bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sodium bicarbonate-based hydration prevents contrast-induced nephropathy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Meier Pascal , Ko Dennis T , Tamura Akira , Tamhane Umesh , Gurm Hitinder S 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Contrast-induced nephropathy is the leading cause of in-hospital acute renal failure. This side effect of contrast agents leads to increased morbidity, mortality, and health costs. Ensuring adequate hydration prior to contrast exposure is highly effective at preventing this complication, although the optimal hydration strategy to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy still remains an unresolved issue. Former meta-analyses and several recent studies have shown conflicting results regarding the protective effect of sodium bicarbonate. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of normal saline versus sodium bicarbonate for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Methods
The study searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts database, ISI Web of Science (until 15 December 2008), and conference proceedings for randomized controlled trials that compared normal saline with sodium bicarbonate-based hydration regimen regarding contrast-induced nephropathy. Random-effects models were used to calculate summary odds ratios.

Results
A total of 17 trials including 2,633 subjects were pooled. Pre-procedural hydration with sodium bicarbonate was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of contrast-induced nephropathy (odds ratios 0.52; 95% confidence interval 0.34–0.80, P = 0.003). Number needed to treat to prevent one case of contrast-induced nephropathy was 16 (95% confidence interval 10–34). No significant differences in the rates of post-procedure hemodialysis (P = 0.20) or death (P = 0.53) was observed.

Conclusion
Sodium bicarbonate-based hydration was found to be superior to normal saline in prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in this updated meta-analysis.
Angular Dipyridyl Ligands 2,5-Bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and Its 3-Pyridyl Analogue as Building Blocks for Coordination Architectures: Assemblies, Structural Diversity, and Properties
Authors: Du Miao , Bu Xian-He 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
The rational design and construction of functional coordination architectures, which rely upon the docile assemblages of organic ligands with metal centers, have attracted continuing interest for many years. The selection of suitable organic ligands as building blocks is a key point for the construction of novel coordination architectures with desired structures and functions. This article will briefly review the coordination-driven assembly of angular dipyridyl-type building blocks involving the oxadiazole spacer, namely 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and its 3-pyridyl-donor analog 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, with transition-metal ions. Diversity of the established structural motifs thus far (only considering the coordination interaction) is outlined, illustrating the broad range of coordination frameworks from discrete molecular architectures to infinite extended one-, two-, and three-dimensional (1-D, 2-D, and 3-D) networks. The specific influencing factors such as anion, solvent, and metal-to-ligand ratio on structural assemblies and the interesting properties of anion exchange, magnetism, fluorescence, and guest inclusion of these crystalline solids will also be discussed.
Photochemical Properties of 3,3′-Disubstituted Stilbene Dendrimers
Authors: Kato Kazumi , Momotake Atsuya , Shinohara Yoshihiro , Sato Tomoo , Takahashi Kayori , Nagahata Ritsuko , Nishimura Yoshinobu , Arai Tatsuo 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
The quantum yield of isomerization and the fluorescence lifetime of newly synthesized 3,3′-disubstituted water-soluble stilbene dendrimer trans-4 were significantly different from those of model compounds. The results indicate that not only properties of dendrimer surfaces but also substituent positions are important for dendrimer photochemistry.
Microstructural Transformation with Heat-Treatment of Aluminum Hydroxide with Gibbsite Structure
Authors: Mitsui Tomohiro , Matsui Toshiaki , Kikuchi Ryuji , Eguchi Koichi 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Aluminum hydroxide with gibbsite structure was prepared, and the microstructural transformation of the sample heat-treated at various temperatures was investigated. The sample was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and BET surface area. The shape of the grains in the prepared sample was hexagonal prism-like morphology. The prepared sample kept a metastable state of alumina phase at higher temperatures than the commercially available gibbsite powders. The prepared gibbsite grains underwent characteristic structural change depending on the calcination temperature. The transformation of the surface morphology was initiated at 400 °C, leading to the formation of cracks with the direction parallel to the basal plane. After calcination at 1200 °C, a large number of grooves were formed on the surface of the lateral planes. The specific structural change of gibbsite induced by the heat treatment was strongly related to the topotactic dehydration from gibbsite and subsequent phase transition to aluminum oxides.
Politics in the news: Do campaigns matter? A comparison of political news during election periods and routine periods in Flanders (Belgium)
Authors: van Aelst Peter , De Swert Knut 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Can an election campaign be considered a normal time period, or is it a very exceptional episode in the way the media look at political actors and issues? This is the central question of this article. We claim that during campaigns (political) journalists work under different (legal) conditions and are confronted with politicians and parties that are more active than ever, and with a public that pays more attention to who and how politics is presented. This general claim is made concrete in several hypotheses that are tested on the basis of a large dataset of Flemish news broadcasts between 2003 and 2006. Our results confirm that campaign periods strongly influence the amount, style and actors of the (political) news in Belgium (Flanders).
„Bis ich gewürdigt werde, dich von Angesicht zu sehen“ – Zwei Brieffragmente aus der Heidelberger Papyrussammlung
Authors: Förster Hans 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT
Two Coptic letters from the Papyrus Collection of Heidelberg demonstrate the impact of regular exchange of letters even with long distant partners for the ecclesiastical milieu of the 6th/7th century C.E. The two texts show that there were not always specific matters the letters dealed with but the letters repeated classical topoi which can be found elsewhere in Coptic letter literature. So the warm compassion and the interest for the health, the gratitude for the received letters and the request for mutual prayers and blessings show that the letters want to confirm personal relations. The first of the two letters belongs to the monastic communities shaped by Shenute, the second one, so more fragmentary, addresses a person of higher spiritual respect, i.e. a bishop.
Is increase in bone mineral content caused by increase in skeletal muscle mass/strength in adult patients with GH-treated GH deficiency? A systematic literature analysis
Authors: Klefter Oliver , Feldt-Rasmussen Ulla 
Published: May 2009

