bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coming out of the Shed: Reflections on Men and Fathers
Authors: Moloney Lawrie
Published: July 2013

This paper is based upon a keynote address I delivered to the 2000 Australian Family Therapy Conference. The address invited conference participants to reflect on the functional or ‘provider’ roles so often assigned to men as partners and fathers. I link socio‐historical observations about the construction of gender‐based roles, with personal experiences of three generations of men from my own family of origin. I suggest that a continuing division of roles along gendered lines is not serving men well. Nor does it offer many benefits to men's female partners or their children. Practices within family law provide one illustration of persistent gender‐laden attitudes that, in the light of solid experimental evidence on men and fathering over the past twenty years, need to be challenged. Therapists, too, are challenged to reflect on how to engage men in ways that avoid the reinforcement of gender stereotypes.
Are Children Protected in the Family Court? A Perspective from Western Australia
Authors: Jenkins Suzanne
Published: July 2013

Despite a landmark High Court judgement in the area of child sexual abuse allegations (M and M, 1988), a major concern in such cases seems to be the fear that mothers use false accusations against fathers as ‘weapons’ in custody and contact cases. This paper seeks to examine the validity of such views as they apply to Western Australia. In particular, it examines the belief that false accusations are rampant; the questionable nature of ‘parental alienation syndrome’, the belief that young children's accounts of abuse lack credibility, and the ignoring of the effect of abuse itself on the nature of a child's testimony. The paper argues that the principle of ‘protection of the child's best interests’ should not necessarily be equated with the child having access, even supervised access, with a parent previously accused of having abused the child.
Visions and Revisions in Family Therapy in Africa
Authors: Nwoye Augustine
Published: July 2013

This paper reviews the changes that have taken place in the field of guidance given to the family in Africa in the last one hundred years. It distinguishes several eras in ideas about the family and ways of working with the family in Africa. It traces adaptations in both orientation and technique made by contemporary family therapists in Africa to respond to the changing needs and problems of today's African client family. The essay is restricted to the experience of family therapy in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding South Africa.
Fundamentals of Theory and Practice Revisited: Adult Clients With Mild ‘Intellectual Disability’: Rethinking Our Assumptions
Authors: Gallagher Eddie
Published: July 2013

There is considerable confusion surrounding the concept of ‘intellectual disability’ and great stigma attached to this label. This paper questions whether the concept is a useful one when applied to adults with mild learning difficulties and encourages less rigidity in categorisation. Some implications of a pseudo‐medical model are examined. Counselling for adults with mild intellectual disabilities has been much neglected. Some aspects of counselling these individuals are briefly discussed: expectations; communication style; exploring the client's idea of ‘disability’; accepting versus challenging ‘disability’; importance of relationships; exploring discrimination and abuse; depression and anxiety; and the danger of assuming a lack of understanding.
How to Survive as a Family Therapist
Authors: Young Sally
Published: July 2013

This paper will look at the particular anxieties that a family therapist needs to manage to survive the work. Attention is paid to the clinical and organisational pressures that therapists need to be able to negotiate in order to work creatively. Some suggestions are made as to the therapeutic position which enables us to enjoy our work as therapists.
Challenges, Speculations, Risks: Differentiating From Israel
Authors: Abarbanel Avigail
Published: July 2013

What is it like to differentiate from a country, a culture? Is it even possible? This paper describes my struggle to differentiate from Israel. I share both the emotional and intellectual dimensions of my journey. The emotional plane is illustrated with a journal entry, and the intellectual through the meaning that I give to my experiences and the conclusions that I draw from them as a therapist. This paper is not a political statement but it does illustrate, I believe, the close and complicated relationship between what is public and what is personal.
Family Therapy in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practice: Integrating Family Therapy in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practice: An Ethic of Hospitality
Authors: Larner Glenn
Published: July 2013

This article integrates family therapy in contemporary child and adolescent mental health services as an evidence‐based practice. An integrative practice model is proposed where contextual approaches like systemic and narrative therapy complement and enrich individual problem‐focused models such as biological psychiatry and cognitive therapy. This is based on an ethic of hospitality towards all therapy discourses and the following best practice guideline: ‘To make optimum space for a systemic and narrative understanding contributes to evidence‐based practice in a contemporary mental health service.’ After discussing some dilemmas of integrative practice, I illustrate the therapeutic process by a detailed example of integrative family therapy with a depressed suicidal adolescent.
What's Wrong with Subjectivity Anyway?
Authors: Hansen Benjamin
Published: July 2013

In this paper I look at the current trend toward positivism in the practice of psychotherapy. I use the term psychotherapy throughout, to remind family therapist readers that the problem is not ours alone. I offer a brief, critical literature review. I suggest that the trend towards positivism offers little of therapeutic value and compromises the ethical practice of psychotherapy. The origins of the trend lie in economic rationalism (demonstrated by the sorry state of the profession in the USA), philosophical error (the belief in certain knowledge) and a misplaced faith in method (simple algorithms exist that can transcend even the most complex circumstances). I dispute the validity of these influences and draw upon David Smail's suggestion that the pursuit of objectivity is an attempt to avoid the awkward necessity of making moral judgements. In the last section of the paper I briefly examine a philosophical framework that could serve as a guide to the subjective practice of psychotherapy and I offer a simple subjective metaphor drawn from a work of literary criticism.
The Flipside of Sixpence: Aboriginal Stories of Hope and Reconciliation
Authors: Larner Glenn
Published: July 2013

