bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cohesin‐dockerin microarray: Diverse specificities between two complementary families of interacting protein modules
Authors: Haimovitz Rachel , Barak Yoav , Morag Ely , Voronov‐Goldman Milana , Shoham Yuval , Lamed Raphael , Bayer Edward A.
Published: January 2008

The cellulosome is an intricate multienzyme complex, designed for efficient degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides, notably cellulose. The supramolecular cellulosome architecture in different bacteria is the consequence of the types and specificities of the interacting cohesin and dockerin modules, borne by the different cellulosomal subunits. In this study, we describe a microarray system for determining cohesin‐dockerin specificity, which allows global comparison among the interactions between various members of these two complementary families of interacting protein modules. Matching recombinant fusion proteins were prepared that contained one of the interacting modules: cohesins were joined to an appropriate cellulose‐binding module (CBM) and the dockerins were fused to a thermostable xylanase that served to enhance expression and proper folding. The CBM‐fused cohesins were immobilized on cellulose‐coated glass slides, to which xylanase‐fused dockerin samples were applied. Knowledge of the specificity characteristics of native and mutated members of the cohesin and dockerin families provides insight into the architecture of the parent cellulosome and allows selection of suitable cohesin‐dockein pairs for biotechnological and nanotechnological application. Using this approach, extensive cross‐species interaction among type‐II cohesins and dockerins is shown for the first time. Selective intraspecies binding of an archaeal dockerin to two complementary cohesins is also demonstrated.
Single layer light‐emitting diodes from copolymers comprised of mesogen‐jacketed polymer containing oxadiazole units and PVK
Authors: Wang Ping , Chai Chunpeng , Wang Fuzhi , Chuai Yutao , Chen Xiaofang , Fan Xinghe , Zou Dechun , Zhou Qifeng
Published: January 2008

A series of copolymers PCt‐co‐Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) were synthesized through common radical polymerization, in which P‐Ct as a kind of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymer was introduced, and the effects of copolymers composing variation on the optical properties of the polymers were studied. The structures and properties of the copolymers were characterized and evaluated by thermogravimetric (TGA), UV, photoluminescence (PL), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electroluminescence (EL) analyses. All the polymers enjoy high thermal stability. PL peaks in the film show blue‐shift compared with in solutions and fluorescent quantum efficiency decreased with the N‐vinylcarbazole (nvk) content increasing, which supported the efficient energy transfer from nvk units to the oxadiazole units. CV revealed that, with the incorporation of nvk to the copolymer, these copolymers had high‐lying HOMO energy levels ranging from −5.94 to −6.09 eV. Single‐layer light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT/PCt‐nvk/Mg:Ag/Ag were fabricated, which emit a blue light around 450 and 490 nm with a maximum luminance of 703 cd/m2. The device performance varies with the content of nvk and device configuration, with device configuration (b) and PCt‐nvk8 giving the best value of external quantum efficiency of 0.27%. We show here that by proper design copolymer structure and modification of device configuration can exhibit strong blue EL in higher external quantum efficiency. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1843–1851, 2008
Novel aliphatic poly(ester‐carbonate) with pendant allyl ester groups and its folic acid functionalization
Authors: Hu Xiuli , Chen Xuesi , Liu Shi , Shi Quan , Jing Xiabin
Published: January 2008

A series of novel poly(ester‐carbonate)s bearing pendant allyl ester groups P(LA‐co‐MAC)s were prepared by ring‐opening copolymerization of L‐lactide (LA) and 5‐methyl‐5‐allyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one (MAC) with diethyl zinc (ZnEt2) as initiator. NMR analysis investigated the microstructure of the copolymer. DSC results indicated that the copolymers displayed a single glass‐transition temperature (Tg), which was indicative of a random copolymer, and the Tg decreased with increasing carbonate content in the copolymer. Then NHS‐activated folic acid (FA) first reacted with 2‐aminoethanethiol to yield FA‐SH; grafting FA‐SH to P(LA‐co‐MAC) in the presence of TEA produced P(LA‐co‐MAC)/FA. The structure of P(LA‐co‐MAC)/FA and its precursor were confirmed by 1H NMR and XPS analysis. Cell experiments showed that FA‐grafted P(LA‐co‐MAC) had improved adhesion and proliferation behavior of vero cells on the polymer films. Therefore, the novel FA‐grafted block copolymer is expected to find application in drug delivery or tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1852–1861, 2008
Living star polymer formation (RAFT) studied via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Chaffey‐Millar Hugh , Hart‐Smith Gene , Barner‐Kowollik Christopher
Published: January 2008

