bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The stability of free‐β human chorionic gonadotrophin and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A in first trimester dried blood spots
Authors: Cowans Nicholas J. , Stamatopoulou Anastasia , Liitti Paivi , Suonpaa Mikko , Spencer Kevin 
Published: February 2011

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the stability of first trimester free‐β human chorionic gonadotrophin (free‐β hCG) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) in dried blood spots (DBSs) under typical storage conditions.MethodsFirst trimester maternal blood was spotted onto filter paper and left to dry. DBSs were analysed for PAPP‐A and free‐β hCG using an AutoDELFIA dual assay at t = 0. Cards were stored at one of − 20 °C, refrigerator temperature, room temperature or 30 °C and reanalysed at set future time points.ResultsFree‐β hCG was stable (<10% change in concentration) under all temperatures tested for at least 35 days. PAPP‐A was stable at − 20 °C and refrigerator temperature for at least 35 days. However, PAPP‐A levels decreased by 10% at 4.1 days at room temperature and at 3.9 days at 30 °C. Longer‐term storage at − 20 °C and refrigerator temperature showed that both PAPP‐A and free‐β hCG levels were significantly decreased by 107 and 244 days.ConclusionsFree‐β hCG stability is greatly improved in DBS compared to serum storage; however PAPP‐A stability is decreased in the DBS medium. Despite this DBS, screening may not necessitate such strict storage and transportation rules compared to serum screening programmes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying changes in diabetes care
Authors: Formosa C , Mandy A , Lucas K 
Published: February 2011

AbstractMalta is a small Mediterranean island with particularly distinct population and culture. It also has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world. As a result it provides a unique microcosm of problems in diabetes care common across Europe. This study explores the effects of culture, religion and government organisation on the management of patients with diabetes.The cultures of patients, health care professionals and the Maltese government were examined in terms of their influence on the potential to deliver culturally relevant competent care.The results of this research indicate that national culture and local practices may have a detrimental influence on the management of diabetes in Malta. The findings highlight the need for change if effective diabetes care is to be offered to the Maltese population. These changes are related to a highly complex, poorly understood health care system, and to the way in which it is structured and the way health care processes are managed in this highly specific national and ethnic culture. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.
Characterization of acetaminophen overdose‐related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the United States
Authors: Manthripragada Angelika D. , Zhou Esther H. , Budnitz Daniel S. , Lovegrove Maribeth C. , Willy Mary E. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTPurposeTo estimate the number of acetaminophen overdose‐related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the United States, characterize these by intentionality, age, and gender, and compare the strengths and limitations of the utilized databases.MethodsWe used data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to estimate the number of relevant ED visits in the United States between 2000 and 2007, and the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to estimate the number of relevant hospitalizations in the United States between 1991 and 2006. National estimates and their standard errors were calculated using information provided in each database. We used the standard United States population in 2000 to calculate age‐adjusted rates.ResultsWe estimate an annual average of 44 348 (NHAMCS, 2000–2007) or 78 414 (NEISS, 2006–2007) acetaminophen overdose‐related ED visits and 33 520 (NHDS, 2000–2006) hospitalizations. For 2000–2006 we calculated an age‐adjusted rate of 13.9 acetaminophen overdose‐related hospitalizations per 100 000 US population, with the highest rate (15.7) occurring from 2005 to 2006. Between 1991 and 2006, there was no decrease noted in hospitalizations for intentional or unintentional overdoses. The majority of overdoses reported in NEISS (69.8%) and NHDS (74.2%) were classified as intentional (suicides or suicidal gestures), whereas in NHAMCS, intentionality was evenly distributed.ConclusionsOur results suggest that acetaminophen overdose, both intentional and unintentional, remains a significant public health concern. With an understanding of their methodological characteristics and limitations, these national databases can be useful tools to characterize acetaminophen overdose‐related ED visits and hospitalizations. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐report of current and prior antiretroviral drug use in comparison to the medical record among HIV‐infected patients receiving primary HIV care
