bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hot-melt co-extrusion: requirements, challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical applications
Authors: Vynckier An-Katrien , Dierickx Lien , Voorspoels Jody , Gonnissen Yves , Remon Jean Paul , Vervaet Chris 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Co-extrusion implies the simultaneous hot-melt extrusion of two or more materials through the same die, creating a multi-layered extrudate. It is an innovative continuous production technology that offers numerous advantages over traditional pharmaceutical processing techniques. This review provides an overview of the co-extrusion equipment, material requirements and medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Key findings
The co-extrusion equipment needed for pharmaceutical production has been summarized. Because the geometrical design of the die dictates the shape of the final product, different die types have been discussed. As one of the major challenges at the moment is shaping the final product in a continuous way, an overview of downstream solutions for processing co-extrudates into drug products is provided. Layer adhesion, extrusion temperature and viscosity matching are pointed out as most important requirements for material selection. Examples of medical and pharmaceutical applications are presented and some recent findings considering the production of oral drug delivery systems have been summarized.

Summary
Co-extrusion provides great potential for the continuous production of fixed-dose combination products which are gaining importance in pharmaceutical industry. There are still some barriers to the implementation of co-extrusion in the pharmaceutical industry. The optimization of downstream processing remains a point of attention.
How Do Consumer Characteristics Affect the Bias in Measuring Willingness to Pay for Innovative Products?
Authors: Hofstetter Reto , Miller Klaus M. , Krohmer Harley , Zhang Z. John 
Published: June 2013

Getting the price right is essential for successful new product introductions. An accurate estimate of consumers' willingness to pay is a crucial part of this task. Measurement of willingness to pay for innovations, however, often yields biased results. In this paper, we investigate consumer‐related characteristics and motives that might underlie this bias. Drawing on the elaboration likelihood model, we develop a conceptual model to identify consumer characteristics relevant for preference measurement for innovative products. In doing so, two main factors that potentially influence hypothetical bias are distinguished: ability and motivation. Our conceptual discussion and empirical results demonstrate that the validity of willingness to pay statements is higher among consumers who show a high ability to assess the new product's utility and who are truly interested in purchasing the new product. Counter to intuition, willingness to pay statements from innovators, consumers with good product category knowledge, or consumers who perceive the new product to be highly innovative are relatively more biased and should be interpreted with caution.This research is among the first to look at consumer characteristics rather than methodological issues when it comes to measuring consumer willingness to pay for innovative products. Our conceptual discussion and empirical examination of the drivers of hypothetical bias can be used to refine the validity of the results of the direct willingness to pay approach. These findings should help improve new product pricing surveys and open new avenues for research in measuring consumer preferences.
The Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Erectile Tumescence Among Men with Normal Erectile Function
Authors: Harte Christopher B. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED) have been shown to display lower heart rate variability (HRV), suggesting dysregulation of cardiac autonomic function. No studies have explored whether HRV is predictive of erectile response among men with clinically normal erectile function.

Aim
The study aims to examine associations between resting HRV and objective measures of genital response (i.e., resting penile circumference; erectile tumescence) and self-reported sexual function.

Methods
The sample comprised 59 male community volunteers (mean age = 20.15 years; SD = 2.52) selected from the control conditions of two previously published studies. Participants reported erectile function in the normal range (scoring ≥ 26 on the International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF]) and had no history of cardiovascular disease or myocardial infarct. During a laboratory visit, self-report, anthropometric, cardiovascular, and electrocardiographic data were assessed, as well as resting penile circumference and erectile tumescence in response to viewing an erotic film.

Main Outcome Measures
Resting penile responses, erectile tumescence (circumferential change via penile plethysmography), self-reported sexual function per the IIEF, and both time-domain (standard deviation of beat-to-beat [NN] intervals, square root of the mean squared difference of successive NN intervals, and percent of NN intervals for which successive heartbeat intervals differed by at least 50 msec [pNN50]) and frequency-domain (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], LF/HF ratio) parameters of HRV were assessed.

