bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water‐worked gravel beds in laboratory flumes – a natural analogue?
Authors: Cooper James R. , Tait Simon J.
Published: November 2008

An investigation has been conducted to identify the key parameters that are likely to scale laboratory sediment deposits to the field scale. Two types of bed formation were examined: one where sediment is manually placed and screeded and the second where sediment is fed into a running flume. This later technique created deposits through sequential cycles of sediment transport and deposition. Detailed bed surface topography measurements have been made over a screeded bed and three fed beds. In addition, bulk subsurface porosity and hydraulic conductivity have been measured. By comparing the four beds, results revealed that certain physical properties of the screeded bed were clearly different from those of the fed beds. The screeded bed had a random organization of grains on both the surface and within the subsurface. The fed beds exhibited greater surface and subsurface organization and complexity, and had a number of properties that closely resembled those found for water‐worked gravel beds. The surfaces were water‐worked and armoured and there was preferential particle orientation and direction of imbrication in the subsurface. This suggested that fed beds are able to simulate, in a simplified manner, both the surface and subsurface properties of established gravel‐bed river deposits. The near‐bed flow properties were also compared. It revealed that the use of a screeded bed will typically cause an underestimation in the degree of temporal variability in the flow. Furthermore, time‐averaged streamwise velocities were found to be randomly organized over the screeded bed but were organized into long streamwise flow structures over the fed beds. It clearly showed that caution should be taken when comparing velocity measurements over screeded beds with water‐worked beds, and that the formation of fed beds offers an improved way of investigating intragravel flow and sediment–water interface exchange processes in gravel‐bed rivers at a laboratory scale. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stabilization of fine gravels by net‐spinning caddisfly larvae
Authors: Johnson Matthew F. , Reid Ian , Rice Stephen P. , Wood Paul J.
Published: November 2008

We examined the impact of Hydropsychidae caddisfly larvae on the incipient motion of two sizes of narrowly graded fine‐gravel (4–6 and 6–8 mm). This impact was assessed relative to the collective impact of other abiotic and biotic processes that are potentially important conditioning agents of fine‐gravels. Trays of gravel were placed in the River Soar, Leicestershire, UK, where they were colonized to natural densities by caddisfly larvae. Identical trays that were surrounded by a 250 µm mesh were also deployed, preventing colonization but allowing field conditioning of sediments, including minor reworking of grains and biofilm development. After 21 days in the river, trays were removed to a laboratory flume where grain entrainment stresses were established. In addition to the colonized and conditioned treatments, critical shear stresses were measured for identical sediments that were not placed in the river (laboratory gravels). Gravels that were colonized by Hydropsychidae required significantly greater shear stresses for entrainment than conditioned trays (p ≤ 0·002), however, there was no significant difference between conditioned and laboratory gravels. This implies that the presence of caddisfly can be a more important influence on fine‐gravel stability than some conditioning processes. Shields parameter was compared across treatments and across the two gravel size‐fractions using two‐way ANOVA. No significant differences or interactions were observed, indicating that 4–6 mm gravel was stabilized to a similar degree as 6–8 mm gravel by conditioning and colonization processes. Our results extend earlier studies in two important ways: (1) entrainment stresses were established for fine gravels that were colonized at natural densities, under natural stream conditions; and (2) the caddisfly effect was measured relative to both field‐conditioned and unconditioned laboratory controls. The temporal and spatial distribution of silk‐spinning caddisfly larvae suggests that they have the potential to influence fine‐sediment mobility in many rivers, worldwide. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparative study of GLS finite elements with velocity and pressure equally interpolated for solving incompressible viscous flows
Authors: Wei Yongtao , Geubelle Philippe H.
Published: November 2008

A comparative study of the bi‐linear and bi‐quadratic quadrilateral elements and the quadratic triangular element for solving incompressible viscous flows is presented. These elements make use of the stabilized finite element formulation of the Galerkin/least‐squares method to simulate the flows, with the pressure and velocity fields interpolated with equal orders. The tangent matrices are explicitly derived and the Newton–Raphson algorithm is employed to solve the resulting nonlinear equations. The numerical solutions of the classical lid‐driven cavity flow problem are obtained for Reynolds numbers between 1000 and 20 000 and the accuracy and converging rate of the different elements are compared. The influence on the numerical solution of the least square of incompressible condition is also studied. The numerical example shows that the quadratic triangular element exhibits a better compromise between accuracy and converging rate than the other two elements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revolutionizing the workplace: A case study of the future of work program at Capital One
Authors: Khanna Shilpa , New J. Randolph
Published: November 2008

