bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public trust in the healthcare system in a developing country
Authors: Peters Dexnell , Youssef Farid F. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryBroadly defined, trust in the healthcare system is concerned with how the public perceives the system and the actors therein as it pertains to their ability to both deliver services and seek the best interests of their clientele. Trust is important because it impacts upon a range of health behaviors including compliance and ultimately affects the ability of the healthcare system to meet its goals. While several studies exist on public trust within the developed world, few studies have explored this issue in developing countries. This paper therefore assesses public trust in the healthcare system of a developing small island nation, Trinidad and Tobago. A cross‐sectional survey of adults was conducted using a questionnaire that has been successfully used across Europe. We report that trust levels in the healthcare system in Trinidad and Tobago are relatively low with less than 50% of persons indicating fair trust in the healthcare system. In addition, individual health professionals also did not score highly with lowest scores found for nurses and complementary therapists. Results on four out of five dimensions of trust also demonstrated scores significantly lower than those reported in more developed nations. Open‐ended comments supported these findings with the majority of persons indicating a lack of confidence in the healthcare system. These results may reflect the reality in the wider developing world, and we suggest that bolstering trust is a needed area of focus in the delivery of healthcare services throughout the nation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of the preparation methods on architecture, crystallinity, hydrolytic degradation, bioactivity, and biocompatibility of PCL/bioglass composite scaffolds
Authors: Dziadek Michal , Pawlik Justyna , Menaszek Elzbieta , Stodolak‐Zych Ewa , Cholewa‐Kowalska Katarzyna 
Published: December 2014

AbstractIn this study, two different composition gel derived silica‐rich (S2) or calcium‐rich (A2) bioactive glasses (SBG) from a basic CaOP2O5SiO2 system were incorporated into poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to obtain novel bioactive composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. The composites were fabricated in the form of highly porous 3D scaffolds using following preparation methods: solvent casting particulate leaching (SCPL), solid–liquid phase separation, phase inversion (PI). Scaffolds containing 21% vol. of each bioactive glass were characterized for architecture, crystallinity, hydrolytic degradation, surface bioactivity, and cellular response. Results indicated that the use of different preparation methods leads to obtain highly porous (60–90%) materials with differentiated morphology: pore shape, size, and distributions. Thermal analysis (DSC) showed that the preparation method of materials and addition of bioactive glass particles into polymer matrix induced the changes of PCL crystallinity. Composites obtained by SCPL and PI method containing A2 SBG rapidly formed a hydroxyapatite calcium phosphate surface layer after incubation in SBF. Bioactive glasses used as filler in composite scaffolds could neutralize the released acidic by‐products of the polymer degradation. Preliminary in vitro biological studies of the composites in contact with osteoblastic cells showed good biocompatibility of the obtained materials. Addition of bioactive glass into the PCL matrix promotes mineralization estimated on the basis of the ALP activity. These results suggest that through a process of selection appropriate methods of preparation and bioglass composition it is possible to design and obtain porous materials with suitable properties for regeneration of bone tissue. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 1580–1593, 2015.
