bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combining Micron‐Size Glass Spheres with Silver Nanoparticles to Produce Extraordinary Field Enhancements for Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering Applications
Authors: Zou Shengli , Schatz George C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractUsing Mie theory and a T‐matrix method, we have studied the interaction of light with a micron‐size glass sphere and a dimer of silver nanoparticles in order to assess the feasibility of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) that combined dielectric hot spots with plasmon excitation. We show that when light interacts with glass spheres, there is a robust hot spot on the surface in the forward direction with dimensions of a few hundred nanometers both parallel and perpendicular to the surface. For a glass sphere in vacuum with a refractive index of 1.9 and a radius of 4 μm, we find that the electric field enhancement at this hot spot is |E|2 = 500. If a dimer of silver particles (spheres of radius 30 nm placed 2 nm apart) is placed at this hot spot, the peak near‐field between the nanoparticles is found to be |E|2 = 7×106. This enhancement factor, which is approximately the product of the dimer‐only enhancement factor (˜104) and the hot spot enhancement, is comparable to the largest field enhancements that we have obtained with other nanoparticle structures. It is large enough that the observation of single molecule SERS might be possible with this structure.
A Theoretical Study on SERS Intensity of Pyridine Adsorbed on Transition Metal Electrodes
Authors: Wu De‐Yin , Ren Bin , Tian Zhong‐Qun 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSince the mid‐1990s good quality surface‐enhanced Raman spectra have been obtained from many transition metal (TM) electrodes. It has been observed quite often that SERS band intensities, i.e., the relative intensities of different vibrational modes, of the adsorbate are very sensitive to the nature of the metal. Since transition metals interact with adsorbed molecules much more strongly than the typical SERS substrates, i.e., Au, Ag, and Cu, it is desirable to give a detailed and quantitative explanation of the spectroscopic behavior on TM electrodes. In the present study, a hybrid density functional approach with 6–311+G**/LanL2DZ basis sets and the B3LYP nonlocal exchange‐correlation functionals has been used for the Raman intensity analysis on totally symmetric modes of pyridine adsorbed at transition metal electrodes, e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel, palladium, and platinum. Among all studied metal electrodes, iron and cobalt are predicted to be the most effective SERS substrates involving chemical enhancement, a result in good agreement with the experiments. The chemical bonding enhancement plays a role in pyridine interaction with the transition metal electrodes. The charge transfer enhancement as the most common chemical mechanism is also discussed for comparison.
A Comparative Health Survey of the Inhabitants of Roma Settlements in Hungary
Authors: Kósa Zsigmond , Széles György , Kardos László , Kósa Karolina , Németh Renáta , Országh Sándor , Fésüs Gabriella , McKee Martin , Ádány Róza , Vokó Zoltán 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We compared the health of people living in Roma settlements with that of the general population in Hungary. Methods. We performed comparative health interview surveys in 2003 to 2004 in representative samples of the Hungarian population and inhabitants of Roma settlements. Results. In persons older than 44 years, 10% more of those living in Roma settlements reported their health as bad or very bad than did those in the lowest income quartile of the general population. Of those who used any health services, 35% of the Roma inhabitants and 4.4% of the general population experienced some discrimination. In Roma settlements, the proportion of persons who thought that they could do much for their own health was 13% to 15% lower, and heavy smoking and unhealthy diet were 1.5 to 3 times more prevalent, than in the lowest income quartile of the general population. Conclusions. People living in Roma settlements experience severe social exclusion, which profoundly affects their health. Besides tackling the socioeconomic roots of the poor health of Roma people, specific public health interventions, including health education and health promotion programs, are needed.
