bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and application of layered composites with the prescribed magnetic permeability
Authors: Choi Jae Seok , Yoo Jeonghoon
Published: September 2009

This research aims to design the microstructure with the prescribed magnetic permeability and proposes a design method to control the magnetic flux flow using layered microstructures. In the optimization problem for the microstructure design, the objective function is set up to minimize the difference between the homogenized magnetic permeability during the design process and the prescribed permeability based on the so‐called inverse homogenization method. Based on the microstructure design result, a microstructure composed of layered materials is proposed for the purpose of the efficient magnetic flux control. In addition, its analytical calculation is added to confirm the feasibility of the optimized results. The layered composite of a very thin ferromagnetic material is expected to guide the magnetic flux and the performance of the magnetic system can be improved by turning the microstructures appropriately. Optimal rotation angles of microstructures are determined using the homogenization design method. The proposed design method is applied to an example to confirm its feasibility. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rheological and swelling behavior of semi‐interpenetrating networks of polyacrylamide and scleroglucan
Authors: Aalaie Jamal , Rahmatpour Ali , Vasheghani‐Farahani Ebrahim
Published: September 2009

Preparation and characterization of novel semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) hydrogels based on partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and scleroglucan solution crosslinked with chromium triacetate are described. Effects of scleroglucan concentration on the gelation process and swelling behavior of synthesized hydrogels in different media were investigated using dynamic rheometery and swelling tests, respectively. Oscillatory shear rheology showed that the limiting storage modulus of the semi‐IPN gels increased with increase in scleroglucan concentration. It was also found that the viscous energy dissipating properties of the semi‐IPN gels decreased with increase in the crosslinker concentration of the gelation system. In addition, the loss factor slightly decreased by increasing the scleroglucan content, indicating that the viscous properties of this gelling system decreased more than its elastic properties. The swelling tests showed that the equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) of the semi‐IPN networks decreased with increase in scleroglucan content, due to the decrease of ionic groups of polyelectrolyte hydrogel. However, the semi‐IPN gels showed lower salt sensitivity in synthetic oil reservoir water as compared with HPAM gels. Therefore, these semi‐IPN hydrogels may be considered potentially good candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study on mechanical properties and phase morphology of polypropylene/polyolefin elastomer/magnesium hydroxide ternary composites
Authors: Chen Xiaolang , Yu Jie , Luo Zhu , Guo Shaoyun , He Min , Zhou Zuowan
Published: September 2009

In this work, elastomer‐toughened polypropylene (PP)/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites with ethylene–octene copolymer (POE) were prepared in a twin‐screw extruder and then injection‐molded. The structure, mechanical properties, phase morphology, and rheological behaviors of PP/POE/MH ternary composites were studied. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of PP/POE/MH ternary composites are strongly influenced by the incorporation of POE copolymer. The addition of POE causes a significant improvement in the impact strength of the composites, from 3.6 kJ/m2 in untoughened composites to 47.4 kJ/m2 in PP composites containing 30 phr POE. This indicates that POE is very effective in converting brittle PP composites into tough composites. Conversely, the tensile strength and the Young's modulus of the composites decrease with respect to the PP composites, as the weight fraction of POE is increased to 40 phr. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study shows a two‐phase morphology where POE, as droplets, is dispersed finely and uniformly in the PP matrix. The rheological behaviors show that the interfacial interaction in the composites is enhanced with increase in POE content. Interparticle interactions give rise to the formation of interparticle network. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New nonlinear optical polyurethanes with adjusted subtle structure through Sonogashira coupling reaction
Authors: Li Zhong'an , Ji Li , Tang Runli , Huang Lijin , Ye Cheng , Qin Jingui , Li Zhen
Published: September 2009

In this paper, four new nonlinear optical (NLO) polyurethanes (P1–P4) were designed and synthesized, and according to the concept of “suitable isolation group,” the subtle structure of the obtained polymers were modified by the introduction of isolation groups in different sizes to adjust their properties via Sonogashira coupling reaction. All the polymers were well characterized and the second harmonic generation (SHG) experiment results demonstrated that BOP groups were the suitable isolation groups in this system, and the corresponding polymer P2 exhibited a larger d33 value than other polymers. Thus, the obtained results further confirmed our original idea and were consistent with the concept of “suitable isolation group.” Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Whole‐genome microarray analysis in prenatal specimens identifies clinically significant chromosome alterations without increase in results of unclear significance compared to targeted microarray
Authors: Coppinger Justine , Alliman Sarah , Lamb Allen N. , Torchia Beth S. , Bejjani Bassem A. , Shaffer Lisa G.
Published: September 2009

Objective

To determine the detection rates of whole‐genome microarray technology compared to targeted microarray analysis for chromosome abnormalities in prenatal samples submitted for diagnostic testing.

