bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategies for Addressing Barriers to Publishing Pediatric Quality Improvement Research
Authors: Van Cleave Jeanne , Dougherty Denise , Perrin James M. 
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND:
Advancing the science of quality improvement (QI) requires dissemination of the results of QI. However, the results of few QI interventions reach publication.

OBJECTIVE:
To identify barriers to publishing results of pediatric QI research and provide practical strategies that QI researchers can use to enhance publishability of their work.

METHODS:
We reviewed and summarized a workshop conducted at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2007 meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on conducting and publishing QI research. We also interviewed 7 experts (QI researchers, administrators, journal editors, and health services researchers who have reviewed QI manuscripts) about common reasons that QI research fails to reach publication. We also reviewed recently published pediatric QI articles to find specific examples of tactics to enhance publishability, as identified in interviews and the workshop.

RESULTS:
We found barriers at all stages of the QI process, from identifying an appropriate quality issue to address to drafting the manuscript. Strategies for overcoming these barriers included collaborating with research methodologists, creating incentives to publish, choosing a study design to include a control group, increasing sample size through research networks, and choosing appropriate process and clinical quality measures. Several well-conducted, successfully published QI studies in pediatrics offer guidance to other researchers in implementing these strategies in their own work.

CONCLUSION:
Specific, feasible approaches can be used to improve opportunities for publication in pediatric, QI, and general medical journals.
Anogenital Human Papillomavirus in Sexually Abused and Nonabused Children: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Unger Elizabeth R. , Fajman Nancy N. , Maloney Elizabeth M. , Onyekwuluje Juanita , Swan David C. , Howard Laurie , Beck-Sague Consuelo M. , Sawyer Mary K. , Girardet Rebecca G. , Sautter Robert L. , Hammerschlag Margaret R. , Black Carolyn M. 
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVES:
To characterize the epidemiology of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in children without previous consensual sexual activity, comparing HPV prevalence by certainty of child sexual abuse (CSA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Patients presenting for evaluation of CSA in 8 sites in Atlanta, Houston, Harrisburg, and New York City were recruited along with patients presenting for unrelated health visits. CSA certainty was classified as definite, probable, possible, or no evidence following published guidelines and the results of history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Urine and swabs of external genitalia were tested for HPV using L1 consensus polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS:
The study included 576 participants (89.9% female) aged 6 months to 13 years (mean: 7.9); 534 of whom were evaluated for CSA and 42 for unrelated reasons. Of those evaluated for CSA, 14 had genital warts. One or more HPV types were detected in 11.8% (61 of 517) of participants with adequate samples. HPV detection was more likely among abused participants (definite, probable, or possible) than among participants without evidence of CSA (13.7% and 1.3%, respectively; P &lt; .0001) and increased with certainty of abuse (8.4%, 15.6%, and 14.5% in participants with possible, probable, and definite CSA, respectively; P &lt; .0001). Participants aged 10 years or older had a higher prevalence of HPV (20.6%) than others (5.6%) (P &lt; .0001). CSA, anogenital warts, and age were independently associated with HPV detection.

CONCLUSIONS:
HPV detection was associated with CSA and increased with CSA certainty. In this population, genital HPV seemed to behave as a sexually transmitted infection.
Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study
Authors: Ozonoff Sally , Young Gregory S. , Carter Alice , Messinger Daniel , Yirmiya Nurit , Zwaigenbaum Lonnie , Bryson Susan , Carver Leslie J. , Constantino John N. , Dobkins Karen , Hutman Ted , Iverson Jana M. , Landa Rebecca , Rogers Sally J. , Sigman Marian , Stone Wendy L. 
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVE:
The recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is estimated to be between 3% and 10%, but previous research was limited by small sample sizes and biases related to ascertainment, reporting, and stoppage factors. This study used prospective methods to obtain an updated estimate of sibling recurrence risk for ASD.

METHODS:
A prospective longitudinal study of infants at risk for ASD was conducted by a multisite international network, the Baby Siblings Research Consortium. Infants (n = 664) with an older biological sibling with ASD were followed from early in life to 36 months, when they were classified as having or not having ASD. An ASD classification required surpassing the cutoff of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and receiving a clinical diagnosis from an expert clinician.