Family History of Diabetes, Awareness of Risk Factors, and Health Behaviors Among African Americans
Authors: Baptiste-Roberts Kesha , Gary Tiffany L. , Beckles Gloria L.A. , Gregg Edward W. , Owens Michelle , Porterfield Deborah , Engelgau Michael M. 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We examined the role of family history of diabetes in awareness of diabetes risk factors and engaging in health behaviors. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1122 African American adults without diabetes who were participants in Project DIRECT (Diabetes Interventions Reaching and Educating Communities Together). Results. After adjustment for age, gender, income, education, body mass index, and perceived health status, African Americans with a family history of diabetes were more aware than those without such a history of several diabetes risk factors: having a family member with the disease (relative risk [RR]=1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.03, 1.15), being overweight (RR=1.12; 95% CI=1.05, 1.18), not exercising (RR=1.17; 95% CI=1.07, 1.27), and consuming energy-dense foods (RR=1.10; 95% CI=1.00, 1.17). Also, they were more likely to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day (RR=1.31; 95% CI=1.02, 1.66) and to have been screened for diabetes (RR=1.21; 95% CI=1.12, 1.29). Conclusions. African Americans with a family history of diabetes were more aware of diabetes risk factors and more likely to engage in certain health behaviors than were African Americans without a family history of the disease.
Socioeconomic Status and Risk for Arsenic-Related Skin Lesions in Bangladesh
Authors: Argos Maria , Parvez Faruque , Chen Yu , Hussain A.Z.M. Iftikhar , Momotaj Hassina , Howe Geoffrey R. , Graziano Joseph H. , Ahsan Habibul 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a severe public health crisis in Bangladesh, where the population is exposed to arsenic in drinking water through tube wells used for groundwater collection. In this study, we explored the association between socioeconomic status and arsenic toxicity. Methods. We used baseline data from 11438 men and women who were recruited into the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS), a prospective cohort study on the health effects of arsenic exposure in Bangladesh. We conducted analyses with logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. Results. We found a strong dose–response association with all measures of arsenic exposure and skin lesions. We also found that the effect of arsenic was modified by land ownership on a multiplicative scale, with an increased risk among non–land owners associated with well water arsenic (P=.04) and urinary total arsenic concentrations (P=.03). Conclusions. Our study provides insight into potentially modifiable host characteristics and identifies factors that may effectively target susceptible population subgroups for appropriate interventions.
Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Spending by the Poor and Chronically Ill in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Ruger Jennifer Prah , Kim Hak-Ju 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We estimated out-of-pocket health care spending and out-of-pocket spending burden ratio employing household equivalent income in the Republic of Korea. We examined variations in out-of-pocket spending, estimated out-of-pocket spending burden ratio employing household equivalent income, and identified factors associated with out-of-pocket spending. Methods. We used the 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, a nationally representative survey of 39 060 individuals. Our analyses examined out-of-pocket spending, out-of-pocket spending burden ratio, and health care use by socioeconomic status, insurance type, health care facility type, and chronic condition after we controlled for sociodemographic variables. Results. The lowest income quintile spent 12.5% of their total income out-of-pocket on medical expenditures, which was 6 times that of the highest income quintile (2%). Among those with 3 or more chronic conditions, low-income Koreans had the highest out-of-pocket spending burden ratio (20%), which was 5 times the spending burden among high-income Koreans (4%). In multivariate analyses, the number of chronic conditions, insurance type, health care use, and health care facility type were associated with out-of-pocket spending. Conclusions. Out-of-pocket spending in Korea is regressive, because lower-income groups pay disproportionately more of their income compared with higher-income groups. Low-income individuals with multiple chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Associations Between Body Composition, Anthropometry, and Mortality in Women Aged 65 Years and Older
Authors: Dolan Chantal Matkin , Kraemer Helena , Browner Warren , Ensrud Kristine , Kelsey Jennifer L. 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We examined the relation between measures of body size and mortality in a predominantly White cohort of 8029 women aged 65 years and older who were participating in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Methods. Body composition measures (fat and lean mass and percentage body fat) were calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Anthropometric measures were body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and waist circumference. Results. During 8 years of follow-up, there were 945 deaths. Mortality was lowest among women in the middle of the distribution of each body size measure. For BMI, the lowest mortality rates were in the range 24.6 to 29.8 kg/m2. The U-shaped relations were seen throughout the age ranges included in this study and were not attributable to smoking or measures of preexisting illness. Body composition measures were not better predictors of mortality than BMI or waist girth. Conclusions. Our results do not support applying the National Institutes of Health categorization of BMI from 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 as overweight in older women, because women with BMIs in this range had the lowest mortality.
