bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Emerging Neurohormones in Chronic Heart Failure during Optimization of Heart Failure–Specific Therapy
Authors: Neuhold Stephanie , Huelsmann Martin , Strunk Guido , Struck Joachim , Adlbrecht Christopher , Gouya Ghazaleh , Elhenicky Marie , Pacher Richard 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Background: Serial measurements of neurohormones have been shown to improve prognostication in the setting of acute heart failure (HF) or chronic HF without therapeutic intervention. We investigated the prognostic role of serial measurements of emerging neurohormones and BNP in a cohort of chronic HF patients undergoing increases in HF-specific therapy.
Methods: In this prospective study we included 181 patients with chronic systolic HF after an episode of hospitalization for worsening HF. Subsequently, HF therapy was gradually increased in the outpatient setting until optimized. We measured copeptin, midregional proadrenomedullin, C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment, midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide, and B-type natriuretic peptide before and after optimization of HF therapy. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 24 months.
Results: Angiotensin-converting enzyme/angiotensin receptor blocker and β-blockers were increased significantly during the 3-month titration period (P &lt; 0.0001 for both). In a stepwise Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, glomerular filtration rate, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic HF, baseline and follow-up neurohormone concentrations were predictors of the primary endpoint as follows (baseline hazard ratios): copeptin 1.92, 95% CI 1.233–3.007, P = 0.004; midregional proadrenomedullin 2.79, 95% CI 1.297–5.995, P = 0.009; midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide 2.05, 95% CI 1.136–3.686, P = 0.017; C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment 2.24, 95% CI 1.133–4.425, P = 0.025; B-type natriuretic peptide 1.46, 95% CI 1.039–2.050, P = 0.029.
Conclusions: In pharmacologically unstable chronic HF patients, baseline values and follow-up measures of copeptin, midregional proadrenomedullin, C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment, midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide, and B-type natriuretic peptide were equally predictive of all-cause mortality. Relative change of neurohormone values was noncontributory.
The Clinical Plasma Proteome: A Survey of Clinical Assays for Proteins in Plasma and Serum
Authors: Anderson N Leigh 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
An analysis of all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for protein-based assays through 2008 reveals 109 unique protein targets in plasma or serum, as well as 62 additional tests for peptides, protein posttranslational modifications, protein complexes, autoantibodies against endogenous proteins, and blood cell proteins. A further 96 unique protein targets are assayed in plasma by laboratory-developed tests available for clinical use in the US, yielding a total of 205 proteins that include products of approximately 211 genes (excluding immunoglobulins). These tests provide quantitative measurements for approximately 1% of the human protein gene products, defining a practical clinical plasma proteome. The rate of introduction of new protein analytes has remained essentially flat over the past 15 years, averaging 1.5 new proteins per year (median of 1 per year). This rate falls far short of that needed to support projected medical needs and indicates serious deficiencies in the protein biomarker pipeline, from which no proteomics-discovered analytes have yet emerged.
Detection of Increased Amounts of Cell-Free Fetal DNA with Short PCR Amplicons
Authors: Sikora Aleksandra , Zimmermann Bernhard G , Rusterholz Corinne , Birri Daniella , Kolla Varaprasad , Lapaire Olav , Hoesli Irene , Kiefer Vivian , Jackson Laird , Hahn Sinuhe 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Aim: A digital PCR approach has recently been suggested to detect greater amounts of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma than conventional real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Because the digital qPCR approach uses shorter PCR amplicons than the real-time qPCR assay, we investigated whether a real-time qPCR assay appropriately modified for such short amplicons would improve the detection of cell-free fetal DNA.
Method: We developed a novel universal-template (UT) real-time qPCR assay that was specific for the DYS14 sequence on Y chromosome and had a short amplicon size of 50 bp. We examined this “short” assay with 50 maternal plasma samples and compared the results with those for a conventional real-time qPCR assay of the same locus but with a longer amplicon (84 bp).
Results: Qualitatively, both assays detected male cell-free fetal DNA with the same specificity and detection capability. Quantitatively, however, the new UT real-time qPCR assay for shorter amplicons detected, on average, almost 1.6-fold more cell-free fetal DNA than the conventional real-time qPCR assay with longer amplicons.
Conclusions: The use of short PCR amplicons improves the detection of cell-free fetal DNA. This feature may prove useful in attempts to detect cell-free fetal DNA under conditions in which the amount of template is low, such as in samples obtained early in pregnancy.
Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
Authors: Woelfel Jana , Schumann Rhena , Leopold Peter , Wiencke Christian , Karsten Ulf 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
In contrast to numerous studies on the biomass of marine microphytobenthos from temperate coastal ecosystems, little is known from polar regions. Therefore, microphytobenthos biomass was measured at several coastal sites in Arctic Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen) during the polar summer (June–August 2006). On sandy sediments, chla varied between 8 and 200 mg m-2 and was related to water depth, current/wave exposure and geographical location. Biomass was rather independent of abiotic parameters such as sediment properties, salinity, temperature or light availability. At three stations, sediments at water depths of 3–4, 10, 15, 20 and 30 m were investigated to evaluate the effect of light availability on microalgae. Significant differences in distribution patterns of biomass in relation to deeper waters >10 m were found. The productive periods were not as distinct as phytoplankton blooms. Only at 3–4 m water depth at all three stations were two- to threefold increases of biomass measured during the investigation period. Hydrodynamic conditions seemed to be the driving force for differences in sediment colonisation by benthic microalgae. In spite of the extreme Arctic environmental conditions for algal growth, microphytobenthos biomass was comparable to marine temperate waters.
Morphological non-blocking in Dutch plural allomorphy: a contrastive approach
Authors: Kürschner Sebastian 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Dutch simplex nouns ending in schwa have two regular plural forms, e.g. bode-s/bode-n ‘messengers’. This means that neither of the two allomorphs -s and -n is blocked. Such regular non-blocking is non-existent in the closely related languages German and Afrikaans. To identify the reasons for this divergence, the history of plural marking in the three languages is compared. Based on the historical observations it is argued that the doublets in Dutch are retained due to the output principle of plurals ending in a trochaic foot, according to which both -s and -n may apply without preference on stems with non-final stress.
Semantic markedness in gender opposition, blocking and fossilization
Authors: Zwarts Joost , Hogeweg Lotte , Lestrade Sander , Malchukov Andrej 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
The semantics of natural gender in animate nouns is modeled in the framework of bidirectional Optimality Theory (OT). This allows for the interaction of lexical, conceptual and contextual constraints and for a straightforward treatment of the effect of blocking in this domain. Two versions of bidirectional OT are discussed and related to each other in terms of Blutner’s (2007) notion of fossilization.
No recurrence of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism when cure is established 6 months after parathyroidectomy
Authors: Witteveen Janneke E , Kievit Job , Morreau Hans , Romijn Johannes A , Hamdy Neveen A T 
Published: November 2009

ObjectiveCure rate for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is reported to be 94–100% 1 year after surgery, but recent data suggest recurrence in 4% of the patients 1–5 years post-operatively. The aim of our study was to establish the cure rate and its maintenance in the long-term after parathyroidectomy (PTx) in patients with sporadic PHPT.DesignEvaluation of recurrence in patients with sporadic hyperparathyroidism who underwent PTx 1–24 years prior to the study.Patients and methodsWe identified 111 patients who underwent initial PTx between 1984 and 2008, and had no MEN-1, MEN-2, or CaR mutation; parathyroid carcinoma; a history of lithium use; or renal failure. Thirty-eight patients were lost to follow-up or were unwilling or unable to participate in the study. Cure was defined as maintenance of normal serum calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations 6 months after PTx.ResultsCure was achieved in 68 of 73 patients studied (93%) and was sustained in all for 6±5 years.ConclusionThe cure rate of sporadic PHPT after initial surgery is 93%. When cure is achieved, this is sustained in 100% of the patients for up to 24 years post-operatively. Our data suggest that closer early follow-up is advocated in all patients undergoing PTx to definitively establish cure and to provide a safety net for those with residual gland pathology. The data do not support the need for long-term follow-up when cure is established 6 months after PTx.
Human Triallelic Sites: Evidence for a New Mutational Mechanism?
Authors: Hodgkinson Alan , Eyre-Walker Adam 
Published: November 2009

AbstractMost SNPs in the human genome are biallelic; however, there are some sites that are triallelic. We show here that there are approximately twice as many triallelic sites as we would expect by chance. This excess does not appear to be caused by natural selection or mutational hotspots. Instead we propose that a new mutation can induce another mutation either within the same individual or subsequently during recombination. We provide evidence for this model by showing that the rarer two alleles at triallelic sites tend to cluster on phylogenetic trees of human haplotypes. However, we find no association between the density of triallelic sites and the rate of recombination, which leads us to suggest that triallelic sites might be generated by the simultaneous production of two new mutations within the same individual on the same genetic background. Under this model we estimate that simultaneous mutation contributes ∼3% of all distinct SNPs. We also show that there is a twofold excess of adjacent SNPs. Approximately half of these seem to be generated simultaneously since they have identical minor allele frequencies. We estimate that the mutation of adjacent nucleotides accounts for a little less than 1% of all SNPs.
