermost part of the sediment core, the δ13C values of the mid‐chain alkanes nC23 and nC25 do not reflect the terrestrial δ13C pattern, thus indicating that they are probably mainly of lacustrine origin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mechanism study with dihydroxybenzoic acid isomers as matrices
Authors: Jessome Lori , Hsu Nien‐Yeen , Wang Yi‐Sheng , Chen Chung‐Hsuan
Published: December 2007

Desorption and ionization efficiencies of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) for various biolmolecules with different dihydroxybenzoic acid isomers were studied. No clear relationships were observed between MALDI biomolecule signals vs. gas‐phase basicity, proton affinity and ionization potential. This indicates the the gas‐phase protonation mechanism is not adequate to explain the observed results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation between anal sphincter defects and anal incontinence following obstetric sphincter tears: assessment using scoring systems for sonographic classification of defects
Authors: Norderval S. , Markskog A. , Røssaak K. , Vonen B.
Published: December 2007

Objective

To determine if there is a correlation between the sonographic extent of anal sphincter defects revealed by three‐dimensional endoanal sonography (EAUS) and the degree of anal incontinence following primary repair of obstetric sphincter tears.

Methods

This was a follow‐up study of women who had suffered anal sphincter tearing during vaginal delivery at Aalesund Hospital between January 2002 and July 2004. Incontinence was assessed by St Mark's score. The anal canal was assessed with three‐dimensional endoanal sonography (EAUS). Sphincter defects were classified according to the Starck score and our new EAUS defect score. The EAUS images were interpreted by an observer blinded to other patient data.

Results

Sixty‐one women were included in this study. Incontinence was reported by 32 (52%) women at a median of 21 (range, 9–35) months after delivery. Three‐dimensional EAUS datasets were obtained in 55 women. There was a significant correlation between St Mark's score and our EAUS defect score (P = 0.034), and correlation approached but did not reach significance between St Mark's score and the Starck score (P = 0.053). There was a strong correlation between our EAUS defect score and the Starck score (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

There is a positive correlation between the extent of sphincter defects and the degree of anal incontinence following primary repair of obstetric sphincter tears. Our findings highlight the importance of adequate reconstruction of the anal sphincters during primary repair. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron Beam Bias for Thin Capacitor Web Coating
Authors: Küper Stephan , Hagemann Heiko
Published: December 2007

Electron beam induced bias was applied for high speed, high quality coating of ultra thin capacitor web. Electron beam charging applies a static charge to the film and allows higher bias voltages than conventional bias systems. Using a numerical calculation of the electrical and thermal forces at work it can be shown that electron beam bias results in better cooling and lower peak temperatures of the film. The advantages for the film coating process are higher possible coating speeds and/or better film quality. Further, the effect of pinholes during coating is much reduced.
MedStar Health Vendor Access Program: One System's Story
Authors: Hardy Cheryl
Published: December 2007

SALES OR SERVICE CALLS by vendor representatives were identified as a potential patient safety issue in a Baltimore, Maryland/Washington, DC, hospital system.

A VENDOR BADGING program, which requires vendor representatives to provide a background check, documentation of substance abuse testing, health information, and proof of education was implemented after nine months of investigation and planning.

THREE LEVELS OF BADGES were created. The level of the badge indicates whether the vendor representative has access to non‐patient care areas only; patient care areas; or restricted patient care (ie, sterile) areas. AORN J 86 (November 2007) 815–823.
A Bolivian Medical Mission Experience
Authors: Souers Charlotte
Published: December 2007

VOLUNTEERING TO PARTICIPATE in a medical mission is an excellent way for nurses to get back to the basics of nursing and be reminded of why they became nurses in the first place.

ONE PERIOPERATIVE NURSE'S EXPERIENCE on a medical mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia, through the organization Solidarity Bridge is described in this article.

MISSIONERS HAD TO ADJUST to very basic working conditions, including reusing disposable items and using only minimal monitoring equipment.

MEMBERS OF THE SURGICAL TEAM performed 39 surgical procedures during the one‐week mission trip, and many felt that they gained more from the experience than they gave. AORN J 86 (November 2007) 759–766.
Poly(dG)–poly(dC) DNA appears shorter than poly(dA)–poly(dT) and possibly adopts an A‐related conformation on a mica surface under ambient conditions
Authors: Borovok Natalia , Molotsky Tatiana , Ghabboun Jamal , Cohen Hezy , Porath Danny , Kotlyar Alexander
Published: December 2007