NFIL3 Suppresses Hypoxia‐induced Apoptotic Cell Death by Targeting the Insulin‐like Growth Factor 2 Receptor
Authors: Lin Kuan‐Ho , Kuo Chia‐Hua , Kuo Wei‐Wen , Ho Tsung‐Jung , Pai Peiying , Chen Wei‐Kung , Pan Lung‐Fa , Wang Chien‐Cheng , Padma V. Vijaya , Huang Chih‐Yang 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTThe insulin‐like growth factor‐II/mannose 6‐phosphate receptor (IGF2R) over‐expression correlates with heart disease progression. The IGF2R is not only an IGF2 clearance receptor, but it also triggers signal transduction, resulting in cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis. The present study investigated the nuclear factor IL‐3 (NFIL3), a transcription factor of the basic leucine zipper superfamily, and its potential pro‐survival effects in cardiomyocytes. NFIL3 might play a key role in heart development and act as a survival factor in the heart, but the regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. IGF2 and IGF2R protein expression were highly increased in rat hearts subjected to hemorrhagic shock. IGF2R protein expression was also up‐regulated in H9c2 cells exposed to hypoxia. Over‐expression of NFIL3 in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells inhibited the induction of hypoxia‐induced apoptosis and down‐regulated IGF2R expression levels. Gel shift assay, double‐stranded DNA pull‐down assay and chromatin immune‐precipitation analyses indicated that NFIL3 binds directly to the IGF2R promoter region. Using a luciferase assay, we further observed NFIL3 repress IGF2R gene promoter activity. Our results demonstrate that NFIL3 is an important negative transcription factor, which through binding to the promoter of IGF2R, suppresses the apoptosis induced by IGF2R signaling in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells under hypoxic conditions. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1113–1120, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Progressive construction of a parametric reduced‐order model for PDE‐constrained optimization
Authors: Zahr Matthew J. , Farhat Charbel 
Published: December 2014

SummaryAn adaptive approach to using reduced‐order models (ROMs) as surrogates in partial differential equations (PDE)‐constrained optimization is introduced that breaks the traditional offline‐online framework of model order reduction. A sequence of optimization problems constrained by a given ROM is defined with the goal of converging to the solution of a given PDE‐constrained optimization problem. For each reduced optimization problem, the constraining ROM is trained from sampling the high‐dimensional model (HDM) at the solution of some of the previous problems in the sequence. The reduced optimization problems are equipped with a nonlinear trust‐region based on a residual error indicator to keep the optimization trajectory in a region of the parameter space where the ROM is accurate. A technique for incorporating sensitivities into a reduced‐order basis is also presented, along with a methodology for computing sensitivities of the ROM that minimizes the distance to the corresponding HDM sensitivity, in a suitable norm.The proposed reduced optimization framework is applied to subsonic aerodynamic shape optimization and shown to reduce the number of queries to the HDM by a factor of 4‐5, compared with the optimization problem solved using only the HDM, with errors in the optimal solution far less than 0.1%. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogel synthesis by aqueous Diels‐Alder reaction between furan modified methacrylate and polyetheramine‐based bismaleimides
Authors: García‐Astrain Clara , Algar Itxaso , Gandini Alessandro , Eceiza Arantxa , Corcuera María Ángeles , Gabilondo Nagore 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTA simple method for preparing cross‐linked hydrogels in an aqueous medium is investigated using Diels‐Alder (DA) “click” reaction, without employing a catalyst. A polymeric diene is first synthesized by the functionalization of poly(2‐aminoethyl methacrylate) hydrochloride with furfural. Suited bisdienophiles are prepared by modification of Jeffamine® ED of different molecular weights with maleic anhydride. Both precursors of the DA coupling are thoroughly characterized before their reactions. The ensuing hydrogels are analyzed in terms of their microstructure, swelling, and rheological behavior, as a function of the reaction conditions. The influence of the molecular weight of the cross‐linker and the furan‐to‐maleimide ratio on the final properties of the hydrogels were also investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 699–708
Efficient solvent‐free alternating copolymerization of CO2 with 1, 2‐epoxydodecane and terpolymerization with styrene oxide via heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Zhang Ying‐Ying , Wei Ren‐Jian , Zhang Xing‐Hong , Du Bin‐Yang , Fan Zhi‐Qiang 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTThe alternating copolymerization of CO2 with the terminated epoxides anchoring long alkyl groups is rarely reported because of their low reactivity and polycarbonate selectivity. This work describes a well‐controlled solvent‐free copolymerization of CO2 with 1, 2‐epoxydodecane (EDD) with a long electron‐donating alkyl group via the catalysis of Zn‐Co(III) double metal cyanide complex catalyst. The productivity of the catalyst was up to 2406 g polymer/g Zn, that is, EDD conversion was 99.2%. The alternating degree of CO2‐EDD copolymers were more than 99% and had high number‐average molecular weights (Mns) of >100 kg mol−1, while only 1.0 wt % 4‐decyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (DC) were detected. Moreover, by introducing styrene oxide (SO) with electron‐withdrawing phenyl group into EDD‐CO2 copolymerization system, a new random terpolymer with either electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating side groups was produced with single glass transition temperatures (Tgs) in a wide range from 3 to 56 °C, which might be potentially used as biodegradable elastomers or plastics. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 737–744
Seven new microcystin variants discovered from a native Microcystis aeruginosa strain – unambiguous assignment of product ions by tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Qi Yulin , Rosso Lorena , Sedan Daniela , Giannuzzi Leda , Andrinolo Dario , Volmer Dietrich A. 
