bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using virtual reality to train children in safe street-crossing skills
Authors: Schwebel David C , McClure Leslie A 
Published: February 2010

BackgroundPedestrian injuries are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in middle childhood. One limitation to existing pedestrian safety interventions is that they do not provide children with repeated practice needed to develop the complex perceptual and cognitive skills required for safe street crossing. Virtual reality offers training through repeated unsupervised practice without risk, automated feedback on success of crossings, adjustment of traffic to match children's skill and a fun, appealing environment for training.ObjectiveTo test the efficacy of virtual reality to train child pedestrians in safe street crossing.SettingBirmingham, Alabama, USA.MethodsA randomised controlled trial is underway with an expected sample of four groups of 60 children aged 7–8 years (total N=240). One group receives training in an interactive, immersive virtual pedestrian environment. A second receives pedestrian safety training via widely used video and computer strategies. The third group receives what is judged to be the most efficacious treatment currently available, individualised behavioural training at streetside locations. The fourth group serves as a no-contact control group. All participants are exposed to a range of field and laboratory-based measures of pedestrian skill during baseline and post-intervention visits, as well as during a 6-month follow-up assessment.Outcome MeasuresPrimary analyses will be conducted through linear mixed models testing change over time in the four intervention groups. Three pedestrian safety measures will serve as primary outcomes: temporal gap before initiating crossing, temporal gap remaining after crossing and attention to traffic while waiting to cross.Clinical Trial RegistrationThis study is registered at the US government website,www.clinicaltrials.gov, under the title ‘Using virtual reality to train children in pedestrian safety’, registration numberNCT00850759.
Construction of Digital Elevation Models for a Southern European City and a Comparative Morphological Analysis with Respect to Northern European and North American Cities
Authors: Di Sabatino Silvana , Leo Laura S. , Cataldo Rosella , Ratti Carlo , Britter Rex E. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
A morphometric analysis of a southern European city and the derivation of relevant fluid dynamical parameters for use in urban flow and dispersion models are explained in this paper. Calculated parameters are compared with building statistics that have already been computed for parts of three northern European and two North American cities. The aim of this comparison is to identify similarities and differences between several building configurations and city types, such as building packing density, compact versus sprawling neighborhoods, regular versus irregular street orientation, etc. A novel aspect of this work is the derivation and use of digital elevation models (DEMs) for parts of a southern European city. Another novel aspect is the DEMs’ construction methodology, which is low cost, low tech, and of simple implementation. Several building morphological parameters are calculated from the urban DEMs using image processing techniques. The correctness and robustness of these techniques have been verified through a series of sensitivity tests performed on both idealized building configurations, as well as on real case DEMs, which were derived using the methodology here. In addition, the planar and frontal area indices were calculated as a function of elevation. It is argued that those indices, estimated for neighborhoods of real cities, may be used instead of the detailed building geometry within urban canopy models as those indices together synthesize the geometric features of a city. The direct application of these results will facilitate the development of fast urban flow and dispersion models.
Quantifying the Impact of Wind Turbine Wakes on Power Output at Offshore Wind Farms
Authors: Barthelmie R. J. , Pryor S. C. , Frandsen S. T. , Hansen K. S. , Schepers J. G. , Rados K. , Schlez W. , Neubert A. , Jensen L. E. , Neckelmann S. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThere is an urgent need to develop and optimize tools for designing large wind farm arrays for deployment offshore. This research is focused on improving the understanding of, and modeling of, wind turbine wakes in order to make more accurate power output predictions for large offshore wind farms. Detailed data ensembles of power losses due to wakes at the large wind farms at Nysted and Horns Rev are presented and analyzed. Differences in turbine spacing (10.5 versus 7 rotor diameters) are not differentiable in wake-related power losses from the two wind farms. This is partly due to the high variability in the data despite careful data screening. A number of ensemble averages are simulated with a range of wind farm and computational fluid dynamics models and compared to observed wake losses. All models were able to capture wake width to some degree, and some models also captured the decrease of power output moving through the wind farm. Root-mean-square errors indicate a generally better model performance for higher wind speeds (10 rather than 6 m s−1) and for direct down the row flow than for oblique angles. Despite this progress, wake modeling of large wind farms is still subject to an unacceptably high degree of uncertainty.
Diurnal Variations of Warm-Season Precipitation over Northern China
Authors: He Huizhong , Zhang Fuqing 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
This study examines the diurnal variations of the warm-season precipitation over northern China using the high-resolution precipitation products obtained from the Climate Prediction Center’s morphing technique (CMORPH) during May–August of 2003–09. The areas of focus are the Yanshan–Taihangshan Mountain ranges along the east peripheries of the Loess and Inner Mongolian Plateaus and the adjacent North China Plains. It is found that the averaged peak in local precipitation begins early in the afternoon near the top of the mountain ranges and propagates downslope and southeastward at a speed of ∼13 m s−1. The peak reaches the central North China Plains around midnight and the early morning hours resulting in a broad area of nocturnal precipitation maxima over the plains. The diurnal precipitation peak (minimum) is closely collocated with the upward (downward) branch of a mountain–plains solenoid (MPS) circulation. Both the MPS and a low-level southwesterly nocturnal jet are likely to be jointly responsible for the nighttime precipitation maxima over the plains.
Insufficient evidence for association of NOD2/CARD15 or other inflammatory bowel disease–associated markers on GVHD incidence or other adverse outcomes in T-replete, unrelated donor transplantation
Authors: Nguyen Yume , Al-Lehibi Abed , Gorbe Elizabeth , Li Ellen , Haagenson Michael , Wang Tao , Spellman Stephen , Lee Stephanie J. , Davidson Nicholas O. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
Previous European studies suggest NOD2/CARD15 and interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) donor or recipient variants are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We reexamined these findings as well as the role of another inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) susceptibility gene (immunity-related GTPase family, M [IRGM]) on transplantation outcomes in 390 US patients and their matched unrelated donors, accrued between 1995 and 2004. Patients received T-replete grafts with mostly myeloablative conditioning regimens. Multivariate analyses were performed for overall survival, disease-free survival, transplantation-related mortality, relapse, and acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease. Of 390 pairs, NOD2/CARD15 variant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in 14% of donors and 17% of recipients. In 3% both donor and recipient had a mutant SNP. Thirteen percent of donors and 16% of recipients had variant IL23R SNPs, with 3% having both donor and recipient variants. Twenty-three percent of both donors and recipients had variant IRGM SNPs. None of the 3 IBD-associated alleles showed a statistically significant association with any adverse clinical outcomes. Our results do not support an association between the 3 IBD-associated SNPs and adverse outcomes after matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantations in US patients.
Region-specific effects on brain metabolites of hypoxia and hyperoxia overlaid on cerebral ischemia in young and old rats: a quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Macri Maria A , D'Alessandro Nicola , Di Giulio Camillo , Di Iorio Patrizia , Di Luzio Silvano , Giuliani Patricia , Esposito Ennio , Pokorski Mieczyslaw 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
Both hypoxia and hyperoxia, deregulating the oxidative balance, may play a role in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders underlain by cerebral ischemia. In the present study, quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to evaluate regional metabolic alterations, following a 24-hour hypoxic or hyperoxic exposure on the background of ischemic brain insult, in two contrasting age-groups of rats: young - 3 months old and aged - 24 months old.

