bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the assessment of genomic DNA methylation
Authors: Rossella Federica , Polledri Elisa , Bollati Valentina , Baccarelli Andrea , Fustinoni Silvia
Published: July 2009

A method for the determination of DNA global methylation, taken as the ratio (%) of 5‐methylcytosine (5mCyt) versus the sum of cytosine (Cyt) and 5mCyt, via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), was developed and validated. DNA (2.5 µg) was hydrolyzed with aqueous formic acid 88%, spiked with cytosine‐2,4‐13C2,15N3 and 5‐methyl‐2H3‐cytosine‐6‐2H1 as internal standards, and derivatized with N‐methyl‐N‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and 1% tert‐butyldimethylchlorosilane, in the presence of acetonitrile and pyridine. GC/MS, operating in single ion monitoring mode, separated and specifically detected all nucleobases as tert‐butyldimethylsilyl derivatives, without interferences, with the exception of guanosine. The method was linear throughout the range of clinical interest and had good sensitivity, with a limit of quantification of 3.2 pmol for Cyt and 0.056 pmol for 5mCyt, the latter corresponding to a methylation level of 0.41%. Intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were below 4.0% for both analytes and methylation. The matrix absolute effect, process efficiency and coefficient of variation ranged from 96.5 to 101.2%. The matrix relative effect was below 1%. The method was applied to the analysis of different human DNAs, including: nonmethylated DNA from PCR (methylation 0.00%), hypermethylated DNA prepared using M.SssI CpG methyltransferase (methylation 18.05%), DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy subjects (N = 6, median methylation 5.45%), DNA from bone marrow of leukemia patients (N = 5, 3.58%) and DNA from myeloma cell lines (N = 4, 2.74%). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal preparation methods for automated matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry profiling of low molecular weight proteins and peptides
Authors: Penno Megan A. S. , Ernst Matthias , Hoffmann Peter
Published: July 2009

Mass spectrometry (MS) profiling of the proteome and peptidome for disease‐associated patterns is a new concept in clinical diagnostics. The technique, however, is highly sensitive to external sources of variation leading to potentially unacceptable numbers of false positive and false negative results. Before MS profiling can be confidently implemented in a medical setting, standard experimental methods must be developed that minimize technical variance. Past studies of variance have focused largely on pre‐analytical variation (i.e., sample collection, handling, etc.). Here, we examined how factors at the analytical stage including the matrix and solid‐phase extraction influence MS profiling. Firstly, a standard peptide/protein sample was measured automatically by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) MS across five consecutive days using two different preparation methods, dried droplet and sample/matrix, of four types of matrix: α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (HCCA), sinapinic acid (SA), 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and 2,5‐dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP). The results indicated that the matrix preparation greatly influenced a number of key parameters of the spectra including repeatability (within‐day variability), reproducibility (inter‐day variability), resolution, signal strength, background intensity and detectability. Secondly, an investigation into the variance associated with C8 magnetic bead extraction of the standard sample prior to automated MS profiling demonstrated that the process did not adversely affect these same parameters. In fact, the spectra were generally more robust following extraction. Thirdly, the best performing matrix preparations were evaluated using C8 magnetic bead extracted human plasma. We conclude that the DHAP prepared according to the dried‐droplet method is the most appropriate matrix to use when performing automated MS profiling. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Practical assessment of hardware limitations on power aware wireless sensor networks—An anti‐windup approach
Authors: Walsh M. J. , Alavi S. M. Mahdi , Hayes M. J.
Published: July 2009

This work considers the effect of hardware constraints that typically arise in practical ‘power‐aware’ wireless sensor network systems. A rigorous methodology is presented that quantifies the effect of output power limit and quantization constraints on bit error rate performance. The approach uses a novel, intuitively appealing means of addressing the output power constraint, wherein the attendant saturation block is mapped from the output of the plant to its input and compensation is then achieved using a robust anti‐windup scheme. A priori levels of system performance are attained using a quantitative feedback theory approach on the initial, linear stage of the design paradigm. This hybrid design is assessed experimentally using a fully compliant 802.15.4 testbed where mobility is introduced through the use of autonomous robots. A benchmark comparison between the new approach and a number of existing strategies is also presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minimal data rate stabilization of nonlinear systems over networks with large delays
Authors: De Persis C.
Published: July 2009

Control systems over networks with a finite data rate can be conveniently modeled as hybrid (impulsive) systems. For the class of nonlinear systems in feedfoward form, we design a hybrid controller, which guarantees stability, in spite of the measurement noise due to the quantization,andof an arbitrarily large delay, which affects the communication channel. The rate at which feedback packets are transmitted from the sensors to the actuators is shown to be arbitrarily close to the infimal one. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stabilizability for nonlinear systems of difference equations
Authors: Medina Rigoberto
Published: July 2009

