bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production and Quality Assurance of LYS-PLASMINOGEN Steam Treated
Authors: Schoppmann A. , Linnau Y. , Hetzel E. , Philapitsch A. , Dorner F.
Published: April 2009

A highly purified plasminogen concentrate, LYS-PLASMINOGEN Steam Treated, has been developed for thrombolytic therapy of arterial and venous occlusions in combination with fibrinolytic agents. In search of a highly efficient drug covering this indication, we decided to select the lys-form of plasminogen because of its higher affinity to fibrin in contrast to the glu-form. This property of lys-plasminogen also led us to expect an improved thrombolytic activity as opposed to other forms of the proenzyme. The intermediate product is manufactured from pooled human citrated plasma by ethanol fractionation after separation of coagulation factor proteins. Further processing includes specific transformation and purification steps. The final product is a freeze-dried preparation characterized by a high specific activity ≥ 18.0 CU/mg protein and a content of lys-plasminogen of ≥ 95 % To reduce the risk of viral infections, the plasma pool includes only plasma donations which are ALT tested and negative for HBsAg and anti-HIV. In addition the intermediate freeze-dried bulk powder is subjected to a virus inactivation procedure based on steam treatment for 10 hours under standardized product specific conditions without using special protein stabilizers. Physical parameters of steam treatment provide for a maximum virus killing effect without impairing the biological plasminogen activity or changing the molecular integrity of the product. In a preclinical test HIV was inactivated by 6 log 10 after 3 hours of steam treatment leaving a 7 hour safety margin for inactivation of more heat resistant viruses.In the absence of international quality criteria for plasminogen preparations IMMUNO has instituted its own acceptance requirements to establish a standardized quality profile. Routine tests applied to plasma derivatives in general as well as product specific measurements are carried out to ensure the efficacy, purity, and innocuity of the final product.
Comparative Study on the in vitro and in vivo Activities of Seven Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Authors: Fareed J. , Walenga J.M. , Hoppensteadt D. , Huan X. , Racanelli A.
Published: April 2009

Different low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparins are produced by fractionation, enzymatic and chemical methods. Although the manufacturer’s assigned molecular weights of these agents are similar (around 5,000 daltons), they exhibit considerable molecular structural heterogeneity due to the variations in the manufacturing process. In vitro standardization of these LMW heparins produces highly variable results due to the variability of assay specificity. In a comparative study with seven LMW heparins, differences were found in molecular weight distribution, antifactor Xa activity, antifactor Πa activity, Heptest® activity, USP potency, platelet interactions, protamine and platelet factor 4 neutralization and charge density ratios. Relative antithrombotic actions varied between the seven agents and the ratio of the intravenous:subcutaneous effects were inconsistent with expected results based on in vitro properties or observed ex vivo effects. These products were not bioequivalent in equigravimetric or equipharmacopeial dosages (antifactor Xa, USP). Although the intravenous bioavailability was proportional to the potency for an individual agent, the subcutaneous bioavailability of the same agent showed differences from that of the intravenous regimen. In addition, significant differences between the bleeding profiles of these agents were noted in both intravenous and subcutaneous routes. The bleeding profiles did not correlate well with the relative proportion of the antifactor Xa component. However, some relationship to the bleeding effect was observed with the antifactor Xa and activated-partial-thromboplastin-time activities. These LMW heparins produced different effects on platelets as studied in the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and platelet activation systems. These observations suggest that the individual composition of each LMW heparin determines its in vivo behavior which may account for the different safety/efficacy ratios observed in clinical trials.
Significance of Thrombin-Receptors of Thrombocytes for the Interaction of Heparins and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Human Whole Blood Clotting
Authors: Harenberg J. , Schuler M. , Zimmermann R. , Heptner W.
Published: April 2009

We describe in the present paper the results of the influence of normal and low-molecular-weight heparin on the interaction of human fibrinogen and thrombocytes in human whole blood cotting ex vivo. During the coagulation process sequential measurements of fibrinopeptide A reflect fibrin formation and determination of platelet factor 4 indicate activation of thrombocytes. The data show that low-molecular-weight heparin inhibits plasma thrombin generation in vivo for longer than normal heparin and it affects the fibrinogen platelet binding less. There is good evidence that a lonely factor Xa inhibition mediates this anticoagulant mechanism. Therefore, these data favor the hypothesis that antifactor Xa activity prevents indeed blood clotting.
Validity of the Newly Established Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Standard in Cross-Referencing Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Authors: Fareed J. , Walenga J.M. , Racanelli A. , Hoppensteadt D. , Huan X. , Messmore H.L.
Published: April 2009

