bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new biodegradable polyester elastomer for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Kang Yong , Yang Jian , Khan Sadiya , Anissian Lucas , Ameer Guillermo A.
Published: January 2006

The objective of this study is to assess whether a new biodegradable elastomer, poly(1,8‐octanediol citrate) (POC), would be a suitable material to engineer elastomeric scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Porous POC scaffolds were prepared via the salt‐leaching method and initially assessed for their ability to rapidly recover from compressive deformation (% recovery ratio). Controls consisted of scaffolds made from other materials commonly used in cartilage tissue engineering, including 2% agarose, 4% alginate, non woven poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) meshes, and non woven poly(L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) meshes. Articular chondrocytes from bovine knee were isolated and seeded onto porous disk‐shaped POC scaffolds, which were subsequently cultured in vitro for up to 28 days. POC scaffolds completely recover from compressive deformation, and the stress–strain curve is typical of an elastomer (recovery ratio > 98%). Agarose gel (2%) scaffolds broke during the compression test. The recovery ratio of 4% alginate gel scaffolds, PLLA, and PGA were 72, 85, and 88%, respectively. The Young's modulus of POC‐chondrocyte constructs and cell‐free POC scaffolds cultured for 28 days were 12.02 ± 2.26 kPa and 3.27 ± 0.72 kPa, respectively. After 28 days of culture, the recovery ratio of POC‐chondrocyte constructs and cell‐free POC scaffolds were 93% and 99%, respectively. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen content at day 28 was 36% and 26% of that found in bovine knee cartilage explants. Histology/immunohistochemistry evaluations confirm that chondrocytes were able to attach to the pore walls within the scaffold, maintain cell phenotype, and form a cartilaginous tissue during the 28 days of culture. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Ammoximation of methyl ethyl ketone with H2O2 and ammonia over TS‐1
Authors: Wang Li , Zhang Jie , Mi Zhentao
Published: January 2006

The ammoximation of methyl ethyl ketone and hydrogen peroxide to form methyl ethyl ketoxime was studied over zeolites (TS‐1) in the temperature range 308–373 K. The reaction was carried out in a batch autoclave at autogenous pressure. The conversion of methyl ethyl ketone and the selectivity to methyl ethyl ketoxime can reach 99% and approximately 100%, respectively, and the by‐products were the small amounts of corresponding methyl ethyl ketazine and trace amounts of unidentified compounds. Important factors were the reaction temperature, solvents and slow addition of hydrogen peroxide. The molar ratio of NH3 to ketone had no significant effect on the conversion of methyl ethyl ketone, but increase in the ratio of NH3 to ketone had a beneficial effect on selectivity. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimal degradation of inhibitory wastewaters in a fed‐batch bioreactor
Authors: Moreno‐Andrade Iván , Buitrón Germán , Betancur Manuel J , Moreno Jaime A
Published: January 2006

The application of a new control strategy to optimize the degradation rate of organic toxic compounds is presented. An optimal control strategy called event‐driven time optimal control was applied to biodegrade, in a discontinuous reactor, wastewater containing 4‐chlorophenol as an inhibitory compound model. The strategy estimates the oxygen mass uptake rate, which is linearly related to the substrate uptake rate, by measuring only the dissolved oxygen concentration and the volume of the reactor. Using this estimation, the optimal strategy sets the influent flow rate such that the substrate degradation rate is maintained around its maximal value as long as possible, thus minimizing the reaction time. The strategy was tested for the degradation of different influent concentrations of 4‐chlorophenol between 175 and 625 mg L−1. Also, the robustness of the strategy under different airflow rates was studied. It was concluded that the practical implementation of the optimal strategy was possible and very successful. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Treatment of Fenton‐refractory olive oil mill wastes by electrochemical oxidation with boron‐doped diamond anodes
Authors: Cañizares Pablo , Martínez Leopoldo , Paz Rubén , Sáez Cristina , Lobato Justo , Rodrigo Manuel A
Published: January 2006

In this work, the electrochemical oxidation of an actual industrial waste with conductive diamond anodes has been studied. The wastewater is the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant consisting of a Fenton reactor followed by a settler and a sand filter, in which the wastes generated in an olive oil mill are treated. These wastes contain a residual chemical oxygen demand of nearly 700 mg dm−3 which cannot be further oxidized with the Fenton process. The electrolyses were carried out under galvanostatic conditions, using a bench‐scale plant equipped with a single‐compartment electrochemical flow cell. Boron‐doped diamond (BDD) and stainless steel (AISI 304) were use as anode and cathode of the cell, respectively. The complete mineralization of the waste was obtained with high current efficiencies limited only by mass transport processes. This confirms that besides the hydroxyl radical‐mediated oxidation that occurs in the Fenton process, the electrochemical oxidation with conductive diamond electrodes combines other important oxidation processes such as direct electro‐oxidation on the BDD surface and oxidation mediated by other electrochemically formed compounds generated in this electrode. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Biosorption of phenolic compounds by the brown alga Sargassum muticum
Authors: Rubín Eugenia , Rodríguez Pilar , Herrero Roberto , Sastre de Vicente Manuel E.
Published: January 2006

