bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel reconfigurable quadratic antenna for wimax and 4G systems
Authors: Jamlos M. F. , Kamarudin M. R. , Jamlos M.A. , Jusoh M.
Published: December 2011

A reconfigurable beam shaping of quadratic‐aperture coupled antenna array is introduced. The 16 rectangular patches microstrip antenna is fed by an aperture coupled structure, which incorporates PIN diode switches that are integrated with the feed line. The activation of certain PIN diode switches configuration enables the variety outcomes of the radiation patterns with different beamwidth and gain. It is found that the beam shaping ability is greatly influenced by the quadratic aperture slots, which have strengthened the level of coupling from the feed line to the radiating patches. Furthermore, the novel quadratic slots, which behave as an inductive equivalent circuit, has the ability to absorb the reflected electrical field between the substrates. The proposed antenna can be constructed to work at two different frequencies concurrently which are 2.3 and 2.5 GHz, at each shaped beam pattern. This novel antenna is competent of shaping its radiated beam up to four different gains; 2.81, 4.98, 7.78, and 11.34 dB with 81.76% efficiency. Hence, the proposed antenna has the greatest gain of 11.34 dB and also proficient to generate the widest beamwidth covering radiated forward beam of 90° compared with conventional microstrip antenna which could only cover from 50°. These results extend the validity of the analysis and will be highly potential for application of WIMAX at 2.3 and 2.5 GHz's 4G in the future. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:416–421, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26587
Compact dual‐band bandpass filter using meander short‐circuit quarter‐wavelength resonators
Authors: Liu H. W. , Zhang Z. C. , Wei G. W. , Shen L. , Guan X. H.
Published: December 2011

In this letter, a compact dual‐band microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) with independently controlled center frequencies is designed using meander short‐circuit quarter‐wavelength resonators. Its coupling scheme and equivalent circuit model are analyzed. A good agreement between simulation and measurement verifies the validity of this design methodology. The overall size for the proposed BPF is about 0.17λg × 0.17 λg. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:344–346, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26590
Characterization of the ICSI‐mediated gene transfer method in the production of transgenic pigs
Authors: Umeyama Kazuhiro , Saito Hitoshi , Kurome Mayuko , Matsunari Hitomi , Watanabe Masahito , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Nagashima Hiroshi
Published: December 2011

Understanding the behavior of transgenes introduced into oocytes or embryos is essential for evaluating the methodologies for transgenic animal production. We investigated the expression pattern of a transgene transferred to porcine eggs by intracytoplasmic sperm injection‐mediated gene transfer (ICSI‐MGT) or pronuclear microinjection (PN injection). The introduction of the EGFP gene by ICSI‐MGT yielded significantly more embryos with non‐mosaic transgene expression (P < 0.01). In the ICSI‐MGT group, 61.5% (24/39) of the embryos were EGFP‐positive in all their component blastomeres at the morula stage, while fewer than 10% of such embryos were EGFP‐positive in the PN‐injection group. Using three types of transgenes, ranging from 3.0 to 7.5 kb in size, we confirmed that approximately one in four fetuses obtained by ICSI‐MGT was transgenic, suggesting that ICSI‐MGT is a practical method for transgenic pig production. Southern blot analysis of 12 transgenic fetuses produced by ICSI‐MGT revealed that the number of integrated transgene copies varied from 1 to 300, with no correlation between transgene size and the number of integrated copies. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed that the transgenes were randomly integrated into a single site on the host chromosomes. Together, these data indicate that multiple‐copy, single‐site integration of a transgene is the primary outcome of ICSI‐MGT in the pig and that ICSI‐MGT is less likely than PN injection to cause transgene integration in a mosaic manner. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 218–228, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of DNA apoptosis in mouse and human blastocysts after vitrification and slow freezing
Authors: Li Lifei , Zhang Xuehong , Zhao Lihui , Xia Xuefeng , Wang Weihua
Published: December 2011

Vitrification is a novel cryopreservation method for mammalian blastocysts. This study was designed to compare different vitrification methods and slow freezing for their effects on survival rate and DNA integrity in mouse and human blastocysts. In Experiment 1, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between mouse blastocysts with collapsed and non‐collapsed blastoceles. In Experiment 2, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between vitrified and slow‐frozen mouse blastocysts. In Experiment 3, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between vitrified and slow‐frozen human blastocysts. Fresh blastocysts were used as controls in all experiments. Higher (P < 0.05) blastocyst survival rates were obtained in mouse blastocysts vitrified with collapsed versus intact blastoceles, although DNA‐integrity indices in the surviving blastocysts were the same among vitrified and fresh blastocysts. More mouse blastocysts (P < 0.05) survived after vitrification (100%) as compared to slow freezing (82.5%). DNA‐integrity indices examined in the surviving blastocysts were also higher (P < 0.001) in fresh (93.6%) and vitrified/warmed (93.7%) blastocysts than in slow‐frozen/thawed (75.8%) ones. More human blastocysts survived with a higher DNA‐integrity index after vitrification/warming than after slow freezing/thawing. These results indicate that higher survival rates can be obtained by vitrification of blastocele‐collapsed blastocysts, and that vitrification causes less cell apoptosis in both mouse and human blastocysts compared to slow freezing. Vitrification of blastocysts after blastocele collapse by single laser pulse supports a higher survival rate and less DNA apoptosis, suggesting that laser blastocele collapse is a safe procedure for blastocyst vitrification. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 229–236, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Use of Supervised Community Treatment in one UK healthcare district
Authors: Monnery Daniel , Belgamwar Ravindra B
Published: December 2011

