Neurodevelopmental and respiratory follow-up results at 7 years for children from the United Kingdom and Ireland enrolled in a randomized trial of early and late postnatal corticosteroid treatment, systemic and inhaled (the Open Study of Early Corticosteroid Treatment)

The goals were to compare early school-age neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes for children who were treated with either early (15 days) postnatal corticosteroid therapy and to compare systemic dexamethasone treatment with inhaled budesonide treatment.

Preparation of AgX (X = Cl, I) nanoparticles using ionic liquids

Nanoparticles of silver halides have been prepared by mixing silver halide powder with a single liquid phase consisting of an ionic liquid, isooctane, n-decanol and water. Much higher nanoparticle concentrations may be formed with ionic liquids using this new simple method than are found with conventionally applied surfactants. This method also emphasizes the applicability of ionic liquids as versatile components in microemulsions and as solvents for the synthesis of nanomaterials. The effect on the nanoparticles of changing the composition of the liquid mixtures and the nature of the ionic liquid is analysed. High nanoparticle concentrations were only found with chloride based ionic liquids, indicating the importance of the ionic liquid anion in the mechanism of the reaction.

Preparation of nanoparticulate metal catalysts in porous supports using an ionic liquid route; hydrogenation and C-C coupling

Aerogels containing palladium metal nanoparticles were prepared using an ionic liquid route and tested for activity towards hydrogenation and Heck C-C coupling reactions. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation and characterisation of supported L(a0.)8Sr(0.2)MnO(3+x)

Three supported La0.8Sr0.2MnO3+x catalysts were prepared, one supported on lanthanum-stabilised alumina and two supported on a NiAl2O4 spinel. The catalysts were characterised using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and surface area measurements following heat-treatments at temperatures up to 1200 degreesC in air. In the alumina-supported catalyst, a reaction occurred between the active phase and the support at high temperatures, indicating that these materials would be unsuitable for high temperature catalytic combustion. Only in the NiAl2O4-supported catalysts were the supported perovskite phases found to be stable at high temperature. These catalysts showed good methane combustion activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The preparation and properties of coprecipitated Cu-Zr-Y and Cu-Zr-La catalysts used for the steam reforming of methanol

A series of Cu-zirconia catalysts containing various additives (Y2O3, La2O3, Al2O3 and CeO2) have been prepared by coprecipitation and their activities and stabilities under operating conditions have been obtained for the steam reforming of methanol. It has been found that an yttria-promoted catalyst containing 30 mol% Cu and 20 mol% of Y2O3 is not only very active but is also very stable under reaction conditions. The yttria appears to stabilise a high copper surface area and may also have a slight promotional effect on the copper. The results obtained with this material compare very favourably with data for the best catalysts reported in the literature. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The preparation of reach to grasp movements in adults with Down syndrome

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which adults with Down syndrome (DS) are able to utilise advance information to prepare reach to grasp movements. The study comprised ten adults with DS; ten children matched to an individual in the group with DS on the basis of their intellectual ability, and twelve adult controls. The participants used their right hand to reach out and grasp illuminated perspex blocks. Four target blocks were positioned on a table surface, two to each side of the midsagittal plane. In the complete precue condition, participants were provided with information specifying the location of the target. In the partial precue condition, participants were given advance information indicating the location of the object relative to the midsagittal plane (left or right). In the null condition, advance information concerning the position of the target object was entirely ambiguous. It was found that both reaction times and movement times were greater for the participants with DS than for the adults without DS. The reaction times exhibited by individuals with DS in the complete precue condition were lower than those observed in the null condition, indicating that they had utilised advance information to prepare their movements. In the group with DS, when advance information specified only the location of the target object relative to the midline, reaction times were equivalent to those obtained when ambiguous information was given. In contrast, the adults without DS exhibited reaction times that were lower in both the complete and partial precue conditions when compared to the null condition. The pattern of results exhibited by the children was similar to that of the adults without DS. The movement times exhibited by all groups were not influenced by the precue condition. In summary, our findings indicate that individuals with DS are able to use advance information if it specifies precisely the location of the target object in order to prepare a reach to grasp movement. The group with DS were unable, however, to obtain the normal advantage of advance information specifying only one dimension of the movement goal (i.e., the position of an object relative to the body midline). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Manual asymmetries in the preparation and control of goal-directed movements