Association Between Adherence and Glycemic Control in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Hood Korey K. , Peterson Claire M. , Rohan Jennifer M. , Drotar Dennis 
Published: November 2009

CONTEXT: Although adherence has been identified in practice guidelines for youth with type 1 diabetes to promote optimal glycemic control, there has been no systematic integration of studies investigating the adherence-glycemic control link. This recommendation partly stemmed from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT); however, this trial did not comprehensively measure adherence and had only 195 adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the magnitude of the adherence-glycemic control link in pediatric type 1 diabetes and evaluate its correlates.
METHODS: Our data sources were PubMed (1950–2008), Scopus (1950–2008), and references from reviews in pediatric type 1 diabetes. Studies that included youth under age 19 with type 1 diabetes and a reported association between adherence and glycemic control were eligible for inclusion. Articles were not included if they contained youth with type 2 diabetes, had study samples that overlapped with other studies, or the results came from intervention studies. Of the eligible 26 studies, 21 had sufficient statistical data. Two authors independently extracted information by using a standardized protocol. Agreement between coders was high.
RESULTS: The mean effect size across 21 studies, including 2492 youth with type 1 diabetes, was −0.28 (95% confidence interval: −0.32 to −0.24). As adherence increases, A1c values decrease. No sample or disease characteristics were correlates of the adherence-glycemic control link. Pre-DCCT studies had a mean effect size of −0.32 (8 studies; 1169 participants) compared with −0.25 in post-DCCT studies (13 studies; 1323 participants).
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports the adherence-glycemic control link in pediatric type 1 diabetes. The weaker post-DCCT association suggests that the approach to intensive diabetes management has shortcomings. We conclude that this is because of a mismatch between what scientists and clinicians know is the best way to manage pediatric type 1 diabetes and the capabilities of youth and their families.
Controlling Structural Evolution by VHF Power Profiling Technique for High-efficiency Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells at High Deposition Rate
Authors: Hou Guofu , Han Xiaoyan , Wei Changchun , Zhang Xiaodan , Li Guijun , Dai Zhihua , Chen Xinliang , Zhang Jianjun , Zhao Ying , Geng Xinhua 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHigh rate deposition of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) films and solar cells were prepared by very high frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (VHF-PECVD) process in a high power and high pressure regime. The experiment results demonstrate that in high-rate deposited μc-Si:H films, the structural evolution is much more dramatic than that in low-rate deposited μc-Si:H films. A novel VHF power profiling technique, which was designed by dynamically decreasing the VHF power step by step during the deposition of μc-Si:H intrinsic layers, has been developed to control the structural evolution along the growth direction. Another advantage of this VHF power profiling technique is the reduced ion bombardments on growth surface because of decreasing the VHF power. Using this method, a significant improvement in the solar cell performance has been achieved. A high conversion efficiency of 9.36% (Voc=542mV, Jsc=25.4mA/cm2, FF=68%) was obtained for a single junction μc-Si:H p-i-n solar cell with i-layer deposited at deposition rate over 10 �/s.
Nanocrystalline Superlattice Solar Cells
Authors: Madhavan Atul , Chakravarty Nayan , Dalal Vikram L. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractWe report on the growth and properties of nanocrystalline Si superlattice solar cells. The solar cells consisted of a stack of alternating layers of amorphous and nanocrystalline Si. The thickness of each of the two layers in the superlattice structure was varied independently. It was found that when the nanocrystalline layer thickness was low, increasing the thickness of the amorphous layer in the superlattice systematically reduced the <220> grain size, while the <111> grain size remained essentially invariant. This fact shows that by interposing an amorphous layer between two nanocrystalline layers forces the nano grains to renucleate and regrow. It was also found that when the amorphous Si layer was too thick, there were significant problems with hole transport through the device. Measurements of defect densities and effective diffusion lengths showed that there was an optimum thickness of the amorphous layer (about 10 nm) for which the defect density was the lowest and the diffusion length was the highest. We also show that the absorption coefficient in nano Si depends upon the grain size and can be increased significantly by increasing the grain size.
Latent Patterned Surface Metallization of Silver Ion-Doped Polyimide Films
Authors: Davis Luke M. , Stukenbroeker Tyler S. , Abelt Christopher J. , Scott Joseph L. , Orlova Evguenia , Thompson David Wallace 
Published: November 2009

AbstractA straightforward ambient temperature route to the fabrication of surface silver-metallized polyimide films is described. Silver(I) trifluoromethane sulfonate and a polyimide, derived from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and an equimolar amount of 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) and 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DABA), were dissolved together in dimethylacetamide. Silver(I)-doped films were prepared at thicknesses of 25-50 microns and depleted of solvent by evaporation. The silver(I)-containing films were then treated with aqueous reducing agents, which brought forth silvered films exhibiting conductivity on the order of bulk polycrystalline silver and good specular reflectivity.