The stabilization problem for a class of infinite‐dimensional discrete‐time nonlinear systems is discussed. Under an appropiate growth condition on the nonlinear perturbation combined with the ‘freezing’ method to discrete‐time systems on Banach spaces, we establish explicit conditions for global feedback exponential stabilizability, and these conditions are easy to construct and to verify. This approach will allow us to avoid the construction of Lyapunov's functions in some situations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Invertebrate communities in Compensation Creek, a man‐made stream in boreal Newfoundland: The influence of large woody debris
Authors: Gabriel Celina M. , Clarke Keith D. , Campbell Christine E.
Published: July 2009

Benthic invertebrate communities were examined in Compensation Creek, a man‐made stream in south‐central Newfoundland, Canada. Samples taken in September 2006 and September 2007 from large woody debris (LWD) were compared with samples from benthic environments to determine whether LWD supported a more diverse and abundant invertebrate community. Benthic habitats in a nearby natural stream were also sampled. Taxa composition was similar between the man‐made and the natural stream, highlighting successful colonization for the majority of taxa. Within Compensation Creek, taxa richness was higher in benthic habitats than on LWD, likely influenced by the successional age of the stream and surrounding habitat. The more complex benthic substrate provided refugia and allowed for the accumulation of fine detritus as a food source. Scrapers were almost completely absent from LWD and collector‐gatherer abundance was greater in the benthos. Collector‐filterer abundance was more than six times greater near the pond outflow than farther downstream when discharge was high, but abundances were almost equal when discharge was reduced. Riparian vegetation has not fully established around the man‐made stream, whereas it is overhanging and extensive at the natural stream, leading to more leaf‐litter input for shredders. As the morphology of Compensation Creek changes, the invertebrate community will continue to develop and likely increase utilization of accumulated detritus at LWD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coloring uniform hypergraphs with few edges
Authors: Kostochka A.V. , Kumbhat M.
Published: July 2009

A hypergraph is b‐simple if no two distinct edges share more than b vertices. Let m(r, t, g) denote the minimum number of edges in an r‐uniform non‐t‐colorable hypergraph of girth at least g.

Erdős and Lovász proved that

A result of Szabó improves the lower bound by a factor of r2−ϵ for sufficiently large r. We improve the lower bound by another factor of r and extend the result to b‐simple hypergraphs. We also get a new lower bound for hypergraphs with a given girth. Our results imply that for fixed b, t, and ϵ > 0 and sufficiently large r, every r‐uniform b‐simple hypergraph $\cal {H}$ with maximum edge‐degree at most trr1−ϵ is t‐colorable. Some results hold for list coloring, as well. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2009
Sustainable development in the uplands of Lao PDR
Authors: Alexander Kim Suzanne , Millar Joanne , Lipscombe Neil
Published: July 2009

Smallholder farmers resident in marginalized communities in the uplands of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) have been subject to agricultural reforms and policies requiring adaptation of their rural livelihood systems and adoption of new agricultural technologies. Structured interviews with farmers explored their perspectives and experiences when developing economically viable, locally adapted and diversified livelihood and farming system strategies. Agricultural productivity was dependent on cultivatable land and forest biodiversity, while agricultural strategies embedded knowledge, information and ideas to enable farmers to adapt to changing conditions. Political, social, economic and environmental factors have influenced smallholder farmers in their preference and uptake of new technologies and activities. Opportunities to trial new technologies and further support, advice and information from extension officers and projects, combined with market opportunities and access to credit, will enable some farmers to find sustainable production alternatives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Confronting economic profit with hierarchy theory: The concept of gain in ecology
Authors: Allen Timothy F. H. , Allen Peter C. , Malek Amy , Flynn John , Flynn Michael
Published: July 2009

Contemporary problems are often complicated by values intruding into the arena of material systems. But there have always been values in biology and social science because they are required to assess how biosocial structures have models embodying purpose as an issue separate from the models of the scientists. Values are addressed seriously in economic discourses, and other discussions will benefit from paying attention to how the dismal science does that. Economic notions of profit have values embedded in them in a way that generally does not occur in ecology and the other natural sciences. Here we generalize profit as gain in settings beyond strict economics in a way that encourages placing values properly in biological and historical social systems. Complications of elaborate control quickly enter the scene at this point and in this paper we invoke hierarchy theory to keep levels of analysis straight. Hierarchy theory often invokes dualities and a mix of process and structure that is fluid under changes in level of analysis. Beyond this, the things the hierarchy represents changes over time, so we must extend discourse of level of analysis to include how time forces the use of new levels of analysis as hierarchies change over time. Notions of gain and profit are recursive as the system uses resources and must change strategies to deal with scarcity. This in turn forces increases in efficiency in yet a new round of change. The transition from abundant resources used carelessly to scarce resources used efficiently changes controls in biosocial systems. Such changes over time amount to hierarchical restructuring, which in turn requires of the observer meticulous application of new levels of analysis as the system is redefined. The system bounded at a new hierarchical level encounters dualities embedded in the hierarchical concept of the holon. The holon offers a precision of definition of the new system as it exists as an autonomous whole while still being part of some larger system. We introduce these shifts and dualities using examples from nuclear energy, colonial insects and changes in complex societies such as the Roman Empire and the EU. In the end both ideas of profit and hierarchy theory are clarified in a two‐way exchange that moves forward our understanding of biosocial systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of Granular Starch Hydrolysis in Corn Dry‐Grind Process
Authors: Vidal Bernardo C. , Rausch Kent D. , Tumbleson Mike E. , Singh Vijay
Published: July 2009

