bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Art therapy for terminal cancer patients in a hospice palliative care unit in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Ming-Hwai , Moh Shwu-Lan , Kuo Yu-Cheng , Wu Pin-Yuan , Lin Chiung-Ling , Tsai Mei-Hui , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Hwang Shinn-Jang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjective:Even though terminal cancer patients receive help from a hospice palliative care team, they have to suffer the pressure of death with deteriorating conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effect of art therapy for these terminal cancer patients.Method:The patients involved were terminal cancer patients who were under the care of team members, which included physicians, nurses, social workers, clergy, art therapists, and volunteers in a hospice palliative care unit in Taiwan. The art therapy in our study took the form of visual fine art appreciation and hands-on painting. The effects of the art therapy were evaluated according to patients' feelings, cognitions, and behaviors.Results:There were 177 patients (105 males and 72 females; mean age: 65.4 ±15.8 years) in the study. Each patient received a mean of 2.9 ± 2.0 sessions of the art therapy and produced a mean of 1.8 ± 2.6 pieces of art. During the therapy, most patients described their feelings well, and created art works attentively. Patients expressed these feelings through image appreciation and hands-on painting, among which the landscape was the most common scene in their art. After the therapy, the mean score of patients' artistic expressions (one point to each category: perception of beauty, art appreciation, creativity, hands-on artwork, and the engagement of creating artwork regularly) was 4.0 ± 0.7, significantly higher than the score before therapy (2.2 ± 1.4, p < 0.05). During the therapy, 70% of patients felt much or very much relaxed in their emotional state and 53.1% of patients felt much or very much better physically.Significance of results:Terminal cancer patients in a hospice palliative care unit in Taiwan may benefit from art therapy through visual art appreciation and hands-on creative artwork.
Development and application of an agent-based model to evaluate methods for estimating relative abundance indices for shoaling fish such as Pacific rockfish (Sebastes spp.)
Authors: Thorson James T. , Stewart Ian J. , Punt André E. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Thorson, J. T., Stewart, I. J., and Punt, A. E. 2012. Development and application of an agent-based model to evaluate methods for estimating relative abundance indices for shoaling fish such as Pacific rockfish (Sebastes spp.). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 635–647. Many marine fish, including Pacific rockfish (Sebastes spp.), exhibit habitat-selective and shoaling behaviours, which can lead to imprecision when using survey data to estimate an annual index of stock abundance. We develop a spatial agent-based model (ABM) for Pacific rockfish, which generates data similar to those observed in existing bottom-trawl surveys and can represent various spatial and shoaling behaviours. We use the ABM to evaluate the performance of a model that uses mixture distribution methods to account for fish shoals and delta-methods to account for range expansion or contraction. This delta-mixture model is compared with conventional delta-generalized linear models (delta-GLMs) and a quantile regression delta-model. The delta-mixture increases precision by 15% relative to delta-GLMs in estimated abundance indices when shoaling behaviours are present, whereas precision is similar between delta-GLM and delta-mixture models when shoals are absent. The delta-quantile method has similar improvements over conventional delta-GLM methods, and the improved precision from delta-mixture and delta-quantile methods is decreased but not eliminated by decreased sampling intensities. These simulations represent the first evaluation of delta-mixture models for index standardization and show a substantial improvement over conventional delta-GLMs for shoaling species such as Pacific rockfish.
Historical variations in the year-class strength of beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in the Barents Sea
Authors: Planque B. , Johannesen E. , Drevetnyak K. V. , Nedreaas K. H. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Planque, B., Johannesen, E., Drevetnyak, K. V., and Nedreaas, K. H. 2012. Historical variations in the year-class strength of beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in the Barents Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 547–552. The present work provides the first quantitative estimate of the historical fluctuations in the year-class strength of beaked redfish in the Barents Sea. The year-class strength index is based on scientific survey data collected by Norway and Russia during the past three decades. It is defined as the effective number of 0-group fish that will eventually enter the fishery. Uncertainties in the year-class strength indices are estimated using a statistical modelling approach, which accounts for observation errors. The reconstructed series indicate clear periods of high recruitment (late 1980s–early 1990s) and 8 years of near complete recruitment failure (1996–2003). The apparent recovery in recent years is highly uncertain and needs to be confirmed by future observations. The modelling approach developed here can be applied to other fish stocks for which catch-at-age data are available from several surveys.