A mass spectrometry analysis has been performed on complex architecture polymeric material produced during reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations yielding star polymers. Para‐acetoxystyrene (AcOSty) has been polymerized at 60 °C, using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the thermally decomposing initiator, in the presence of the R‐group approach tetrafunctional RAFT agent (1,2,4,5‐tetrakis‐(2‐phenyl‐thioacetyl‐sulfanylmethyl)‐benzene). In addition to ideal star material, a variety of products unique to this mode of polymerization have been identified. These include star–star couples, stars terminated with initiator fragments, star–star couples terminated with initiator fragments and linear polymers, supporting the notion that these species are responsible for the structured molecular‐weight distributions measured for these systems when analyzed via gel permeation chromatography. The analysis begins with a study of AcOSty polymerizing (i) in the absence of any mediating agent and (ii) in the presence of a monofunctional RAFT agent, revealing the mode of termination of propagating poly(AcOSty) radicals as combination and that some ionization biases exist among variants of poly (AcOSty). The interpretation of the mass spectrometry data has been aided by a novel kinetic model of star polymerizations, allowing the rationalization of experimental observations with theoretical expectations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1873–1892, 2008
The influence of variant PE‐b‐PEO segments on physical properties of LLDPE graft copolymers
Authors: Li Lili , Yin Jinghua , Costa Giovanna , Stagnaro Paola
Published: January 2008

A method was adopted to fix a series of polymers of PE‐b‐PEO with different PEO/PE segments on the chains of LLDPE. Maleic anhydride (MA) reacting with hydroxyl group of PE‐b‐PEO (mPE‐b‐PEO) was used as the intermediate. The structures of intermediates and graft copolymers were approved by 1H NMR and FTIR. XPS analysis revealed a great amount of oxygen on the surface of grafted copolymers although the end group of PEO was fixed on the LLDPE chains through MA. Thermal properties of the graft copolymers as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that PE segments in the grafted monomers could promote the heterogeneous nucleation of the polymer, increase Tc, and crystal growth rate. While the amorphous PEO segments which attached to the crystalline PE segments in LLDPE, impaired their ability to fit the crystal lattice, and depressed the crystallization of LLDPE backbones. In this study, it was also verified through the dynamic rheological data that increasing Mn of grafted monomers significantly increased the complex viscosity and enhanced the shear‐thinning behavior. Long‐branched chains formed by grafted monomers enhanced the complex moduli (G′ and G″) value and retarded relaxation rate. However, there were little influence on the rheological properties when increasing the amounts of PEO segments (or decreasing PE segments) of grafted monomers with similar molecular weight. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 506–515, 2008
Plasticization of amorphous perfluoropolymers
Authors: Lugert Elizabeth C. , Lodge Timothy P. , Bühlmann Philippe
Published: January 2008

Poly(perfluoro‐4‐vinyloxy‐1‐butene), which is also known as Cytop, and poly[4,5‐difluoro‐2,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐1,3‐dioxole]‐co‐poly(tetrafluoroethylene) copolymers with dioxole monomer contents of 65% or 87% (known as Teflon AF1600 and Teflon AF2400, respectively) were plasticized with four fluorous compounds. While plasticization of all polymers with perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluoro(1‐methyldecalin), a perfluorotetraether with three trifluoromethyl side groups and one hydrogen atom, and a linear perfluorooligoether with an average of 14.3 ether groups per molecule was successful, these four plasticizers affected the 12 blends very differently. A threshold of plasticization beyond which further increases in the plasticizer volume fraction did not further affect the glass transition temperature, Tg, was observed for some blends. Also, the limit of miscibility ranged from as low as 20% plasticizer content to complete miscibility at all volume fractions. The blends of Teflon AF2400 or Teflon AF1600 with high contents of the oligoether provided Tg values as low as −114 °C, lower than for any other fully miscible blend. The occurrence of two glass transitions in an intermediate range of plasticizer volume ratios for these two types of blends can be explained by distinct local environments rather than macroscopic phase separation, as anticipated by the Lodge‐McLeish model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 516–525, 2008
Appetite stimulants use in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Nasr Samya Z. , Drury Donna
Published: January 2008

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease. It affects multiple body organs. The lungs and pancreas are the most affected which results in progressive lung damage and pancreatic insufficiency. Due to the disease process, CF patients require significantly higher caloric intake than recommended for other individuals. The nutritional goal for CF patients is to achieve normal growth and development and, once genetic potential is reached, to maintain good nutritional status throughout life. Evidence has shown that lung function is closely associated with nutritional status in CF and that nutritional status is an independent predictor of survival. Most CF patients are on a high calorie diet to help achieve normal growth and development and maintain good lung function. Inadequate caloric intake in CF can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition in CF requires careful, multidisciplinary history taking, physical exam, and overall patient/family assessment. Only by determining the actual cause of the malnutrition can appropriate and safe therapies be used to treat it. Appetite stimulants, although efficacious in treating malnutrition in CF, should only be prescribed if decreased food intake secondary to inadequate appetite is the principal cause of the malnutrition and all other contributing factors have been assessed, ruled‐out or treated. In this review, we attempted to summarize the use of several appetite stimulants used in CF and other diseases to improve appetite and maximize caloric intake. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:209–219. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Premorbid factors and outcome associated with respiratory virus infections in a pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Hon Kam Lun , Hung Erica , Tang Julian , Chow Chung Mo , Leung Ting Fan , Cheung Kam Lau , Ng Pak Cheung
Published: January 2008

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to report the clinical features and outcome of all children with a laboratory proven diagnosis of respiratory virus infection admitted to a university Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Methods

Retrospective study between January 2003 and April 2007 was carried out in the PICU. Every child with a laboratory‐confirmed viral infection was included.