A promising modification to the dry grind process is the use of granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes (GSHE) for corn fractionation and ethanol production. Modeling the kinetics of granular starch hydrolysis in the corn dry‐grind process is challenging given the heterogeneity of the substrate and the combined activities of α‐amylase and glucoamylase. By measuring reducing sugars, the hydrolysis progress in dry‐grind corn slurry treated with a commercial GSHE was monitored during 3 h of reaction. Progress curves consisted initially of a rapid product formation phase (<15 min), followed by a longer range kinetics characterized by relatively slower product formation. The initial product from the accelerated kinetics was proportional to the adsorbed GSHE concentration, after accounting for the contribution of dissolved starch hydrolysis. The long range kinetics was modeled by an empirical equation that yielded two parameters: a which stood for the asymptotic limit of the product concentration, and ln (b) which was the time required to reach a product concentration of a/2. In response to increasing GSHE concentration, a increased and ln (b) decreased towards a saturation limit. In response to decreasing corn particle size (geometric mean diameter), a increased and ln (b) decreased linearly. These behaviors indicated both parameters were controlled by the concentration of accessible substrates in the starch granules. The findings have implications on the optimal usage of GSHE in dry‐grind processes.
Granule‐bound SSIIa Protein Content and its Relationship with Amylopectin Structure and Gelatinization Temperature of Rice Starch
Authors: Bao Jinsong , Xiao Peng , Hiratsuka Mayu , Sun Mei , Umemoto Takayuki
Published: July 2009

Starch characteristics such as gelatinization properties determine the quality of various products of rice. The eating, cooking and processing qualities of rice are a function of the gelatinization of rice starch. The gelatinization temperature (GT) of rice is controlled by the starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) gene. In the present study, the amount of the starch‐associated SSIIa protein and its relationship with amylopectin structure and GT were investigated. The results indicated that the starch associated SSIIa protein content was positively correlated with GT and level of amylopectin chains with degree of polymerization 12‐24 (DP12‐24), and negatively correlated with the fraction of chains with DP6‐11 and short chain ratio (SCR), i.e. DP6‐11/DP12‐24 (P<0.001). GT was also negatively correlated with DP6‐11 SCR, and positively correlated with DP12‐24. The SSIIa protein content and amylopectin structure showed significant difference between the two SSIIa single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, i.e. guanine‐cytosine/thymine‐thymine (GC/TT)) groups. Rice with GC and TT SNPs had average SSIIa protein contents of 1.076 and 0.681, respectively. Rice with the GC SNPs displayed a lower amount of chains with DP6‐11 and more chains with DP 12‐24 than those with TT SNPs. A mechanism is postulated to explain how SSIIa could determine the distribution of amylopectin side‐chains, which affects the gelatinization temperature of rice starch.
Silane grafting and moisture crosslinking of polyethylene: The effect of molecular structure
Authors: Azizi Hamed , Morshedian Jalil , Barikani Mehdi
Published: July 2009

The silane grafting and moisture crosslinking of different grades of polyethylene have been investigated. Three types of polyethylene (HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE) with different molecular structures and similar melt flow indices were selected. The initiator was dicumyl peroxide (DCP), and the silane was vinyltrimethoxysilane. The grafting reaction was carried out in an internal mixer. The extent of grafting and the degree of crosslinking were determined, and hot‐set tests were carried out to evaluate the crosslink structure of the different polyethylenes. The LLDPE had the highest degree of grafting, while the LDPE had the least. The rate of crosslinking for LDPE was higher than that of HDPE and LLDPE. The gel content of LDPE was higher than that of HDPE and LLDPE. Hot‐set elongation and the number‐average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) were lower for LLDPE and LDPE than for HDPE. Increasing the silane/DCP percentage led to peroxide crosslinking, thereby decreasing the Mc and hot‐set elongation. The number‐average molecular weight (Mn), molecular weight distribution, and number of chain branches were the most important parameters affecting the silane grafting and moisture crosslinking. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Biopersistence and potential adverse health impacts of fibrous nanomaterials: what have we learned from asbestos?
Authors: Sanchez Vanesa C. , Pietruska Jodie R. , Miselis Nathan R. , Hurt Robert H. , Kane Agnes B.
Published: July 2009

