bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Halophilic archaea isolated from man-made young (200 years) salt lakes in Slănic, Prahova, Romania
Authors: Enache Mădălin , Itoh Takashi , Kamekura Masahiro , Popescu Gabriela , Dumitru Lucia
Published: August 2008

We isolated a number of extremely halophilic archaea from four salt lakes (Red Bath, Green Bath, Shepherd Bath and Bride Cave) located in Slanic Prahova, Romania. The characterization of 12 representative isolates by polyphasic approach revealed that 11 strains were members of the genus Haloferax and only one was a member of the genus Haloarcula. The 11 Haloferax isolates possessed sulfated diglycosylarchaeol-1 as the major membrane glycolipid, and G+C contents of total DNA were 63.4–65.8 mol%. The predominant isolation of Haloferax species from the lakes may suggest that the underground salt deposit possesses Haloferax species as the major biota of ancient origin. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper on the survey of halophilic archaea of man-made young salt lakes.
Serum levels of cortisol and prolactin in patients treated under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol-fentanyl and under balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl
Authors: Mujagić Zlata , Čičko Elsada , Vegar-Brozović Vesna , Prašo Mirsada
Published: August 2008

The study was designed to determine pre-, intra-and postoperative serum cortisol and prolactin (PRL) concentrations in patients subjected to low abdominal surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol-fentanyl, and under general balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl. The prospective study included 50 patients of both sexes, aged between 35 and 60 years, subjected to elective low abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group, consisting of 25 ASA I/II (American Society of Anesthesiologists I/II classification) patients treated under TIVA with propofol-fentanyl, and a control group consisting of 25 ASA I/II patients treated under balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl. The length of the surgery and the degree of the surgical trauma did not differ significantly between the two anesthesia groups. Blood samples for cortisol and PRL measurements were drawn at exact time points: 30 minutes before the beginning of the surgery (T0), 30 minutes after the beginning of the surgery (T1), at the end of the surgery (T2), 2 hours after the surgery (T3), and 24 hours after the surgery (T4). Serum levels of cortisol and PRL were measured using commercially available kits. The results were evaluated with the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. The serum concentration of cortisol measured at T1 time point in patients treated under TIVA was significantly lower (p=0.04) than that in patients treated under general balanced anesthesia. The average circulating levels of PRL measured at T1, T2 and T3 time points in patients treated under TIVA were significantly lower (p=0.003; p=0.002; p<0.05; respectively) than those in patients treated under balanced anesthesia. The results obtained suggest that the endocrine stress response developed in response to surgery is probably attenuated in patients treated under TIVA with propofol-fentanyl and, thus, that these patients are less stressed in comparison to patients treated under general balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl.
Intracranial meningioma in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Tsitsopoulos Parmenion , Anagnostopoulos Ioannis , Tsitouras Vasileios , Venizelos Ioannis , Tsitsopoulos Philippos
Published: August 2008

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable disorder characterized mainly by connective tissue manifestations. In dinstinct cases, several neurological features have also been described. A 46-year-old male with a known family history of OI type I presented with progressive gait disturbances and diminished muscle strength. Brain MRI scans revealed an infiltrative intracranial mass occupying both frontoparietal lobes. The patient underwent surgical intervention. The histological diagnosis was an atypical (Grade II) meningioma. The bony parts demonstrated a mixture of osseous defects due to OI and infiltration by the tumor. At one-year follow up the patient′s muscle power partially returned while repeat MRI scans were negative for tumor recurrence.
Predictors of Physical Therapy Clinic Performance in the Treatment of Patients With Low Back Pain Syndromes
Authors: Resnik Linda , Liu Dawei , Mor Vince , Hart Dennis L
Published: August 2008

Background and Purpose

Little is known about organizational and service delivery factors related to quality of care in physical therapy. This study sought to identify characteristics related to differences in practice outcomes and service utilization.

Subjects

The sample comprised 114 outpatient clinics and 1,058 therapists who treated 16,281 patients with low back pain syndromes during the period 2000–2001. Clinics participated with the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc (FOTO) database.

Methods

Hierarchical linear models were used to risk adjust treatment outcomes and number of visits per treatment episode. Aggregated residual scores from these models were used to classify each clinic into 1 of 3 categories in each of 3 types of performance groups: (1) effectiveness, (2) utilization, and (3) overall performance (ie, composite measure of effectiveness and utilization). Relationships between clinic classification and the following independent variables were examined by multinomial logistic regression: years of therapist experience, number of physical therapists, ratio of physical therapists to physical therapist assistants, proportion of patients with low back pain syndromes, number of new patients per physical therapist per month, utilization of physical therapist assistants, and setting.

Results

Clinics that were lower utilizers of physical therapist assistants were 6.6 times more likely to be classified into the high effectiveness group compared with the low effectiveness group, 6.7 times more likely to be classified in the low utilization group compared with the high utilization group, and 12.4 times more likely to be classified in the best performance group compared with the worst performance group. Serving a higher proportion of patients with low back pain syndromes was associated with an increased likelihood of being classified in the lowest or middle group. Years of physical therapist experience was inversely associated with being classified in the middle utilization group compared with the highest utilization group.