Four low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) preparations have recently become available for clinical usage. Some ten preparations are currently under preclinical development. The safety/efficacy profile of each of these LMWHs is now known to be quite distinct from one and other. In order to minimize the variations in the pharmacologic responses and to cross-reference different products on a common scale, the WHO has recently introduced a LMWH standard. This standard is a nitrous-acid-depolymerized product provided by KabiVitrum (Stockholm, Sweden) with a specific physiochemical and biological profile. Although the in vitro characteristics of this standard are comparable to other LMWH, the in vivo behavior of this reference and the parent product, Fragmin®, are quite different in comparison to other products. In a well-defined uniform biochemical and pharmacologic screening, seven LMWH were compared at WHO reference-adjusted potency using pharmacologically valid dose-response curves. Cross-referencing of various LMWHs against the WHO standard in terms of anti-Xa activity resulted in a marked elevation of the anti-IIa component of some of the LMWHs. Establishment of this WHO standard stipulated that the clinical performance of cross-referenced LMWHs would be equivalent to one another and variation in potency could be minimized. Our data suggest that utilizing the WHO, standard individual potency (anti-Xa)-adjusted LMWHs exhibit distinct safety/efficacy profiles which were not related in their observed in vitro potency. Each LMWH has distinct multiparametric molecular and biochemical characteristics which determine the pharmacologic activities of individual agents. Thus cross-referencing of LMWHs by one in vitro assay is of questionable value as it may result in serious dosimetric errors, resulting in serious thrombotic and bleeding complications.
Analysis of Complete Stability for Discrete-Time Cellular Neural Networks with Piecewise Linear Output Functions
Authors: Li Xuemei
Published: April 2009

This letter discusses the complete stability of discrete-time cellular neural networks with piecewise linear output functions. Under the assumption of certain symmetry on the feedback matrix, a sufficient condition of complete stability is derived by finite trajectory length. Because the symmetric conditions are not robust, the complete stability of networks may be lost under sufficiently small perturbations. The robust conditions of complete stability are also given for discrete-time cellular neural networks with multiple equilibrium points and a unique equilibrium point. These complete stability results are robust and available.
Theory and Algorithm for Learning with Dissimilarity Functions
Authors: Wang Liwei , Sugiyama Masashi , Yang Cheng , Hatano Kohei , Feng Jufu
Published: April 2009

We study the problem of classification when only a dissimilarity function between objects is accessible. That is, data samples are represented not by feature vectors but in terms of their pairwise dissimilarities. We establish sufficient conditions for dissimilarity functions to allow building accurate classifiers. The theory immediately suggests a learning paradigm: construct an ensemble of simple classifiers, each depending on a pair of examples; then find a convex combination of them to achieve a large margin. We next develop a practical algorithm referred to as dissimilarity-based boosting (DBoost) for learning with dissimilarity functions under theoretical guidance. Experiments on a variety of databases demonstrate that the DBoost algorithm is promising for several dissimilarity measures widely used in practice.
Time-Dependent Changes in Extreme-Precipitation Return-Period Amounts in the Continental United States
Authors: DeGaetano Arthur T.
Published: April 2009

Partial-duration maximum precipitation series from Historical Climatology Network stations are used as a basis for assessing trends in extreme-precipitation recurrence-interval amounts. Two types of time series are analyzed: running series in which the generalized extreme-value (GEV) distribution is fit to separate overlapping 30-yr data series and lengthening series in which more recent years are iteratively added to a base series from the early part of the record. Resampling procedures are used to assess both trend and field significance. Across the United States, nearly two-thirds of the trends in the 2-, 5-, and 10-yr return-period rainfall amounts, as well as the GEV distribution location parameter, are positive. Significant positive trends in these values tend to cluster in the Northeast, western Great Lakes, and Pacific Northwest. Slopes are more pronounced in the 1960–2007 period when compared with the 1950–2007 interval. In the Northeast and western Great Lakes, the 2-yr return-period precipitation amount increases at a rate of approximately 2% per decade, whereas the change in the 100-yr storm amount is between 4% and 9% per decade. These changes result primarily from an increase in the location parameter of the fitted GEV distribution. Collectively, these increases result in a median 20% decrease in the expected recurrence interval, regardless of interval length. Thus, at stations across a large part of the eastern United States and Pacific Northwest, the 50-yr storm based on 1950–79 data can be expected to occur on average once every 40 yr, when data from the 1950–2007 period are considered.
Stochastic versus Dynamical Downscaling of Ensemble Precipitation Forecasts
Authors: Brussolo Elisa , von Hardenberg Jost , Rebora Nicola
Published: April 2009