Authors: Brouwer Emily Suzanne , Napravnik Sonia , Smiley Sarah G. , Corbett Amanda H. , Eron Joseph J. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractObjectivePatient antiretroviral (ARV) therapy knowledge is essential for regimen adherence, successful therapeutic response, and minimization of resistance evolution. Moreover, a complete and accurate patient ARV history is needed to construct efficacious and tolerable future regimens. In this study we assessed the ability of HIV‐infected patients receiving care in a university infectious diseases clinic to accurately recall current and past ARVs.MethodsA convenience sample (n = 205) of UNC HIV Clinical Cohort participants (n = 1840) completed a comprehensive in‐person interview. Patients were asked about current and ever ARV use and were provided proprietary and generic ARV names and photographs. Self‐reported sensitivity for current and ever ARV use (proportion that correctly identified all recorded ARVs), was calculated using the medical record as the gold standard.ResultsOne hundred and eighty‐five patients had received ARVs at some point after enrollment in the cohort study (ever users). For current ARV use (n = 138), self‐reported sensitivity was 63% (95% CI: 54–71). For ever use (n = 185), sensitivity was 18% (95% CI: 13–24).ConclusionSelf‐reported cumulative ARV use is not accurate. Since HIV‐infected patients are prescribed a number of medications over their treatment course, it is necessary to develop new medication reconciliation techniques that are not dependent on patient memory or knowledge in order to improve patient outcomes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of polypharmacy with nutritional status, functional ability and cognitive capacity over a three‐year period in an elderly population
Authors: Jyrkkä Johanna , Enlund Hannes , Lavikainen Piia , Sulkava Raimo , Hartikainen Sirpa 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTPurposeTo determine the association of polypharmacy with nutritional status, functional ability and cognitive capacity among elderly persons.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of 294 survivors from the population‐based Geriatric Multidisciplinary Strategy for the Good Care of the Elderly (GeMS) Study, with yearly follow‐ups during 2004 to 2007. Participants were the citizens of Kuopio, Finland, aged 75 years and older at baseline. Polypharmacy status was categorized as non‐polypharmacy (0–5 drugs), polypharmacy (6–9 drugs) and excessive polypharmacy (10+ drugs). A linear mixed model approach was used for analysis the impact of polypharmacy on short form of mini nutritional assessment (MNA‐SF), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and mini‐mental status examination (MMSE) scores.ResultsExcessive polypharmacy was associated with declined nutritional status (p = 0.001), functional ability (p < 0.001) and cognitive capacity (p < 0.001) when compared to non‐polypharmacy group. Age, institutional living, poor self‐reported health and time of measuring were also associated with the three outcome measures. In the excessive polypharmacy group, the proportion of malnourished or at risk of it increased from 31% to 50%, having difficulties in daily tasks from 48% to 74% and impaired cognition from 36% to 54% during the follow‐up. The mixed model analysis revealed that polypharmacy status was not able to predict the progress of MNA‐SF, IADL and MMSE scores over a three‐year time.ConclusionsExcessive polypharmacy is associated with decline in nutritional status, functional ability and cognitive capacity in elderly persons. However, the changes in nutrition, physical functionality and cognition over a three‐year period cannot be predicted by polypharmacy status. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The perils of a vanishing cohort: a study of social comparisons by women with advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Morrell Bronwen , Jordens Christopher F. C. , Kerridge Ian H. , Harnett Paul , Hobbs Kim , Mason Catherine 
Published: February 2011

AbstractObjective: To examine the role social comparisons play in the experience of ovarian cancer patients and to consider the implications this may have for provision of supportive care services for ovarian cancer patients.Methods: We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study of women with advanced ovarian cancer in Sydney, Australia. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with women with advanced ovarian cancer over a period of 2.5 years. Social comparisons made by 13 study participants in 33 interviews were extracted and analysed using coding categories based on social comparison theory.Results: Participants favoured downward contrasts and lateral comparisons and avoided downward identifications, upward contrasts and upward identifications. Participants expressed a preference for avoiding contact with ovarian cancer patients, for the company of ‘normal’ others, for normalising information and information that facilitated upward identifications.Conclusions: We suggest that social comparisons made by women with ovarian cancer are influenced by specific clinical factors associated with their diagnosis—in particular, their status as a member of a ‘vanishing cohort’—and argue for further research examining the specific comparison needs and preferences of patients with advanced disease and types of cancer with poor prognoses.Practice implications: These findings raise questions about uniform approaches to the provision of cancer care and suggest that further research may be required to ensure that interventions are appropriately tailored to the supportive care needs of patients with different types and stages of disease. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma Surface Modification of Biodegradable Polymers: A Review