Three types of DNA: ∼2700 bp polydeoxyguanylic olydeoxycytidylic acid [poly(dG)–poly(dC)], ∼2700 bp polydeoxyadenylic polydeoxythymidylic acid [poly(dA)–poly(dT)] and 2686 bp linear plasmid pUC19 were deposited on a mica surface and imaged by atomic force microscopy. Contour length measurements show that the average length of poly(dG)–poly(dC) is ∼30% shorter than that of poly(dA)–poly(dT) and the plasmid. This led us to suggest that individual poly(dG)–poly(dC) molecules are immobilized on mica under ambient conditions in a form which is likely related to the A‐form of DNA in contrast to poly(dA)–poly(dT) and random sequence DNA which are immobilized in a form that is related to the DNA B‐form.
Imaging Infrastructure Issues for Automated Imaging
Authors: Esterman Michail A.
Published: December 2007

Increased sophistication in laboratory automation has increased the importance of computer technology, and has had an impact on the information technology infrastructure of organizations as a whole. Scientific imaging architecture is the subject of this technical note, because of the diversity of the technology, variety of data formats, and the volume of data it represents. The infrastructure elements affected by automated imaging are acquisition computers, image analysis workstations, data storage, and network. This note describes infrastructure issues that may arise and suggest solutions.
An early Holocene Greenland whale from Melville Bugt, Greenland
Authors: Bennike Ole
Published: December 2007

Radiocarbon age determination of a Greenland whale (Balaena mysticetus) vertebra from Melville Bugt in northwestern Greenland yields an age of 9259–8989 cal yr BP. The margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet in Melville Bugt was situated behind its AD 1950–2000 position in the early Holocene, at a similar position to that being reached following rapid retreat in recent years. Such an early deglaciation of areas close to the Greenland Ice Sheet is unusual. This probably reflects the unique glaciological setting resulting from the narrow fringe of ice-free islands and peninsulas and offshore waters with deep areas that characterize this part of Greenland. The timing of Greenland Ice Sheet retreat to its present margin varies significantly around Greenland.
The importance of iodine nutrition during pregnancy
Authors: Glinoer Daniel
Published: December 2007

Objective:To examine the importance of iodine nutrition during pregnancy.

Design:Review of existing literature of iodine in pregnancy.

Setting:Population surveys and metabolic studies.

Subjects:Pregnant women.

Results:The main changes in thyroid function associated with pregnancy are due to an increase in hormone requirements that begin in the first trimester of gestation. This increase can only be met by a proportional increase in hormone production, something that depends directly upon the availability of iodine. When dietary iodine is lacking, an adequate physiological adaptation is difficult to achieve and is progressively replaced by pathological alterations that occur in parallel with the degree and duration of iodine deprivation.

Conclusions:Iodine prophylaxis should be given systematically to women during pregnancy. In most public health programmes dealing with the correction of iodine deficiency disorders, iodised salt has been used as the preferred means to deliver iodine to households. Iodised salt, however, is not the ideal means of delivering iodine in the specific instances of pregnancy, breast-feeding and complementary feeding because of the need to limit salt intake during these periods. In European countries, presently it is proposed that iodine is given to pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers by systematically administering multivitamin tablets containing iodine in order to reach the recommended dietary allowance of 250 μg iodine day-1.
The impact of iodised salt or iodine supplements on iodine status during pregnancy, lactation and infancy
Authors: Zimmermann Michael B
Published: December 2007

Objectives:Monitoring of iodine status during pregnancy, lactation and infancy is difficult as there are no established reference criteria for urinary iodine concentration (UI) for these groups; so it is uncertain whether iodized salt programs meet the needs of these life stages.

Design and Subjects:The method used in this paper was: 1) to estimate the median UI concentration that reflects adequate iodine intake during these life stages; and 2) to use these estimates in a review of the literature to assess whether salt iodisation can control iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women, and their infants.

Results:For pregnancy, recommended mean daily iodine intakes of 220-250 μg were estimated to correspond to a median UI concentration of about 150 μg l− 1, and larger surveys from the iodine sufficient countries have reported a median UI in pregnant women ≥ 140 μg l− 1. Iodine supplementation in pregnant women who are mild-to-moderately iodine deficient is beneficial, but there is no clear affect on maternal or newborn thyroid hormone levels. In countries where the iodine intake is sufficient, most mothers have median breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC) greater than the concentration (100-120 μg l− 1) required to meet an infant's needs. The median UI concentration during infancy that indicates optimal iodine nutrition is estimated to be ≥ 100 μg l− 1. In iodine-sufficient countries, the median UI concentration in infants ranges from 90-170 μg l− 1, suggesting adequate iodine intake in infancy.

Conclusions:These findings suggest pregnant and lactating women and their infants in countries with successful sustained iodised salt programs have adequate iodine status.
Iodine nutrition in pregnancy and lactation in Iran
Authors: Azizi Fereidoun
Published: December 2007

Objective: To describe studies evaluating urinary iodine excretion during pregnancy and lactation in women living in cities with adequate or more than adequate iodine intake.

Design: Cross-sectional study conducted between 1996 and 1998 in pregnant women and a study of lactating women conducted in 2003.