Methods

Microarray analysis using either whole‐genome bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)‐based and oligonucleotide (oligo)‐based microarrays or targeted BAC microarrays was performed on 182 and 62 prenatal cases, respectively, from North American healthcare providers without previously known chromosome abnormalities or family history of a parent with a known chromosome rearrangement.

Results

Microarray analysis identified clinically significant chromosome alterations in 7 out of 182 (3.8%) prenatal specimens, two of which each had two unrelated abnormalities. After excluding two of the cases in which the abnormality would have been identified by routine karyotyping, the diagnostic yield of clinically significant findings was 5 out of 182 (2.7%). One case had a finding of unclear significance (0.5%) and 16 cases had benign copy number variants (CNVs) (8.8%). Targeted microarray analysis combined with previously published data demonstrated detection rates of 0.9% for clinically significant results, 0.5% for results of unclear significance, and 8.0% for benign CNVs.

Conclusions

Whole‐genome prenatal aCGH detected clinically significant submicroscopic chromosome abnormalities in addition to chromosome abnormalities that could be identified by concurrent karyotyping without an increase in unclear results or benign CNVs compared to targeted aCGH. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trends of the potentially inappropriate medication consumption over 10 years in older adults in the East of France
Authors: Bongue Bienvenu , Naudin Florence , Laroche Marie‐Laure , Galteau Marie‐Madeleine , Guy Claire , Guéguen René , Convers Jean‐Pierre , Colvez Alain , Maarouf Nabil
Published: September 2009

Purpose

To describe the trends of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older adults from 1995 to 2004 in the East of France, by using the 1997 Beers criteria and its French update, and to assess risk factors for this PIM use.

Methods

We carried out a repeated cross‐sectional study using data collected among people aged ≥65 years, examined in the Center for Preventive Medicine. Studied variables were socio‐demographic, clinical data, medication consumption and the self‐health status. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to estimate the temporal changes in PIM rate.

Results

30 683 participants were included. 51.2% were women. The mean age was 70.1 ± 4.3 years [65–99]. The annual overall rate of PIM use decreased significantly during the study period. These rates range from 14.9% in 1995 to 9.0% in 2004 according the Beers criteria (−3.4% per year) and from 33.5% in 1995 to 19.3% in 2004 according to the French update criteria (−3.6% per year). The annual rate of medication users increased during the same period (+0.75% per year). The risk of PIM consumption increased with age, number of drugs and frequency of the visits to the physician (OR = 1.26 [1.18–1.35]). This risk was also higher among women (OR = 1.29 [1.18–1.40]), elderly living alone (OR = 1.09 [1.02–1.17]) and with those with low education level (OR = 1.19 [1.02–1.38]).

Conclusion

This study shows a decrease in PIM consumption. Despite an increase of drug use in the elderly, an improving of the quality of this consumption remains possible. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combustion Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of LaCoO3 for HMX Thermal Decomposition
Authors: Wei Zhi‐Xian , Chi Ying‐Nan , Hu Chang‐Wen , Liu Hai‐Yan
Published: September 2009

Perovskite‐type LaCoO3 was prepared by stearic acid solution combustion method and characterized by XRD, DSC‐TG, and XPS techniques. The catalytic activities of LaCoO3 for HMX (octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine) thermal decomposition were investigated. The as‐prepared LaCoO3 shows higher activity than the calcined one. This could be due to higher concentration of surface‐adsorbed oxygen and hydroxyl species as well as higher BET surface area of the as‐prepared LaCoO3.
Steerable catheters in minimally invasive vascular surgery
Authors: Fu Yili , Liu Hao , Huang Wentai , Wang Shuguo , Liang Zhaoguang
Published: September 2009

Background

Remote‐controlled catheter navigation systems have recently been introduced into minimally invasive vascular surgery and some of them have already been applied in clinical practice. Steerable catheters with improved manoeuvrability play an important role in these innovations for conventional catheterization.

Methods

This review details the development of various steerable catheters, both in use clinically and under investigation. Comprehensive comparison and analysis in several key aspects are followed to reveal both the advantages and limitations of these catheters, as well as the requirements for relevant techniques.

Results

Steerable catheters are able to select direction in the distal end, and superior to conventional counterparts in many aspects. Differences between magnetic and active catheters mainly lie in function, safety, configuration of operating room and cost. They have similar requirements for miniaturization and slave insertion mechanisms.