The assessment of hydrometeorological risk in small basins requires the availability of skillful, high-resolution quantitative precipitation forecasts to predict the probability of occurrence of severe, localized precipitation events. Large-scale ensemble prediction systems (EPS) currently provide forecast scenarios down to a resolution of about 50 km. High-resolution, nonhydrostatic, limited-area ensemble prediction systems provide dynamically based forecasts by extending these scenarios to smaller scales, typically on the order of 10 km. This work explores an alternative approach to the use of limited-area ensemble prediction systems, by directly applying a stochastic downscaling technique to large-scale ensemble forecasts. The performances of these two different approaches for three well-predicted precipitation events in northwestern Italy during 2006 are compared. Ensemble forecasts provided by the ECMWF EPS, downscaled using the Rainfall Filtered Autoregressive Model (RainFARM) stochastic technique, and ensemble forecasts obtained from the Consortium for Small-Scale Modeling Limited-Area Ensemble Prediction System (COSMO-LEPS) are considered. A dense network of rain gauges is used for verification. It is found that the probabilistic forecast skill of stochastically downscaled ensembles may be comparable with that of dynamically downscaled ensembles, using a range of standard forecast skill measures. Stochastic downscaling is suggested as a tool for benchmarking the performance of dynamical ensemble downscaling systems.
A methodology for post-occupancy evaluation of ventilation rates in schools
Authors: Mumovic D. , Davies M. , Ridley I. , Altamirano-Medina H. , Oreszczyn T.
Published: April 2009

The importance of maintaining adequate indoor air quality in schools is recognised as a contributing factor to pupils' learning performance. This paper describes a series of field measurements that investigating the ventilation rates in four recently built secondary schools in England. All schools were assessed for compliance with the recently adopted Building Bulletin 101, which defines the set of criteria in relation to the ventilation rates and indoor air quality in new school buildings. Using the obtained results a methodology has been suggested for post-occupancy evaluation of ventilation rates in schools. The suggested methodology draws particular attention to the dynamic nature of the interaction between the building and their occupants.

Practical application: The new Building Bulletin 101 is quoted in Approved Document F as a means of compliance with Building Regulations for school buildings in the UK. This paper, based on four case studies, highlights some of the problems facing architects, mechanical engineers and building control officers associated with post-occupancy evaluation of ventilation rates in new school buildings. The methodology suggested in this paper, which differs radically from the current practice, takes into account the changing nature of the indoor environment in schools including occupancy level and occupant behaviour.
Prediction of flow-generated noise produced by an in-duct spoiler in a ventilation system using CIBSE Guide B5 methods
Authors: Mak CM , Ye C. , Wu J. , Yang J.
Published: April 2009

Measurements of flow-generated noise produced by two different types of strip spoilers in the air duct and radiated from an open exhaust termination unit into a reverberation chamber have been made in 1/3 octave bands using sound power spectra. The measured values are compared with the predicted values using CIBSE Guide B5 method based on selected values of the constant C. It is found that the measured values agree well with the predicted values. The measured values are also compared with the predicted sound power levels using the generic equations given in the Appendix 5.A2 of the CIBSE Guide. It is found that the predicted values using the generic formulae and the single normalised spectrum given in the Appendix 5.A2 of CIBSE Guide do not agree well with the measured values, particularly at low frequencies. For very different in-duct elements, a single normalised spectrum for flow-generated noise may not be sufficient for all configurations of the in-duct elements. It is suggested that several representative normalised spectra for different types of in-duct elements should be given.

Practical application: This study provides an evaluation of the accuracy of the CIBSE Guide B5 method and the CIBSE Appendix 5.A2 generic formulae for the prediction of flow-generated noise produced by in-duct spoilers in a ventilation system. It also gives comments on the method for improvements.
Residential indoor humidity control in tropics and sub-tropics
Authors: Chan MY , Deng SM , Xu XG
Published: April 2009

The use of direct expansion (DX) air conditioning (A/C) systems is widely seen in residential buildings in tropics and sub-tropics. However, most DX A/C systems are equipped with single-speed compressor and supply fan, relying on On—Off cycling as a low-cost approach to maintain only indoor dry-bulb temperature, whereas the indoor air humidity is not controlled directly. This also leads to potential inefficient energy use due to space over-cooling. This paper suggests a novel control strategy (termed Hi—Lo strategy) of using two-speed compressors in DX A/C systems for better indoor thermal environment control and higher energy efficiency. Experimental work has been carried out to test the Hi—Lo control strategy. Experimental results suggested that the novel control strategy can help improve the indoor humidity control without sacrificing energy efficiency.

Practical application: The use of ON/OFF control at part load conditions in conventional DX A/C systems will lead to undesirable relative humidity levels. The problem is more prominent when the latent load is dominant. In order to have a better dehumidification effect, a lower indoor dry bulb temperature has been often set. On the other hand, the use of variable speed compressors in DX A/C systems can be a solution to the problem of humidity control, but its cost is comparatively high. The suggested novel control strategy is a low cost approach, which can save energy and provide a better indoor humidity control using DX A/C systems.
Cavitation, aeration and negative pressures in siphonic roof drainage systems
Authors: Lucke Terry , Beecham Simon
Published: April 2009

The main purpose of this study was to examine negative pressures in siphonic downpipes and to see whether these can be controlled through breaking the siphonic action by injecting air at certain points in a vertical downpipe. The study also investigated cavitation and its propagation through a prototype scale siphonic system. The paper presents methods for limiting the minimum pressure in siphonic downpipes in tall buildings. A distinctive drop in pressure between approximately —70 kN/m2 and —96 kN/m2 occurred in a 80 mm diameter downpipe and it was not possible to sustain pressures between these limits. The pressure drop to -96 kN/m2 caused the formation of a distinctive cavitation zone. Any increase in downpipe length, beyond the cavitation zone, produced a proportional increase in the cavitation zone length.