Discussion and Conclusion

These findings suggest that, in the treatment of patients with low back pain syndromes, clinics that are low utilizers of physical therapist assistants are more likely to provide superior care (ie, better patient outcomes and lower service use).
Benchmarking Physical Therapy Clinic Performance: Statistical Methods to Enhance Internal Validity When Using Observational Data
Authors: Resnik Linda , Liu Dawei , Hart Dennis L , Mor Vince
Published: August 2008

Many clinics and payers are beginning programs to collect and interpret outcomes related to quality of care and provider performance (ie, benchmarking). Outcomes assessment is commonly done using observational research designs, which makes it important for those involved in these endeavors to appreciate the underlying challenges and limitations of these designs. This perspective article discusses the advantages and limitations of using observational research to evaluate quality of care and provider performance in order to inform clinicians, researchers, administrators, and policy makers who want to use data to guide practice and policy or critically appraise observational studies and benchmarking efforts. Threats to internal validity, including potential confounding, patient selection bias, and missing data, are discussed along with statistical methods commonly used to address these limitations. An example is given from a recent study comparing physical therapy clinic performance in terms of patient outcomes and service utilization with and without the use of these methods. The authors demonstrate that crude differences in clinic outcomes and service utilization tend to be inflated compared with the differences that are statistically adjusted for selected threats to internal validity. The authors conclude that quality of care measurement and ranking procedures that do not use similar methods may produce findings that may be misleading.
Hypothesis: Dysregulation of methylation of brain‐expressed genes on the X chromosome and autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Jones Julie R. , Skinner Cindy , Friez Michael J. , Schwartz Charles E. , Stevenson Roger E.
Published: August 2008

The hypothesis is set forth that dysregulation of brain‐expressed genes on the X chromosome constitutes the major predisposition to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This dysregulation, mediated by hypomethylation or hypermethylation of CpG sites within gene promoters, leads to overexpression or partial silencing of one or more brain‐expressed genes, which in turn results in an unbalanced production of the proteins responsible for brain structure and function. This hypothesis accommodates the predominantly sporadic occurrence (95%), the male excess (4:1), and the usual absence of malformations or other syndromic manifestations in ASDs. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of the Prader‐Willi syndrome chromosome region using quantitative microsphere hybridization (QMH) array
Authors: Newkirk H.L. , Bittel D.C. , Butler M.G.
Published: August 2008

We previously developed a novel quantitative microsphere suspension hybridization (QMH) assay for high‐throughput determination of genomic copy number by direct hybridization of unique sequence probes to genomic DNA followed by flow cytometric analysis. Herein, we describe the first clinical application of this assay examining the Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) chromosome region at 15q11–13. We designed 30 unique sequence test probes (∼60 nucleotides each) spanning 11.37 Mb of chromosome 15q11.2–q13.3 and a disomic reference probe (Actin Beta, chromosome 7p22.1), conjugated to spectrally distinct polystyrene microsphere levels. All probes were hybridized to biotin‐labeled genomic DNA in multiplex QMH reactions, and hybridization was detected using phycoerythrin‐labeled streptavidin and analyzed by dual‐laser flow cytometry. Copy number differences were distinguished by comparing mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of the test probes to the reference probe in 20 individuals with PWS and six controls. The mean MFI ratio for deleted loci was 0.56 ± 0.09 (n = 88) as compared to the MFI ratios for normal loci, 0.96 ± 0.06 (n = 236), and duplicated loci, 1.44 ± 0.10 (n = 22). A multiplex QMH assay could readily distinguish type I from type II deletions in PWS subjects, as well as small (∼4.3 kb) imprinting center (IC) deletions, with no overlap in MFI values compared with normal loci. Using this diagnostic QMH assay, the precise deleted genomic interval could be ascertained in all PWS subjects examined in the present study. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic susceptibilities in the association between maternal exposure to tobacco smoke and the risk of nonsyndromic oral cleft
Authors: Chevrier Cécile , Bahuau Michel , Perret Claire , Iovannisci David M. , Nelva Agnès , Herman Christine , Vazquez Marie‐Paule , Francannet Christine , Robert‐Gnansia Elisabeth , Lammer Edward J. , Cordier Sylvaine
Published: August 2008

