Synthesis and characterization of hafnium oxide films for thermo and photoluminescence applications.

Hafnium oxide (HfO(2)) films were deposited by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process. The films were synthesized from hafnium chloride as raw material in deionized water as solvent and were deposited on corning glass substrates at temperatures from 300 to 600 degrees C. For substrate temperatures lower than 400 degrees C the deposited films were amorphous, while for substrate temperatures higher than 450 degrees C, the monoclinic phase of HfO(2) appeared.

Alcohol consumption is associated with high concentrations of urinary hydroxytyrosol.

Background: Previously, we reported the presence of hydroxytyrosol in red wine and higher human urinary recovery of total hydroxytyrosol than that expected after a single red wine intake. We hypothesized that the alcohol present in wine could promote endogenous hydroxytyrosol generation.

Objective: The objective was to assess the relation between alcohol consumption and urinary hydroxytyrosol concentrations.

Decreased dendritic spine density of neurons of the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens and enhanced amphetamine sensitivity in postpubertal rats after a neonatal amygdala lesion.

A neonatal basolateral-amygdala (nBLA) lesion in rats could be a potential animal model to study the early neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with the behavioral and morphological brain changes observed in schizophrenia. Morphological alterations in pyramidal neurons from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been observed in postmortem schizophrenic brains, mainly because of decreased dendritic arbor and spine density. We assessed the effects of nBLA-lesion on the dendritic morphology of neurons from the PFC and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in rats.

Evaluation of Cooper 12-minute walk/run test as a marker of cardiorespiratory fitness in young urban children with persistent asthma.

Objective: To evaluate Cooper 12-minute run/walk test (CT12) as a one-time estimate of cardiorespiratory fitness and marker of fitness change compared with treadmill fitness testing in young children with persistent asthma.

Design: A cohort of urban children with asthma participated in the asthma and exercise program and a subset completed pre- and postintervention fitness testing.

Setting: Treadmill fitness testing was conducted by an exercise physiologist in the fitness laboratory at an academic children's hospital.

Jasminum polyanthum Franch. as a natural source of (-)-methyl jasmonate: an alternative to the use of the synthetic standard.

Introduction: Methyl jasmonate (MJ) contains two chiral centres at C-3 and C-7 in its chemical structure, which implies that it can exist in four possible stereoisomeric forms, namely (+)-MJ, (-)-MJ, (+)-epiMJ and (-)-epiMJ. The absolute configuration of the two side chains of MJ affects the biological activity associated with this compound.

Objective: To isolate pure (-)-MJ from a natural source, Jasminum polyanthum Franch.

Morphological reorganization after repeated corticosterone administration in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and amygdala in the rat.

Elevated levels of corticosteroids and stress play key roles in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. Corticosterone (CORT)-treated rats have emerged as a pharmacological model of depression-like behaviors. Previous studies have shown that CORT administration induces neuronal atrophy in the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus and laminae II/III of the prefrontal cortex.

Prenatal stress alters spine density and dendritic length of nucleus accumbens and hippocampus neurons in rat offspring.

Prenatal stress alters neuronal morphology of mesocorticolimbic structures such as frontal cortex and hippocampus in the adult offspring. We investigated here the effects of prenatal stress on the spine density and the dendrite morphology of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and medium spiny cells from nucleus accumbens in prepubertal and adult male offsprings. Sprague-Dawley pregnant dams were stressed by restraining movement daily for 2 hours from gestational day 11 until delivery.

Urban minority children with asthma: substantial morbidity, compromised quality and access to specialists, and the importance of poverty and specialty care.

Background: Asthma disproportionately affects minorities, but not enough is known about morbidity and specialist access in asthmatic minority children.

Objective: To examine asthma morbidity and access to specialty care in urban minority children.

Methods: A consecutive series was recruited in 2004-2007 of urban minority children 2 to 18 years old seen for asthma in four emergency departments (EDs) or admitted to a children's hospital.

The utility of the Golgi-Cox method in the morphological characterization of the autonomic innervation in the rat heart.

