bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Validity of the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform System of Task Analysis: Cognitive Strategy Use in Adults with Brain Injury
Authors: Nott Melissa T , Chapparo Christine 
Published: June 2012

Introduction: Ecologically valid assessment linking cognitive strategies to observed functional performance has been strongly advocated. This study examines the construct validity of one such assessment: the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform (PRPP) System of Task Analysis for the evaluation of adults with brain injury. Method: Eighteen occupational therapists observed videoed patient performance (n = 16) of personal and instrumental activities of daily living, then used the PRPP System of Task Analysis to identify task performance errors and to attribute these errors to underlying cognitive strategy deficits. Multifaceted Rasch analysis was used to generate a hierarchy of test items and to propose a linear continuum, along which the difficulty of test items, raters, patients and tasks could be measured simultaneously. The generated hierarchy was examined for congruency with theories of information processing and neurorehabilitation. Results: Test items, raters, patients and tasks demonstrated ‘fit’ with the Rasch model. Construct validity was well supported by strong parallels between the Rasch-generated hierarchy of PRPP items and conceptual models of information processing and occupational performance. Conclusion: The PRPP System of Task Analysis is a valid measure of cognitive strategy use during the occupational performance of adults with brain injury, demonstrating high levels of fit with Rasch modelling for test items, raters and patients.
Occupational Therapy for Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Review of the United Kingdom Literature
Authors: Hall Laura , Skelton Dawn A 
Published: June 2012

Introduction: Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with a wide range of challenges. The national strategy for caregivers highlights the growing need for health professionals to provide support to caregivers of people with dementia. This review aimed to identify the evidence and current role of occupational therapists in supporting caregivers of people with dementia in the community. Method: All relevant research databases were systematically searched to identify relevant United Kingdom articles. The inclusion criteria included: dated 1999–2010, English language, community based and considered impact of intervention on carer. Findings: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. The identified interventions were delivered by a range of different professionals with a variety of outcome measures. Overall, the methodological quality of the included studies was poor, with only a small number providing evidence of improvement in outcomes as a result of interventions, such as reminiscence and cognitive behavioural therapy. Conclusion: A requirement for more robust research into the impact of interventions on caregivers of people with dementia was identified. There is a dearth of research into the current role of occupational therapists working with these caregivers and a lack of research to support the expansion of this role.
Factors affecting faecal glucocorticoid levels in domestic cats(Felis catus): a pilot study with single and large multi-cat households
Authors: Ramos D , Arena MN , Reche-Junior A , Daniel AGT , Albino MVC , Vasconcellos AS , Viau P , Oliveira CA 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDomestic cats(Felis catus)are widely believed to be highly sensitive to the effects of social stress, especially when living in high density populations. Cats are capable of adapting to living in a group, but this will often require opportunities for escaping and hiding. In this pilot study, adrenocortical activity, as a valuable physiological indicator of arousal underpinning potential emotional stress, was evaluated through the measurement of mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (mGCM) in fourteen singly and sixteen group-housed cats. Living conditions and ratings of the owners’ quality of life (evaluated from self-reported questionnaires) were used as factors associated with faecal glucocorticoid levels of the cats. A direct association between the scores of owners’socialdimension of quality of life and the cats’ mGCM was found for single cats only, with higher owner social scores associated with higher cat mGCM. No significant differences in mGCM were found between singly versus group-living cats. This suggests that the under-explored factor of owner lifestyle could play an important role in domestic cats’ day-to-day levels of arousal, especially when kept as single pets.
Personal Derived Health Information: A Foundation to Preparing the United States for Disasters and Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Irmiter Cheryl , Subbarao Italo , Shah Jessica Nitin , Sokol Patricia , James James J. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTBackground: In the days following a disaster/public health emergency, there is great effort to ensure that everyone receives appropriate care and lives are saved. However, evacuees following a disaster/public health emergency often lack access to personal health information that is vital to receive or maintain quality care. Delayed treatment and interruptions of medication regimens often contribute to excess morbidity and mortality following a disaster/public health emergency. This study sought to define a set of minimum health information elements that can be maintained in a personal health record (PHR) and given to first responders/receivers within the first 96 hours of a disaster/public health response to improve clinical health outcomes.Methods: A mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analyses was completed. Expert panel members (n = 116) and existing health information elements were sampled for this study; 55% (n = 64) of expert panel members had clinical credentials and determined the health information. From an initial set of six sources, a step-wise process using a Likert scale survey and thematic data analyses, including interrater reliability and validity checks, produced a set of minimum health information elements.Results: The results identified 30 essential elements from 676 existing health information elements, a reduction of approximately 95%. The elements were grouped into seven domains: identification, emergency contact, health care contact, health profile –past medical history, medication, major allergies/diet restrictions, and family information.Conclusions: Leading experts in clinical disaster preparedness identified a set of minimum health information elements that first responders/receivers must have to ensure appropriate and timely care. If this set of elements is used as the fundamental information for a PHR, and automatically updated and validated during clinical encounters and medication changes, it is conceivable that following large-scale disasters clinical outcomes may be improved and more lives may be saved.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:303-310)
An Improved Synthesis of BrettPhos‐ and RockPhos‐Type Biarylphosphine Ligands
Authors: Hoshiya Naoyuki , Buchwald Stephen L. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractImproved processes for the preparation of biphenyl‐based phosphine ligands t‐BuBrettPhos, RockPhos, and BrettPhos are presented. The new methods, featuring the use of Grignard reagents and catalytic amounts of copper, are superior to the previous methods, which require the use of tert‐butyllithium and stoichiometric amounts of copper. Specifically, the use of less dangerous reagents provides a safer process, while the use of catalytic amounts of copper allows for the isolation of pure products in high yield. These improvements are particularly significant for the large‐scale preparation of these ligands.