Results

54 viruses were identified in 49 children (27 M, 22 F) over a 52‐month period. The three respiratory virus species, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (n = 17), influenza (n = 13) and parainfluenza (n = 12), accounted for 86% of these 49 cases. PICU admissions due to influenza A (n = 10) were more common than influenza B (n = 3), whereas parainfluenza type 3 (n = 7) was the commonest subtype of parainfluenza infection. Comparing these three common viruses, the mean age of children admitted with RSV was lower than with influenza or parainfluenza (1.2 years vs. 5.6 years vs. 2.4 years, P = 0.003). Pre‐existing conditions such as prematurity and chronic lung disease were only present in children with RSV infection. These respiratory viruses caused both upper (croup) and lower respiratory tract diseases (bronchiolitis, pneumonia). Extrapulmonary presentations were less prevalent and included encephalitis, seizures, cardiac arrest, coexisting diabetes ketoacidosis and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. One patient with RSV and another with influenza A died during their PICU stay. Nearly half of these patients required ventilatory support or received systemic corticosteroids, and 88% received initial broad spectrum antibiotic coverage. Approximately one in five of them had nebulised adrenaline, airway endoscopies or bacterial co‐infections. Adenovirus was isolated in four patients and two (both with adenovirus type 3) died during the PICU stay.

Conclusions

In PICU, respiratory viral infections were associated with significant morbidity and life‐threatening conditions. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:275–280. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prolonged, documented home‐monitoring of oxygenation in infants and children
Authors: Gélinas Jean‐François , Davis G. Michael , Arlegui Cheryl , Côté Aurore
Published: January 2008

Rationale

Although home cardiorespiratory monitors have been used for a few decades, they do not give information on oxygenation status during events. Pulse oximeters with low false‐alarm rates are now available but with no standards for alarm adjustment.

Objective

To determine, in a population of children monitored at home with a pulse oximeter, whether the chosen alarm levels could safely identify potentially significant events early on but also limit the number of alarms for non‐significant events.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all children monitored at home with a pulse oximeter (n = 37) between 2002 and 2007. Clinical information and Hb‐O2 saturation (SpO2) recordings were reviewed. Audible alarm was set‐up when SpO2 reached 85% with a delay of 5 or 10 sec.

Results

A total of 24,127 hr of valid data were available for analysis. There were 13,228 events >4 sec of which 9177 (69%) were events lasting <10 sec. We determine that, with an audible alarm being triggered when SpO2 reached 85% with no delay or a delay of 5 or 10 sec, audible alarms would have occurred at a rate of 3.6, 0.9, and 0.2 alarm/night (median), respectively. Thirteen patients needed intervention following alarms. Ten patients were readmitted to the hospital on the basis of increased frequency of alarms confirmed as true events on the recordings, but in the absence of clinical deterioration.

Conclusion

The monitor was able to alert parents as to potentially dangerous events while the alarm adjustment limited the number of alarms for non‐significant events. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:288–296. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variability in measurements of micro lengths with a white light interferometer
Authors: Ferri Carlo , Brousseau Emmanuel
Published: January 2008

The effect of the discretionary set‐up parameters scan length and initial scanner position on the measurements of length performed with a white light interferometer microscope was investigated. In both analyses, two reference materials of nominal lengths 40 and 200 µm were considered. Random effects and mixed effects models were fitted to the data from two separate experiments. Punctual and interval estimates of variance components were provided. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scanning Probe‐based Fabrication of 3D Nanostructures via Affinity Templates, Functional RNA, and Meniscus‐mediated Surface Remodeling
Authors: Chung Sung‐Wook , Presley Andrew D. , Elhadj Selim , Hok Saphon , Hah Sang Soo , Chernov Alex A. , Francis Matthew B. , Eaton Bruce E. , Feldheim Daniel L. , Deyoreo James J.
Published: January 2008

Developing generic platforms to organize discrete molecular elements and nanostructures into deterministic patterns on surfaces is one of the central challenges in the field of nanotechnology. Here we review three applications of the atomic force microscope (AFM) that address this challenge. In the first, we use two‐step nanografting to create patterns of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) to drive the organization of virus particles that have been either genetically or chemically modified to bind to the SAMs. Virus‐SAM chemistries are described that provide irreversible and reversible binding, respectively. In the second, we use similar SAM patterns as affinity templates that have been designed to covalently bind oligonucleotides engineered to bind to the SAMs and selected for their ability to mediate the subsequent growth of metallic nanocrystals. In the final application, the liquid meniscus that condenses at the AFM tip‐substrate contact is used as a physical tool to both modulate the surface topography of a water soluble substrate and guide the hierarchical assembly of Au nanoparticles into nanowires. All three approaches can be generalized to meet the requirements of a wide variety of materials systems and thereby provide a potential route toward development of a generic platform for molecular and materials organization. SCANNING 30: 000–000, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The feedback method of teaching macroeconomics: is it effective?
Authors: Wheat I. David
Published: January 2008