Human diseases associated with exposure to asbestos fibers include pleural fibrosis and plaques, pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis), lung cancer, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma. The critical determinants of fiber bioactivity and toxicity include not only fiber dimensions, but also shape, surface reactivity, crystallinity, chemical composition, and presence of transition metals. Depending on their size and dimensions, inhaled fibers can penetrate the respiratory tract to the distal airways and into the alveolar spaces. Fibers can be cleared by several mechanisms, including the mucociliary escalator, engulfment, and removal by macrophages, or through splitting and chemical modification. Biopersistence of long asbestos fibers can lead to inflammation, granuloma formation, fibrosis, and cancer. Exposure to synthetic carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is considered a potential health hazard because of their physical similarities with asbestos fibers. Respiratory exposure to CNTs can produce an inflammatory response, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, and formation of fibrotic granulomas similar to that observed in asbestos‐exposed animals and humans. Given the known cytotoxic and carcinogenic properties of asbestos fibers, toxicity of fibrous nanomaterials is a topic of intense study. The mechanisms of nanomaterial toxicity remain to be fully elucidated, but recent evidence suggests points of similarity with asbestos fibers, including a role for generation of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity. Considering the rapid increase in production and use of fibrous nanomaterials, it is imperative to gain a thorough understanding of their biologic activity to avoid the human health catastrophe that has resulted from widespread use of asbestos fibers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Nanobiosystems
Authors: Seale‐Goldsmith Mary‐Margaret , Leary James F.
Published: July 2009

‘Nanobiosystems’ is a relatively new term describing objects in the size range below 150 nm and having structures or functions that link to biological functions. Key features are that these nanosized objects typically self‐assemble, are not capable of self‐replication, and have functions that take advantage of its size. Nanobiosystems can be made entirely of biological or organic molecules that are organized into nanoparticles (e.g., liposomes, dendrimers) or be totally inorganic (with the exception of surface coatings used for biocompatibility) nanoparticles (e.g., gold, iron oxide, quantum dot nanocrystals). More complex nanobiosystems are inorganic/biologic hybrid composites that may include complex multilayered structures with targeting molecules (e.g., peptides, antibodies, aptamers), cell entry‐promoting molecules (e.g., HIV‐tat peptide sequence), drugs (small molecules), genes (therapeutic genes, reporter genes), and core nanomaterials (e.g., gold, quantum dot, iron oxide) that give the nanobiosystems sometimes unique detection capabilities by a variety of optical and non‐optical modalities (fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, magnetic resonance imaging). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Nanoporous membranes for medical and biological applications
Authors: Adiga Shashishekar P. , Jin Chunmin , Curtiss Larry A. , Monteiro‐Riviere Nancy A. , Narayan Roger J.
Published: July 2009

Synthetic nanoporous materials have numerous potential biological and medical applications that involve sorting, sensing, isolating, and releasing biological molecules. Nanoporous systems engineered to mimic natural filtration systems are actively being developed for use in smart implantable drug delivery systems, bioartificial organs, and other novel nano‐enabled medical devices. Recent advances in nanoscience have made it possible to precisely control the morphology as well as physical and chemical properties of the pores in nanoporous materials that make them increasingly attractive for regulating and sensing transport at the molecular level. In this work, an overview of nanoporous membranes for biomedical applications is given. Various in vivo and in vitro membrane applications, including biosensing, biosorting, immunoisolation, and drug delivery, are presented. Different types of nanoporous materials and their fabrication techniques are discussed with an emphasis on membranes with ordered pores. Desirable properties of membranes used in implantable devices, including biocompatibility and antibiofouling behavior, are discussed. The use of surface modification techniques to improve the function of nanoporous membranes is reviewed. Despite the extensive research carried out in fabrication, characterization, and modeling of nanoporous materials, there are still several challenges that must be overcome in order to create synthetic nanoporous systems that behave similarly to their biological counterparts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Comparative Study on Overexpression of HER2/neu and HER3 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiu Li , Yang Yun Sheng , Xu Dong Ping , Qu Jian Hui , Guo Ming Zhou , Gong Yan , Huang Jin
Published: July 2009

Background

Owing to the special importance of the HER family in tumorigenesis, the downstream signaling pathways and effectors have become the key molecules in the strategy of carcinoma‐targeted therapy. Recent evidence that HER3 is responsible for tumor resistance to therapeutic agents targeting EGFR or HER2/neu, along with the new findings that HER3 is involved in the process of dedifferentiation of gastric cancer (GC) have highlighted the critical role of HER3 in cancer research. HER3 is becoming a new targeted molecule in cancer treatment. Here, we comparatively investigated the expression of HER2/neu and HER3 in gastric cancer of two pathologic types (intestinal type and diffuse type) using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and analyzed the correlation between overexpression of HER2 and HER3 and clinicopathologic parameters.

Methods

An IHC study for HER2 and HER3 was performed on 102 formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded specimens of GC—60 intestinal and 42 diffuse types. The correlation between overexpression of HER2 and HER3 and clinicopathologic parameters was statistically analyzed.