Conclusions

Steerable catheters are rapidly evolving and still require technological refinements to extend current capabilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring the health of large rivers with macroinvertebrates: Do dominant taxa help or hinder the assessment?
Authors: Jackson John K. , Battle Juliann M. , Sweeney Bernard W.
Published: September 2009

Macroinvertebrate communities in the Mississippi River are often dominated by a few taxa (e.g. oligochaetes in the fine sediments and hydropsychid caddisflies on rocks) that exploit the natural abundance of fine organic particles. These taxa are moderately to highly tolerant of pollution, and the combination of high abundance and high pollution tolerance could result in the river being assessed as highly polluted. We examined how the presence or absence of dominant oligochaetes or hydropsychid caddisflies affected biometric values and responses used to monitor environmental stress in large rivers. Responsiveness was assessed across five simulated impairments created by removing different subsets of sensitive taxa from the original data for macroinvertebrates in the Upper Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, MO. For many metrics, removal of the dominant taxa changed values, and increased the difference between existing conditions and simulated impairments. For macroinvertebrate data from fine‐sediment habitat, 8–9 of 12 metrics responded to the two most severe impairments simulated with or without dominant oligochaetes, but none changed for less severe impairments. For rock habitat, more metrics responded to moderate or severe impairments simulated when dominant hydropsychids were excluded. Few metrics performed better with dominant taxa. Overall, removal of dominant macroinvertebrate taxa improved both the accuracy and interpretability of several metrics commonly used to monitor effects of water pollution on large‐river faunas dominated by a few taxa. Removing them also makes observed responses more comparable to those frequently quantified for wadeable streams and rivers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Once an outsider, always an outsider? CEO origin, strategic change, and firm performance
Authors: Zhang Yan , Rajagopalan Nandini
Published: September 2009

In this study, we examine how the relationship between the level of strategic change in the pattern of resource allocation and firm performance differs between firms led by outside CEOs and those led by inside CEOs. Based on longitudinal data on the tenure histories of 193 CEOs who left office between 1993 and 1998, we find that the level of strategic change has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with firm performance. As the level of change increases from slight to moderate, performance increases; as the level of change increases from moderate to great, performance declines. Further, we find that this inverted U‐shaped relationship differs between firms led by outside CEOs and those led by inside CEOs. That is, both the positive effect of strategic change on firm performance when the level of change is relatively low and the negative effect of strategic change on firm performance when the level of change is relatively high are more pronounced for outside CEOs than for inside CEOs. Supplementary analyses also suggest that this difference between outside and inside CEOs exists in later years but not in the early years of CEO tenure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boron Nitride Nanotubes Selectively Permeable to Cations or Anions
Authors: Hilder Tamsyn A. , Gordon Daniel , Chung Shin‐Ho
Published: September 2009

Biological ion channels in membranes are selectively permeable to specific ionic species. They maintain the resting membrane potential, generate propagated action potentials, and control a wide variety of cell functions. Here it is demonstrated theoretically that boron nitride nanotubes have the ability to carry out some of the important functions of biological ion channels. Boron nitride nanotubes with radii of 4.83 and 5.52 Å embedded in a silicon nitride membrane are selectively permeable to cations and anions, respectively. They broadly mimic some of the permeation characteristics of gramicidin and chloride channels. Using distributional molecular dynamics, which is a combination of molecular and stochastic dynamics simulations, the properties of these engineered nanotubes are characterized, such as the free energy encountered by charged particles, the water‐ion structure within the pore, and the current–voltage and current–concentration profiles. These engineered nanotubes have potential applications as sensitive biosensors, antibiotics, or filtration devices.
Circuitry of mRNA regulation
Authors: Kanitz Alexander , Gerber André P.
Published: September 2009

Some of the classical paradigms of gene regulation have been challenged by global‐scale analysis of eukaryotic transcriptional and post‐transcriptional gene regulation (PTGR), made possible by the development of genomics and proteomics tools. Post‐transcriptional events in particular are increasingly being recognized as important sources of gene regulation. The hundreds of regulatory RNA‐binding proteins that exist in eukaryotes may regulate dozens to hundreds of functionally related RNA targets. Likewise, the expression of considerable fractions of many eukaryotic genomes is affected by hundreds of non‐coding RNAs, e.g., microRNAs. These findings suggest an enormous regulatory potential for PTGR that may affect virtually every message in a cell. All gene regulatory systems are composed of simple network circuits that coordinate the transfer of regulatory signals to a target gene/message. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Biological Mechanisms > Regulatory Biology
Rapid Concentration of Nanoparticles with DC Dielectrophoresis in Focused Electric Fields
Authors: Chen Dafeng , Du Hejun , Tay CheeYong
Published: September 2009

We report a microfluidic device for rapid and efficient concentration of micro/nanoparticles with direct current dielectrophoresis (DC DEP). The concentrator is composed of a series of microchannels constructed with PDMS-insulating microstructures for efficiently focusing the electric field in the flow direction to provide high field strength and gradient. The location of the trapped and concentrated particles depends on the strength of the electric field applied. Both ‘streaming DEP’ and ‘trapping DEP’ simultaneously take place within the concentrator at different regions. The former occurs upstream and is responsible for continuous transport of the particles, whereas the latter occurs downstream and rapidly traps the particles delivered from upstream. The performance of the device is demonstrated by successfully concentrating fluorescent nanoparticles. The described microfluidic concentrator can be implemented in applications where rapid concentration of targets is needed such as concentrating cells for sample preparation and concentrating molecular biomarkers for detection.
The boundary regularity of non-linear parabolic systems II
Authors: Bögelein Verena , Duzaar Frank , Mingione Giuseppe
Published: September 2009