Using cross-correlations to assess the relationship between time-lagged pressure and state indicators: an exemplary analysis of North Sea fish population indicators
Authors: Probst Wolfgang Nikolaus , Stelzenmüller Vanessa , Fock Heino Ove 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Probst, W. N., Stelzenmüller, V., and Fock, H. 2012. Using cross-correlations to assess the relationship between time-lagged pressure and state indicators: an exemplary analysis of North Sea fish population indicators. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 670–681. A sustainable ecosystem-based management, as postulated by the European Union-Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), requires a sound understanding of the cause–effect relationships between human pressures and ecosystem states. In this study, cross-correlations are used to introduce a protocol for the analysis of time-lagged relationships between pressure and state indicators. To perform meaningful cross-correlations, the time-series of the pressure and the state indicator should be prewhitened by fitting autoregressive integrated moving average models to the pressure indicator time-series. This study provides some theoretical examples on the implications of non-prewhitened and prewhitened cross-correlations and exemplifies the use of prewhitened cross-correlations to compare the pressure–state relationship of a well-established indicator suite vs. the relationship of a new indicator proposed under the MSFD. The established indicator suite is fishing mortality (F) vs. spawning-stock biomass (SSB), the new indicator suite is F vs. the 95% percentile of the length frequency distribution (L95). The L95 aims to characterize the proportion of large individuals within a population. The prewhitened cross-correlations for F and SSB are significant for all four analysed species (cod, haddock, saithe, and plaice), the L95 is correlated with F for cod, haddock, and saithe. However, the L95 was also influenced by the annual survey catch and recruitment.
A comparison of the acid‐inhibitory effects of esomeprazole and rabeprazole in relation to pharmacokinetics and CYP2C19 polymorphism
Authors: Hunfeld N. G. , Touw D. J. , Mathot R. A. , van Schaik R. H. , Kuipers E. J. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryBackgroundEsomeprazole and rabeprazole are metabolised in the liver by means of the CYP2C19 enzyme, which has several functional genetic polymorphisms. Among Caucasians, 70% of the population has a fast metaboliser phenotype, 25–30% an intermediate and 2–5% a slow metaboliser phenotype. It is unknown whether different PPIs are affected to the same extent by these phenotypic differences.AimTo compare the acid‐inhibitory effects of esomeprazole 40 mg and rabeprazole 20 mg in relation to CYP2C19 genotype and pharmacokinetics.MethodsEighteen healthy Helicobacter pylori‐negative Caucasian subjects with CYP2C19*2‐*6 and *17 genotype were included in a randomised investigator‐blinded crossover study with esomeprazole 40 mg and rabeprazole 20 mg. Intragastric 24‐h pH‐monitoring was performed on days 0, 1 and 5 of oral dosing.ResultsOnset of acid inhibition during the first 4 h after administration did not differ significantly between PPIs. During the upright period, the proportion of time with pH >4 was significantly higher with esomeprazole compared to rabeprazole (52.2 vs. 40.3%, P = 0.003). At day 1 and 5, acid inhibition was significantly greater with esomeprazole than with rabeprazole (median intragastric pH: day 1: 3.7 vs. 3.0, P = 0.008; day 5: 4.7 vs. 3.8, P < 0.001; percentage of time pH >4: day 1: 45 vs. 39%, P = 0.054; day 5: 65 vs. 48%, P < 0.001). Differences in acid inhibition between wt/wt and wt/*2 genotype were significant for both PPIs.ConclusionsOnce‐daily dosing with esomeprazole 40 mg provides a more effective and faster acid‐inhibitory effect than rabeprazole 20 mg. The acid‐inhibitory effect of esomeprazole and rabeprazole are both influenced by CYP2C19 polymorphism.