Maternal tobacco consumption is considered as a risk factor for nonsyndromic oral clefts. However, this risk is moderate and may be modulated by genetic susceptibilities, including variants of theTGFA,TGFB3andMSX1developmental genes and polymorphisms of genes of theCYP(1A1, 2E1) andGST(M1,T1) families involved in metabolic pathways of tobacco smoke compounds. This French case–control study (1998–2001; 240 nonsyndromic cases, 236 controls) included a case‐parent design (175 triad‐families) that made it possible to distinguish the direct effect of the child's genotype and maternally mediated effects. Maternal smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with the oral cleft risk in this population, but we observed statistically significant increased risks associated with maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). No variant of any of the three developmental genes was significantly associated with oral cleft. The fetalCYP1A1*2Cvariant allele was associated with a statistically significant decreased risk, compared with the homozygous wild‐type: relative risk = 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.2, 1.0. Suggestive reduced risks were also observed for the maternalCYP1A1*2Callele and the fetalCYP2E1*5allele. TheGSTM1andGSTT1deletions appeared to play no role. Our findings suggest some interactions, with the strongest between ETS andCYP1A1orMSX1and between maternal smoking andCYP2E1. We did not confirm the maternal smoking‐infantGSTT1null interaction previously reported by other investigators. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of SLITRK1 to Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome
Authors: Miranda Debora M. , Wigg Karen , Kabia E. Mameisia , Feng Yu , Sandor Paul , Barr Cathy L.
Published: August 2008

Previously the Slit and Trk‐like family member 1 (SLITRK1) gene was identified as a candidate gene for Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) based on a patient that carried a chromosomal inversion on 13q, as well as the identification of two rare DNA variants in the SLITRK1 gene. Since that report, studies have tested for the two rare variants in GTS and either did not find them, or when found, they did not segregate with the disorder in families, casting doubt on the relationship of this gene to GTS. We tested for these two rare variants and genotyped three polymorphisms that tag the currently identified major haplotypes of this gene in a sample of 154 nuclear families with GTS. In addition, the entire coding region was screened for novel DNA variants. We did not find the two reported rare variants in any of the probands or siblings in these families. We did however find significant evidence for association of a single polymorphism and of haplotypes of the three tagging polymorphisms. These findings provide the first support for the original finding indicating SLITRK1 as a susceptibility gene for GTS and indicate that further study of this gene in GTS is warranted. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The studies on the stimuli‐response of poly (N,N‐dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) complex hydrogel under DC electric field
Authors: Zhao Yanbing , Liu Wei , Yang Xiangliang , Xu Huibi
Published: August 2008

A polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel, poly (N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) hydrogel designed as PDMEAA, was prepared by the free radical copolymerization in aqueous solutions. Without chemical crosslinker, PDMEAA hydrogel network was formed by electrostatic attraction of the proton‐transfer between acrylic acid and N,N‐dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate. Since the electrostatic attraction could be weakened by the application of electric field, PDMEAA hydrogel was decomposed under contacted electric field. Various factors such as gel composition, the species and concentration of electrolytes, voltage, and the experimental set‐ups, could effect the decomposing process of PDMEAA hydrogel. In CaCl2 and MgCl2 solutions, PDMEAA hydrogel had no change under electric field. And in high concentration of NaCl and Na2SO4 solutions, PDMEAA hydrogel has been eroded linearly with the increasing time applied electric field. In low concentration of NaCl and Na2SO4 solutions, however, a swelling process was found before the erosion. The stimuli‐responsive mechanism was investigated through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Interaction of gamma radiation with PVA/PANi composite films: Structural and morphological studies
Authors: Bhat Narendra V. , Nate Mandar M. , Gore Ajit V. , Bhat Rasik M.
Published: August 2008

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films containing two different concentrations of polyaniline were prepared by solution casting technique. These films were irradiated with gamma radiation for various doses. Structural and morphological studies of control PVA as well as PVA/PANi composite films were carried out before and after the gamma radiation. Polyaniline is one of the interesting conducting polymers and has the property of changing its color and conductivity when switched between different oxidation states. This unique property of polyaniline was monitored by investigating UV/vis absorption spectra and changes in electrical conductivity. The changes observed could be correlated to the total dose received by the films. It is therefore proposed that PVA/PANi composite films can be used for fabricating radiation dosimeters. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
The analysis and design of a both open ended hollow fiber type RO module
Authors: Fujiwara Nobuya , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: August 2008

The use of seawater desalination plants using RO technology has spread and the scale of the plants has increased. In such a situation, a larger‐sized RO module has been strongly required. The conventional hollow fiber type RO element is a single open‐ended (SOE) structure. That is, one side of the hollow fibers in the modules is opened and the other side is closed. In this SOE structure, the increase in the flow pressure loss of the permeated water which flows in the bore side of the hollow fibers prevents development of a large‐sized (longer) RO element. In this work, a both open‐ended (BOE) element was devised which can reduce the flow pressure loss of the permeated water. It has been confirmed by analysis and experiment that the permeate flow rate of BOE is greater by about 30% than that of SOE. Furthermore, the large‐sized RO module with high volume efficiency was designed using the performance analysis method that was confirmed to be applicable to BOE. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Multivalency: the hallmark of antibodies used for optimization of tumor targeting by design
Authors: Deyev Sergey M. , Lebedenko Ekaterina N.
Published: August 2008