ObjectiveAdult patients with GH deficiency (GHD) are characterized by a reduced muscle mass, but also reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC), which have been ascribed to GHD per se.The aim of this study was to investigate if changes in BMD/BMC in adult GHD patients could be due to a muscle modulating effect, and if treatment with GH would primarily increase muscle mass and strength with a secondary increase in BMD/BMC, thus supporting the present physiological concept that mass and strength of bones are mainly determined by dynamic loads from the skeletal muscles.MethodWe performed a systematic literature analysis, including 51 clinical trials published between 1996 and 2008, which had studied the development in muscle mass, muscle strength, BMD, and/or BMC in GH-treated adult GHD patients.ResultsGH therapy had an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle. The largest increase in muscle mass occurred during the first 12 months of therapy. Most trials measuring BMD/BMC reported significant increases from baseline values. The significant increases in BMD/BMC occurred after 12–18 months of treatment, i.e. usually later than the increases in muscle parameters. Only seven trials studied both muscle and bone variables concomitantly. No trials studied the relationship between the changes in muscle and bone measurements.ConclusionAlthough in vitro studies have shown that GH has a direct effect on bone remodeling, present physiological concepts and the results of clinical trials from 1996 to 2008 suggest that the anabolic changes in muscle mass and strength may also contribute to changes in BMD/BMC in GH-treated adult GHD patients.
Cost-Effectiveness of Lifestyle Modification in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Jacobs-van der Bruggen Monique A.M. , van Baal Pieter H. , Hoogenveen Rudolf T. , Feenstra Talitha L. , Briggs Andrew H. , Lawson Kenny , Feskens Edith J.M. , Baan Caroline A. 
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential long-term health and economic consequences of lifestyle interventions for diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A literature search was performed to identify interventions for diabetic patients in which lifestyle issues were addressed. We selected recent (2003–2008), randomized controlled trials with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The long-term outcomes for these interventions, if implemented in the Dutch diabetic population, were simulated with a computer-based model. Costs and effects were discounted at, respectively, 4 and 1.5% annually. A lifelong time horizon was applied. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed, taking account of variability in intervention costs and (long-term) treatment effects.

RESULTS
Seven trials with 147–5,145 participants met our predefined criteria. All interventions improved cardiovascular risk factors at ≥1 year follow-up and were projected to reduce cardiovascular morbidity over lifetime. The interventions resulted in an average gain of 0.01–0.14 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) per participant. Health benefits were generally achieved at reasonable costs (≤€50,000/QALY). A self-management education program (X-PERT) and physical activity counseling achieved the best results with ≥0.10 QALYs gained and ≥99% probability to be very cost-effective (≤€20,000/QALY).

CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of lifestyle interventions would probably yield important health benefits at reasonable costs. However, essential evidence for long-term maintenance of health benefits was limited. Future research should be focused on long-term effectiveness and multiple treatment strategies should be compared to determine incremental costs and benefits of one over the other.
Artificial neural network prediction of steric hindrance parameter of polymers
Authors: Yu Xinliang , Yu Wenhao , Yi Bing , Wang Xueye 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAn artificial neural network (ANN) model for modeling and prediction of the steric hindrance parameter σ of polymers with three quantum chemical descriptors, the average polarizability of a molecule α, entropy S, and dipole moment μ, was developed. These descriptors were calculated from the monomers of the respective polymers according to the density functional theory at the B3LYP level of the theory with the 6-31G(d) basis set. Optimal conditions were obtained by adjusting various parameters by trial-and-error. Simulated with the final optimum BP neural network [3-1-1], the results show that the predicted σ values are in good agreement with the experimental ones, with the root mean square (rms) error being 0.080 (R = 0.945) for the training set, and 0.078 (R = 0.918) for the test set, which indicates that the proposed model has better predictive capability than the existing one.
A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of acitretin in pharmaceuticals
Authors: Feng Suling , Zhang Yi , Fan Jing 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA simple, rapid, and highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of acitretin was developed based on the strong green fluorescence of acitretin. Influence of organic solvents on the fluorescence spectra of acitretin was studied. Effects of pH, standing time, and foreign ions on the determination of acitretin were also examined. Under the optimum conditions, linear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity and the concentration of acitretin in the range of 30.0–1100 ng mL−1 was obtained. Detection limit of this method is 9.56 ng mL−1 for acitretin. Relative standard deviation for the determination of 480 ng mL−1 of acitretin was 1.70 %. This method was used for the determination of acitretin in pharmaceuticals and the results were compared with those obtained by the HPLC method.
High-Strength Mg-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Composites with Remarkable Plasticity
Authors: Zhang Erlin , Ma Mingzhen 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
The paper presents a novel porous, ductile, V particles reinforced, Mg-based metallic glass composite, exhibiting superior mechanical performance with up to 10 % compressive strain and 1100 MPa stress at room temperature. Indentation tests show that the addition of V particles can improve significantly the plastic deformation ability of the glass composites in local regions around the particles. Furthermore, during deformation process, the highly localized shear-banding of the infiltrated glassy matrix within the porous V particles induces an increase in temperature in local regions, where the dilating and softening behavior happen. The heated V particle regions become more effective “sites” for the initiation and arrest of shear bands in the surrounding amorphous matrix. We suggest that porous ductile particles might therefore preferably be used to toughen amorphous materials with stubborn brittleness.
Determination of Liquidus Temperature in Sn–Ti–Zr Alloys by Viscosity, Electrical Conductivity and XRD Measurements
Authors: Plevachuk Yuriy , Mudry Stepan , Sklyarchuk Vasyl , Yakymovych Andriy , Korolyshyn Andriy , Shtablavyy Ihor , Kulyk Yuriy , Klotz Ulrich E. , Liu Chunlei , Leinenbach Christian 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
The Sn – Ti – Zr system is an important subsystem for Cu based active brazing filler metals. Experimental results on this system, however, are rather scarce. The diagram is rather uncertain regarding most of the liquidus, especially on the Sn rich side. In this work, the atomic structure and temperature dependence of structure-sensitive physical properties (dynamic viscosity and electrical conductivity) of liquid Sn – Ti – Zr alloys in the Sn-rich corner were investigated in a wide temperature range with special attention to the melting – solidification region. The results allowed the liquidus line position to be specified.
Magnetism of nanostructured materials for advanced magnetic recording
Authors: Goll Dagmar 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
The continuous increase in magnetic recording density has so far been achieved by scaling the geometrical dimensions. However, it is now obvious that conventional magnetic recording is reaching its scaling limit. To realize ultrahigh recording densities of 1 Tbit/in2 and beyond in the future one of the most straightforward concepts is bit-patterned composite media with a regular arrangement of magnetic nanodots, where each nanodot is composed of a hard magnetic and a soft magnetic part and represents one bit. The hard magnetic component guarantees thermal stability for smallest dot sizes whereas the soft magnetic component reduces the coercivity and thus enables writeability with conventional heads. In this review the requirements for ultrahigh density magnetic recording are presented which seem to be optimally fulfilled by L10-FePt (hard magnetic)/Fe (soft magnetic) nanocomposites.
Adoptive immunotherapy of intracerebral metastases in mice
Authors: McCutcheon Ian E. , Baranco Rachel A. , Katz David A. , Saris Stephen C. 
Published: May 2009