The primary purpose of this experiment was to determine if left hand reaction time advantages in manual aiming result from a right hemisphere attentional advantage or an early right hemisphere role in movement preparation. Right-handed participants were required to either make rapid goal-directed movements to small targets or simply lift their hand upon target illumination. The amount of advance information about the target for a particular trial was manipulated by precuing a subset of potential targets prior to the reaction time interval. When participants were required to make aiming movements to targets in left space, the left hand enjoyed a reaction advantage that was not present for aiming in right space: or simple finger lifts. This advantage was independent of the amount or type of advance information provided by the precue. This finding supports the movement planning hypothesis. With respect to movement execution, participants completed their aiming movements more quickly when aiming with their right hand, particularly in right space. This right hand advantage in right space was due to the time required to decelerate the movement and to make feedback-based adjustments late in the movement trajectory. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Comment on the preparation of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethanoate: a unique monomeric, homoleptic pentacoordinate lead ethanoate complex

Atomic absorption spectroscopy of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethanoate ([emim](2)[O2CMe]), prepared according to International Patent WO 96/18459, showed it to contain large amounts of lead impurity: (ca. 0.5 M): [emim](2)[Pb(O2CMe)(4)] was isolated and shown crystallographically to contain the first known example of a monomeric, homoleptic pentacoordinate lead(ii) carboxylate complex, with a stereochemically active lone-pair.

Movement-related potentials in Huntington's disease: movement preparation and execution

Movement-related potentials (MRPs) reflect increasing cortical activity related to the preparation and execution of voluntary movement. Execution and preparatory components may be separated by comparing MRPs recorded from actual and imagined movement. Imagined movement initiates preparatory processes, but not motor execution activity. MRPs are maximal over the supplementary motor area (SMA), an area of the cortex involved in the planning and preparation of movement. The SMA receives input from the basal ganglia, which are affected in Huntington's disease (HD), a hyperkinetic movement disorder. In order to further elucidate the effects of the disorder upon the cortical activity relating to movement, MRPs were recorded from ten HD patients, and ten age-matched controls, whilst they performed and imagined performing a sequential button-pressing task. HD patients produced MRPs of significantly reduced size both for performed and imagined movement. The component relating to movement execution was obtained by subtracting the MRP for imagined movement from the MRP for performed movement, and was found to be normal in HD. The movement preparation component was found by subtracting the MRP found for a control condition of watching the visual cues from the MRP for imagined movement. This preparation component in HD was reduced in early slope, peak amplitude, and post-peak slope. This study therefore reported abnormal MRPs in HD. particularly in terms of the components relating to movement preparation, and this finding may further explain the movement deficits reported in the disease.

Silica grain labelling and EDX spectroscopy; evidence for inter-grain diffusion of Pt(NH3)(4)(2+) species during Pt/SiO2 catalyst preparation by ionic exchange

Labelling of silica grains and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) in a TEM-FEG (field emission gun) were used to demonstrate the migration of Pt(NH3)(4)(2+) species from one grain to another during Pt/SiO2 catalyst preparation by the ion-exchange procedure.

Preparation of magnetic cellulose composites using ionic liquids

Cellulose-magnetite composites have been prepared by suspension and dispersion of magnetite particles in a homogenous ionic liquid solution of cellulose, followed by regeneration into water, enabling the preparation of magnetically responsive films, flocs, fibers, or beads. The materials prepared were ferromagnetic, with a small superparamagnetic response, characteristic of the initial magnetite added. X-ray diffraction data indicated that the magnetite particles were chemically unaltered after encapsulation with an average particle size of approximately 25 nm.