bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic viability assessment of cystic echinococcosis using high‐field 1H MRS of cyst contents
Authors: Hosch Waldemar , Junghanss Thomas , Stojkovic Marija , Brunetti Enrico , Heye Tobias , Kauffmann Günter W. , Hull William E.
Published: April 2008

Cystic echinococcosis is a worldwide disease caused by larval stages of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus (canine tapeworm). In clinical practice, staging of cyst development by ultrasonography (US) has allowed treatment options to be tailored to individual patient needs. However, the empirical correlation between cyst morphology and parasite viability is not always dependable and has, until now, required confirmation by invasive assessment of cyst content by light microscopy (LM), for example. Alternatively, high‐field 1H MRS may be used to examine cyst fluid ex vivo and prepare detailed quantitative metabolite profiles, enabling a multivariate metabolomics approach to cyst staging. One‐dimensional and two‐dimensional 1H and 1H/13C MRS at 600 MHz (14.1 T) was used to analyze 50 cyst aspirates of various US and LM classes. MR parameters and concentrations relative to internal valine were determined for 44 metabolites and four substance classes. The high concentrations of succinate, fumarate, malate, acetate, alanine, and lactate found in earlier studies of viable cysts were confirmed, and additional metabolites such as myo‐inositol, sorbitol, 1,5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol, betaine, and 2‐hydroxyisovalerate were identified. Data analysis and cyst classification were performed using univariate (succinate), bivariate (succinate vs fumarate), and multivariate partial least squares discriminant analysis (PSL‐DA) methods (with up to 48 metabolite variables). Metabolic classification of 23 viable and 18 nonviable cysts on the basis of succinate alone agreed with LM results. However, for seven samples, LM and MRS gave opposing results. Reclassification of these samples and two unclassified samples by PLS‐DA prediction techniques led to a set of 50 samples that could be completely separated into viable and nonviable MRS classes with no overlap, using as few as nine variables: succinate, formate, malate, 2‐hydroxyisovalerate, acetate, total protein content, 1,5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol, alanine, and betaine. Thus, future noninvasive in vivo applications of MRS would appear promising. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and psychometric evaluation of an Arab version of the family peer relationship questionnaire
Authors: Aroian Karen J. , Hough Edythe S. , Templin Thomas N. , Kaskiri Eleni A.
Published: April 2008

Little is known about parent and peer relationships in immigrant adolescents due to a dearth of culturally sensitive measures. We adapted the Family Peer Relationship Questionnaire (FPRQ) for Arab immigrant mothers and their adolescents. Mothers and adolescents completed parallel versions of the Arab FPRQ and measures of child behavior problems, child social relations, and maternal depression. Data analyses included confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity. The proposed four‐factor structure was replicated in both the mother and child forms. Scores from the Arab FPRQ subscales and the other measures provided evidence of concurrent and discriminant validity, suggesting that the Arab FPRQ is a viable assessment tool. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:402–416, 2008
Retrospective evaluation of pain assessment and treatment for acute vasoocclusive episodes in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Zempsky William T. , Loiselle Kristin A. , McKay Kathleen , Blake Gabriella L. , Hagstrom J. Nathan , Schechter Neil L. , Kain Zeev N.
Published: April 2008

Background

This study was conducted to assess the care of pediatric patients hospitalized for sickle cell disease‐related vasoocclusive episodes (VOE). The aim of this research was to illustrate the course of pain scores and methods of therapeutic intervention during hospitalization.

Procedure

Retrospective medical chart reviews were conducted to collect pain assessment and management data about children hospitalized during a 2‐year period at an urban children's hospital. T tests and Chi‐square analyses were used to identify differences in demographic variables, pain scores and opiate utilization.

Results

There were 59 children with 134 hospitalizations for VOE in a 2‐year period. 50.8% of the patients were male; the mean age was 11.5 ± 4.9 years. The average length of hospitalization was 4.6 ± 2.7 days (range 1–19 days). Older patients stayed in the hospital significantly longer than younger patients (P = 0.002). Pain scores remained in the moderate to severe range (≥5 out of 10) for many days in the majority of patients. Results failed to reveal significant differences in pain scores and opiate utilization between patients who had short versus extended hospitalizations, and for those patients with frequent versus infrequent hospitalizations for pain.

Conclusions

Despite opiate dosing within recommended guidelines, mean pain scores remain in the moderate to severe range for several days following hospitalization for VOE. Future research should explore the factors which influence pain scores, as well as improved pain assessment and management techniques. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:265–268. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Sertindole Cohort Prospective (SCoP) study: rationale, design and methodology
Authors: Peuskens Joseph , Tanghøj Per , Mittoux Aurélia
Published: April 2008

Purpose

To describe the rationale and methodology of the Sertindole Cohort Prospective (SCoP) study.