High‐precision tumor targeting with conventional therapeutics is based on the concept of the ideal drug as a “magic bullet”; this became possible after techniques were developed for production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Innovative DNA technologies have revolutionized this area and enhanced clinical efficiency of mAbs. The experience of applying small‐size recombinant antibodies (monovalent binding fragments and their derivatives) to cancer targeting showed that even high‐affinity monovalent interactions provide fast blood clearance but only modest retention time on the target antigen. Conversion of recombinant antibodies into multivalent format increases their functional affinity, decreases dissociation rates for cell‐surface and optimizes biodistribution. In addition, it allows the creation of bispecific antibody molecules that can target two different antigens simultaneously and do not exist in nature. Different multimerization strategies used now in antibody engineering make it possible to optimize biodistribution and tumor targeting of recombinant antibody constructs for cancer diagnostics and therapy. BioEssays 30:904–918, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shear buckling and dynamic bending in cloth simulation
Authors: Zhou Chuan , Jin Xiaogang , Wang Charlie C. L.
Published: August 2008

This paper addresses the problem of simulating the mechanical behavior of cloth in computer animation, which is very important and challenging. The micro‐structure of woven fabrics leads to significantly different shear reaction from other sheet materials, which has been neglected in previous approaches of cloth simulation. Therefore, it is beneficial for cloth simulation to model the shear buckling and structural bending separately. We analyze the shear buckling yielded by the micro‐structure of woven and the dynamic bending based on the thin‐shell theory, and develop a compact implementation of the new model on mass‐spring systems. Experimental results show that the animations generated using this technique are with wrinkles and folds appearing and vanishing in a more natural way than other approaches. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chirality sensing with pores: Reactive signal amplifiers for otherwise undetectable small molecules
Authors: Henning Andreas , Matile Stefan
Published: August 2008

Recently, we have introduced a concept to determine enantiomeric excess (ee) with synthetic multifunctional pores (Tanaka and Matile, Chirality 2008;20:307–312). The reported approach is, however, limited to macromolecules and not applicable to small molecules. The problem is that the ability of synthetic pores to respond to chemical stimulation decreases with the size and the charge of the analyte. Here we demonstrate that this problem can be overcome with reactive signal amplifiers that covalently capture elusive analytes for sensitive recognition by the pore. For proof of principle, we use L‐lactate and D‐lactate as representative pair of enantiomers, L‐lactate oxidase as stereospecific signal generator, and cascade blue hydrazide as reactive signal amplifier to capture the produced pyruvate. After stereospecific signal generation and reactive signal amplification, L‐lactate was detectable quantitatively and without further optimization in the presence of at least 99% ee of D‐lactate. Attempts to sense the traces of impurity in commercial samples of D‐lactate gave values in the expected range (99.6% ee expected, 99.3 ± 0.1% ee found). Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new efficient enantioselective synthesis of (+)‐cis‐2‐methyl‐ 4‐propyl‐1,3‐oxathiane, a valuable ingredient for the aroma of passion fruit
Authors: Scafato Patrizia , Colangelo Antonella , Rosini Carlo
Published: August 2008

A new simple route to (+)‐cis‐2‐methyl‐4‐propyl‐1,3‐oxathiane, the main component responsible of the passion fruit aroma is shown. Such a procedure consists in the sequence of the asymmetric conjugated addition of a thiol to trans‐2‐hexenal/cleavage of sulfide moiety, which allows to prepare, in only two steps, its immediate precursor, (R)‐3‐mercaptohexan‐1‐ol. Various procedures have been investigated for both the steps, using benzyl and tert‐butyl mercaptan as thiols. The best results have been achieved in the addition of benzyl thiol to trans‐2‐hexenal mediated by a proline‐derived organocatalyst, followed by debenzylation with sodium naphthalenide, affording (R)‐3‐mercaptohexan‐1‐ol with 84% e.e. and a yield much higher (32%) than that previously reported (8.5%). Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An effective route to fluorine containing asymmetric α‐aminophosphonates using chiral Bronsted acid catalyst
Authors: Bhadury Pinaki S. , Zhang Yuping , Zhang Sha , Song Baoan , Yang Song , Hu Deyu , Chen Zhuo , Xue Wei , Jin Linhong
Published: August 2008

Asymmetric addition of dialkyl phosphites (CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, CH(CH3)2, CH2(CH2)3CH3, CH2CH2OCH3 and CH2CH2OC2H5) induced by chiral organocatalyst e.g. (R)‐ and (S)‐3,3′‐[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]2‐1,1′‐binaphthyl phosphate on fluorinated aldimines derived from cinnamaldehyde has been found effective to give new bioactive α‐aminophosphonates in good yields (58–73%) and high enantiomeric excess (64.6%–90.6%) under mild conditions. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Memories of early attachment: the use of PBI as a predictor of outcome in Pesso–Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP) group therapy, Cognitive–Behavioural Group Therapy (CBGT), Individual Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Individual Treatment As Usual (TAU) with adult out‐patients
Authors: Ryum Truls , Vogel Patrick A. , Hagen Roger , Stiles Tore C.
Published: August 2008

Objective: To examine the predictive validity of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for outcome in individual and group psychotherapy.

Method: Data from four different clinical trials were combined, yielding a total of 105 patients. After controlling for gender, age and initial symptomatic distress, the predictive validity of the PBI subscales was investigated using the symptom checklist‐90‐revised (SCL‐90‐R) and inventory of interpersonal problems‐64 (IIP‐64) at termination as dependent measures in each treatment condition using separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses.