Results
Higher-resting HF power and lower-resting LF/HF ratio were associated with greater erectile tumescence. There were marginally significant positive associations between mean NN interval and pNN50 and penile tumescence. HRV was not associated with self-reported sexual function or with resting penile circumference.

Conclusions
Results suggested that, among men without ED, relatively elevated parasympathetic tone was predictive of larger erectile tumescence. Limited variance in sexual function scores may have accounted for the lack of association between HRV and IIEF scores.
Do Romantic Partners' Responses to Entry Dyspareunia Affect Women's Experience of Pain? The Roles of Catastrophizing and Self-Efficacy
Authors: Lemieux Ashley J. , Bergeron Sophie , Steben Marc , Lambert Bernard 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Entry dyspareunia is a sexual health concern which affects about 21% of women in the general population. Characterized by pain provoked during vaginal penetration, introital dyspareunia has been shown by controlled studies to have a negative impact on the psychological well-being, sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life of afflicted women. Many cognitive and affective variables may influence the experience of pain and associated psychosexual problems. However, the role of the partner's cognitive responses has been studied very little.

Aim
The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between partners' catastrophizing and their perceptions of women's self-efficacy at managing pain on one side and women's pain intensity, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction on the other.

Methods
One hundred seventy-nine heterosexual couples (mean age for women=31, SD=10.0; mean age for men=33, SD=10.6) in which the woman suffered from entry dyspareunia participated in the study. Both partners completed quantitative measures. Women completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Painful Intercourse Self-Efficacy Scale. Men completed the significant-other versions of these measures.

Main Outcome Measures
Dependent measures were women's responses to (i) the Pain Numeric Visual Analog Scale; (ii) the Female Sexual Function Index; and (iii) the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction scale.

