bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The experience of physical activity and the transition to retirement: a systematic review and integrative synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence
Authors: Barnett Inka , Guell Cornelia , Ogilvie David 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
The transition to retirement has been recognised as a critical turning point for physical activity (PA). In an earlier systematic review of quantitative studies, retirement was found to be associated with an increase in recreational PA but with a decrease in PA among retirees from lower occupational groups. To gain a deeper understanding of the quantitative review findings, qualitative evidence on experiences of and views on PA around the transition to retirement was systematically reviewed and integrated with the quantitative review findings.

Method
19 electronic databases were searched and reference lists were checked, citations tracked and journals hand-searched to identify qualitative studies on PA around the transition to retirement, published between January 1980 and August 2010 in any country or language. Independent quality appraisal, data extraction and evidence synthesis were carried out by two reviewers using a stepwise thematic approach. The qualitative findings were integrated with those of the existing quantitative systematic review using a parallel synthesis approach.

Results
Five qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Three overarching themes emerged from the synthesis of these studies: these related to retirees’ broad concepts of PA, the motives for and the challenges to PA in retirement. Integrative synthesis of the qualitative findings with the quantitative evidence offered several potential explanations for why adults might engage in more recreational PA after the transition to retirement. These included expected health benefits, lifelong PA patterns, opportunities for socialising and personal challenges, and the desire for a new routine. A decrease in PA among retirees from lower occupational groups might be explained by a lack of time and a perceived low personal value of recreational PA.

Conclusions
To encourage adoption and maintenance of PA after retirement, interventions should promote health-related and broader benefits of PA. Interventions for retirees from lower occupational groups should take account of busy post-retirement lifestyles and the low personal value that might be attributed to recreational PA. Future research should address predictors of maintenance of recreational PA after the transition to retirement, the broader benefits of PA, and barriers to PA among retirees from lower occupational groups.
Combination of cilostazol and clopidogrel attenuates Rat critical limb ischemia
Authors: Sheu Jiunn-Jye , Lin Kun-Chen , Tsai Ching-Yen , Tsai Tzu-Hsien , Leu Steve , Yen Chia-Hung , Chen Yung-Lung , Chang Hsueh-Wen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Chua Sarah , Yang Jenq-Lin , Yip Hon-Kan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background and aim
Procedural failure and untoward clinical outcomes after surgery remain problematic in critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients. This study tested a clopidogrel-cilostazol combination treatment compared with either treatment alone in attenuating CLI and improving CLI-region blood flow in rats.

Methods
Male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 40) were equally divided into five groups: control, CLI induction only, CL I + cilostazol (12.0 mg/day/kg), CLI + clopidogrel (8.0 mg/kg/day) and CLI + combined cilostazol-clopidogrel. After treatment for 21 days, Laser Doppler imaging was performed.