This is Colleen Brown's last interview before her untimely death in 2002. The interview continues and extends Colleen's project to educate family therapists about Aboriginal experience and culture. In presenting Cecily's life narrative and painting, Colleen surprises us with a creative message of hope and reconciliation about the stolen generation, because Cecily expresses gratitude to the white family who brought her up. In her own words, Cecily ‘did that painting for me like the others so I could show family therapists what the other side of the coin is, the flipside’. This three‐way conversation between Colleen, Cecily and Glenn provides a contribution to the reconciliation process.
Youth Who Victimise Their Parents
Authors: Gallagher Eddie
Published: July 2013

This is the second of two articles on the victimisation of parents by their children. The first article discussed the phenomenon itself, and then focused on interventions directed to the parents of victimising children. This article focuses more on working with young people who are exhibiting this form of behaviour. Some issues discussed are: viewing them as victims or victimisers; instrumental or expressive violence; causes of this behaviour; temperament; labels; attitudes engaging violent and defiant kids; challenging unacceptable behaviours; attitudes and exposure to DV; responsibility vs. entitlement; solution‐focused questions.
Speaking From the Pained Place: Engaging With Frank Dattilio
Authors: Webster Michelle
Published: July 2013

It was with interest that I accepted the invitation to provide a brief response to Frank Dattilio's article on cognitive restructuring in couples therapy. My reading of the article initially was as a practitioner in couples work for the last 28 years, and who is always curious about what can be helpful with couples. However, I also bring to my reading an understanding of couples work using the framework of the Emotionally Focused Therapy perspective.
Etifoxine stimulates allopregnanolone synthesis in the spinal cord to produce analgesia in experimental mononeuropathy
Authors: Aouad M. , Petit‐Demoulière N. , Goumon Y. , Poisbeau P.
Published: July 2013

Background

Pathological pain states are often associated with neuronal hyperexcitability in the spinal cord. Reducing this excitability could theoretically be achieved by amplifying the existing spinal inhibitory control mediated by GABAA receptors (GABAARs). In this study, we used the non‐benzodiazepine anxiolytic etifoxine (EFX) to characterize its interest as pain killer and spinal mechanisms of action. EFX potentiates GABAAR function but can also increase its function by stimulating the local synthesis of 3α‐reduced neurosteroids (3αNS), the most potent endogenous modulators of this receptor.

Methods

The efficacy of EFX analgesia and the contribution of 3αNS were evaluated in a rat model of mononeuropathy. Spinal contribution of EFX was characterized through changes in pain symptoms after intrathecal injections, spinal content of EFX and 3αNS, and expression of FosB‐related genes, a marker of long‐term plasticity.

Results

We found that a 2‐week treatment with EFX (>5 mg/kg, i.p.) fully suppressed neuropathic pain symptoms. This effect was fully mediated by 3αNS and probably by allopregnanolone, which was found at a high concentration in the spinal cord. In good agreement, the level of EFX analgesia after intrathecal injections confirmed that the spinal cord is a privileged target as well as the limited expression of FosB/ΔFosB gene products that are highly expressed in persistent pain states.

Conclusions

This preclinical study shows that stimulating the production of endogenous analgesics such as 3αNS represents an interesting strategy to reduce neuropathic pain symptoms. Since EFX is already prescribed as an anxiolytic in several countries, a translation to the human clinic needs to be rapidly evaluated.
Prevalence of cold‐related musculoskeletal pain according to self‐reported threshold temperature among the Finnish adult population
Authors: Pienimäki T. , Karppinen J. , Rintamäki H. , Borodulin K. , Laatikainen T. , Jousilahti P. , Hassi J. , Näyhä S.
Published: July 2013

Background

Exposure to cold reportedly increases musculoskeletal pains. We assessed the prevalence of such pain and self‐reported threshold temperature (TT) at which the pain emerges.

Methods

A random sample of 6591 people in Finland, aged 25–74 years, answered a questionnaire on repeated cold‐related musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and its TT. The response rate was 64%. We used quantile regression to quantify the effects of personal characteristics and region of residence on TT at various locations of its distribution.

Results

Of the participants, 1892 (30%) experienced CMP in at least one body site and 1692 reported TT. Ten percent of the participants who perceived CMP did so at −2 °C, 50% at −14 °C and 90% at −23 °C. Residence in the South elevated TT by 1–6 °C compared with residence in the North, depending on the proportion of participants reporting CMP at various temperatures. Joint disorders increased TT at milder temperatures, at which only 10% of all participants perceived CMP, whereas back disorders did so mainly at lower temperatures, at which 70% were affected. Overweight was associated with a 2 °C lower TT, and physical inactivity with a 1 °C higher TT, and TT increased by 1 °C per 10‐year increase in age. The greatest model‐estimated difference in median TT between subgroups was 12 °C.

