bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEIPIN S90L Mutation in an Italian family with CMT2/dHMN and pyramidal signs
Authors: Luigetti M. , Fabrizi G.M. , Madia F. , Ferrarini M. , Conte A. , Delgrande A. , Tonali P.A. , Sabatelli M.
Published: September 2010

Heterozygous mutations in the Berardinelli–Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL2) gene have been associated with different clinical phenotypes including Silver syndrome/spastic paraplegia 17, distal hereditary motor neuropathy type V, and Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2 (CMT2) with predominant hand involvement. We studied an Italian family with a CMT2 phenotype with pyramidal signs that had subclinical sensory involvement on sural nerve biopsy. Direct sequencing analysis of the BSCL2 gene in the three affected siblings revealed an S90L mutation. This report confirms the variability of clinical phenotypes associated with a BSCL2 Ser90Leu mutation and describes the first Italian family with this mutation. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Fibulin‐3 is associated with tumour progression and a poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinomas and inhibits cell migration and invasion via suppressed AKT activity
Authors: Hwang Chung‐Feng , Chien Chih‐Yen , Huang Shun‐Cheng , Yin Yu‐Fang , Huang Chao‐Cheng , Fang Fu‐Min , Tsai Hsin‐Ting , Su Li‐Jen , Chen Chang‐Han
Published: September 2010

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is known for its highly metastatic character. Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment have not improved the high mortality rate that is attributable to early metastasis. Although several biomarkers correlate with metastasis and prognosis, the molecular mechanisms of NPC development and progression remain unclear. We demonstrate comprehensively that fibulin‐3 is down‐regulated in NPC. Loss of fibulin‐3 expression is significantly correlated with advanced tumour and lymph node‐metastasis stages, and indicates a poor 5‐year survival rate. Functionally, fibulin‐3 has the ability to suppress cell migration and invasion in NPC cancer cells by decreasing the activity of phospho‐AKT. Conversely, its depletion by fibulin‐3‐mediated siRNAs may elevate phospho‐AKT activity and significantly enhance the ability of NPC cancer cells to migrate and invade. Consistent with this negative association between fibulin‐3 and phospho‐AKT, their expression levels are inversely correlated in NPC specimens by immunohistochemical analysis. Thus, lower fibulin‐3 expression is an important indicator of poor survival. It may also contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies to block the PI3K/AKT pathway in NPC cancer cells. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oral chelation: Should it be used with young children?
Authors: Mednick Lauren M. , Braunstein Jennifer , Neufeld Ellis
Published: September 2010

Deferasirox, the only oral iron chelator approved in the US and Canada, achieved a pediatric label indication down to 2 years of age. FDA‐mandated post‐marketing safety surveillance in children under age 6 is ongoing. We wish to raise a non‐safety‐related concern with deferasirox chelation in very young children (2–5 years old). Specifically, the circumstances required for reliable daily ingestion of deferasirox do not mesh well with the developmental characteristics common in young children, which may limit adherence and cause parental distress. We review developmental challenges associated with oral chelation in this age group and provide suggestions to improve adherence in this population. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:603–605. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Speciation analysis, bioavailability and risk assessment of trace metals in herbal decoctions using a combined technique of in Vitro digestion and biomembrane filtration as sample pretreatment method
Authors: Li Shun‐Xing , Lin Lu‐xiu , Lin Jing , Zheng Feng‐Ying , Wang Qing‐Xiang , Weng Wen
Published: September 2010

Sample preparation is the first crucial step in the speciation analysis, bioavailability and risk assessment of trace metals in plant samples such as herb and vegetables. Two bionic technologies titled ‘in vitro digestion’ and ‘extraction with biomembrane’ were developed for pre‐treatment of herbal decoction. The decoctions of Aconiteum carmichaeli and Paeonia lactiflora were digested at body temperature, at the acidity of the stomach or intestine and with inorganic and organic materials (digestive enzymes were included for whole‐bionic and excluded for semi‐bionic) found in the stomach or intestine. Being similar to the biomembrane between the gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels, monolayer liposome was used as a biomembrane model. Affinity‐monolayer liposome metals and water‐soluble metals were used for speciation analysis and bioavailability assessment of copper and zinc in herbal decoction. In the decoction of Aconiteum carmichaeli and Paeonia lactiflora, Zn was mainly absorbed in the intestine and Cu was mainly absorbed by both stomach and intestine. The safe dosage for males and females is below 257.1 g/day Aconiteum carmichaeli and 529.4 g/day Paeonia lactiflora. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reliability of Implicit Self–Esteem Measures Revisited
Authors: Krause Sascha , Back Mitja D. , Egloff Boris , Schmukle Stefan C.
Published: September 2010