Practical application: Cavitation is perceived to be a serious problem for designers of siphonic drainage systems to be installed in tall buildings. Using full-scale testing this paper provides evidence that in practice cavitation in plastic downpipes is unlikely to cause damage. The paper also provides guidelines for maximum spacing of air inlets to limit the minimum pressure to ∼70 kN/m 2 below atmospheric pressure without significantly decreasing the system capacity.
An energy consumption benchmarking system for residential buildings in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong LT , Mui KW , Law LY
Published: April 2009

Since the energy crisis in the 1970s, the government and policymakers have endeavoured to promote energy conservation policy on sustainable building designs and operations. Various benchmarks of building energy consumption were developed. Unfortunately, the complicated benchmarking models would impose difficulties in general adaptation. This study proposes a simple sustainability benchmark using a 5-star rating system for electricity and fuel gas consumption in residential buildings. With this system, the least sustainable households, i.e. the top 10% of the survey samples in consumption, would be awarded with the lowest sustainability rating of `1 star', while the most sustainable households (i.e. the bottom 10%) would be awarded with the highest rating of `5 stars'. This simple model would be useful for identifying the extreme cases of energy consumption and promoting the policy on sustainable building practices without inclusive measurements.

Practical application: A simple sustainability benchmark model using a 5-star rating system for electricity and fuel gas consumption in residential buildings is proposed. This model would be useful for promoting the policy on sustainable building practices without inclusive measurements by identifying the extreme cases of consumption.
Moments of Weakness: The Implicit Context Dependencies of Temptations
Authors: Pontus Leander N. , Shah James Y. , Chartrand Tanya L.
Published: April 2009

The implicit appeal of temptations may vary by the social and self-regulatory contexts in which they are encountered. In each of four studies, participants were subliminally primed with the name of someone associated with either drug use or drug abstinence, after which their own motives toward drug use were assessed. Results indicate that the appeal of this temptation often depended on participants' chronicity of indulgence (Study 1), relationship closeness with the tempter (Study 2), self-regulatory effectiveness (Study 3), and goal disengagement tendencies (Study 4). Although the influence of tempters may be automatic, it is also a dynamic process and these findings suggest that the appeal of temptations varies both situationally and motivationally.
Dimethylarsinic Acid in Drinking Water Changed the Morphology of Urinary Bladder but Not the Expression of DNA Repair Genes of Bladder Transitional Epithelium in F344 Rats
Authors: Wang Amy , Wolf Douglas C. , Sen Banalata , Knapp Geremy W. , Holladay Steven D. , Huckle William R. , Caceci Thomas , Robertson John L.
Published: April 2009

Inorganic arsenic increases urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma in humans. In F344 rats, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA[V]) increases transitional cell carcinoma. Arsenic-induced inhibition of DNA repair has been reported in cultured cell lines and in lymphocytes of arsenic-exposed humans, but it has not been studied in urinary bladder. Should inhibition of DNA damage repair in transitional epithelium occur, it may contribute to carcinogenesis or cocarcinogenesis. We investigated morphology and expression of DNA repair genes in F344 rat transitional cells following up to 100 ppm DMA(V) in drinking water for four weeks. Mitochondria were very sensitive to DMA(V), and swollen mitochondria appeared to be the main source of vacuoles in the transitional epithelium. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time RT PCR) showed the mRNA levels of tested DNA repair genes, ataxia telangectasia mutant (ATM), X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1), excision repair cross-complementing group 3/xeroderma pigmentosum B (ERCC3/XPB), and DNA polymerase β (Polβ), were not altered by DMA(V). These data suggested that either DMA(V) does not affect DNA repair in the bladder or DMA(V) affects DNA repair without affecting baseline mRNA levels of repair genes. The possibility remains that DMA(V) may lower damage-induced increases in repair gene expression or cause post-translational modification of repair enzymes.
Spontaneous Hibernomas in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Bruner Richard H. , Novilla Meliton N. , Picut Catherine A. , Kirkpatrick Jeannie B. , O’Neill Thomas P. , Scully Kathryn L. , Lawrence Wade B. , Goodman Dawn G. , Saladino Brett H. , Peters David G. , Parker George A.
Published: April 2009