Conclusions

People suffering from musculoskeletal disorders and those living in the warmer areas of Finland need special advice to protect themselves against the cold. Our study provides preliminary information to support such advice.
Differences of SiHa (Human Cancer of Cervix) andBMG‐1 (Brain Glioma) Cell Lines as 2Dand 3DCultures
Authors: Ravi Maddaly , Sah Sunil , Bhammar Rajesh
Published: July 2013

Cell cultures have seen much progress in the numbers available cell lines, their applications and culture techniques. Three dimensional cultures and co‐cultures are examples of strategies that bring in vitro conditions closer to natural in vivo systems. We describe here, the formation of cell aggregates in three‐dimensional conditions for the cell lines SiHa and BMG‐1 utilizing agarose hydrogels. The optimal conditions for best aggregate formation were identified and the culture phases for the cell lines as monolayers and as aggregates were compared. Differences in protein profiles, susceptibility to a genotoxic drug and the antigenic properties of the protein extracts of the two cell lines, as can be induced by their aggregate formation were studied. The results from the four approaches indicate the usefulness of culturing cells as aggregates. Such systems using simple material and methods offer us an efficient way of utilizing cell lines for a variety of applications. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 127–131, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inhibition of Wnt/β‐Catenin Signaling Promotes Engraftment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Repair Lung Injury
Authors: Sun Zhaorui , Gong Xuemin , Zhu Huiming , Wang Cong , Xu Xiaomeng , Cui Di , Qian Weiping , Han Xiaodong
Published: July 2013

We sought to explore the treatment effects and the repair mechanisms of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during HCl‐induced acute lung injury (ALI). MSCs were delivered through the tail veins of rats 24 h after intranasal instillation of HCl. The results showed that MSCs did not ameliorate the histopathologic changes of ALI and pulmonary fibrosis. We found that the activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling may regulate the differentiation of MSCs and is associated with lung fibroblasts activation, pulmonary fibrosis and tissue repair process in ALI rats. Immunofluorescence and histology analysis indicated that activated canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling induced most MSCs to differentiate into myofibroblasts or fibroblasts in vivo. However, inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling by Dickkopf‐1 (DKK1) promotes epithelial differentiation of MSCs induced by native alveolar epithelial cells which are beneficial to repair the injured lung epithelium. Inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling after MSCs transplantation ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis and improved pulmonary function which attenuated the lung injury. In vitro study, activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling stimulated MSCs to express myofibroblasts markers, which was attenuated by DKK1. Furthermore, Wnt3α activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in lung fibroblasts to enhance the expression of collagen I, vimentin and α‐smooth muscle actin, but DKK1 attenuated these proteins expression. These findings demonstrated that canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling plays a key role in regulating differentiation of MSCs in vivo or in vitro and the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. Our study suggested that inhibition of abnormal activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling would promote MSCs epithelial differentiation to repair lung injury and reduce pulmonary fibrosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 213–224, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Decomposition of gas‐phase dimethyl sulfide using microwave catalysis over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3
Authors: Wei Zaishan , Liu Lihong , Chen Zhouyang , Ni Baoren , Sun Jianliang
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a gaseous odor pollutant with very low threshold values that has serious impacts on environment quality and human health. The study reports a microwave catalytic reactor with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst for oxidation decomposition of dimethyl sulfide.

RESULTS

A combination of microwave and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 or microwave combined with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 and ozone as an oxidant completely converted DMS. The effect of DMS removal using microwave and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 is close to that of catalytic oxidizing of DMS using ozone and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3. Microwave accentuates catalytic oxidation of DMS, and increases DMS removal efficiency. The addition of ozone to microwave catalysis over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 leads to the enhancement of DMS removal. (CH3)2SO, HCOOCH3 and SCO species are formed in the microwave catalytic DMS reaction. The mechanism of microwave catalytic DMS over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 was dominated by a free radical oxidation route. (CH3)2SO, (CH3)2SO2, SCO and CH3OH species are formed in the microwave catalytic oxidation of DMS.

CONCLUSION

Ozone enhances free radical formation. Oxidative reactions involving ozone and radicals play the dominant role in the destruction of DMS molecules using a microwave combined with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst using ozone as an oxidant. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Ionospheric density perturbations recorded by DEMETER above intense thunderstorms
Authors: Parrot M. , Sauvaud J. A. , Soula S. , Pinçon J. L. , van der Velde O.
Published: July 2013

DEMETER (Detection of Electromagnetic Emissions Transmitted From Earthquake Regions) was a three‐axis stabilized Earth‐pointing spacecraft launched on 29 June 2004 into a low‐altitude (710 km) polar and circular orbit that was subsequently lowered to 650 km until the end of the mission in December 2010. DEMETER measured electromagnetic waves all around the Earth, except in the auroral zones (invariant latitude >65°). The frequency range for the electric field was from DC up to 3.5 MHz, and for the magnetic field, it was from a few hertz up to 20 kHz. At its altitude, the phenomena observed on the E field and B field spectrograms recorded during nighttime by the satellite in the very low frequency range are mainly dominated by whistlers. In a first step, the more intense whistlers have been searched. They correspond to the most powerful lightning strokes occurring below DEMETER. Then, it is shown that this intense lightning activity is able to perturb the electron and ion densities at the satellite altitude (up to 133%) during nighttime. These intense lightning strokes are generally associated with transient luminous events, and one event with many sprites recorded on 17 November 2006 above Europe is reported. Examining the charged particle precipitation, it is shown that this density enhancement in the high ionosphere can be related to the energetic particle precipitation induced by the strong whistlers emitted during a long‐duration thunderstorm activity at the same location.
Sea level variations during snowball Earth formation: 1. A preliminary analysis
Authors: Liu Yonggang , Richard Peltier W.
Published: July 2013