The autonomic innervation in the heart is predominantly by postganglionic, parasympathetic, and sympathetic neurons, which are organized in a plexus of ganglions into the heart. The knowledge of the density, distribution, location, morphology, and intrinsic connection of this system that constitute the heart autonomic innervation is limited and controversial. Methods that provide clear information in this field are desirable.

Antifeedant activity of botanical crude extracts and their fractions on Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) adults: III. Quassia amara (Simaroubaceae).

Bemisia tabaci is a key virus vector on several crops worldwide. Then, a preventive approach to deal with viral epidemics may be the deployment of repellents or phagodeterrents at earlier stages of plant development (critical period). Thus, the crude extract and four fractions thereof (water, water: methanol, methanol, and diethyl ether) of bitterwood (Quassia amara, Simaroubaceae) were tested for phagodeterrence to B.

Antifeedant activity of botanical crude extracts and their fractions on Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) adults: II. Sechium pittieri (Cucurbitaceae).

Bemisia tabaci is a key pest of vegetables and other crops worldwide, but it is a particularly serious problem in the tropics, due to its ability to transmit several types of viruses, especially begomoviruses (Geminiviridae). Therefore, a preventive approach to deal with viral epidemics may be the deployment of repellents or phagodeterrents at earlier stages of plant development (critical period). Thus, the crude extract and four fractions thereof (water, water: methanol, methanol, and diethyl ether) of wild "tacaco" (Sechium pittieri, Cucurbitaceae), were tested for phagodeterrence to B.

Antifeedant activity of botanical crude extracts and their fractions on Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) adults: I. Gliricidia sepium (Fabaceae).

Bemisia tabaci is an important virus vector on a number of crops worldwide. Therefore, a preventive approach to deal with viral epidemics may be the deployment of repellents or phagodeterrents at earlier stages of plant development (critical period). Thus, the crude extract and four fractions thereof (water, water:methanol, methanol, and diethyl ether) of mother-of-cocoa (Gliricidia sepium, Fabaceae) were tested for phagodeterrence to B.

The potential impact of Medicaid reform on the health care-seeking behavior of Medicaid-covered children: a qualitative analysis of parental perspectives.

Objective: To assess perceptions and intended behaviors of parents of Medicaid-covered children regarding the potential impact of recent Medicaid reform on children's health care.

Methods: Qualitative study of parents of Medicaid-covered children in which parents were asked 40 questions to assess knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and intended behaviors regarding Medicaid reform.

Results: Forty-nine parents were interviewed; their median age was 28 years.

Primary care quality and subsequent emergency department utilization for children in Wisconsin Medicaid.

Objective: Children enrolled in Medicaid have disproportionately high emergency department (ED) visit rates. Despite the growing importance of patient reported quality-of-care assessments, little is known about the association between parent-reported quality of primary care and ED utilization for these high-risk children. Our goal was to determine the association between parent-reported primary care quality and subsequent ED utilization for children in Medicaid.

Reasons for prolonged bottle-feeding and iron deficiency among Mexican-American toddlers: an ethnographic study.

Objective: Several studies have shown that prolonged bottle-feeding is associated with iron deficiency. Mexican-American toddlers are the racial/ethnic group at greatest risk for prolonged bottle-feeding and iron deficiency, yet no studies have examined reasons for prolonged bottle-feeding in Mexican-American toddlers. The objective of this study was to assess infant feeding beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors among Mexican-American parents.

[Economical body platform for neonatal rats stereotaxic surgery].

Introduction: Usually, most commercial platforms that adapt to the stereotaxic apparatus in neonatal rats or small animals, to carry out surgery are very expensive. Moreover, the operator must have certain experience in its handling.

Development: The present work presents two platforms, one of them made in acrylic and the other of expanded polystyrene.

Enantioselective isolation of methyl jasmonate using permethyl-beta-cyclodextrin HPLC.

A method based on the use of HPLC for the enantioselective resolution of the four stereoisomers of methyl jasmonate (MJ) with no need for the previous formation of the diastereoisomers is developed. To that end, a Nucleodex-beta-PM column as well as an optimization process considering different flow rates and mobile phase compositions were required. As a result, 0.

Why do parents bring children to the emergency department for nonurgent conditions? A qualitative study.