Methods

The SCoP study was a prospective, randomized, partially blinded, active‐controlled, multinational trial. It was designed to assess the safety of the antipsychotic sertindole in the treatment of schizophrenia under normal conditions of use. Risperidone, a widely used antipsychotic, not associated with major safety concerns, served as comparator drug. Inclusion criteria were deliberately broad in order to ensure high external validity, but patients had to be eligible for treatment with both drugs. The first primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality, a measure highly resistant to bias, and the second was hospitalization with arrhythmia. Secondary endpoints comprised cause‐specific fatal events, hospitalizations, suicide attempts and treatment duration. An Independent Safety Committee (ISC) classified the events using blinded data and provided advice to an Independent Management Committee (IMC) that was overseeing the trial. It was calculated that 3800 person years of exposure were needed in each treatment arm to obtain a power of 80%. This makes the SCoP study one of the largest post‐authorization trials ever conducted in schizophrenia research.

Results

This report describes the design of the study, its rationale and the methods used.

Conclusions

Naturalistic estimates of drug safety constitute essential information when prescribing antipsychotic medication. In the SCoP study, data were collected prospectively in a randomized, controlled manner and under normal conditions of use. Such a design ensured the high quality of data needed to adequately evaluate the ‘real‐world’ safety of sertindole treatment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Moderating effects of personality on the genetic and environmental influences of school grades helps to explain sex differences in scholastic achievement
Authors: Hicks Brian M. , Johnson Wendy , Iacono William G. , McGue Matt
Published: April 2008

Girls consistently achieve higher grades than boys despite scoring lower on major standardized tests and not having higher IQs. Sex differences in non‐cognitive variables such as personality might help to account for sex differences in grades. Utilizing a large sample of 17‐year‐old twins participating in the Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS), we examined the roles of Achievement Striving, Self‐Control and Aggression on sex differences in grade point average (GPA). Each personality trait was a significant predictor of GPA, with sex differences in Aggression accounting for one‐half the sex difference in GPA and genetic variance accounting for most of the overlap between personality and GPA. Achievement Striving and Self‐Control moderated the genetic and environmental influences on GPA. Specifically, for girls but not boys, higher Achievement Striving and Self‐Control were associated with less variability in GPA and greater genetic and environmental overlap with GPA. For girls, certain personality traits operate to shape a context yielding uniformly higher GPA, a process that seems absent in boys. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sex differences in school performance as a function of conscientiousness, imagination and the mediating role of problem behaviour
Authors: De Fruyt Filip , Van Leeuwen Karla , De Bolle Marleen , De Clercq Barbara
Published: April 2008

The roles of Conscientiousness and Imagination in explaining sex differences in school performance were examined in two Flemish samples of school children using parental and teacher ratings of school performance (N = 599) and school grades (N = 448). Both personality domains predicted parental ratings of school performance and grades. In one sample, girls received slightly higher parental ratings of language achievement and overall performance ratings by teachers. However, controlling for Conscientiousness and Imagination facets, boys scored slightly higher for math and history. In this sample, lower externalising behaviour partially mediated the relation between Conscientiousness facets and school performance in girls but not in boys, but this pattern was not replicated in the second sample. We concluded that sex differences in school performance were small and many could be accounted for by personality traits. In some cases, however, personality traits acted to amplify sex differences in school performance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sex differences in school achievement: what are the roles of personality and achievement motivation?
Authors: Steinmayr Ricarda , Spinath Birgit
Published: April 2008

It is consistently reported that despite equal cognitive ability, girls outperform boys in school. In several methodological steps, the present study examined sex differences in school achievement and some of the most important personality and motivational constructs in a sample of 204 females and 138 adolescent males (mean age M = 16.94 years; SD = 0.71). Grades in Math and German as well as grade point average (GPA) served as achievement criteria. Intelligence, the Big Five of personality and motivational variables (achievement motives, goal orientation, task values and ability self‐concepts) served as predictors. After controlling for intelligence, girls' grades were significantly better than boys'. Mean sex differences were found for most variables. There were no gender‐specific associations between predictors and grades. Agreeableness, work avoidance, ability self‐concepts and values ascribed to German mediated the association between sex and grades in German. Controlling for ability self‐concepts and values ascribed to Math enhanced the association between sex and math grades. We concluded that personality and motivation play important roles in explaining sex differences in school attainment. Results are discussed against the background of practical and methodological implications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relations among school connectedness, hope, life satisfaction, and bully victimization
Authors: You Sukkyung , Furlong Michael J. , Felix Erika , Sharkey Jill D. , Tanigawa Diane , Green Jennifer Greif
Published: April 2008