Results

In the GC group, overexpression of HER2 and HER3 was detected in 19 (18.6%) and 14 (13.7%) of 102 GC patients, respectively. In a nontumorous group of 102 specimens, 5 were HER2‐positive (4.9%) (18.6% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.01), and 2 were HER3‐positive (2.0%) (13.7% vs. 2.0%, p < 0.01). No co‐overexpression of HER2 and HER3 was observed. The intestinal type of GC exhibited a higher rate of HER2 overexpression than did the diffuse type (26.7% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.05), whereas the diffuse type of GC exhibited a significantly higher rate of HER3 overexpression than did the intestinal type (26.2% vs. 5.0%, p < 0.01). The overexpression rates of HER2 and HER3 in phase III–IV (TNM stage) disease were significantly higher than that in phase I–II disease (24.0% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.05 and 22.0% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.05, respectively). HER2 and HER3 overexpression was also correlated with a significantly worse survival (p = 0.046 and 0.024, respectively).

Conclusions

The selective overexpression of HER2 and HER3 in the two histologic types of gastric cancer is strongly associated with a poor prognosis. Being an important member of the HER family, HER3 may become another candidate for molecular‐targeted therapy in gastric cancer, especially for the diffuse histologic type.
Long‐Term Results of Fundectomy and Periesophagogastric Devascularization in Patients with Gastric Fundal Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Lee Joo‐Ho , Han Ho‐Seong , Kim Hyun‐Ah , Koo Min‐Young
Published: July 2009

Background

Gastric variceal bleeding is life‐threatening, and occasionally it requires operative intervention, but its treatment is controversial. Based on our experience, we considered that fundectomy and periesophagogastric devascularization (FPD) offers an effective treatment method. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to document postoperative and long‐term follow‐up results, such as, gastric variceal bleeding recurrence and patient survival.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 41 patients with gastric fundal variceal bleeding who underwent FPD between August 1994 and May 2005. The evaluation included clinical characteristics, operative morbidity, mortality, and long‐term follow up results.

Results

Operative morbidity and mortality rates were 26.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Child‐Pugh classification, number of previous variceal bleeding episodes, success of preoperative intervention, and ongoing active bleeding during surgery were all factors found to have significant effects on postoperative mortality. No recurrent bleeding from gastric varices was encountered over a median follow‐up period of 52.1 months. The cumulative 5‐year survival rate was 62.0%, and the major causes of death were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic failure.

Conclusions

The operative procedure used in this study resulted in a low rate of recurrent bleeding and good long‐term survival. This analysis of results suggests that fundectomy and periesophagogastric devascularization is an effective therapeutic intervention in patients with fundal variceal bleeding.
Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio: A New Staging System for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Persiani Roberto , Rausei Stefano , Antonacci Vincenzo , Biondi Alberto , Casella Francesco , Ciccoritti Luigi , D’Ugo Domenico
Published: July 2009

Background

This study was designed to analyze the prognostic significance of the staging system based on the ratio of metastatic lymph nodes (TRM) compared with the TNM staging system in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods

We reviewed the data of 219 patients who underwent gastrectomy for node‐positive M0 cancer. Node Ratio (NR) categories (NR1: 1–15%; NR2: 16–40%; NR3: >40%) were determined by the best cutoff approach at log‐rank test. After confirming the prognostic validity of NR in a collinearity‐free Cox regression analysis, among different combinations of pT and NR categories we selected five prognostically homogeneous TRM classes. To compare the prognostic power of the TRM vs. TNM systems, we plotted TRM and TNM classes against the mortality estimates.

Results

Both of the TRM and TNM classifications significantly stratified patients outcomes (p < 0.0001), but the TRM system identified prognostic subgroups more homogeneous than the TNM system.

Conclusions

The TRM staging system is a simple and reliable tool to stratify patients with gastric cancer and has a higher prognostic power than the current system.
Use of Retrieval Bags in Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Cases
Authors: Goetze Thorsten Oliver , Paolucci Vittorio
Published: July 2009

Introduction

Accidental intraoperative gallbladder perforation is a problem in laparoscopic surgery, especially in cases with incidental gallbladder carcinoma (IGBC). The question is whether intraoperative gallbladder perforation has a prognostic disadvantage or a retrieval bag provides protection against tumor dissemination.

Methods

A standardized questionnaire was sent to all German surgical clinics based on the central register of “incidental gallbladder carcinoma” of the German Society of Surgery founded in 1997.

Results

In 592 IGBC‐registered cases, there were 330 laparoscopies, 154 open surgeries, and intraoperative conversion was performed in 106 cases. Of laparoscopic surgeries (n = 330), the recurrence rate was 30%. The recurrence rate for cases with (174/330) and without (156/330) the use of retrieval bag was 32.2% and 27%, respectively. In laparoscopies with intraoperative gallbladder perforation (73/330 cases), the recurrence rate was 38.4%. Of these cases the recurrence rate with (51/73) and without (22/73) the use of retrieval bags was 39.2% and 36.4%, respectively. In 257 cases without intraoperative perforation, tumor recurrence rate was 27.2%, and it was 29.3% or 25.4% with (123/257) and without (134/257) the use of retrieval bags.