Anaesthetists’ risk assessment of placebo nerve block studies using the SHAM (Serious Harm and Morbidity) scale
Authors: Jarman J. , Marks N. , Fahy C.J. , Costi D. , Cyna A. M. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe SHAM (Serious Harm and Morbidity) scale was developed to categorise the severity of potential complications of placebo control interventions in the context of local anaesthesia research. A convenience sample of 43 anaesthetists used the SHAM scale to grade ten published randomised controlled trials investigating local anaesthesia nerve blocks. The Fleiss κ statistic assessed agreement between these anaesthetists and probability of random agreement (Pr(e)) when using the SHAM scale; a κ > 0 shows concordance between assessors above random agreement. Overall κ was 0.50 (95% CI 0.49–0.51, p < 0.001), Pr(e) = 0.21. There was moderate agreement between assessors in determining whether studies were low‐risk (SHAM score 0–2) or high‐risk (SHAM score 3–4) (κ 0.60 (95% CI 0.58–0.62), Pr(e) = 0.51). Compared with anaesthetists given clinical examples of interventions when applying the SHAM score, anaesthetists who were not given examples showed significantly less inter‐individual agreement (κ 0.76 (95% CI 0.72–0.81), Pr(e) = 0.5 vs 0.45 (95% CI 0.41–0.49), Pr(e) = 0.52, p < 0.0001). These results suggest that the SHAM score can be successfully used to grade the severity of potential complications of placebo‐controlled interventions in local anaesthesia research and represent a first step towards the score’s validation.
Population pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and dose optimization with limited sampling strategy in liver transplant children
Authors: Barau Caroline , Furlan Valérie , Debray Dominique , Taburet Anne‐Marie , Barrail‐Tran Aurélie 
Published: February 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Population pharmacokinetic data for mycophenolic acid (MPA) have been reported in adult and paediatric kidney transplant recipients but not in paediatric liver transplant recipients.• MPA AUC during a dosage interval (AUC(0,12 h) is routinely used to optimize mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) dosages in solid organ transplant recipients.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• This study describes MPA population pharmacokinetics in paediatric liver transplant recipients for the first time.• The age of the children and the time elapsed since the transplantation were found to affect MPA pharmacokinetics significantly, mainly the apparent volume of distribution.• The limited sampling strategy chosen to estimate individual MPA AUC(0,12 h) with concentrations measured 0, 1 and 4 h after MMF administration may be useful to optimize child care during the post transplantation period.AIMS The aims were to estimate the mycophenolic acid (MPA) population pharmacokinetic parameters in paediatric liver transplant recipients, to identify the factors affecting MPA pharmacokinetics and to develop a limited sampling strategy to estimate individual MPA AUC(0,12 h).METHODS Twenty‐eight children, 1.1 to 18.0 years old, received oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy combined with either tacrolimus (n= 23) or ciclosporin (n= 5). The population parameters were estimated from a model‐building set of 16 intensive pharmacokinetic datasets obtained from 16 children. The data were analyzed by nonlinear mixed effect modelling, using a one compartment model with first order absorption and first order elimination and random effects on the absorption rate (ka), the apparent volume of distribution (V/F) and apparent clearance (CL/F).RESULTS Two covariates, time since transplantation (≤ and >6 months) and age affected MPA pharmacokinetics. ka, estimated at 1.7 h−1 at age 8.7 years, exhibited large interindividual variability (308%). V/F, estimated at 64.7 l, increased about 2.3 times in children during the immediate post transplantation period. This increase was due to the increase in the unbound MPA fraction caused by the low albumin concentration. CL/F was estimated at 12.7 l h−1. To estimate individual AUC(0,12 h), the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained with the final model, including covariates, were coded in Adapt II® software, using the Bayesian approach. The AUC(0,12 h) estimated from concentrations measured 0, 1 and 4 h after administration of MMF did not differ from reference values.CONCLUSIONS This study allowed the estimation of the population pharmacokinetic MPA parameters. A simple sampling procedure is suggested to help to optimize pediatric patient care.
