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The current study investigated whether variations at the level of the cortisol stress response moderate the association between parental support and attachment development. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a one-year longitudinal study with two waves in which 101 children (56% girls, Mage = 11.15, SDage = 0.70) participated. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were measured at baseline (Wave 1) and one year later (Wave 2). Parental support and children's cortisol stress response during the Trier Social Stress Test were measured at Wave 2. Children's cortisol stress response was found to moderate the association between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. A strong cortisol stress response weakened the associated between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. No moderation effects were found for relative change in avoidant attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to investigate the views of stakeholders on the practical relevance of a broad quality of life (QoL) outcome tool for care in older adults: the Extended Quality of Life Tool (EQLT). We conducted individual interviews and focus groups with a variety of stakeholders involved in the care for older adults which were analyzed using a framework analysis. Stakeholders considered relevant: focus on the client perspective; perspective on QoL broader than health; the possibility to take diversity into account; and the possibility to determine a minimum level of QoL. Three facilitators for implementation of the tool were mentioned as well as four barriers. The EQLT can support conversations with clients about their needs and wishes, thus enabling decisions about care services based on a broad set of domains of QoL. Implementation of the tool should take into account the facilitators and barriers identified in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated surface diffusion has a strong influence on structure widths in atom lithography. We investigate the effects of two barriers to thermally activated atomic diffusion on atom lithography: a thermally activated Ehrlich–Schwoebel (ES) barrier, and pollution from the residual gas in the vacuum system. We performed kinetic Monte Carlo simulations using a one-dimensional surface grid. We find that the ES barrier fails to explain the lack of temperature dependence observed experimentally [W. R. Anderson et al., Phys. Rev. A 59, 2476 (1999)]. The dependencies of the structure width on temperature, vacuum conditions, and beam characteristics can be explained using the pollutant adatom hypothesis. Only the variation of structure width with deposition duration was not entirely reproduced by this model. We attribute this to the one-dimensional nature of our simulations. These results demonstrate that barrier-limited diffusion can play an important role in atom lithography, and that pollutant adatoms are a likely candidate barrier. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: C1q is an essential part of the classical pathway of complement activation. Genetic deficiencies, caused by homozygous mutations in one of the C1q genes, are rare and are strongly associated with development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we describe a C1q-deficient patient with a compound heterozygous mutation. Material and methods: Serum was analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot for the presence of C1q, and DNA and RNA sequencing was performed to identify the mutations and confirm that these were located on different chromosomes. Results: The medical history of the patient includes SLE diagnosis at age 11 years with cerebral involvement at age 13, various infections, osteonecrosis and hemophagocytic syndrome. Using ELISA and Western blot, we confirmed the absence of C1q in the serum of the patient. Using DNA sequencing, two mutations in the C1QC gene were identified: c.100G > A p.(Gly34Arg) and c.205C > T p.(Arg69X). With RNA sequencing we confirmed that the mutations are located on different chromosomes. Discussion: The patient described in this case report has a compound heterozygous mutation in C1QC resulting in C1q deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question: What (risk) factors are associated with plantar fasciopathy (PF)?Design: Systematic review with meta-analyses.Participants: Patients with PF.Factors: All factors described in prospective, case-control or cross-sectional observational studies.Results: 51 included studies (1 prospective, 46 case-control and 4 cross-sectional studies) evaluated a total of 104 variables. Pooling was possible for 12 variables. Higher body mass index (BMI) (BMI>27, OR 3.7 (95% CI 2.93 to 5.62)) in patients with PF was the only significant clinical association, and its effect was the strongest in the non-athletic subgroup. In people with PF compared to controls, pooled imaging data demonstrated a significantly thicker, hypoechogenic plantar fascia with increased vascular signal and perifascial fluid collection. In addition, people with PF were more likely to have a thicker loaded and unloaded heel fat pat, and bone findings, including a subcalcaneal spur and increased Tc-99 uptake. No significant difference was found in the extension of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.Conclusions: We found a consistent clinical association between higher BMI and plantar fasciopathy. This association may differ between athletic and non-athletic subgroups. While consistent evidence supports a range of bone and soft tissue abnormalities, there is lack of evidence for the dogma of clinical and mechanical measures of foot and ankle function. Clinicians can use this information in shared decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the cause of taints and off-flavours in a number of commercial wines and to develop methods for quantitative analysis of the compounds responsible. Methods and Results: Three compounds, 2-chloro-6-methylphenol (i.e. 6-chloro- ortho-cresol), 2,6-dichlorophenol and indole, were identified by gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS)/olfactometry as causes of taints or off-flavours in the wines. New methods for quantitative analysis of these three compounds, as well as some other chloro- and bromophenols were developed. The methods employed GC/MS and stable isotope dilution analysis, and confirmed the presence of 2-chloro-6-methylphenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and indole in some wines at concentrations well above their odour and taste detection thresholds. Conclusions: 2-Chloro-6-methylphenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and indole were confirmed as causes of taints and off-flavours in commercial wines. Significance of the Study: The development of new analytical methods will make it possible to determine whether chlorophenol (and perhaps also bromophenol) taint in wine is more widespread than previously recognised. Similarly, the simple, rapid and accurate method for quantifying indole in wine will allow large numbers of wine and ferment samples to be studied to determine those factors that can result in unacceptably high concentrations in commercial wines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazard assessments of chemicals have been limited by the availability of test data and the time needed to evaluate the test data. While available data may be inadequate for the majority of industrial chemicals, the body of existing knowledge for most hazards is large enough to permit reliable estimates to be made for untested chemicals without additional animal testing. We provide a summary of the growing use by regulatory agencies of the chemical categories approach, which groups chemicals based on their similar toxicological behaviour and fills in the data gaps in animal test data such as genotoxicity and aquatic toxicity. Although the categories approach may be distinguished from the use of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for specific hazard endpoints, robust chemical categories are founded on quantifying the chemical structure with parameters that control chemical behaviour in conventional hazard assessment. The dissemination of the QSAR Application Toolbox by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an effort to facilitate the use of the categories approach and reduce the need for additional animal testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe in detail a method that permits determination to an accuracy of 5% or better of the absolute amplitude of a microwave electric field inside a resonant cavity. The method is based on an analysis of the frequency dependence of sampled-power measurements that record the response not only of the cavity but also of the waveguide circuit to which it is connected. Even small reflections from real, nonideal waveguide components lead to a frequency-dependent interference pattern that extends over a much wider range in frequency than does the sharp, resonant response of the cavity. The microwave cavity is modeled with an equivalent circuit model, and the interference pattern in the waveguide circuit is modeled in much the same way as is a Fabry–Pérot interferometer. From this one may obtain accurate values for the Q factor of the cavity resonance and the coupling factor that quantifies how well the cavity is matched to the rest of the waveguide circuit. We also discuss a method to determine accurately the power absorbed by the cavity, using the same waveguide circuit. We confirm the accuracy of the method by comparing to a microwave field-amplitude-dependent physical process, which can be calculated from first principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct write atom lithography is a technique in which nearly resonant light is used to pattern an atom beam. Nanostructures are formed when the patterned beam falls onto a substrate. We have applied this lithography scheme to a ferromagnetic element, using a 372 nm laser light standing wave to pattern a beam of iron atoms. In this proof-of-principle experiment, we have deposited a grid of 50-nm-wide lines 186 nm apart. These ultraregular, large-scale, ferromagnetic wire arrays may generate exciting new developments in the fields of spintronics and nanomagnetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]