Generating Political Priority for Maternal Mortality Reduction in 5 Developing Countries
Authors: Shiffman Jeremy 
Published: March 2007

I conducted case studies on the level of political priority given to maternal mortality reduction in 5 countries: Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria. Among the factors that shaped political priority were international agency efforts to establish a global norm about the unacceptability of maternal death; those agencies’ provision of financial and technical resources; the degree of cohesion among national safe motherhood policy communities; the presence of national political champions to promote the cause; the deployment of credible evidence to show policymakers a problem existed; the generation of clear policy alternatives to demonstrate the problem was surmountable; and the organization of attention-generating events to create national visibility for the issue. The experiences of these 5 countries offer guidance on how political priority can be generated for other health causes in developing countries.
Pymatuning earthquake in Pennsylvania and Late Minoan Crisis on Crete
Authors: Gorokhovich Y. , Fleeger G. 
Published: March 2007

One of the previously published hypotheses on Late Minoan Crisis on Crete considers water loss in aquifers as a reason that forced late Minoan people to abandon their palaces and settlements. According to this hypothesis the water loss in aquifers is attributed to the activity of repeated earthquakes at that time. This hypothesis was supported by numerous case studies of the effects of earthquakes on aquifers in various geological regions around the world.
Presented study concentrates on detailed description of the one of the most interesting cases, the aquifer in Pennsylvania (USA) damaged by the relatively moderate Pymatuning earthquake in 1998, and compares its geological settings with similar conditions on Crete, specifically near Phaistos and Knossos palaces. Pymatuning earthquake resulted in devastating effect on approximately 120 households that lost drinking water from wells. The lessons from Pymatuning earthquake provide a unique insight into similar situation that could occur 3,600 years BP on Crete.
Treatment with CRH‐1 antagonist antalarmin reduces behavioral and endocrine responses to social stressors in marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii)
Authors: French Jeffrey A. , Fite Jeffrey E. , Jensen Heather , Oparowski Katie , Rukstalis Michael R. , Fix Holly , Jones Brenda , Maxwell Heather , Pacer Molly , Power Michael L. , Schulkin Jay 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCorticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) has multiple roles in coordinating the behavioral and endocrine responses to a host of environmental challenges, including social stressors. In the present study we evaluated the role of CRH in mediating responses to a moderate social stressor in Wied's black tufted‐eared marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii). Male and female marmosets (n=14) were administered antalarmin (a selective CRH‐1 receptor antagonist; 50µg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle in a blind, counterbalanced, crossover design. One hr after treatment, marmosets were separated from long‐term pairmates and then housed alone in a novel enclosure for 7 hr. Behavior was recorded during separation and upon reunion with the partner, and urine samples for cortisol assay collected before, during, and after the intervention. Separation from partners elevated urinary cortisol concentrations over baseline for both conditions, but antalarmin treatment reduced the magnitude of the elevation. Antalarmin also lowered rates of behavioral patterns associated with arousal (alarm and “e‐e” vocalizations, object manipulate/chew), but had no effect on contact calls, locomotory activity or alertness. Although most patterns of social behavior upon reunion with the partner were not affected by antalarmin, antalarmin‐treated marmosets displayed more sexual behavior (mounts and copulations) upon reunion. These data indicate that antagonism of the CRH‐1 receptor acts to reduce the magnitude of both endocrine and behavioral responses to a moderate social stressor without causing any overall reduction in alertness or general activity. This supports the hypothesis that CRH, acting through its type 1 receptor, is involved in coordinating the responses to anxiety‐producing events. These results further suggest that the marmoset is a useful model for exploration of the role of CRH in mediating the behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to psychosocial stressors, particularly in the context of heterosexual social relationships. Am. J. Primatol. 69:877–889, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Absolute Configuration of Conformationally Flexible cis‐Dihydrodiol Metabolites by the Method of Confrontation of Experimental and Calculated Electronic CD Spectra and Optical Rotations
Authors: Kwit Marcin , Sharma Narain D. , Boyd Derek R. , Gawronski Jacek 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe have determined the absolute configurations of conformationally flexible cis‐dihydrodiol metabolites (cis‐1,2‐dihydroxy‐3,5‐cyclohexadienes), bearing different substituents (e.g., Br, F, CF3, CN, Me) in 3‐ and 5‐positions, by the method of confrontation of experimental and calculated electronic CD spectra and optical rotations. Convergent results were obtained by both methods in eight out of ten cases. For the difficult cases, where either conformer population and/or chiroptical properties (calculated rotational strengths of the long‐wavelength Cotton effect or optical rotations) of contributing conformers remain inconclusive, the absolute configuration could still be correctly assigned based on one of the biased properties (either ECD or optical rotation). This approach appears well‐suited for a broad spectrum of conformationally flexible chiral molecules.