Supervised Community Treatment (SCT) was introduced in 2008 as part of the 2007 Mental Health Act Amendments, allowing Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) to be imposed in certain circumstances. Here, Drs Monnery and Belgamwar investigate whether the new CTOs have been applied within their Trust according to guidelines. They also examine the reasons behind the CTOs and their impact on admission to hospital. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, purification, and characterization of “perfect” star polymers via “Click” coupling
Authors: Li Yejia , Zhang Boyu , Hoskins Jessica N. , Grayson Scott M.
Published: December 2011

The copper (I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition “click” reaction was successfully applied to prepare well‐defined 3, 6, and 12‐arms polystyrene and polyethylene glycol stars. This study focused particularly on making “perfect” star polymers with an exact number of arms, as well as developing techniques for their purification. Various methods of characterization confirmed the star polymers high purity, and the structural uniformity of the generated star polymers. In particular, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry revealed the quantitative transformation of the end groups on the linear polymer precursors and confirmed their quantitative coupling to the dendritic cores to yield star polymers with an exact number of arms. In addition to preparing well‐defined polystyrene and poly(ethylene glycol)homopolymer stars, this technique was also successfully applied to amphiphilic, PCL‐b‐PEG star polymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Synthesis and characterization of polytulipalin‐g‐polylactide copolymers
Authors: Lee Chan Woo , Nakamura Shohei , Kimura Yoshiharu
Published: December 2011

Graft copolymers of poly(tulipalin A) (PT) and poly(DL‐lactide) (PDLLA) (PT‐g‐PDLLA) having various graft lengths and ratios were synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization of α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MBL) and PDLLA macromonomers (HEMA‐PDLLA) terminated by 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)‐terminated. HEMA‐PDLLA were synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of DL‐lactide in the presence of HEMA. Both HEMA‐PDLLA and the copolymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal properties of the graft copolymers were found to depend on the graft length and the ratio. The copolymers consisting of PDLLA side chains of Mn = 500 Da showed a single Tg between Tgs of the two component polymers, suggesting a miscible state of PT and PDLLA. In contrast, the copolymers consisting of PDLLA side chains of Mn = 1100, 2000, and 7000 Da showed two isolated Tg, suggesting two segregated domains. The AFM phase images of the copolymers supported the single and phase‐separated morphologies for the former and latter systems, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Metallized nanotube polymer composites via supercritical fluid impregnation
Authors: Park Cheol , Kim Jae‐Woo , Sauti Godfrey , Ho Kang Jin , Lovell Conrad S. , Gibbons Luke J. , Lowther Sharon E. , Lillehei Peter T. , Harrison Joycelyn S. , Nazem Negin , Taylor Larry T.
Published: December 2011

Although many metal decorated nanotubes and nanowires appear in the literature, well‐dispersed metal decorated nanotube polymer composites have rarely been reported because of the excessive density mismatch between the decorated nanotubes and polymer matrix. Here, we report a novel method to prepare well‐dispersed, highly functional, metallized nanotube polymer composites (MNPCs) that possess remarkably improved electrical conductivity and mechanical toughness. The MNPCs are prepared by supercritical fluid impregnation of an organometal compound into a premade well‐dispersed single wall carbon nanotube‐polymer composite film. The infused precursor preferentially migrates towards the nanotubes to undergo spontaneous reduction and form nanometer‐scale metal particles leading to an increase in the conductivity of the MNPC films. The environmentally friendly supercritical fluid impregnation process significantly improved the toughness of the composite films, regardless of the presence of metal. Additional functionality can be imparted into the resulting MNPC by infusing other precursors such as magnetic and catalytic metal compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.* J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Control of cell growth direction by direct fabrication of periodic micro‐ and submicrometer arrays on polymers
Authors: Langheinrich Denise , Yslas Edith , Broglia Martín , Rivarola Viviana , Acevedo Diego , Lasagni Andrés
Published: December 2011