A preliminary theoretical estimate of the extent to which the ocean surface could have fallen with respect to the continents during the snowball Earth events of the Late Neoproterozoic is made by solving the Sea Level Equation for a spherically symmetric Maxwell Earth. For a 720 Ma (Sturtian) continental configuration, the ice sheet volume in a snowball state is ~750 m sea level equivalent, but ocean surface lowering (relative to the original surface) is ~525 m due to ocean floor rebounding. Because the land is depressed by ice sheets nonuniformly, the continental freeboard (which may be recorded in the sedimentary record) at the edge of the continents varies between 280 and 520 m. For the 570 Ma (Marinoan) continental configuration, ice volumes are ~1013 m in eustatic sea level equivalent in a “soft snowball” event and ~1047 m in a “hard snowball” event. For this more recent of the two major Neoproterozoic glaciations, the inferred freeboard generally ranges from 530 to 890 m with most probable values around 620 m. The thickness of the elastic lithosphere has more influence on the predicted freeboard values than does the viscosity of the mantle, but the influence is still small (~20 m). We therefore find that the expected continental freeboard during a snowball Earth event is broadly consistent with expectations (~500 m) based upon the inferences from Otavi Group sediments.
Hindcast and validation of Hurricane Ike (2008) waves, forerunner, and storm surge
Authors: Hope M. E. , Westerink J. J. , Kennedy A. B. , Kerr P. C. , Dietrich J. C. , Dawson C. , Bender C. J. , Smith J. M. , Jensen R. E. , Zijlema M. , Holthuijsen L. H. , Luettich R. A. , Powell M. D. , Cardone V. J. , Cox A. T. , Pourtaheri H. , Roberts H. J. , Atkinson J. H. , Tanaka S. , Westerink H. J. , Westerink L. G.
Published: July 2013

Hurricane Ike (2008) made landfall near Galveston, Texas, as a moderate intensity storm. Its large wind field in conjunction with the Louisiana‐Texas coastline's broad shelf and large scale concave geometry generated waves and surge that impacted over 1000 km of coastline. Ike's complex and varied wave and surge response physics included: the capture of surge by the protruding Mississippi River Delta; the strong influence of wave radiation stress gradients on the Delta adjacent to the shelf break; the development of strong wind driven shore‐parallel currents and the associated geostrophic setup; the forced early rise of water in coastal bays and lakes facilitating inland surge penetration; the propagation of a free wave along the southern Texas shelf; shore‐normal peak wind‐driven surge; and resonant and reflected long waves across a wide continental shelf. Preexisting and rapidly deployed instrumentation provided the most comprehensive hurricane response data of any previous hurricane. More than 94 wave parameter time histories, 523 water level time histories, and 206 high water marks were collected throughout the Gulf in deep water, along the nearshore, and up to 65 km inland. Ike's highly varied physics were simulated using SWAN + ADCIRC, a tightly coupled wave and circulation model, on SL18TX33, a new unstructured mesh of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and western Atlantic Ocean with high resolution of the Gulf's coastal floodplain from Alabama to the Texas‐Mexico border. A comprehensive validation was made of the model's ability to capture the varied physics in the system.
Propagation characteristics of coastally trapped waves on the Australian Continental Shelf
Authors: Woodham Robert , Brassington Gary B. , Robertson Robin , Alves Oscar
Published: July 2013

Coastally trapped waves (CTWs) are investigated around the Australian coast based on their signature in the sea surface height (SSH) field, using independent data from coastal tide gauge observations and the Bluelink ocean forecasting system from 2009. A high correlation (correlation coefficients from 0.6 to 0.9) between the model and observational data is demonstrated for locations between Hillarys, in the south‐west of the continent, and Cape Ferguson, in the north‐east. This justifies the use of Bluelink data for the rest of the investigation and enables coastal locations between tide gauge stations to be included. Spectrum analysis shows that CTWs have periods of between 10 and 25 days, with the 10 day period dominating along the south coast, and greater energy around the 20 day period on the east coast. The greatest spectral power is located around the Great Australian Bight. After filtering to isolate these CTW frequencies, phase speeds are estimated using two methods and are consistent with earlier studies. There is a close correlation between the standard deviation of the filtered SSH data and the width of the continental shelf, indicating that CTW amplitudes are strongly modulated by the local shelf width. Contrary to earlier studies, a complex empirical orthogonal function analysis shows that the majority of the variance propagates as continuous features between the south‐west and north‐east, and although modulated by the shelf width, it is unaffected by the sharply changing coastline orientation, shallow Bass Strait, or wind forcing regions.
Physical and chemical characterization of ambient aerosol by HR‐ToF‐AMS at a suburban site in Hong Kong during springtime 2011
Authors: Lee Berto P. , Li Yong Jie , Yu Jian Zhen , Louie Peter K. K. , Chan Chak K.
Published: July 2013