Infrared Spectrum and Structure of Thorimine (HNThH2)
Authors: Wang Xuefeng , Andrews Lester , Marsden Colin J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractLaser‐ablated thorium atoms react with ammonia to form thorimine (NHThH2), the first actinide imine to be reported. This work underscores the high reactivity of thorium atoms, particularly for NH bond activation, reveals a new type of multiple bond to actinide atoms, and shows that this bond is strong for thorium as a result of an important contribution from the f orbitals.
Short‐ vs long‐term androgen suppression plus external beam radiation therapy and survival in men of advanced age with node‐negative high‐risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate
Authors: D'Amico Anthony V. , Denham James W. , Bolla Michel , Collette Laurence , Lamb David S. , Tai Keen‐Hun , Steigler Allison , Chen Ming‐Hui 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe study evaluated whether the use of 3 years as compared with 6 months of androgen suppression therapy (AST) combined with external beam radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of high‐risk prostate cancer was associated with prolonged survival in advanced age men.METHODSA pooled analysis of 311 men enrolled in 3 prospective randomized trials between 1987 and 2000 who received 6 months or 3 years of AST and RT for locally advanced or high‐grade localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate comprised the study cohort. Cox regression multivariable analysis was performed adjusting for known prognostic factors to determine whether the treatment received was associated with time to death after randomization. The median age and follow‐up was 70 and 5.9 years, respectively, during which 82 (26%) deaths occurred.RESULTSTreatment received was not significantly associated with survival time after randomization (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7, 1.8; P = .70), whereas age at randomization (AHR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09; P = .02) was. The presence of Gleason score 8 to 10 cancers approached significance (AHR: 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9, 2.6; P = .09).CONCLUSIONSAfter adjusting for known prognostic factors, the treatment of node‐negative, high‐risk prostate cancer using 3 years as compared with 6 months of AST with RT was not associated with prolonged survival in men of advanced age. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer randomized trial will help answer whether unknown confounding factors affected the results of the study. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Remarks on the theory of partial differential equations of mixed type and applications to the study of transonic flow
Authors: Germain P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractI shall begin by recalling briefly some well known statements on problems arising in the theory of transonic flow. These, from the mathematical point of view, are related to a partial differential equation of the mixed type. But they are not the simplest basic problems of the theory of equations of this type. Although there are close similarities between the study of transonic flow and the mathematical study of mixed equations, one cannot say that the studies are strictly equivalent. The second part of this lecture is devoted to the formation and the study of elementary solutions of equations of this type; a few applications to certain boundary value problems are proposed.