Today's workplace designs are being revolutionized due to the changing nature of work and worker profiles, the impact of technology, and the need for organizational efficiency and flexibility. Our case study of the Future of Work (FOW) program at Capital One highlights how thoughtful segmentation of work styles, supportive HR policy, customized workplace design, and the optimal use of technology can enhance knowledge work. FOW results show clear success in terms of increased employee satisfaction leading to improved organizational performance along with better real estate asset utilization and flexibility. To assist HR leaders and planners, we suggest a practical model that shows the impact of workplace design requirements on employee behavior and ultimately on organizational outcomes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of global optimization algorithms for parameter calibration of a computationally intensive hydrologic model
Authors: Zhang Xuesong , Srinivasan Raghavan , Zhao Kaiguang , Liew Mike Van
Published: November 2008

With the popularity of complex hydrologic models, the time taken to run these models is increasing substantially. Comparing and evaluating the efficacy of different optimization algorithms for calibrating computationally intensive hydrologic models is becoming a nontrivial issue. In this study, five global optimization algorithms (genetic algorithms, shuffled complex evolution, particle swarm optimization, differential evolution, and artificial immune system) were tested for automatic parameter calibration of a complex hydrologic model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), in four watersheds. The results show that genetic algorithms (GA) outperform the other four algorithms given model evaluation numbers larger than 2000, while particle swarm optimization (PSO) can obtain better parameter solutions than other algorithms given fewer number of model runs (less than 2000). Given limited computational time, the PSO algorithm is preferred, while GA should be chosen given plenty of computational resources. When applying GA and PSO for parameter optimization of SWAT, small population size should be chosen. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consistency between hydrological models and field observations: linking processes at the hillslope scale to hydrological responses at the watershed scale
Authors: Clark M. P. , Rupp D. E. , Woods R. A. , Tromp‐van Meerveld H. J. , Peters N. E. , Freer J. E.
Published: November 2008

The purpose of this paper is to identify simple connections between observations of hydrological processes at the hillslope scale and observations of the response of watersheds following rainfall, with a view to building a parsimonious model of catchment processes. The focus is on the well‐studied Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW), Georgia, USA. Recession analysis of discharge Q shows that while the relationship between dQ/dt and Q is approximately consistent with a linear reservoir for the hillslope, there is a deviation from linearity that becomes progressively larger with increasing spatial scale. To account for these scale differences conceptual models of streamflow recession are defined at both the hillslope scale and the watershed scale, and an assessment made as to whether models at the hillslope scale can be aggregated to be consistent with models at the watershed scale.

Results from this study show that a model with parallel linear reservoirs provides the most plausible explanation (of those tested) for both the linear hillslope response to rainfall and non‐linear recession behaviour observed at the watershed outlet. In this model each linear reservoir is associated with a landscape type. The parallel reservoir model is consistent with both geochemical analyses of hydrological flow paths and water balance estimates of bedrock recharge. Overall, this study demonstrates that standard approaches of using recession analysis to identify the functional form of storage–discharge relationships identify model structures that are inconsistent with field evidence, and that recession analysis at multiple spatial scales can provide useful insights into catchment behaviour. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glycosaminoglycans modulate inflammation and apoptosis in LPS‐treated chondrocytes
Authors: Campo Giuseppe M. , Avenoso Angela , Campo Salvatore , D'Ascola Angela , Traina Paola , Samà Dario , Calatroni Alberto
Published: November 2008

Previous studies reported that hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulphate (CS) and heparan sulphate (HS) were able to reduce the inflammatory process in a variety of cell types after lypopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effect of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in mouse articular chondrocytes stimulated with LPS. Chondrocyte treatment with LPS (50 µg/ml) generated high levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IFN‐γ, MMP‐1, MMP‐13, iNOS gene expression and their related proteins, increased NO concentrations (evaluated in terms of nitrites formation), NF‐κB activation and IkBα degradation as well as apoptosis evaluated by the increase in caspase‐3 expression and the amount of its related protein. The treatment of chondrocytes using two different doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml) of HA, chondroitin‐4‐sulphate (C4S), chondroitin‐6‐sulphate (C6S), HS, keratan sulphate (KS) and dermatan sulphate (DS) produced a number of effects. HA exerted a very small anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic effect while it significantly reduced NO levels, although the effect on iNOS expression and activity was extremely slight. C4S and C6S reduced inflammation mediators and the apoptotic process. C6S failed to decrease NO production, although iNOS expression and activity were significantly reduced. HS, like C4S, was able to reduce all the effects stimulated by LPS treatment. KS and DS produced no reduction in any of the parameters considered. These results give further support to the hypothesis that GAGs actively participate in the regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic processes. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 83–92, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Matrix vesicles originate from apical membrane microvilli of mineralizing osteoblast‐like Saos‐2 cells
Authors: Thouverey Cyril , Strzelecka‐Kiliszek Agnieszka , Balcerzak Marcin , Buchet René , Pikula Slawomir
Published: November 2008