This study investigated the internal consistencies and temporal stabilities of different implicit self–esteem measures. Participants ( N = 101) responded twice—with a time lag of 4 weeks—to five different tasks: the Implicit Association Test (IAT), the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT), the Affective Priming Task (APT), the Identification–Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (ID–EAST) and the Name–Letter Task (NLT). As expected, the highest reliability coefficients were obtained for the self–esteem IAT. Importantly, the internal consistencies and the temporal stabilities of the APT, the ID–EAST, and the NLT were substantially improved by using material, structural, and analytic innovations. In particular, the use of the adaptive response–window procedure for the APT, the computation of error scores for the ID–EAST, and the computation of a double corrected scoring algorithm for the NLT yielded reliability coefficients comparable to those of the established IAT. Implications for the indirect assessment of self–esteem are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method to prevent cross contamination during 2‐DE by β‐amyloid peptides
Authors: Schieb Heinke , Spitzer Philipp , Riess Verena , Wiltfang Jens , Klafki Hans W.
Published: September 2010

A method for the efficient decontamination of aluminium oxide ceramic 2‐DE focusing trays from β‐amyloid peptides (Aβ) is reported. As these contaminations were resistant to the standard cleaning procedures, additional harsh cleaning steps were necessary for their efficient removal. Our observations suggest that specific surface properties affect the degree of adsorption of the Aβ‐peptides. “Surface catalysed amyloid aggregation” in the aluminium oxide ceramic trays is proposed as a possible underlying mechanism for the occurrence of proteinase K‐resistant forms of Aβ.
Benzoxazine containing polyester thermosets with improved adhesion and flexibility
Authors: Tuzun Alev , Kiskan Baris , Alemdar Neslihan , Erciyes A. Tuncer , Yagci Yusuf
Published: September 2010

High molecular weight polyesters containing thermally curable benzoxazine units in the main chain have been synthesized. For this purpose, first the diol functional monomer is synthesized through the Mannich and subsequent ring closure reactions of bisphenol‐A, paraformaldehyde, and 5‐amino‐1‐pentanol. Polycondensation of the resulting benzoxazine and pyromellitic dianhydride or 4‐4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphatalic anhydride with or without dibutyltin laurate yielded the corresponding polyesters with the molecular weights between 5800 and 7000 Da. The structures of the precursor diol monomer and the resulting polyesters are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis. Curing behavior of both the monomer and polymers has also been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Flexible films of the polyesters were obtained by solvent casting on tin plates and crosslinked by heating in the absence of any catalyst. The cured films exhibited high flexibility and adhesion on the tin plates as determined by ASTM and DIN tests. Thermal properties of the cured polymers were also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4279–4284, 2010
Bioengineering functional copolymers. XV. Synthesis and characterization of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide‐co‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐alt‐maleic anhydride)s and their PEO branched derivatives
Authors: Rzayev Zakir M. O. , Türk Mustafa , Uzgören Ayşe
Published: September 2010

Novel bioengineering functional terpolymers were synthesized by complex‐radical terpolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA), 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran (DHP) and maleic anhydride (MA) with α,α′‐azoisobisbutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator in 1,4‐dioxane at 65 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. Structure compositions and composition‐property relationships of terpolymers, and the monomer reactivity ratios were investigated by 1H (13C) NMR spectroscopy, DSC and TGA thermal analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by modified methods of Jaacks and Kelen‐Tudöş using 1H‐NMR analysis data: r1 = 1.14 and r2 = 0.06 (by 1H‐NMR) and r1 = 1.07 and r2 = 0.04 (by N analysis) for NIPA (M1) and MA…DHP (M2) monomer‐monomer complex pair. An α,ω‐hydroxy‐methoxypolyethylene oxide branched derivative was synthesized by grafting (esterification) of anhydride units of the terpolymer. Investigation into the factors affecting the antitumor activity revealed that terpolymers containing a combination of H‐bonded ionizable amide and carboxylic groups exhibited higher antitumor activity, towards SCLC cancer cells. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4285–4295, 2010
Decoration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the surface of poly(acrylic acid) functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes by covalent bonding
Authors: Zhou Hongfu , Zhang Chen , Li Hangquan , Du Zhongjie
Published: September 2010

Fe3O4 nanoparticles were indirectly implanted onto functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) leading to a nanocomposite with stronger magnetic performance. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) oligomer was first reacted with hydroxyl‐functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs‐OH) forming PAA‐grafted MWCNTs (PAA‐g‐MWCNTs). Subsequently, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were attached onto the surface of PAA‐g‐MWCNTs through an amidation reaction between the amino groups on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the carboxyl groups of PAA. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and PAA‐g‐MWCNTs were indeed chemically linked. The morphology of the nanocomposites was characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The surface and bulk structure of the nanocomposites were examined using X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The magnetic performance was characterized by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and the magnetic saturation value of the magnetic nanocomposites was 47 emu g−1. The resulting products could be separated from deionized water under an external magnetic field within about 15 s. Finally, the magnetorheological (MR) performances of the synthesized magnetic nanocomposites and pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles were examined using a rotational rheometer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Investigations of (PVA)0.7(NaBr)0.3(H2SO4)xM solid acid polymer electrolyte using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy
Authors: Aly E. Hassan , Hassan M. A. , Sheha E.
Published: September 2010