Results
On day 21, the untreated CLI group had the lowest ratio of ischemic/normal blood flow (p < 0.001). Inflammation measured by VCAM-1 protein expression; oxidative stress; PAI-1, MMP-9 and TNF-α mRNA expressions; and immunofluorescence staining (IF) of CD68+ cells was lower with combined treatment than with the other treatments, and lower in the two single-treatment groups than the untreated CLI group (all p < 0.01). Anti-inflammatory mRNA expression of interleukin-10, and eNOS showed a reverse pattern among these groups. Apoptosis measured by Bax, caspase-3 and PARP; and muscle damage measured by cytosolic cytochrome-C, and serum and muscle micro-RNA-206 were all lowest with combination treatment, and the two single-treatment groups showed lower values than the untreated group (all p < 0.001). Angiogenesis measured by eNOS, IF staining of CD31+ and vWF + cells; and number of vessels in CLI region were highest with combination treatment and higher in the single-treatment groups than the untreated group (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion
Combined cilostazol-clopidogrel therapy is superior to either agent alone in improving ischemia in rodent CLI.
Improved light extraction of InGaN/GaN blue LEDs by GaOOH NRAs using a thin ATO seed layer
Authors: Lee Hee Kwan , Joo Dong Hyuk , Kim Myung Sub , Yu Jae Su 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
We investigated the effect of gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) nanorod arrays (NRAs) on the light extraction of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). GaOOH NRAs were prepared on an indium tin oxide electrode (ITO) layer of LEDs by electrochemical deposition method. The GaOOH NRAs with preferred orientations were grown on the ITO surface by sputtering a thin antimony-doped tin oxide seed layer, which enhances heterogeneous reactions. Surface density and coverage were also efficiently controlled by the different growth voltages. For LEDs with GaOOH NRAs grown at −2 V, the light output power was increased by 22% without suffering from any serious electrical degradation and wavelength shift as compared with conventional LEDs.
Spontaneous formation of graphene-like stripes on high-index diamond C(331) surface
Authors: Xu Maojie , Zhang Yaozhong , Zhang Jing , Lu Jiyun , Qian Bingjian , Lu Dejiong , Zhang Yafei , Wang Liang , Chen Xiaoshuang , Shigekawa Hidemi 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
We employ first-principles density functional theory calculations to study the surface reconstruction, energetic stability, and electronic structure of diamond C(331) surface. Spontaneous formation of graphene-like stripes on the reconstructed surface is found to occur as the surface terrace C atoms transform from sp
3 to sp
2 hybridization upon structural relaxation. The comparison of the calculated absolute surface energies of C(331), C(111), and C(110) surfaces demonstrates the energetic stability of the graphitic-like C(331) surface. Local density of electronic states analysis reveals the occurrence of localized electronic states near the Fermi level, which may have a significant impact on the surface conductivity.
Compressive SAR raw data with principal component analysis
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Baoju , Mu Jiasong 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The theory of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal model is briefly introduced which is constructed with a series of echo signals in range direction. The procedure of principal component analysis (PCA) is presented which is used as transformation basis to sparsify the signals. The joint compressive sensing (CS) and PCA algorithm is devised to realize SAR raw data compressive measurement. A SAR raw data for a point target is simulated and used to verify the performance of the joint CS and PCA algorithm. The numerical experimental results demonstrate that the PCA method has good sparse performance and the joint CS and PCA algorithm is possible to online compressively measure the SAR raw data.
Joint source and relay optimization for parallel MIMO relay networks
Authors: Toding Apriana , Khandaker Muhammad RA , Rong Yue 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
In this article, we study the optimal structure of the source precoding matrix and the relay amplifying matrices for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay communication systems with parallel relay nodes. Two types of receivers are considered at the destination node: (1) The linear minimal mean-squared error (MMSE) receiver; (2) The nonlinear decision feedback equalizer based on the minimal MSE criterion. We show that for both receiver schemes, the optimal source precoding matrix and the optimal relay amplifying matrices have a beamforming structure. Using such optimal structure, joint source and relay power loading algorithms are developed to minimize the MSE of the signal waveform estimation at the destination. Compared with existing algorithms for parallel MIMO relay networks, the proposed joint source and relay beamforming algorithms have significant improvement in the system bit-error-rate performance.
Urinary gonadotrophins: a useful non-invasive marker of activation of the hypothalamic pituitary-gonadal axis
Authors: McNeilly Jane D , Mason Avril , Khanna Sheila , Galloway Peter J , Ahmed S Faisal 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
Non-invasive screening investigations are rarely used for assessing the activation and progression of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis through puberty. This study aimed to establish a normal range for urinary gonadotrophins in children progressing through puberty.

Methods
Urine samples were collected from 161 healthy school children (76 boys, 85 girls) aged 4–19 yrs. Height and weight were converted to standard deviation score. Pubertal status, classified by Tanner staging, was determined by self-assessment. Urinary gonadotrophins were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Results were grouped according to pubertal status (pre-pubertal or pubertal).

Results
Of the 161 children, 50 were pre-pubertal (28 boys; 22 girls) and 111 were pubertal (48 boys; 63 girls). Overall, urinary gonadotrophins concentrations increased with pubertal maturation. All pre-pubertal children had a low urinary LH:Creatinine ratio. LH:Creatinine ratios were significantly higher in pubertal compared to pre-pubertal boys (p<0.001). In girls, FSH:Creatinine ratios were significantly higher in the pubertal group (p = 0.006). However, LH:FSH ratios were a more consistent discriminant between pre-pubertal and pubertal states in both sexes (Boys 0.45 pubertal vs 0.1 pre-pubertal; girls 0.23 pubertal vs 0.06 pre-pubertal).

Conclusion
Urinary gonadotrophins analyses could be used as non-invasive integrated measurement of pubertal status which reflects clinical/physical status.
Event related desynchronization-modulated functional electrical stimulation system for stroke rehabilitation: A feasibility study
Authors: Takahashi Mitsuru , Takeda Kotaro , Otaka Yohei , Osu Rieko , Hanakawa Takashi , Gouko Manabu , Ito Koji 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
We developed an electroencephalogram-based brain computer interface system to modulate functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the affected tibialis anterior muscle in a stroke patient. The intensity of FES current increased in a stepwise manner when the event-related desynchronization (ERD) reflecting motor intent was continuously detected from the primary cortical motor area.

Methods
We tested the feasibility of the ERD-modulated FES system in comparison with FES without ERD modulation. The stroke patient who presented with severe hemiparesis attempted to perform dorsiflexion of the paralyzed ankle during which FES was applied either with or without ERD modulation.

Results
After 20 minutes of training, the range of movement at the ankle joint and the electromyography amplitude of the affected tibialis anterior muscle were significantly increased following the ERD-modulated FES compared with the FES alone.

