The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and IR and

The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structures of complexes 2 and 5 were Bafilomycin A1 determined by X-ray crystallography, which revealed the trans orientation of chloride anions around platinum(IV) in the case of both complexes. The antiproliferative activity was investigated in six tumor cell lines (human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa), murine melanoma cells (B16), human breast carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-453), human colon carcinoma cells (LS-174),

transformed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EA.hy 926) and murine endothelial cells (MS1)) and in one non-tumor cell line-human fetal lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). Cytotoxicity studies indicated that Pt(IV) complexes with acetyl-substituted pyridine ligands exhibit significantly higher in vitro antiproliferative activity than the complexes with carboxylato-substituted pyridines. Complexes 1 and 2 showed antiproliferative activity in all tested tumor cell lines, with the highest potential in human endothelial cells EA.hy 926, since they had IC50 values of 13.8 +/- 5.8 mu M and 23.4 +/- 3.3 mu M, respectively and were more active than cisplatin. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibited lower toxicity against the non-tumor human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) than against most of the tested tumor cell lines.

(C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Context: Little is known about practice patterns in thyroid cancer, a cancer that is increasing in incidence.\n\nObjective: We sought to identify VX-680 price aspects of thyroid cancer management that have the greatest variation.\n\nDesign/Setting/Participants: We surveyed 944 physicians involved in thyroid cancer care from 251 hospitals affiliated with the US National

Cancer Database. Physicians were asked questions in the following four domains: thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine use, thyroid hormone replacement postsurgery, selleck compound and long-term thyroid cancer management. We calculated the ratio of observed variation to hypothetical maximum variation under the assumed distribution of the response. Ratios closer to 1 indicate greater variation.\n\nResults: We had a 66% response rate. We found variation in multiple aspects of thyroid cancer management, including the role of central lymph node dissections (variation, 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.00), the role of pretreatment scans before radioactive iodine treatment (variation, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00), and all aspects of long-term thyroid cancer management, including applications of ultrasound (variation, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99) and radioactive iodine scans (variation, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.00). For the management of small thyroid cancers, variation exists in all domains, including optimal extent of surgery (variation, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.

The predominant nonpolio enterovirus found was echovirus 13, a se

The predominant nonpolio enterovirus found was echovirus 13, a serotype rarely isolated in India.”
“The histological developments of the gonad and the associated sex steroid levels were determined in the

breeding stocks of Acipenser schrenckii ( age classes 1 to 5) maintained under natural www.selleckchem.com/products/gsk1120212-jtp-74057.html temperature regimes (December 4 degrees C; August 26 degrees C). Early sex differentiation was observed in 1-year-old fish, while testosterone (T) and 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) levels ranged from T 1.1 to 3.4 nmol l(-1) (average 1.8 nmol l(-1)), and E(2) varied from 24 to 85 pmol l(-1) (av. 50.3 pmol l(-1)). Gonadal status of 2-year-old males was in stage II while ovaries were at stage I, exhibiting T levels from 1.2 to 4.4 nmol l(-1) (av. 2.2 nmol l(-1)), and E(2) concentrations from 10 to 97 pmol l(-1) (av. 38.9 pmol l(-1)). At the age of 3 years, the testes in males were at developmental stage III while the ovaries remained in stage I, with T levels ranging from 1.3 to 21.7 nmol l(-1) (av. 9.6 nmol l(-1)), and E(2) concentrations ranging from 17 to 108 pmol l(-1) (av. 44.8 pmol l(-1)). At the age of 4 years,

testes in males were at developmental stage III while ovaries in females had reached stage II, with T concentrations ranging from 7.3 to 52.6 nmol l(-1) (av. 26.3 nmol l(-1)), and E(2) levels between 13 and 86 pmol l(-1) (average 55.3 pmmol l(-1)). In 5-year-old fish, the testes reached maturity stage while the ovaries were mostly in stage III, with T values from 5.7 to 44.2 nmol l(-1) (av. 13.9 nmol l(-1)), and E(2) concentrations from 21 to 453 pmol l(-1) DAPT nmr CBL0137 clinical trial (av. 137.7 pmol l(-1)). Data demonstrated large differences in sex steroid levels among immature Amur sturgeon, and testicular maturation occurred earlier than ovarian