Published: December 2014

RATIONALEHigh‐resolution mass spectrometry was applied to the study of a Microcystis aeruginosa strain previously reported as a [D‐Leu1]MC‐LR producer. Detailed analysis revealed new microcystin (MC) variants produced from the strain, and seven of these were previously unreported variants. This work shows the importance of mass accuracy for the identification of unknown MCs.METHODSThe M. aeruginosa strain was isolated from a bloom sample collected from Argentina and acclimated to lab conditions. The MC variants in the strain were separated by UV/Vis detection‐guided high‐performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were unambiguous determined by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).RESULTSA simple strategy was developed for quickly locating the low‐abundance MC precursors from complex samples. MS/MS anlysis revealed ten MC variants produced from the strain, of which seven have never been reported before.CONCLUSIONSThis work shows the interference of isobarics and isomers in the study of unknown MCs, and, therefore, high mass accuracy is important to avoid false assignments. Moreover, the peak list provided here (30–50 fragments unambiguously assigned for ten MCs) can be used as a reference for the discovery of MCs from environmental samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autocrine Production of IGF-I Increases Stem Cell-Mediated Neuroprotection
Authors: Lunn J. Simon , Sakowski Stacey A. , McGinley Lisa M. , Pacut Crystal , Hazel Thomas G. , Johe Karl , Feldman Eva L. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder resulting in motor neuron (MN) loss. There are currently no effective therapies; however, cellular therapies using neural progenitor cells protect MNs and attenuate disease progression in G93A-SOD1 ALS rats. Recently, we completed a phase I clinical trial examining intraspinal human spinal stem cell (HSSC) transplantation in ALS patients which demonstrated our approach was safe and feasible, supporting the phase II trial currently in progress. In parallel, efforts focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying the preclinical benefit of HSSCs in vitro and in animal models of ALS led us to investigate how insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production contributes to cellular therapy neuroprotection. IGF-I is a potent growth factor with proven efficacy in preclinical ALS studies, and we contend that autocrine IGF-I production may enhance the salutary effects of HSSCs. By comparing the biological properties of HSSCs to HSSCs expressing sixfold higher levels of IGF-I, we demonstrate that IGF-I production augments the production of glial-derived neurotrophic factor and accelerates neurite outgrowth without adversely affecting HSSC proliferation or terminal differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that increased IGF-I induces more potent MN protection from excitotoxicity via both indirect and direct mechanisms, as demonstrated using hanging inserts with primary MNs or by culturing with organotypic spinal cord slices, respectively. These findings support our theory that combining autocrine growth factor production with HSSC transplantation may offer a novel means to achieve additive neuroprotection in ALS. Stem Cells 2015;33:1480–1489
Pro‐inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by specific components in ambient particulate matter in human bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Yang Lawei , Liu Gang , Lin Ziying , Wang Yahong , He Huijuan , Liu Tie , Kamp David W. 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTPrevious studies have shown that biological effect of particulate matter (PM2.5) is involved in including chemical composition and mass concentration, but the precise components and biological action on human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS‐2B) are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro toxicity of PM2.5 collected at six urban sites in China, and to investigate how particle composition affects cytotoxicity. We used human bronchial epithelial (BEAS‐2B) cell lines as model in vitro to expose to PM2.5 from different source, and then reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed. Furthermore, we estimated the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and transition metal and the endotoxin contents. The mRNA expression of IL‐1β and IL‐10 following exposure to PM2.5 was measured by QRT‐PCR. We also observed the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) using JC‐1 staining, and apoptosis of BEAS‐2B using flow cytometry. In addition, double‐stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) were assessed using γ‐H2AX immunofluorescence. Our results show that high concentrations of PAHs and elemental Ni were strongly associated with high apoptosis rates and high expression of IL‐1β, in addition, Fe element was associated with the ROS level, furthermore, Fe and Cr element were associated with DNA damage in BEAS‐2B cells. The cytotoxic effects of urban PM2.5 derived from six different cities in China appear dependent on the specific components in each. Our results indicate that air quality standards based on PM2.5 components may be more relevant than concentration–response functions (CRF). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 923–936, 2016.