Low Curing Temperature Silver Tracks from Soluble Inks
Authors: Xu Bojun , Stringer Jonathan , Wallwork Andrew , Derby Brian 
Published: November 2009

AbstractSilver neodecanoate is sensitive to both ultra violet light (UV) and heat, and is a good inkjet printing precursor when dissolved in xylene. We have studied the electrical properties of inkjet printed silver samples, derived from silver neodecanoate ink, and investigated the influence of UV treatment before thermal curing the silver samples. In addition we have studied the influence of thermal pre-treatment on the printed samples. Thermally cured printed tracks and pads show minimum resistivity of approximately 3 x bulk silver. Their microstructure shows that the silver salt has converted to an interconnected network of silver nanoparticles after curing. The resistance of the printed tracks are shown to relate to the connectivity of the resulting sintered nanoparticle network as measured by the ratio of the sintered neck diameter to the original particle diameter.
Enhancing technology development through integrated environmental analysis: Toward sustainable nonlethal military systems
Authors: Saulters Oral S. , Erickson Larry E. , Leven Blase A. , Pickrel John A. , Green Ryan M. , Jamka Leslie , Prill Amanda 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
New technologies are not only critical in supporting traditional industrial and military success but also play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability and sustainable development. With the current global economic challenges, resulting in tighter budgets and increased uncertainty, synergistic paradigms and tools that streamline the design and dissemination of key technologies are more important than ever. Accordingly, a proactive and holistic approach can facilitate efficient research, design, testing, evaluation, and fielding for novel and off-the-shelf products, thereby assisting developers, end users, and other diverse stakeholders in better understanding tradeoffs in the defense industry and beyond. By prioritizing mechanisms such as strategic life-cycle environmental assessments (LCEA); programmatic environment, safety, and occupational health evaluations (PESHE); health hazard assessments (HHA); and other innovative platforms and studies early within systems engineering, various nonlethal military technologies have been successfully developed and deployed. These efforts provide a framework for addressing complex environment, safety, and occupational health risks that affect personnel, infrastructure, property, socioeconomic, and natural/cultural resources. Moreover, integrated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and iterative analyses involving flexible groups of specialists/subject matter experts can be applied at various spatiotemporal scales in support of collaborations. This paper highlights the Urban Operations Laboratory process utilized for inclusive and transformative environmental analysis, which can translate into advantages and progress toward sustainable systems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:281–286. © 2009 SETAC
Targeting the environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals: Facts and fantasies
Authors: Tarazona Jose V , Escher Beate I , Giltrow Emma , Sumpter John , Knacker Thomas 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
In contrast to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides are designed to show specific pharmacological actions or biocidal activities. Despite this difference, the same principles for environmental risk assessment, e.g., risk characterization by comparing compartment-specific exposure and effect, are applied to both nonspecifically and specifically acting substances. In addition, many pharmaceuticals are relatively hydrophilic, polar, or charged compounds. However, standardized guidelines for generating fate and effects data have been developed predominantly for neutral substances. For these reasons, the risk characterization of biologically active pharmaceuticals might contain a considerable degree of uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a conceptual approach for a targeted environmental risk assessment to reduce the uncertainties of risk characterization for pharmaceuticals by using the information provided in the nonenvironmental part of the regulatory dossier. Three steps have been defined for this purpose: 1) The first is collation of specific information contained in regulatory dossiers for pharmaceuticals, e.g., data produced to understand the interaction of the active substance with biological structures, 2) Based on this information, conclusions might be drawn with regard to environmental compartments likely to be exposed and organisms likely to be affected, and 3) Selection can be made of single-species or multispecies tests to generate additional information for the ecotoxicological risk characterization of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, some thoughts will be presented on the integration of targeted testing strategies into conceptual regulatory guidance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:603–613. © 2009 SETAC
A parallel three-dimensional scour model to predict flow and scour below a submarine pipeline
Authors: Alam Muhammad , Cheng Liang 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
A three-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann flow and scour model is developed to simulate time-dependent scour below a submarine pipeline. The proposed model presented in this paper is able to predict streamwise and spanwise propagations of scour with respect to lattice unit of time. It is evident from this study that the existence of a spiral vortex in the proximity of the span shoulder is quite noteworthy. It is revealed that the critical regime of the 2-D scour process is found to be up to one pipe diameter away in both directions from the middle of the unsupported length of pipelines. The equilibrium maximum scour depth and the shape of streamwise equilibrium scour hole compare well with the available experimental data. The speed of propagation of scour along the pipeline length maintains an almost constant rate, which is consistent with the experimental observations found in literature. In addition, it is seen that the scour slope at the shoulder region remains fairly constant throughout the whole scour process.