Methods
Cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of the right common carotid artery. Concentrations of eight metabolites (alanine, choline-containing compounds, total creatine, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, lactate, myo-inositol and N-acetylaspartate) were quantified from extracts in three different brain regions (fronto-parietal and occipital cortices and the hippocampus) from both hemispheres.

Results
In the control normoxic condition, there were significant increases in lactate and myo-inositol concentrations in the hippocampus of the aged rats, compared with the respective values in the young ones. In the ischemia-hypoxia condition, the most prevalent changes in the brain metabolites were found in the hippocampal regions of both young and aged rats; but the effects were more evident in the aged animals. The ischemia-hyperoxia procedure caused less dedicated changes in the brain metabolites, which may reflect more limited tissue damage.

Conclusions
We conclude that the hippocampus turns out to be particularly susceptible to hypoxia overlaid on cerebral ischemia and that old age further increases this susceptibility.
Expression profiling of mouse embryonic fibroblasts with a deletion in the helicase domain of the Werner Syndrome gene homologue treated with hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Labbé Adam , Turaga Ramachander VN , Paquet Éric R , Garand Chantal , Lebel Michel 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
Werner Syndrome (WS) is a rare disorder characterized by the premature onset of a number of age-related diseases. The gene responsible for WS encodes a DNA helicase/exonuclease protein believed to affect different aspects of transcription, replication, and/or DNA repair. In addition to genomic instability, human WS cells exhibit oxidative stress. In this report, we have examined the impact of exogenous hydrogen peroxide on the expression profile of mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking part of the helicase domain of the WRN homologue (here referred to as Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
).