This is the second part of a work aimed at establishing that for solutions to Cauchy–Dirichlet problems involving general non-linear systems of parabolic type, almost every parabolic boundary point is a Hölder continuity point for the spatial gradient of solutions. Here we establish higher fractional differentiability of solutions up to the boundary. Based on the necessary and sufficient condition for regular boundary points from the first part of Bögelein et al. (in this issue)[7] we achieve dimension estimates for the boundary singular set and eventually the almost everywhere regularity of solutions at the boundary.
Structure, mechanism and engineering of plant natural product glycosyltransferases
Authors: Wang Xiaoqiang
Published: September 2009

Glycosylation is a key mechanism in determining chemical complexity and diversity of plant natural products, and influencing their chemical properties and bioactivities. Uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are the central players in these glycosylation processes for decorating natural products with sugars. Crystal structures of plant UGTs have revealed their exquisite architectures and provided the structural basis for understanding their catalytic mechanism and substrate specificity. Structure‐based UGT engineering can alter substrate specificity; compromise or enhance catalytic efficiency; and confer reversibility to the glycosylation reaction. This review highlights the structural insights on plant UGTs and successes in glycosylation engineering.
Evolution of putrescine N‐methyltransferase from spermidine synthase demanded alterations in substrate binding
Authors: Biastoff Stefan , Reinhardt Nicole , Reva Veaceslav , Brandt Wolfgang , Dräger Birgit
Published: September 2009

Putrescine N‐methyltransferase (PMT) catalyses S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM)‐dependent methylation of putrescine in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis. PMT presumably evolved from the ubiquitous spermidine synthase (SPDS). SPDS protein structure suggested that only few amino acid exchanges in the active site were necessary to achieve PMT activity. Protein modelling, mutagenesis, and chimeric protein construction were applied to trace back evolution of PMT activity from SPDS. Ten amino acid exchanges in Datura stramonium SPDS dismissed the hypothesis of facile generation of PMT activity in existing SPDS proteins. Chimeric PMT and SPDS enzymes were active and indicated the necessity for a different putrescine binding site when PMT developed.
Prevention of striae gravidarum with cocoa butter cream
Authors: Buchanan Keisha , Fletcher Horace M. , Reid Marvin
Published: September 2009

Objective

To determine whether cocoa butter cream is effective in preventing striae gravidarum.

Methods

This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial enrolled 300 pregnant women: 150 women received cocoa butter cream and 150 women received a placebo cream. The women were followed‐up from 16 weeks of pregnancy to delivery to assess the development of striae gravidarum. Maternal height, weight, and abdominal girth were recorded at each visit. After delivery the placenta was weighed, and anthropometry and Apgar scores of the neonate were recorded.

Results

The 2 groups had similar clinical parameters at booking. Striae gravidarum developed in 44% of patients using cocoa butter cream compared with 55% of those using placebo; the difference was not significant (χ2 = 2.8, df(1), P = 0.09). Striae gravidarum were more common among younger women and those with large neonates. However, no relationship was found between development of striae and body mass index.

Conclusion

Cocoa butter cream does not prevent striae gravidarum. In Afro‐Caribbean women, development of striae is related to young age of the mother and large neonates.
Age of acquisition and the recognition of brand names: On the importance of being early
Authors: Ellis Andrew W. , Holmes Selina J. , Wright Richard L.
Published: September 2009

Research in cognitive psychology has shown that words, objects and faces learned early in life are recognized more fluently than similar items learned later. Experiment 1 shows that early acquired brand names are recognized more quickly than later acquired brands. Experiment 2 shows that the age of acquisition effect extends to accessing semantic knowledge about brands. In Experiment 3, older participants were faster at recognizing early learned brands that are now extinct than more recent, active brand names. Early surviving brands were recognized quickest of all. The significance of these effects for manufacturers and marketing are discussed.
Root lexical features and inflectional marking of tense in Proto-Indo-European
Authors: BARTOLOTTA ANNAMARIA
Published: September 2009

This paper examines early inflectional morphology related to the tense-aspect system of Proto-Indo-European. It will be argued that historical linguistics can shed light on the long-standing debate over the emergence of tense-aspect morphology in language acquisition. The dispute over this issue is well-known; it has been pursued mostly by scholars following various general linguistic approaches, from typology to acquisition, but also by historical linguists and Indo-Europeanists, who have long debated about the precedence of aspect or tense from both a synchronic and a diachronic perspective. However, so far Indo-Europeanists have rarely confronted their results in a successful way with recent research in other fields such as acquisition or neurolinguistics. The aim of this paper is to put forward evidence from the reconstruction of the Proto-Indo-European verbal system concerning the prominent role of root lexical aspect features in the emergence of grammatical marking of tense in the proto-language. More precisely, by means of a comparison between the residual archaic verbal forms of theinjunctivein Vedic Sanskrit and the corresponding augmentless preterites in Homeric Greek, it will be argued that the [±telic] lexical feature of the inherited verbal root is responsible for a non-random distribution of past tense inflected forms in an earlier verbal paradigm.
Suppletive verbal morphology in Korean and the mechanism of vocabulary insertion
Authors: CHUNG INKIE
Published: September 2009