A novel function for the haemopoietic supportive murine bone marrow MS‐5 mesenchymal stromal cell line in promoting human vasculogenesis and angiogenesis
Authors: Zhou Bob , Tsaknakis Grigorios , Coldwell Kate E. , Khoo Cheen P. , Roubelakis Maria G. , Chang Chao‐Hui , Pepperell Emma , Watt Suzanne M. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe bone marrow contains specific microenvironmental stem cell niches that maintain haemopoiesis. CXCL12‐expressing mesenchymal stromal cells are closely associated with the bone marrow sinusoidal endothelia, forming key elements of the haemopoietic stem cell niche, yet their ability to regulate endothelial function is not clearly defined. Given that the murine nestin+ cell line, MS‐5, provides a clonal surrogate bone marrow stromal niche capable of regulating both murine and human primitive haemopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSC/HPC) fate in vitro, we hypothesized that MS‐5 cells might also support new blood vessel formation and function. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that this is indeed the case. Using proteome arrays, we identified HSC/HPC active angiogenic factors that are preferentially secreted by haemopoietic supportive nestin+MS‐5 cells, including CXCL12 (SDF‐1), NOV (CCN3), HGF, Angiopoietin‐1 and CCL2 (MCP‐1). Concentrating on CXCL12, we confirmed its presence in MS‐5 conditioned media and demonstrated that its antagonist in receptor binding, AMD‐3100, which mobilizes HSC/HPCs and endothelial progenitors from bone marrow, could significantly reduce MS‐5 mediated human vasculogenesis in vitro, principally by regulating human endothelial cell migration. Thus, the clonal nestin+MS‐5 murine bone marrow stromal cell line not only promotes human haemopoiesis but also induces human vasculogenesis, with CXCL12 playing important roles in both processes.
Differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into steroidogenic cells in comparison to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Wei X. , Peng G. , Zheng S. , Wu X. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectivesHuman umbilical cord can be obtained easily and it represents a non‐controversial source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and umbilical cord Wharton's jelly‐derived MSCs (UC‐MSCs) have low immunogenicity. In this study, UC‐MSCs were induced to become steroidogenic cells and compared to bone marrow‐derived MSCs (BM‐MSCs).Material and methodsUC‐MSCs and BM‐MSCs were induced to differentiate into steroidogenic cells by infection with adenovirus containing SF‐1. Expression of steroidogenic mRNA was analysed by real‐time RT‐PCR and steroid secretion was detected by ELISA testing. Viability of differentiated cells was examined using cell counting kit‐8 assay.ResultsBoth UC‐MSCs and BM‐MSCs expressed typical MSC markers and could differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes and both cell types had the potential to differentiate into steroidogenic cells after being infected with adenovirus containing SF‐1 cDNA. However, UC‐MSCs had significantly higher proliferative potential than BM‐MSCs and differentiated UC‐MSCs had significantly higher expression of all steroidogenic mRNAs tested over those of differentiated BM‐MSCs; this included P450 side‐chain cleavage enzyme, 3β‐HSD, 17β‐HSD type 3, LH‐R, ACTH‐R, P450c21 and CYP17. In addition, differentiated UC‐MSCs secreted significantly more steroidogenic hormones than differentiated BM‐MSCs, including testosterone and cortisol. Furthermore, differentiated UC‐MSCs had significantly higher cell viability than differentiated BM‐MSCs.ConclusionsUC‐MSCs had significantly higher potential of steroidogenic differentiation than BM‐MSCs; thus, UC‐MSCs could be favourable cells of choice for cell‐based therapy for steroidogenic insufficiency compared to BM‐MSCs.
Derivation of male germ cells from induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro and in reconstituted seminiferous tubules
Authors: Yang S. , Bo J. , Hu H. , Guo X. , Tian R. , Sun C. , Zhu Y. , Li P. , Liu P. , Zou S. , Huang Y. , Li Z. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectivesPrevious studies have demonstrated that mouse‐ and human‐induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can differentiate into primordial germ cells in vitro. However, up to now it is not known whether iPS cells would be able to differentiate into male germ cells in vivo. The aim of this study was to explore differentiation potential of iPS cells to male germ cells in vitro and in vivo.Materials and methodsIn this study, approaches using in vitro retinoic acid induction and in vivo ectopic transplantation were combined to induce iPS cells to become male germ cells.ResultsRT‐PCR showed that expression of pre‐meiotic and meiotic germ cell‐specific genes was enhanced in iPS cell‐derived embryoid bodies (EBs) compared to mRNA transcripts of iPS cells. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that iPS cell‐derived EBs positively expressed germ‐cell markers VASA, c‐Kit and SCP3. Furthermore, iPS cell‐derived cells dissociated from EBs were injected with testicular cells into dorsal skin of mice. Histological examination showed that iPS cell‐derived cells could reconstitute seminiferous tubules, and meanwhile, iPS cell‐derived germ cells could settle at basement membranes of reconstituted tubules.ConclusionOur results suggest that iPS cells are able to differentiate into male germ cells in vitro and that reconstituted seminiferous tubules may provide a functional niche for exogenous iPS cell‐derived male germ cells. Derivation of male germ cells from iPS cells has potential application for treating male infertility and provides an ideal platform for elucidating molecular mechanisms of male germ‐cell development.