Hibernomas are rare neoplasms originating in brown adipose tissue of humans and other animal species, including laboratory animals. Background incidence values for these tumors in all common strains of laboratory rats are generally accepted as being <0.1%. Between April 2000 and April 2007, however, sixty-two hibernomas (an overall prevalence of 3.52%) were observed in a total of 1760 Sprague-Dawley rats assigned to three carcinogenesis bioassays at two separate research laboratories. All rats were obtained from Charles River’s breeding facilities in either Portage, Michigan, or Raleigh, North Carolina. Tumors (twenty-nine benign and thirty-three malignant) were randomly distributed among test article–treated and control groups and were considered to be spontaneous. Most tumors originated in the thoracic cavity, and they were usually described as soft, mottled to tan masses with nodular to lobulated profiles. Immunohistochemical procedures for uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) confirmed brown adipose tissue as the site of origin rather than white fat. The marked increase in hibernomas in our studies suggests that greater numbers of spontaneous hibernomas may be sporadically encountered in future carcinogenesis studies with Sprague-Dawley rats. The increased potential for hibernomas to arise as spontaneous neoplasms has important implications in studies involving peroxisome proliferators–activated receptor (PPAR) drugs, lipophilic environmental chemicals (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls), and other molecules or physiologic processes (e.g., β-adrenergic stimulation) that may target brown fat adipocytes.
Thyroid Histopathology Assessments for the Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay to Detect Thyroid-active Substances
Authors: Grim K. Christiana , Wolfe Marilyn , Braunbeck Thomas , Iguchi Taisen , Ohta Yasuhiko , Tooi Osamu , Touart Les , Wolf Douglas C. , Tietge Joe
Published: April 2009

In support of an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay (AMA) Test Guideline for the detection of substances that interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, a document was developed that provides a standardized approach for evaluating the histology/histopathology of thyroid glands in metamorphosing Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Here, a consolidated description of histology evaluation practices, core diagnostic criteria and severity grading schemes for the AMA, an atlas of the normal architecture of amphibian thyroid glands over the course of metamorphosis, and the core diagnostic criteria with examples of severity grades is provided. Core diagnostic criteria include thyroid gland hypertrophy/atrophy, follicular cell hypertrophy, and follicular cell hyperplasia. The severity grading scheme is semiquantitative and employs a four-grade approach describing ranges of variation within assigned ordinal classes: not remarkable, mild, moderate, and severe. The purpose of this severity grading approach is to provide an efficient, semi-objective tool for comparing changes (compound-related effects) among animals, treatment groups, and studies. Proposed descriptions of lesions for scoring the four core criteria are also given.
The Influence of Estrogen on Hepatobiliary Osteopontin (SPP1) Expression in a Female Rodent Model of Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Banerjee Atrayee , Rose Robert , Johnson Greg A. , Burghardt Robert C. , Ramaiah Shashi K.
Published: April 2009

Our recent studies suggest that higher neutrophil infiltration in females correlates with increased hepatobiliary expression of osteopontin (OPN) in alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH). The objective of this study was to understand the role of alcohol in altering estrogen levels in females by examining the effect of ethanol (EtOH) on the estrous cycle and then investigate the potential relationship between estradiol (E2) and hepatobiliary OPN expression in a female rat ASH model. Ovariectomized (OVX) and E2-implanted OVX rats in the ASH group were evaluated for OPN mRNA and protein expression. Low doses of E2 resulted in significant down-regulation of OPN protein and mRNA as compared to the OVX group. However, with increasing doses of E2, there was up-regulation of both OPN mRNA and protein. Osteopontin was localized primarily to the biliary epithelium. Liver injury assessed by serum ALT and histopathology revealed a pattern similar to OPN expression. In all groups, hepatic neutrophilic infiltration correlated positively with OPN expression. Based on these data, we conclude that in our ASH model, low doses of E2 appear to be hepatoprotective, whereas the protective effect appears to diminish with increasing doses of E2, although additional cause and effect studies are needed for confirmation.
Response Style Contamination of Student Evaluation Data
Authors: Dolnicar Sara , Grün Bettina
Published: April 2009

Student evaluation surveys provide instructors with feedback regarding development opportunities and they form the basis of promotion and tenure decisions. Student evaluations have been extensively studied, but one dimension hitherto neglected is the actual measurement aspect: which questions to ask, how to ask them, and what answer options to offer to students to get the most valid results. This study investigates whether cross-cultural response styles affect the validity of student evaluations. If they do, then the student mix in a class can affect an instructor's evaluation, potentially producing biased feedback and prompting inappropriate decisions by university committees. This article discusses two main response styles, demonstrates the nature of the bias they can cause in student evaluation surveys using simulated artificial data, and illustrates three cases based on real student evaluation data in which marketing instructors' teaching quality assessments may be heavily biased because of response styles. The authors propose a simple method to check for response style contamination in student evaluation data and they discuss some practical implications.
Cytocompatibility and Effect of Increasing MgO Content in a Range of Quaternary Invert Phosphate-based Glasses
Authors: Ahmed Ifty , Parsons Andrew , Jones Arthur , Walker Gavin , Scotchford Colin , Rudd Chris
Published: April 2009