An Electrochemical Alternative Approach to the Cyclization of Alkynes Bearing Proximate Malonyl Moieties
Authors: Arcadi Antonio , Inesi Achille , Marinelli Fabio , Rossi Leucio , Verdecchia Mirella 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA versatile alternative approach to the synthesis of butenolides, quinolones and 3‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones has been achieved by galvanostatic electrolysis of MeCN/TEATFB solutions and subsequent addition of the cathodic solution to alkynes bearing proximate malonyl moieties. The electrogenerated cyanomethyl anion permits the formation of the reactive anionic intermediates under mild conditions, avoiding the need to use classical bases. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Electron‐Density Determination of Electrophilic Building Blocks as Model Compounds for Protease Inhibitors
Authors: Grabowsky Simon , Pfeuffer Thomas , Chęcińska Lilianna , Weber Manuela , Morgenroth Wolfgang , Luger Peter , Schirmeister Tanja 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThree types of synthesised compounds, the aziridine 1, the epoxide 2 and the acceptor‐substituted olefin 3, were chosen as model compounds for electrophilic building blocks, which can covalently block the nucleophilic amino acids of the active sites of proteases (Cys in cysteine proteases or Asp in aspartate proteases). In order to rationally design optimised inhibitors and to understand the differences in inhibition properties of the scrutinised building blocks their structural and electronic properties were studied by ultra‐high resolution X‐ray diffraction and ab initio calculations to yield the experimental electron‐density distribution. It could be shown that the carbon atom C1 of the three‐membered heterocycle is the preferred electrophilic centre for attack of the nucleophiles, which is consistent with the results of corresponding chemical experiments with sulfur and oxygen nucleophiles.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Solvent Effects in the Enantioselective Catalytic‐Phase‐Transfer Alkylation of Polymer‐Supported Glycine–Imine tert‐Butyl Ester: Asymmetric Solid‐Phase Synthesis of (R)‐α‐Amino Acid Derivatives
Authors: Kim Mi‐Jeong , Jew Sang‐sup , Park Hyeung‐geun , Jeong Byeong‐Seon 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPolymer‐supported glycine–imine tert‐butyl esters (3, 8) were prepared from Merrifield‐ or Wang‐resin and used in the enantioselective synthesis of (R)‐α‐amino acid derivatives by using (S,S)‐3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl‐NAS bromide (5) as the chiral phase‐transfer catalyst. The chemical yields and enantioselectivities were found to be dramatically dependent upon the ratio of water to organic solvent. The optimal solvent was a mixture of toluene/chloroform/water (9:1:0.5). The catalytic enantioselective solid‐phase phase‐transfer alkylation of polymer‐supported glycine–imine substrate 3 with various alkyl halides with the use of 50 % aqueous CsOH in the optimal solvent system at 0 °C followed by hydrolysis and benzoylation afforded the corresponding (R)‐N‐benzoyl‐α‐amino acid tert‐butyl esters 11 in 60–80 % yield and with enantiomeric ratios (er) of 96.5:3.5 to 99.5:0.5.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
The Synthesis of Molecular Rods with a Transversal Push‐Pull System
Authors: Błaszczyk Alfred , Fischer Matthias , von Hänisch Carsten , Mayor Marcel 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe design and synthesis of the molecular cruciforms 1–4 consisting of an oligophenylene‐ethynyl backbone with an acetyl‐protected sulfur anchor group on one end and a crossing oligophenylene cross‐bar with terminal trifluoromethyl and dimethylamino groups as transversal push‐pull system are reported. These cruciforms 1–4 are model compounds to investigate electronic potential‐dependent switching properties of molecular junctions. While the oligophenylene‐ethynyl backbone is responsible for the electronic transport properties, the transversal push‐pull system should alter the tilt angle of the rod upon alignment in an electric field. As the tunnel distance at the rods end to the opposite electrode depends on the tilt angle of the rod, a considerable dependence of the transport current on the tilt angle is expected. The investigation of such transport mechanisms with the model compounds 1–4 may unravel the origin of negative differential conductance phenomena in devices consisting of sandwiched self assembled monolayers between two electrodes. The reported cruciform structures display limited stability features in the presence of acids. Their assembly is based on metal catalyzed cross coupling reactions with the chromatographic separation of two, on opposite sides monoprotected regioisomers as key step.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)