Comparisons between inverted body mass index and body mass index as proxies for body fatness and risk factors for metabolic risk and cardiorespiratory fitness in portuguese adolescents
Authors: Duncan Michael J. , Mota Jorge , Vale Susana , Santos Maria Paula , Ribeiro Jose Carlos 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectives:To compare inverted body mass index (iBMI, cm2/kg) and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) as predictors of body fatness, metabolic risk, and cardiovascular fitness in adolescents.Methods:A cross‐sectional school‐based study was conducted on 445 Portuguese adolescents (252 girls and 193 boys) aged 10–17 years. Height and body mass were assessed to determine iBMI and BMI, percent body fatness was determined from skinfold measures (tricep, subscapular) using the Slaughter et al. (1988: Hum Biol 60: 709–723) regression equation and cadiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed using the 20‐m shuttle run test. Capillary blood sampling was used to determine: Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high, and low density lipoprotein. These were combined with measures of systolic blood pressure and waist circumference as z‐scores. Metabolic risk (MRS) was constructed by summing the z‐scores.Results:iBMI and BMI were both significantly related to percent body fatness, CRF and MRS (all P = 0.005 or better). BMI was not normally distributed (P = 0.0001), whereas iBMI was (P > 0.05). Regression analysis identified that iBMI and BMI, both alongside for age, were significant predictors of percent body fatness, CRF and MRS (all P = 0.005 or better). Compared with BMI, iBMI was a similar predictor of CRF, MRS and body fatness.Conclusions:iBMI offers a biologically sound alternative to BMI to assess the effect of weight status on MRS and CRF in adolescents and allows appropriate use of parametrical statistical techniques without changing the conclusions drawn from such data. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Acro‐cardio‐facial syndrome: A microdeletion syndrome?
Authors: Toschi Benedetta , Valetto Angelo , Bertini Veronica , Congregati Caterina , Cantinotti Massimiliano , Assanta Nadia , Simi Paolo 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAcro‐cardio‐facial syndrome (ACFS) is an infrequently reported, variable condition characterized by split‐hand and split‐foot malformation and congenital heart defect (CHD), along with cleft lip and palate, genital anomalies, unusual face and intellectual disability. An autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance has been suggested because of affected sibs born to unaffected parents and parental consanguinity; the cause is unknown. We describe a newborn with the clinical manifestations of ACFS in whom a deletion of the region 6q21‐q22.3 was detected by array CGH. We compare the clinical features of the present patient with earlier reported patients with similar 6q deletions and patients diagnosed with ACFS. The similarities between these patient groups suggest that ACFS may be a microdeletion syndrome caused by loss of the 6q21‐22.3 region. The recurrence in families may be explained by prenatal germline mosaicism. Alternatively, ACFS may be a genetically heterogeneous disorder which can also be caused by biallelic mutations of an autosomal recessive gene. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Environmentally responsive amphiphilic cationic block copolymers synthesized by 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidinyloxy mediated living free‐radical polymerization
Authors: Cheng Kuo‐Chung , Lin Chen‐How , Hsu Yuan‐Hung , Chuang Tsu‐Hwang , Guo Wenjeng , Chiu Wen‐Yen 
Published: June 2012

AbstractPolychloromethylstyrene (PCMS)‐block‐polystyrene (PS) copolymers were prepared by controlled free‐radical polymerization in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinooxy and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator. The PCMS‐b‐PS copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions, and the block lengths were controlled by the reaction time and the molar ratios of chloromethylstyrene/AIBN and styrene/PCMS macroinitiator. The block copolymers were further quaternized with triethylamine. The amphiphilic cationic block copolymers formed colloidal particles; the effects of the pH value, salt concentration, and solvent polarity on the particle size were investigated with a dynamic light scattering analyzer. The average colloid size increased with increasing pH value and salt concentration. This implied that the colloid formed a protonated hydrophilic shell and hydrophobic styrene core in water. Furthermore, with the addition of tetrahydrofuran to the aqueous solution, the styrene segments in the core could be inverted to the outside of the colloid. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Indentation size effect of multiple orders of magnitude in polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Wrucke Andrew J. , Han Chung‐Souk , Majumdar Partha 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIndentation tests at indentation depths from 200 nm up to 100 μm were performed on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The universal hardnesses in the elastomer were determined by microindentation and nanoindentation systems with Berkovich indenter tips and exhibited enormous increases of several orders of magnitude with decreasing indentation depth. Frank elasticity type molecular interactions were suggested as a rationale for the observed indentation size effect, which could have been related to material models with rotational gradients. A corresponding hardness model yielded good agreement with the experimental data. Other explanations for the indentation size effects in polymers in the literature are discussed in view of these experimentally determined and astonishing hardness increases in PDMS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation and microstructural analysis of poly(ethylene oxide) comb‐type grafted poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogels crosslinked by poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)