The conventional method of teaching macroeconomics to undergraduates relies on static graphs, an approach with documented pedagogical problems. In contrast, the feedback method uses causal loop diagrams and interactive computer simulation models. This paper describes the feedback method and four experiments that tested its effectiveness. Two experiments examined student preferences for methods of learning macroeconomics (e.g., using static graphs or a causal loop diagram), and a significant majority preferred the feedback method. In the third experiment, students showed more understanding of GDP when they had access to a stock‐and‐flow feedback diagram of the economy. In the final experiment, students using causal loop diagrams displayed more understanding of business cycle dynamics than those with access to a conventional aggregate supply‐and‐demand graph. Searching for feedback structure in the economy and using computer simulation to connect structure with behavior appears to be a promising method for learning macroeconomics. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizations of bismuth telluride films from Mott‐Schottky plot and spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Zimmer Alexandre , Stein Nicolas , Johann Luc , Terryn Herman , Boulanger Clotilde
Published: January 2008

Capacitance measurement results (via the so‐called Mott‐Schottky plot) and Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE) analysis have been carried out in order to study semiconducting properties of electroplated thin films of bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) without any electrical contact. Electrochemical impedance measurements at 10 kHz exhibited that films characterized n‐type semiconductors, depending upon potentials applied above and below the flat‐band potential. By IRSE study, the energy band gap Eg was found to be about 0.11 eV independent of the film composition and the electrical resistivity of about 30 µΩ.m. By combining IRSE and capacitance measurement results, dielectric constant ε and carrier concentration of the samples were calculated without any assumptions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EIS studies of electrodeposition process of manganese and copper doped ZnO wires
Authors: Sima Marian , Enculescu Ionut , Sima Mariana , Vasile Eugen , Visan Teodor
Published: January 2008

Electrodeposition of manganese‐ and copper‐doped ZnO wires into polycarbonate membranes, from an aqueous solution containing 0.05 mol dm−3 Zn(NO3)2 + 0.01 mol dm−3 Mn(NO3)2 + 0.0005 mol dm−3 Cu(NO3)2 + 0.0075 mol dm−3 lactic acid, pH = 4.7 was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The equivalent electrical circuits for fitting experimental results were similar to those for characterization of metal/polymer coating systems. Impedance data and voltammetric curves showed that an increase of local pH due to reduction process of nitrate ions induces the co‐precipitations of metal ions in the proximity of electrode as oxides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Placebo effect‐adjusted assessment of quality of life in placebo‐controlled clinical trials
Authors: Eickhoff Jens C.
Published: January 2008

Quality of life (QoL) has become an accepted and widely used endpoint in clinical trials. The analytical tools used for QoL evaluations in clinical trials differ from those used for the more traditional endpoints, such as response to disease, overall survival or progression‐free survival. Since QoL assessments are generally performed on self‐administered questionnaires, QoL endpoints are more prone to a placebo effect than traditional clinical endpoints. The placebo effect is a well‐documented phenomenon in clinical trials, which has led to dramatic consequences on the clinical development of new therapeutic agents. In order to account for the placebo effect, a multivariate latent variable model is proposed, which allows for misclassification in the QoL item responses. The approach is flexible in the sense that it can be used for the analysis of a wide variety of multi‐dimensional QoL instruments. For statistical inference, maximum likelihood estimates and their standard errors are obtained using a Monte Carlo EM algorithm. The approach is illustrated with analysis of data from a cardiovascular phase III clinical trial. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multi‐level two‐part random effects model, with application to an alcohol‐dependence study
Authors: Liu Lei , Ma Jennie Z. , Johnson Bankole A.
Published: January 2008

Two‐part random effects models (J. Am. Statist. Assoc. 2001;96:730–745;Statist. Methods Med. Res. 2002;11:341–355) have been applied to longitudinal studies for semi‐continuous outcomes, characterized by a large portion of zero values and continuous non‐zero (positive) values. Examples include repeated measures of daily drinking records, monthly medical costs, and annual claims of car insurance. However, the question of how to apply such models to multi‐level data settings remains. In this paper, we propose a novel multi‐level two‐part random effects model. Distinct random effects are used to characterize heterogeneity at different levels. Maximum likelihood estimation and inference are carried out through Gaussian quadrature technique, which can be implemented conveniently in freely available software—aML. The model is applied to the analysis of repeated measures of the daily drinking record in a randomized controlled trial of topiramate for alcohol‐dependence treatment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
n‐Dimensional effectiveness metric‐compensating reward scheme in performance‐based logistics contracts
Authors: Sols Alberto , Nowicki David , Verma Dinesh
Published: January 2008