This study investigates the role of school connectedness in mediating the relation between students' sense of hope and life satisfaction for three groups: Bullied Victims, Peer Victims, and Nonvictims. Students in grades 5 to 12 (N = 866) completed the California Bully/Victim Scale, School Connectedness Scale, Children's Hope Scale, and Students' Life Satisfaction Scale. Multigroup latent mean analysis revealed significant group mean differences in hope, school connectedness, and life satisfaction, supporting our bullying classification. Multigroup structural model analysis showed differential patterns between hope, school connectedness, and life satisfaction. Specifically, school connectedness partially mediated the relation between hope and life satisfaction for the Nonvictims only. The effect of hope on school connectedness was stronger for the Bullied Victims than the Nonvictims, and the effect of hope on life satisfaction was stronger for the Peer Victims and Bullied Victims than the Nonvictims group. Implications for research and practice are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A potent tyrosinase activator from Radix Polygoni multiflori and its melanogenesis stimulatory effect in B16 melanoma cells
Authors: Guan Shuyu , Su Weiwei , Wang Ning , Li Peibo , Wang Yonggang
Published: April 2008

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. Activators of tyrosinase with stimulatory effects on melanogenesis are beneficial for the treatment of hypopigmentation diseases. In the present study, mushroom tyrosinase activity assay was performed to screen tyrosinase activators from traditional Chinese herbs. Four components from Radix Polygoni multiflori were tested. The most active compound, 2,3,5,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene‐2‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside (THSG), was found to be a significant tyrosinase activator. The maximal activation was 126% at a concentration of 75.0 µg/mL. The three anthraquinones slightly activated tyrosinase with effects in the range 7–31%. All the compounds were tested in B16 melanoma cells, the anthraquinones were found to inhibit cell proliferation at a concentration of 0.1–2.5 µg/mL, and THSG was found to be non‐cytotoxic at a concentration of 0.1–12.5 µg/mL. THSG significantly increased the activity of murine tyrosinase and stimulated melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells. In conclusion, THSG is a potent tyrosinase activator and stimulator of melanogenesis with potential for the treatment of hypopigmentation disease. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protective effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinales Rosc.) on lindane‐induced oxidative stress in rats
Authors: Ahmed Rafat S. , Suke Sanvidhan G. , Seth Vandana , Chakraborti Ayanabha , Tripathi Ashok K. , Banerjee Basu D.
Published: April 2008

The protective effect of dietary feeding of Zingiber officinales Rosc. (ginger) against lindane‐induced oxidative stress was investigated in male albino rats. Oxidative stress was monitored by estimating the extent of lipid peroxidation, activities of the oxygen free radical (OFR) scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the status of the glutathione redox cycle antioxidants. Lindane administration (30 mg/kg bw orally for 4 weeks) was associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation and compromised antioxidant defenses in rats fed a normal diet. Concomitant dietary feeding of ginger (1%w/w) significantly attenuated lindane‐induced lipid peroxidation, accompanied by modulation of OFR scavenging enzymes as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) and the GSH dependent enzymes glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) in these rats. These findings suggest that a diet containing naturally occurring compounds is effective in exerting protective effects by modulating oxidative stress. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of SBD.4A – a defined multicomponent preparation of Angelica sinensis – in periodontal regeneration models
Authors: Zhao Hui , Alexeev Alexei , Sharma Vrushali , Guzman Lorenzo Dave T. , Bojanowski Krzysztof
Published: April 2008

Periodontitis is a major cause of tooth motility and loss, resulting in destruction of the supporting structures of the tooth, including periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. Periodontal surgery can slow the progression of the disease, but is costly, invasive, limited by contraindications and technique‐sensitive. Recently, non‐invasive pharmacological treatments using proteinaceous biologicals have become available. Here, for the first time, the bone‐regenerative capabilities of a non‐proteinaceous biological – SBD.4A – a novel, stable multicomponent growth factor isolated from a medicinal plant Angelica sinensis are reported. SBD.4A was tested in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation systems, as well as in a fibroblast‐secreted hyaluronic acid assay. Furthermore, SBD.4A was formulated in a slow release matrix and tested in the rat calvarial defect model. Apart from the previously reported strong stimulation of angiogenesis, fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis – the activities needed for periodontal regeneration – SBD.4A enhanced the deposition of hyaluronic acid and proliferation of osteoblasts in vitro, as well as bone regeneration in the rat calvarial defect model. Together, these results indicate the beneficial effect of SBD.4 on periodontal ligament and bone regeneration making the case for further development of this botanical growth factor. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Soymida febrifuga leaf extracts
Authors: Reddy Boreddy Srinivas , Reddy Boreddy Purushotham , Raghavulu Sapireddy Veer , Ramakrishna Sistla , Venkateswarlu Y. , Diwan Prakash V.
Published: April 2008