RESULTS:
A total of 18.7% of the infants developed ASD. Infant gender and the presence of &gt;1 older affected sibling were significant predictors of ASD outcome, and there was an almost threefold increase in risk for male subjects and an additional twofold increase in risk if there was &gt;1 older affected sibling. The age of the infant at study enrollment, the gender and functioning level of the infant's older sibling, and other demographic factors did not predict ASD outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:
The sibling recurrence rate of ASD is higher than suggested by previous estimates. The size of the current sample and prospective nature of data collection minimized many limitations of previous studies of sibling recurrence. Clinical implications, including genetic counseling, are discussed.
Neurocognitive Outcomes in Young Adults With Early-Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Ly Trang T. , Anderson Mike , McNamara Kaitrin A. , Davis Elizabeth A. , Jones Timothy W. 
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to reexamine the neurocognitive function of a cohort of young adults with early-onset type 1 diabetes and compare their cognitive function to a matched control group. We also examined whether cognitive function was related to prospectively obtained severe hypoglycemia history, long-term glycemic control, or severe diabetic ketoacidosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Testing included Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and Adults, Wechsler Memory Scale, Cattell Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CCFIT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), youth and adult self-report, and Beck Depression Inventory. We tested 34 control subjects (mean ± SE, age 19.5 ± 0.5 years) and 33 type 1 diabetic subjects (age 19.3 ± 0.5 years, age at type 1 diabetes onset 3.3 ± 0.3 years, A1C from diagnosis 8.7 ± 0.1%, and diabetes duration 16.0 ± 0.5 years).

RESULTS
There was no difference in full-scale IQ scores in type 1 diabetic and control subjects (100.7 ± 2.0 vs. 102.5 ± 1.4). There was no difference between groups in memory subtests or in reporting of emotional and behavioral difficulties. The type 1 diabetes group scored lower on the CCFIT for fluid intelligence compared with control subjects (P = 0.028) and also scored lower on WCST with more perseverative errors (P = 0.002) and fewer categories completed (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest no difference in general intellectual ability, memory, and emotional difficulties in our cohort of young adults with early-onset type 1 diabetes compared with control subjects and no deterioration over time. There were, however, findings to suggest subtle changes leading to poorer performance on complex tasks of executive function.
Plasmonic nanostructures fabricated using nanosphere-lithography, soft-lithography and plasma etching
Authors: Gonçalves Manuel R , Makaryan Taron , Enderle Fabian , Wiedemann Stefan , Plettl Alfred , Marti Othmar , Ziemann Paul 
Published: August 2011