A paradigm shift is occurring in the relationship between suppliers and customers as the public sector continues to embrace the notion of Performance Based Logistics (PBL). There is now an increasing reliance on PBL concepts to define and monitor contractual relationships in both public and private industry. Successful PBL relationships are certainly faced with a number of challenges and difficulties. As uncovered by the work of Sols, Verma, and Nowicki [Eng Management J 19(2) (June 2007), 40– 50], the principle impediment to a successful PBL outcome is the proper formulation and mutual understanding, between supplier and customer, of the underlying financial reward/penalty model central to any PBL arrangement. The current state of the literature focuses on compensation structures based on only a single performance metric, which in most cases is insufficient to properly capture, reward, and penalize the supplier's performance. Instead, it is imperative to define and monitor multiple performance metrics to more accurately portray the performance the supplier is delivering in accordance to the customer's explicit expectations. This paper formulates an n‐dimensional performance‐based reward model for use in PBL contracts. Each dimension corresponds to a performance metric and the n‐dimensional reward model includes the notion of acceptable degree of variation in effectiveness (or, equivalently, a proportionality zone), of customer's acceptable compensation among metrics when there is overperformance for some and underperformance for others. An illustrative example is presented to show the applicability to PBL contractual relationships. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng
Possible roles of vacuolar H+‐ATPase and mitochondrial function in tolerance to air‐drying stress revealed by genome‐wide screening of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion strains
Authors: Shima Jun , Ando Akira , Takagi Hiroshi
Published: January 2008

Yeasts used in bread making are exposed to air‐drying stress during dried yeast production processes. To clarify the genes required for air‐drying tolerance, we performed genome‐wide screening using the complete deletion strain collection of diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The screening identified 278 gene deletions responsible for air‐drying sensitivity. These genes were classified based on their cellular function and on the localization of their gene products. The results showed that the genes required for air‐drying tolerance were frequently involved in mitochondrial functions and in connection with vacuolar H+‐ATPase, which plays a role in vacuolar acidification. To determine the role of vacuolar acidification in air‐drying stress tolerance, we monitored intracellular pH. The results showed that intracellular acidification was induced during air‐drying and that this acidification was amplified in a deletion mutant of the VMA2 gene encoding a component of vacuolar H+‐ATPase, suggesting that vacuolar H+‐ATPase helps maintain intracellular pH homeostasis, which is affected by air‐drying stress. To determine the effects of air‐drying stress on mitochondria, we analysed the mitochondrial membrane potential under air‐drying stress conditions using MitoTracker. The results showed that mitochondria were extremely sensitive to air‐drying stress, suggesting that a mitochondrial function is required for tolerance to air‐drying stress. We also analysed the correlation between oxidative‐stress sensitivity and air‐drying‐stress sensitivity. The results suggested that oxidative stress is a critical determinant of sensitivity to air‐drying stress, although ROS‐scavenging systems are not necessary for air‐drying stress tolerance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emergency Department Thoracotomy: Survival of the Least Expected
Authors: Seamon Mark J. , Fisher Carol A. , Gaughan John P. , Kulp Heather , Dempsey Daniel T. , Goldberg Amy J.
Published: January 2008

Although emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is often considered a controversial “last chance” method of resuscitation, we hypothesized that EDT performed in a busy urban Level I trauma center has significant salvage rates despite the absence of traditional survival predictors. A retrospective review revealed that 180 patients underwent EDT after traumatic arrest for penetrating injury between 2000 and 2005. All were deemed nonsalvageable by other resuscitation methods. Injury mechanism and location, signs of life (SOLs), initial cardiac rhythm, and presence of vital signs were analyzed. In total, 23 patients survived hospitalization neurologically intact. Compared to nonsurvivors, survivors more often suffered multiple stab wounds (21.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.001), presented with field (95.7% vs. 72.6%, p = 0.016) and ED (87.0% vs. 60.5%, p = 0.014) SOLs, had sustainable cardiac rhythms (sinus tachycardia, 43.5% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.001; normal sinus rhythm, 17.4% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.037), and had measurable vital signs (65.2% vs. 25.5%; p = 0.001). However, only 3 of 23 (13.0%) survivors had all survival predictors, and one survivor had none. Frequent predictors in survivors were field SOLs (95.7%), ED SOLs (87.0%), salvageable initial cardiac rhythms (78.3%), and obtainable vital signs (65.2%). Stabbing mechanism (30.4%) and cardiac injury location (30.4%) were least common. Had a strict policy of EDT performance based solely on the presence of survival predictors been followed and EDT withheld, several patients who ultimately survived would have died. Our study suggests that EDT is a technique that should be utilized for patients with critical penetrating injuries even in the absence of many traditional survival predictors.
Improved renal survival in Japanese children with IgA nephropathy
Authors: Yata Nahoko , Nakanishi Koichi , Shima Yuko , Togawa Hiroko , Obana Mina , Sako Mayumi , Nozu Kandai , Tanaka Ryojiro , Iijima Kazumoto , Yoshikawa Norishige
Published: January 2008