Authors: Morent Rino , De Geyter Nathalie , Desmet Tim , Dubruel Peter , Leys Christophe 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBesides their use as packaging materials, biodegradable polymers can play a major role in tissue engineering as three‐dimensional porous structures (scaffolds). The success of these biodegradable scaffolds is, however, determined by the response it elicits from the surrounding biological environment and this response is governed, to a large extent, by the surface characteristics of the scaffold. Multiple approaches have been developed to obtain the desired surface properties, however, in the past decade, the use of non‐thermal plasmas for selective surface modification has been a rapidly growing research field. This paper therefore presents a critical overview on recent advances in plasma‐assisted surface modification of biodegradable polymers. magnified image
Shallow ground temperatures and periglacial processes on Iztaccíhuatl volcano, Mexico
Authors: Andrés Nuria , Palacios David , Zamorano José Juan , Vázquez‐Selem Lorenzo 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTShallow ground temperatures and the extent of periglacial processes were examined and modelled on Iztaccíhuatl volcano (19°10′20″N, 98°38′30″W, 5230 m asl). Air and ground temperatures (to 0.6 m depth) were measured at five sites from 4137 m to 5020 m asl on the southwest slope of the volcano between 2001 and 2007. Snow lies on the ground for only a few days each year and has almost no effect on periglacial process distribution. Daily freeze‐thaw cycles at the ground surface are numerous at the summit (around 212 days annually), but cycles cease only a few centimetres below the surface, so that frost action does not occur below 60 cm depth. Permafrost is present at 4900 m asl on north‐facing slopes with a 60 cm thick active layer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insecticidal and repellent activities of insecticide–sucrose solutions to Culex pipiens molestus (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory and field conditions
Authors: Shin Ehyun , Park Chan , Ahn Young‐Joon , Lee Dong‐Kyu , Chang Kyu‐Sik 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Culex pipiens molestus Forskal has been reported as a dominant species in underground structures of urban areas in the Republic of Korea (ROK) during all seasons and becomes bothersome to humans in late autumn and winter. Most Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks are controlled in the ROK using larvicides such as Bt and IGR. However, there are a number of problems associated with larvicides, such as high cost and requirement for frequent use. In the present work, a new control method for Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks by using mixtures of sucrose solution with insecticides was investigated.RESULTS: The insecticidal and repellent activities of ten insecticides were evaluated for best control of Cx. pipiens molestus in septic tanks. Firstly, differences in susceptibilities to insecticides were evaluated in topical assays by forced direct contact bioassay and in a screened wire cage by free direct contact bioassay. The difference in insecticide susceptibility in the mosquitoes was the result of repellency by the insecticides. In three septic tanks, the density of Culex mosquitoes was sharply reduced by a deltamethrin–sucrose solution kit.CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated the potential for mosquito control by deltamethrin–sucrose solution, and the study offers basic information related to mosquito control in septic tanks. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Neuroglobin–prion protein interaction: what's the function?
Authors: Palladino Pasquale , Scaglione Giovanni Luca , Arcovito Alessandro , Maria Vitale Rosa , Amodeo Pietro , Vallone Beatrice , Brunori Maurizio , Benedetti Ettore , Rossi Filomena 
Published: February 2011

AbstractNeuroglobin and cellular prion protein (PrPC) are expressed in the nervous system and co‐localized in the retinal ganglion cell layer. Both proteins do not have an unambiguously assigned function, and it was recently reported that PrPC aggregates rapidly in the presence of neuroglobin, whereas it does not aggregate in the presence of myoglobin, another globin with different tissue specificity. Electrostatic complementarity between the unstructured PrPC N‐terminus and neuroglobin has been proposed to mediate this specific interaction. To verifythis hypothesis experimentally, we have used a combined approach of automated docking and molecular dynamics (MD) studies carried out on short stretches of prion protein (PrP) N‐terminus to identify the minimal electrostatically interacting aminoacidic sequences with neuroglobin. Subsequently, we have performed the synthesis of these peptides by solid phase methods, and we tested their interaction with neuroglobin by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Preliminary results confirm unequivocally the specific interaction between synthetic PrP peptides and neuroglobin suggesting a crucial role of PrPC positively charged regions in thisprotein–protein association. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of dynamic recrystallization in cobalt: A study using the Avrami relation
Authors: Sarkar A. , Chakravartty J. K. , Paul B. , Suri A. K. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe progress of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in polycrystalline wrought cobalt (Co) during hot deformation has been studied using a newly developed mechanical approach. The approach is based upon the analysis of the flow curve of the material to quantify the softening which is attributed to DRX. Avrami plots for Co during DRX have been generated using stress–strain curves under various deformation conditions. The values of the Avrami time exponents are ∼3.0. The dependence of the time of half‐softening on strain rate is found to exhibit similar behavior to that of other materials.