The free‐volumes of solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) were characterized using positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy, FTIR, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The SPE based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sodium bromide (NaBr) complexed with sulfuric acid (SA) H2SO4 at different weight percent ratios were prepared using solution cast technique. The PAL results indicate that a higher SA content (more than 0.87 mol/L) in (PVA)0.7(NaBr)0.3 matrix increase the free‐volume hole size from 58 Å3 to 87 Å3. The increase in the SPE free‐volume with higher SA content was associated with a decrease in the SPE crystallinity. It is postulated that the incorporated SA interrupt polymeric chain packing and retard crystallization during electrolyte films formation. The FTIR spectral studies indicate that the SA content higher than 0.87 mol/L induces chemical modifications within the PVA, which results in chain scission. The PAL study shows that the chain scissions within the polymer matrix affect the free volume hole density (I3) and hence the microstructure. I3 was found to be decreased from ≃11 to ≃6 %, resulting in lower fractional free‐volume holes in the SPE films. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2038–2044, 2010
Stress, coping, and hope
Authors: Folkman Susan
Published: September 2010

Hope is discussed in many literatures and from many perspectives. In this essay hope is discussed from the vantage of psychology and stress and coping theory. Hope and psychological stress share a number of formal properties: both are contextual, meaning‐based, and dynamic, and both affect well‐being in difficult circumstances. Two assumptions underlie this essay: (1) hope is essential for people who are coping with serious and prolonged psychological stress; and (2) hope is not a perpetually self‐renewing resource; it has peaks and valleys and is at times absent altogether. The relationship between hope and coping is dynamic and reciprocal; each in turn supports and is supported by the other. This relationship is illustrated with two adaptive tasks common across situations that threaten physical or psychological well‐being—managing uncertainty and coping with a changing reality. The essay describes ways in which coping fosters hope when it is at low ebb as well as ways in which hope fosters and sustains coping over the long term. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychosocial interventions as part of breast cancer rehabilitation programs? Results from a systematic review
Authors: Fors Egil A. , Bertheussen Gro F. , Thune Inger , Juvet Lene K. , Elvsaas Ida‐Kristin Ø. , Oldervoll Line , Anker Gun , Falkmer Ursula , Lundgren Steinar , Leivseth Gunnar
Published: September 2010

Objective: This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and social support interventions used in the rehabilitation of breast cancer (BC) patients.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search to identify randomised controlled trials of female BC patients who underwent different psychosocial interventions during or after primary cancer treatment. The methodological quality of all studies was independently assessed by two reviewers. Studies with low quality, less than 20 participants in each group, patients with metastatic cancer, data not presented separately for BC and studies that included other cancer types were excluded.

Results: Among 9617 identified studies, only 18 RCTs published between 1999 and 2008, including 3272 patients were finally included in this systematic evaluation. Outcome measures were categorised into quality of life (QoL), fatigue, mood, health behaviour and social function. Six trials examined psychoeducation had inconsistent results, both during and after the primary treatment. Seven trials examined the effect of CBT, four of which given after primary treatment (range 6–12 weeks) demonstrated improvements in QoL; the other three CBT studies given during primary treatment (range 9–20 weeks) had inconsistencies. Five studies addressed social support and showed no conclusive impacts of this intervention.

Conclusions: Limited documentation exists on the efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation interventions among BC patients. However, we found that patients might have QoL benefits from CBT given after primary BC treatment. More documentation is needed regarding the effects of CBT during primary treatment and the effects of psychoeducation and social support. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secreted protein profile from HepG2 cells incubated by S(−) and R(+) enantiomers of chiral drug warfarin – An analysis in cell‐based system and clinical samples
Authors: Bai Jing , Ching Chi Bun , Chowbay Balram , Chen Wei Ning
Published: September 2010

Purpose: Warfarin is a commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant with narrow therapeutic index. It interferes with the vitamin K cycle to achieve anti‐coagulating effects. Warfarin has two enantiomers, S(−) and R(+) and undergoes stereoselective metabolism, with the S(−) enantiomer being more effective. Our target is to discover the biological differences of the two enantiomers for better warfarin therapy.

Experimental design: We reported the extracellular protein profile in HepG2 cells incubated with S(−) and R(+) warfarin, using iTRAQ‐coupled 2‐D LC‐MS/MS. In addition, clinical sera from 30 patients taken warfarin were also analyzed by the same method as a long‐term batch.

Results: In cell line batch in samples incubated with S(−) and R(+) warfarin alone, inter‐α‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4, apolipoprotein A‐I and α‐2‐HS‐glycoprotein showed variations in cells incubated with S(−) warfarin and R(+) warfarin. For other proteins like α‐2‐macroglobulin and Fibrinogen γ chain, the expressions each were found to be the same in cells incubated with either S(−) or R(+) warfarin. Clinical results showed the same trends for protein ratio changes.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: Our results indicated that those proteins may interfere with blood coagulation process, as well as contribute to the warfarin's side‐effect response. Taken together, our findings provided molecular evidence on a comprehensive protein profile on warfarin–cell interaction which may shed new lights on future improvement of warfarin therapy.
Theoretical study of ethene hydrogenation reaction on Ir4 tetrahedral cluster
Authors: Tsyshevsky Roman V. , Garifzianova Guzel G. , Aristov Ilia V. , Shamov Alexander G. , Khrapkovskii Grigorii M.
Published: September 2010