Recently, phosphate-based glass (PBG) fibers have been used to reinforce the biodegradable polymers polycaprolactone and polylactic acid, in order to fabricate materials suitable for use as resorbable bone fracture fixation devices. However, the PBG fibers investigated tended to degrade too quickly for application. Therefore, more durable PBG formulations were sought with emphasis remaining firmly placed on their biocompatibility. In this study, four invert PBG formulations (in the system P2O5—CaO—MgO—Na 2O) were produced with fixed phosphate and calcium content at 40 and 25 mol%, respectively. MgO was added at 10—30 mol% in place of Na 2O and the maximum divalent cation to phosphate ratio obtained was 1.375. Thermal analyses showed a linear increase in Tg with increasing MgO content. This was proposed to be due to an increase in the cross-link density of the glass network, which also improved the chemical durability of the glass. EDX analyses were also conducted to verify the final composition of the glass. XRD analyses confirmed the amorphous nature of the glasses investigated. Rapid quenching of the Mg30 glass revealed a degree of surface crystallization, which was shown to be a CaMgP2O7 phase. The degradation rates of the glasses investigated decreased with increasing MgO content. The decrease in rate seen was almost two orders of magnitude (a ×50 difference was seen between glass Mg0 and Mg30). The cytocompatibility studies of the formulations investigated showed good cellular response over time for up to 14 days. Statistical analysis revealed that the formulations investigated gave a response comparable to the tissue culture plastic control. It is suggested that invert PBG provide degradation profiles and the cytocompatibility response desired to make these glasses useful for bone repair applications.
Development of Self-assembled Nanoceramic Carrier Construct(s) for Vaccine Delivery
Authors: Goyal Amit K. , Khatri Kapil , Mishra Neeraj , Mehta Abhinav , Vaidya Bhuvaneshwar , Tiwari Shailja , Paliwal Rishi , Paliwal Shivani , Vyas Suresh P.
Published: April 2009

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been extensively investigated as scaffolds for tissue engineering, as drug delivery agents, as non-viral gene carriers, as prosthetic coatings, and composites. Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrated the immunoadjuvant properties of HA when administered with malarial merozoite surface protein-119 (MSP-119). HA nanoceramic carrier was prepared by co-precipitation method that comprises of sintering and spray-drying technique. Prepared systems were characterized for crystallinity, size, shape, and antigen loading efficiency. Small size and large surface area of prepared HA demonstrated good adsorption efficiency of immunogens. Prepared nanoceramic formulations also showed slower in vitro antigen release and slower biodegrability behavior, which may lead to a prolonged exposure to antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes. Furthermore, addition of mannose in nanoceramic formulation may additionally lead to increased stability and immunological reactions. Immunization with MSP-119 in nanoceramic-based adjuvant systems induced a vigorous immunoglobulin G (IgG) response, with higher IgG2a than IgG1 titers. In addition considerable amount of IFN-g and IL-2 was observed in spleen cells of mice immunized with nanoceramic-based vaccines. On the contrary, mice immunized with MSP-119 alone or with alum did not exhibit a significant cytotoxic response. The antibody responses to vaccine co-administered with HA was a mixed Th1/Th2 compared to the Th2-biased response obtained with alum. The prepared HA nanoparticles exhibit physicochemical properties that appear promising to make them a suitable immunoadjuvant to be used as antigen carriers for immunopotentiation.
Ectopic Bone Formation in Adipose-derived Stromal Cell-seeded Osteoinductive Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds
Authors: Yao Jinfeng , Li Xiaoyu , Bao Chongyun , Zhang Chaoliang , Chen Zhiqing , Fan Hongsong , Zhang Xingdong
Published: April 2009

The phenomenon of osteoinduction by biomaterials has been proven and used in animals. However, whether the ability of a biomaterial to initiate bone formation in ectopic implantation sites improves the performance of such osteoinductive biomaterial as a scaffold for tissue-engineered (TE) bone remains unclear. In this study, we compared ectopic bone formation by combining autologous adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) with an osteoinductive and a nonosteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic to create a tissue engineering construct in the muscle of dogs. Two groups of BCP scaffolds (BCP1 and BCP2) were prepared. In each group, ADSCs were seeded, and the scaffolds without seeded cells served as controls. All implants were implanted in the back muscle of 10 adult dogs for 8 weeks and 12 weeks. Microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT) analysis and histomorphometry were performed to evaluate and quantify ectopic bone formation. The results indicated that the osteoinductive BCP1 performed significantly better compared to the nonosteoinductive BCP2 in cell-based TE bone formation ectopically. The ADSCs had a significantly positive effect on the ectopic bone formation. In addition, the usefulness of Micro-CT for the efficient and nondestructive analysis of mineralized bone and calcium phosphate scaffold was confirmed.
Association of Acculturation Status With Beliefs, Barriers, and Perceptions Related to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Authors: Edelman Dana , Christian Allison , Mosca Lori
Published: April 2009