maturation.”
“Competence to flower, floral induction, and expression of a putative partial homologue of the FLORICAULA/LEAFY (FLO/LFY) in the monocarpic perennial Phormium cookianum (Agavaceae) were studied in response to environmental manipulation and application of gibberellic acid (GA(3)). Floral induction was unaffected by temperature or daylength. The absence of flowering seen in half of the P. cookianum plants was associated with a small fan size. Application of GA(3) followed by growth under cold/short day conditions increased the proportion of plants flowering and advanced the attainment of competence to flower in smaller fans. A fragment of the putative homologue of FLO/LFY in P. cookianum (PFL) showed strong sequence similarity to other FLO/LFY-like genes. PFL mRNA expression was quantified using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Up-regulation of PFL in the region of the shoot apical meristem occurred over time, and increases coincided with the transition from vegetative to inflorescence development. Greater PFL expression was observed in fans of larger size, these being the fans with greater likelihood of flowering.

Assessments will take place in both groups at baseline, after the

Assessments will take place in both groups at baseline, after the treatment-phase and three, six and twelve months after the post-treatment assessment.\n\nDiscussion: We aim to contribute to the improvement of mental health care for children and adolescents suffering from loss. By comparing Grief-Help with supportive counselling, and by investigating mediators and moderators of its effectiveness we hope to provide new insights in the effects of interventions for bereaved children,

and their mechanisms of change.”
“Serum albumin exists in oxidized and reduced forms. Although ERK inhibitor the oxidation of albumin affects some of its functions, the relationship between oxidized albumin and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between oxidized albumin and COP. Blood

samples from 20 healthy volunteers were divided into two aliquots in order to prepare reduced (n=20) and oxidized albumin samples (n=20). This was achieved by treatment with L-cysteine and a redox-stabilizing agent before and after incubation at 37 C for 24 h. The percentage of oxidized albumin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. COP was measured using a colloid osmometer. Reduced and oxidized albumin samples showed 100% of reduced and 100% of oxidized albumin, respectively. There were no significant differences in albumin level and total protein level between the reduced and the oxidized albumin samples. No significant change was Prexasertib mouse seen in COP between the reduced and the oxidized albumin samples (reduced albumin, 17.4 +/- 0.2 mmHg; oxidized albumin, 17.3 +/- 0.2 mmHg; P=0.465). Therefore, there is no significant difference in COP between reduced and oxidized albumin samples.”
“BACKGROUND: Clefts of the lip and/or palate (cleft lip/palate) are notable for their complex etiology. The WNT pathway regulates multiple developmental processes including craniofacial development and may play a role in cleft lip/palate and other defects of craniofacial

development such as tooth agenesis. Variations in WNT genes have been recently associated with cleft lip/palate in humans. In addition, two WNT genes, Wnt3 and Wnt9B, are located in the clf1 cleft locus in mice. METHODS: We investigated Evofosfamide concentration 13 SNPs located in Wnt3A, Wnt5A, Wnt8A, Wnt11, Wnt3, and Wnt9B genes for association with cleft lip/palate sub-phenotypes in 463 cleft cases and 303 unrelated controls. Genotyping of selected polymorphisms was carried out using Taqman assays. PLINK 1.06 software was used to test for differences in allele frequencies of each polymorphism between affected and unaffected individuals. Haplotype analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Individuals carrying variant alleles in WNT3 presented an increased risk for cleft lip/palate (p = 0.0003; OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.29-2.02) in the population studied.