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Japanese medical practitioners have extensively prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for children with mild IgA nephropathy (IgA-N) and steriods for those with severe IgA-N. We have performed a retrospective cohort study to clarify whether the long-term outcome has improved in Japanese children with IgA-N. Renal survival was defined as the time from onset to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We divided the study period into two time periods based on the occurrence of the initial renal biopsy:1976–1989 and 1990–2004. Actuarial survivals were calculated by Kaplan–Meier method, and comparisons were made with the logrank test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis. Between 1976 and 2004, 500 children were diagnosed as having IgA-N in our hospitals. The actuarial renal survival from the time of apparent disease onset was 96.4% at 10 years, 84.5% at 15 years and 73.9% at 20 years. Renal survival in the 1990–2004 period was significantly better than that in 1976–1989 (p = 0.008), and a marked improvement in renal survival in patients with severe IgA-N was also observed (p = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis indicated that diagnosis year was a significant factor for ESRD-free survival independently of baseline characteristics. The results of this study show that there has been an improvement in terms of renal survival in Japanese children with IgA-N.
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Metal-encapsulated Multi-walled Carbon Nanobeads
Authors: Leela Mohana Reddy A , Ramaprabhu S
Published: January 2008

A novel, cost-effective, easy and single-step process for the synthesis of large quantities of magnetic metal-encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanobeads (MWNB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) using catalytic chemical vapour deposition of methane over Mischmetal-based AB3alloy hydride catalyst is presented. The growth mechanism of metal-encapsulated MWNB and MWNT has been discussed based on the catalytically controlled root-growth mode. These carbon nanostructures have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM and HRTEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Magnetic properties of metal-filled nanobeads have been studied using PAR vibrating sample magnetometer up to a magnetic field of 10 kOe, and the results have been compared with those of metal-filled MWNT.
Cultural Aspects in the Care of the Orthodox Jewish Woman
Authors: Berkowitz Bayla
Published: January 2008

This article offers an overview and explanation of some of the main customs and laws in the Jewish religion surrounding the reproductive health care of the Torah‐observant woman. By understanding the religious and spiritual needs and preferences of a patient, the midwife is better able to provide optimal, culturally‐competent care. Some of the aspects discussed include procreation, menstruation, modesty, contraception, abortion, genetic testing, induction, the Sabbath, Kosher diet, circumcision, and naming of the child.
Injury: A Major Cause of Pregnancy‐Associated Morbidity in Massachusetts
Authors: Nannini Angela , Lazar Jane , Berg Cynthia , Tomashek Kay , Cabral Howard , Barger Mary , Barfield Wanda , Kotelchuck Milton
Published: January 2008

Hospital visits (inpatient, observation, and emergency department) for injury occurring during pregnancy and 1 year postpartum (the pregnancy‐associated period) were examined to determine groups at risk for injuries. The dataset included maternally linked vital records and hospital visit data for a population‐based cohort of women residing in Massachusetts who delivered between 2002 and 2003 (n = 100,051). Injury morbidity (injury visits with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 800–999.99 or selected E‐codes) was evaluated by individual woman‐and visit‐based analyses. Overall, one in seven women sought hospital care for pregnancy‐associated injuries, and rates were as high as one in four for some subgroups. Most pregnancy‐associated injury visits (91%) occurred in emergency departments. More than 4% of women had a motor vehicle collision, which was the leading cause of injury. The risk for injury was significantly higher among women who were adolescents (relative risk [RR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78–1.98), black non‐Hispanic (RR = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.80–1.97), those who had public insurance (RR = 2.50; 95% CI, 2.41–2.56), or those who had less than a high school education (RR = 2.48; 95% CI, 2.39–2.58) when compared with referent groups. Clinical guidelines for preconception and pregnancy‐associated periods should include recommendations for injury history assessment and preventative counseling for women.
A Qualitative Analysis of Women's Short Accounts of Labour and Birth in a Western Australian Public Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Bayes Sara , Fenwick Jennifer , Hauck Yvonne
Published: January 2008

This paper reports the findings of the postnatal qualitative arm of a larger study, which investigated women's prenatal and postnatal levels of childbirth fear. Women's expectations and experiences of labour and birth in a Western Australian public tertiary hospital were identified following thematic analysis of short written accounts from 141 participants who had given birth in the previous 6 to 14 weeks. Four major categories emerged to describe features and mediating factors in the trajectory of childbirth and the early puerperium. “Anticipating Labour and Birth,” “Labour and Birth Depicted,” “Mediating Factors and their Consequences,” and “Evaluating, Resolving, and Looking Ahead” portray women's comparative reflections on expectations and realities of birth, on mediating influences, and on moving on from their experience. These findings will provide maternity care professionals with insight into the personal and environmental features of the childbirth setting which colours women's recollections. Being aware of what women value during labour and birth will reinforce the need for professionals to provide care using a mindful approach that considers the potential psychological, emotional, and behavioural implications of events.
Malpractice Liability Burden in Midwifery: A Survey of Michigan Certified Nurse‐Midwives
Authors: Xu Xiao , Lori Jody R. , Siefert Kristine A. , Jacobson Peter D. , Ransom Scott B.
Published: January 2008