Hydrogenation reaction of ethene on free Ir4 cluster was theoretically investigated using DFT B3LYP level of theory with LanL2Dz basis set. It was found that hydrogen molecule adsorption proceeded without an apparent transition state structure and the adsorption energy was predicted to be −93.7 kJ/mol. Two possible channel of hydrogenation reaction were investigated. Distortion of cluster frame and high values of activation energies make these channels unfavorable. It was shown that inclusion of magnesium oxide (MgO) support model in our calculations account for a considerable variation of geometric parameters of Ir4 cluster. The bonding of a single carbon ligand to the supported tetrahedral Ir4 cluster at the on‐top site was also modeled to probe changes in geometric parameters in comparison with unsupported cluster. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Vibrational corrections to geometry and nuclear shielding constants of cytosine
Authors: Cybulski Sławomir M.
Published: September 2010

Vibrational corrections to geometry of cytosine were evaluated at several different levels of theory and for several basis sets. The effects of these corrections on bond lengths involving hydrogen atoms as well as bond and dihedral angles involving the amine group were found to be more significant than correlation and basis set effects. A comparison with the bond lengths of C–H and N–H bonds involving cytosine in double stranded DNA structures that were deposited in Nucleic Acid Database showed that the length of both types of bonds in vast majority of structures is underestimated. In addition, the influence of vibrational effects on the shielding constants of all atoms was analyzed. It was found that vibrational averaging lowered the values of shielding constants of all atoms. Particularly, large vibrational corrections were found for nitrogen and oxygen nuclei, but proton shielding was not found to be significantly affected. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
On the contribution of mixed terms in response function treatment of vibrational nonlinear optical properties
Authors: Kirtman Bernard , Luis Josep M.
Published: September 2010

A new response theory formulation for calculating second‐order vibrational nonlinear optical properties has been recently presented by Hansen et al., J Chem Phys, 2009, 131, 154101. For so‐called mixed terms, this method contains a correction to account for an approximation made in the classic Bishop and Kirtman, J Chem Phys, 1991, 15, 2646 perturbation treatment. This correction vanishes in the static limit and is here shown to vanish also in the high‐frequency limit. The response theory formulation is extended to third‐order properties and, in that case, vanishes in both limits as well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Design of A New Vibration Transducer for Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Devices
Authors: Seong Ki Woong , Kim Min Woo , Lee Jung Hyun , Kim Myung Nam , Cho Jin Ho
Published: September 2010

A new vibration transducer was developed for implantable middle ear hearing devices (IMEHDs). It comprises two permanent magnets positioned inside three coils. The transducer maximizes the interaction between the magnetic fields of the two magnets and the electrical current flowing through the coils. Further, the transducer is robust to external magnetic fields because the magnetic fields inside it are symmetrical. The frequency response was simulated by finite element analysis (FEA). The vibrational displacement of the proposed transducer is 6 dB greater than those of the differential floating mass transducer (DFMT) and the floating mass transducer (FMT). On the basis of these results, a prototype was fabricated and its frequency response was experimentally investigated and compared with simulation results. Finally, it is shown that the proposed transducer has a higher vibrational displacement than the older ones. © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Historical Perspective on Market Risks Using the DJIA Index Over One Century
Authors: Zumbach Gilles , Finger Christopher
Published: September 2010

The availability of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index over one century allows an investigation of the stability through time of the statistical properties of this time series, and a measurement of the performance of the main risk evaluation methodologies. The main risk methodologies are presented and discussed. The difference between fundamental limitations (that cannot be changed) and particular implementations (that can be tested and improved) is clearly made. Thanks to the large sample (28850 days), clear conclusions can be reached with simple statistics. In particular, the various risk methodologies perform just according to their respective ingredients used to build the volatility forecast (short versus long memory) and distributional assumption (normal versus fat‐tail). The time stability analysis is carried out using the algorithms developed for risk evaluations. After the volatility is properly discounted, the statistical properties of the DJIA index appear to be extraordinarily stable over time, despite the very significant changes that occurred during the 20th century.
Biominerals—hierarchical nanocomposites: the example of bone
Authors: Beniash Elia
Published: September 2010

Many organisms incorporate inorganic solids in their tissues to enhance their functional, primarily mechanical, properties. These mineralized tissues, also called biominerals, are unique organo‐mineral nanocomposites, organized at several hierarchical levels, from nano‐ to macroscale. Unlike man‐made composite materials, which often are simple physical blends of their components, the organic and inorganic phases in biominerals interface at the molecular level. Although these tissues are made of relatively weak components under ambient conditions, their hierarchical structural organization and intimate interactions between different elements lead to superior mechanical properties. Understanding basic principles of formation, structure, and functional properties of these tissues might lead to novel bioinspired strategies for material design and better treatments for diseases of the mineralized tissues. This review focuses on general principles of structural organization, formation, and functional properties of biominerals on the example the bone tissues.WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2011 3 47–69 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.105

This article is categorized under:

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Isolation and characterization of the carbon catabolite‐derepressing protein kinase Snf1 from the stress tolerant yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii
Authors: Hernández‐López María José , Prieto José Antonio , Randez‐Gil Francisca
Published: September 2010

We cloned a genomic DNA fragment of the yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii by complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae snf1Δ mutant strain. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the fragment contained a complete open reading frame (ORF), which shares a high similarity with the S. cerevisiae energy sensor protein kinase Snf1. The cloned TdSNF1 gene was able to restore growth of the S. cerevisiae snf1Δ mutant strain on media containing nonfermentable carbon sources. Furthermore, cells of the Tdsnf1Δ mutant were unable to proliferate under nonfermenting conditions. Finally, protein domain analysis showed that TdSnf1p contains a typical catalytic protein kinase domain (positions 41–293), which is also present in other Snf1p homologues. Within this region we identified a protein kinase ATP‐binding region (positions 48–71) and a consensus Ser/Thr protein kinase active site (positions 160–172). The GenBank Accession No. for the sequenced DNA fragment is HM131845. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Systematische Studie zu den Koordinationseigenschaften des Guanidin‐Liganden Bis(tetramethylguanidino)propan mit den Metallen Mangan, Cobalt, Nickel, Zink, Cadmium, Quecksilber und Silber
Authors: Neuba Adam , Herres‐Pawlis Sonja , Seewald Oliver , Börner Janna , Heuwing Andreas J. , Flörke Ulrich , Henkel Gerald
Published: September 2010

The transition metal complexes with the ligand 1,3‐bis(N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylguanidino)propane (btmgp), [Mn(btmgp)Br2] (1), [Co(btmgp)Cl2] (2), [Ni(btmgp)I2] (3), [Zn(btmgp)Cl2] (4), [Zn(btmgp)(O2CCH3)2] (5), [Cd(btmgp)Cl2] (6), [Hg(btmgp)Cl2] (7) and [Ag2(btmgp)2][ClO4]2·2MeCN (8), were prepared and characterised for the first time. The stoichiometric reaction of the corresponding water‐free metal salts with the ligand btmgp in dry MeCN or THF resulted in the straightforward formation of the mononuclear complexes 1–7 and the binuclear complex 8. In complexes with MII the metal ion shows a distorted tetrahedral coordination whereas in 8, the coordination of the MI ion is almost linear. The coordination behavior of btmgp and resulting structural parameters of the corresponding complexes were discussed in an comparative approach together with already described complexes of btmgp and the bisguanidine ligand N1,N2‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine (DMEG2e), respectively.
(Ba6O)(ReN3)2: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Physical Properties
Authors: Schmidt C. L. , Dinnebier Robert , Jansen Martin
Published: September 2010

The reaction of a mixture of barium and rhenium (3:1) at 850 °C under flowing nitrogen yielded the nitride‐oxide (Ba6O)(ReN3)2 (R$\bar{3}$ (No. 148); a = 8.1178(2) Å, c = 17.5651(4) Å; V = 1002.43(5) Å3; Z = 6). According to a structure refinement on X‐ray powder diffraction data, this compound is isostructural to a recently described nitride‐oxide of osmium of analogous composition. The structure consists of sheets of trigonal ReN3 units and trigonal antiprismatic Ba6O groups. The Ba–O distance of 2.73 Å is close to the sum of the respective ionic radii. The trigonal ReN35– nitride anion displays a Re–N bond length of 1.94 Å, and is planar within the limits of experimental error. The constitution of the anion was confirmed by IR and Raman spectroscopy. The nitride‐oxide is stable up to 1000 °C, semiconducting (σ = 4.57 × 10–3 Ω–1·cm–1 at RT), and paramagnetic down to 25 K. A Curie–Weiss analysis resulted in a magnetic moment of μ = 0.68 μB per rhenium atom.
Asymptotic fields ahead of mixed mode frictional cohesive cracks
Authors: Karihaloo B.L. , Xiao Q.Z.
Published: September 2010

This paper discusses the asymptotic fields ahead of mixed mode frictional cohesive cracks in quasi‐brittle materials. These fields have been derived after reformatting the cohesive‐law in a special but universal polynomial containing fractional or integer powers. This special form ensures that the radial and angular variations of the asymptotic fields are separable as in the Williams expansions for a traction‐free crack. The coefficients of the expansions however depend nonlinearly on the softening law and the boundary conditions. As expected, the asymptotic field of a frictional cohesive crack reduces to that of a frictionless cohesive crack with normal cohesive separation when the friction coefficient becomes zero. It is also shown that the asymptotic field of a frictionless cohesive crack can be used to a non‐cohesive crack opened by crack face loading, after including the singular terms corresponding to the eigenvalue 1/2. Furthermore, the coefficients are given explicitly for two special softening laws that are commonly used in practice. The leading terms of the true displacement asymptotic field are also derived explicitly. These are especially useful as the enrichment functions at the tip of a mixed mode cohesive crack for accurate simulation of crack growth in quasi‐brittle materials using the extended finite element (XFEM).
Prognostic Impact of Extrathyroid Extension and Clinical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Depend on Carcinoma Size
Authors: Fukushima Mitsuhiro , Ito Yasuhiro , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Miya Akihiro , Shimizu Kazuo , Miyauchi Akira
Published: September 2010

Background

Although papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally has an indolent nature, massive extrathyroid extension (Ex) and clinical lateral node metastasis (N1b) are prominent predictors of a dire prognosis. However, it remains unknown whether these factors affect patient prognosis with uniformity. In this study, we investigated the relationships between the prognostic impact of these factors and carcinoma size.