Phenol, 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP), and 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP) biosorption on Sargassum muticum, an invasive macroalga in Europe, has been investigated. The efficiency of this biosorbent was studied measuring the equilibrium uptake using the batch technique. A chemical pre‐treatment with CaCl2 has been employed in this study in order to improve the stability as well as the sorption capacity of the algal biomass. The influence of pH on the equilibrium binding and the effect of the algal dose were evaluated. The experimental data at pH = 1 have been analysed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It was found that the maximum sorption capacity of chlorophenols, qmax = 251 mg g−1 for 4‐CP and qmax = 79 mg g−1 for 2‐CP, as well as that of a binary mixture of both chlorophenols, qmax = 108 mg g−1, is much higher than that of phenol, qmax = 4.6 mg g−1. Moreover, sorption kinetics have been performed and it was observed that the equilibrium was reached in less than 10 h. Kinetic data have been fitted to the first order Lagergren model, from which the rate constant and the sorption capacity were determined. Finally, biosorption of the phenolic compounds examined in the present study on Sargassum muticum biomass was observed to be correlated with the octanol‐water partitioning coefficients of the phenols. This result allows us to postulate that hydrophobic interactions are the main responsible for the sorption equilibrium binding. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Kinetics of glucoamylase hydrolysis of corn starch
Authors: Wang Jin‐Peng , Zeng Ai‐Wu , Liu Zhen , Yuan Xi‐Gang
Published: January 2006

Corn starch was hydrolysed by glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3, 1,4‐a‐D‐glucan glucohydrolase) in a chemostat; 106 g L−1 reducing sugar was produced at 40 °C after 46 h, whereas only 42 g L−1 was produced at 30 °C. When corn starch concentration was increased from 64.6 g L−1 to 161.5 g L−1, the amount of reducing sugar produced increased with the initial substrate concentration. The studies show that there is a product concentration (p0) above which product inhibition becomes apparent. A new model for starch hydrolysis considering the product inhibition point is presented. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
ESI‐QqTOF‐MS/MS and APCI‐IT‐MS/MS analysis of steroid saponins from the rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica
Authors: Li Rui , Zhou Yan , Wu Zhijun , Ding Lisheng
Published: January 2006

Using high‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry along with an electrospray ionization source (ESI‐QqTOF‐MS), accurate molecular weights of 13 steroid saponins extracted from the rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica were acquired and the corresponding molecular formulae obtained. In order to elucidate the fragmentation pathways of steroid saponins in D. panthaica, 10 authentic samples were investigated using ESI‐QqTOF‐MS/MS. In addition, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry combined with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (APCI‐IT‐MS/MS) was used to analyze the structures of 13 steroid saponins in D. panthaica. Through the analysis of their tandem mass data, diagnostic fragment ions of the spirostanol and furostanol steroid saponins in D. panthaica were detected as m/z 271.2056 and 253.1951. In addition, four pairs of isomers were detected and the possible structures of four unknown steroid saponins in D. panthaica speculated. ESI‐TOF and APCI‐MSn have proved to be effective tools for research on fragmentation mechanism of steroid saponins and the rapid determination of native steroid saponins in extract mixture, thereby avoiding tedious derivation and separation steps. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of Nitroxide‐Terminated Polymers Prepared by Sonochemical Degradation in the Synthesis of Block Copolymers
Authors: Bartsch Martina , Schmidt‐Naake Gudrun
Published: January 2006

Summary: The ultrasonic irradiation of a polymer solution results in the breakage of macromolecular CC bonds. In the presence of radical scavengers the formed macroradicals are prevented from termination reactions as combination or disproportionation. Using nitroxides as trapping agents the polymer is transformed into a macroinitiator, which can be used in controlled free‐radical polymerization to synthesize block copolymers. In this work several polymers were exposed to sonochemical degradation and terminated with various nitroxides, e.g. OH‐TEMPO and TIPNO. In a second reaction step the prepared polymer‐nitroxide‐adducts were applied as macroinitiators in controlled free‐radical polymerizations with styrene. The obtained products were mixtures of block copolymer and the corresponding homopolymers. The visco‐elastic properties were investigated by rheological analysis. A special separation technique with selective solvents was applied to determine the content of block copolymer.

Synthesis of block copolymers with sonochemically prepared macroinitiators.

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Synthesis of block copolymers with sonochemically prepared macroinitiators.
Novel Side‐Chain Polyrotaxane with Cyclodextrin: Syntheses and Study of Water‐Soluble Copolymers Bearing Hydrophobically Associative Components
Authors: Pang Yanjie , Ritter Helmut
Published: January 2006

Summary: Novel water‐soluble hydrophobically associative polymers, comprising sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropansulfonate , N,N‐dimethylacrylamide and different amounts of a hydrophobically associative macromonomer, were synthesized in an aqueous medium. Formation of a rotaxane‐like complex of this macromonomer, with randomly methylated β‐cyclodextrin, was studied. In addition, a side chain of polyrotaxane, comprising this complex and methyl methacrylate, was synthesized via ATRP. These polymers were characterized by dynamic light scattering and fluorescent‐probe technique. Effects of methylated β‐cyclodextrin on micelle formation of the polymers were also studied.