Conclusions

According to the registry data, the intraoperative gallbladder perforation results in significant (P = 0.047) prognostic disadvantage and in these cases retrieval bags were used more often (P = 0.001). However, in IGBC cases if intraoperative gallbladder perforation has already happened, the use of retrieval bags had no protective effects.
Effects of motor practice on cognitive disorders in older adults
Authors: Yan Jin H. , Zhou Cheng Lin
Published: July 2009

The demographics of our societies have changed drastically during the past few decades. The general population is aging rapidly as human life spans continue to expand and more adults are set to mature during the next quarter century. This aging process has numerous implications for the way we live and will have particularly important impacts on health and healthcare. In particular, substantial evidence suggests that cognitive–motor function deteriorates considerably as the result of inactive life style, biological aging, and cognitive impairments. The number of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), an aging-related cognitive disorder, is expected to increase significantly during the next 40 years. The development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD can exaggerate the functional declines observed in cognitive or motor performance. The functional declines affect an array of social, cognitive, mental, physical, and motor activities in our daily lives. However, recent studies suggest that cognitive, physical, motor practice, or skill learning can improve motor speed, smoothness, and accuracy in both MCI and AD patients and their age-matched healthy peers. From theoretical and practical perspectives, this paper addresses several critical aspects of motor deficits and the kinematical characteristics of motor skill development in MCI and AD populations. Empirical data will be presented relative to the sensory–motor functions of MCI and AD, the motor skill acquisition, exercise rehabilitation in older adults with memory loss, as well as the implications for therapies. Finally, this review concludes with thoughts and suggestions for future research in these areas.
New Colloidal Lithographic Nanopatterns Fabricated by Combining Pre-Heating and Reactive Ion Etching
Authors: Cong Chunxiao , Junus WilliamChandra , Shen Zexiang , Yu Ting
Published: July 2009

We report a low-cost and simple method for fabrication of nonspherical colloidal lithographic nanopatterns with a long-range order by preheating and oxygen reactive ion etching of monolayer and double-layer polystyrene spheres. This strategy allows excellent control of size and morphology of the colloidal particles and expands the applications of the colloidal patterns as templates for preparing ordered functional nanostructure arrays. For the first time, various unique nanostructures with long-range order, including network structures with tunable neck length and width, hexagonal-shaped, and rectangular-shaped arrays as well as size tunable nanohole arrays, were fabricated by this route. Promising potentials of such unique periodic nanostructures in various fields, such as photonic crystals, catalysts, templates for deposition, and masks for etching, are naturally expected.
Mixed Micellization of Cationic Gemini Surfactants with Primary Linear Alkylamines
Authors: Khan Iqrar Ahmad , Mohammad Riyaj , Alam Md Sayem , Kabir‐ud‐Din
Published: July 2009

Due to the potential use of amines as co‐surfactants in microemulsions, the effect of adding alkylamines (C4–C8NH2) on the aggregation properties of cationic gemini surfactants [pentanediyl‐1, 5‐bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide) and hexanediyl‐1, 6‐bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide), referred to as 16‐5‐16 and 16‐6‐16 compounds] has been studied using tensiometry at 303 K. Data on critical micelle concentration (CMC), the surface properties C20 (the surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension by 20 mN/m), Гmax (maximum surface excess), Amin (minimum surface area per molecule) evaluated from the surface tension versus surfactant concentration plot, the interaction parameters βσ (for mixed monolayer formation at the aqueous solution/air interface), and βm (for mixed micelle formation in aqueous medium) are reported. A synergistic interaction was observed both in the micelle as well as at interface, as evident from interaction parameters. Theoretical models of Clint, Rubingh and Rosen were used to explain and compare the results. More synergistic interaction was observed in 16‐5‐16 as compared to 16‐6‐16. The CMC values of 16‐s‐16 (s = 5, 6) decreased with increasing amine concentrations and the extent of the effect followed the sequence: octylamine > heptylamine > hexylamine > pentylamine > butylamine.
Spontaneous ectopic pregnancy occurring in the remnant tube after ipsilateral salpingectomy: a report of 2 cases
Authors: Yano Tomone , Ishida Hiroaki , Kinoshita Toshihiko
Published: July 2009

Ectopic pregnancy occurring in the remnant tube after ipsilateral salpingectomy is assumed to be rare. We report 2 cases of spontaneous ectopic pregnancy occurring in the remnant tube that were treated surgically. Even in spontaneous pregnancy, attention should be paid to the remnant tube so as not to miss an ectopic pregnancy after previous salpingectomy.
Qualifikationsrahmen und ihre Bedeutung für die Gesundheitsberufe
Authors: Räbiger Jutta , Pehlke-Milde Jessica
Published: July 2009

Einleitung

Ein Qualifikationsrahmen ist ein System zur einheitlichen Beschreibung und Klassifizierung von Kompetenzen. Der europäische Qualifikationsrahmen (EQR) liegt seit 2008 vor. Der deutsche (DQR) ist Anfang 2009 entwickelt worden, er soll u.a. auf seine Anwendbarkeit für die Gesundheitsberufe erprobt werden. Das übergeordnete Ziel eines Qualifikationsrahmens ist die Förderung von Transparenz und Mobilität im Bildungssystem und am Arbeitsmarkt – sowohl im nationalen als auch im internationalen Rahmen.
ON MAXIMAL ENERGY AND HOSOYA INDEX OF TREES WITHOUT PERFECT MATCHING
Authors: HUA HONGBO
Published: July 2009