We present two routes for the fabrication of plasmonic structures based on nanosphere lithography templates. One route makes use of soft-lithography to obtain arrays of epoxy resin hemispheres, which, in a second step, can be coated by metal films. The second uses the hexagonal array of triangular structures, obtained by evaporation of a metal film on top of colloidal crystals, as a mask for reactive ion etching (RIE) of the substrate. In this way, the triangular patterns of the mask are transferred to the substrate through etched triangular pillars. Making an epoxy resin cast of the pillars, coated with metal films, allows us to invert the structure and obtain arrays of triangular holes within the metal. Both fabrication methods illustrate the preparation of large arrays of nanocavities within metal films at low cost.Gold films of different thicknesses were evaporated on top of hemispherical structures of epoxy resin with different radii, and the reflectance and transmittance were measured for optical wavelengths. Experimental results show that the reflectivity of coated hemispheres is lower than that of coated polystyrene spheres of the same size, for certain wavelength bands. The spectral position of these bands correlates with the size of the hemispheres. In contrast, etched structures on quartz coated with gold films exhibit low reflectance and transmittance values for all wavelengths measured. Low transmittance and reflectance indicate high absorbance, which can be utilized in experiments requiring light confinement.
CpG and Non-CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Directly Costimulate Mouse and Human CD4+ T Cells through a TLR9- and MyD88-Independent Mechanism
Authors: Landrigan Angela , Wong Michael T. , Utz Paul J. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
TLR ligands are known to activate APCs, but direct T cell responsiveness to TLR ligands is controversial. Because of their clinical relevance, we performed in-depth studies of the effects of the TLR9-associated ligands, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), on highly purified T lymphocytes. Both CpG and non-CpG ODNs directly costimulate mouse and human CD4+ T cells, resulting in activation marker upregulation, cytokine secretion, elevated TCR phosphorylation, and proliferation. Surprisingly, ODN costimulation occurred independently of TLR9 and MyD88, as well as ICOS, CD28, and TRIF. TLR9-antagonist ODNs likewise promoted T cell activation, which has important implications for the study of these “inhibitory” ODNs in inflammatory diseases. Cytokine profiling revealed that ODNs promote polarization of distinct Th subsets, and that ODNs differentially affect human naive and memory T cells. Our studies reveal a striking and unexpected ability of ODNs to directly activate and polarize T cells, presenting an opportunity to enhance the paradigm for selection of therapeutic ODNs in humans.
Development and Function of Innate Polyclonal TCRαβ+ CD8+ Thymocytes
Authors: Rafei Moutih , Hardy Marie-Pierre , Williams Patrick , Vanegas Juan Ruiz , Forner Kathy-Ann , Dulude Gaël , Labrecque Nathalie , Galipeau Jacques , Perreault Claude 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Innate CD8 T cells are found in mutant mouse models, but whether they are produced in a normal thymus remains controversial. Using the RAG2p-GFP mouse model, we found that ∼10% of TCRαβ+ CD4−CD8+ thymocytes were innate polyclonal T cells (GFP+CD44hi). Relative to conventional T cells, innate CD8 thymocytes displayed increased cell surface amounts of B7-H1, CD2, CD5, CD38, IL-2Rβ, and IL-4Rα and downmodulation of TCRβ. Moreover, they overexpressed several transcripts, including T-bet, Id3, Klf2, and, most of all, Eomes. Innate CD8 thymocytes were positively selected, mainly by nonhematopoietic MHCIa+ cells. They rapidly produced high levels of IFN-γ upon stimulation and readily proliferated in response to IL-2 and IL-4. Furthermore, low numbers of innate CD8 thymocytes were sufficient to help conventional CD8 T cells expand and secrete cytokine following Ag recognition. This helper effect depended on CD44-mediated interactions between innate and conventional CD8 T cells. We concluded that innate TCRαβ+ CD8 T cells represent a sizeable proportion of normal thymocytes whose development and function differ in many ways from those of conventional CD8 T cells.
The male phenotype in osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis
Authors: Holman Sarah K. , Daniel Phil , Jenkins Zandra A. , Herron Rachel L. , Morgan Tim , Savarirayan Ravi , Chow C.W. , Bohring Axel , Mosel Annette , Lacombe Didier , Steiner Bernhard , Schmitt‐Mechelke Thomas , Schroter Barbara , Raas‐Rothschild Annick , Miñaur Sixto Garcia , Porteous Mary , Parker Michael , Quarrell Oliver , Tapon Dagmar , Cormier‐Daire Valérie , Mansour Sahar , Nash Ruth , Bindoff Laurence A. , Fiskerstrand Torunn , Robertson Stephen P. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractOsteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) is an X‐linked disease caused by truncating mutations in WTX. Females exhibit sclerotic striations on the long bones, cranial sclerosis, and craniofacial dysmorphism. Males with OSCS have significant skeletal sclerosis, do not have striations but do display a more severe phenotype commonly associated with gross structural malformations, patterning defects, and significant pre‐ and postnatal lethality. The recent description of mutations in WTX underlying OSCS has led to the identification of a milder, survivable phenotype in males. Individuals with this presentation can have, in addition to skeletal sclerosis, Hirschsprung disease, joint contractures, cardiomyopathy, and neuromuscular anomalies. A diagnosis of OSCS should be considered in males with macrocephaly, skeletal sclerosis that is most marked in the cranium and the absence of metaphyseal striations. The observation of striations in males may be indicative of a WTX mutation in a mosaic state supporting the contention that this sign in females is indicative of the differential lyonization of cells in the osteoblastic lineage. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of pre‐oxidation of Fe3Al on its corrosion resistance in sulfur and chlorine contaminated syngas
Authors: Ilyushechkin Alexander Y. , Dolan Michael D. , McLennan Keith G. , Sharma Sunil D. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTPre‐oxidation treatment of Fe3Al alloy, a material used in high temperature gas filtration, is common practice to improve corrosion resistance. This work evaluates the various pre‐oxidation procedures in terms of the quality of the protective layers formed, using microstructural analysis and corrosion tests. The effect of atmosphere on the oxidation kinetics at 950 °C and the oxide layer morphology was determined. The corrosion resistance of Fe3Al filters was investigated in simulated coal‐derived synthesis gas in the temperature range 600–800 °C. It was found that the corrosion resistance of Fe3Al was significantly improved by the development of the surface oxide layer, and that the quality of oxide layer is dependent on the oxidation treatment conditions, such partial oxygen pressure, pO2. The best corrosion resistance was achieved with a two‐stage oxidation treatment, involving initial pre‐oxidation at low pO2 and final pre‐oxidation at high pO2. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal predictors of progression of carotid atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Giles Jon T. , Post Wendy S. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Polak Joseph , Petri Michelle , Gelber Allan C. , Szklo Moyses , Bathon Joan M. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo explore predictors of change in measures of carotid atherosclerosis among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline.MethodsRA patients underwent carotid ultrasonography at 2 time points separated by a mean ± SD of 3.2 ± 0.3 years. The associations of baseline and average patient characteristics with the average yearly change in the mean maximal intima‐media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the internal carotid artery (ICAs) and with incident or progressive plaque in the ICA/carotid bulb, were explored.ResultsAmong the 158 RA patients, the maximal CCA‐IMT increased in 82% (median 16 μm/year; P < 0.001) and the maximal ICA‐IMT increased in 70% (median 25 μm/year; P < 0.001). Incident plaque was observed in 14% of those without plaque at baseline (incidence rate 4.2 per 100 person‐years [95% confidence interval 1.6, 6.8]). Plaque progression was observed in 5% of those with plaque at baseline. Among RA predictors, the adjusted average yearly change in the maximal CCA‐IMT was significantly greater in patients with earlier RA than in those with disease of longer duration. Those taking tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors at baseline had a 37% lower adjusted rate of progression in the maximal CCA‐IMT compared with nonusers (14 μm/year versus 22 μm/year; P = 0.026). For the maximal ICA‐IMT, cumulative prednisone exposure was associated with progression after adjustment (1.2 μm/year per gm [95% confidence interval 0.1, 2.4]) and was lower in patients who were prescribed statins concomitant with prednisone. Higher swollen joint counts and higher average C‐reactive protein levels were both associated with incident or progressive plaque, primarily in patients with elevated CVD risk at baseline based on the Framingham Risk Score.ConclusionThese prospective data provide evidence that inflammation is a contributor to the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA and that it is potentially modified favorably by TNF inhibitors and detrimentally by glucocorticoids.
Click to Join Peptides/Proteins Together
Authors: Li Xuechen 
Published: August 2011