Methods

A total of 5,917 patients who underwent initial and curative surgery for PTC between 1987 and 1995 were enrolled in this study. After dividing these patients into four subsets based on tumor size—≦1.0 cm, 1.1–2.0 cm, 2.1–3.0 cm, and >3.0 cm—we investigated the prognostic impacts of Ex and N1b in each subset.

Results

Relative risk (RR) of disease‐free survival (DFS) of N1b was the highest in the subset ≦1.0 cm and decreased with tumor size. RR of Ex was smaller in carcinoma ≦3.0 cm but larger in carcinoma >3.0 cm compared with that of N1b in the respective subsets. On multivariate analysis, N1b was a more important prognostic factor than Ex in carcinoma ≦3.0 cm, but the prognostic impacts of these two factors were reversed in carcinoma >3.0 cm. Similar findings were obtained in analyses for cause‐specific survival (CSS) and prognostic value of N1b was more significant in carcinoma ≦3.0 cm but less significant in carcinoma >3.0 cm than that of Ex.

Conclusions

The prognostic values of Ex and N1b vary with tumor size in PTC. It is important for physicians to pay attention to tumor size when evaluating the prognostic impact of these two prominent factors.
Changing Approaches to Cholecystectomy in Elderly Patients: A 10‐Year Retrospective Study in Taiwan
Authors: Shi Hon‐Yi , Lee King‐Teh , Uen Yih‐Huei , Chiu Chong‐Chi , Lee Hao‐Hsien
Published: September 2010

Background

The prevalence of symptomatic gallbladder diseases increases with age. The present study evaluated cholecystectomy risk factors and hospital resource utilization in an elderly (aged 60 years and older) population of patients who had undergone open cholecystectomy (OC) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

The study analyzed 20,538 OC and 29,318 LC procedures performed in Taiwan from 1996 to 2007. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were calculated to assess the relative change rate. Regression models were employed to predict length of stay (LOS) and total surgical cost.

Results

Patient characteristics associated with increased likelihood of undergoing LC were age 60–69 years, female gender, and lack of current co‐morbidities. Length of stay associated with both OC and LC decreased during the study period. Total surgical cost for elderly OC patients increased during the study period, whereas that for elderly LC patients declined. Compared to OC patients, LC patients had significantly larger changes in LOS (−2.27 days) and total surgical cost ($ −368.64 U.S. dollars) (p < 0.001). The following factors were associated with considerable increases in both LOS and total surgical cost: advanced age, female gender, presence of one or more co‐morbidities, treatment in a regional or a district hospital, and long LOS.

Conclusions

Decreases in hospital resource utilization were larger in elderly LC patients than in elderly OC patients. Health care providers and patients should observe that hospital resource utilization may depend on hospital attributes as well as patient attributes. These analytical results should be applicable to similar elderly populations in other countries.
Ant–plant interaction in the Neotropical savanna: direct beneficial effects of extrafloral nectar on ant colony fitness
Authors: Byk Jonas , Del‐Claro Kleber
Published: September 2010

Current evidence suggests that ant–plant relationships may influence species composition, abundance, and interactions at the community scale. The main resource that plants offer to ants is extrafloral nectar (EFN) and the major part of published studies shown benefits from ants to plants possessing EFNs. However, the complementary question of whether and how ants benefit from EFNs is rarely addressed. Here, we present the results of a long‐term study to demonstrate whether EFN has a positive effect on ant colony fitness. We quantified colony growth rate, survival and the final weight of individuals as measures of benefit derived from EFN. Our results provide clear evidence that EFN can have a significant positive impact on the survivorship, growth and reproduction of the Myrmicinae Cephalotes pusillus. In fact, a diet rich in EFN (providing at least 30 cal per day) resulted in five times more individuals per colony, greater body weights, and more eggs. These results have shed new light on the relationships between ants and EFN‐bearing plants such as in tropical and temperate systems. The ant C. pusillus is the first case in which we have firm evidence that EFN improves colony growth and development, corroborating more than 100 years of experimental evidence of benefits to plants in these widespread relationships.
The Preventive Effects of Apolipoprotein Mimetic D-4F from Vibration Injury—Experiment in Rats
Authors: Rowe David J. , Yan Ji-Geng , Zhang Lin Ling , Pritchard Kirkwood A. , Kao Dennis S. , Matloub Hani S. , Riley Danny A.
Published: September 2010