In this work, we describe a laser‐assisted microstructuring technique called Direct Laser Interference Patterning to produce topographical cues for tumor cells in a one‐step process. Line‐like patterns with spatial periods ranging from 500 nm to 10 μm are fabricated on polyimide (PI) films. The resulting structures exhibit a well‐defined shape and quality even for patterns with small periodic distances. Subsequently, the behavior of mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells over those structures is evaluated. The results show that cell growth is well aligned to the direction of the patterns (over 60% lying within 0° to 15° to either side of the surface lines) for all evaluated structure sizes. Moreover, cells grown on patterns with 500 nm spatial period are the most narrowly aligned (up to 80% found between 0° and 15°), showing the potential of the technique. The fabrication process of the PI patterns is supported by a mathematical model of the underlying photo‐chemical ablation process. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Structure–property relationships of polymer blend/clay nanocomposites: Compatibilized and noncompatibilized polystyrene/propylene/clay
Authors: Istrate Oana M. , Gunning Micheal A. , Higginbotham Clement L. , Chen Biqiong
Published: December 2011

Polymer blends represent an important class of materials in engineering applications. The incorporation of clay nanofiller may provide new opportunities for this type of materials to enhance their applications. This article reports on the effects of clay on the structure and properties of compatibilized and noncompatibilized polymer blends and presents a detailed process for quantitative analysis of the elastic moduli of polymer blend/clay nanocomposites, based on immiscible polystyrene/polypropylene (PS/PP) blends with or without maleated PP as the compatibilizer. The results show that in the noncompatibilized PS/PP/clay nanocomposite clay locates solely in the PS phase, whereas in the compatibilized nanocomposite clay disperses in both phases. The addition of clay to both polymer blends reduces the domain size significantly, modifies the crystallinity and improves the stiffness. The Mori–Tanaka and Christensen's models offer a reasonably good prediction of the elastic moduli of both types of nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Correlating backbone‐to‐backbone distance to ionic conductivity in amorphous polymerized ionic liquids
Authors: la Cruz David Salas‐de , Green Matthew D. , Ye Yuesheng , Elabd Yossef A. , Long Timothy E. , Winey Karen I.
Published: December 2011

The morphology and ionic conductivity of poly(1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium)‐based homopolymers polymerized from ionic liquids were investigated as a function of the alkyl chain length and counterion type. In general, X‐ray scattering showed three features: (i) backbone‐to‐backbone, (ii) anion‐to‐anion, and (iii) pendant‐to‐pendant characteristic distances. As the alkyl chain length increases, the backbone‐to‐backbone separation increases. As the size of counterion increases, the anion‐to‐anion scattering peak becomes apparent and its correlation length increases. The X‐ray scattering features shift to lower angles as the temperature increases due to thermal expansion. The ionic conductivity results show that the glass transition temperature (Tg) is a dominant, but not exclusive, parameter in determining ion transport. The Tg‐independent ionic conductivity decreases as the backbone‐to‐backbone spacing increases. Further interpretation of the ionic conductivity using the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation enabled the correlation between polymer morphology and ionic conductivity, which highlights the importance of anion hoping between adjacent polymer backbones. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Inhibition of Bacterial Growth and Biofilm Production by Constituents from Hypericum spp.
Authors: Sarkisian S. A. , Janssen M. J. , Matta H. , Henry G. E. , LaPlante K. L. , Rowley D. C.
Published: December 2011

Biofilm embedded bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii are difficult to eradicate and are major sources of bacterial infections. New drugs are needed to combat these pathogens. Hypericum is a plant genus that contains species known to have antimicrobial properties. However, the specific constituents responsible for the antimicrobial properties are not entirely known, nor have most compounds been tested as inhibitors of biofilm development. The investigation presented here tested seven secondary metabolites isolated from the species Hypericum densiflorum, Hypericum ellipticum, Hypericum prolificum, and Hypericum punctatum as inhibitors of bacterial growth and biofilm production. Assays were conducted against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, clinical methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Five of the seven compounds demonstrated growth inhibition against the Gram‐positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 1.95 µg/mL to 7.81 µg/mL. Four of the secondary metabolites inhibited biofilm production by certain Gram‐positive strains at sub‐MIC concentrations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ginsenoside Rg1 Promotes Glucose Uptake Through Activated AMPK Pathway in Insulin‐resistant Muscle Cells
Authors: Lee Hye‐Min , Lee Ok‐Hwan , Kim Kui‐Jin , Lee Boo‐Yong
Published: December 2011

Ginsenoside Rg1, a protopanaxatriols saponin, is one of the major active constituents from Panax ginseng and possesses various biological activities. A recent study reported that insulin resistance in skeletal muscle is a major contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examined the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on glucose uptake and the associated molecular mechanisms of the glucose transport system in insulin‐resistant muscle cells. The insulin resistance of the muscle cell was induced by treatment of differentiated C2C12 cells with chronic insulin. The results showed that chronic treatment of insulin resulted in reduced glucose uptake in the muscle cells. The treatment of ginsenoside Rg1 significantly enhanced glucose uptake in the differentiated muscle cells and the relative abundance of GLUT4 through the adenosine‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase pathway. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 improved the insulin resistance in C2C12 muscle cells, which might be useful for prevention of T2DM and metabolic syndromes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐temperature pyrolysis/gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry: simultaneous measurement of the stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in cellulose
Authors: Woodley Ewan J. , Loader Neil J. , McCarroll Danny , Young Giles H. F. , Robertson Iain , Heaton Timothy H. E. , Gagen Mary H. , Warham Joseph O.
Published: December 2011