In bone, mineralization is tightly regulated by osteoblasts and hypertrophic chondrocytes which release matrix vesicles (MVs) and control extracellular ionic conditions and matrix composition. MVs are the initial sites of hydroxyapatite (HA) mineral formation. Despite growing knowledge about their morphology and function, their biogenesis is not well understood. The purpose of this work was to determine the source of MVs in osteoblast lineage, Saos‐2 cells, and to check whether MVs originated from microvilli. Microvilli were isolated from the apical plasma membrane of Saos‐2 cells. Their morphology, structure, and function were compared with those of MVs. The role of actin network in MV release was investigated by using microfilament perturbing drugs. When examined by electron microscopy MVs and microvillar vesicles were found to exhibit similar morphology with trilaminar membranes and diameters in the same range. Both types of vesicles were able to induce HA formation. Their electrophoretic profiles displayed analogous enrichment in alkaline phosphatase, Na+/K+ ATPase, and annexins A2 and A6. MVs and microvillar vesicles exhibited almost the same lipid composition with a higher content of cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylserine as compared to plasma membrane. Finally, cytochalasin D, which inhibits actin polymerization, was found to stimulate release of MVs. Our findings were consistent with the hypothesis that MVs originated from cell microvilli and that actin filament disassembly was involved in their biogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 127–138, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the nature of the π → π* ionic excited states: The V state of ethene as a prototype
Authors: Angeli Celestino
Published: November 2008

This article addresses an analysis of the physical effects required for the correct description of the ionic π → π* excited states in the frame of ab initio quantum chemistry, using the ionic V state of the ethene molecule as an example. The importance of the dynamic σ polarization (absent in methods where the σ skeleton is treated at a mean‐field level) has been recognized by many authors in the past. In this article a new physical effect is described, i.e. the spatial contraction of the π and π* molecular orbitals (or of the local p atomic orbitals) originated from the reduction of the ionicity due to the dynamic σ polarization. Such an effect is a second‐order effect (it appears only as a consequence of the dynamic σ polarization) but it cannot be ignored. Many of the difficulties found in the past in the calculation of the vertical excitation energy of the ionic states are attributed to an incomplete description of this contraction, while the few successes have been obtained when it has been fortuitously introduced by ad hoc procedures or when it is described in a brute force approach. Various strategies are proposed to allow for the spatial contraction of the p atomic orbitals. If this effect is considered at the orbital optimization step, it is shown that for the V state of ethene no Rydberg/valence mixing occurs and a simple perturbation correction (to the second order in the energy) on the π → π* singly excited configuration gives stable results with respect to the computational parameters and in good agreement with the experimental findings and with the best theoretical calculations. Moreover, our results confirm the indication of Müller et al. (J Chem Phys 1999, 110, 7176) that the transition to the V state of ethene conforms to the Franck‐Condon principle and that it is not necessary to appeal to a nonvertical transition to interpret the experimental data. The strategy reported in this article for ethene can be in principle generalized to the π → π* ionic excited states of other molecules. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
The Meissner and Pacinian sensory corpuscles revisited new data from the last decade
Authors: Vega José A. , García‐Suárez Olivia , Montaño Juan A. , Pardo Berta , Cobo Juan M.
Published: November 2008

This article reviews the biochemical, physiological, and experimental data cumulated during the last decade on the Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles. It includes information about (i) the localization of molecules recently detected in sensory corpuscles; (ii) the unsolved problem of the accessory fibers in sensory corpuscles and the occurrence of myelin within them; (iii) the development of sensory corpuscles, especially their neuronal and growth factor dependency; (iv) the composition and functional significance of the extracellular matrix as an essential part of the mechanisms involved in the genesis of the stimuli generated in sensory corpuscles; (v) the molecular basis of mechanotransduction; (vi) a miscellaneous section containing sparse new data on the protein composition of sensory corpuscles, as well as in the proteins involved in live–death cell decisions; (vii) the changes in sensory corpuscles as a consequence of aging, the central, or peripheral nervous system injury; and finally, (viii) the special interest of Meissner corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles for pathologists for the diagnosis of some peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative diseases. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
One Pot Synthesis of Surface PEGylated Core–Shell Microparticles by Suspension Polymerization with Surface Enrichment of Biotin/Avidin Conjugation
Authors: Ting S. R. Simon , Nguyen T. L. Uyen , Stenzel Martina H.
Published: November 2008

Core–shell microparticles that consist of poly(vinyl neodecanoate) (VND) crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) as the core and poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA) ($\overline M _{\rm n}$ = 360 or $\overline M _{\rm n}$ = 526 g · mol−1) as the shell have been synthesized using suspension polymerization by a conventional free radical polymerization process. Interfacial tension and stability tests show that PEGMA acts as an amphiphilic macromonomer and is located on the oil/water interface of the suspension system, thus forming an outer layer during the polymerization. Kinetic studies of the monomers' conversion of VND, EGDMA, and PEGMA have been carried out using 1H NMR spectroscopy. EGDMA and PEGMA were found to have faster reaction rates compared to VND. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy showed that the polymerization of these particles starts from the shell and finishes towards the core. Consequently, the resulting microsphere is found to have a multi‐layer structure. Biotin was covalently bound to the surface by the PEGMA hydroxy groups. Conjugation of biotin with streptavidin PE (phycoerythrin) was subsequently carried out. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the presence of fluorescing streptavidin. The amount of avidin conjugated to the microspheres was calculated by the release of a 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid/avidin complex using UV/vis spectroscopy. One avidin molecule was found to occupy 7 nm2 on the surface of the microspheres.