Results: Using the SCL‐90‐R at termination as dependent measure, reports of higher paternal and maternal care were related to a worse outcome in the Pesso–Boyden System Psychomotor condition, whereas reports of higher paternal care were related to a better outcome in the Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy condition. Also, higher maternal protection was related to a better outcome in the Cognitive‐Behavioral Group condition. Using the IIP‐64 at termination as dependent measure, reports of higher paternal protection were related to a better outcome in the Treatment As Usual condition.

Discussion: The study shows that the PBI may function as a clinical predictor for treatment response, although the results were somewhat contrary to previous reportings. Future studies should contrast and investigate possible differences between individual and group treatments further, as well as more clearly defined diagnostic groups. Clinical implications are presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vestigial expression in the Drosophila embryonic central nervous system
Authors: Guss Kirsten A. , Mistry Hemlata , Skeath James B.
Published: August 2008

The Drosophila central nervous system is an excellent model system in which to resolve the genetic and molecular control of neuronal differentiation. Here we show that the wing selector vestigial is expressed in discrete sets of neurons. We track the axonal trajectories of VESTIGIAL‐expressing cells in the ventral nerve cord and show that these cells descend from neuroblasts 1‐2, 5‐1, and 5‐6. In addition, along the midline, VESTIGIAL is expressed in ventral unpaired median motorneurons and cells that may descend from the median neuroblast. These studies form the requisite descriptive foundation for functional studies addressing the role of vestigial during interneuron differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 237:2483–2489, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Formation and Stability of the Gaseous Species LiAlCl4, Li2AlCl5 and LiAl2Cl7 – Mass Spectrometric and Quantum Chemical Studies
Authors: Saal H. , Milke E. , Brünig C. , Binnewies M. , Köppe R.
Published: August 2008

The formation of the gaseous species LiCl, Li2Cl2, AlCl3 and LiAlCl4 was shown by mass spectrometric studies of the reaction of solid LiCl with gaseous AlCl3 at 575 °C. Besides AlCl3 and Al2Cl6, the gas complexes LiAlCl4, Li2AlCl5 and LiAl2Cl7 were formed during the evaporation of liquefied LiAlCl4. The structures of the molecules under discussion were computed by quantum chemical DFT studies. Thermodynamic data of these molecules were determined by experimental methods (mass spectrometry), and the results were confirmed by theoretical calculations. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
The specification of GARCH models with stochastic covariates
Authors: Fleming Jeff , Kirby Chris , Ostdiek Barbara
Published: August 2008

A number of studies investigate whether various stochastic variables explain changes in return volatility by specifying the variables as covariates in a GARCH(1, 1) or EGARCH(1, 1) model. The authors show that these models impose an implicit constraint that can obscure the true role of the covariates in the analysis. They illustrate the problem by reconsidering the role of contemporaneous trading volume in explaining ARCH effects in daily stock returns. Once the constraint imposed in earlier research is relaxed, it is found that specifying volume as a covariate does little to diminish the importance of lagged squared returns in capturing the dynamics of volatility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:911–934, 2008
Histidine‐rich peptide: evidence for a single zinc‐binding site on H5WYG peptide that promotes membrane fusion at neutral pH
Authors: Buré Corinne , Maget Régine , Delmas Agnès F. , Pichon Chantal , Midoux Patrick
Published: August 2008

The histidine‐rich peptide H5WYG (GLFHAIAHFIHGGWHGLIHGWYG) was found to induce membrane fusion at physiologic pH in the presence of zinc chloride. In this study, we examined the ion selectivity of the interaction of Zn2+ with H5WYG. This investigation was conducted by using adsorption at air/water interface and mass spectrometry. We found that a peptide–metal complex is formed with Zn2+ ions. Electrospray ionisation‐mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) reveals that the [H5WYG + Zn + 2H]4+, [H5WYG + Zn + H]3+ and [H5WYG + Zn]2+ ions, appearing by increasing the amount of Zn2+ equivalent, correspond to a monomolecular H5WYG − Zn2+ complex. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) provides evidence for the binding of the single Zn2+ ion to the H11 and H19 and probably H15 residues. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polybrusselator‐type models
Authors: Katime Issa , Ortiz Juan A. Pérez , Zuluaga Fabio , Mendizábal Eduardo
Published: August 2008

In this paper, the possibility for autocatalysis in polymerization reactions is explored by introducing part of a polymerization mechanism in a model known as Brusselator. It is assumed that monomer concentration is practically constant. Four possibilities are examined: (1) a first radical propagator X, which has an isomer of position of the free electron, Y, dimerizes reversibly and this dimer catalyzes the isomerization of Y to X; (2) the radical propagator X is a polymer with a critical degree of polymerization and has an isomer of position of the free electron Y. This critical radical propagator catalyzes the conversion of Y to X; (3) any radical propagator has an isomer of position of the free electron, Y, and any polymer obtained by recombination of the radicals can catalyze the conversion of Y into its corresponding isomer X; and (4) any radical propagator with a critical degree of polymerization can catalyze the conversion of Y into its corresponding isomer. Isomorphism equations are obtained in all mechanisms, which implies the possibility of limit cycle oscillations (Brusselator model). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 617–623, 2008
Macromol. Chem. Phys. 16/2008
Authors: Yameen Basit , Duran Hatice , Best Andreas , Jonas Ulrich , Steinhart Martin , Knoll Wolfgang
Published: August 2008