The side‐chain polyrotaxane.

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The side‐chain polyrotaxane.
Preparation of Water‐Absorbing Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Membrane
Authors: Liu Haiqing , Hsieh You‐Lo
Published: January 2006

Summary: Hydrophilic acrylic nanofibers were prepared from alkaline hydrolysis of hydrophobic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. Water contact angle, pore volume, and liquid retention capacity of PAN nanofibrous membranes were measured to determine their dependence on hydrolysis parameters such as base concentration, temperature, and time. Vertical water retention capacity of hydrolyzed PAN nanofibrous membrane could reach as large as 200 times of that of original membrane.

Fiber twinning in post‐hydrolyzed PAN nanofibrous membrane.

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Fiber twinning in post‐hydrolyzed PAN nanofibrous membrane.
The role of tea and tea flavonoids in cardiovascular health
Authors: Stangl Verena , Lorenz Mario , Stangl Karl
Published: January 2006

Consumption of green or black tea has been inversely associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, the current knowledge about protective effects of tea and tea constituents, particularly flavonoids, on the cardiovascular system is summarized. Underlying mechanisms for the beneficial effects of tea include vasculoprotective, antioxidative, antithrombogenic, anti‐inflammatory, and lipid‐lowering properties of tea flavonoids. Although promising experimental data on beneficial effects of tea in various cardiovascular diseases are available, results of clinical studies in humans are not uniform. A number of factors are discussed which may contribute to inconsistent data in humans. Overall, tea represents a promising tool for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders.
Extension of the UNFOLD method to include free breathing
Authors: Madore Bruno , Hoge W. Scott , Kwong Raymond
Published: January 2006

Unaliasing by Fourier‐encoding the overlaps using the temporal dimension (UNFOLD) is a method to reduce the data acquisition burden in dynamic MRI. The method works by forcing aliased signals to behave in specific ways through time, so that these unwanted signals can be detected and removed. Unexpected events in time, such as displacements caused by breathing, have the potential to disturb the temporal strategy and may affect UNFOLD's ability to suppress aliasing artifacts. This work presents an extension of the UNFOLD method to accommodate temporal encoding disruptions. While the main type of disruption considered here comes from respiratory motion, other types of disruption can be envisioned, such as departures from the usual UNFOLD k‐space sampling scheme. This extended version of UNFOLD was incorporated into UNFOLD‐sensitivity encoding (UNFOLD‐SENSE), and should also be applicable to closely related methods such as temporal SENSE (TSENSE), k‐t Broaduse Linear Acquisition Speed up Technique (k‐t BLAST), and k‐t SENSE. Five patients were imaged with a modified version of a myocardial‐perfusion sequence, and UNFOLD was used either alone or in conjunction with SENSE to obtain an acceleration of 2.0 (in three patients) or 3.0 (in two patients). In both cases this extended version of UNFOLD was able to suppress artifacts caused by the presence of breathing motion. Magn Reson Med 55, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Image contrast using the secondary and tertiary eigenvectors in diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Zhang Jiangyang , van Zijl Peter C.M. , Mori Susumu
Published: January 2006

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a new imaging modality that can provide unique information on brain white matter anatomy. Measurements of water diffusion constant along multiple axes are fitted to a tensor model, from which the diffusion anisotropy and dominant fiber orientation can be estimated. Even though the tensor model is an oversimplification of the underlying neuroanatomy, information within the tensor has not been fully utilized in routine research and clinical studies. In this study we proposed and examined the properties and anatomical contents of several DTI‐derived image contrasts that utilize all three eigenvectors. The new contrasts are studied and validated using known anatomical structures in ex vivo mouse brain and embryonic mouse cortex. Application to human white matter is illustrated. Our results suggest that when these contrasts are combined with a priori anatomical knowledge, they reveal neuroanatomical information that is useful for tissue segmentation and diagnosis of white matter lesions. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Late sporadic miscarriage is associated with abnormalities in spiral artery transformation and trophoblast invasion
Authors: Ball E , Bulmer JN , Ayis S , Lyall F , Robson SC
Published: January 2006

Trophoblast invasion of uterine decidua and myometrium, and spiral artery transformation, are essential for the development of normal pregnancy; this process is impaired in pre‐eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and pre‐term labour. The hypothesis that late miscarriage is associated with reduced trophoblast invasion and spiral artery transformation was tested in a large series of placental bed biopsies containing decidua and myometrium from late, karyotyped, embryonic miscarriage (≥13 weeks' gestation; n = 26; n = 96 spiral arteries) and gestationally matched ultrasound‐dated normal pregnancies (n = 74; n = 236 spiral arteries). Cryostat sections were immunostained using an avidin–biotin peroxidase technique for cytokeratin, desmin, and von Willebrand factor to detect trophoblast, myometrium, and vascular smooth muscle and endothelium, respectively. Trophoblast invasion and individual features of spiral artery transformation were assessed and analysed using a logistic regression model. Compared with normal pregnancy, myometrial spiral arteries in late miscarriage showed reduced endovascular (4% vs. 31%, p = 0.001) and intramural trophoblast (76% vs. 88%, p = 0.05), and less extensive fibrinoid change (4% vs. 18%, p = 0.01). In contrast, endovascular trophoblast in decidual spiral arteries was increased (40% vs. 66%, p = 0.04). These findings suggest that, in common with pre‐eclampsia, late sporadic miscarriage may be associated with reduced trophoblast invasion and inadequate transformation of myometrial spiral arteries. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein microarrays on hybrid polymeric thin films prepared by self‐assembly of polyelectrolytes for multiple‐protein immunoassays
Authors: Zhou Xichun , Zhou Jizhong
Published: January 2006