Settings and Subjects: Pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in four cities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Urinary iodine excretion and thyroid volume was measured in 403 women. In a second study, 100 lactating women from Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan, Iran were evaluated for thyroid size, and both urinary and breast milk iodine concentrations were determined.

Results: In Rasht city, 84% of pregnant women had a urinary iodine concentration of ≥ 200 μg l-1, while in the other cities this percentage ranged from 45 to 55%. When data were combined for the cities of Ilam, Isfahan and Tehran, where women have an adequate or more than adequate median urinary iodine concentration, 51% of pregnant women had a urinary iodine concentration less than that recommended during pregnancy. In Rasht, where the median urinary iodine concentration indicates an excessive iodine intake, 15.4% of pregnant women had a urinary iodine concentration < 200 μg l-1. The mean urinary iodine concentration in lactating women was 250 μg l-1, and 16% of women had a urinary iodine concentration < 100 μg l-1. Grade 1 goitre was present in 8% of lactating women, and another 8% had grade 2 goitre.

Conclusions: Findings of this study call for further attention to iodine intake during pregnancy and lactation. The currently recommended intake of iodine through universal salt iodisation may not be adequate for pregnant and lactating women, and supplementation during pregnancy and lactation should be further considered in light of the latest recommendations.
Iodine nutrition of pregnant and lactating women in Hong Kong, where intake is of borderline sufficiency
Authors: Kung Annie WC
Published: December 2007

Objective: To describe the iodine nutrition of pregnant and lactating women in Hong Kong, where intake is of borderline sufficiency.

Design: Review of cross-sectional and prospective studies.

Setting: China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Subjects: Pregnant and lactating women.

Results: Studies of pregnant women in Hong Kong SAR have revealed an increase in the urinary iodine (UI) concentration as pregnancy advances. A significant percentage of women had a sub-normal serum thyroid hormone concentration at full term. Although iodine is concentrated by the mammary gland, 19% of all mothers had low iodine concentrations in their breast milk. The moderate correlation between the concentrations of iodine in breast milk and urine suggests that an adequate maternal urinary iodine concentration cannot reliably indicate that an infant is getting enough iodine in breast milk. Therefore, some breast-fed infants may still be at risk of low iodine intake, and additional iodine supplements, other than salt iodisation, would be warranted in this population.

Conclusions: The currently recommended intake of iodine through universal salt iodisation may not be adequate for pregnant and lactating women, and supplementation during pregnancy and lactation should be further considered in light of the latest recommendations.
The consent process in radiotherapy
Authors: Robinson Keisha S.
Published: December 2007

Over the past two decades The Department of Health has made the consent process one of its main focus and has issued numerous guidelines on how the process must be conducted in order to make it valid. This mandate has been in accordance with the new patient-centred health service, which has patient autonomy as its fundamental standard. This paper will critically appraise the consent process in a radiotherapy department against the Department of Health’s recommendations. The ethical and legal principles governing the process will also be discussed using guidance from medical professional bodies and reference to English case law. Additionally, the function of written consent and consent forms will be assessed in order to establish whether implied or oral consent has any role in radiotherapy. The paper found that to a large extent the Department of Health’s recommendations are followed in the radiotherapy department evaluated. One key outcome arising from this paper is that written consent is the most appropriate form of consent in radiotherapy; however the record of consent should not be solely confined to a consent form. Rather it is critical that adequate notes of all areas of the dialogue that took place during the consent process with the patient should be written in the patient’s medical notes.
Fractal characterization of fracture networks: An improved box‐counting technique
Authors: Roy Ankur , Perfect Edmund , Dunne William M. , McKay Larry D.
Published: December 2007

Box counting is widely used for characterizing fracture networks as fractals and estimating their fractal dimensions (D). If this analysis yields a power law distribution given by N ∝ r−D, where N is the number of boxes containing one or more fractures and r is the box size, then the network is considered to be fractal. However, researchers are divided in their opinion about which is the best box‐counting algorithm to use, or whether fracture networks are indeed fractals. A synthetic fractal fracture network with a known D value was used to develop a new algorithm for the box‐counting method that returns improved estimates of D. The method is based on identifying the lower limit of fractal behavior (rcutoff) using the condition ds/dr → 0, where s is the standard deviation from a linear regression equation fitted to log(N) versus log(r) with data for r < rcutoff sequentially excluded. A set of 7 nested fracture maps from the Hornelen Basin, Norway was used to test the improved method and demonstrate its accuracy for natural patterns. We also reanalyzed a suite of 17 fracture trace maps that had previously been evaluated for their fractal nature. The improved estimates of D for these maps ranged from 1.56 ± 0.02 to 1.79 ± 0.02, and were much greater than the original estimates. These higher D values imply a greater degree of fracture connectivity and thus increased propensity for fracture flow and the transport of miscible or immiscible chemicals.
Silicate melt properties and volcanic eruptions
Authors: Zhang Youxue , Xu Zhengjiu , Zhu Mengfan , Wang Haoyue
Published: December 2007