Conclusions
The proposed rehabilitation technique using ERD-modulated FES for stroke patients was feasible. The system holds potentials to improve the limb function and to benefit stroke patients.
Role of hepatitis B virus X protein in regulating LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP-1) expression to mediate proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells
Authors: Tang Renxian , Kong Fanyun , Hu Lina , You Hongjuan , Zhang Peng , Du Weidong , Zheng Kuiyang 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundHepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has been shown to be responsible for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by Hepatitis B virus infection. However, its potential effect on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma remains yet unclear. LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP-1), a focal adhesion protein, is expressed in an up-regulation manner in the HCC tissues. LASP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation and migration of HCC. In this study, we investigated the effect of LASP-1 involved in HBx-related tumor progression.MethodsLASP-1 levels in the HBx stable transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells were detected by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. The cellular localization of LASP-1 was assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. The activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway was demonstrated by western blot assay. The HBx-expressing cells were transfected with specific small interference RNA (siRNA) against LASP-1. The proliferation and migration ability of cells were evaluated by cell viability assay and plate clone formation assay. The migration ability of cells was detected by transwell assay and wound healing assay.ResultsRT-PCR and western blot analysis indicated the expression of LASP-1 was increased in the stable HBx-expressing cells compared with the control cells. Immunofluorescence study revealed that the distributions of LASP-1 in HepG2-HBX cells were mainly in pseudopods and the cytoplasm while they were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of HepG2-Mock cells. The cellular localizations of LASP-1 in Huh-7-HBX cells were in the perinuclear fractions while they were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of Huh-7-Mock cells. The upregulation of LASP-1 was inhibited after treatment with LY294002, PI3-K pathway inhibitor. Overexpression of LASP-1 in the stable HBx-expressing cells enhanced the proliferation and migration ability of hepatocellular cells. siRNA-mediated LASP-1 knowdown in the stable HBx-expressing cells significantly suppressed hepatocellular cells proliferation and migration.ConclusionsThese results demonstrated that HBx could upregulate LASP-1 through PI3-K pathway to promote the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells.
Diagnostic randomized controlled trials: the final frontier
Authors: Rodger Marc , Ramsay Tim , Fergusson Dean 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Clinicians, patients, governments, third-party payers, and the public take for granted that diagnostic tests are accurate, safe and effective. However, we may be seriously misled if we are relying on robust study design to ensure accurate, safe, and effective diagnostic tests. Properly conducted, randomized controlled trials are the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness and safety of interventions, yet are rarely conducted in the assessment of diagnostic tests. Instead, diagnostic cohort studies are commonly performed to assess the characteristics of a diagnostic test including sensitivity and specificity. While diagnostic cohort studies can inform us about the relative accuracy of an experimental diagnostic intervention compared to a reference standard, they do not inform us about whether the differences in accuracy are clinically important, or the degree of clinical importance (in other words, the impact on patient outcomes). In this commentary we provide the advantages of the diagnostic randomized controlled trial and suggest a greater awareness and uptake in their conduct. Doing so will better ensure that patients are offered diagnostic procedures that will make a clinical difference.
Getting DNA copy numbers without control samples
Authors: Ortiz-Estevez Maria , Aramburu Ander , Rubio Angel 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
The selection of the reference to scale the data in a copy number analysis has paramount importance to achieve accurate estimates. Usually this reference is generated using control samples included in the study. However, these control samples are not always available and in these cases, an artificial reference must be created. A proper generation of this signal is crucial in terms of both noise and bias.
We propose NSA (Normality Search Algorithm), a scaling method that works with and without control samples. It is based on the assumption that genomic regions enriched in SNPs with identical copy numbers in both alleles are likely to be normal. These normal regions are predicted for each sample individually and used to calculate the final reference signal. NSA can be applied to any CN data regardless the microarray technology and preprocessing method. It also finds an optimal weighting of the samples minimizing possible batch effects.

Results
Five human datasets (a subset of HapMap samples, Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), Ovarian, Prostate and Lung Cancer experiments) have been analyzed. It is shown that using only tumoral samples, NSA is able to remove the bias in the copy number estimation, to reduce the noise and therefore, to increase the ability to detect copy number aberrations (CNAs). These improvements allow NSA to also detect recurrent aberrations more accurately than other state of the art methods.