Stable isotope analysis of cellulose is an increasingly important aspect of ecological and palaeoenvironmental research. Since these techniques are very costly, any methodological development which can provide simultaneous measurement of stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in cellulose deserves further exploration. A large number (3074) of tree‐ring α‐cellulose samples are used to compare the stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) produced by high‐temperature (1400°C) pyrolysis/gas chromatography (GC)/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) with those produced by combustion GC/IRMS. Although the two data sets are very strongly correlated, the pyrolysis results display reduced variance and are strongly biased towards the mean. The low carbon isotope ratios of tree‐ring cellulose during the last century, reflecting anthropogenic disturbance of atmospheric carbon dioxide, are thus overestimated. The likely explanation is that a proportion of the oxygen atoms are bonding with residual carbon in the reaction chamber to form carbon monoxide. The 'pyrolysis adjustment', proposed here, is based on combusting a stratified sub‐sample of the pyrolysis results, across the full range of carbon isotope ratios, and using the paired results to define a regression equation that can be used to adjust all the pyrolysis measurements. In this study, subsamples of 30 combustion measurements produced adjusted chronologies statistically indistinguishable from those produced by combusting every sample. This methodology allows simultaneous measurement of the stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen using high‐temperature pyrolysis, reducing the amount of sample required and the analytical costs of measuring them separately. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organochlorine isotopic pattern‐enhanced detection and quantification of triclosan and its metabolites in human serum by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight/mass spectrometry
Authors: Wu Jian‐lin , Leung Ka‐Fai , Tong Sui‐Fan , Lam Ching‐Wan
Published: December 2011

Organochlorines possess special isotopic patterns that obey the chlorine rule. In the case of triclosan (TCS), which contains three chlorine atoms, the isotopic patterns are composed of seven obvious peaks with the calculated masses ranging from 286.9435 to 292.9350 in negative ion mode and with specific isotopic abundance ratios of 100:13.1:97.1:12.6:31.8:4.1:3.6. In this study, mass differences between the calculated and observed m/z values for all isotopic peaks of TCS were less than 3.5 ppm in the analyses of the serum samples by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight/mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS). Combining the characteristics described above, four metabolites were identified as sulfonated TCS, glucuronidated TCS and hydroxylated sulfonated TCS. Several novel MS techniques were applied to improve the sensitivity of quantification of TCS. The limit of detection for TCS in a 250 μL serum sample was 0.05 ng/mL, which was over twenty times lower than values obtained by the LC/triple quadrupole‐MS/MS method reported in the literature. The concentration of total TCS (free and conjugated) was quantified to range from 0.15 to 217 ng/mL, whereas free TCS ranged from 0.15 to 10 ng/mL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of TCS and metabolites in human serum, and it also provides the most sensitive LC/MS approach for the quantification of TCS. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantifying instantaneous regeneration rates of plant leaf waxes using stable hydrogen isotope labeling
Authors: Gao Li , Burnier Andre , Huang Yongsong
Published: December 2011

Leaf waxes protect terrestrial plants from biotic and abiotic stresses and are important sedimentary biomarkers for terrestrial plants. Thus, understanding the production and ablation of leaf waxes is critical in plant physiology and for geochemical studies. However, there have been no accurate approaches to quantify leaf wax production at different time scales. In this study, we demonstrate a novel approach to study leaf wax regeneration by irrigating plants with a pulse of deuterium‐enriched water, followed by measurements of leaf wax D/H ratios by gas chromatography/isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach using the grass species Phleum pratense in a greenhouse environment. Using a binary isotope mass balance model, we are able to quantify the regeneration rates of the C16, C18 acids and leaf waxes (C23–C31 n‐alkanes; C22–C30 n‐acids) over a diurnal cycle. Our results show that within one day 33–47 % of C16 and C18 acids are regenerated, and thus the recycling time for these compounds is 2–3 days. For C22–C26 n‐alkyl lipids, 7–21 % are regenerated within one day and thus they require 5–16 days to recycle. In comparison, the recycling time for long‐chain n‐alkyl lipids (C27–C31) is as long as 71–128 days. Our approach can be applied to different plants at shorter or longer time scales by adjusting the degree of isotopic labeling, sampling intervals and the amount of irrigation water. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reducing and correcting for contamination of ecosystem water stable isotopes measured by isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Schmidt Markus , Maseyk Kadmiel , Lett Céline , Biron Philippe , Richard Patricia , Bariac Thierry , Seibt Ulli
Published: December 2011