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Resident hepatocyte fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 limits hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Huang Xinqiang , Yang Chaofeng , Jin Chengliu , Luo Yongde , Wang Fen , McKeehan Wallace L
Published: November 2008

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family signaling mediates cell‐to‐cell communication in development and organ homeostasis in adults. Of the FGF receptor (FGFR) isotypes, FGFR4 is the sole resident isotype present in mature parenchymal hepatocytes. FGFR1 that is normally associated with activated nonparenchymal cells appears ectopically in hepatoma cells. Ectopic expression and chronic activity of FGFR1 in hepatocytes accelerates diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐initiated hepatocarcinogenesis by driving unrestrained cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Hepatocyte FGFR4 mediates liver's role in systemic cholesterol/bile acid and lipid metabolism and affects proper hepatolobular restoration after damage without effect on cell proliferation. Here we ask whether FGFR4 plays a role in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report that although spontaneous HCC was not detected in livers of FGFR4‐deficient mice, the ablation of FGFR4 accelerated DEN‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis. In contrast to FGFR1 that induced a strong mitogenic response and depressed rate of cell death in hepatoma cells, FGFR4 failed to induce a mitogenic response and increased the rate of cell death. FGFR1 but not FGFR4 induced cyclin D1 and repressed p27 expression. Analysis of activation of Erk, JNK, and PI3K‐related AKT signaling pathways indicated that in contrast to FGFR1, FGFR4 failed to sustain Erk activation and did not activate AKT. These differences may underlie the opposing effects of FGFR1 and FGFR4. These results suggest that in contrast to ectopic FGFR1 that is a strong promoter of hepatoma, resident FGFR4 that mediates differentiated hepatocyte metabolic functions also serves to suppress hepatoma progression. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal monopoly market area spanning in multidimensional commodity spaces
Authors: Péli Gábor , van Witteloostuijn Arjen
Published: November 2008

A monopoly firm locates in multidimensional product characteristics' space by setting a price that maximizes its profits. The monopoly market area (MMA) it serves strikes the happy medium between lower price and larger MMA, assuming absence of price discrimination, by setting the price at the MMA margins. The MMA takes different shapes, such as hyperspheres or hypercubes, depending on how customers perceive the product distance from their ideal tastes. Commodity space dimensionality, a measure of customer taste elaboration, has a robust effect on optimization: the optimal MMA stretch increases and price decreases with dimensionality, with different customer sensitivity patterns in place. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with Leucine‐rich repeat kinase‐2 mutations
Authors: Covy Jason P. , Yuan Wuxing , Waxman Elisa A. , Hurtig Howard I. , Van Deerlin Vivianna M. , Giasson Benoit I.
Published: November 2008

Mutations in LRRK2 are the single most common known cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). Two new PD patients with LRRK2 mutation were identified from a cohort with extensive postmortem assessment. One of these patients harbors the R793M mutation and presented with the typical clinical and pathological features of PD. A novel L1165P mutation was identified in a second patient. This patient had the classical and pathological features of PD, but additionally developed severe neuropsychological symptoms and dementia associated with abundant neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampal formation; features consistent with a secondary diagnosis of tangle‐predominant dementia. α‐Synuclein‐containing pathological inclusions in these patients also were highly phosphorylated at Ser‐129, similar to other patients with idiopathic PD. These two PD patients also were characterized by the presence of occasional cytoplasmic TDP‐43 inclusions in the temporal cortex, a finding that was not observed in three other patients with the G2019S mutation in LRRK2. These findings extend the clinical and pathological features that may be associated with LRRK2 mutations. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
A novel hereditary spastic paraplegia with dystonia linked to chromosome 2q24‐2q31
Authors: Gilbert Donald L. , Leslie Elizabeth J. , Keddache Mehdi , Leslie Nancy D.
Published: November 2008