Acculturation has been correlated with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between acculturation and health beliefs, barriers, and perceptions related to cardiovascular disease prevention. Racial/ethnic minority participants in the Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health were included in this analysis. Less acculturated minorities were more likely to have health beliefs that may impede prevention, have greater perceived susceptibility to disease, and believe in an external locus of control. Evaluating acculturation in clinical practice may be an opportunity to promote awareness, healthy behaviors, and prevention among immigrants.
Jewish Laws, Customs, and Practice in Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum Care
Authors: Noble Anita , Rom Miriam , Newsome-Wicks Mona , Engelhardt Kay , Woloski-Wruble Anna
Published: April 2009

Many communities throughout the world, especially in the United States and Israel, contain large populations of religiously observant Jews. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive, descriptive guide to specific laws, customs, and practices of traditionally, religious observant Jews for the culturally sensitive management of labor, delivery, and postpartum. Discussion includes intimacy issues between husband and wife, dietary laws, Sabbath observance, as well as practices concerning prayer, communication trends, modesty issues, and labor and birth customs. Health care professionals can tailor their practice by integrating their knowledge of specific cultures into their management plan.
Building Practice Evidence for Parent Mentoring Home Visiting in Early Childhood
Authors: Zajicek-Farber Michaela L.
Published: April 2009

Objective: A multidisciplinary preventive parent mentoring intervention was applied through home visiting with high-risk families receiving well-baby health care. Two implementations were examined for effectiveness. Method: The first implementation employed a quasiexperimental nonequivalent group design, whereas the second used a randomized experiment. A multivariate repeated-measures design compared intervention and control families from both implementations on parenting outcomes. Logistic regressions examined children’s outcomes. Results: Compared to controls, intervention families significantly improved their family resources, parenting knowledge, practices, and maternal resilience. Intervention status significantly predicted children’s immunization and early language. Conclusions: Parent mentoring anchored in multidisciplinary approach with empirically informed practices may be a desirable intervention addressing the multifaceted developmental needs of very young children. Limitations and implications for practice are addressed.
Measuring the Oral Health of Nursing Home Elders
Authors: Jablonski Rita A. , Swecker Tammy , Munro Cindy , Grap Mary Jo , Ligon Mary
Published: April 2009

The primary purposes of this descriptive and prospective pilot study was to test the feasibility of a nursing and dental hygiene team to measure specific oral health indices in a sample of older adults residing in nursing homes (NHs). The secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between plaque and dentate status. Oral health indicators, functional status scores, and behavioral scores were collected and analyzed from 38 female NH residents from two geographically, organizationally, and economically diverse NHs. Persons with dentures had significantly lower plaque scores than those with natural dentition. Rural NH residents and African American NH residents had fewer filled teeth, indicating a potential lack of access to dental care. Oral health indicators were collected safely and efficiently from NH residents using a nursing and dental hygiene collaborative approach. Nursing and dental hygiene collaborations hold promise for improving the oral health in institutionalized elders.
Exploratory Studies on the Effects of a Career Exploration Group for Urban Chinese Immigrant Youth
Authors: Shea Munyi , Ma Pei-Wen Winnie , Yeh Christine J. , Lee Sarah J. , Pituc Stephanie T.
Published: April 2009

Two studies evaluating a school-based, culturally responsive career exploration and assessment group for low-income, urban Chinese immigrant youth are described. Mixed qualitative and quantitative methods compared the treatment (CEDAR group) versus the control group (no intervention). In Study 1, CEDAR group participants reported a significant decrease in career indecision; increases in academic, career, and college help seeking; and career decision-making self-efficacy at posttest compared to the control group. In Study 2, CEDAR group participants reported a significant increase in career decision making; decreases in career counseling stigma and value, collective self esteem, and affirmation and belonging in ethnic identity at posttest compared to the control group. Qualitative data from Study 1 and 2 revealed that participants had experienced an increased sense of social support, self-regard, self-knowledge, and learned practical career skills after participating in the CEDAR group. Implications for future research in career assessment and program development are discussed.
Inattentive Symptoms of ADHD Are Related to Evening Orientation
Authors: Caci Hervé , Bouchez Jacques , Baylé Franck J.
Published: April 2009