Let G be a simple undirected graph. The energy E(G) of G is the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of the adjacent matrix of G, and the Hosoya index Z(G) of G is the total number of matchings in G. A tree is called a nonconjugated tree if it contains no perfect matching. Recently, Ou [‘Maximal Hosoya index and extremal acyclic molecular graphs without perfect matching’, Appl. Math. Lett.19 (2006), 652–656] determined the unique element which is maximal with respect to Z(G) among the family of nonconjugated n-vertex trees in the case of even n. In this paper, we provide a counterexample to Ou’s results. Then we determine the unique maximal element with respect to E(G) as well as Z(G) among the family of nonconjugated n-vertex trees for the case when n is even. As corollaries, we determine the maximal element with respect to E(G) as well as Z(G) among the family of nonconjugated chemical trees on n vertices, when n is even.
A NEW CHARACTERIZATION OF WIMAN SURFACES
Authors: MELEKOĞLU ADNAN
Published: July 2009

Let ℳ be a regular map of genus g>1 and X be the underlying Riemann surface. A reflection of ℳ fixes some simple closed curves on X, which we call mirrors. Each mirror passes through at least two of the geometric points (vertices, face-centers and edge-centers) of ℳ. In this paper we study the surfaces which contain mirrors passing through just two geometric points, and show that only Wiman surfaces have this property.
Wild rice (Zizania latifolia(Griseb) Turcz) improves the serum lipid profile and antioxidant status of rats fed with a high fat/cholesterol diet
Authors: Zhang Hong , Cao Pei , Agellon Luis B. , Zhai Cheng-Kai
Published: July 2009

The diet consumed by urban residents in modern China has become rich in saturated fats and cholesterol. In addition, the diet is high in carbohydrates from white rice and processed wheat starch. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of replacing white rice and processed wheat starch with wild rice (WR) as the chief source of dietary carbohydrates. Rats fed with the diet patterned after the diet consumed by city residents of modern China showed elevated serum lipid levels comparable with rats consuming a high fat/cholesterol diet known to induce hyperlipidaemia in this species. Meanwhile, rats consuming the city diet with WR as the carbohydrate source suppressed the increase in serum TAG and total cholesterol, and the decrease in HDL cholesterol level. In addition, the rats fed the WR diet suppressed the build-up of oxidative stress by improving antioxidant capacity, increasing superoxide dismutase activity and reducing malondialdehyde concentration, both in the serum and liver. These findings illustrate that WR is effective in suppressing hyperlipidaemia and oxidative stress in rats even when the diet consumed is high in fat and cholesterol.
Textual Healing: Mainstream Protestants and the Therapeutic Text, 1900–1925
Authors: Klassen Pamela E.
Published: July 2009

Healing—whether via medical or miraculous means—has increasingly caught the attention of scholars of North American Protestantism within the past decade. Recent studies have convincingly argued that healing was at the heart of Protestant identity, especially in turn-of-the-twentieth-century United States and Canada. Loosely defined as the restoring of physical or emotional well-being with recourse to medical, symbolic, or religious means, healing is often distinguished from curing as a therapeutic approach with more “ho-listic” goals than the cessation of particular physical ailments. Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century groups known for their commitment to divine healing and their antipathy to biomedicine, such as Christian Scientists and Pentecostals, are readily fit within this paradigm of healing, but so too are groups often thought to have disparaged faith healing in their embrace of biomedicine, such as mainstream Anglo-Protestants. Through foreign and domestic medical missions, establishing hospitals and medical schools, and initiating deaconess orders, mainstream Protestant groups, including Anglicans and Methodists, made healing central to their public identity and daily practice. In the process, they faced the tricky negotiation of embracing epistemologies of scientific medicine without surrendering their own theologies of God's omnipotent love, all the while living in an increasingly “therapeutic culture.” Complicating their task was their persistent encounter with different, often competing versions of religious healing, whether in the encounter with natives in colonial missions or in the challenge of rival therapeutic theologies such as those of Christian Science. Making their way through this era of increasing medicalization (and increasing contestation of medicalization), mainstream Protestants developed a strain of Christian healing that was unabashedly medicalized and modern, and they testified to its power in print and in practice.
Vestiges of lost tectonic units in conglomerate pebbles? A test in Permian sequences of the Southalpine Orobic Alps
Authors: ZANONI DAVIDE , SPALLA M. IOLE , GOSSO GUIDO
Published: July 2009