An Aerodyne high‐resolution time‐of‐flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR‐ToF‐AMS) has been employed in a field sampling campaign at a suburban coastal site in Hong Kong in springtime 2011 to provide insights into the size‐resolved chemical composition of nonrefractory submicron aerosol species. This is the first time that such detailed real‐time measurements have been made in Hong Kong. The total nonrefractory PM1 was dominated by sulfate (51.0%) and organics (28.2%) with considerable acidity (average in situ pH = 0.95) and a characteristic bimodal particle size distribution with peaks at 200 and 570 nm of vacuum aerodynamic diameter (Dva). Source apportionment of organic aerosol yielded three characteristic aerosol fractions (hydrocarbon‐like organic aerosol, semivolatile organic aerosol and low‐volatile organic aerosol) with distinct temporal patterns and distributions in different particle size regions. The influence of air mass origin on species concentrations, particle size distributions and elemental ratios was investigated using backtrajectory analysis. Larger particle diameters, greater fractions of oxygenated organic aerosol and higher organic‐to‐carbon ratios were observed during coastal and continental air mass influence. Three major pollution events with elevated nonrefractory PM1 concentrations were observed in the sampling period, which were related to distinct meteorological and circulatory conditions. Accumulation and redistribution of local and regional pollutants were notable in a period of strong land‐sea breeze over the Pearl River Delta region, with considerable photochemical activity and particle aging. Increased fractions of oxygenated organic aerosol were apparent in foggy conditions, illustrating the importance of aqueous phase oxidation processes in a cooler and more humid time period.
Seasonal tropical cyclone precipitation in Texas: A statistical modeling approach based on a 60 year climatology
Authors: Zhu Laiyin , Frauenfeld Oliver W. , Quiring Steven M.
Published: July 2013

Sixty years of tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) in Texas has been analyzed because of its importance in extreme hydrologic events and the hydrologic budget. We developed multiple linear regression models to provide seasonal forecasts for annual TCP, TCP's contribution (percentage) to total precipitation, and the number of TCP days in Texas. The regression models are based on three or fewer predictors with model fits ranging from 0.18 to 0.43 (R2) and cross‐validation accuracy of 0.05–0.36 (R2). La Niña exhibits the most important control on TCP in Texas. It is the major driver in our models and acts to reduce the vertical shear in the Caribbean and the tropical Atlantic, thereby generating more precipitating storms in Texas. Lower maximum potential velocity, the theoretical maximum wind speed that storms can attain, in the Gulf of Mexico, and low‐level vorticity in the Atlantic hurricane main development region increased the modeled R2 by 20% or more. Both variables have negative coefficients in the TCP models. Lower maximum potential velocity and vorticity are associated with tropical cyclones with lower maximum wind speed and slower translation speed. Such weak TCs produce the majority of TCP and extreme TCP events in Texas. The quartiles of the TCs with strongest maximum wind speed and fastest translation speed are not associated with the largest mean daily precipitation based on observations in Texas. We have also shown that sea level pressure in the Gulf of Mexico, sea surface temperature in the Caribbean, and the North Atlantic Oscillation are potentially important predictors of seasonal TCP in Texas.
Recent changes in air temperature, heat waves occurrences, and atmospheric circulation in Northern Africa
Authors: Fontaine Bernard , Janicot Serge , Monerie Paul‐Arthur
Published: July 2013

This study documents the time evolution of air temperature and heat waves occurrences over Northern Africa for the period 1979–2011. A significant warming (1°–3°C), appearing by the mid‐1960s over Sahara and Sahel, is associated with higher/lesser frequency of warm/cold temperatures, as with longer duration and higher occurrences of heat waves. Heat waves episodes of at least 4 day duration have been examined after removing the long‐term evolution. These episodes are associated with specific anomalies: (i) in spring, positive low‐level temperature anomalies over the Sahel and Sahara; low and midlevel cyclonic rotation over Morocco associated with a Rossby wave pattern, lessening the Harmattan; more/less atmospheric moisture westward/eastward to 0°; upward/downward anomalies above the western/eastern regions associated with the Rossby wave pattern; (ii) in summer, a similar but weaker positive low‐level temperature anomaly (up to 3°C); less moisture westward to 10°W, a cyclonic anomaly in central Sahel favoring the monsoon eastward to 0° and a midlevel anticyclonic anomaly over the Western Sahara, increasing southward the flux divergence associated with the African Easterly Jet. In March–May, two to three heat waves propagate eastward. They are preceded by an abnormal warm cell over Libya and southwesterlies over the West Sahara. A large trough stands over North Atlantic while midtropospheric subsidence and anticyclonic rotation reinforce over the continent, then migrates toward the Arabian peninsula in breaking up. These signals are spatially coherent and might suggest the role of short Rossby waves with an eastward group velocity and a baroclinic mode, possibly associated with jet stream deformation.
Synthesis of Novel Spiro Pyrano[2,3‐d]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine via 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylide
Authors: Ling Yulin , Liu Haochong , Zheng Aiting , Li Guobin , Li Xiaofang
Published: July 2013