Results
Controlled for women's pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy, results indicate that higher levels of partner-perceived self-efficacy and lower levels of partner catastrophizing are associated with decreased pain intensity in women with entry dyspareunia, although only partner catastrophizing contributed unique variance. Partner-perceived self-efficacy and catastrophizing were not significantly associated with sexual function or satisfaction in women.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that partners' cognitive responses may influence the experience of entry dyspareunia for women, pointing toward the importance of considering the partner when treating this sexual health problem.
Carbon sink strength of a Mediterranean cork oak understorey: how do semi‐deciduous and evergreen shrubs face summer drought?
Authors: Correia A.C. , Costa e Silva F. , Correia A.V. , Hussain M.Z. , Rodrigues A.D. , David J.S. , Pereira J.S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractQuestionsHow do semi‐deciduous and evergreen shrubs exploit environmental resources during summer drought? What is the contribution of the understorey shrubby layer to ecosystem carbon assimilation? To what extent are carbon balance and transpiration impacted by a rain pulse?LocationCork oak open woodland in the Mediterranean region.MethodsWe used closed dynamic light and dark chambers to measure gas exchange (CO2 and H2O) in the dominant shrub understorey species Cistus salviifolius, Cistus crispus (semi‐deciduous) and Ulex airensis (evergreen), together with plant physiological and morphological measurements during summer drought and autumn recovery. A hyperbolic light response model constrained by vapour pressure deficits was fitted for up‐scaling shrub photosynthesis to the ecosystem level. The data were compared, on a daily and daytime basis, with gross primary productivity estimates from ecosystem eddy‐covariance flux measurements.ResultsThe onset of summer drought led to a significant leaf area reduction in semi‐deciduous species. A general decrease in photosynthesis in all species was observed, while evapotranspiration and above‐ground respiration fluxes contrasted among species during summer progression and autumn recovery. The shallow‐rooted C. salviifolius was able to use light more efficiently than the other two species, although with poor stomatal control over water loss and consistently higher above‐ground respiration rates, leading to lower water and carbon use efficiencies when compared with C. crispus. The deep‐rooted shrub U. airensis maintained higher leaf water potentials and very low photosynthetic rates while decreasing transpiration rates throughout the summer drought. A summer rain pulse showed that shallow‐rooted shrubs use water in an opportunistic way, with immediate leaf rehydration and concomitant photosynthesis increments. Conversely, deep‐rooted shrubs (U. airensis) were unresponsive, only recovering photosynthesis with high soil water content. An opportunistic growth response may be disadvantageous to shallow‐rooted shrubs in a future climate with extended dry summers and higher probability of rain pulse events. The prominent increase in transpiration rates and plant respiration costs observed during the dry conditions that followed the rain pulse, led to a reduced plant ability to recover after autumn rains.ConclusionsThe shrubs that naturaly colonized this montado understorey showed contrasting strategies to overcome summer drought, suggesting an efficient mosaic exploitation of seasonal environmental resources. The contribution of these shrubs to total ecosystem CO2 uptake during summer and autumn recovery was 17%. This high contribution implies that shrub density management decisions should consider a carbon balance perspective.
Unionization and Labour‐market Discrimination: A Closer Look at Non‐unionized Workers
Authors: Picault Julien 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper introduces a model that examines the effects of unions on pay and hiring gaps between non‐unionized men and women in the context of imperfect competition. Although the model does not question the advantages unions obtain for their members, it does show that (1) unions increase wage and occupational discrimination for non‐unionized workers; (2) the non‐unionized sector does not constitute a good comparison group for use in analysing the impact of unions on gender discrimination; and (3) public policies targeting gender differences in occupational sorting can also have a positive impact on gender wage differentials.
Double‐blind cluster randomised controlled trial of wheat flour chapatti fortified with micronutrients on the status of vitamin A and iron in school‐aged children in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Ahmed S. , Ahmed Tahmeed , Ahmed Faiz , Alam Mohammad S. , Wahed Mohammad A. , Sack David A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractFood fortification is a cost‐effective and sustainable strategy to prevent or correct micronutrient deficiencies. A double‐blind cluster (bari) randomised controlled trial was conducted in a rural community in Bangladesh to evaluate the impact of consumption of chapatti made of micronutrient‐fortified wheat flour for 6 months by school‐aged children on their vitamin A, haemoglobin and iron status. A total of 43 baris (group of households) were randomly selected. The baris were randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. The intervention group received wheat flour fortified with added micronutrients (including 66 mg hydrogen‐reduced elemental iron and 3030 μg retinol equivalent as retinyl palmitate per kilogram of flour), while the control group received wheat flour without added micronutrients. A total of 352 children were enrolled in the trial, 203 in the intervention group and 149 in the control group. Analyses were carried out on children who completed the study (191 in the intervention group and 143 in the control group). Micronutrient‐fortified wheat flour chapatti significantly increased serum retinol concentration at 6 months by 0.12 μmol L−1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06, 0.19; P < 0.01]. The odds of vitamin A deficiency was significantly lower for children in the intervention group at 3 months [odds ratio (OR) = 0.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07, 0.89; P < 0.05] and 6 months (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.68; P < 0.01). No demonstrable effect of fortified chapatti consumption on iron status, haemoglobin levels or anaemia was observed. Consumption of fortified chapattis demonstrated a significant improvement in the vitamin A status, but not in iron, haemoglobin or anaemia status.
In vitro and In vivo Antiproliferative Effect of a Combination of Ultraviolet‐A and Alkoxy Furocoumarins Isolated from Umbelliferae Medicinal Plants, in Melanoma Cells