This paper provides a Distributed Morphology analysis of the paradoxical interaction of the two cases of verbal suppletion in Korean, and argues that the two suppletion types are characterized by two different types of morphological operations. The two roots found with short-form negation and honorification suggest different morphological structures: [[Neg-V] Hon] foral- ‘know’,molu- ‘not.know’,a-si- ‘know-hon’,molu-si- (not *an(i)a-si-) ‘negknow-hon’; and [Neg [V-Hon]] foriss- ‘exist’,eps- ‘not.exist’,kyey-si- ‘exist-hon’,an(i)kyey-si- (not *eps-(u)-si-) ‘negexist-hon’. Predicate repetition constructions support the [[Neg-V] Hon] structure. In this structure, however, the negative suppletion (analyzed as fusion of negation and the root) is blocked by the honorific suffix structurally more peripheral to the root. C-command is the only requirement for context allomorphy in Distributed Morphology (Halle & Marantz 1993). Since the [+hon] feature c-commands the root, the root can show honorific suppletive allomorphy in the first cycle with negation intervening between the root and [+hon]. Negation fusion occurs in the second cycle after vocabulary insertion of the root. Fusion, then, should refer to vocabulary items, not abstract features, and will be interleaved with vocabulary insertion. If the output of the root is /kyey/ due to the honorific feature, negative suppletion will not apply and the correct forman(i)kyey-si- will be derived. Therefore, both of the distinct morphological operations for suppletion, i.e., fusion and contextual allomorphy, are necessary. The revised formulation of fusion shows that certain morphological operations follow vocabulary insertion. This derivational approach to the suppletion interaction provides support for separation of phonological and nonphonological features and for late insertion of phonological features.
Answers without questions: The emergence of fragments in child language
Authors: GINZBURG JONATHAN , KOLLIAKOU DIMITRA
Published: September 2009

Non-sentential utterances (NSUs), utterances that lack an overt verbal (more generally predicative) constituent, are common in adult speech. This paper presents the results of a corpus study of the emergence of certain classes of NSUs in child language, based primarily on data from the Manchester Corpus from CHILDES. Our principal finding is the late short query effect: the main classes of non-sentential queries (NSQs) are acquired much later than non-sentential answers (NSAs). At a stage when the child has productive use of sentential queries, and has mastered elliptical declaratives and the polar lexemes ‘yes’ and ‘no’, non-sentential questions are virtually absent. This happens despite the fact that such questions are common in the speech of the child's caregivers and that the contexts are ones which should facilitate the production of such NSUs. We argue that these results are intrinsically problematic for analyses of NSUs in terms of a single, generalized mechanism of phonological reduction, as standard in generative grammar. We show how to model this effect within an approach of dialogue-oriented constructionism, wherein NSUs are grammatical words or constructions whose main predicate is a contextual parameter resolved in a manner akin to indexical terms, the relevant aspect of context being the discourse topic. We sketch an explanation for the order of acquisition of NSUs, based on a notion which combines accessibility of contextual parameters and complexity of content construction.
One-part and two-part models of nominal Case: Evidence from case distribution
Authors: BRATTICO PAULI
Published: September 2009

In some languages, nominal case is distributed over several adnominal elements, such as demonstrative pronouns, adjectives, participles, numerals and the nominal head itself. In this article, two hypotheses concerning case distribution are compared. According to thetwo-part model, case assignment to DPs as a whole (determiner phrases or maximal nominal projections) in syntax is based on a different grammatical mechanism than case distribution within those DPs. According to theone-part model, case distribution within DPs and syntactic case assignment to DPs are based on the same case assignment mechanism. Relying upon case distribution data from Finnish, Estonian, Polish, Russian and Serbo-Croatian, this article argues in favor of the one-part model. Furthermore, it is suggested that the one-part case distribution mechanism interacts with two independent morphological principles, one which regulates the overt morphological realization of elements which function as case assigners and another which states that the grammar is subject to a particular type of case hierarchy.
Nominal juxtaposition in Australian languages: An LFG analysis
Authors: SADLER LOUISA , NORDLINGER RACHEL
Published: September 2009