Knowledge about the properties of silicate melts is needed by volcanologists and petrologists to evaluate the dynamics of volcanic eruptions and magmatic processes. These properties include the solubility and diffusivity of volatile components in silicate melts, silicate melt viscosity, and the fragmentation condition. Data and models of each property are reviewed and assessed. For rhyolitic melts many properties are sufficiently well known to allow realistic modeling of volcanic and magmatic processes. One interesting example is the role of speciation in the solubility and diffusivity of H2O and CO2. Even though both H2O and CO2 are present in silicate melts as at least two species, the complexity in the solubility and diffusion behavior of H2O and the simplicity of CO2 are due to differences in the speciation reaction: For the H2O component the stoichiometric coefficient is one for one hydrous species (molecular H2O) but is two for the other hydrous species (OH) in the species interconversion reaction, whereas for CO2 the stoichiometric coefficients for all carbon species are one. The investigation of the species reaction not only helps in understanding the solubility and diffusion behavior, but the reaction among the hydrous species also serves as a geospeedometer (cooling rate indicator) for hydrous rhyolitic pyroclasts and glass and provides a method to infer viscosity. For melts other than rhyolite, a preliminary description of their properties is also available, but much more experimental and modeling work is necessary to quantify these properties more accurately.
Hydrodynamics of a forced riffle pool in a gravel bed river: 1. Mean velocity and turbulence intensity
Authors: MacVicar B. J. , Roy A. G.
Published: December 2007

Riffle pools are fundamental units of many gravel bed rivers. Considerable debate exists as to an appropriate hydrodynamic model for this bed form type. Sampling designs in previous studies have not always anticipated the degree of spatial variability of flow parameters in riffle pools nor considered the effect of the nonuniform boundary on hydrodynamics. The objective of this paper is to detail the distribution of mean velocities and turbulence intensities in a forced riffle pool. While limited by the lack of lateral velocity measurements, the data set is of high quality and includes measurements during a bankfull flood. Key observations include the perturbation of velocity profiles from what is observed in uniform flow, lateral convergence and divergence of flow, and the generation of turbulence away from the channel boundary. In the thalweg of the pool head, velocities are high near the water surface and low near the bed. Turbulence intensities are relatively high near the bed and may be significant for sediment entrainment. Higher mean velocities occur over the side bar and could indicate that sediment is routed around the thalweg. The midpool is characterized by the lateral constriction of flow and a shear zone downstream of the forcing element. The pool tail has very high velocities and turbulence intensities near the bed. A velocity reversal occurs in the pool tail at bankfull flow but does not occur in the pool head. A consideration of deceleration and acceleration as a result of vertical expansion and contraction is shown to explain many of the key observations.
Hydrodynamics of a forced riffle pool in a gravel bed river: 2. Scale and structure of coherent turbulent events
Authors: MacVicar B. J. , Roy A. G.
Published: December 2007

In the companion article, we present mean velocity and turbulence intensity statistics at a range of discharges in a forced riffle pool unit and show that the distributions of mean velocity and turbulence are characteristic of nonuniform flows. The objectives of this paper are to describe the spatial and temporal variability of the structure of turbulence in the forced riffle pool unit and to examine turbulence generation mechanisms and the links between the scales of macrobed forms and coherent turbulent flow structures. Our results show that while larger‐scale structures develop outside of the thalweg, the scales of coherent turbulent flow structures decrease with velocity and discharge in the forced riffle pool. Flow separation is shown to be an important factor, with full separation occurring in lateral shear zones and intermittent separation near the bed in the pool head. These zones generate new turbulence that disrupts a number of coherent turbulent flow structures that are typical of uniform flows. Coherent turbulent flow structures do not appear to be the source of morphological scaling in the forced riffle pool.
Numerical investigations of tsunamis generated by pyroclastic flows from the Kikai caldera, Japan
Authors: Maeno Fukashi , Imamura Fumihiko
Published: December 2007

Tsunamis generated by a voluminous pyroclastic flow entering the sea during a caldera‐forming eruption at the Kikai caldera, Japan, were investigated by using a two‐layer shallow water model which is limited to the source conditions and their impact on coastal areas. Volume flux of the dense component of the pyroclastic flow was controlled by a sine function. Results showed that the maximum height of the tsunami was largest in models with the largest volume flux of the flows. The approximate source conditions of the tsunami, which can stir sediment particles on the sea floor, were investigated using the non‐dimensional boundary shear stress. Results from our simulation showed that the shear stress to initiate movement of sediment particles was not easily achieved in areas where there was evidence of a tsunami. A caldera collapse is thought more likely to have generated the huge tsunami rather than a pyroclastic flow.