Results

Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibit increased oxidative stress. This was reflected by increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased oxidative damage in genomic DNA, changes in ATP/ADP ratios, and a disruption of the inner mitochondrial transmembrane potential when compared to wild type mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Expression profile analyses of hydrogen peroxide-treated wild type cells have indicated significant decreases in the expression of genes involved in mitosis, glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, and cell cycle control, as well as protein modification and stability. Such decreases in these biological processes were not observed in hydrogen peroxide-treated Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
cells. Importantly, untreated Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
cells already exhibited down regulation of several biological processes decreased in wild type cells that had been treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Conclusion
Expression profiling of Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
mutant cells revealed a very different response to exogenous addition of hydrogen peroxide in culture compared to wild type cells. This is due in part to the fact that Wrn
Δhel/Δhel
mutant cells already exhibited a modest chronic intracellular oxidative stress.
Analysis of a β-helical region in the p55 domain of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin
Authors: Ivie Susan E , McClain Mark S , Algood Holly M Scott , Lacy D Borden , Cover Timothy L 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human stomach and contributes to the development of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease. VacA, a toxin secreted by H. pylori, is comprised of two domains, designated p33 and p55. Analysis of the crystal structure of the p55 domain indicated that its structure is predominantly a right-handed parallel β-helix, which is a characteristic of autotransporter passenger domains. Substitution mutations of specific amino acids within the p33 domain abrogate VacA activity, but thus far, it has been difficult to identify small inactivating mutations within the p55 domain. Therefore, we hypothesized that large portions of the p55 domain might be non-essential for vacuolating toxin activity. To test this hypothesis, we introduced eight deletion mutations (each corresponding to a single coil within a β-helical segment spanning VacA amino acids 433-628) into the H. pylori chromosomal vacA gene.

Results
All eight of the mutant VacA proteins were expressed by the corresponding H. pylori mutant strains and underwent proteolytic processing to yield ~85 kDa passenger domains. Three mutant proteins (VacA Δ484-504, Δ511-536, and Δ517-544) were secreted and induced vacuolation of mammalian cells, which indicated that these β-helical coils were dispensable for vacuolating toxin activity. One mutant protein (VacA Δ433-461) exhibited reduced vacuolating toxin activity compared to wild-type VacA. Other mutant proteins, including those containing deletions near the carboxy-terminal end of the β-helical region (amino acids Val559-Asn628), exhibited marked defects in secretion and increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage by trypsin, which suggested that these proteins were misfolded.

Conclusions
These results indicate that within the β-helical segment of the VacA p55 domain, there are regions of plasticity that tolerate alterations without detrimental effects on protein secretion or activity, as well as a carboxy-terminal region in which similar alterations result in protein misfolding and impaired secretion. We propose that non-essential β-helical coils and a carboxy-terminal β-helical segment required for proper protein folding and secretion are features shared by numerous autotransporter passenger domains.
Salicylic acid alleviates decreases in photosynthesis under heat stress and accelerates recovery in grapevine leaves
Authors: Wang Li-Jun , Fan Ling , Loescher Wayne , Duan Wei , Liu Guo-Jie , Cheng Jian-Shan , Luo Hai-Bo , Li Shao-Hua 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackgroundAlthough the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on photosynthesis of plants including grapevines has been investigated, very little is yet known about the effects of SA on carbon assimilation and several components of PSII electron transport (donor side, reaction center and acceptor side). In this study, the impact of SA pretreatment on photosynthesis was evaluated in the leaves of young grapevines before heat stress (25°C), during heat stress (43°C for 5 h), and through the following recovery period (25°C). Photosynthetic measures included gas exchange parameters, PSII electron transport, energy dissipation, and Rubisco activation state. The levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the chloroplast were also investigated.ResultsSA did not significantly (P< 0.05) influence the net photosynthesis rate (Pn) of leaves before heat stress. But, SA did alleviate declines inPnand Rubisco activition state, and did not alter negative changes in PSII parameters (donor side, acceptor side and reaction center QA) under heat stress. Following heat treatment, the recovery ofPnin SA-treated leaves was accelerated compared with the control (H2O-treated) leaves, and, donor and acceptor parameters of PSII in SA-treated leaves recovered to normal levels more rapidly than in the controls. Rubisco, however, was not significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by SA. Before heat stress, SA did not affect level of HSP 21, but the HSP21 immune signal increased in both SA-treated and control leaves during heat stress. During the recovery period, HSP21 levels remained high through the end of the experiment in the SA-treated leaves, but decreased in controls.ConclusionSA pretreatment alleviated the heat stress induced decrease inPnmainly through maintaining higher Rubisco activition state, and it accelerated the recovery ofPnmainly through effects on PSII function. These effects of SA may be related in part to enhanced levels of HSP21.
Hybrid capture vs. PCR screening of cervical human papilloma virus infections. Cytological and histological associations in 1270 women
Authors: Tsiodras Sotirios , Georgoulakis John , Chranioti Aikaterini , Voulgaris Zanis , Psyrri Amanda , Tsivilika Angeliki , Panayiotides John , Karakitsos Petros 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
We evaluated two molecular methods of HPV detection and their correlation with cytological and histological diagnosis in a large sample of Greek women.