Moving range charts for monitoring the Weibull shape parameter with single observation samples
Authors: Pascual Francis , Nguyen Diem 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis paper proposes an approach to monitor shifts in the Weibull shape parameter bfβ via control charts based on the moving range of single‐point samples from a smallest extreme value distribution. The average run length (ARL) of the proposed charts are computed using Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. The derived control limits for one‐sided and two‐sided control charts are unbiased in the sense that the ARL when β has shifted is shorter than the desired stable‐process ARL. These control limits depend only on the desired stable‐process ARL and the stable value of β. The paper also discusses the sample size requirements for Phase I so that the run length distributions are similar under standards‐given scenario (β is given) and retrospective scenario (β is estimated from past data). The proposed methods are then applied to data on the breaking strengths of carbon fibers. The results suggest that one‐sided control charts can detect small shifts in β sooner than two‐sided charts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and vibrational analysis of the OH torsional motion in difluorohydroxyborane
Authors: Melendez F. J. , Muñoz‐Caro C. , Niño A. , Sandoval‐Lira J. , Rangel‐Huerta A. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractIn this work, we present a complete structural and vibrational analysis of the OH torsional motion in difluorohydroxyborane (BF2OH) at the HF/aug‐cc‐pVTZ, MP2(full)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ, and CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ theory levels. After full relaxation of the geometry, the equilibrium structure is found in a planar conformation of Cs symmetry. The difference in the two BF distances suggests the existence of a nonbonded interaction between the fluorine and oxygen atoms. The structural and energetic variation of BF2OH as a function of the OH torsional angle is considered. The torsional barrier, at the CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level, and including the effect of the zero‐point energy of the remaining vibrations, is found 2,728 cm−1. In addition, an anharmonic Hamiltonian for the OH torsional mode is presented and variationally solved. To simplify the treatment and to classify the energy levels, BF2OH is classified under a G4 nonrigid group accounting for the inversion symmetry of the molecule and the interchange of the fluorine atoms. The computed torsional energy levels exhibit a very small inversion splitting. The torsional spectrum is simulated considering the dipole moment components along the principal axes of inertia as an explicit function of the torsional coordinate. We observe three dominant bands in the spectrum formed by doublets corresponding to ν9 = 0 → 1, 2 transitions. The fundamental is an a‐type, Franck–Condon, transition. This is the strongest and appears at 466.80 cm−1 with relative intensity 0.4312. The ν9 = 0 → 2 bands correspond to doublets of b‐ and c‐type, i.e., Herzberg–Teller transitions. These are two overlapping bands found at 890.92 and 890.94 cm−1 with intensity 0.2207 for the b‐type band and 0.2193 for the c‐type band. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Generating oscillations in inertia wheel pendulum via two‐relay controller
Authors: Aguilar Luis T. , Boiko Igor M. , Fridman Leonid M. , Freidovich Leonid B. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe problem of generating oscillations of the inertia wheel pendulum is considered. We combine exact feedback linearization with two‐relay controller, tuned using frequency‐domain tools, such as computing the locus of a perturbed relay system. Explicit expressions for the parameters of the controller in terms of the desired frequency and amplitude are derived. Sufficient conditions for orbital asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop system are obtained with the help of the Poincaré map. Performance is validated via experiments. The approach can be easily applied for a minimum phase system, provided the behavior of the states of the zero dynamics is of no concern. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SEASONAL PATTERNS OF RIVER CONNECTIVITY AND SALTWATER INTRUSION IN TIDAL FRESHWATER FORESTED WETLANDS
Authors: Anderson Christopher J. , Lockaby B. Graeme 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTHydrology can be difficult to interpret in tidal freshwater forested wetlands because of several influencing factors including river discharge, tidal stage, local precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater and prevailing winds. River discharge and tidal stage are considered the primary factors affecting these wetlands and both vary on a seasonal basis and have potential implications for wetland saltwater intrusion. We examined the hydrologic patterns of tidal freshwater swamps along the lower reach (20 km) of the Apalachicola River system in northwest Florida, USA. Water level recorders were installed in five wetlands along this reach and recorded ground and surface water levels at 15‐min intervals from December 2006 to April 2009 (non‐continuously). Seasonal trends related to flooding frequency and duration were compared to long term (2000–2008) records of creek and river salinities measured in the tidal freshwater forested zone. Tidal freshwater swamps tended to maintain a narrow water level range (often ±20 cm of the ground surface) except during high river flows (>680 cms or 24 000 cfs) when levels increased 1 to 2 m above ground and dampened tidal effects. All tidal forested wetlands had the highest mean water levels and most days tidally pulsed during the Jul–Oct season which coincided with peak river/creek salinities and low river‐flows associated with drought conditions. We explored the implications for the timing of salt water intrusion in these swamps and potential changes related to sea level rise and water management in the Apalachicola River drainage basin. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.