The reaction involving 4‐phenyl‐octahydro‐pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐2‐thione, ethyl chloroacetate and the appropriate aromatic aldehyde yielded 2‐arylmethylidene‐5‐phenyl‐5a,7,8,9a‐tetrahydro‐5H,6H‐pyrano[2,3‐d][1,3]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐3(2H)‐ones. The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 2‐arylmethylidene‐5‐phenyl‐5a,7,8,9a‐tetrahydro‐5H,6H‐pyrano[2,3‐d][1,3]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐3(2H)‐ones with azomethine ylide generated by a decarboxylative route from sarcosine and acenaphthenequinone afforded 4′‐aryl‐1′‐methyl‐5″‐phenyl‐5a″,7″,8″,9a″‐tetrahydro‐2H,5″H,6″H‐dispiro[acenaphthylene‐1,2′‐pyrrolidine‐3′,2″‐pyrano[2,3‐d][1,3]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine]‐2,3″‐diones in moderate yields. The structures of the products were determined and characterized thoroughly by NMR, MS, IR, elemental analysis, and X‐ray crystallographic analysis.
Production of high specific activity 195mPt‐cisplatinum at South African Nuclear Energy Corporation for Phase 0 clinical trials in healthy individual subjects
Authors: Zeevaart Jan Rijn , Wagener Judith , Marjanovic‐Painter Biljana , Sathekge Mike , Soni Nischal , Zinn Christa , Perkins Gary , Smith Suzanne V.
Published: July 2013

Platinum agents continue to be the main chemotherapeutic agents used in the first‐line and second‐line treatments of cancer patients. It is important to fully understand the biological profile of these compounds in order to optimize the dose given to each patient. In a joint project with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Nuclear Medicine Department at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation synthesized and supplied 195mPt‐cisplatinum (commonly referred to as cisplatin) for a clinical pilot study on healthy volunteers. Enriched 194PtCl2 was prepared by digestion of enriched 194Pt metal (>95%) followed by thermal decomposition over a 3 h period. The 194PtCl2 was then placed in a quartz ampoule, was irradiated in SAFARI‐1 up to 200 h, then decay cooled for a minimum of 34 h prior to synthesis of final product. 195mPt(NH3)2I2, formed with the addition of KI and NH4OH, was converted to the diaqua species [195mPt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+ by reaction with AgNO3. The conversion to 195mPt‐cisplatinum was completed by the addition of concentrated HCl. The final product yield was 51.7% ± 5.2% (n = 5). The chemical and radionuclidic purity in each case was >95%.

The use of a high flux reactor position affords a higher specific activity product (15.9 ± 2.5 MBq/mg at end of synthesis) than previously found (5 MBq/mg). Volunteers received between 108 and 126 MBq of radioactivity, which is equivalent to 6.8–10.0 mg of carrier cisplatinum. Such high specific activities afforded a significant reduction (~50%) in the chemical dose of a carrier cisplatinum, which represents less than 10% of a typical chemotherapeutic dose given to patients. A good manufacturing practice GMP compliant product was produced and was administered to 10 healthy volunteers as part of an ethically approved Phase 0 clinical trial. The majority of the injected activity 27.5% ± 5.8% was excreted in the urine within 5 h post injection (p.i.). Only 8.5% ± 3.1% of cisplatinum remained in blood pools at 5 h, which gradually cleared over the 6‐day monitoring period p.i. At the end of the study (6 days p.i.), a total of 37.4% ± 5.3% of the product had cleared from the blood into urine, and approximately 63% remained in the body. The significantly lower concentration of carrier cisplatinum used for imaging resulted in a well‐tolerated product. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimized expression, purification and characterization of a family 11 xylanase (AuXyn11A) from Aspergillus usamii E001 in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Zhang Hui‐Min , Wang Jun‐Qing , Wu Min‐Chen , Gao Shu‐Juan , Li Jian‐Fang , Yang Yan‐Jun
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

Xylanases have attracted much attention because of their potential applications. Unfortunately, the commercialization of xylanases is limited by their low catalytic activities. The aim of this study was to improve the activity of a xylanase by optimization of the expression conditions and to investigate its characterization.

RESULTS

The activity of recombinant AuXyn11A (reAuXyn11A), a family 11 xylanase from Aspergillus usamii E001 expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115, reached 912.6 U mL−1 under the optimized conditions, which was 2.14 times as high as that expressed using the standard protocol. After the endogenous 18‐aa propeptide had been processed in P. pastoris, reAuXyn11A (188‐aa mature peptide) was secreted and purified with a specific activity of 22 714 U mg−1. It displayed maximum activity at pH 5 and 50 °C and was stable in the pH range 4–8 and at a temperature of 45 °C or below. Its activity was not significantly affected by most metal ions and EDTA. Xylooligosaccharides ranging from xylobiose (X2) to xylohexaose (X6) were produced from insoluble corncob xylan by reAuXyn11A.