The present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of hexane (LH), methanol (LM) and aqueous (LA) extracts of Soymida febrifuga (Maliaceae) leaves, which is a traditional folk medicine in India. No pharmacological evaluation of this plant (except antiplasmodial activity) has been reported to date. Antioxidant activity of different extracts was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, taking total phenolic content (TPC) as an index. Antimicrobial activity was tested against six bacterial and five fungal strains using the agar hole diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) were determined for all the test organisms against the extracts. The results showed that the methanol and aqueous extracts of leaf had a higher antioxidant activity and total phenolic content than the hexane extract. The antioxidant activity and TPC of the extracts were highly correlated. Extracts also showed several degrees of antimicrobial activity against different microbes. The methanol extract was more potent against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida tropicana. The lowest MIC values obtained for LM, LA and LH were 78, 156, 625 µg/mL against A. fumigatus, C. tropicana and C. albicans, respectively. Hence, this study confirms that Soymida febrifuga leaves possess potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Far‐upstream precursors of heavy precipitation events on the Alpine south‐side
Authors: Martius O. , Schwierz C. , Davies H. C.
Published: April 2008

This study examines the upper‐level flow pattern that foreshadows the comparatively frequent co‐occurrence of heavy precipitation events on the Alpine south‐side together with potential vorticity (PV) streamers aloft over western Europe. It is hypothesized that each streamer is itself preceded by a dynamically distinctive and a thermodynamically active flow associated with the space–time development, and the ultimate breaking over Europe, of synoptic‐scale Rossby waves.

The ECMWF (European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts) ERA‐40 dataset is used to examine the nature of a streamer's coherent precursor pattern by deriving seasonal composites of refined Hovmöller diagrams, the upper‐level pattern of the PV and its gradient, and mid‐tropospheric diabatic heating. For the autumn and winter seasons, the composites reveal a significant and coherent wave‐packet precursor signal in the PV field that can be traced back ∼1 week to the central and eastern Pacific. Contemporaneously, the coherent signatures in the composite PV gradient field and diabatic heating fields are conducive to triggering and/or supporting the wave signal, and also contribute to subsequent downstream wave‐breaking. In spring the composite precursor PV signal appears over, and propagates eastward from, the Atlantic basin, and its limited zonal extent is attributed to the lack of a coherent PV waveguide. In summer, the signal appears essentially in situ in the Hovmöller analysis but extends across the Atlantic basin in the PV composite results.

An indication is also provided of the extent to which the composite characteristics are evident in two individual events, and note is made of the study's implications for medium‐range forecasting. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Halogen‐substituted phenylalanines as enantioselective selectors for enantioselective discrimination of amino acids: effect of halogen
Authors: Kumari S. , Prabhakar S. , Vairamani M.
Published: April 2008

Halogen‐substituted phenylalanines with a halogen X (X = F, Cl, Br or I) in the para position in the aromatic ring of L‐phenylalanine are used as enantioselective selectors to explore the effect of the halogen substituent on the enantioselective discrimination of amino acids. Enantioselective discrimination is achieved by investigating the collision‐induced dissociation spectra of the trimeric complex ion, [CuII(ref)2(A)‐H]+, generated by electrospraying a solution of a mixture of D‐ or L‐analyte amino acid (A), enantioselective reference ligand (ref) and CuCl2. The relative abundances of fragment ions resulting from the competitive loss of reference and analyte amino acids are considered for measuring the degree of enantioselective discrimination by applying the kinetic method. The enantioselectivity of the p‐halogenated derivatives of L‐Phe increases from fluorine to iodine for the studied amino acids (except for acidic amino acids). The validity of the present method has also been checked by cross enantioselective experiments using p‐iodo‐D‐phenylalanine as the reference in place of p‐iodo‐L‐phenylalanine. The enantioselectivity of fluoro‐substituted L‐phenylalanine is less than that obtained with L‐phenylalanine. The high inductive effect of the fluorine atom decreases the strength of the π‐π stacking interaction. The presence of halogen affects the enantioselectivity by inductive and steric effects. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrophilic interaction chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry analysis of carbohydrate‐related metabolites from Arabidopsis thaliana leaf tissue
Authors: Antonio Carla , Larson Tony , Gilday Alison , Graham Ian , Bergström Ed , Thomas‐Oates Jane
Published: April 2008

This work describes the development and application of an on‐line liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) coupled to negative ion mode electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) for the analysis of highly polar carbohydrate‐related metabolites commonly found in plants, ranging from reducing and non‐reducing sugars and sugar alcohols to sugar phosphates. Using this method, separation and detection of a mixture of eight authentic standard compounds containing glucose (Glc), sucrose (Suc), raffinose, verbascose, mannitol, maltitol, glucose‐6‐phosphate (Glc6P) and trehalose‐6‐phosphate (Tre6P) were achieved in less than 15 min. The method is rapid, robust, selective, and sensitive, with limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.2 µM obtained for neutral sugars, to 1.0 µM obtained for sugar alcohols, and 2.0 µM obtained for negatively charged sugar phosphates. We have studied the negative ion collision‐induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation behaviour of the non‐reducing raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose. Mainly Bi and Ci glycosidic and Ai cross‐ring structurally informative cleavages are observed. We have applied this HILIC/ESI‐MS method for the analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana wild‐type Columbia‐0 (Col‐0) and its starchless phosphoglucomutase mutant (pgm1) leaf extracts. The method was used to quantify Glc, Suc, raffinose, and Glc6P in A. thaliana extracts. Data obtained using this HILIC/ESI‐MS method were compared with those obtained using a comparable porous graphitic carbon‐based LC/ESI‐MS method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid screening for cyclo‐dopa and diketopiperazine alkaloids in crude extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xing Jie , Yang Zijuan , Lv Beibei , Xiang Lan
Published: April 2008