Their chemical structures, formula, phase behavior, and thermal s

Their chemical structures, formula, phase behavior, and thermal stability were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, elemental analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. this website The selective reflection of light was investigated with ultraviolet/visible spectrometer. The influence of the

mesogenic core rigidity, spacer length, and menthyl steric effect on the mesomorphism of M1M4 and P1P4 was examined. By inserting a flexible spacer between the mesogenic core and the terminal menthyl groups, four target monomers and polymers could form the expected mesophase. Moreover, their melting temperature (Tm), glass transition temperature (Tg), clearing temperature (Ti), and mesophase range (?T) increased with increasing the mesogenic core rigidity; whereas the Tm and Tg decreased, Ti and ?T increased with an increase of the spacer length. M1 and M2 showed monotropic and enantiotropic cholesteric phase, respectively, whereas M3 and M4 all revealed chiral smectic C (SmC*), cholesteric and cubic blue phases. In addition, with increasing temperature, the selective reflection of light shifted to the long wavelength region at the SmC* phase range and to the short wavelength region at the cholesteric

range, respectively. P1 and P2 only showed a smectic A (SmA) phase, whereas P3 and P4 exhibited the SmC* and SmA phases. All the obtained polymers had very GS-1101 supplier good thermal stability. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym Chem, 2012″
“Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, Selleck BLZ945 noncontiguous, and

exudative disorder accompanied by perivascular infiltration of immune mediators, including T-helper (Type 1 helper/Type 2 helper) cells, mast cells, and immunoglobulin E. The current study explores the immunomodulatory and histological effects of nanoparticle (NP)-based transcutaneous delivery of hydrocortisone (HC). Methods: In this study, HC, the least potent topical glucocorticoid, was administered transcutaneously as chitosan NPs. The pharmacological and immunological effects of the NP-based HC delivery on the alleviation of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions were evaluated using the NC/Nga mouse model. Results: In vivo Dino-Lite (R) microscopic assessment revealed that the NP-based formulation displayed a remarkable ability to reduce the severity of the pathological features of AD (dermatitis index, 3.0). The AD suppressive activity of the NP-based topical formulation was expected owing to the interruption of a series of immunopathological events, including the production of immunoglobulin E, release of histamine, and expression of prostaglandin-E-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor-alpha in the sera and skin of the tested animals.

After the change in substrate conditions it took the methano-arch

After the change in substrate conditions it took the methano-archaeal community about 5-6 weeks to be affected but then changes occurred quickly. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background. Standard

treatment of patients with T4b squamous cell head and neck cancer (T4b-SCHNC) is concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CT-RT). Recent Phase III trials with Taxane containing induction chemotherapy (IC) suggest that IC could also play a role in this setting. www.selleckchem.com/products/poziotinib-hm781-36b.html The value of resecting the residual mass after IC and before RT is not yet clear in this context. Methods. We present the results of a retrospective analysis. Results. Between 1984 and 2001, 113 patients (patients) with T4b-SCHNC were treated at our institution with IC. Four patients dead during IC and 57 patients achieved a complete or a 90% partial response at primary and proceeded to definitive RT (or concomitant CT/RT). Surgical resection was reconsidered after IC and before RT in the other 52 patients. Surgery was performed in 13 of them: in 7 patients

resection was R1, all of them had loco-regional Cilengitide nmr progression (2 also developed systemic metastases) and median OS after surgery was 21 months, with no patient alive at 48 months. In the other 6 patients a R0 resection was performed: 3 of these patients had loco-regional relapses (1 also developed systemic metastases) and the other 3 patients remain alive and disease free 56, 62 and 72 months after surgery. Considering the 52 patients that achieved less than a 90% partial response at primary with IC, overall survival

was equivalent when no Resection or an R1 resection was performed after IC (5 year OS 8 vs. 0%, lrk, p=0.74), but a statistically significant improvement in OS was observed when an R0 resection was obtained (5 years OS 50%, lrk, p=0.02). Conclusions: R0 resections after IC and before RT could indicate an improvement in OS in patients with T4b-SCHNC that obtain less than a 90% PR at primary after IC. We consider that this approach deserves further research in prospective clinical trials.”
“Recently, attention has been drawn toward the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Screening Library datasheet In recent years, many reports have been made on the occurrence of the large, differentiated group of pharmaceuticals in wastewater (PW), surface water, ground water, and in soil. The pharmaceutical sector is currently expanding in Tunisia, with more than 34 industries. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of Pseudomonas putida mt-2 to treat PW. P. putida was very efficient in reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and turbidity of solution (85.5, 89.1, and 81.5%, respectively). Genotoxicity of effluent, before and after biodegradation, was evaluated in vivo in mouse bone marrow by assessing the percentage of cells bearing different chromosome aberrations. Results indicated that PW showed a significant ability to induce DNA damage.