Spastic paraplegias (HSPs) and dystonias (DYTs) typically localize to different neuroanatomic systems. We report clinical and genetic data from large Ohio kindred with autosomal dominant (AD) HSP and DYT. Single and multipoint linkage using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism array genotyping were performed on a large, multigenerational family with a novel, AD, highly penetrant neurological disease causing spasticity and DYT. Age of onset of spasticity and weakness is from the first year to the sixth decade, and age of onset of DYT from the first to third decade. There is no ataxia or apparent cognitive involvement. Neuroimaging and peripheral neurophysiology are normal. Generalized DYT improved markedly with deep brain stimulation in 1 child. The disease locus was mapped to a region on chromosome 2q 24–31, flanked by markers rs1424937–rs1559510, proximal to SPG13, in a region where there are no known HSP or DYT genes. A secondary analysis for candidate genes segregating with the DYT phenotype revealed two candidate regions with parametric lod scores above 2.0. On the basis of clinical presentation and linkage results, we conclude that this disease is a novel neurological disorder. Identifying the causative gene may elucidate an important pathway for pyramidal and extrapyramidal disorders. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Quasi‐lumped design of UMTS diplexer using combined CPW and microstrip
Authors: Xu Wei‐Qin , Ho Min‐Hua , Hsu Chung‐I. G.
Published: November 2008

In this letter, we propose a novel design of a universal mobile telecommunications system diplexer using a combined coplanar waveguide (CPW) and microstrip structure. The diplexer is composed of two bandpass filters (BPFs), which are termed the transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) filters. The filter's characteristics analyzed by a circuit model of the LC lumped elements are implemented using the CPW and microstrip. A transmission zero is implanted for each filter to reject the signal of the other filter's band. The two filters are in a parallel‐cascade layout and a microstrip is used to couple the I/O signals from/to the filters. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 150–152, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23952
Interconnection loss from substrate effects on LNA performance and design accuracy
Authors: Tseng S.‐C. , Meng C. C. , Liao H.‐Y. , Lin Y.‐C. , Teng Y.‐H.
Published: November 2008

A 5.2 GHz 0.18‐μm SiGe BiCMOS low noise amplifier is implemented with guided‐wave interconnections in this letter. These interconnections reduce the substrate skin and proximity effects and hence are suitable for high frequency circuits. The guided interconnections bring 1.7‐dB gain and 0.55‐dB noise figure enhancement for the low noise amplifier. In addition, accurate and simple design methodology relies on the complete models of components and interconnections when the postsimulation from the rc extraction is not enough for the high frequency circuit design. The measurement results give excellent agreements with the schematic simulation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 144–146, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23968
Parametric analysis of Sierpinski‐like fractal patch antenna for compact and dual band WLAN applications
Authors: Li Hui , Khan Salman , Liu Jingxian , He Sailing
Published: November 2008

A Sierpinski‐like fractal patch antenna with a slant strip in the first iteration is proposed in this article. The parameters of this kind of antenna are analyzed and optimized for dual WLAN application. The added slant strip provides simple probe feeding for compactness and also helps bandwidth enhancement due to multiple modes, which can be evident from current distribution. Measured return loss below −10 dB is from 2.38–2.45 GHz and 5.17–5.83 GHz, coinciding well with dual band WLAN standard. The boresight gain and radiation pattern in different planes are also presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 36–40, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23974
Rigorous mode‐matching analysis of energy tunneling through an ultranarrow epsilon‐near‐zero channel
Authors: Pan Yongmei , Xu Shanjia
Published: November 2008

On the basis of the rigorous mode‐matching procedure, we demonstrate theoretically that electromagnetic waves can be squeezed and tunneled through very narrow channel waveguides at cutoff frequency, which mimics the response of ε‐near‐zero (ENZ) materials. Because of the infinite phase velocity of the wave propagation in ENZ material, this tunneling phenomenon possesses distinct anomalous properties: the phase of the wave along the narrow channel is almost uniform and it is fundamentally independent of its geometry. All of these theoretical predictions agree well with the experimental results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 163–166, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23994
An efficient CMOS on‐chip ladder reflector antenna for inter‐chip communications
Authors: Jiang Bo‐Tao , Mao Jun‐Fa
Published: November 2008

This article presented a new ladder reflector antenna on chip (AOC) which consisted of an active dipole and reflector array. The ladder structure was very easy to fabricate with the standard CMOS process. A ladder reflector antenna operating at the 24 GHz ISM band was designed with a standard 0.18 μm six metal layers CMOS process. The whole antenna had a dimension of 0.025 mm × 2.84 mm. The measurement results showed that the ladder reflector antenna got a return loss of −7.25 dB and a gain of 6.25 dBds at 24 GHz, as well as a −5 dB impedance bandwidth of 16.2–30 GHz. The measured S12 indirectly proved the simulated radiation patterns. The data taken from the experiment indicated that the ladder reflector increased the antenna gain and effectively enhanced the energy radiating to the outside of the chip. It's very useful for the wireless interconnect for inter‐chip communications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 59–63, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24000
Very‐small‐size printed loop antenna for GSM/DCS/PCS/UMTS operation in the mobile phone
Authors: Chi Yun‐Wen , Wong Kin‐Lu
Published: November 2008