A statewide survey was conducted among 282 nurse‐midwives in Michigan to examine the extent of their current medical liability burden. Two hundred ten responses were received for an adjusted response rate of 76.9%. Data from 145 certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs) who were currently engaged in clinical practice in Michigan were used for this analysis. Sixty‐nine percent of CNMs reported that liability concerns had a negative impact on their clinical decision making. Most CNMs (88.1%) acquired malpractice insurance coverage through an employer, whereas 4.9% were practicing “bare” due to difficulty in obtaining coverage. Thirty‐five percent of the respondents had been named in a malpractice claim at least once in their career, and 15.5% had at least one malpractice payment of $30,000 or more made on their behalf. CNMs who purchased malpractice insurance coverage themselves or were going bare were significantly less likely to include obstetrics in their practice than their counterparts covered through an employer (70.6% versus 87.2%; P = .04). These findings among Michigan CNMs call for further investigation into the consequences of the current malpractice situation surrounding nurse‐midwifery practice and its influence on obstetric care, particularly among women from disadvantaged populations.
INDUCTION OF LABOR INCREASES RISK OF COMPLICATIONS FOR MULTIPARAS
Authors: Bond Sharon
Published: January 2008

Battista L, Chung JH, Lagrew DC, Wing DA. Complications of labor induction among multiparous women in a community‐based hospital system. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;197:241.e1–7.
MARGINALIZATION OF MIDWIVES IN THE US: A FUNCTION OF POLICY, POLITICS, AND PAYMENT
Authors: Bond Sharon
Published: January 2008

Goodman S. Piercing the veil: The marginalization of midwives in the United States. Soc Sci Med 2007;65:610 −21.
STUDY SHOWS NEED TO DISPEL MYTH THAT AVAILABILITY OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION PROMOTES HIGH‐RISK BEHAVIORS
Authors: Bond Sharon
Published: January 2008

Wu J, Gipson T, ChN, Wynn LL, Cleland K, Morrison C, et al. Women seeking emergency contraceptive pills by using the Internet. Obstet Gynecol 2007;110:44 −52.
Disputing Contraception: Muslim Reform, Secular Change and Fertility
Authors: JEFFERY PATRICIA , JEFFERY ROGER , JEFFREY CRAIG
Published: January 2008

In South Asia, Muslim reformers have often attempted to ‘rationalize’ and gentrify the everyday behaviour of ordinary Muslims. Yet, despite the existence of discussions of contraceptive techniques in theyūnān-ī tibbcurricula of 19th century India and the apparent affinity between rationalism and fertility regulation, contraception was rarely discussed in public debates involving Muslim reformers. In this paper we discuss some of the relationships between élite debates among Muslim leaders and the grassroots behaviour of villagers in rural Bijnor, in western Uttar Pradesh. Villagers' voices are ambiguous, with fears for mother and child health surfacing as often as concerns for religious orthodoxy and one's destiny in the afterlife. In addition, many of the villagers' views of Islam were much more restrictive than those of the locally accepted authoritative voices: although the staff atDaru'l‘Ulūm, Deoband, saw much modern contraception as an unwelcome sign of modernity, their discussions of the acceptability of family planning circled round notions ofmajbūrī[compulsion], repentance, and the unfathomable mercy of Allah. We conclude that focusing on local notions of Islam to understand the fertility behaviour of rural Muslims is less fruitful than considering a “political economy of hopelessness” that, increasingly since 1947, affects many Muslims in north India.
Exogenous hyalin and sea urchin gastrulation, Part II: hyalin, an interspecies cell adhesion molecule
Authors: Alvarez M. , Nnoli J. , Carroll E.J. , Hutchins-Carroll V. , Razinia Z. , Oppenheimer S.B.
Published: January 2008

The 330 kDa fibrillar glycoprotein hyalin is a well known component of the sea urchin embryo extracellular hyaline layer. Only recently, the main component of hyalin, the hyalin repeat domain, has been identified in organisms as widely divergent as bacteria and humans using the GenBank database and therefore its possible function has garnered a great deal of interest. In the sea urchin, hyalin serves as an adhesive substrate in the developing embryo and we have recently shown that exogenously added purified hyalin from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryos blocks a model cellular interaction in these embryos, archenteron elongation/attachment to the blastocoel roof. It is important to demonstrate the generality of this result by observing if hyalin from one species of sea urchin blocks archenteron elongation/attachment in another species. Here we show in three repeated experiments, with 30 replicate samples for each condition, that the same concentration of S. purpuratus hyalin (57 μg/ml) that blocked the interaction in living S. purpuratus embryos blocked the same interaction in living Lytechinus pictus embryos. These results correspond with the known crossreactivity of antibody against S. purpuratus hyalin with L. pictus hyalin. We propose that hyalin–hyalin receptor binding may mediate this adhesive interaction. The use of a microplate assay that allows precise quantification of developmental effects should help facilitate identification of the function of hyalin in organisms as divergent as bacteria and humans.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL TRANSITIONAL DYNAMICS: A SIMPLE NUMERICAL PROCEDURE
Authors: TRIMBORN TIMO , KOCH KARL-JOSEF , STEGER THOMAS M.
Published: January 2008