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a debilitating sequela of neurological and vascular injuries caused by prolonged occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. Our previous study demonstrated that short-term exposure to vibration can induce vasoconstriction and endothelial cell damage in the ventral artery of the rat's tail. The present study investigated whether pretreatment with D-4F, an apolipoprotein A-1 mimetic with known anti-oxidant and vasodilatory properties, prevents vibration-induced vasoconstriction, endothelial cell injury, and protein nitration. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 3 mg/kg D-4F at 1 h before vibration of the tails for 4 h/day at 60 Hz, 49 m/s2 r.m.s. acceleration for either 1 or 3 days. Vibration-induced endothelial cell damage was examined by light microscopy and nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity (a marker for free radical production). One and 3-day vibration produced vasoconstriction and increased nitrotyrosine. Preemptive treatment with D-4F prevented these negative changes. These findings suggest that D-4F may be useful in the prevention of HAVS.
What ‘anorogenic’ igneous rocks can tell us about the chemical composition of the upper mantle: case studies from the circum-Mediterranean area
Authors: LUSTRINO MICHELE
Published: September 2010

The composition of the upper mantle bounded by the Canaries, Eastern Anatolia, Libya and Poland is indirectly investigated by means of the chemical composition of igneous rocks with ‘anorogenic’ geochemical characteristics emplaced during the Cenozoic. The relatively homogeneous composition of these products in terms of incompatible trace-element content and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic composition is unexpected, considering the variable lithospheric structure of this large area and the different tectono-thermal histories of the various districts. In order to reconcile the geochemical characteristics with a statistical sampling model, it would be necessary to propose volumes of the enriched regions much lower than the sampling volumes for each volcano (that is, less than 10 cubic metres), or alternatively, efficient magma blending from larger areas. The data are consistent with a relatively well-stirred and mixed sub-lithospheric upper mantle, in the solid state, which is also hard to understand. This contrasts with the situation under oceans where magma blending from diverse sources and sampling theory can explain the compositional statistics.
The worst of both worlds: Commercial rice production in West Indramayu, 1885–1935
Authors: Fernando M.R.
Published: September 2010

This paper deals with the consequences of the increasing commercialisation of the rice industry in west Indramayu from the mid-1880s to the late 1930s. Instead of prosperity as a result of growing rice for sale in a free market, local peasants found their survival being threatened by traders who had them bound to a vicious cycle of debts and who acquired much of the rice they produced. The rice growers in west Indramayu were impoverished far more than the peasants growing cash crops such as sugar elsewhere in Java.
Localisation, regionalism and the history of ideas in Southeast Asia
Authors: Milner Anthony
Published: September 2010

Much analysis of Asian regional relations and institutions is written in an historical and cultural vacuum. The impression is often given that security or economic arrangements are comparable with physical structures — creations of engineers rather than social scientists (or even architects). The writings of Amitav Acharya, now Professor of International Affairs at American University in Washington, DC, are a distinguished exception. Already the author of major books on security architecture and community identity in Southeast Asia – including hisConstructing a Community in Southeast Asia, which has just come out in a new edition – Acharya has produced a careful study of the diffusion of security ideas and norms in the Asian region, particularly Southeast Asia. He concentrates in particular on the establishing in Asia of the norm of ‘cooperative security’ (as against ‘common security’) and the institution of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It is a study – dealing especially with the last half century or so – which draws not just on the historical record of Southeast Asia but also on the theoretical insights of historians of that region. Acharya is genuine in his cross-disciplinary endeavour, and, in my view, has developed a methodology that invites a response from historians as well as practitioners in his own field of security studies.
Mutual Brokers of Grace: A Study in 2 Corinthians 1.3-11
Authors: Briones David
Published: September 2010

The brokerage relationship has been applied as a model to various passages in the NT. Surprisingly, only a few have applied it to the Pauline corpus. Among them is Stephan Joubert, who uses the model to reach a very hierarchical conclusion on Paul's apostleship in the Corinthian Correspondence. Against Joubert, this essay will demonstrate that, when the brokerage model is applied to 2 Cor 1.3-11, a characteristic relational pattern in the economy of grace emerges, one which is marked by interpersonal solidarity and a mutual channelling of χάρις. This discovery, however, only emerges once the ‘unfitting’ nature of the model is acknowledged.
‘Some were saying, “He is good”’ (John 7.12b): ‘Good’ Christology in John's Gospel?
Authors: Heath Jane
Published: September 2010

Far from being the banality suggested by commentators, John's use of the vocabulary of ‘goodness’ for Jesus (ἀγαθός and καλός) is christologically significant. It points to Jesus' unity with God. The Johannine treatment of Jesus' ‘goodness’ and interpretation of the Shema contrasts with and complements the Synoptic treatment of these themes in the rich man pericope (Mark 10.17–22 parr.).
The Son's Entrance into the Heavenly World: The Soteriological Necessity of the Scriptural Catena in Hebrews 1.5-14
Authors: Jipp Joshua W.
Published: September 2010