Kinetics of amino acid and glucose absorption following pancreatic diversion in the pig
Authors: Rérat A. , Calmes R. , Corring T. , Vaissade P. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAn experiment was conducted in the pig to determine the consequences of deprivation of exocrine pancreatic secretion on the composition and quantity of nutrients absorbed after intake of a balanced diet. Five growing pigs (53·8 kg body weight) were fitted with permanent catheters in the portal vein and the carotid artery and with an electromagnetic flow probe around the portal vein to measure the exchanges between the blood and the intestinal lumen. They were also fitted with a permanent catheter in the duct of Wirsung to educe the exocrine pancreatic secretion and another one in the duodenum in order to reintroduce it. In each animal, glucose, amino-N and amino acid absorption as well as insulin and glucagon production were measured over a period of 10 h after the meal (semi-purified diet based on purified starch and containing 180 g fish meal/kg, DM content of the meal 731 g), either in the presence of pancreatic juice (group C : immediate reintroduction), or in the absence of pancreatic juice (group D: deprivation). The deprivation of pancreatic juice provoked a marked depression in the absorption of glucose (D 67·9 (SEM 27·9) g/10 h, C 437·7 (SEM 39·5) g/10 h, P < 0·00l), and of amino-N (D 7·55 (SEM 0·54) g/10 h, C 15·80 (SEM 0·79) g/10 h, P < 0·001). The composition of the mixture of amino acids in the portal blood was only slightly modified: only the levels of histidine (P < 0·05) and of valine (P < 0·06, NS) decreased in the absence of pancreatic juice. Insulin production was much lower (by 64%, P < 0·05) in the absence of pancreatic juice whereas that of glucagon was not affected.
Stratification of Surgical Site Infection by Operative Factors and Comparison of Infection Rates after Hernia Repair
Authors: Olsen Margaret A. , Nickel Katelin B. , Wallace Anna E. , Mines Daniel , Fraser Victoria J. , Warren David K. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectiveTo investigate whether operative factors are associated with risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after hernia repair.DesignRetrospective cohort study.PatientsCommercially insured enrollees aged 6 months-64 years with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure or Current Procedural Terminology, fourth edition, codes for inguinal/femoral, umbilical, and incisional/ventral hernia repair procedures from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2010.MethodsSSIs within 90 days after hernia repair were identified by diagnosis codes. The χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used to compare SSI incidence by operative factors.ResultsA total of 119,973 hernia repair procedures were analyzed. The incidence of SSI differed significantly by anatomic site, with rates of 0.45% (352/77,666) for inguinal/femoral, 1.16% (288/24,917) for umbilical, and 4.11% (715/17,390) for incisional/ventral hernia repair. Within anatomic sites, the incidence of SSI was significantly higher for open versus laparoscopic inguinal/femoral (0.48% [295/61,142] vs 0.34% [57/16,524], P=.020) and incisional/ventral (4.20% [701/16,699] vs 2.03% [14/691], P=.005) hernia repairs. The rate of SSI was higher following procedures with bowel obstruction/necrosis than procedures without obstruction/necrosis for open inguinal/femoral (0.89% [48/5,422] vs 0.44% [247/55,720], P<.001) and umbilical (1.57% [131/8,355] vs 0.95% [157/16,562], P<.001), but not incisional/ventral hernia repair (4.01% [224/5,585] vs 4.16% [491/11,805], P=.645).ConclusionsThe incidence of SSI was highest after open procedures, incisional/ventral repairs, and hernia repairs with bowel obstruction/necrosis. Stratification of hernia repair SSI rates by some operative factors may facilitate accurate comparison of SSI rates between facilities.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;00(0): 1–7
Impact of copy number variations burden on coding genome in humans using integrated high resolution arrays