(C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved “
“Pairwise addit

(C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Pairwise additivity of the hydrophobic effect is indicated by reliable experimental Henry’s constants for a large number of linear and branched low-molecular-weight alkanes in water. Pairwise additivity suggests that the hydrophobic

effect is primarily a local phenomenon and that the hydrophobic interaction may be represented by a semiempirical force field. By representing the hydrophobic potential between two methane molecules as a linear function of the overlap volume of the hydration layers, we find that the contact value of the hydrophobic potential (-0.72 kcal/mol) is smaller than that from quantum mechanics simulations (-2.8 Selleckchem TPX-0005 kcal/mol) but is close to that from classical molecular dynamics (-0.5 similar to-0.9 kcal/mol).”
“Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major issue in public health. Its prevalence has been calculated using estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the creatinine-based equations developed in the Modified Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney

Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) study. Recently, new equations based either on cystatin C (CKD-EPI Cys) or both cystatin and creatinine (CKD-EPI mix) have been proposed by the CKD-EPI consortium. The aim of this study was to measure the difference in the prevalence of stage 3 CKD, defined as an estimated GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), in a population using these four equations.\n\nMethods: CKD screening was performed in the Province Selleckchem HSP inhibitor of Liege, Selleck HSP990 Belgium. On a voluntary basis, people aged over 50 years have been screened. GFR was estimated by the four equations. Stage 3 CKD was defined as a GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).\n\nResults: The population screened consisted of 4189 people (47% were men, mean age 63 +/- 7y). Their mean serum creatinine and plasma cystatin C levels were 0.88 +/- 0.21 mg/dL and 0.85 +/- 0.17 mg/L, respectively. The prevalence

of CKD in this population using the MDRD, the CKD-EPI, the CKD-EPI Cys and the CKD-EPI mix equations was 13%, 9.8%, 4.7% and 5%, respectively. The prevalence of CKD was significantly higher with the creatinine-based (MDRD and the CKD-EPI) equations compared to the new cystatin C-based equations.\n\nConclusions: Prevalence of CKD varies strongly depending on the method used to estimate GFR. Such discrepancies are of importance and must be confirmed and explained by additional studies, notably by studies using GFR measured with a reference method.”
“Purpose: Our main objective was to assess incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in stroke patients.\n\nMaterials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the Human Studies Committee, we reviewed the electronic records from our intensive care unit database of 111 stroke patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours.

However, in up to 33% of patients the source of this symptom

However, in up to 33% of patients the source of this symptom LCL161 concentration is not identified, frustrating both patients and health-care professionals. Pelvic pain may involve both the somatic and

visceral systems, making the differential diagnosing challenging. This paper aimed to review the mechanisms involved in pelvic pain perception by analyzing the neural plasticity and molecules which are involved in these complex circuits.”
“Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic inflammatory disorders of multiple organ systems, primarily involving the gut, with chronic relapsing and remitting course. Musculoskeletal involvement is the most common extraintestinal manifestation. Distinct cell-mediated and humoral immunopathophysiological mechanisms have been identified underlying gut and joint inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. selleck screening library Genetic polymorphisms in genes coding for NOD2 and IL12/IL23 complex lead to impaired antigenic handling in the gut and local immune dysregulation. The gut-synovial axis hypothesis implicates both environmental and host factors acting as triggers to initiate inflammation in genetically predisposed individuals, leading to priming of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes in the gut

and subsequent homing to the synovial tissue. Similar to gut, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-mediated cell lysis may also contribute to the joint damage. Involvement of peripheral joints occurs in 2 distinct manners, one being oligoarticular asymmetric arthritis associated with active disease and the other being polyarticular symmetric involvement of small joints. The axial involvement may include asymptomatic sacroiliitis, inflammatory back pain, and ankylosing spondylitis, running an independent clinical course. Noninflammatory involvement