Objective: Morningness is a stable characteristic of individuals, related to impulsivity and novelty seeking. The evening orientation is a risk factor for psychiatric conditions such as depression and personality disorders. The authors hypothesized that adults suspected of having ADHD are more evening oriented than adults without ADHD. Method: Exploratory factor analyses were performed on the polychoric correlation matrices of the full Adult Self-Report Scale for ADHD (ASRS) and the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). Results: As expected, two factors for the ASRS—Inattention and Impulsivity— Hyperactivity—and three factors for the CSM were retrieved. All three CSM factors correlated negatively with ASRS Inattention, none with ASRS Impulsivity—Hyperactivity. Conclusion: Inattention is more strongly related to eveningness than is Impulsivity—Hyperactivity, and therefore eveningness may constitute an endophenotype of the predominantly inattentive subtype of ADHD. These findings need to be replicated in a patient population with a standardized assessment of sleep quality.
Understanding Travelers' Experiences of Gastronomy Through Etymology and Narration
Authors: Kivela Jakša J. , Crotts John C.
Published: April 2009

Gastronomy is an important attribute in the development of niche travel and niche destinations, and although related literature supports the view that there is a connection between tourism and gastronomy, little is known about culinary tourists, which prompt these following questions: Does a destination's gastronomy contribute to the quality of the travelers' experiences while they are visiting the destination? Is there a culinary travel market segment, and who are these travelers? Do travelers return to the destination to resample its culinary delights? Through examples from in-depth interviews with travelers, this article addresses how individual and group leisure travelers manifest socially constructed narratives about the destination's gastronomy and culinaria. Such expressions are carried out through consumption and experiences of food and of culture though food. It is argued that accounts and stories of the destination's gastronomy and culinaria work particularly well in individuals' efforts to “narrate experiences and feelings.” The study's objective, therefore, is to identify areas of commonality in the way in which travelers perceived and experienced gastronomy while visiting a destination. Specifically, the study aimed to determine (a) whether the destination's gastronomy contributed to the quality of visitors' experience, (b) whether visitors would return to the destination because of its gastronomy, and (c) whether culinary travelers represent a distinct market segment of an overall visitor market. This is a follow-up qualitative study to Kivela and Crotts (2006), which was also undertaken in Hong Kong and Macau. Qualitative feedback from the study reaffirms that as a contemporary cultural resource, gastronomy satisfies all the conventional requirements of cultural tourism products. Evidence suggests that motivation to travel for gastronomy reasons is a valid construct for the purposes of market segmentation. Qualitative results of the interview analysis reveal that gastronomy plays a major role in the way that visitors experience a destination and indicate that some travelers would return to the same destination to savor its unique gastronomy.
Proof of concept studies for tissue-protective agents in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Mehta LR , Schwid SR , Arnold DL , Cutter GR , Aradhye S , Balcer LJ , Calabresi PA , Cohen JA , Cole PE , Glanzman R , Goelz S , Inglese M , Kapoor R , Kappos L , Kreitman R , Lublin FD , Mann A , Marrie RA , O'Looney P , Polman CH , Ravina BM , Reingold SC , Richert JR , Sandrock AW , Waubant E
Published: April 2009

Background

There is considerable interest in tissue-protective treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods and Objectives

We convened a group of MS clinical trialists and related researchers to discuss designs for proof of concept studies utilizing currently available data and assessment methods.

Results

Our favored design was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of active treatment versus placebo focusing on changes in brain volume from a post-baseline scan (3–6 months after starting treatment) to the final visit 1 year later. Study designs aimed at reducing residual deficits following acute exacerbations are less straightforward, depending greatly on the anticipated rapidity of treatment effect onset.

Conclusions

The next step would be to perform one or more studies of potential tissue-protective agents with these designs in mind, creating the longitudinal data necessary to refine endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, and sample size estimates for future trials.
Association between MRI parameters and the MS severity scale: a 12 year follow-up study
Authors: Minneboo A , Uitdehaag BMJ , Jongen P , Vrenken H , Knol DL , van Walderveen MAA , Polman CH , Castelijns JA , Barkhof F
Published: April 2009

Background

Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters are known to be associated with short-term outcome in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. MS-related disability typically progresses over decades, stressing the need for longer follow-up studies. Until now, these studies are relatively sparse and, therefore, the predictive value of MRI parameters for clinical disability remains largely unknown.

Objective

To assess the predictive value of brain MRI parameters, which are obtained during the first 3.3 years of the study for overall disease severity as measured by the MS Severity Score (MSSS) after 12.2 years follow-up.

Methods

Forty-six MS patients were included in the study. MRI parameters included both lesion loads and atrophy measures. Average and change parameters were calculated for MRI parameters and subsequently used as independent variables in regression models, while MSSS was the dependent variable.

Results

Follow-up (FU) was obtained in 43/46 patients (94%) and median expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score increased significantly from 2.5 to 4.0. At last FU median MSSS was 4.3 (range 2.2–6.9). In univariate analyses, both change and cross-sectional T1-hypointense lesion load and ventricular atrophy measures were associated with MSSS. A multiple regression model included the change parameter of hypointense T1-lesion load (BHLL). This model explained 20% of variance in MSSS, which increased to 34% when type of disease (relapsing remitting or secondary progressive), age, and sex were entered additionally.

Conclusion

MRI measures of axonal loss are associated with higher overall disease severity in MS patients.