Concern exists about the suitability of laser spectroscopic instruments for the measurement of the 18O/16O and 2H/1H values of liquid samples other than pure water. It is possible to derive erroneous isotope values due to optical interference by certain organic compounds, including some commonly present in ecosystem‐derived samples such as leaf or soil waters. Here we investigated the reliability of wavelength‐scanned cavity ring‐down spectroscopy (CRDS) 18O/16O and 2H/1H measurements from a range of ecosystem‐derived waters, through comparison with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). We tested the residual of the spectral fit Sr calculated by the CRDS instrument as a means to quantify the difference between the CRDS and IRMS δ‐values. There was very good overall agreement between the CRDS and IRMS values for both isotopes, but differences of up to 2.3 ‰ (δ18O values) and 23 ‰ (δ2H values) were observed in leaf water extracts from Citrus limon and Alnus cordata. The Sr statistic successfully detected contaminated samples. Treatment of Citrus leaf water with activated charcoal reduced, but did not eliminate, δ2HCRDS‐ δ2HIRMS linearly for the tested range of 0–20 % charcoal. The effect of distillation temperature on the degree of contamination was large, particularly for δ2H values but variable, resulting in positive, negative or no correlation with distillation temperature. Sr and δCRDS – δIRMS were highly correlated, in particular for δ2H values, across the range of samples that we tested, indicating the potential to use this relationship to correct the δ‐values of contaminated plant water extracts. We also examined the sensitivity of the CRDS system to changes in the temperature of its operating environment. We found that temperature changes ≥4 °C for δ18O values and ≥10 °C for δ2H values resulted in errors larger than the CRDS precision for the respective isotopes and advise the use of such instruments only in sufficiently temperature‐stabilised environments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cargo‐Towing Fuel‐Free Magnetic Nanoswimmers for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Gao Wei , Kagan Daniel , Pak On Shun , Clawson Corbin , Campuzano Susana , Chuluun‐Erdene Erdembileg , Shipton Erik , Fullerton Eric E. , Zhang Liangfang , Lauga Eric , Wang Joseph
Published: December 2011

Fuel‐free nanomotors are essential for future in‐vivo biomedical transport and drug‐delivery applications. Herein, the first example of directed delivery of drug‐loaded magnetic polymeric particles using magnetically driven flexible nanoswimmers is described. It is demonstrated that flexible magnetic nickel–silver nanoswimmers (5–6 μm in length and 200 nm in diameter) are able to transport micrometer particles at high speeds of more than 10 μm s−1 (more than 0.2 body lengths per revolution in dimensionless speed). The fundamental mechanism of the cargo‐towing ability of these magnetic (fuel‐free) nanowire motors is modelled, and the hydrodynamic features of these cargo‐loaded motors discussed. The effect of the cargo size on swimming performance is evaluated experimentally and compared to a theoretical model, emphasizing the interplay between hydrodynamic drag forces and boundary actuation. The latter leads to an unusual increase of the propulsion speed at an intermediate particle size. Potential applications of these cargo‐towing nanoswimmers are demonstrated by using the directed delivery of drug‐loaded microparticles to HeLa cancer cells in biological media. Transport of the drug carriers through a microchannel from the pick‐up zone to the release microwell is further illustrated. It is expected that magnetically driven nanoswimmers will provide a new approach for the rapid delivery of target‐specific drug carriers to predetermined destinations.
Thymic–thoracic ratio in fetuses with trisomy 21, 18 or 13
Authors: Karl K. , Heling K. ‐S. , Sarut Lopez A. , Thiel G. , Chaoui R.
Published: December 2011

Objectives

To assess thymic size expressed as the thymic–thoracic ratio (TT‐ratio) in fetuses with trisomy 21, 18 or 13.

Methods

The TT‐ratio, the quotient of the anteroposterior thymic and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter, was measured in 65 trisomic fetuses between 15 and 36 weeks' gestation, including 30 cases with trisomy 21, 19 with trisomy 18 and 16 with trisomy 13. In addition these 65 fetuses were divided into two groups, according to whether they showed growth that was appropriate‐for‐gestational age (AGA) (n = 39) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (n = 26). Measurements were compared with reference ranges from 302 normal fetuses.

Results

The TT‐ratio was low in 27.7% (n = 18) of the 65 fetuses with aneuploidy. In comparison to normal fetuses (mean TT‐ratio, 0.44), those with trisomy 18 or 21 had a significantly smaller TT‐ratio (mean, 0.38 (P < 0.001) and 0.40 (P < 0.05), respectively), while those with trisomy 13 did not (mean, 0.43). These values were not as low as those observed previously in fetuses with del.22q11, suggesting a mechanism involving accelerated thymic involution rather than primary thymic hypoplasia. Furthermore, the TT‐ratio was significantly lower than normal in both AGA (P < 0.05) and IUGR (P < 0.001) fetuses.