Methods
All women with liquid-based cytology performed at a University Hospital between 2000 and 2003 were included. The Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) kit and in house Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were used for HPV DNA detection. Cervical biopsy was performed for women with ASCUS+ cytology, HPV detection, or abnormal colposcopy. Positive (PLR) and negative (NLR) likelihood ratios were calculated for cytology and HPV molecular testing for the prediction of CIN2 and greater histology.

Results
Of the 1270 women evaluated 241 (18.5%) had abnormal cytology. Cytology diagnosed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) or invasive carcinoma in 21(1.7%) cases whereas 26 (2%) women had CIN2+ or greater histology. PCR detected HPV in 397/1270 (31.3%) and HC2 in 260/1270 (20.4%) samples. Both molecular tests exhibited high reproducibility (Cohen's kappa value 0.691, 95% CI: 0.664 - 0.718). Positive likelihood ratios (PLR) of 9.4, 3.8 and 3.4 and negative likelihood ratios of 0.13, 0.21, and 0 were noted for ≥ LSIL, any positive HC2 or any positive PCR-HPV testing, for predicting CIN2+ histology, respectively. All CIN 3+ lesions harbored high risk oncogenic HPV type infections.

Conclusions
HPV infection was found in a large proportion of this population and was associated with CIN 2/3 lesions and infiltrating carcinomas. Thin prep testing and HPV detection by HC2 or PCR performed very well with regards to identifying high grade lesions in an environment with experienced examiners.
In vitro and in vivo characterization of highly purified Human Mesothelioma derived cells
Authors: Melotti Alice , Daga Antonio , Marubbi Daniela , Zunino Annalisa , Mutti Luciano , Corte Giorgio 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare disease known to be resistant to conventional therapies. A better understanding of mesothelioma biology may provide the rationale for new therapeutic strategies. In this regard, tumor cell lines development has been an important tool to study the biological properties of many tumors. However all the cell lines established so far were grown in medium containing at least 10% serum, and it has been shown that primary cell lines cultured under these conditions lose their ability to differentiate, acquire gene expression profiles that differ from that of tissue specific stem cells or the primary tumor they derive from, and in some cases are neither clonogenic nor tumorigenic. Our work was aimed to establish from fresh human pleural mesothelioma samples cell cultures maintaining tumorigenic properties.

Methods
The primary cell cultures, obtained from four human pleural mesotheliomas, were expanded in vitro in a low serum proliferation-permissive medium and the expression of different markers as well as the tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice was evaluated.

Results
The established mesothelioma cell cultures are able to engraft, after pseudo orthotopic intraperitoneal transplantation, in immunodeficient mouse and maintain this ability to after serial transplantation. Our cell cultures were strongly positive for CD46, CD47, CD56 and CD63 and were also strongly positive for some markers never described before in mesothelioma cell lines, including CD55, CD90 and CD99. By real time PCR we found that our cell lines expressed high mRNA levels of typical mesothelioma markers as mesothelin (MSLN) and calretinin (CALB2), and of BMI-1, a stemness marker, and DKK1, a potent Wingless [WNT] inhibitor.

Conclusions
These cell cultures may provide a valuable in vitro and in vivo model to investigate mesothelioma biology. The identification of new mesothelioma markers may be useful for diagnosis and/or prognosis of this neoplasia as well as for isolation of mesothelioma tumor initiating cells.
Association of shared decision-making with type of breast cancer surgery: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lee Myung Kyung , Noh Dong Young , Nam Seok Jin , Ahn Se Hyun , Park Byeong Woo , Lee Eun Sook , Yun Young Ho 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
Although some studies examined the association between shared decision-making (SDM) and type of breast cancer surgery received, it is little known how treatment decisions might be shaped by the information provided by physicians. The purpose of this study was to identify the associations between shared decision making (SDM) and surgical treatment received.

Methods
Questionnaires on SDM were administered to 1,893 women undergoing primary curative surgery for newly diagnosed stage 0-II localized breast cancer at five hospitals in Korea. Questions included being informed on treatment options and the patient's own opinion in decision-making.

Results
Patients more likely to undergo mastectomy were those whose opinions were respected in treatment decisions (adjusted odds ratio, aOR), 1.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.72) and who were informed on chemotherapy (aOR, 2.57; CI, 2.20-3.01) or hormone therapy (aOR, 2.03; CI, 1.77-2.32). In contrast, patients less likely to undergo mastectomy were those who were more informed on breast surgery options (aOR, 0.34; CI, 0.27-0.42). In patients diagnosed with stage 0-IIa cancer, clinical factors and the provision of information on treatment by the doctor were associated with treatment decisions. In patients diagnosed with stage IIb cancer, the patient's opinion was more respected in treatment decisions.

Conclusion
Our population-based study suggested that women's treatment decisions might be shaped by the information provided by physicians, and that women might request different information from their physicians based on their preferred treatment options. These results might need to be confirmed in other studies of treatment decisions.