Cover: Two new cyanate ester thermosets with multiple crosslinking functions per molecule are presented, which cure into polycyanurate networks with high thermal (400°C) and mechanical stability (Tg ≈ 290°C). The room temperature liquids and can be molded into tubes and rods down to nanometer dimensions, as can be seen on the cover picture. Further details can be found in the article by B. Yameen, H. Duran, A. Best, U. Jonas,* and M. Steinhart, W. Knoll on page 1673.
A kinetic Monte Carlo study on the nucleation mechanisms of oil‐soluble initiators in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene
Authors: Rawlston Jonathan A. , Guo Juchen , Schork F. Joseph , Grover Martha A.
Published: August 2008

The use of oil‐soluble initiators in free‐radical miniemulsion polymerization has increased due to their ability to generate radicals primarily within monomer droplets. Existing theories concerning the nucleation mechanism for oil‐soluble initiators suggest that a single radical must be formed within a particle for propagation to occur, despite the fact that an oil‐soluble initiator molecule decomposes to form two radicals. According to existing theories, the primary source of nucleating radicals may be either within the particle or from the small amount of initiator in the aqueous phase. At the nanometer size of miniemulsion particles, concentration variables do not adequately describe the reactions in a particle, and use of such variables may lead to the inaccurate description of mechanisms within a particle. Application of the kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm allows for the simulation of individual reactive events, such as propagation or termination, while tracking macroscopic observables, such as conversion and molecular weight. Comparison of the simulation results to experimental data for styrene miniemulsion polymerization indicates that desorption of radicals may be more significant at smaller particle sizes and lower reaction temperatures. Oil‐soluble initiator radicals generated in the aqueous phase are found to be insignificant under typical conditions in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6114–6128, 2008
Synthesis and characterization of fluorene‐based low‐band gap copolymers containing propylenedioxythiophene and benzothiadiazole derivatives for bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cell applications
Authors: Park Jin Su , Ryu Tae In , Song Myungkwan , Yoon Kyung‐Jin , Lee Myung Jin , Shin In Ae , Lee Gi‐Dong , Lee Jae Wook , Gal Yeong‐Soon , Jin Sung‐Ho
Published: August 2008

The following noble series of soluble π‐conjugated statistical copolymers was synthesized by palladium catalyzed Suzuki polymerization: poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)‐alt‐(4,7‐bis(3′,3′‐dihepyl‐3,4‐propylenedioxythienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] (PFO‐PTBT) derived from poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO) and poly[(4,7‐bis(3′,3′‐dihepyl‐3,4‐propylenedioxythienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] poly(heptyl4‐PTBT). The structure and properties of these polymers were characterized using 1H‐, 13C‐NMR, UV–visible spectroscopy, elemental analysis, GPC, DSC, TGA, photoluminescence (PL), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The statistical copolymers, PFO‐PTBT (9:1, 8.4:1.6, 6.5:3.5), were soluble in common organic solvents and easily spin coated onto indium‐tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates. The weight‐average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity of the PFO‐PTBT ranged from (1.0–4.2) × 104 and 1.5–2.3, respectively. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells with an ITO/PEDOT/PFO‐PTBT:PCBM/LiF/Al configuration were fabricated, and the devices using PFOPTBT (6.5:3.5) showed the best performance compared with those using PFO‐PTBT (9:1, 8.4:1.6). A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.50% (Voc = 0.66 V, FF = 0.29) was achieved with PFO‐PTBT (6.5:3.5). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6175–6184, 2008
Core‐shell type dually fluorescent polymer nanoparticles for ratiometric pH‐sensing
Authors: Allard Emmanuel , Larpent Chantal
Published: August 2008

The synthesis and pH‐sensing properties of fluorescent polymer nanoparticles (NPs) in the 20 nm diameter range with a sensitive dye covalently attached to the particle surface and a reference dye entrapped within the particle core are presented. Fluorescein‐functionalized NPs were readily obtained by conjugation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to amine‐coated crosslinked polystyrene‐based nanoparticles prepared by microemulsion polymerization followed by postfunctionalization. This all water‐based method gave access to stable aqueous suspensions of pH‐sensing fluorescent NPs. The encapsulation of the insensitive reference fluorescent dye (1,9‐diphenylanthracene, DPA) was then conveniently achieved by soaking leading to dual fluorescent NPs containing about 20 DPA and 55 fluorescein, as deduced from spectroscopic analyses. This core‐shell type architecture maximizes the interactions of the sensing dye with the medium while protecting the reference dye. The variations of the ratio of the fluorescence emission intensities of the sensitive dye (fluorescein) to the reference dye (DPA) with pH show that the dual fluorescent NPs act as a ratiometric pH sensor with a measuring range between pH 4 and pH 8. This pH nanosensor was found to be fast, fully reversible, and robust without any leaching of dye over a long period of time. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6206–6213, 2008
Poly(hydroxyisobutyrate) by ring‐opening polymerizations of 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxithiolan‐4‐one‐2‐oxide
Authors: Kricheldorf Hans R. , Lomadze Nino , Schwarz Gert
Published: August 2008