A simple and rapid qualitative liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for screening cyclo‐dopa and diketopiperazine alkaloids in crude extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. at sub‐ppm levels. An electrospray ionization orbitrap mass spectrometer, which provides accurate full scan MS and MS/MS data, was used in this study. After simple extraction with ethanol and purification by AB‐8 resin, the extracts were subjected to LC/MS/MS analysis. A high mass tolerance (10 ppm) was used in the initial screening to filter the full scan MS data. The cyclo‐dopa and diketopiperazine alkaloid standards gave limits of detection (LODs) at or below 5 ng/mL. The results also indicated that the method had an acceptable precision for day‐to‐day use in the identification of compounds. The alkaloids could be identified based on their MS/MS data, elemental compositions, and retention behavior. This system was used to assay trace amounts of cyclo‐dopa and diketopiperazine alkaloids in crude extracts of Portulaca oleracea L., leading to the identification of 5/2 confirmed/unconfirmed cyclo‐dopa and 7/6 confirmed/unconfirmed diketopiperazine alkaloids, respectively. The screening method considerably reduces the time and cost involved in the identification of cyclo‐dopa and diketopiperazine alkaloids in Portulaca oleracea L., as well as being a simple and convenient approach to the identification of other structural families of natural products. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Small area random effects models for capture/recapture methods with applications to estimating coverage error in the U.S. Decennial Census
Authors: Malec Donald , Maples Jerry
Published: April 2008

The synthetic estimation approach currently in use for estimating net coverage error in the U.S. Census is evaluated using random effects models. The synthetic estimates from the 2000 Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation (ACE) Revision II are evaluated in two parts. First, a model is used, which produces the synthetic estimate components and, second, the model is enlarged to include random effects at the small area level. Retaining all the fixed effects that characterize the synthetic model produces an extremely large, saturated random effects model. Hence, we selectively reduce the random effects model with an aim towards keeping all fixed effects in order to fairly evaluate the synthetic model. A super‐population model is used for the bivariate outcome of erroneous enumeration rate and census omission rate. Both these outcomes were previously estimated using the current synthetic estimation approach. A major hurdle in this project was the development of defensible input data for the small areas due to the large number of effects in the synthetic model, which render simple design‐based estimates for small areas crossed with post‐strata, mostly, unusable. For this initial approach, the small areas were the 540 local census offices. Bayesian methods are employed to evaluate these models. The advantage of this model is that it can evaluate a key assumption about the homogeneity of rates within a post‐stratum and if the assumption holds, then this model reduces to the current synthetic model. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some Properties of Starch Extracted from Three Thai Aromatic Fruit Seeds
Authors: Tongdang Taewee
Published: April 2008

Starches extracted from three Thai aromatic fruit seed, chempedak (Artocarpus integer), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.), and durian (Durio zibethinus L./ Murr) – with mung bean starch for comparison – were investigated for chemical compositions, amylose content, resistant starch content, granule morphology and size distribution, crystalline pattern, swelling power and solubility, pasting and thermal properties. The extracted starches were of very high purity. The fruit seed starches had lower amylose contents and much smaller granule size than mung bean starch and hence lower pasting viscosities. Chempedak and jackfruit seed starches were very similar in swelling power, solubility, gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, while the properties of durian seed starch were close to those of mung bean starch. The information obtained in this work could be very useful for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. Further study on other functional and molecular properties should be considered.
Effects of an oral superoxide dismutase enzyme supplementation on indices of oxidative stress, proviral load, and CD4:CD8 ratios in asymptomatic FIV-infected cats
Authors: Webb Craig B. , Lehman Tracy L. , McCord Kelly W.
Published: April 2008

This study was designed to test the effect of antioxidant supplementation on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected felines. Six acutely FIV-infected cats (≥16 weeks post-inoculation) were given a propriety oral superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplement (Oxstrin; Nutramax Laboratories) for 30 days. Following supplementation, the erythrocyte SOD enzyme concentration was significantly greater in the supplemented FIV-infected group than the uninfected control group or the unsupplemented FIV-infected group. The CD4+ to CD8+ ratio increased significantly (0.66–0.88) in the SOD supplemented FIV-infected cats but not in the unsupplemented FIV-infected cats. Proviral load and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in leukocyte cell types did not change significantly following supplementation. Antioxidant supplementation resulted in an increase in SOD levels, confirming the oral bioavailability of the compound in FIV-infected cats. This result warrants further investigation with trials of antioxidant therapy in FIV-infected cats that are showing clinical manifestations of their disease, as well as in other feline patients where oxidative stress likely contributes to disease pathogenesis, such as diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure.
Consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages for 10 weeks increases postprandial triacylglycerol and apolipoprotein-B concentrations in overweight and obese women
Authors: Swarbrick Michael M. , Stanhope Kimber L. , Elliott Sharon S. , Graham James L. , Krauss Ronald M. , Christiansen Mark P. , Griffen Steven C. , Keim Nancy L. , Havel Peter J.
Published: April 2008