Objective: Nonurgent conditions account for 58% to 82% of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, but only 1 preliminary qualitative study has examined reasons why parents bring children to the ED for nonurgent care. The aim of this study was to identify parents' reasons for choosing the ED over their primary care provider (PCP) for nonurgent pediatric care.

Methods: Audiotaped ethnographic interviews in English and Spanish were conducted of parents of children presenting for nonurgent care on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM at a children's hospital ED over a 4-week period.

Effect of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts on metabolic syndrome status: one-year results of the PREDIMED randomized trial.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) may reduce the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We compared the 1-year effect of 2 behavioral interventions to implement the MedDiet vs advice on a low-fat diet on MetS status.

Methods: A total of 1224 participants were recruited from the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) Study, a multicenter, 3-arm, randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy of the MedDiet on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Racial and ethnic disparities in nontraumatic dental-condition visits to emergency departments and physician offices: a study of the Wisconsin Medicaid program.

Background: Nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits occur in emergency departments (EDs) and physician offices (POs), but little is known about factors associated with NTDC visit rates to EDs and POs.

Methods: The authors analyzed all Medicaid dental claims in Wisconsin from 2001 through 2003 to examine factors associated with NTDC visits to EDs and POs. They performed bivariate and multivariable analyses.

The importance of cultural competency in general pediatrics.

Purpose Of Review: There is a growing awareness of the importance of cultural competency in pediatrics. The authors review the most recent studies that examine the impact of cultural competency on general pediatric care, explore cultural beliefs and practices affecting clinical care, and describe culturally sensitive interventions designed to address racial/ethnic health disparities.

Recent Findings: The beneficial effects of cultural competency embrace health outcomes, quality of care, and patient satisfaction, while failure to consider language and culture can have serious adverse consequences for clinical care, including patient safety and healthcare access.

Moderate and vigorous exercise programs in children with asthma: safety, parental satisfaction, and asthma outcomes.

Background: Previous research suggests that physical activity programs may improve fitness and reduce symptoms in children with asthma, but few studies have included severe asthmatics and focused on safety and parental satisfaction with the programs.

Objective: To examine safety, parental satisfaction, and pre- to post-intervention changes in symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in a pilot study of the impact of vigorous physical activity (swimming) and moderate-intensity activity (golf) on inner-city children with asthma.

Design/methods: Children with asthma (7-14 years old) residing in Milwaukee's highest asthma prevalence zip codes were randomized to a 9-week swimming or golf program.

Use of absorbent materials in on-line coupled reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography via the through oven transfer adsorption desorption interface.

The use of absorbents as retaining materials in the through oven transfer adsorption desorption interface (TOTAD) of an on-line coupled reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography system (RPLC-GC) is proposed for the first time. A comparative study of an adsorbent (Tenax TA) and two absorbents, namely polydimethylsiloxane and poly(50% phenyl/50% methylsiloxane) is performed to establish the best experimental conditions for the automated and simultaneous determination of 15 organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticide residues in olive oil. The proposed method provides satisfactory repeatability (RSDs lower, in general, than 8.

Neonatal administration of N-omega-nitro-L-arginine induces permanent decrease in NO levels and hyperresponsiveness to locomotor activity by D-amphetamine in postpubertal rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) is associated with dopamine (DA) release. Previously, we demonstrated that rats treated with a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) at postnatal days 4-6 (PD4-6) show increased locomotion and disrupt neuronal cytoarchitecture after puberty (PD60). Here, we investigate whether the modulation of NO production in rats at PD4-6 causes long term changes of NO system, its impact on DA innervation, and schizophrenia-like behaviors.

Impact of a bilingual/bicultural care team on HIV-related health outcomes.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of a bilingual/bicultural care team on HIV-related health outcomes among Hispanic/Latino adults (N = 43) who received care in an academic HIV specialty clinic. Demographic and health data extracted from medical records from March 2005 to March 2007 were compared over two time periods: 1 year before and 1 year after implementation of the care team. Results indicated that there were more clinic visits per patient and that a higher percentage of individuals had suppressed HIV viral loads to < 50 copies/ml during the year after the team was implemented compared with the previous year.