Conclusions
NSA provides a robust and accurate reference for scaling probe signals data to CN values without the need of control samples. It minimizes the problems of bias, noise and batch effects in the estimation of CNs. Therefore, NSA scaling approach helps to better detect recurrent CNAs than current methods. The automatic selection of references makes it useful to perform bulk analysis of many GEO or ArrayExpress experiments without the need of developing a parser to find the normal samples or possible batches within the data. The method is available in the open-source R package NSA, which is an add-on to the aroma.cn framework.http://www.aroma-project.org/addons.
Integrating external biological knowledge in the construction of regulatory networks from time-series expression data
Authors: Lo Kenneth , Raftery Adrian E , Dombek Kenneth M , Zhu Jun , Schadt Eric E , Bumgarner Roger E , Yeung Ka Yee 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundInference about regulatory networks from high-throughput genomics data is of great interest in systems biology. We present a Bayesian approach to infer gene regulatory networks from time series expression data by integrating various types of biological knowledge.ResultsWe formulate network construction as a series of variable selection problems and use linear regression to model the data. Our method summarizes additional data sources with an informative prior probability distribution over candidate regression models. We extend the Bayesian model averaging (BMA) variable selection method to select regulators in the regression framework. We summarize the external biological knowledge by an informative prior probability distribution over the candidate regression models.ConclusionsWe demonstrate our method on simulated data and a set of time-series microarray experiments measuring the effect of a drug perturbation on gene expression levels, and show that it outperforms leading regression-based methods in the literature.
Entomological profile of yellow fever epidemics in the Central African Republic, 2006–2010
Authors: Ngoagouni Carine , Kamgang Basile , Manirakiza Alexandre , Nangouma Auguste , Paupy Christophe , Nakoune Emmanuel , Kazanji Mirdad 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
The causative agent of yellow fever is an arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly in Africa. In the Central African Republic since 2006, cases have been notified in the provinces of Ombella-Mpoko, Ouham-Pende, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto and in Bangui the capital. As the presence of a vector of yellow fever virus (YFV) represents a risk for spread of the disease, we undertook entomological investigations at these sites to identify potential vectors of YFV and their abundance.

Findings
Between 2006 and 2010, 5066 mosquitoes belonging to six genera and 43 species were identified. The 20 species of the Aedes genus identified included Ae. aegypti, the main vector of YFV in urban settings, and species found in tropical forests, such as Ae. africanus, Ae. simpsoni, Ae. luteocephalus, Ae. vittatus and Ae. opok. These species were not distributed uniformly in the various sites studied. Thus, the predominant Aedes species was Ae. aegypti in Bangui (90.7 %) and Basse-Kotto (42.2 %), Ae. africanus in Ombella-Mpoko (67.4 %) and Haute-Kotto (77.8 %) and Ae. vittatus in Ouham-Pende (62.2 %). Ae. albopictus was also found in Bangui. The distribution of these dominant species differed significantly according to study site (P < 0.0001). None of the pooled homogenates of Aedes mosquitoes analysed by polymerase chain reaction contained the YFV genome.

Conclusion
The results indicate a wide diversity of vector species for YFV in the Central African Republic. The establishment of surveillance and vector control programs should take into account the ecological specificity of each species.
Characterization and evaluation of a Sarcoptes scabiei allergen as a candidate vaccine
Authors: Zhang Runhui , Jise Quwu , Zheng Wanpeng , Ren Yongjun , Nong Xiang , Wu Xuhang , Gu Xiaobin , Wang Shuxian , Peng Xuerong , Lai Songjia , Yang Guangyou 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundSarcoptic mange caused by the miteSarcoptes scabieiis a worldwide disease affecting both humans and animals. Here we report the molecular characterization and evaluation of a recombinantS. scabieitropomyosin (SsTm) protein in a vaccination trial in rabbits.MethodsThe full-length cDNA was cloned in a bacterial pET vector, and the recombinant protein was expressed in BL21 (DE3) cells and purified. Using specific rabbit antiserum, tropomyosin was localized immunohistochemically in mite tissue sections. Vaccination trials with the recombiant SsTm was carried out in New Zealand rabbits.ResultsThe full-length open reading frame (ORF) of the 852 bp cloned gene fromS. scabieiencodes a 32.9 kDa protein. The amino acid sequence showed 98.94%, 97.89% and 98.59% homology toDermatophagoides farinaandDermatophagoides pteronyssinusgroup 10 allergens andPsoroptes ovistropomyosin, respectively. Tropomyosin was localized immunohistochemically in mite tissue sections mainly in the mouthparts, legs and integument of the epidermis. The predicted cross-reactivity of SsTm indicated that it is an allergenic protein. While vaccination with the recombiant SsTm resulted in high levels of specific IgG (P< 0.01), a low IgE antibody response and no significant protection againstS. scabieichallenge were observed. After challenge, specific IgG levels remained significantly higher than the control (P< 0.01), while changes of total IgE levels were not significant (P> 0.05). However, the lesion areas in the vaccination group decreased at the end of the experiment compared with controls.ConclusionsAlthough vaccination with recombinant SsTm did not efficiently control sarcoptic mange in rabbits, the immunogenic properties of tropomyosin suggest it may be developed as a vaccine with alternative adjuvants or delivery methods.