✓ Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells are a heterogeneous population of immune effector cells that nonspecifically destroy neoplastic cells but not normal cells. Although parenteral treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone or a combination of IL-2 and LAK cells reduces tumor load and prolongs survival in mice with pulmonary, peritoneal, or hepatic metastases, the effect of these treatments on brain metastases has not been studied. To determine in an animal model if intracerebral metastases would be protected by the immunologically privileged status of the brain, intracardiac and intravenous injections of 105 KHT sarcoma cells were performed in C3H mice to create brain and lung metastases, respectively. The mice were treated with adoptive immunotherapy to determine if efficacy seen in an extracerebral site could be reproduced in the brain, and if histological examination of these brains would reveal a significant degree of lymphocyte infiltration and cytolytic activity. Animals were treated with either parenteral IL-2 (7500 U three times daily on Days 3 to 7 after tumor injection), or IL-2 plus LAK cells (7500 U IL-2 three times daily on Days 3 to 7, and 108 LAK cells intravenously on Days 3 and 6 after tumor injection), or IL-2 excipient (three times daily on Days 3 to 7 after tumor injection).
As compared to control animals, pulmonary metastases on Day 14 after tumor injection were reduced or eliminated in animals treated with either IL-2 or IL-2 plus LAK cells (p < 0.01). In these same animals, there was no reduction in the number of intracerebral metastases and no evidence of lymphocytic infiltration or cytolytic activity in the brain. This is the first study that reveals an organ-specific resistance to the treatment of metastases with adoptive immunotherapy, and affirms the concern that due to inadequate trafficking of endogenous or exogenous-activated lymphocytes or due to inadequate activation of in situ brain lymphoid precursors, there is no rejection of tumors in the brain. This information suggests that brain metastases in patients with systemic malignancies will not respond to intravenous treatment with LAK cells and IL-2, and that alternative forms of treatment are needed. Furthermore, this modification of a previously existing model of murine brain metastasis provides a method for concurrently evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for intra- and extracranial cancers.
Relationship of early cerebral blood flow and metabolism to outcome in acute head injury
Authors: Jaggi Jurg L. , Obrist Walter D. , Gennarelli Thomas A. , Langfitt Thomas W. 
Published: May 2009

✓ Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements were obtained acutely in 96 comatose patients with closed head injury, using the intravenous 133Xe technique. Arteriojugular venous oxygen differences and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) were determined in a subgroup of 66 patients. The relationship between each of these variables and outcome at 6 months was analyzed, using the Glasgow Outcome Scale.
The CMRO2 was significantly depressed in patients who subsequently died or remained in a vegetative state, whereas higher values were obtained in patients who later regained consciousness. Although CBF was not predictive of outcome in the total sample, omission of patients with acute hyperemia resulted in a significant relationship that paralleled the metabolic findings. Follow-up studies in the survivors revealed a correlation between CBF and degree of functional recovery, the lowest blood flows being obtained among patients with severe disability.
Age, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, and occurrence of intracranial hypertension were each found to be predictive of outcome, thus confirming previous reports. When these variables were combined with CMRO2 in a logistic regression analysis, the probability of recovery was correctly predicted in 82% of the cases. The CMRO2 was relatively independent of the other prognostic indicators and, next to age, contributed most to the prediction.
Posterolateral microdiscectomy for cervical monoradiculopathy caused by posterolateral soft cervical disc sequestration
Authors: Aldrich Francois 
Published: May 2009

✓ The controversy over whether to use a posterior or anterior approach for surgical treatment of soft cervical discs is still largely unsettled. However, although the posterior approach may be underutilized, it has distinct advantages when there are specific indications. Out of a large pool of cases, 53 patients presented with acute monoradiculopathy caused by soft cervical disc herniation. In 36 of these, the disc was sequestered (nonconfined) and was posterolateral to the disc space as seen on computerized tomography-myelography. Distinct motor weakness was a common clinical finding in all 36 cases. These patients were treated by using a 2- to 3-cm skin incision for the posterolateral microsurgical approach. The extent of the lateral facetectomy depended upon the relationship between the nerve root and the disc. All fragments were lateral to the dural sac and were sequestered through the anulus fibrosus and the posterior longitudinal ligament. Sequestrations were removed under direct microscopic vision, but the disc space was not entered.
Pain relief and motor-power improvement in the affected radicular distribution were immediate in all patients. Sensory deficit and residual motor loss improved dramatically with normalization at approximately 6 months. No complications occurred and the mean hospital stay was 2 days. The follow-up period varied from 4 to 42 months with a mean of 26 months. Thus far, there have been no recurrences or other associated complications. By using strict selection criteria and a microsurgical posterolateral approach with removal of the sequestered disc fragment, excellent results with normalization of the monoradiculopathy can be obtained. The ease of this technique, low risk, minimal complications, and excellent results make it an attractive alternative to the anterior approach. The clinical presentations, specific indications, surgical technique, and clinical results are discussed; and a prototype of a small cervical self-retaining retractor is described.