Authors: Kimura Yoshiyuki , Sumiyoshi Maho , Sakanaka Masahiro , Taniguchi Masahiko , Baba Kimiye 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe examined the effects of six furocoumarins with alkoxy groups at the C‐5 or C‐8 position isolated from Umbelliferae medicinal plants on cell proliferation, and their mechanisms of action against B16F10 melanoma cells or in melanin‐possessing hairless mice implanted with B16F10 cells, under UVA irradiation. Three furocoumarins with an alkoxy group at C‐5, isoimperatorin (1), oxypeucedanin (2) and oxypeucedanin hydrate (3), showed antiproliferative activity and caused G2/M arrest at concentrations of 0.1–10.0 μm. Furthermore, three furocoumarins with an alkoxy group at C‐8, imperatorin (4), heraclenin (5) and heraclenol (6), inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells and cell cycle at G2/M at concentrations of 0.1–1.0 μm. UVA plus 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 reduced tumor growth and final tumor weight in B16F10‐bearing mice at a dose of 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 mg kg−1 (intraperitoneal injection). UVA plus 1, 3 and 6 increased Chk1 phosphorylation and reduced cdc2 (Thr 161) phosphorylation in melanoma cells. We suggest that the antitumor actions of UVA plus furocoumarins with an alkoxy group at C‐5 or C‐8 were due to G2/M arrest of the cell cycle by an increase in phosphor‐Chk1 and decrease in phospho‐cdc2.
Constructive and Destructive Marital Conflict, Parenting, and Children's School and Social Adjustment
Authors: McCoy Kathleen P. , George Melissa R. W. , Cummings E. Mark , Davies Patrick T. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis study addresses the links between destructive and constructive marital conflict and mothers' and fathers' parenting to understand associations with children's social and school adjustment. Multi‐method, longitudinal assessments of 235 mothers, fathers, and children (129 girls) were collected across kindergarten, first, and second grades (ages 5–7 at time 1; ages 7–9 at time 3). Whereas constructive marital conflict was related to both mothers' and fathers' warm parenting, destructive marital conflict was only linked to fathers' use of inconsistent discipline. In turn, both mothers' and fathers' use of psychological control was related to children's school adjustment, and mothers' warmth was related to children's social adjustment. Reciprocal links between constructs were also explored, supporting associations between destructive marital conflict and mothers' and fathers' inconsistent discipline. The merit of examining marital conflict and parenting as multidimensional constructs is discussed in relation to understanding the processes and pathways within families that affect children's functioning.
Jealousy in Firstborn Toddlers within the Context of the Primary Family Triad
Authors: Szabó Nóra , Dubas Judith Semon , van Aken Marcel A. G. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractChildhood jealousy has typically been examined in a limited number of jealousy‐evoking contexts and mainly with the mother only, thus providing a narrow view on the manifestations of jealousy. The aim of the present article is to examine childhood jealousy within parent–child dyads and (mother–father–child) triads and across multiple contexts. The sample included 87 Dutch families with a toddler (38 girls, 49 boys, Mage: 23 months). Children were challenged in several jealousy‐evoking situations using social and non‐social objects as rivals during videotaped family play sessions. Children's jealous behavior (e.g., negativity, distraction) and jealous emotions (e.g., anger) were coded. We found the most jealous behavior in contexts including a doll as a rival and the least in the non‐social object conditions. Children showed more jealous behavior toward mothers than fathers. Children showed elevated levels of anger in most jealousy situations.
Remobilization of hematopoietic stem cells with high‐dose methotrexate and cytarabine in patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma after failure to mobilize with chemotherapy and cytokines
Authors: Park Seong Joon , Yoon Dok Hyun , Kim Shin , Lee Kyungmin , Park Jung Sun , Jang Seongsoo , Park Chan‐Jeoung , Chi Huyn‐Sook , Park Chan‐Sik , Huh Jooryung , Suh Cheolwon 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundHigh‐dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) and fit patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, failure rates of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization are estimated to be between 5 and 30%, respectively. Thus, we investigated the efficacy of the combination chemotherapy of high‐dose methotrexate (MTX) and cytarabine with granulocyte‐colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) as a remobilization method in those who failed a prior mobilization and collection with chemotherapy and G‐CSF.Study Design and MethodsMobilization failure was defined as a collection of fewer than 5 × 106 CD34+ cells after three to five apheresis procedures. MTX (3500 mg/m2 in a 120‐min infusion) on Day 1 and cytarabine (3000 mg/m2 infusion for 120 min) on Day 4 and Day 5 were followed by G‐CSF (10 μg/kg daily).ResultsA total of eight patients (six NHL and two MM; median age, 55 years) who had failed in prior mobilization with conventional chemotherapy and G‐CSF underwent the second mobilization as described in the method. Successful collection of CD34+ cells (> 5 × 106/kg) was achieved in six patients (75%) with three to five apheresis procedures. The total yield of CD34+ cells/kg body weight was 6.28 × 106/kg (median; range, 1.53 × 106‐10.09 × 106/kg).ConclusionsThis preliminary result warrants further investigation of high‐dose MTX and cytarabine plus G‐CSF as a means to remobilize stem cells in those with prior failure to mobilize stem cells with chemotherapy and G‐CSF.
Cross‐border and Foreign Affiliate Sales of Services: Evidence from German Microdata
Authors: Kelle Markus , Kleinert Jörn , Raff Horst , Toubal Farid 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe merge German balance‐of‐payments and foreign‐affiliate‐trade statistics to obtain data about trade in commercial services at the firm level. We use these data to study export market participation and the choice of export mode: cross‐border versus foreign affiliate sales. We find that for firms in our sample productivity is both a statistically significant and economically important determinant of the export participation and export mode choice. We also identify the role of industry‐ and country‐specific determinants.
Clinical Impact of the Analytical Specificity of the Hybrid Capture 2 Test: Data from the New Technologies for Cervical Cancer (NTCC) Study
Authors: Gillio-Tos Anna , De Marco Laura , Carozzi Francesca Maria , Del Mistro Annarosa , Girlando Salvatore , Burroni Elena , Frayle-Salamanca Helena , Rossi Paolo Giorgi , Pierotti Paola , Ronco Guglielmo 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

The Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) test targets 13 human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Here, cross-reactivity with non-HC2-targeted HPV types is described. We aimed to define the proportion of HC2-positive women who had negative results with HC2-targeted HPV types and estimate its determinants and impact on women's health management. The New Technologies for Cervical Cancer (NTCC) trial was followed in two predetermined phases. Women in the experimental arm were tested for the presence of HPV DNA by HC2 following a sample collection in PreservCyt (first phase) or Digene specimen transport medium (STM) (second phase). HPV genotyping was performed on DNA samples from HC2-positive women by PCR with GP5
+
/GP6
+
primers and reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization. Untyped samples were submitted to direct sequencing or restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariate logistic regression analysis estimated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between the presence of HC2-targeted types and age, viral load, and type of transport medium. Out of 2,920 HC2-positive samples, 2,310 (79.1%) were positive on RLB for HC2-targeted types, 396 were positive (13.6%) for only non-HC2-targeted types (mostly represented by HPV-53, HPV-66, and HPV-70), and in 214 (7.33%) samples, no HPV types were detected. The probability of detecting HC2-targeted types increased with increasing viral load expressed as the relative light unit/positive-control specimen ratio (RLU/PC) (OR for unitary increase of log RLU/PC, 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 1.42) and with STM versus PreservCyt (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.84). If only the samples containing HC2-targeted types tested positive, the positive predictive value (PPV) would have increased from 7.0% (95% CI, 6.1% to 8.0%) to 8.4% (95% CI, 7.3 to 9.6), although 4.9% (95% CI, 2.4% to 8.8%) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2
+
(CIN2
+
) cases would have been missed. In conclusion, STM use and an increased cutoff would reduce the HC2 analytical false-positive rate and increase the positive predictive value for high-grade CIN. The gain in clinical sensitivity by detecting non-HC2-targeted HPV types is limited.