Fructose consumption in the USA has increased over the past three decades. During this time, obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome have also increased in prevalence. While diets high in fructose have been shown to promote insulin resistance and increase TAG concentrations in animals, there are insufficient data available regarding the long-term metabolic effects of fructose consumption in humans. The objective of the present study was to investigate the metabolic effects of 10-week consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages in human subjects under energy-balanced conditions in a controlled research setting. Following a 4-week weight-maintaining complex carbohydrate diet, seven overweight or obese (BMI 26·8–33·3 kg/m2) postmenopausal women were fed an isoenergetic intervention diet, which included a fructose-sweetened beverage with each meal, for 10 weeks. The intervention diet provided 15 % of energy from protein, 30 % from fat and 55 % from carbohydrate (30 % complex carbohydrate, 25 % fructose). Fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, TAG and apoB concentrations were measured. Fructose consumption increased fasting glucose concentrations and decreased meal-associated glucose and insulin responses (P = 0·0002,P = 0·007 andP = 0·013, respectively). Moreover, after 10 weeks of fructose consumption, 14 h postprandial TAG profiles were significantly increased, with the area under the curve at 10 weeks being 141 % higher than at baseline (P = 0·04). Fructose also increased fasting apoB concentrations by 19 % (P = 0·043v.baseline). In summary, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages increased postprandial TAG and fasting apoB concentrations, and the present results suggest that long-term consumption of diets high in fructose could lead to an increased risk of CVD.
The Politics of Workers' Contention: The 1999 Mayora Strike in Tangerang, West Java
Authors: Saptari Ratna
Published: April 2008

This paper aims to examine the interplay between individual subjectivities and collective action during a strike which occurred at a moment of political transition in Indonesia from Suharto's authoritarian regime to a more democratically inclined government. It attempts to highlight some of the problems in understanding the nature of protest and collective action and the construction of workers' identities. By following the sequence of a strike, we are able to see the collaborations and conflicts between the leaders and those who are central in the protest action and those who are at the margins; between those who join and those who do not join but hope to obtain the benefits of the results. This also means that it provides us with a better understanding of the complexities involved when we refer to “consciousness”, “identities”, and “experiences” as analytical constructs. Such a focus can counter the often simplistic links made between action and intent, between the economic circumstances and political action.
Class, Nation, and Capitalist Globalization: Eric Hobsbawm and the National Question
Authors: Matthews Wade
Published: April 2008

This article will argue that scholars concerned with the nexus between socialism and nationalism have overlooked the work of Eric Hobsbawm, the foremost present-day Marxist historian and a key theorist of modern nationalism. The article will repair that neglect by providing the first systematic analysis of Hobsbawm's encounter with the national question. It will contend that Hobsbawm's work is a key site for those interested in exploring the clash between class-consciousness and national identity, and that his historical and political writing provides a unique window on the nexus between nationalism and socialism in the last half of the twentieth century. The article will also suggest that Hobsbawm's changing conception of the relationship between nationalism and socialism is crucial to an understanding of the shifts his politics have undergone in the last three decades or so.
A potential danger of flexible endoscopy sheaths: a detached tip and how to retrieve it
Authors: Awad Z , Pothier D D
Published: April 2008

Objective:

To report an unrecognised complication of fibre-optic nasendoscopy, and its management.

Case report:

A protective, transparent nasendoscopy sheath is often used to reduce nasendoscope ‘downtime’ and to prevent cross infection, with minimal effect on the obtained image quality. We report the case of a subcutaneous tracheostomy procedure during which, without undue strain, the tip of the sheath became detached and acted as a foreign body within the trachea. A urological stone retrieval basket was used to retrieve the sheath, after failure of conventional methods.

Discussion:

Clinicians should be aware that any instrument introduced into the airway has the potential to fail and in the process produce a foreign body which may cause serious complications. The urological stone retrieval basket may be a useful addition to the current set of instruments used to deal with difficult airway foreign bodies.
Front-line epistaxis management: let's not forget the basics
Authors: Ho E C , Chan J-Y
Published: April 2008

Objective:

We postulated that epistaxis patients frequently have their nose packed in the accident and emergency department without any reasonable prior attempt at nasal assessment and nasal cautery.

Design:

Telephone survey of 104 accident and emergency departments.