Authors: VEERAPPA AVINASH M. , LINGAIAH KUSUMA , VISHWESWARAIAH SANGEETHA , MURTHY MEGHA N. , SURESH RAVIRAJ V. , MANJEGOWDA DINESH S. , RAMACHANDRA NALLUR B. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryCopy number variations (CNVs) alter the transcriptional and translational levels of genes by disrupting the coding structure and this burden of CNVs seems to be a significant contributor to phenotypic variations. Therefore it was necessary to assess the complexities of CNV burden on the coding genome. A total of 1715 individuals from 12 populations were used for CNV analysis in the present investigation. Analysis was performed using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6·0 chip and CytoScan High-Density arrays. CNVs were more frequently observed in the coding region than in the non-coding region. CNVs were observed vastly more frequently in the coding region than the non-coding region. CNVs were found to be enriched in the regions containing functional genes (83–96%) compared with the regions containing pseudogenes (4–17%). CNVs across the genome of an individual showed multiple hits across many genes, whose proteins interact physically and function under the same pathway. We identified varying numbers of proteins and degrees of interactions within protein complexes of single individual genomes. This study represents the first draft of a population-specific CNV genes map as well as a cross-populational map. The complex relationship of CNVs on genes and their physically interacting partners unravels many complexities involved in phenotype expression. This study identifies four mechanisms contributing to the complexities caused by the presence of multiple CNVs across many genes in the coding part of the genome.
SOME REMARKS ON LANDAU–GINZBURG POTENTIALS FOR ODD-DIMENSIONAL QUADRICS
Authors: GORBOUNOV VASSILY , SMIRNOV MAXIM 
Published: December 2014

AbstractWe study the possibility of constructing a Frobenius manifold for the standard Landau–Ginzburg model of odd-dimensional quadrics Q2n+1 and matching it with the Frobenius manifold attached to the quantum cohomology of these quadrics. Namely, we show that the initial conditions of the quantum cohomology Frobenius manifold of the quadric can be obtained from the suitably modified standard Landau–Ginzburg model.
Morphology and molecular analysis of Paratylenchus nanjingensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Paratylenchinae) from the rhizosphere soil of Pinus massoniana in China
Authors: Wang K. , Xie H. , Li Y. , Wu W.J. , Xu C.L. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractParatylenchus nanjingensis n. sp. was obtained from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. This new species is characterized by having a female with a slender, vermiform body (243–279 μm), head with distinct submedian lobes, slender and long stylet (64–68 μm), anchor-shaped stylet knobs, excretory pore anterior to the level of the stylet knobs, small lateral vulval flaps and lateral field with four lines; and male with more distinct body annuli, stylet lacking and pharynx degenerate. The internal transcribed spacer sequences of ribosomal RNA (ITS rRNA) gene of the new species were amplified and sequenced in this study. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species with other Paratylenchus species using the ITS rRNA gene sequences are given.
Accuracy of influenza vaccination rate estimates in United States nursing home residents
Authors: GROSHOLZ J. M. , BLAKE S. , DAUGHERTY J. D. , AYERS E. , OMER S. B. , POLIVKA-WEST L. , HOWARD D. H. 
Published: December 2014

SUMMARYThe US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires nursing homes and long-term-care facilities to document residents' vaccination status on the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI). Vaccinating residents can prevent costly hospital admissions and deaths. CMS and public health officials use RAI data to measure vaccination rates in long-term-care residents and assess the quality of care in nursing homes. We assessed the accuracy of RAI data against medical records in 39 nursing homes in Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin. We randomly sampled residents in each home during the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 influenza seasons. We collected data on receipt of influenza vaccination from charts and RAI data. Our final sample included 840 medical charts with matched RAI records. The agreement rate was 0·86. Using the chart as a gold standard, the sensitivity of the RAI with respect to influenza vaccination was 85% and the specificity was 77%. Agreement rates varied within facilities from 55% to 100%. Monitoring vaccination rates in the population is important for gauging the impact of programmes and policies to promote adherence to vaccination recommendations. Use of data from RAIs is a reasonable approach for gauging influenza vaccination rates in nursing-home residents.