Hebrews 1.5-14 has proved difficult to integrate within the author's larger literary project. More recent scholarship has emphasized rightly that the catena centers upon the Son of God's royal enthronement, but the question as towhythe author should begin his argument this way has yet to be answered. In this essay I argue that the event which the catena describes, namely the Son's enthronement to the heavenly world, is critical for the entire logic of the author's argument regarding how humanity's salvation is accomplished. The likelihood of this conclusion is bolstered by the rarely recognized inclusio between 1.5-14 and 12.18-29. Finally, I briefly examine four texts which suggest that the author envisions the Son's narrative, particularly his entrance into God's heavenly realm as described in 1.5-14, as a soteriological necessity, and pattern, for humanity.
Abraham geschworen – uns gegeben. Syntax und Sinn im Benediktus (Lukas 1.68–79)
Authors: Lang Friedrich Gustav
Published: September 2010

The Benedictus is Luke's own composition. Its syntax is perspicuous, provided that 1.71 is understood aszeugmaand 1.73 ashyperbaton. It has three parts in 3 + 5 + 5 double lines; their topics are eschatological (1.68–70: messianic hopes), ecclesiological (1.71–75: God's covenant) and soteriological (1.76–79: remission of sins). The oath sworn to Abraham and granted to ‘us’ (1.73) forms the centre. The hymn originates in Luke's sophisticated theological reflection, his knowledge of LXX, and his literary skill which is confirmed by the stichometric proportions of the passage.
Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for discriminating withinSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium definitive types and investigation of outbreaks
Authors: DYET K. H. , TURBITT E. , CARTER P. E.
Published: September 2010

The discriminatory power of multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) needs to be evaluated for allSalmonella entericasubspeciesentericaserovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) phage types so that the power of this methodology is understood and results can be interpreted correctly during outbreak investigations. We evaluated the ability of MLVA to characterize four definitive phage types (DT) problematic in New Zealand. MLVA discriminated between DT104 isolates although there was very limited variation in the MLVA profiles for isolates with an RDNC phage type (reacts but does not conform to a recognized Typhimurium phage pattern) first observed in New Zealand's Enteric Reference Laboratory in May 2006. Most DT101 isolates had indistinguishable MLVA profiles or profiles that differed at one or two loci. This was also observed in DT160 isolates. MLVA may not identify all common-source outbreaks although it provided valuable data when applied to case isolates from twoS. Typhimurium outbreaks.
Re-classification on a Grand Scale – Moys at the Bodleian Law Library
Authors: Bird Ruth
Published: September 2010

Ruth Bird, Bodleian Law Librarian, explains how the original home-grown classification scheme became unfit for purpose, due to the enormous expansion of international legal materials held, and the reasons for implementing the Moys scheme. She outlines the progress and the problems encountered to date in this huge project.
On the variations of the solar wind magnetic field about the Parker spiral direction
Authors: Borovsky Joseph E.
Published: September 2010

Using ACE, Helios, and OMNI2 measurements, the direction vectors of the solar wind magnetic field are statistically analyzed. Two populations of direction vectors are found: a Gaussian distribution about the Parker spiral direction and an isotropic population. Examination of the isotropic population finds ejecta, long‐duration non‐Parker spiral intervals, magnetic depressions, heliospheric‐current‐sheet crossings, and spillover from the Gaussian population. Via numerical experiments, spillover in spherical coordinates from the Gaussian population into the isotropic population is explored and quantified. ACE measurements find that the angular width of the Gaussian Parker spiral population increases with solar wind speed. Examining the properties of the two populations year by year, no clear solar‐cycle trends are found. Inside the compression regions of corotating interaction regions, the longitudinal width of the Gaussian Parker spiral population decreases by about a factor of two, while the latitudinal width of that population is approximately unchanged. Helios measurements find that the angular width of the Gaussian Parker spiral population decreases closer to the Sun, and the isotropic fraction decreases. The flux tube model of the solar wind structure is compared with spacecraft measurements: the model approximately agrees with the Helios behavior versus the distance from the Sun, and the model approximately agrees with the ACE behavior in the corotating interaction region compressions.
Application of scale‐selective data assimilation to tropical cyclone track simulation
Authors: Xie Lian , Liu Bin , Peng Shiqiu
Published: September 2010

Tropical cyclone track is strongly controlled by the large‐scale environmental circulation. In limited‐area models (LAMs) driven by global analyses or forecasts through a conventional lateral boundary nesting approach, the global analyses are often distorted by the use of “sponge zone” or interpolation when they are passed into the LAM. In this study, a dynamical downscaling approach based on scale‐selective data assimilation (SSDA) is applied to a limited‐area numerical weather prediction model with emphasis on tropical cyclone track simulation. The idea of the SSDA approach is to drive the LAM not only from the lateral boundary but also from the model domain interior. The large‐scale flow from global analyses or forecasts is assimilated into the regional model using 3‐D variational data assimilation. The large‐scale features in the LAM are thus constrained to follow the global analyses while allowing the regional model itself to develop the regional and small‐scale characteristics. The results from the case study of Hurricane Katrina (2005) show that both large‐ and small‐scale flows in the regional model benefited from the SSDA approach, leading to an improvement in the accuracy of storm track simulation when provided with an accurate large‐scale circulation from global analyses. In addition, the SSDA procedure is shown to be an effective method to construct a nested‐grid regional modeling system that reduces model sensitivity to model domain geometry and location.