Authors: Miao Lei , Lu Mangeng , Yang Chaolong , Zhang Yunfei , Shen Tengfei , Ma Jianying 
Published: June 2012

AbstractPoly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogels crosslinked by poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) diacrylate were prepared, and their microstructures were investigated. The swelling/deswelling kinetics and compression strength were measured. The relationship between the structure and properties of hydrogel are discussed. It was found that the PEO comb‐type grafted structure reduced the thermosensitivity and increased the compression strength. The addition of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) accelerated the deswelling rate of the hydrogels. Meanwhile, the entanglement of PCL chains restrained the further swelling of the network of gels. The PCL crosslinking agent and PEO comb‐type grafted structure made the behavior of the hydrogels deviate from the rubber elasticity equations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effect of boron nitride as a nucleating agent on the crystallization of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Puente Jorge Arturo Soto , Esposito Antonella , Chivrac Frédéric , Dargent Eric 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDifferent concentrations of boron nitride (BN) (0.2–0.8 wt %) are added to poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) as a nucleating agent. Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM) coupled to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) allow to monitor the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization of neat and nucleated PHBs. It is found that the addition of BN to PHB modifies the mechanisms of crystallization without changing the crystallinity degree. DSC can replace POM whenever POM does not allow to estimate the spherulites growth rate. The Hoffman‐Lauritzen theory is used to explain the role of BN. The nucleating agent allows polymer crystallization at lower supercooling degrees. The regime II of crystallization is observed for nucleated PHBs. A modification of the coupling effect between the amorphous and the crystalline phases is evidenced. It is shown that a concentration of 0.2 wt % BN is sufficient to decrease the glass transition temperature and modify the crystallization mechanisms of PHB. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
The limited role of interferon‐γ in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis cannot be explained by cellular hyporesponsiveness
Authors: Sikora Keith A. , Fall Ndate , Thornton Sherry , Grom Alexei A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectiveSystemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoinflammatory syndrome in which the myelomonocytic lineage appears to play a pivotal role. Inflammatory macrophages are driven by interferon‐γ (IFNγ), but studies have failed to demonstrate an IFN‐ induced gene signature in active systemic JIA. This study sought to characterize the status of an IFN‐induced signature within affected tissue and to gauge the integrity of IFN signaling pathways within peripheral monocytes from patients with systemic JIA.MethodsSynovial tissue from 12 patients with active systemic JIA and 9 with active extended oligoarticular JIA was assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction to quantify IFN‐induced chemokine gene expression. Peripheral monocytes from 3 patients with inactive systemic JIA receiving anti–interleukin‐1β (anti–IL‐1β) therapy, 5 patients with active systemic JIA, and 8 healthy controls were incubated with or without IFNγ to gauge changes in gene expression and to measure phosphorylated STAT‐1 (pSTAT‐1) levels.ResultsIFN‐induced chemokine gene expression in synovium was constrained in active systemic JIA compared to the known IFN‐mediated extended oligoarticular subtype. In unstimulated peripheral monocytes, IFN‐induced gene expression was similar between the groups, except that lower levels of STAT1, MIG, and PIAS were observed in patients with active disease, while higher levels of PIAS1 were observed in patients with inactive disease. Basal pSTAT‐1 levels in monocytes tended to be higher in systemic JIA patients compared to healthy controls, with the highest levels seen in those with inactive disease. Upon stimulation of monocytes, the fold increase in gene expression was roughly equal between groups, except for a greater increase in STAT1 in patients with inactive systemic JIA compared to controls, and a greater increase in IRF1 in those with active compared to inactive disease. Upon stimulation, the fold increase in pSTAT‐1 was highest in monocytes from patients with inactive systemic JIA.ConclusionMonocytes in patients with active systemic JIA retain the ability to respond to IFNγ, suggesting that the lack of an IFN‐induced gene signature in patients with active disease reflects a limited in vivo exposure to IFNγ. In patients with inactive systemic JIA who received treatment with anti–IL‐1β, hyperresponsiveness to IFNγ was observed.