Results:

A 100 per cent response rate was achieved. In all but one of the departments surveyed, first line management was carried out by accident and emergency doctors. Seventy-four per cent of accident and emergency doctors perform nasal cautery as first line management. Within accident and emergency departments, the availability and usage of head illumination, nasal speculums, topical anaesthesia and suction was grossly suboptimal. Only one-sixth of the accident and emergency doctors surveyed had received training in the management of epistaxis, whilst 81 per cent of accident and emergency departments would admit nasally packed patients under the ENT team.

Conclusion:

Despite the majority of accident and emergency doctors claiming to attempt nasal cautery before packing, this is unlikely to be effective if performed without the correct equipment. Better training and equipment need to be provided to accident and emergency doctors in order to optimise the management of epistaxis patients. This could potentially reduce inappropriate admissions.
The language curriculum: A social contextual perspective
Authors: Graves Kathleen
Published: April 2008

This article examines curriculum from a social contextual perspective in which enactment – teaching and learning – is the central process, to which planning and evaluation contribute. It looks at the ways two kinds of contexts, target-language embedded and target-language removed, influence language curriculum planning and enactment. It provides a brief history of syllabus design and a rationale for moving beyond syllabus as the primary construct for curriculum planning. It then explores the classroom as the context of enactment and the role of the teacher as catalyst for curriculum change. It reconceptualizes the classroom as a learning community with potential links with real, virtual and imagined communities. It briefly explores integrated approaches to evaluation and assessment and concludes with examples of promising directions and suggestions for further research. Examples of practice that illustrate concepts are provided throughout the article.
Aging, health expenditure, proximity to death, and income in Finland
Authors: HÄKKINEN UNTO , MARTIKAINEN PEKKA , NORO ANJA , NIHTILÄ ELINA , PELTOLA MIKKO
Published: April 2008

This study revisits the debate on the ‘red herring’, i.e. the claim that population aging will not have a significant impact on health care expenditure (HCE), using a Finnish data set. We decompose HCE into several components and include both survivors and deceased individuals into the analyses. We also compare the predictions of health expenditure based on a model that takes into account the proximity to death with the predictions of a naïve model, which includes only age and gender and their interactions. We extend our analysis to include income as an explanatory variable. According to our results, total expenditure on health care and care of elderly people increases with age but the relationship is not as clear as is usually assumed when a naïve model is used in health expenditure projections. Among individuals not in long-term care, we found a clear positive relationship between expenditure and age only for health centre and psychiatric inpatient care. In somatic care and prescribed drugs, the expenditure clearly decreased with age among deceased individuals. Our results emphasize that even in the future, health care expenditure might be driven more by changes in the propensity to move into long-term care and medical technology than age and gender alone, as often claimed in public discussion. We do not find any strong positive associations between income and expenditure for most non-LTC categories of health care utilization. Income was positively related to expenditure on prescribed medicines, in which cost-sharing between the state and the individual is relatively high. Overall, our results indicate that the future expenditure is more likely to be determined by health policy actions than inevitable trends in the demographic composition of the population.
Originalartikel
Authors: Merten Thomas
Published: April 2008

Bei der Diagnostik von Gedächtnisleistungen im Rahmen neurologischer Erkrankungen ist auch eine Untersuchung des semantischen Gedächtnisses von Bedeutung. Das Semantische Altgedächtnisinventar von Schmidtke und Vollmer-Schmolck (1999 ) stellt einen Versuch zur standardisierten Erfassung von Störungen auf diesem Gebiet dar. Es wurde eine retrospektive Datenanalyse von 300 Testprotokollen neurologischer Patienten einer Akutklinik vorgenommen, um Daten zur Reliabilität und Validität des Verfahrens zu erhalten, die bislang in der Literatur nur in geringem Umfang vorzufinden sind. Zusätzlich waren zahlreiche andere Testdaten verfügbar. 59 % der Analysestichprobe erreichten Testwerte unterhalb des vorgeschlagenen Trennwertes. Die interne Konsistenz des Instruments ist zufrieden stellend, wenngleich auf Itemebene Revisionsbedarf sichtbar wurde. In einer Hauptachsenanalyse mit schiefwinkliger Rotation wurde eine Drei-Faktoren-Lösung erhalten, die ein Konstrukt semantisches Altgedächtnis nicht unterstützt. Ein erster varianzstarker Faktor, der 49 % der Varianz aufklärt, wurde als «globale» oder «nicht-verbale kognitive Fähigkeiten» interpretiert. Der zweite Faktor lud am höchsten auf Variablen des Sprachgedächtnisses und der Kategorienflüssigkeit, während der dritte Faktor allgemein verbales Gedächtnis abbildete und auch das Zahlennachsprechen vorwärts und rückwärts einschloss. Obwohl das Instrument als ein wichtiger Versuch zur standardisierten Erfassung semantischen Altgedächtnisses anzusehen ist, sind Anstrengungen zur Verfeinerung psychodiagnostischer Verfahren zur Konstrukterfassung notwendig, die ihrerseits positiv auf weitere konzeptionelle Fortschritte rückwirken können.
An IRT Investigation of the Validity of Non-Patient Analogue Research Using the Beck Depression Inventory
Authors: Hammond Sean M.
Published: April 2008