It is well known that Australian languages make heavy use of nominal juxtaposition in a wide variety of functions, but there is little discussion in the theoretical literature of how such juxtapositions should be analysed. We discuss a range of data from Australian languages illustrating how multiple nominals share a single grammatical function within the clause. We argue that such constructions should be treated syntactically as set-valued grammatical functions in Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG). Sets as values for functions are well-established in LFG and are used in the representation of adjuncts, and also in the representation of coordination. In many Australian languages, coordination is expressed asyndetically, that is, by nominal juxtaposition with no overt coordinator at all. We argue that the syntactic similarity of all juxtaposed constructions (ranging from coordination through a number of more appositional relations) motivates an analysis in which they are treated similarly in the syntax, but suitably distinguished in the semantics. We show how this can be achieved within LFG, providing a unified treatment of the syntax of juxtaposition in Australian languages and showing how the interface to the semantics can be quite straightforwardly defined in the modular LFG approach.
Convex dynamics with constant input
Authors: ADLER R. L. , NOWICKI T. , ŚWIRSZCZ G. , TRESSER C.
Published: September 2009

In Adler et al [Convex dynamics and applications. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.25 (2005), 321–352] certain piecewise linear maps were defined in terms of a convex polytope. When the convex polytope is a simplex, the resulting map has a dual nature. On one hand it is defined on ℝN and acts as a piecewise translation. On the other it can be viewed as a translation on the N-torus. What relates its two roles? A natural answer would be that there exists an invariant fundamental set into which all orbits under piecewise translation eventually enter. We prove this for N=1 and for acute and right triangles—i.e. non-obtuse triangles. We leave open the case of obtuse triangles and higher-dimensional simplices. Another question not treated is the connectivity of the invariant fundamental sets which arise.
RECURSIVE FORECAST COMBINATION FOR DEPENDENT HETEROGENEOUS DATA
Authors: Sancetta Alessio
Published: September 2009

This paper studies a procedure to combine individual forecasts that achieve theoretical optimal performance. The results apply to a wide variety of loss functions and only require a tail condition on the data sequences. The theoretical results show that the bounds are also valid in the case of time varying combination weights.
Regression of Left Ventricular Dilation After Percutaneous Closure of a Large Intralobar Pulmonary Sequestration
Authors: Alvarez Alejandro , Borgia Francesco , Guccione Paolo
Published: September 2009

We describe an infant of 8 months who presented with left ventricular dilation due to an extensive intralobar sequestration of the right lung. The pulmonary sequestration was associated with a patent arterial duct and a right aortic arch. Percutaneous closure of the anomalous aberrant artery feeding the sequestrated lung resulted in prompt regression of the left ventricular enlargement.
Antibody-based therapy of leukaemia
Authors: Morris John C. , Waldmann Thomas A.
Published: September 2009

Over the past decade, monoclonal antibodies have dramatically impacted the treatment of haematological malignancies, as evidenced by the effect of rituximab on the response rate and survival of patients with follicular and diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Currently, only two monoclonal antibodies – the anti-CD33 immunotoxin gemtuzumab ozogamicin and the CD52-directed antibody alemtuzumab – are approved for treatment of relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia in older patients and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, respectively. Although not approved for such treatment, alemtuzumab is also active against T cell prolymphocytic leukaemia, cutaneous T cell lymphoma and Sézary syndrome, and adult T cell leukaemia and lymphoma. In addition, rituximab has demonstrated activity against B cell chronic lymphocytic and hairy cell leukaemia. Monoclonal antibodies targeting CD4, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD23, CD25, CD45, CD66 and CD122 are now being studied in the clinic for the treatment of leukaemia. Here, we discuss how these new antibodies have been engineered to reduce immunogenicity and improve antibody targeting and binding. Improved interactions with Fc receptors on immune effector cells can enhance destruction of target cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated cell lysis. The antibodies can also be armed with cellular toxins or radionuclides to enhance the destruction of leukaemia cells.
Reappraisal in the eighth life cycle stage: A theoretical psychoeducational intervention in elderly patients with cancer
Authors: Holland Jimmie , Poppito Shannon , Nelson Christian , Weiss Talia , Greenstein Mindy , Martin Anne , Thirakul Phoutthasone , Roth Andrew
Published: September 2009

Elderly patients with cancer face unique physical and psychiatric challenges in coping with their illness. Optimal psychosocial therapy for older cancer patients requires recognizing certain enhanced psychological capacities such as coping better with illness, which is associated with older age. This strength can be combined with the most appropriate cognitive coping strategies to develop a model intervention. This paper describes such a model, which integrates Erik Erikson's eighth and final psychosocial developmental life stage, in which the task is to achieve ego integrity (equanimity) or to experience despair (sadness, regrets), with Susan Folkman's cognitive coping paradigm, which utilizes reappraisal. This theoretical model addresses older cancer patients who are struggling with depression, isolation, and despair related to aging and illness, and utilizes cognitive reappraisal in a group setting to foster relatedness, acceptance of illness, and a sense of meaningful integration.
Adjusting to pancreatic cancer: Perspectives from first-degree relatives
Authors: Petrin Kerri , Bowen Deborah J. , Alfano Catherine M. , Bennett Robin
Published: September 2009

Objective:

The combination of a difficult early diagnosis, few treatment options, and high mortality rate could make the experience of pancreatic cancer different from the experience of other cancers, both for patients and families. To design effective interventions for families with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, there is need for a model of family members' adjustment to cancer that is specific to these unique aspects of pancreatic cancer.

