The deep understanding of band-structure formation provides direct scheme for adjusting frequency bands and propagation characteristics of elastic waves in one-dimensional phononic crystals. It will facilitate the design and optimization of phononic crystals to satisfy specific requirements for wave guiding/filtering and vibration control/isolation applications. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics.

[doi: 10.1063/1.3567911]“
“A new amphiphilic I-BET-762 concentration copolymer (copoly(MR-BMA-HEA-MAA), PRBHM) containing multihydroxyl segments was designed and synthesized for application in drug carrier. PRBHM can be dissolved in water to form aggregates directly with a critical aggregate concentration (CAC) of 0.0138 mg mL(-1). The chains of PRBHM can be collapsed into hydrophobic globules when pH decreases from neutral to slightly acid condition (pH = 5.0-7.0)

in water. Since the hydrophilic hydroxyl group is independent on pH, PRBHM can keep stable both in neutral and slightly acid aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic small molecules such as 5-(4-(4-vinyl-benzyloxy)phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole (PY) can be loaded into PRBHM aggregates via ultrasonic treatment in water, and can be internalized Torin 1 chemical structure into BEL-7402 cancer cells. The cytotoxicity determination also indicates the good biocompatibility of PRBHM in potential application as a drug carrier. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 2843-2850, 2011″
“Background: Despite increased awareness of the adverse health effects of low vitamin D status, MLN8237 nmr few studies have evaluated 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status in young children.

Objectives: We aimed to assess vitamin D status on the basis of 25(OH)D and its relation with parathyroid hormone (PTH)

and to identify possible predictors of 25(OH)D status in young children living in a country with minimal vitamin D fortification.

Design: Serum 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations were measured in a cross-sectional sample of children aged 12-22 mo [n = 193 for 25(OH)D, n = 144 for PTH] living in Dunedin, New Zealand (latitude: 45 degrees S). Anthropometric, dietary, and sociodemographic data were collected.

Results: The majority of children sampled in the summer (94%; 47 of 50) had 25(OH)D >50 nmol/L; however, nearly 80% of children sampled in the winter (43 of 55) had serum concentrations <= 50 nmol/L. In season-adjusted multivariate analysis, breastfeeding and higher levels of education were independently associated with lower 25(OH)D concentrations, whereas male sex and cigarette-smoke exposure were positively associated with 25(OH)D (all P < 0.05). Fractional polynomial regression was used to describe the nonlinear relation between serum PTH and 25(OH)D (P < 0.001). When 25(OH)D concentrations were >60-65 nmol/L, a plateau in PTH was evident.