Microstructural analysis andP–Testimates of metamorphic pebbles in Permian conglomerates of the Central Southern Alps, representing the erosion product of the collapsing Variscan chain, are the discriminating tools for determining the metamorphic sequences representing potential sources of the conglomerates. In the selected case, basement units are precisely outlined on the basis of qualityP–T–d–tpaths that allow reconstruction of their metamorphic evolutions (tectonometamorphic units); this facilitates individuation of the basement sources with much better confidence. The lower Permian volcaniclastic sequence of the Eastern Orobic Basin, which overlies the Variscan Val Vedello basement, comprises the Aga and Vedello conglomerates, which are the oldest deposits containing a considerable amount of up to metre-sized metamorphic pebbles. Microstructural and mineral chemical data on metamorphic pebbles of the Aga and Vedello conglomerates were used to infer quantitative pre-PermianP–Tevolutions, which are compared with those of the tectonometamorphic units constituting the surrounding Southalpine metamorphic basement. Two types ofP–Tevolution are recorded in the metamorphic pebbles of Aga and Vedello conglomerates: Type 1 is characterized by an amphibolite-facies imprint, followed by greenschist retrogression; Type 2 is characterized by three successive greenschist-facies re-equilibrations. The Type 1P–Tevolution of metamorphic pebbles matches with that of the adjacent tectonometamorphic unit of the Val Vedello basement. Type 2 is similar to those recorded in units B and C of the North East Orobic basement, and it differs from that of the adjacent Val Vedello basement. This suggests that the Aga and Vedello conglomerates were fed by two different basement sources: one consisting of the present day Val Vedello basement, and the other compatible with units B and C of the North East Orobic basement. According to theP/Tratios of theTmax–PTmaximprints, both basement sources recorded the Variscan collision but at a different crustal level. The age (c.278 Ma) of the Aga and Vedello conglomerates constrains the minimum exhumation age for their basement sources.
Thermally driven exchange flow between open water and an aquatic canopy
Authors: ZHANG XUEYAN , NEPF HEIDI M.
Published: July 2009

Differential solar heating can result from shading by rooted emergent aquatic plants, producing a temperature difference between vegetated and unvegetated regions of a surface water body. This temperature difference will promote an exchange flow between the vegetation and open water. Drag associated with the submerged portion of the plants modifies this exchange, specifically, changing the dominant velocity scale. Scaling analysis predicts several distinct flow regimes, including inertia-dominated, drag-dominated and energy-limiting regimes. After a constant heat source is initiated, the flow is initially inertial, but quickly transitions to the drag-dominated regime. The energy-limiting regime is not likely to occur in the presence of rooted vegetation. Laboratory experiments describe the exchange flow and confirm the scaling analysis. Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) was used to quantify the velocity field. Once the exchange flow enters the drag-dominated regime, the intrusion velocity uV is steady. The intrusion velocity decreases with increasing density of vegetation. The thickness of the intruding layer is set by the length scale of light penetration.
Dynamics of dense sheared granular flows. Part 1. Structure and diffusion
Authors: KUMARAN V.
Published: July 2009

Shear flows of inelastic spheres in three dimensions in the volume fraction range 0.4–0.64 are analysed using event-driven simulations. Particle interactions are considered to be due to instantaneous binary collisions, and the collision model has a normal coefficient of restitution en (negative of the ratio of the post- and pre-collisional relative velocities of the particles along the line joining the centres) and a tangential coefficient of restitution et (negative of the ratio of post- and pre-collisional velocities perpendicular to the line joining the centres). Here, we have considered both et = +1 and et = en (rough particles) and et = −1 (smooth particles), and the normal coefficient of restitution en was varied in the range 0.6–0.98. Care was taken to avoid inelastic collapse and ensure there are no particle overlaps during the simulation. First, we studied the ordering in the system by examining the icosahedral order parameter Q6 in three dimensions and the planar order parameter q6 in the plane perpendicular to the gradient direction. It was found that for shear flows of sufficiently large size, the system continues to be in the random state, with Q6 and q6 close to 0, even for volume fractions between φ = 0.5 and φ = 0.6; in contrast, for a system of elastic particles in the absence of shear, the system orders (crystallizes) at φ = 0.49. This indicates that the shear flow prevents ordering in a system of sufficiently large size. In a shear flow of inelastic particles, the strain rate and the temperature are related through the energy balance equation, and all time scales can be non-dimensionalized by the inverse of the strain rate. Therefore, the dynamics of the system are determined only by the volume fraction and the coefficients of restitution. The variation of the collision frequency with volume fraction and coefficient of restitution was examined. It was found, by plotting the inverse of the collision frequency as a function of volume fraction, that the collision frequency at constant strain rate diverges at a volume fraction φad (volume fraction for arrested dynamics) which is lower than the random close-packing volume fraction 0.64 in the absence of shear. The volume fraction φad decreases as the coefficient of restitution is decreased from en = 1; φad has a minimum of about 0.585 for coefficient of restitution en in the range 0.6–0.8 for rough particles and is slightly larger for smooth particles. It is found that the dissipation rate and all components of the stress diverge proportional to the collision frequency in the close-packing limit. The qualitative behaviour of the increase in the stress and dissipation rate are well captured by results derived from kinetic theory, but the quantitative agreement is lacking even if the collision frequency obtained from simulations is used to calculate the pair correlation function used in the theory.