A very‐small‐size printed loop antenna for mobile phone application is proposed. The antenna has a loop strip of length 62 mm only, which is folded into an L‐shape and occupies a small area of 96.5 mm2 on the top no‐ground portion of the system circuit board of the mobile phone. By incorporating a simple matching circuit formed by a chip capacitor and a chip inductor, both in series, the loop antenna can generate three resonant modes (0.25‐, 0.5‐, and 1.0‐wavelength modes) at about 925, 1800, and 2200 MHz. The 0.25‐wavelength mode forms the antenna's lower band covering GSM operation, whereas the 0.5‐ and 1.0‐wavelength modes form the antenna's upper band covering DCS/PCS/UMTS operation. Quad‐band operation is hence obtained for the printed loop antenna, although it has a very small size. Details of the proposed antenna are presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 184–192, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24008
Dissociation between cutaneous silent period and laser evoked potentials in assessing neuropathic pain
Authors: Truini A. , Galeotti F. , Biasiotta A. , Gabriele M. , Inghilleri M. , Petrucci M. T. , Cruccu G.
Published: November 2008

In this study we investigate whether the cutaneous silent period (CSP)—an inhibitory response evoked in hand muscles by painful digital nerve stimulation—is useful for assessing nociceptive pathway function in patients with neuropathic pain. In 40 patients with peripheral neuropathy (21 without and 19 with neuropathic pain) we recorded the CSP in the abductor digiti minimi after fifth digit stimulation and also recorded laser evoked potentials (LEPs) after stimulation applied to the ulnar territory of the hand. Although the LEP amplitude was significantly lower in patients with pain than in those without (P < 0.005), the CSP duration did not differ between groups (P > 0.50). Pain intensity correlated significantly with LEP amplitudes (P < 0.005) but not with CSP duration (P > 0.5). Our findings indicate that the CSP is not useful for assessing nociceptive pathway function in patients with neuropathic pain. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Does sensory bladder function during cystometry differ from that in daily life? A study in incontinent women
Authors: Naoemova Irina , Van Meel Tom , De Wachter Stefan , Wyndaele Jean‐Jacques
Published: November 2008

Aims

Daily life bladder sensation can be evaluated by sensation related bladder diary (SR‐BD). Sensation can also be studied during cystometric bladder filling (CBF). We compared results of both methods in incontinent women.

Methods

A total of 185 women with stress, urgency or mixed incontinence filled out a 3‐day SR‐BD grading bladder sensation and measuring voided volume at each micturition. During CBF reported filling sensations were noted. Sensory data from both tests were compared.

Results

The cystometric bladder volumes were significantly larger than SR‐BD voided bladder volumes for corresponding bladder sensations and this in all groups.

Conclusions

During conventional cystometry the patients with different types of incontinence experience the degrees of desire to void at larger volumes than in daily life. Sensation related symptoms will thus be more accurately studied with the SR‐BD than with cystometry. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:309–312, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduced N‐acetylaspartate is consistent with axonal dysfunction in cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Nitkunan Arani , Charlton Rebecca A. , Barrick Thomas R. , McIntyre Dominick J. O. , Howe Franklyn A. , Markus Hugh S.
Published: November 2008

Background:

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is an important cause of cognitive impairment, but the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. We used 1H MRS to investigate brain metabolic differences between patients with SVD and controls and correlated this with cognition.

Methods:

35 patients with SVD (lacunar stroke and radiological evidence of confluent leukoaraiosis) and 35 controls underwent multi‐voxel spectroscopic imaging of white matter to obtain absolute metabolite concentrations of N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatines, total cholines, myo‐inositol, and lactate. A range of cognitive tests was performed on patients with SVD, and composite scores were calculated.

Results:

Scans of sufficient quality for data analysis were available in 29 cases and 35 controls. NAA was significantly reduced in patients compared with controls (lower by 7.27%, P = 0.004). However, when lesion load within each individual voxel (mean 22% in SVD vs 5% in controls, P < 0.001) was added as a covariate, these differences were no longer significant, suggesting that the metabolite differences arose primarily from differences in lesioned tissue. In patients with SVD, there was no correlation between cognitive scores and any brain metabolite. No lactate, an indicator of anaerobic metabolism, was detected.