This paper presents an IRT analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory which was carried out to assess the assumption of an underlying latent trait common to non-clinical and patient samples. A one parameter rating scale model was fitted to data drawn from a patient and non-patient sample. Findings suggest that while the BDI fits the model reasonably well for the two samples separately there is sufficient differential item functioning to raise serious duobts of the viability of using it analogously with patient and non-patient groups.
The Self-Description Questionnaire-1: A Lithuanian Application
Authors: Watkins David , McCreary Juhasz Anne , Walker Aldona , Janvlaitiene Nijole
Published: April 2008

Analysis of the responses of 139 male and 83 female Lithuanian 12-14 year-olds to a translation of the Self-Description Questionnaire-1 (SDQ-1; Marsh, 1988 ) supported the internal consistency and factor structure of this instrument. Some evidence of a “positivity” response bias was found, however. Comparison of the Lithuanian responses to those of like-aged Australian, Chinese, Filipino, Nepalese, and Nigerian children indicated the Lithuanians tended to report rather lower self-esteem. The Lithuanian males also tended to report lower self-esteem than their female peers. Interpretation of the results are considered in terms of reactions to the recent upheavals in Eastern Europe, stable cultural dimensions, and possible cultural and gender biases in the items of the SDQ-1.
The Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties 1The preparation of this article was supported by a grant from the Social Science Research Council of Finland. We are grateful to Michael Berzonsky for his helpful comments on an earlier draft.
Authors: Nurmi Jari-Erik , Salmela-Aro Katariina , Haavisto Tarja
Published: April 2008

It has been suggested that people's cognitive and attributional strategies influence the extent to which they are successful in various situations. A 60-item self-report scale for measuring these strategies was developed. This Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire (SAQ) comprised ten subscales: (1) Success expectations, (2) Task-irrelevant behaviour, (3) Seeking social support, (4) Reflective thinking and (5) Master-orientation in an achievement situation, and (6) Success expectations, (7) Task-irrelevant behaviour, (8) Avoidance, (9) Master-orientation and (10) Pessimism in an affiliative context. An attempt to validate these subscales was made by correlating them with Rosenberg's Self-esteem and Self-stability Scales, a revised Beck's Depression Inventory, the Peer Relationship Measure, and the levels of task-irrelevant behaviour, test-anxiety, and grades in a university examination. This was done with a sample of 488 undergraduates at the University of Helsinki. The results showed that the SAQ subscales were moderately or highly, and in theoretically expected ways, associated with various validity criteria. Moreover, internal consistency and retest reliabilities were good. The results suggest that the SAQ provides a valid and reliable measure for identifying different types of cognitive and attributional strategy.
Assessing Important and Observable Personal Qualities in the General Selection Interview 1This study was funded by Science 3 (Air) of the Ministry of Defence.
Authors: Jackson Christopher John
Published: April 2008

Typical job analysis methods derive personal qualities (PQs) such as traits, constructs, skills and attributes that are important to the job. Such methods are unsuitable to derive measurement criteria for use in general selection interviews because important PQs are not necessarily easy for the interviewer to observe and thus to assess. In this study, a job analysis method was used to derive important and observable PQs which were used to assess candidates within a structured, life-history, general selection interview. After correcting for range restriction and adjusting for number of variates, the multiple correlation of the PQs against success at the next stage of training was: 0.41 for non-graduates; 0.28 for staff; and 0.18 for graduates. Two possible explanations, both to do with observability of PQs, are proposed to explain these differences in predictive validity. It is argued that the proposed method can have similar validity to the situational interview for some groups of candidates without the problems and limitations of the situational interview.
Are Learning Tests the Better Version of Intelligence Tests?
Authors: Guthke Jürgen , Stein Henrik
Published: April 2008

Under the rubrics Learning Potential Assessment, Learning Test Concept, Testing the Limits, and Interactive or Dynamic Assessment, alternatives or supplements to the conventional static intelligence test are discussed and subjected to empirical scrutiny. Researchers hope that prompts built into the test will make it possible to determine the “zone of proximal development” (Vygotsky) and lead to a fairer and more valid assessment. The authors begin by reviewing conventional attempts at validation using external criteria such as school grades and teacher ratings. This is followed by a review of more recent research done in the construct validation tradition. In the latter, learning tests vs. conventional intelligence tests are compared with basic components of intelligence (measured by using elementary cognitive tasks) and knowledge acquisition processes (in complex problem solving scenarios). Although in these attempts at validation the learning tests turn out to be superior to the static versions, much more research needs to be done in order to answer the question that headlines this article.