We report here the development and characterization of protein microarrays fabricated on nanoengineered 3‐D polyelectrolyte thin films (PET) deposited on glass slide by consecutive adsorption of polyelectrolytes via self‐assembly technique. Antibodies or antigens were immobilized in the PET‐coated glass slides by electrostatic adsorption and entrapment of porous structure of the 3‐D polymer film and thus establishing a platform for parallel analysis. Both antigen and antibody microarrays were fabricated on the PET‐coated slides, and direct and indirect immunoassays on protein microarrays for multiple‐analyte detection were demonstrated. Microarrays produced on these PET‐coated slides have consistent spot morphology and provide performance features needed for proteomic analysis. The protein microarrays on the PET films provide LOD as low as 6 pg/mL and dynamic ranges up to three orders of magnitude, which are wider than the protein microarrays fabricated on aldehyde and poly‐L‐lysine functionalized slides. The PET films constructed by self‐assembly technique in aqueous solution is green chemistry based, cost‐effective method to generate 3‐D thin film coatings on glass surface, and the coated slide is well suited for immobilizing many types of biological molecules so that a wide variety of microarray formats can be developed on this type of slide.
Alternative chaperone machinery may compensate for calreticulin/calnexin deficiency in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Lee Wonhae , Kim Ki Ra , Singaravelu Gunasekaran , Park Byung‐Jae , Kim Do Han , Ahnn Joohong , Yoo Yung Joon
Published: January 2006

Proper folding and maintenance of the native structure are central to protein function and are assisted by a family of proteins called chaperones. Calreticulin and calnexin are ER resident chaperones well conserved from worm to human. Calreticulin/calnexin knock‐out mice exhibit a severe phenotype, whereas in Caenorhabditis elegans, calreticulin [crt‐1(jh101)]‐ and calnexin [cnx‐1(nr2009)]‐null mutant worms exhibit only a mild phenotype, suggesting the possible existence of alternative chaperone machinery that can compensate for the deficiency of calreticulin and/or calnexin. In order to rapidly identify the compensatory chaperone components involved in this process, we analyzed the proteome of crt‐1(jh101) mutants and [crt‐1(jh101);cnx‐1(nr2009)] double mutants. When grown at 20°C, we found that five proteins were up‐regulated and two proteins were down‐regulated in crt‐1(jh101) mutants; nine proteins were up‐regulated and five proteins were down‐regulated in [crt‐1(jh101);cnx‐1(nr2009)] double mutants. In addition, elevation of the cultivation temperature to 25°C, which is still permissive to growth but causes specific defects in mutants, led to the identification of several additional proteins. Interestingly, the consistent increment of heat shock protein‐70 family members (hsp70) together with protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) at all the examined conditions suggests the possible compensatory function imparted by hsp70 and PDI family members in the absence of calreticulin and/or calnexin.
Proteomic analysis of mammalian basic proteins by liquid‐based two‐dimensional column chromatography
Authors: Shin Yu‐Kyong , Lee Hyoung‐Joo , Lee Joon Seok , Paik Young‐Ki
Published: January 2006

To develop a standard method for separating highly basic proteins in mammalian cells, we established a 2‐D LC separation system coupled with chromatofocusing/nonporous RP column chromatography (CF/NPRPC) in a ProteomeLab PF2D system. After standardizing conditions for 2‐D LC, a 2‐D liquid protein map of uninfected macrophage proteins with pH range 8.3–11.3 was constructed, and then compared with a macrophage protein map made after infection with Candida albicans. The results demonstrate that 2‐D LC offers both high resolution and reproducibility for separation of highly basic, macrophage proteins. After protein identification using a nano 2‐D LC‐MS/MS Proteomics Solution System, quantitative determination of the changes in the differentially expressed proteins (e.g., galectin‐3) in C. albicans‐infected macrophages was also accomplished by measuring the peak area of the chromatogram in 2‐D LC. The result from this measurement of galectin‐3 expression shows a 3.41‐fold decrease in the infected macrophage cells, which was further confirmed by that from the RT‐PCR of mRNA of galectin‐3. Thus, 2‐D LC coupled with CF/NPRPC could be applicable to common analysis of highly basic proteins in a high‐throughput manner.
The relationship between the activities‐specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index in peripheral vestibular dysfunction
Authors: Legters Kristine , Whitney Susan L , Porter Rebecca , Buczek Frank
Published: January 2006

Background and Purpose.

People with vestibular dysfunction experience dizziness, vertigo and postural instability. The persistence of these symptoms may result in decreased balance confidence. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between decreased balance confidence and gait dysfunction in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Method.

A retrospective review of 137 charts with the Activities‐specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) scores was completed. Spearman rank–order correlation analysis was performed of the total sample, by age group and by degree of vestibular weakness.