α‐Hydroxyisobutyric acid anhydrosulfate HiBAS (5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxithiolan‐4‐one‐2‐oxide) was polymerized under various reaction conditions and the solid reaction products were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry (MT m.s.), fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB m.s.), viscosity, and SEC measurements. Thermal polymerizations at 100 °C mainly yielded cyclic oligo polyesters presumably resulting from a zwitterionic polymerization. Cycles were also detected when pyridine was used as catalyst at 20 °C. When triethylamine was used as catalyst traces of H2O played the role of initiators. Benzyl alcohol initiated the polymerization of HiBAS at 100 °C and yielded a polyester terminated by one benzylester and one OH endgroup. The SEC measurements indicated that all samples possess relatively low molar masses with number–average molecular weights ≤ 10,000 Da (in contrast to the literature data). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6229–6237, 2008
A graphical approach for confidence limits of optimal preventive maintenance cycles
Authors: Halim Tony , Tang Loon‐Ching
Published: August 2008

Facilities management (FM) is the management of infrastructure resources and services to support and sustain the operational strategy of an organization over time. Maintenance is often the business process that has not been optimized and is considered as a liability of business operations. Therefore, extensive studies have been done to determine the optimal replacement interval for irreparable parts of repairable systems where typically the time between failures is characterized by lifetime distribution in which the parameters are estimated from failure data. As a result, the optimal preventive maintenance (PM) interval computed is exposed to sampling risk as the repair cost and failure data used for estimation are typically highly censored due to issues related to data collection and unobserved failures. In this paper, we present a graphical approach to obtain the confidence interval for the optimal PM interval that resulted from sampling variations parameter estimates. The proposed methodology is applied in the context of FM as a strategy for opportunistic replacement and for the purpose of validating the cost components in maintenance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SEM characterization of silicon nanostructures: can we meet the challenge?
Authors: Myhajlenko S. , Luby A. S. , Fischer A. M. , Ponce F. A. , Tracy C.
Published: August 2008

The current semiconductor technology road map for device scaling champions a 4.5 nm gate length in production by 2022. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) as applied to critical dimensions (CD) metrology and associated characterization modes such as electron beam‐induced current and cathodoluminescence (CL) has proved to be a workhorse for the semiconductor industry during the microelectronics era. We review some of the challenges facing these techniques in light of the silicon nanotechnology road map. We present some new results using voltage contrast imaging and CL spectroscopy of top‐down fabricated silicon nanopillar/nanowires (<100 nm diameter), which highlight the visualization challenge. However, both techniques offer the promise of providing process characterization on the 10–20 nm scale with existing technology. Visualization at the 1 nm scale with these techniques may have to wait for aberration‐corrected SEM to become more widely available. Basic secondary electron imaging and CD applications may be separately addressed by the He‐ion microscope. SCANNING 30: 310–316, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Midlife Neuroticism and the age of onset of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Archer N. , Brown R. G. , Reeves S. , Nicholas H. , Boothby H. , Lovestone S.
Published: August 2008

Background

There may be important public health implications of increasing our knowledge of factors associated with age of dementia onset. The pre-morbid personality domain of Neuroticism constituted an interesting and theoretically plausible, yet uninvestigated, candidate for such an association. We aimed to examine whether midlife Neuroticism was associated with earlier age of onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Method

This was a case–comparison study of 213 patients with probable AD. Detailed clinical information was collected for all patients including age of onset of dementia symptoms. One or two knowledgeable informants rated each patient's midlife personality retrospectively using the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. The relationship between midlife Neuroticism and age of dementia onset was evaluated using both correlational analysis and backward linear regression analysis.

Results

Midlife Neuroticism predicted younger age of dementia onset in females but not in males. The association found in females was independent of pre-morbid history of affective disorder.

Conclusions

This finding and its potential mechanism warrant further investigation.
Depression and Type D personality represent different forms of distress in the Myocardial INfarction and Depression – Intervention Trial (MIND-IT)
Authors: Denollet J. , de Jonge P. , Kuyper A. , Schene A. H. , van Melle J. P. , Ormel J. , Honig A.
Published: August 2008

Background

We investigated whether depressive disorder and Type D personality refer to different forms of distress in the Myocardial INfarction and Depression – Intervention Trial (MIND-IT).

Method

A total of 1205 myocardial infarction (MI) patients were screened at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-MI; those with a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score ⩾10 underwent the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Patients completed the DS14 measure of Type D personality at 12 months and were stratified to one of four subgroups: depressed/Type D, depressed/non-Type D, non-depressed/Type D, or non-distressed.