Conclusions:

The most consistent change in SVD is a reduction in NAA, a marker of neuronal integrity. The lack of correlation with cognition does not support the use of MRS as a surrogate disease marker. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Why Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty
Authors: Brugha Cathal M.
Published: November 2008

The reason why Ireland voted in a referendum on June 12th 2008 to reject the Lisbon Treaty was mainly due to the failure from Europe to articulate the overall justification for this strengthening of European powers in terms acceptable to the Irish, who hope for a federalist Europe, and don't trust the global military intentions of some of Europe's leaders. Most people were not canvassed door‐to‐door at all. Where there was a canvass it was generally against Lisbon, raising fears about threats to Irish neutrality, and of conscription, as well as about abortion, taxation, and the loss of an Irish Commissioner. While 51% of men voted in favour because of the perceived economic benefits, 56% of women voted against because of the perceived risks associated with a more powerful Europe.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aberrant BRAF splicing as an alternative mechanism for oncogenic B‐Raf activation in thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Baitei Essa Y , Zou Minjing , Al‐Mohanna Futwan , Collison Katharine , Alzahrani Ali S , Farid Nadir R , Meyer Brian , Shi Yufei
Published: November 2008

Activating BRAF mutations have recently been reported in 28–83% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). However, it is not known whether aberrant BRAF splicing occurs in thyroid carcinoma. To investigate aberrant BRAF splicing and its association with BRAF mutation in thyroid tumours, we studied aberrant BRAF splicing and BRAF mutation from 68 thyroid tumours. BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 20 of 43 PTCs and all three anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs). There is a higher frequency of BRAF mutation in PTC patients with stage III and IV tumours compared with stage I and II. Novel BRAF splicing variants were detected in 12 PTCs, three follicular variants of PTC (FVPTCs), and one ATC, as well as in two thyroid carcinoma cell lines, ARO and NPA. These variants did not have the N‐terminal auto‐inhibitory domain of wild‐type B‐Raf, resulting in an in‐frame truncated protein that contained only the C‐terminal kinase domain and caused constitutive activation of B‐Raf. These variants were significantly associated with advanced disease stage and BRAFV600E mutation (p < 0.001, Fisher exact test). Furthermore, expression of these variants in NIH3T3 and CHO cells could activate the MAP kinase signalling pathway, transform them in vitro, and induce tumours in nude mice. These data suggest that BRAF splicing variants may function as an alternative mechanism for oncogenic B‐Raf activation. Combination of the BRAFV600E mutation and its splicing variants may contribute towards disease progression to poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associates of school absenteeism in adolescents with sickle cell disease
Authors: Schwartz Lisa A. , Radcliffe Jerilynn , Barakat Lamia P.
Published: November 2008

Background

Despite high rates of school absenteeism in adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD), the issue remains understudied. Potential associates of school absenteeism in adolescents with SCD include demographic (age, income), psychosocial (IQ, self‐efficacy, competence, internalizing symptoms, negative thinking), and health‐related (hemoglobin, health‐care utilization, pain, disease knowledge).

Procedure

Forty participants ages 12–18 completed measures of psychosocial functioning, IQ, and pain. Medical chart reviews identified other health‐related variables. A subsample also completed an assessment of goals. Using school records, absenteeism was the percent of school days missed in the previous year. Correlations tested associates of absenteeism and linear regression tested a model of absenteeism.

Results

Participants missed an average of 12% of the school year and more than 35% missed at least 1 month of school. Health‐related and psychosocial variables, but not demographic variables, correlated with absenteeism. Attendance at clinic appointments and parent‐reported teen pain frequency were significant associates of absenteeism in the regression model. For those who completed goal assessment, over 40% of goals identified were academically focused. Absenteeism was positively related to current academic goals and health‐related hindrance of academic goals, and negatively related to future‐oriented academic goals.

Conclusions

School absenteeism is a significant problem for adolescents with SCD despite the presence of academic goals. Collaboration between schools, parents, patients, and providers to understand and manage the impact of SCD on school attendance is recommended. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:92–96. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Micelles formed by self‐assembly of hyperbranched poly[(amine‐ester)‐co‐(D,L‐lactide)] (HPAE‐co‐PLA) copolymers for protein drug delivery
Authors: Jiang Ming , Wu Yan , He Yong , Nie Jun
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND: The aim of the work presented was to synthesize a series of amphiphilic hyperbranched poly[(amine‐ester)‐co‐(D,L‐lactide)] (HPAE‐co‐PLA) copolymers and study the formation of copolymeric micelles. These copolymeric micelle systems are expected to be potential candidates for applications in protein drug delivery.

RESULTS: The chemical structures of the copolymers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C NMR and thermogravimetric analysis. Fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering confirmed the formation of copolymeric micelles of the HPAE‐co‐PLA copolymers. The maintenance of stability of bovine serum albumin (BSA) during release from micelles in vitro was also measured using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectrometry.