Results.

A moderate correlation ofr= 0.58 (p<0.001) was found between the ABC Scale score and the DGI score in the total sample. Those with mild or moderate vestibular weakness had a correlation ofr= 0.72 (p<0.001) between the ABC Scale score and the DGI score, compared with a correlation ofr= 0.48 in those with severe or total vestibular weakness.

Conclusions.

Decreased balance confidence and increased fall risk are critical issues for people with vestibular dysfunction. The effects of aging did not have a significant impact on the relationship. The correlation between balance confidence and gait dysfunction was stronger in those with mild or moderate vestibular weakness, although those with severe or total weakness were more disabled by their vestibular symptoms. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Expectations and satisfaction of patients with low back pain attending a multidisciplinary rehabilitation service
Authors: McCarthy Christopher J , Oldham Jackie A , Sephton Ruth
Published: January 2006

Background and Purpose.

To identify the expectations of service, and degree of satisfaction, with a multidisciplinary service for patients with low back pain, and to examine the strength of association between patients' satisfaction and expectations.

Method.

A three‐stage study design was used: concerns were identified by a focus group; priority issues were identified by ranking by use of a Delphi consensus questionnaire; satisfaction or expectation questionnaires were also used to rate patients' satisfaction and the degree to which expectations were met.

Subjects.

Three convenience samples of patients with low back pain were recruited. Ten patients attended the focus group, 55 completed the Delphi consensus questionnaire and 40 completed the satisfaction or expectation questionnaires.

Results.

Patients rated a clear diagnosis and effective treatment as important, and the ease with which they could access the service and post‐discharge follow‐up as important issues when judging satisfaction. Patients rated their overall satisfaction and meeting their expectations higher than specific service issues, and the strengths of the associations between the two constructs varied from concern to concern.

Conclusion.

Certain aspects of service provision are rated with greater importance than others when patients judge a service they have experienced. There are differences in the strength of associations between the constructs of patient satisfaction and meeting expectations of service, specific to the individual service concern that is being evaluated. The present study provides more evidence that specific concerns within service provision should be identified before evaluating patients' expectations and satisfaction with the service overall. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Use of devices to prevent subluxation of the shoulder after stroke
Authors: Foongchomcheay Anchalee , Ada Louise , Canning Colleen G
Published: January 2006

Background and Purpose.

Supportive devices, such as slings, wheelchair or chair attachments and orthoses, have been used for many years by physiotherapists to support the affected shoulder after stroke. The purpose of the present paper was to examine the alignment between current practice with evidence for the use of supportive devices in the prevention of subluxation of the shoulder after stroke and to provide guidance for clinical practice and future research.

Method.

In order to determine the evidence regarding the most appropriate supportive devices to prevent subluxation after stroke, a systematic review was undertaken following the guidelines set out by the Cochrane Collaboration. In order to determine current practice with regard to the most commonly used supportive devices to prevent subluxation after stroke, a questionnaire was designed and administered for use in Australia.

Results.

The collar‐and‐cuff sling is the most commonly used sling. However, a small amount of lower‐level evidence shows that the collar‐and‐cuff sling only reduces subluxation by half, suggesting that it may not be the most effective to use for prevention. In contrast, this evidence supports the use of wheelchair or chair attachments.

Conclusions.

We found that there was a lack of high‐level evidence to guide clinical practice. In order to determine evidence‐based practice for the prevention of shoulder subluxation, there is a need to test the efficacy of the most promising supportive devices based on available evidence. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optical and photoelectric properties of copper phthalocyanine/cadmium sulphide multilayer films prepared by vacuum sublimation
Authors: He Zhibing , Zhao Gaoling , Han Gaorong
Published: January 2006

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/cadmium sulphide (CdS) multilayer films were prepared by vacuum sublimation. X‐ray diffraction, secondary ion mass, and optical absorption spectra and photoconductive properties of the multilayer films were measured. The results showed that the multilayer films had a clearly alternating layered structure on a nanometre scale. The effects of the pair number and the substrate temperature on the photosensitivity of the multilayer films were studied. It was found that three‐pair CuPc/CdS multilayer films at a substrate temperature of 150 °C had the maximum photosensitivity. The ratio of the photocurrent to the dark current was 7.1 × 103. The CuPc/CdS multilayer films had higher photosensitivity than CuPc/ZnS multilayer films. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Influence of matching thickness on the absorption properties of doped barium ferrites at microwave frequencies
Authors: Ghasemi A. , Saatchi A. , Salehi M. , Hossienpour A , Morisako A. , Liu X.
Published: January 2006