of the musculoskeletal PERK inhibitor system may present as osteopenia, osteonecrosis, fibromyalgia, or myopathies, leading to significant impact on quality of life.”
“Background: According to the mother’s key roles in bringing up emotional and cognitive abilities of mentally retarded children and respect to positive psychology in recent decades, this research is administered to assess the relation between mother’s happiness level with cognitive-executive functions (i.e. attention, working memory, inhibition and planning) and facial emotional recognition ability as two factors in learning and adjustment skills in mentally retarded children with Down syndrome. Methods: This study was an applied research and data were analyzed by Pearson correlation procedure. Population is included all school children with Down syndrome (9-12 yr) that come from Tehran, Iran. Overall, 30 children were selected as an in access sample.

The aim of this study was to develop a safe and fast method

The aim of this study was to develop a safe and fast method SNS-032 for preparing PMMC island flaps using preoperative ultrasonography for vessel detection.\n\nMethods Forty-one PMMC island flaps were used for one-stage reconstruction of head and neck defects, including 21 cases in the treatment group and 20 cases in the control group. In the treatment group, ultrasonography was used to mark out the course of the thoracic branches of the thoracoacromial artery and the lower end of this artery perforating from the fascia into the muscles, as well as the largest perforating branch of the fourth or fifth internal mammary artery entering the PMMC flap.

A line, from the lower end of the thoracic MLN4924 manufacturer branch to the largest perforating branch of the fourth or fifth internal mammary artery, was drawn to determine the axis

of the PMMC flap. In the control group, PMMC island flaps were designed according to conventional methods without using ultrasonography.\n\nResults According to the ultrasonic marks, the distance from lower end of thoracic branch to the midpoint of the margin of the inferior clavicular was (5.1 +/- 1.2) cm. The time from designing to transferring the island flap was significantly shorter in the treatment group ((51.0 +/- 10.5) minutes) compared with the control group ((78.0 +/- 13.9) minutes, P <0.01). The rate of partial necrosis was 4.7% (1/21) in the treatment group and 35.0% (7/20) in the control group. There was one case of flap failure in the control TGFbeta inhibitor group due to vascular injury during vascular pedicle dissection.\n\nConclusion Preoperative vessel detection by ultrasonography facilitates easy and safe harvesting of the true PMMC island flap. Chin Med J 2012;125(4):667-670″
“Objective: To determine whether metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes given an analogue mixture of basal and rapid-acting insulins (insulin lispro protamine suspension plus insulin lispro) would have less glycemic variability

than patients given basal insulin glargine.\n\nMethods: Two post hoc analyses were used to compare 7-point blood glucose profiles from 3 published studies comparing basal plus prandial premixed insulin lispro mixtures with insulin glargine in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. Glycemic variability indices used included standard deviation of mean daily blood glucose, coefficient of variation, M-value, mean amplitude of glycemic excursion, and J-index.\n\nResults: Patients oil the twice-daily insulin lispro mix 75/25 (75% insulin lispro protamine suspension/25% insulin lispro) plus metformin regimen had significantly lower standard deviation, M-value, and J-index than patients on the insulin glargine plus metformin regimen, but not lower coefficient of variation or mean amplitude of glycemic excursion.

Interestingly, 5-HT1A receptor expression was up-regulated in the

Interestingly, 5-HT1A receptor expression was up-regulated in the hippocampus, but down-regulated in the striatum and cortex. These data indicate that, in addition

to transcriptional regulation by Pet-1 in raphe neurons, 5-HT1A receptor expression is regulated indirectly by alterations SYN-117 chemical structure in 5-HT neurotransmission in a region-specific manner that together may contribute to the aggressive/anxiety phenotype observed in Pet-1 null mice.”
“The author establishes criteria for landmark contributions to plastic surgery during his career, describes five such contributions, and lends a personal perspective on each. The conclusions reached are that plastic surgery remains strong and vibrant because of the ability of our specialty to engage in continuous improvement and innovation.”
“Ti-Al-Cr-N coatings, characterized PI3K inhibitor by a nanocomposite comprising nano-sized TiN crystallites embedded in amorphous AlN or CrN matrix, could be successfully synthesized on Si(111) and WC-Co cemented carbide substrates by a closed field unbalanced middle frequency magnetron sputtering method. The Cr content in the Ti-Al-Cr-N coatings linearly increased from 11.2 to 32.8 at.% raising the Cr targets currents from 5 to 15 A, whereas the Ti content decreased from 63 to 47 at. %. The high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) image and diffraction patterns clearly show that the Ti-Al-Cr-N coatings were