Method:

Trained clinical interviewers and a genetic counselor conducted phone interviews with 22 first-degree relatives—parents, siblings, and offspring—from a pool of participating family members. The interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative coding methods.

Results:

Participants expressed both similar and different themes compared with other literature on adjustment to cancer. Relatives struggled through both the initial diagnosis and its aftermath, seeking to balance their own strong feelings with the needs of the ailing family member. Support systems were identified as very important, regardless of the source of the support, and those without them reported more intense difficulties. Many family members felt that everything was happening too fast to slow down and process what was going on.

Significance of results:

Pancreatic cancer families may be unable to cope by taking one day at a time and must find other ways of dealing with stress. Also, the compressed timeline between diagnosis and death may heighten certain coping behaviors, such as the reevaluation of one's priorities.
Associations with worry about dying and hopelessness in ambulatory ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Shinn Eileen Huh , Taylor Cindy L. Carmack , Kilgore Kelly , Valentine Alan , Bodurka Diane C. , Kavanagh John , Sood Anil , Li Yisheng , Basen-Engquist Karen
Published: September 2009

Objective: Women with ovarian cancer face a poor prognosis, with prolonged periods of treatment but relatively high levels of physical functioning. Their thoughts and feelings regarding the prospect of dying are complex and have not been adequately studied. Various demographic, medical and psychosocial factors were examined to determine their independent associations with fear of dying and hopelessness in a cross-sectional design.

Method: Two hundred fifty-four ovarian cancer patients were assessed at the beginning of a new chemotherapy regimen. Separate logistic regressions were performed for worry about dying and loss of hope. For each analysis, psychosocial variables were entered after the demographic and medical variables to determine whether the psychosocial variables had an independent association with the respective outcome.

Results: Fifty-five percent of the sample acknowledged fear of dying, and 31.6% acknowledged loss of hope in the fight against their illness. Being younger (p = .001), being of non-Hispanic White ethnicity (p = .026), and having poorer physical well-being (p = .000) were significantly associated with worry about dying after controlling for all other variables in the model. Regarding loss of hope, depressive symptoms (p = .002), lack of social support/well-being (p = .001), and number of treatments (p = .04) were significant.

Significance of results: This is one of the largest studies to examine end-of-life concerns in a sample of advanced cancer patients. Our results underscore the importance of demographic and psychosocial variables in the examination of ovarian cancer patients' end-of-life concerns. Their fears and concerns should be openly acknowledged, even when the clinical focus is still on curative treatment.
Development and validation of the Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Nolan Marie T. , Hughes Mark T. , Kub Joan , Terry Peter B. , Astrow Alan , Thompson Richard E. , Clawson Lora , Texeira Kenneth , Sulmasy Daniel P.
Published: September 2009

Objective:

Several studies have reported high levels of distress in family members who have made health care decisions for loved ones at the end of life. A method is needed to assess the readiness of family members to take on this important role. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a scale to measure family member confidence in making decisions with (conscious patient scenario) and for (unconscious patient scenario) a terminally ill loved one.

Methods:

On the basis of a survey of family members of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) enriched by in-depth interviews guided by Self-Efficacy Theory, we developed six themes within family decision making self-efficacy. We then created items reflecting these themes that were refined by a panel of end-of-life research experts. With 30 family members of patients in an outpatient ALS and a pancreatic cancer clinic, we tested the tool for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and for consistency from one administration to another using the test–retest reliability assessment in a subset of 10 family members. Items with item to total scale score correlations of less than .40 were eliminated.

Results:

A 26-item scale with two 13-item scenarios resulted, measuring family self-efficacy in decision making for a conscious or unconscious patient with a Cronbach's alphas of .91 and .95, respectively. Test–retest reliability was r = .96, p = .002 in the conscious senario and r = .92, p = .009 in the unconscious scenario.

Significance of results:

The Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale is valid, reliable, and easily completed in the clinic setting. It may be used in research and clinical care to assess the confidence of family members in their ability to make decisions with or for a terminally ill loved one.
Perspectives on palliative care in Lebanon: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and nursing specialties
Authors: Huijer Huda Abu-Saad , Dimassi Hani , Abboud Sarah
Published: September 2009

Objective:

Our objective was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians and nurses on Palliative Care (PC) in Lebanon, across specialties.