The development and characterization of hexagonal ferrite powders of BaFe9Mn1.5Ti1.5O19, BaFe9Mn1.5Co1.5O19, and BaFe9Ti1.5Co1.5O19 as the microwave absorbers have been investigated. The ferrites were fabricated by conventional ceramic technology. The developed ferrite powders 80% by weight were mixed with polyvinylchloride plasticizer and fired to form rubber‐ferrite with the thickness of 1.5 mm, 2 mm and 2.5 mm. XRD was used to identify structures of the samples. The magnetoplumbite structures for all the samples have been formed. Vibrating sample magnetometer was used to determine the hysteresis loops of barium ferrite and BaFe9Mn1.5Ti1.5O19 at room temperature. The vector network analyzers in the frequency range of 12 to 20 GHz have measured the reflection loss properties of rubber‐ferrite. It was concluded that BaFe9Mn1.5Ti1.5O19 with thickness of 2 mm could be designed as a wide‐band microwave absorber. By SEM, the size and morphology of grains in BaFe9Mn1.5Ti1.5O19 ferrite were examined. The results showed that ferrite with grain size of 5 µm do not have any impurities. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Vacancy‐type defects and electronic structure of perovskite‐oxide SrTiO3 from positron annihilation
Authors: Hamid A. S. , Uedono A. , Chikyow T. , Uwe K. , Mochizuki K. , Kawaminami S.
Published: January 2006

The vacancy‐type defects in Nb‐doped SrTiO3 and in undoped SrTiO3, annealed in H2 flow, were investigated by means of positron lifetime and 2D angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR) experiments. The calculations of the lifetime of positron were performed by using atomic superposition (AT‐SUP) method. The results showed that positrons annihilate from a free state in the Nb‐doped SrTiO3. The trapping centers in the annealed sample were found to be oxygen vacancies VO associated with relaxation of the surrounding ions. Moreover, the momentum distributions of the samples studied were correlated to the variation of their electronic structure. It was proposed from the drastic change in the momentum distribution upon introduction of VO, that 2D‐ACAR technique is a sensitive tool for acquiring information on the electronic and bond structure of the perovskite‐oxides. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of exponent values in Gaussian‐type functions for development of protonic and deuteronic basis functions
Authors: Ishimoto Takayoshi , Tachikawa Masanori , Nagashima Umpei
Published: January 2006

We analyzed the exponent (α) values in Gaussian‐type functions (GTF) for protons and deuterons in BH3, CH4, NH3, H2O, HF, and their deuterated molecules for the development of nuclear basis functions, which are used for molecular orbital (MO) calculations that directly include nuclear quantum effects. The optimized α (αopt) value in the single s‐type ([1s]) GTF for protons is changed due to the difference in flexibility of the electronic basis sets. The difference between the energy obtained by using the αopt value for each molecule and that obtained by using the average α (αave) value for these exponents with the 6‐31G(d,p) electronic basis function is only 2 × 10−5 a.u. The αave values of protonic and deuteronic [1s] GTFs by the present calculation are 24.1825 and 35.6214, respectively. We found that the αave values enable the evaluation of the total energy and the geometrical changes in hydrogen bonding, such as O…HO, O…HN, and O…HC, while the αopt value became small by forming a hydrogen bond. The result using only the [1s] GTF for the protonic and deuteronic basis functions is sufficient to explain the differences of energy and geometry induced by the H/D isotope effect, although the total energy of ∼5 × 10−4 a.u. was improved by using the s‐, p‐, and d‐type ([1s1p1d]) GTFs for protons and deuterons. We clearly demonstrate that the protonic and deuteronic basis functions based on the αave value enable us to apply the method to other sample molecules (glycine, malonaldehyde, and formic acid dimer). The protonic and deuteronic basis functions we developed treat the quantum effects of protons and deuterons effectively and extend the application range of the MO calculation to include nuclear quantum effects. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Approaches and requirements to develop and improve the standard processes for a research and development organization
Authors: Hwang Young Ha , Park Jong‐Geun
Published: January 2006

With the increased complexity of man‐made systems and software and the higher quality R&D results that are expected in today's R&D environment, it has become increasingly necessary to effectively define and improve the R&D standard processes specifically tailored for our organization and projects. To meet these needs, we have defined R&D standard processes based on international standards for systems and software engineering and on our existing traditional work methods, and then applied them to our ongoing projects. Now, we are improving our defined R&D standard processes continuously by monitoring of our processes and products and checking feedback from application results. In this paper, we introduce the R&D standard processes developed by our organization, the E Research Institute in Korea, and define the requirements and approaches used for their development and improvement. We compare our defined R&D standard processes with ISO/IEC 15288, which is the international standards for systems engineering, and summarize what we have learned through the development and improvement of our processes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 9: 35–44, 2006
Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene‐induced cell cycle progression by all‐trans retinoic acid partly through cyclin D1/E2F‐1 pathway in human embryo lung fibroblasts
Authors: Jia Xiaowei , Liu Bingci , Shi Xianglin , Gao Ai , You Baorong , Ye Meng , Shen Fuhai , Du Hongju
Published: January 2006

Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] is a potent environmental carcinogen, which induces cell cycle changes. All‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a promising agent in prevention and treatment of human cancers. In the present study, we investigated the inhibition of B(a)P‐induced cell cycle progression by ATRA in human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF). Our results showed that after treatment with B(a)P, the expression of cyclin D1 and E2F‐1 were both increased significantly in HELF. There were almost no changes of CDK4 and E2F‐4 expression by treatment with B(a)P. As expected, pretreatment with ATRA could efficiently decrease B(a)P‐induced overexpression of cyclin D1 and E2F‐1. In a further study, we stably transfected antisense cyclin D1 and antisense CDK4 plasmid into HELF. The inhibition of cyclin D1 expression and the inhibition of CDK4 expression significantly impaired the B(a)P‐induced overexpression of E2F‐1 respectively. Pretreatment with ATRA, cells expressing antisense cyclinD1 or antisense CDK4 showed a lesser decrease of B(a)P‐induced overexpression of E2F‐1 compared with similarly treated HELF. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that B(a)P promoted cell cycle progression from G1 phase to S phase, while pretreatment with ATRA could inhibit B(a)P‐induced cell cycle progression by an accumulation of cells in the G1 phase. It was suggested that ATRA could block B(a)P‐induced cell cycle promotion partly through the cyclin D1/E2F‐1 pathway in HELF.
Characterization and inhibitor discovery of one novel malonyl‐CoA: Acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCAT) from Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Liu Weizhi , Han Cong , Hu Lihong , Chen Kaixian , Shen Xu , Jiang Hualiang
Published: January 2006

Type II fatty acid synthesis (FAS II) is an essential process for bacteria survival, and malonyl‐CoA:acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCAT) is a key enzyme in FAS II pathway, which is responsible for transferring the malonyl group from malonyl‐CoA to the holo‐ACP by forming malonyl‐ACP. In this work, we described the cloning, characterization and enzymatic inhibition of a new MCAT from Helicobacter pylori strain SS1 (HpMCAT), and the gene sequence of HpfabD was deposited in the GenBank database (Accession No. AY738332). Enzymatic characterization of HpMCAT showed that the K
m value for malonyl‐CoA was 21.01 ± 2.3 μM, and the thermal‐ and guanidinium hydrochloride‐induced unfolding processes for HpMCAT were quantitatively investigated by circular dichroism spectral analyses. Moreover, a natural product, corytuberine, was discovered to demonstrate inhibitory activity against HpMCAT with IC50 value at 33.1 ± 3.29 μM. Further enzymatic assay results indicated that corytuberine inhibits HpMCAT in an uncompetitive manner. To our knowledge, this is the firstly reported MCAT inhibitor to date. This current work is hoped to supply useful information for better understanding the MCAT features of H. pylori strain, and corytuberine might be used as a potential lead compound in the discovery of the antibacterial agents using HpMCAT as target.
Catechin derivatives: Specific inhibitor for caspases‐3, 7 and 2, and the prevention of apoptosis at the cell and animal levels
Authors: Katunuma Nobuhiko , Ohashi Atsushi , Sano Etsuko , Ishimaru Naozumi , Hayashi Yoshio , Murata Etsuko
Published: January 2006

Tea‐catechin derivatives are shown to inhibit activities of caspases‐3, 2 and 7 in vitro, and prevented experimental apoptosis at the cell and animal levels. Epigallo‐catechin‐gallate showed the strongest inhibition at 1 × 10−7
M to these caspases, but cysteine cathepsins and caspase‐8 were not inhibited. Caspase‐3 inhibition showed a 2nd‐order allosteric‐type, but the inhibition of caspases‐2 and 7 showed a non‐competitive‐type. The apoptosis‐test using cultured HeLa cells was inhibited by these catechins. In rat hepatocytes, apoptosis was induced by d‐galactosamine in vivo. In this case, caspase‐3 activity in the cytoplasm, the serum aminotransferases and dUTP nick formation detected by TUNNEL‐staining were effects, and these elevations were suppressed by administration of catechin.
Molecular dynamics study of major urinary protein–pheromone interactions: A structural model for ligand‐induced flexibility increase
Authors: Macek Pavel , Novák Petr , Křížová Hana , Žídek Lukáš , Sklenář Vladimír
Published: January 2006

Recently, two independent 15N NMR relaxation studies indicated that in contrast to the decreased flexibility expected for induced‐fit interactions, the backbone flexibility of major urinary protein isoform I (MUP‐I) slightly increased upon complex formation with its natural pheromone 2‐sec‐butyl‐4,5‐dihydrothiazol. We have investigated the subtle details of molecular interactions by molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent. The calculated order parameters S
2 for a free‐ and ligand‐bound protein supply evidence that mobility in various regions of MUP‐I can be directly related to small conformational changes of the free‐ and complexed protein resulting from modifications of the hydrogen bonding network.
Peroxisomal ABC transporters
Authors: Theodoulou Frederica L. , Holdsworth Michael , Baker Alison
Published: January 2006

Peroxisomes perform a range of different functions, dependent upon organism, tissue type, developmental stage or environmental conditions, many of which are connected with lipid metabolism. This review summarises recent research on ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters of the peroxisomal membrane (ABC subfamily D) and their roles in plants, fungi and animals. Analysis of mutants has revealed that peroxisomal ABC transporters play key roles in specific metabolic and developmental functions in different organisms. A common function is import of substrates for β‐oxidation but much remains to be determined concerning transport substrates and mechanisms which appear to differ significantly between phyla.
Genomics of plant ABC transporters: The alphabet of photosynthetic life forms or just holes in membranes?
Authors: Schulz Burkhard , Kolukisaoglu H. Üner
Published: January 2006