Results

Two hundred and six (17%) patients were diagnosed with depression and 224 (19%) with Type D. Only 7% (n=90) had both forms of distress, and 60% of Type D patients were free of depression in the first year post-MI. Type D moderated the relationship between depressive and cardiac disorder. Depressed patients without Type D had the worst clinical status (left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, Killip class ⩾2) as compared to other patients, whereas depressed patients with a Type D personality did not differ in clinical status from non-distressed patients. Contrasting ‘pure’ Type D and depression subgroups showed that Type D patients without depression were less likely to have left ventricular dysfunction [odds ratio (OR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35–0.65, p<0.0001] than depressed patients without Type D.

Conclusions

Depression and Type D refer to different forms of distress in post-MI patients; most Type D patients display non-psychiatric levels of distress and Type D moderates the relationship between depressive and cardiac disorder. Different depression/Type D subgroups may be involved in the prediction of cardiac prognosis.
Re-examining vocalic variation in Scottish English: a Cognitive Grammar approach
Authors: Clark Lynn
Published: August 2008

The existing literature on vocalic variation in Scottish English has shown that variation tends to pattern according to the age, gender, and socioeconomic class of the speaker. However, studies that employ these gross social categories are unable to explain the variation that exists within these categories. This article therefore presents an alternative approach. Based on data from 16 adolescents who form a community of practice in west Fife, Scotland, this article attempts to consider both social and cognitive motivations for linguistic variation. The theoretical framework of Cognitive Grammar is particularly well-suited to incorporating sociolinguistic variation, and this article illustrates how an exploration of frequency effects and schematic organization can lead to a more insightful understanding of the patterning of two vocalic variables in a community. This article also explores the implications of these findings for our understanding of the place of sociolinguistics in cognitive theories of linguistics.
Law and Religion Scholars Network
Authors: Edge Peter W
Published: August 2008

On 2 May 2008, the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University launched LARSN – the Law and Religion Scholars Network. This initial meeting, chaired by Professor Norman Doe, Dr Javier García Oliva and Russell Sandberg, brought together nearly 30 scholars working in the area, and would have been attended by a further 21 had diaries permitted. The event began with participants briefly introducing themselves and their areas. This revealed not just the amount of scholarly activity being undertaken in law and religion but also the range of interests. Work was ongoing in areas as diverse as employment law, the law of death, criminal justice, Jewish law, human rights law and constitutional law. A variety of methodological approaches were also being taken, with doctrinal legal scholarship running alongside multidisciplinary work with religious studies, and socio-legal projects. Many of us worked as the sole academic focusing on law and religion issues in a law school, but there were also a number of clusters of scholars developing. As well as the established Centre at Cardiff – celebrating its tenth anniversary this year – research groups are developing at Bristol, Oxford Brookes and Canterbury.
Nitrate isotopic composition between Bermuda and Puerto Rico: Implications for N2 fixation in the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Knapp Angela N. , DiFiore Peter J. , Deutsch Curtis , Sigman Daniel M. , Lipschultz Fredric
Published: August 2008

N and O isotope analyses of water column nitrate between Bermuda and Puerto Rico document a bolus of low‐δ15N nitrate throughout the Sargasso Sea thermocline, which we attribute primarily to the input of recently fixed N. Although previous work suggests southward increases in N2 fixation and ventilation age, no meridional trend in nitrate δ15N is apparent. In the upper 200 m, the algal uptake‐driven increase in nitrate δ18O is greater than in δ15N, because of (1) a higher fraction of nitrate from N2 fixation at shallower depths and/or (2) cycling of N between nitrate assimilation and nitrification. A mean depth profile of newly fixed nitrate estimated from the nitrate isotope data is compared with results from an ocean circulation model forced with different Atlantic fields of N2 fixation. The nitrate from N2 fixation is communicated between the model's North and South Atlantic and suggests a whole Atlantic N2 fixation rate between 15 and 24 Tg N a−1. One important caveat is that fixed N in atmospheric deposition may contribute a significant proportion of the low‐δ15N N in the Sargasso Sea thermocline, in which case the relatively low rate we estimate for N2 fixation would still be too high.
The Effects of Auditory–Visual Vowel Identification Training on Speech Recognition Under Difficult Listening Conditions
Authors: Richie Carolyn , Kewley-Port Diane
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The effective use of visual cues to speech provides benefit for adults with normal hearing in noisy environments and for adults with hearing loss in everyday communication. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a computer-based, auditory–visual vowel identification training program on sentence recognition under difficult listening conditions.

Method

Normal-hearing adults were trained and tested under auditory–visual conditions, in noise designed to simulate the effects of a hearing loss. After initial tests of vowel, word, and sentence recognition, 1 group of participants received training on identification of 10 American English vowels in CVC context. Another group of participants received no training. All participants were then retested on vowel, word, and sentence recognition.

Results

Improvements were seen for trained compared with untrained participants, in auditory–visual speech recognition under difficult listening conditions, for vowels in monosyllables and key words in sentences.

Conclusions

Results from this study suggest benefit may be gained from this computer-based, auditory–visual vowel identification training method.