composites of crystallites and amorphous phase, which were distinguished from each other by lattice fringe contrast. The hardness and Young’s modulus value of the Ti-Al-Cr-N coatings increased with incorporation of Cr, and had the maximum value of 38.9 and 475 GPa at the Cr

content of 17 at. %, respectively. The average friction coefficient of the Ti-Al-Cr-N coatings largely decreased with an increase of the Cr content when compared to the TiN coatings. (C) 2011 The Japan Society of Applied Physics”
“Background. Childhood obesity has become a global public health problem in recent years. This study aimed to explore selleck kinase inhibitor the association of genetic variants in INSIG-SCAP-SREBP pathway with obesity in Chinese children. Methods. A case-control study was conducted, including 705 obese cases and 1,325 nonobese controls. We genotyped 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of five genes in INSIG-SCAP-SREBP pathway, including insulin induced gene 1 (INSIG1), insulin induced gene 2 (INSIG2), SREBP cleavage-activating protein gene (SCAP), sterol regulatory element binding protein gene 1 (SREBP1), and sterol regulatory element binding protein gene 2 (SREBP2). We used generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) and logistic regression to investigate gene-gene interactions. Results. Single polymorphism analyses showed that SCAP rs12487736 and rs12490383 were nominally associated with obesity. We identified a 3-locus interaction on obesity inGMDR analyses (P = 0.001), involving 3 genetic variants of INSIG2, SCAP, and SREBP2.


“Aims and objectives To explore students’ attitude towards


“Aims and objectives To explore students’ attitude towards problem-based learning, creativity and critical thinking, and the relevance to nursing education and clinical practice.\n\nBackground

Critical thinking and creativity are crucial in nursing education. The teaching approach of problem-based learning can help to reduce the difficulties of nurturing problem-solving skills. However, there is little in the literature on how to improve the effectiveness of a problem-based learning lesson by designing appropriate and innovative activities such as composing songs, writing poems and using role plays.\n\nDesign ALK inhibitor Exploratory qualitative study.\n\nMethods A sample of 100 students participated in seven semi-structured focus groups, buy GSK2126458 of which two were innovative groups and five were standard groups, adopting three activities in problem-based learning, namely composing songs, writing poems and performing role plays. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.\n\nResults There are three themes extracted from the conversations: students’ perceptions of problem-based learning’, students’ perceptions of creative thinking’ and students’ perceptions of critical thinking’. Participants generally agreed that critical thinking is more important

than creativity in problem-based learning and clinical practice. Participants in the innovative 5-Fluoracil supplier groups perceived a significantly closer relationship between critical thinking and nursing care, and between creativity and nursing care than the standard groups.\n\nConclusions Both standard and innovative groups agreed that problem-based learning could significantly increase their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Further, by composing songs, writing poems and using role plays, the innovative groups had significantly increased their awareness of the relationship among critical thinking, creativity and nursing care.\n\nRelevance to clinical practiceNursing educators should include more types of creative activities than it often does in conventional

problem-based learning classes. The results could help nurse educators design an appropriate curriculum for preparing professional and ethical nurses for future clinical practice.”
“We have investigated the crystallization of a monatomic simple liquid in equilibrium, where the constituents interact through the Lennard-Jones-Gauss (LJG) potential. By incorporating a perturbation expansion into a density functional approach, we obtain a phase diagram covering a wide range of the parameter space. The phase diagram agrees qualitatively with that obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The MD simulations show that the system cannot be crystallized, even if the temperature is sufficiently low, in a certain region of the parameter space.