We propose the relaxation algorithm as a simple and powerful method for determining the transition process in growth models numerically. This method has a number of important advantages: (1) It can easily deal with a wide range of dynamic systems including stiff differential equations and systems giving rise to a continuum of stationary equilibria. (2) The application of the procedure is fairly user-friendly. The only input required consists of the dynamic system. (3) The variant of the relaxation algorithm we propose exploits in a natural manner the infinite time horizon, which usually underlies optimal control problems in economics. As an illustrative application, we compute the transition process of the models of Jones [Jones, C.I. (1995) R&D-based models of economic growth. Journal of Political Economy 103 (3), 759–784] and Lucas [Lucas, R.E., Jr. (1988) On the mechanics of economic development. Journal of Monetary Economics 22, 3–42].
Do racehorses and Greyhound dogs exhibit a gender difference in running speed?
Authors: Entin Pauline
Published: January 2008

At any level of competition, men run faster than women. Consequently, a male speed advantage is often presumed for other species. This assumption was tested in two animals bred for speed: horses and dogs. Results from Thoroughbred (TB), Standardbred (STB) and Greyhound (GH) races were analysed by ANOVA to compare the speeds of victorious males, neutered males (TB and STB only) and females. Separate analyses were run for shorter (TB: ≤ 1609 m, GH: 503 m) and longer (TB: >1609 m, GH: 603.5 m) TB and GH races. All STB races (trotters and pacers) were 1609 m. In TB races, intact males were 0.7% faster than females at ≤ 1609 m (n = 305;P < 0.01) and 1.4% faster at >1609 m (n = 194;P < 0.01). The speed of neutered males was equivalent to that of females at both distances. Gender accounted for 3.8 and 10.7% of the variance in speed at short and long distances, respectively. In STB pacers, intact males were 1.5% faster than females and gender accounted for 10.1% of the variance in speed (n = 96;P < 0.01). Gender was not a significant predictor of STB trotter (n = 95) or GH speed at 503 m (n = 146) or 603.5 m (n = 23). In conclusion, gender has a significant effect on speed of TBs and STB pacers. Although the effect size is small, it may be significant for racing; in a 7 furlong (1408 m) TB race, the 0.7% difference translates to an advantage of several lengths.
WHO OPPOSES IMMIGRATION?
Authors: Pettigrew Thomas F. , Wagner Ulrich , Christ Oliver
Published: January 2008

Are the predictors of anti-immigration attitudes consistent across countries with diverse immigration histories and policies? We hypothesize that the key predictors of opposition to immigration are indeed relatively consistent across industrial nations. We test this hypothesis with two surveys using probability samples of German citizens. We then compare our findings with those obtained in recent studies of immigration opinions in Europe generally, and in two of the world's leading immigration-receiving nations: Canada and the United States. Striking similarities emerge in the findings across structural, demographic, contact, economic, political, personality, and threat predictors. Opposition to immigration is routinely found strongest among the older and less-educated segments of the population who live in areas with anti-immigration norms and little contact with immigrants. Anti-immigration attitudes also correlate with political conservatism and alienation, economic deprivation, and especially with authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and perceived collective threat.
COMFORT ZONES
Authors: Charles Camille Zubrinsky
Published: January 2008

The remarkable increase in immigration from Asia and Latin America requires a rethinking of multiracial analyses of neighborhood racial-composition preferences. This research addresses two interrelated questions: (1) since spatial mobility is so central to social mobility, how do recent Asian and Latino/a immigrants develop ideas about the racial and ethnic composition of the neighborhoods in which they want to live; and (2) what are the implications of processes of immigrant adaptation for the likely dynamics of race and ethnic relations in increasingly diverse communities? Guided by Massey's spatial assimilation model and previous studies of neighborhood racial-composition preferences, this research underscores the critical importance of immigration and assimilation as influences on preferences for same-race, White, and Black neighbors. Data are from the 1993–1994 Los Angeles Survey of Urban Inequality (N = 1921). Results point to the critical role of acculturation—the accumulation of time in the United States and English-language proficiency/use, as well as racial attitudes—in understanding what motivates preferences for these diverse groups, and to the complexities of accurately modeling preferences among largely foreign-born populations. Preferences for both same-race and White neighbors vary by the length of time that immigrants have accumulated in the United States and their ability to communicate effectively in English. English-language fluency is a particularly salient predictor of preferences among recent immigrants. Consistent with prior research on preferences, racial stereotypes stand out as particularly potent predictors of preferences; however, their influence is weakest among the most recent immigrants, coming to resemble those of the native-born with increasing years of U.S. residence.