Conclusion

Fetuses with trisomy 18 or 21, but not trisomy 13, have a small thymus, suggesting accelerated thymic involution in utero. IUGR may contribute to the reduced thymic size in trisomy 18 fetuses. Trisomy 21 fetuses seem to have additional factors leading to a small thymus which could be a possible confirmation of the reduced immune response observed in fetuses and neonates with Down syndrome. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bipolar cord coagulation for selective feticide in complicated monochorionic twin pregnancies: 118 consecutive cases at a single center
Authors: Lanna M. M. , Rustico M. A. , Dell'Avanzo M. , Schena V. , Faiola S. , Consonni D. , Righini A. , Scelsa B. , Ferrazzi E. M.
Published: December 2011

Objective

To review the experience of performing selective feticide with bipolar cord coagulation (BCC) in complicated monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies at a single center.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of BCC performed using 3‐mm bipolar forceps under ultrasound control in cases complicated by twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome, selective growth restriction, discordant anomaly or twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence.

Results

The series comprised 118 cases with a median gestational age at the time of the procedure of 22 (range, 16–30) weeks. There were 14 (12%) intrauterine deaths of the cotwin, eight (7%) miscarriages and one (1%) termination of pregnancy. When BCC was performed before 19 weeks of gestation, the rate of miscarriage was 45%, whereas it was 3% (P < 0.001) when BCC was performed after 19 weeks. Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurred in 45 (38%) cases. The median interval between BCC and PPROM was 4 (interquartile range, 2–9) weeks. In 15 (13%) cases, PPROM occurred within 2 weeks after the procedure. Median gestational age at delivery was 34 (range, 24–41) weeks. The median birth weight was 2103 (range, 480–3875) g. Neonatal death occurred in 11 (9%) cases, and two (2%) children had severe neurologic morbidity. The overall survival rate was 71% (84/118).

Conclusion

BCC is an effective procedure in complicated MC twin pregnancies for selective feticide or when one fetus is severely jeopardized and delivery is not yet an option. Better outcomes can be achieved when this procedure is performed after 19 weeks. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climate models as a test bed for climate reconstruction methods: pseudoproxy experiments
Authors: Smerdon Jason E.
Published: December 2011

Millennium‐length, forced transient simulations with fully coupled general circulation models have become important new tools for addressing uncertainties in global and hemispheric temperature reconstructions targeting the Common Era (the last two millennia). These model simulations are used as test beds on which to evaluate the performance of paleoclimate reconstruction methods using controlled and systematic investigations known as pseudoproxy experiments (PPEs). Such experiments are motivated by the fact that any given real‐world reconstruction is the product of multiple uncontrolled factors, making it difficult to isolate the impact of one factor in reconstruction assessments and comparisons. PPEs have established a common experimental framework that can be systematically altered and evaluated, and thus test reconstruction methods and their dependencies. Although the translation of PPE results into real‐world implications must be done cautiously, their experimental design attributes allow researchers to test reconstruction techniques beyond what was previously possible with real‐world data alone. This review summarizes the development of PPEs and their findings over the last decade. The state of the science and its implications for global and hemispheric temperature reconstructions is also reviewed, as well as near‐term design improvements that will expand the utility of PPEs. WIREs Clim Change 2012, 3:63–77. doi: 10.1002/wcc.149

This article is categorized under:

Climate Models and Modeling > Knowledge Generation with Models
Developmental diversity of amphibians
Authors: Elinson Richard P. , del Pino Eugenia M.
Published: December 2011

The current model amphibian,Xenopus laevis, develops rapidly in water to a tadpole which metamorphoses into a frog. Many amphibians deviate from theX.laevisdevelopmental pattern. Among other adaptations, their embryos develop in foam nests on land or in pouches on their mother's back or on a leaf guarded by a parent. The diversity of developmental patterns includes multinucleated oogenesis, lack of RNA localization, huge non‐pigmented eggs, and asynchronous, irregular early cleavages. Variations in patterns of gastrulation highlight the modularity of this critical developmental period. Many species have eliminated the larva or tadpole and directly develop to the adult. The wealth of developmental diversity among amphibians coupled with the wealth of mechanistic information fromX. laevispermit comparisons that provide deeper insights into developmental processes.WIREs Dev Biol2012, 1:345–369. doi: 10.1002/wdev.23

This article is categorized under:

Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan

Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems

Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties
Effects of Emptying Function of Remaining Stomach on QOL in Postgastrectomy Patients
Authors: Hayami Masaru , Seshimo Akiyoshi , Miyake Kunitomo , Shimizu Satoru , Kameoka Shingo
Published: December 2011

Background

Attention has recently focused on decreased quality of life (QOL) that occurs in postgastrectomy patients. We verified how gastric emptying function affected QOL.

Methods

Subjects were 72 consecutive patients after gastrectomy for cancer, including 25 after distal gastrectomy (DG), 18 after proximal gastrectomy (PG), 16 after pylorus‐preserving gastrectomy (PpG), and 13 after total gastrectomy (TG). Using the 13C breath test method, 13CO2 levels in breath were measured over 2 h, and Tmax was determined. Questionnaires (Japanese versions of the Short‐Form 36 [SF‐36] and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale [GSRS]) were used to analyze QOL and correlations between questionnaire results and Tmax.