AbstractCopper(I) is able to catalyze Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition in a “click” fashion. This copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction presents excellent chemoselectivity and occurs over a wide‐range of reaction conditions. It shows tolerance to variation in both pH and solvent polarity, thereby facilitating the ligation of peptides and proteins to produce peptidomimetics and synthetic proteins. In addition, the only product formed is a 1,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,3‐triazole moiety, in many aspects resembling the natural peptide bond, including hydrogen‐bonding capability, planarity, distance between the 1 and 4 substituents, and conformational restriction of the peptide backbone; thus the triazole‐backbone‐modified peptide, in which a triazole replaces the amide bond, may be anticipated to present a secondary structure similar to that of its natural counterpart. This Focus Review describes the scope and applications of copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition in synthetic peptide/protein chemistry.
Deciphering the regulatory codes in bacterial genomes
Authors: Cho Byung‐Kwan , Palsson Bernhard , Zengler Karsten 
Published: August 2011

AbstractInteractions between cis‐regulatory elements and trans‐acting factors are fundamental for cellular functions such as transcription. With the revolution in microarrays and sequencing technologies, genome‐wide binding locations of trans‐acting factors are being determined in large numbers. The richness of the genome‐scale information has revealed that the nature of the bacterial transcriptome and regulome are considerably more complex than previously expected. In addition, the emerging view of the bacterial transcriptome is revising the concept of the operon organization of the genome. This review describes current advances in the genome‐scale analysis of the interaction between cis‐regulatory elements and trans‐acting factors in microorganisms.
Topoisomerase I‐Mediated Antiproliferative Activity of 10‐Substituted and 12‐Substituted Homocamptothecins
Authors: Guo Wei , Liu Wenfeng , Zhu Lingjian , Zhang Yongqiang , Cheng Pengfei , Dong Guoqiang , Zhuang Chunlin , Yao Jianzhong , Sheng Chunquan , Miao Zhenyuan , Zhang Wannian 
Published: August 2011

AbstractHomocamptothecin (hCPT) is an E‐ring modified camptothecin (CPT) analogue, which showed pronounced inhibitory activity of topoisomerase I. In search of novel hCPT‐type anticancer agents, two series of hCPT derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against three human tumor cell lines. The results indicated that the 10‐substituted hCPT derivatives had a considerably higher cytotoxic activity than the 12‐substituted ones. Among the 10‐substituted compounds, 8a, 8b, 9b, and 9i showed an equivalent or even more potent activity than the positive control drug topotecan against the lung cancer cell line A‐549. Moreover, the hCPT analogues 8a and 8b exhibited a higher topoisomerase I inhibitory activity than CPT at a concentration of 100 μM.
Regulation of Folding and Photochromic Reactivity of Terarylenes through a Host–Guest Interaction
Authors: Nakashima Takuya , Fujii Ryosuke , Kawai Tsuyoshi 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe photochromic reactivity of terarylenes is integrated with molecular folding that is controlled through a host–guest interaction. A thieno[3, 2,b]pyridine unit is introduced into a photochromic terarylene structure as an aryl unit to form a guest‐interacting site. Thienopyridine‐containing terarylenes showed solvent‐dependent photochromic reactivity in solution. A terarylene moiety that contains two thienopyridyl units showed significantly high photocoloration reactivity as high as 88 % of photocyclization quantum yield in methanol, whereas that value was only 24 % in hexane. A temperature‐dependent 1H NMR spectroscopic study in different solvents indicated an interconversion between photochromic‐reactive and unreactive conformations. In methanol, the intermolecular interaction between terarylene species and the solvent molecule slows the rate of interconversion and increases the population of the photochromic‐active form, whereas the unreactive conformation is dominant in hexane. Crystal‐structural studies demonstrated the perfect regulation of molecular folding between a photochromic‐active form and an unreactive conformation by changing the solvents for recrystallization. Single crystals prepared from solutions in methanol showed reversible photochromic reactivity, whereas recrystallization from solutions in hexane did not show this reactivity. X‐ray crystallographic studies of single crystals from solutions in methanol demonstrated that the photochromic molecules bind a solvent methanol molecule at the guest‐interacting site to regulate the molecular conformation into a photochromic‐active form in collaboration with specific intramolecular interactions, whereas crystals from solutions in hexane possess the photochromic‐unreactive conformation.
An investigation of colour appearance for unrelated colours under photopic and mesopic vision
Authors: Fu Chenyang , Li Changjun , Cui Guihua , Luo M. Ronnier , Hunt Robert W. G. , Pointer Michael R. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractData were obtained for the colour appearance of unrelated colours under photopic and mesopic conditions. The effects of changes in luminance level and stimulus size were investigated. The method used was magnitude scaling of brightness, colourfulness, and hue. Two stimulus sizes (10° and 0.5°) and four starting luminance levels (60, 5, 1, and 0.1, cd/m2) were used. The results at 0.1 cd/m2 had large variations, so data were obtained for two additional stimulus sizes (1° and 2°) at this luminance level. Ten observers judged 50 unrelated colours. A total of 17,820 estimations were made. The observations were carried out in a completely darkened room, after 20 min adaptation; each test colour was presented on its own. Brightness and colourfulness were found to decrease with decreases of both luminance level and stimulus size. The CAM97u model predicted brightness more accurately than CIECAM02 but gave worse performance in predicting colorfulness. For hue, CAM97u and CIECAM02 both gave satisfactory predictions. Using the brightness correlate from CAM97u, a new colour‐appearance model based on CIECAM02 was developed specifically for unrelated colours under photopic and mesopic conditions, with parameters to allow for the effects of luminance level and stimulus size. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011;