Comparison of ontogenetic trophic shift in two hake species, Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus, from the Northern Benguela Current ecosystem (Namibia) using stable isotope analysis
Authors: IITEMBU JOHANNES A. , MILLER TODD W. , OHMORI KOJI , KANIME ABRAHAM , WELLS SEAN 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTwo species of hake, Merluccius capensis (MC) and Merluccius paradoxus (MP), together account for most of Namibia’s fisheries catch and they are collectively the most important secondary consumers in the Benguela Current ecosystem. To better resolve their feeding behavior in the northern Benguela Current ecosystem, we examined the size‐specific ontogenetic shift in MC and MP using stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N as measures of relative source production and trophic level. We also compared hake isotope values to those of their major zooplankton (four species) and nekton (12 species/groups) prey. Results from δ15N showed a significant positive relationship with size in both MC and MP; however, the slopes of the two species were significantly different, with MP displaying a steeper trophic shift. A significant increase in δ13C with size was observed in MC but not MP. In all size classes (except ≤20–29 cm) MC expressed significantly higher δ13C values, generally matching their respective shelf‐slope adult distributions. Relative to zooplankton and nekton prey, smaller hake of both species (20–39 cm) were trophically indistinguishable at a trophic level (TL) of 3.3, indicating predominant zooplanktivory. The largest MC of 60–70 cm had TLs of approximately 3.5–3.6, whereas MP of the same size were slightly higher, at 3.7–3.8 TL, indicating greater piscivory. This is the first spatially and ontogenetically extensive stable isotope analysis of MC and MP in the Benguela Current. Further extension of this analysis throughout the hake range would provide considerable insight into the trophic dynamics of this commercially and ecologically important group.
An interplay between Centrin2 and Centrin4 on the bi‐lobed structure in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Wang Min , Gheiratmand Ladan , He Cynthia Y. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryCentrins are conserved calcium‐binding proteins important for various regulatory functions. In procyclic Trypanosoma brucei, TbCentrin2 and TbCentrin4 have distinct effects on cell division but both localize to the basal bodies that seed the flagellum, and a bi‐lobed structure important for organelle duplication and cell division. Here we show that TbCentrin2 and TbCentrin4 both bind to the basal bodies and bi‐lobed structure through the conserved C‐terminal domain. Molecular genetic manipulation of TbCentrin4 levels greatly affects TbCentrin2 association with the bi‐lobed structure. Using established synchronization methods, TbCentrin2 expression level is shown to be relatively constant throughout the cell cycle while TbCentrin4 level fluctuates, decreasing most during early S‐phase when the bi‐lobe undergoes duplication. These results thus suggest a co‐ordinated action between these two centrin proteins, where the cell cycle‐dependent TbCentrin4 expression could regulate the abundance of TbCentrin2 on the bi‐lobed structure.
The exported Plasmodium berghei protein IBIS1 delineates membranous structures in infected red blood cells
Authors: Ingmundson Alyssa , Nahar Carolin , Brinkmann Volker , Lehmann Maik J. , Matuschewski Kai 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe importance of pathogen‐induced host cell remodelling has been well established for red blood cell infection by the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Exported parasite‐encoded proteins, which often possess a signature motif, termed Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) or host‐targeting (HT) signal, are critical for the extensive red blood cell modifications. To what extent remodelling of erythrocyte membranes also occurs in non‐primate hosts and whether it is in fact a hallmark of all mammalian Plasmodium parasites remains elusive. Here we characterize a novel Plasmodium berghei PEXEL/HT‐containing protein, which we term IBIS1. Temporal expression and spatial localization determined by fluorescent tagging revealed the presence of IBIS1 at the parasite/host interface during both liver and blood stages of infection. Targeted deletion of the IBIS1 protein revealed a mild impairment of intra‐erythrocytic growth indicating a role for these structures in the rapid expansion of the parasite population in the blood in vivo. In red blood cells, the protein localizes to dynamic, punctate structures external to the parasite. Biochemical and microscopic data revealed that these intra‐erythrocytic P. berghei‐induced structures (IBIS) are membranous indicating that P. berghei, like P. falciparum, creates an intracellular membranous network in infected red blood cells.