Results

Mean Tmax (min) for each procedure was 15.4 for DG, 21.1 for PG, 41.3 for PpG, and 10.4 for TG. Tmax differed between procedures, but not between survey periods. SF‐36 was not correlated with Tmax, whereas GSRS showed a difference in diarrhea and total score between procedures, but not between survey periods. In addition, GSRS correlated with Tmax for abdominal pain, indigestion, and total score. The total scores showed a significant symptom aggregation in patients with Tmax less than 21 min.

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal symptoms in postgastrectomy patients were associated with the function of the remaining stomach. The 13C breath test is useful for objectively assessing such symptoms.
Handbook of Early Childhood Intervention
Authors: Zigler Edward F.
Published: December 2011

Eighteen new chapters have been added to the 2000 edition of this valuable Handbook, which serves as a core text for students and experienced professionals who are interested in the health and well being of young children. It serves as a comprehensive reference for graduate students, advanced trainees, service providers, and policy makers in such diverse fields as child care, early childhood education, child health, and early intervention programs for children with developmental disabilities and children in high risk environments. This book will be of interest to a broad range of disciplines including psychology, child development, early childhood education, social work, pediatrics, nursing, child psychiatry, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and social policy. A scholarly overview of the underlying knowledge base and practice of early childhood intervention, it is unique in its balance between breadth and depth and its integration of the multiple dimensions of the field.
The Life and Correspondence of William Buckland, D.D., F.R.S.
Authors: Gordon Elizabeth Oke , Buckland William
Published: December 2011

First published in 1894, this biography details the life of renowned geologist William Buckland (1784–1856) who, along with Sedgwick and Lyell, was one of the pioneers of modern geological inquiry. While he is better known for attempting to correlate his geological findings with the Old Testament, Buckland's studies paved the way for Darwin's development of evolutionary theory. In the course of his illustrious career, Buckland was a Canon of Christ Church, was twice appointed President of the Geological Society, served as the first President of the British Association, and became Dean of Westminster. Penned by Buckland's daughter almost forty years after his death, The Life and Correspondence provides a more personal insight into Buckland's scientific endeavours. Gordon's biography is complemented by several illustrations, and the appendices include an extensive list of positions held by Buckland and his membership of learned societies, and a complete index of his publications.
Through England on a Side Saddle
Authors: Fiennes Celia
Published: December 2011

Through England on a Side Saddle was written around 1700, and first published in full in 1888. Celia Fiennes (1662–1741) was the granddaughter of the 1st Viscount Saye and Sele. She was an enthusiastic traveller through England, both for pleasure and 'to regain my health by variety and change of aire and exercise'. The diary which she kept was intended for her family to read, and, while it lacks Defoe's more systematic approach some two decades later, sheds valuable insights into English social and economic history at the turn of the century. She was uninterested in antiquities, getting most enthusiastic about new developments such as the development of spa towns such as Harrogate, mining and manufacturing industries, and the new stately homes of the period, in some of which she stayed en route. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=fience
Fossil Plants
Authors: Seward A. C.
Published: December 2011

A. C. Seward (1863–1941) was an eminent English geologist and botanist who pioneered the study of palaeobotany. After graduating from St John's College, Cambridge, in 1886 Seward was appointed a University Lecturer in Botany in 1890. In 1898 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was appointed Professor of Botany in 1906. These volumes, published to great acclaim between 1898 and 1919, provide a detailed discussion and study of an emerging science. In the early nineteenth century, research and critical literature concerning palaeobotany was scattered across disciplines. In these volumes Seward synthesised and revised this research and also included a substantial amount of new material. Furnished with concise descriptions of fossil plants, detailed figures and extensive bibliographies these volumes became the standard reference for palaeobotany well into the twentieth century. Volume 2, first published in 1910, contains systematic descriptions of fossil ferns.
Fossil Plants
Authors: Seward A. C.
Published: December 2011

A. C. Seward (1863–1941) was an eminent English geologist and botanist who pioneered the study of palaeobotany. After graduating from St John's College, Cambridge, in 1886 Seward was appointed a University Lecturer in Botany in 1890. In 1898 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was appointed Professor of Botany in 1906. These volumes, published to great acclaim between 1898 and 1919, provide a detailed discussion and study of an emerging science. In the early nineteenth century, research and critical literature concerning palaeobotany was scattered across disciplines. In these volumes Seward synthesised and revised this research and also included a substantial amount of new material. Furnished with concise descriptions of fossil plants, detailed figures and extensive bibliographies these volumes became the standard reference for palaeobotany well into the twentieth century. Volume 3, first published in 1917, contains systematic descriptions of fossil seed plants.
Richard Trevithick
Authors: Dickinson H. W. , Titley Arthur
Published: December 2011