The large number of ABC transporters in the Arabidopsis genome was made responsible for known as well as unexpected aspects in plant development. The combination of classical transport experiments with functional genomics approaches helped unravel some of these effects. Yet questions concerning the importance of this large number of ABC transporters in eukaryotic photosynthesizing organisms remain open. Phylogenomic analyses of whole genome sequence data reveal comparable sizes and composition between algae and higher plants within this protein family. Although this indicates the significance of ABC transporters in plants, several other questions remain to be answered.
Cytoplasmic dynein/dynactin function and dysfunction in motor neurons
Authors: Levy Jennifer R. , Holzbaur Erika L.F.
Published: January 2006

The microtubule motor protein cytoplasmic dynein and its activator dynactin are essential in higher eukaryotes, due to critical roles in vesicular transport and cell division. Neurons are uniquely sensitive to defects in dynein/dynactin function, which affect retrograde axonal transport, neurotrophic factor signaling, neurofilament transport, mRNA localization, neuronal migration, and protein recycling and degradation. Mutations in either dynein or dynactin lead to motor neuron degeneration and loss. Recent progress in understanding the cellular mechanisms of dynein/dynactin function, and the effects of dynein/dynactin dysfunction has provided new insight into the roles of microtubule‐based motility in the neuron.
Zinc uptake is mediated by M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in differentiated SK‐SH‐SY5Y cells
Authors: Zuchner T. , Schliebe N. , Schliebs R.
Published: January 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is characterized by several major morphological hallmarks such as senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and a loss of cholinergic basal forebrain neurons. Apart from cholinergic markers like choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase, there have been reports on changes in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) as well as on influences of zinc metabolism in the disease. As recent studies gave hints about a possible link between mAChRs and zinc uptake, the human neuroblastoma cell line SK‐SH‐SY5Y was used to evaluate the role of M1‐mAChR on zinc uptake. Zinc levels were semi‐quantitatively detected by using the zinc‐specific fluorophor Zn‐AF2‐DA.

In the presence of 1 μM extracellular zinc, M1‐mAChR stimulation with talsaclidine increased intracellular zinc levels as did stimulation of PKC by phorbol esters. Furthermore, the effect of extracellular zinc on the expression of the zinc finger protein PNUTS (protein phosphatase 1 nuclear targeting subunit 10) was investigated and revealed an upregulation of PNUTS expression in the presence of 1 μM extracellular zinc by 294% when compared to incubation in zinc free medium. In summary, this report demonstrates that intracellular zinc uptake in SK‐SH‐SY5Y cells is controlled by M1‐mAChR mediated signalling pathways and that zinc may act as a cofactor for transcriptional regulation of zinc finger genes such as PNUTS.
Late‐Onset Postpartum Eclampsia
Authors: Azonobi Ijeoma , McBride‐Richter Helen , Patrick Loretta
Published: January 2006

Eclampsia typically occurs in the antepartum or intrapartum period. Late‐onset postpartum eclampsia is a controversial topic, which recently has been accepted as a true phenomenon. Late‐onset postpartum eclampsia is a rare occurrence, although literature suggests that it is an increasing phenomenon. In this case study, an essentially healthy primigravida developed eclampsia 7 days postpartum after an unremarkable antepartum and intrapartum course. Because significant morbidity and mortality are associated with this disorder, it is imperative that efforts be made to prevent its occurrence. We recommend including patient education about the prodromal symptoms of late‐onset postpartum eclampsia, including headache, visual changes, and abdominal pain at the time of hospital discharge.
An Intervention to Support Postpartum Women to Quit Smoking or Remain Smoke‐Free
Authors: Thyrian Jochen René , Hannöver Wolfgang , Grempler Julia , Röske Kathrin , John Ulrich , Hapke Ulfert
Published: January 2006

Effectiveness studies among pregnant and postpartum women indicate that pregnancy and the postpartum period provide a window of opportunity to promote smoking cessation and smoke‐free families. Yet, there is a lack of information about interventions that are portable to routine care. The goal of this article is to describe the structure, basic strategies, and the application of a smoking cessation and relapse prevention intervention for postpartum women in the general population. By using the stages of change concept and motivational interviewing, a classification of current and former smokers is given, and basic strategies and techniques are described to counsel women postpartum with regard to smoking.
Drinking Water and Women's Health
Authors: Afzal Brenda M.
Published: January 2006

Primary health providers in the community must be able to field questions and guide vulnerable populations to informed decisions about drinking water quality and health. This article offers an overview of selected contaminants in drinking water and their possible effects on the health of women over the life span. Historical concerns for drinking water safety, which led to the development of current drinking water regulations, are briefly explored. Several chemical, microbial, and radionuclide contaminants of particular concern to women and children are discussed. Short‐ and long‐term tap water alternatives are suggested for when tap water is deemed unsuitable for use.
The Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Food on Women's Health
Authors: Huffling Katie
Published: January 2006

An essential element of a health‐promoting lifestyle is eating nutritious, healthy foods. However, food can be a source of exposure to many types of toxins, and current food production methods can have negative effects on the environment and consumers. This article identifies several of the contaminants present in food and describes adverse health effects from exposure to specific contaminants. Recommendations for how exposure can be prevented or minimized are presented.