CONCLUSION

Its high specific activity and good enzymatic properties suggest that reAuXyn11A is a potential candidate for applications in industrial processes. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of cultivar and culture system on nutritional and organoleptic quality of strawberry
Authors: Akhatou Ikram , Fernández Recamales Ángeles
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

Strawberries are widely appreciated and consumed as a pleasant‐tasting fruit either in fresh form or as processed product. Of the many factors which can affect the quality of fruit (sensorial and nutritional), the cultivar is especially important, but it is also affected by crop conditions. The main characteristics related to the fruit quality and nutritional attributes were assessed in several varieties of strawberry grown in soilless and soil culture. The effect of different cultivars and cropping systems on selected quality parameters, were assessed by applying multivariate statistical methods, such as principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA).

RESULTS

Differences among cultivars were observed based on the mineral composition and glucose and fructose concentrations in both cultivation systems. However, no significant differences between cultivars were detected in sourness. Tamar and Camarosa were the sweetest cultivars among those grown in soilless and soil system, respectively. Both varieties also had the highest total sugars/total acids ratio. The comparison between strawberries cultivated in soil and soilless systems also revealed significant differences in the mineral composition, content of sugars and related parameters.

CONCLUSION

Good discrimination was observed between cultivars of conventional crops, whereas no clear separation between cultivars grown in the soilless system was achieved by PLS‐DA. PLS‐DA also allowed differentiation of samples by type of crop (soilless vs. conventional crop). This information could be useful for selection of growing conditions and high‐quality cultivars. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
The dimensions of ‘traditional food’ in reflexive modernity: Norway as a case study
Authors: Amilien Virginie , Hegnes Atle Wehn
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

This article aims to better understand the definition(s) of ‘traditional’ food. The authors discuss and exemplify how this rhetorical concept is used in the specialist literature and in Norwegian public debate. The authors ultimately propose a set of central dimensions of traditional food and their relevance across various discourses.

RESULTS

After examining the use of the concept ‘tradition’ in scientific publications, the authors note that it is based on two main axes: time and know‐how. These are interwoven in a ‘meaning’ dimension in the connection between time and culture, but also in a ‘place’ dimension that is systematically materialised in food. In order to better describe and understand the dynamic that emerges from the interplay of innovation and tradition, the article goes through the broadest use of ‘traditional food’ in public discourses, in national and regional newspapers, and in consumers' attitudes. There, the concept of ‘traditional food’ is used for both preserving historic values and renewing sense of identity.

CONCLUSION

The article can be regarded as an empirical example which elaborates the understanding of tradition in reflexive modernity. It concludes that the concept of traditional food is neither fixed nor finite but is a fluid and energetic concept which, based on the tensions between four central axes, can adapt to the discourses of preservation, moderation and innovation. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
High Water Content Hydrogel With Super High Refractive Index
Authors: Zhou Chuncai , Heath Daniel E. , Sharif Abdul Rahim Mohamed , Rayatpisheh Shahrzad , Oh Bernice H. L. , Rong Xu , Beuerman Roger , Chan‐Park Mary B.
Published: July 2013

Transparent, high water content (>65%), and cytocompatible hydrogels, which also possess super high refractive indices (RI > 1.5), are needed for ophthalmological applications. Most hydrogels can achieve either high RI or high water content but not both in the same system because water is a low RI material. Here, high water content/high RI hydrogels fabricated through elevated‐temperature UV polymerization of an aqueous solution of acrylamide (AM) and methacrylamide (MAM) with tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (TEDA) crosslinker are reported. By varying the AM:MAM ratios (2:8 to 8:2) and crosslinker density (5 to 11 mol %), it is discovered that high water content (66%) AM:MAM copolymer hydrogels exhibiting anomalously high refractive indices (1.53); they are also colorless, transparent (99.4%), and cytocompatible with human keratinocytes.
Facile Synthesis of Amphiphilic Heterografted Copolymers with Crystalline and Amorphous Side Chains
Authors: Gao Qing , Wang Yanshai , Ren Yingying , Li Yang
Published: July 2013

An amphiphilic polymer brush with PB and PEO side chains is prepared by combined “grafting‐onto” and “grafting‐from”. The linear and star‐shaped heterografted copolymer synthesized is of controlled molecular weight and has a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn < 1.2). A DSC study of this heterografted copolymer containing crystalline and amorphous chains shows that it displays “fractionated crystallization” behavior. The study on isothermal crystallization kinetics of the copolymer is carried out in isothermal step crystallization (ISC) experiments, in which two crystallization exothermic peaks at low temperatures are observed. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the amphiphilic brush polymer in an aqueous solution is determined by a fluorescence technique. The results show that this amphiphilic brush forms aggregates in the system.