To mark the centenary of Richard Trevithick (1771–1833) H. W Dickinson and Arthur Titley published a fascinating book on the engineer and his work. They succeed in producing a work which appeals to the scientist, the historian and the general reader, without feeling obliged to over-simplify the technical details. Today best remembered for his early railway locomotive, Trevithick worked on a wide range of projects, including mines, mills, dredging machinery, a tunnel under the Thames, military engineering, and prospecting in South America. The book and other centenary activities helped to restore Trevithick's rather neglected reputation as a pioneering engineer of the Industrial Revolution, although his difficult personality and financial failures caused him to be overshadowed by his contemporaries such as Robert Stephenson and James Watt. The book places his achievements in their historical context, and contains many illustrations of his inventions.
The History of British India
Authors: Mill James
Published: December 2011

James Mill's three volume History of British India was published from 1817 to 1818 and became an immediate success. A friend of Jeremy Bentham and a follower of utilitarianism, Mill focuses more on historical processes than human interest. He uses extensive sources rather than first-hand experience to create, as his preface claims, an 'objective' yet 'critical' history, often making harsh judgements of the country and its people within the context of a wider theoretical framework. He also criticises the British involvement in India and the process of conquest, colonization, and administration, the intention being to encourage the reader to a greater understanding of historical processes, ideas, and institutions with a view to encouraging thorough reform. Volume 2 covers the period from the establishment of the Honourable East India Company in 1708 to East India Company Act of 1773, and from this to Pitt's India Act of 1784.
A Short History of British Colonial Policy
Authors: Egerton Hugh Edward
Published: December 2011

Hugh Edward Egerton (1855–1927) was a British barrister and colonial historian. After graduating from Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1876 he was appointed private secretary to Edward Stanhope in 1885. His employer's promotion to Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1886 sparked a lifelong interest in colonial policy, which led to his becoming Professor of Colonial History at the University of Oxford in 1905. This volume, first published in 1897, contains Egerton's pioneering history of developments of British colonial policy. Focusing on colonial policy from 1457, Egerton explores the causes of changes in Britain's colonial policy, linking the importance of securing trade with the growth of systemic colonization and examining the rise and decline of laissez-aller attitudes in the mid nineteenth century. This volume was the first published historical survey of colonial policy, and continues to provides a comprehensive overview of developments in British colonial policy.
A Treatise on the Practical Drainage of Land
Authors: Hutchinson Henry
Published: December 2011

Written in 1844 by Henry Hutchinson, this book, as the title suggests, focuses on the practical aspects of land drainage, advising readers to first consider the plan, cost, and mode of draining carefully. The treatise begins with a general address to the public which offers advice to landlords for dealing with tenant farmers, information on valuing land for fair rent, and ways of improving substandard soil. Lamenting that 'a great deal has been written by parties who really know nothing of the practical working of a system', Hutchinson, a land agent, valuer and 'professor of draining', writes from a zealous desire to educate the public correctly on the art of land drainage. Hutchinson's approach is scrupulously thorough, with separate chapters on shallow draining, deep draining, bastard draining, boring, and impediments to draining, as well as the history of land drainage in England.
The Reason of Rules
Authors: Brennan Geoffrey , Buchanan James M.
Published: December 2011

Societies function on the basis of rules. These rules, rather like the rules of the road, coordinate the activities of individuals who have a variety of goals and purposes. Whether the rules work well or ill, and how they can be made to work better, is a matter of major concern. Appropriately interpreted, the working of social rules is also the central subject matter of modern political economy. This book is about rules - what they are, how they work, and how they can be properly analysed. The authors' objective is to understand the workings of alternative political institutions so that choices among such institutions (rules) can be more fully informed. Thus, broadly defined, the methodology of constitutional political economy is the subject matter of The Reason of Rules. The authors have examined how rules for political order work, how such rules might be chosen, and how normative criteria for such choices might be established.
Nineteenth Century Society
Authors: Wrigley E. A.
Published: December 2011

The aim of this book is to demonstrate both the difficulties and the opportunities which the accumulation of statistical information in economically advanced countries offers for studying nineteenth-century society in depth. The chief emphasis is upon quantitative methods of analysis. The main focus of the attention is the census – what information was required on census night; how the information was collected; how accurately and completely population characteristics were recorded, the problems which arise in attempting to use either the published census volumes or the enumerators' books; and the techniques which have proved useful in analysis. Related topics covered include the study of family structure, the use of information about occupation, the measurement of migration, criminal statistics, educational provision and sampling in historical research.
Alexander Pushkin: Eugene Onegin
Authors: Briggs A. D. P.
Published: December 2011

This is a lively and readable guide to Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse Eugene Onegin, a landmark of European Romanticism, and arguably the best of all Russian poetry. Professor Briggs addresses the question of how such remarkable poetry can have been composed about a rather banal plot, and considers the form of the work and its poetic techniques in detail. He offers fresh interpretations of the characters and events of the poem, and sets it against its European background. He discusses its influence - notably Tchaikovsky's operatic version - and points to its life-affirming philosophy and spirit of joyfulness. The book includes a chronological chart and a guide to further reading.