CONCLUSION: Novel hyperbranched HPAE‐co‐PLA copolymers have been synthesized. Conjugation of PLA to HPAE was proved to be an available method for the preparation of micelles for protein delivery. The BSA‐loaded micelles showed enhanced encapsulation efficiency and the structural stability of BSA was retained during the release process. The hyperbranched polymeric micelles could be useful as drug carriers for protein drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative proteome analysis of HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials by SILAC
Authors: Chen Ning , Sun Wei , Deng Xinyu , Hao Yunwei , Chen Xilin , Xing Baocai , Jia Wei , Ma Jie , Wei Handong , Zhu Yunping , Qian Xiaohong , Jiang Ying , He Fuchu
Published: November 2008

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and metastasis is the main cause for treatment failure and high fatality of HCC. In order to make further exploration into the mechanism of HCC metastasis and to search for the candidates of diagnostic marker and therapeutic target, stable‐isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) technique was employed to conduct differential proteome analysis on HCC cell lines – MHCC97L and HCCLM6 with low and high metastatic potentials. In total, 2335 reliable proteins were identified using LTQ‐FT mass spectrum, among which 91 proteins were upregulated and 61 proteins were downregulated in HCCLM6. Most of the upregulated proteins were involved in adherence, morphogenesis, and lipid synthesis, while lots of the downregulated proteins were involved in electron transport, which might be crucial for HCC metastasis. Six dysregulated proteins were validated by Western blotting in the cell lines. Interestingly, the upregulation of solute carrier family 12 member 2 (SLC 12A2) and protein disulfide‐isomerase A4 (PDIA4) were further confirmed in the culture supernatants by Western blotting and in the sera of HCC patients with different metastatic potentials by ELISA. Our study provided not only the valuable insights into the HCC metastasis mechanisms but also the potential candidate biomarkers for prediction of HCC metastasis.
Treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in CF with anti‐IgE antibody (omalizumab)
Authors: Kanu Adaobi , Patel Kalpana
Published: November 2008

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) results from IgE induced pulmonary response to aspergillus species. Recognition and management of ABPA is challenging in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients because changes in symptoms, lung function and chest radiograph are similar to that seen in CF related pulmonary infection. Standard therapy for ABPA includes systemic steroids and adjunctive use of antifungal agents. Little has been published regarding the use of monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody in those with ABPA. We report a CF patient with her third exacerbation of ABPA who was treated with monoclonal anti‐IgE (omalizumab) antibody; she had unfavorable side effects with prednisone therapy. This therapy resulted in improvement of pulmonary symptoms and lung function not achieved with antibiotics or prednisone alone. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1249–1251. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inflammation and Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children: A State‐of‐the‐Art Review
Authors: Goldbart Aviv D. , Tal Asher
Published: November 2008

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) represents a spectrum of breathing disorders, ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), that disrupt nocturnal respiration and sleep architecture. OSAS is a common disorder in children, with a prevalence of 2–3%. It is associated with neurobehavioral, cognitive, and cardiovascular morbidities. In children, adenotonsillectomy is the first choice for treatment and is reserved for moderate to severe OSAS, as defined by an overnight polysomnography. In adults, OSAS is the result of mechanical dysfunction of the upper airway, manifesting as severity‐dependent nasal, oropharyngeal, and systemic inflammation that decrease after continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Inflammatory changes have been reported in upper airway samples from children with OSAS, and systemic inflammation, as indicated by high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, has been shown to decrease in children with OSAS after adenotonsillectomy. Anti‐inflammatory treatments for children with mild OSAS are associated with major improvements in symptoms, polysomnographic respiratory values, and radiologic measures of adenoid size. Inflammation is correlated to some extent with OSAS‐related neurocognitive morbidity, but the role of inflammatory markers in the diagnosis and management of OSAS, and the role of anti‐inflammatory treatments, remains to be clarified. This review examines the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of sleep‐disordered breathing in pediatric patients and the potential therapeutic implications. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1151–1160. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cross‐sectional analysis of intermittent versus chronic caloric restriction in the TRAMP mouse
Authors: Bonorden Melissa J.L. , Rogozina Olga P. , Kluczny Christina M. , Grossmann Michael E. , Grande Joseph P. , Lokshin Anna , Cleary Margot P.
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND

Previously we found that intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) delayed the age of prostate tumor detection and death in TRAMP mice in comparison to chronic calorie restricted (CCR) and ad libitum fed (AL) TRAMP mice.

METHODS

In the present study the same protocol was used in a cross‐sectional experiment whereby mice were either ad libitum fed, intermittently calorie restricted at 50% of the consumption of AL mice for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of refeeding matched to AL intake or were pair‐fed to the ICR. Both ICR and CCR protocols resulted in a 25% reduction in caloric intake. Mice were enrolled in the study at 7 weeks of age to be euthanized at designated time points in cycles 3, 6, and 9 with mice euthanized at the end of restriction and refeeding.

RESULTS

At the youngest time point in cycle 3 ICR impacted body weight, fat pad weights and serum factors the most. Additionally, the incidence of detectable prostate cancer pathology was reduced for ICR mice compared to AL and CCR mice. However, by cycle 5 when the mice were 28–30 weeks of age all mice except one ICR mouse had pathologically confirmed prostate cancer. Furthermore, at the two older time points many of the mice assigned to the study did not survive to reach their designated endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall these findings are consistent with other studies indicating protective effects of various interventions on the development of prostate cancer in young TRAMP mice. Prostate 69:317–326, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.