Role of plasma kallikrein–kinin system activation in synovial recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells in experimental arthritis
Authors: Dai Jihong , Agelan Alexis , Yang Aizhen , Zuluaga Viviana , Sexton Daniel , Colman Robert W. , Wu Yi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo examine whether activation of the plasma kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) mediates synovial recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in arthritis.MethodsEPCs were isolated from Lewis rat bone marrow, and expression of progenitor cell–lineage markers and functional properties were characterized. EPCs were injected intravenously into Lewis rats with arthritis, and their recruitment and formation of de novo blood vessels in inflamed synovium were evaluated. The role of plasma KKS was examined using a plasma kallikrein inhibitor (EPI‐KAL2) and an antikallikrein antibody (13G11). A transendothelial migration assay was used to determine the role of bradykinin and its receptor in EPC mobilization.ResultsEPCs from Lewis rats exhibited a strong capacity to form tubes and vacuoles and expressed increased levels of bradykinin type 2 receptor (B2R) and progenitor cell markers CD34 and Sca‐1. In Lewis rats with arthritis, EPCs were recruited into inflamed synovium at the acute phase of disease and formed de novo blood vessels. Inhibition of plasma kallikrein by EPI‐KAL2 and 13G11 significantly suppressed synovial recruitment of EPCs and hyperproliferation of synovial cells. Bradykinin stimulated transendothelial migration of EPCs in a concentration‐dependent manner. This was mediated by B2R, as demonstrated by the finding that knockdown of B2R with silencing RNA completely blocked bradykinin‐stimulated transendothelial migration. Moreover, bradykinin selectively up‐regulated expression of the homing receptor CXCR4 in EPCs.ConclusionThese observations demonstrate a novel role of plasma KKS activation in the synovial recruitment of EPCs in arthritis, acting via kallikrein activation and B2R‐dependent mechanisms. B2R might be involved in the mobilization of EPCs via up‐regulation of CXCR4.
Exacting predictions by cybernetic model confirmed experimentally: Steady state multiplicity in the chemostat
Authors: Kim Jin Il , Song Hyun‐Seob , Sunkara Sunil R. , Lali Arvind , Ramkrishna Doraiswami 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe demonstrate strong experimental support for the cybernetic model based on maximizing carbon uptake rate in describing the microorganism's regulatory behavior by verifying exacting predictions of steady state multiplicity in a chemostat. Experiments with a feed mixture of glucose and pyruvate show multiple steady state behavior as predicted by the cybernetic model. When multiplicity occurs at a dilution (growth) rate, it results in hysteretic behavior following switches in dilution rate from above and below. This phenomenon is caused by transient paths leading to different steady states through dynamic maximization of the carbon uptake rate. Thus steady state multiplicity is a manifestation of the nonlinearity arising from cybernetic mechanisms rather than of the nonlinear kinetics. The predicted metabolic multiplicity would extend to intracellular states such as enzyme levels and fluxes to be verified in future experiments. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
A robust methodology for kinetic model parameter estimation for biocatalytic reactions
Authors: Al‐Haque Naweed , Santacoloma Paloma A. , Neto Watson , Tufvesson Pär , Gani Rafiqul , Woodley John M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractEffective estimation of parameters in biocatalytic reaction kinetic expressions are very important when building process models to enable evaluation of process technology options and alternative biocatalysts. The kinetic models used to describe enzyme‐catalyzed reactions generally include several parameters, which are strongly correlated with each other. State‐of‐the‐art methodologies such as nonlinear regression (using progress curves) or graphical analysis (using initial rate data, for example, the Lineweaver‐Burke plot, Hanes plot or Dixon plot) often incorporate errors in the estimates and rarely lead to globally optimized parameter values. In this article, a robust methodology to estimate parameters for biocatalytic reaction kinetic expressions is proposed. The methodology determines the parameters in a systematic manner by exploiting the best features of several of the current approaches. The parameter estimation problem is decomposed into five hierarchical steps, where the solution of each of the steps becomes the input for the subsequent step to achieve the final model with the corresponding regressed parameters. The model is further used for validating its performance and determining the correlation of the parameters. The final model with the fitted parameters is able to describe both initial rate and dynamic experiments. Application of the methodology is illustrated with a case study using the ω‐transaminase catalyzed synthesis of 1‐phenylethylamine from acetophenone and 2‐propylamine. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012