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Dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrole and Benzothiadiazole‐Based Semicrystalline Copolymer for Photovoltaic Devices with Indene‐C60 Bisadduct
Authors: Lee Wonho , Kim Gi‐Hwan , Jeong Eunjae , Wang Xiaowei , Yum Seungjib , Ko Seo‐Jin , Hwang Sungu , Kim Jin Young , Woo Han Young
Published: July 2013

A semicrystalline low‐bandgap polymer (PDTPBT) based on alternating dithienopyrrole and benzothiadiazole moieties as a pair of the indene‐C60 bisadduct (ICBA) for polymeric solar cells is reported. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of PDTPBT is measured to be −3.47 eV, ensuring sufficient energy offset for photoinduced charge transfer to ICBA. Photovoltaic cells are fabricated with ICBA and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as an acceptor. By replacing PC71BM with ICBA, the open‐circuit voltage is increased by 0.23 V and the resulting power conversion efficiency is improved from 1.17% to 1.71%. To optimize the ICBA‐based devices, crystalline low‐bandgap structures should be designed carefully as a pair of ICBA by considering the energy‐level offset for charge separation and crystalline interchain ordering, for minimizing the intercalated ICBAs inside the polymer domain.

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Magnetic Polymer/Nickel Hybrid Nanoparticles Via Miniemulsion Polymerization
Authors: Staudt Thiago , Machado Thiago O. , Vogel Nicolas , Weiss Clemens K. , Araujo Pedro H. H. , Sayer Claudia , Landfester Katharina
Published: July 2013

This work shows a method to synthesize and encapsulate magnetic nickel nanocrystals into polymeric colloidal particles through miniemulsion polymerization. The nickel nanoparticles are produced by a thermal decomposition method in the presence of oleylamine and triphenylphosphine, which results in a hydrophobic surface. However, being compatible with the monomer does not ensure a successful encapsulation by miniemulsion polymerization, as the nickel nanoparticles are expelled from the polymer particles with increasing styrene conversion due to the poor adhesion interaction between the organic shells of the nickel nanoparticles and the polystyrene. Changing the hydrophobic polystyrene to a polymer with higher polarity such as poly(methyl methacrylate) proves to be efficient for encapsulation of nickel nanoparticles when employing a hydrophilic initiator. After encapsulation, these nanoparticles show magnetic response.

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Consumer Risk Perceptions and Marketing Strategy: The Case of Genetically Modified Food
Authors: Phillips Diane M. , Hallman William K.
Published: July 2013

New technologies are hitting the marketplace every day. In trying to make sense of these new technologies, consumers perceive a series of risks and benefits of consumption and use those perceptions to form product judgments. One way for managers to mitigate organizational related risk is to understand how consumers perceive consumption‐related risk. To illustrate this point, the case of genetically modified (GM) food is examined and a series of focus groups is conducted in which participants examined different product labels that either framed the technology as a benefit gained or as a risk avoided. The results indicate that consumers do indeed form very different product evaluations based on how the new technology is framed, but these evaluations vary based on the level of the consumers’ preexisting knowledge. This study provides support for the contention that a better understanding of consumer risk perceptions is an important first step in developing marketing strategies for new technology‐oriented products.
The Beliefs Which Influence Young Males to Speed and Strategies to Slow Them Down: Informing the Content of Antispeeding Messages
Authors: Lewis Ioni , Watson Barry , White Katherine M. , Elliott Barry
Published: July 2013

Young male drivers are overrepresented in road‐related fatalities. Speeding represents a pervasive and significant contributor to road trauma. Antispeeding messages represent a long‐standing strategy aimed at discouraging drivers from speeding. These messages, however, have not always achieved their persuasive objectives that may be due, in part, to them not always targeting the most salient beliefs underpinning the speeding behavior of particular driver groups. The current study elicited key beliefs underpinning speeding behavior as well as strategies used to avoid speeding, using a well‐validated belief‐based model, the theory of planned behavior, and in‐depth qualitative methods. To obtain the most comprehensive understanding about the salient beliefs and strategies of young male drivers, how such beliefs and strategies compared with those of drivers of varying ages and gender, was also explored. Overall, 75 males and females (aged 17–25 or 30–55) participated in group discussions. The findings revealed beliefs that were particularly relevant to young males and that would likely represent key foci for developing message content. For instance, the need to feel in control and the desire to experience positive affect when driving were salient advantages; while infringements were a salient disadvantage and, in particular, the loss of points and the implications associated with potential license loss as opposed to the monetary (fine) loss (behavioral beliefs). For normative influences, young males appeared to hold notable misperceptions (compared with other drivers, such as young females); for instance, young males believed that females/girlfriends were impressed by their speeding. In the case of control beliefs, the findings revealed low perceptions of control with respect to being able to not speed and a belief that something “extraordinary” would need to happen for a young male driver to lose control of their vehicle while speeding. The practical implications of the findings, in terms of providing suggestions for devising the content of antispeeding messages, are discussed.
Model selection in measures of vascular parameters using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI: experimental and clinical applications
Authors: Ewing James R. , Bagher‐Ebadian Hassan
Published: July 2013

A review of the selection of models in dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) is conducted, with emphasis on the balance between the bias and variance required to produce stable and accurate estimates of vascular parameters. The vascular parameters considered as a first‐order model are the forward volume transfer constant Ktrans, the plasma volume fraction vp and the interstitial volume fraction ve. To illustrate the critical issues in model selection, a data‐driven selection of models in an animal model of cerebral glioma is followed. Systematic errors and extended models are considered. Studies with nested and non‐nested pharmacokinetic models are reviewed; models considering water exchange are considered. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.