Method:

We performed a cross-sectional descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire; the total number of completed and returned questionnaires was 868, giving a 23% response rate, including 74.31% nurses (645) and 25.69% physicians (223).

Results:

Significant differences were found between medical and surgical nurses and physicians concerning their perceptions of patients' and families' outbursts, concerns, and questions. Knowledge scores were statistically associated with practice scores and degree. Practice scores were positively associated with continuing education in PC, exposure to terminally ill patients, and knowledge and attitude scores. Acute critical care and oncology were found to have lower practice scores than other specialties.

Significance of results:

Formal education in palliative care and development of palliative care services are very much needed in Lebanon to provide holistic care to terminally ill patients.
Providing care and sharing expertise: Reflections of nurse-specialists in palliative home care
Authors: Arnaert Antonia , Wainwright Megan
Published: September 2009

Objective:

This study explored the experiences, perspectives, and reflections of five nurse-specialists in palliative home care, whose dual role includes caring for patients in their daily practice as well as sharing their knowledge, skills, expertise, and experiences with other home care nurses in the community.

Methods:

A qualitative research design, incorporating face-to-face semistructured interviews, was used. Interviews were based on open-ended questions such as: “What is your experience in providing palliative home care to patients and their families? How do you feel about sharing your expertise and experiences with home care nurses?” Data were content analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Results:

Three major themes and a number of subthemes emerged: (1) acknowledging one's own limitations and humanness: (a) calling for backup, (b) learning as we go along, (c) coping with emotional demands, and (d) interacting with family members; (2) building a collaborative partnership: (a) working collaboratively, (b) sharing information, (c) guiding home care nurses, and (d) being nonjudgmental; and (3) teamwork and implementing palliative home care teams.

Significance of results:

Nurse-specialists play a key role in palliative home care as both carers and as resources of expert knowledge for other home care nurses caring for palliative patients. As the population ages, the health care system will be faced with increasing requests for high-quality palliative home care. The results of this study demonstrate that, from the perspective of the nurse-specialists of NOVA-Montréal (a nonprofit social and health service organization), nurse-specialists can work collaboratively with home care nurses to improve patients' quality of care and their quality of life. Moreover, patients and their families would benefit from the more widespread establishment of palliative care teams within community health organizations.
Hope in palliative care: An integrative review
Authors: Kylmä Jari , Duggleby Wendy , Cooper Dan , Molander Gustaf
Published: September 2009

Objective:The objective of this review is to describe the current status of research on hope in palliative care.

Methods:Integrative review was conducted to determine current knowledge on the topic. CINAHL and PubMed MEDLINE databases were used to find the articles relevant to this review. The data consisted of 34 articles on hope and palliative care published in peer-reviewed journals. A qualitative approach utilizing content analysis was used in this review.

Results:There are at least two overarching themes of patients' hope in the palliative context: “living with hope” and “hoping for something” which however are not separate contents. Several instruments for measuring hope in a palliative context have been produced. However, future research is needed to gather further validity evidence for these instruments. Factors related to patients, other people (e. g. significant others), illness, care and context contribute to or threaten patient hope. Hope of the significant other was defined as an inner force. However, the main concern for caregivers was “hanging on to hope” in spite of eroding effects on hope caused by different factors, for example in the health care system. Also significant others' hope in a palliative care context has been measured, but the results of the studies appear inconsistent. Nurses' reflection in action, affirmation of the patient's worth, working with the patient, considering the patient in a holistic sense were the main hope-engendering interventions generated from this review.

Significance of the research:Hope is important in both living and dying. The majority of the hope research in a palliative context focuses on patient hope and factors influencing patient hope. Research on hope in significant others and nurses in palliative care is scant. More research is needed about the factors threatening patient hope, hope in significant others, and interventions to engender hope in palliative and their outcomes.
Creep of a porous rock and associated acoustic emission under different hydrous conditions
Authors: Grgic D. , Amitrano D.
Published: September 2009

Static fatigue of a polycrystalline porous rock (iron ore) was studied by performing multistep uniaxial creep tests under partially saturated conditions, and the impact of water saturation on creep was analyzed. Recorded strains and acoustic emissions (AE) show that water saturation induces a strong increase in AE activity and dilatant inelastic volumetric strain and a decrease in Young's modulus and in the b value of the Gutenberg‐Richter law (i.e., the relative number of large‐amplitude events increases) as the rock approaches failure, indicating that microfracturing plays an important role in the creep process. Water saturation accelerates static fatigue through hydromechanical coupling and subcritical stress corrosion cracking. The chemical reactions involved in the corrosion of iron ore and leading to a decrease in its intrinsic mechanical properties are described. These reactions play a major role in the static fatigue of iron ore, which on a large scale is probably the main mechanism explaining certain collapses in underground iron mines. It is also shown that creep straining of iron ore is reversible after stress removal, indicating that it results also from a time‐dependent viscoplastic mechanism (i.e., dislocation creep).