bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
3.2 million stillbirths: epidemiology and overview of the evidence review
Authors: Lawn Joy E , Yakoob Mohammad Yawar , Haws Rachel A , Soomro Tanya , Darmstadt Gary L , Bhutta Zulfiqar A 
Published: May 2009

AbstractMore than 3.2 million stillbirths occur globally each year, yet stillbirths are largely invisible in global data tracking, policy dialogue and programme implementation. This mismatch of burden to action is due to a number of factors that keep stillbirths hidden, notably a lack of data and a lack of consensus on priority interventions, but also to social taboos that reduce the visibility of stillbirths and the associated family mourning. Whilst there are estimates of the numbers of stillbirths, to date there has been no systematic global analysis of the causes of stillbirths. The multiple classifications systems in use are often complex and are primarily focused on high-income countries. We review available data and propose a programmatic classification that is feasible and comparable across settings. We undertook a comprehensive global review of available information on stillbirths in order to 1) identify studies that evaluated risk factors and interventions to reduce stillbirths, 2) evaluate the level of evidence for interventions, 3) place the available evidence for interventions in a health systems context to guide programme implementation, and 4) elucidate key implementation, monitoring, and research gaps. This first paper in the series outlines issues in stillbirth data availability and quality, the global epidemiology of stillbirths, and describes the methodology and framework used for the review of interventions and strategies.
Identification of hematein as a novel inhibitor of protein kinase CK2 from a natural product library
Authors: Hung Ming-Szu , Xu Zhidong , Lin Yu-Ching , Mao Jian-Hua , Yang Cheng-Ta , Chang Pey-Jium , Jablons David M , You Liang 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is dysregulated in various human cancers and is a promising target for cancer therapy. To date, there is no small molecular CK2 inhibitor in clinical trial yet. With the aim to identify novel CK2 inhibitors, we screened a natural product library.

Methods
We adopted cell-based proliferation and CK2 kinase assays to screen CK2 inhibitors from a natural compound library. Dose-dependent response of CK2 inhibitors in vitro was determined by a radioisotope kinase assay. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate down stream Akt phosphorylation and apoptosis. Apoptosis was also evaluated by annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) labeling method using flow cytometry. Inhibition effects of CK2 inhibitors on the growth of cancer and normal cells were evaluated by cell proliferation and viability assays.

Results
Hematein was identified as a novel CK2 inhibitor that is highly selective among a panel of kinases. It appears to be an ATP non-competitive and partially reversible CK2 inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.55 μM. In addition, hematein inhibited cancer cell growth partially through down-regulation of Akt phosphorylation and induced apoptosis in these cells. Furthermore, hematein exerted stronger inhibition effects on the growth of cancer cells than in normal cells.

Conclusion
In this study, we showed that hematein is a novel selective and cell permeable small molecule CK2 inhibitor. Hematein showed stronger growth inhibition effects to cancer cells when compared to normal cells. This compound may represent a promising class of CK2 inhibitors.
Within-host competitive exclusion among species of the anther smut pathogen
Authors: Gold Alexander , Giraud Tatiana , Hood Michael E 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Host individuals represent an arena in which pathogens compete for resources and transmission opportunities, with major implications for the evolution of virulence and the structure of populations. Studies to date have focused on competitive interactions within pathogen species, and the level of antagonism tends to increase with the genetic distance between competitors. Anther-smut fungi, in the genus Microbotryum, have emerged as a tractable model for within-host competition. Here, using two pathogen species that are frequently found in sympatry, we investigated whether the antagonism seen among genotypes of the same species cascades up to influence competition among pathogen species.

Results
Sequential inoculation of hosts showed that a resident infection most often excludes a challenging pathogen genotype, which is consistent with prior studies. However, the challenging pathogen was significantly more likely to invade the already-infected host if the resident infection was a conspecific genotype compared to challenges involving a closely related species. Moreover, when inter-specific co-infection occurred, the pathogens were highly segregated within the host, in contrast to intra-specific co-infection.

Conclusion
We show evidence that competitive exclusion during infection can be greater among closely related pathogen species than among genotypes within species. This pattern follows from prior studies demonstrating that genetic distance and antagonistic interactions are positively correlated in Microbotryum. Fungal vegetative incompatibility is a likely mechanism of direct competitive interference, and has been shown in some fungi to be effective both within and across species boundaries. For systems where related pathogen species frequently co-occur in the same host populations, these competitive dynamics may substantially impact the spatial segregation of pathogen species.
Acclimatory responses of the Daphnia pulex proteome to environmental changes. I. Chronic exposure to hypoxia affects the oxygen transport system and carbohydrate metabolism
Authors: Zeis Bettina , Lamkemeyer Tobias , Paul Rüdiger J , Nunes Frank , Schwerin Susanne , Koch Marita , Schütz Wolfgang , Madlung Johannes , Fladerer Claudia , Pirow Ralph 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundFreshwater planktonic crustaceans of the genusDaphniashow a remarkable plasticity to cope with environmental changes in oxygen concentration and temperature. One of the key proteins of adaptive gene control inDaphnia pulexunder hypoxia is hemoglobin (Hb), which increases in hemolymph concentration by an order of magnitude and shows an enhanced oxygen affinity due to changes in subunit composition. To explore the full spectrum of adaptive protein expression in response to low-oxygen conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the proteome composition of animals acclimated to normoxia (oxygen partial pressure [Po2]: 20 kPa) and hypoxia (Po2: 3 kPa), respectively.ResultsThe comparative proteome analysis showed an up-regulation of more than 50 protein spots under hypoxia. Identification of a major share of these spots revealed acclimatory changes for Hb, glycolytic enzymes (enolase), and enzymes involved in the degradation of storage and structural carbohydrates (e.g. cellubiohydrolase). Proteolytic enzymes remained constitutively expressed on a high level.ConclusionAcclimatory adjustments of theD. pulexproteome to hypoxia included a strong induction of Hb and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. The scenario of adaptive protein expression under environmental hypoxia can be interpreted as a process to improve oxygen transport and carbohydrate provision for the maintenance of ATP production, even during short episodes of tissue hypoxia requiring support from anaerobic metabolism.
Spatiotemporal analysis of air pollution and asthma patient visits in Taipei, Taiwan
Authors: Chan Ta-Chien , Chen Mei-Lien , Lin I-Feng , Lee Cheng-Hua , Chiang Po-Huang , Wang Da-Wei , Chuang Jen-Hsiang 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundBuffer analyses have shown that air pollution is associated with an increased incidence of asthma, but little is known about how air pollutants affect health outside a defined buffer. The aim of this study was to better understand how air pollutants affect asthma patient visits in a metropolitan area. The study used an integrated spatial and temporal approach that included the Kriging method and the Generalized Additive Model (GAM).ResultsWe analyzed daily outpatient and emergency visit data from the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance and air pollution data from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration during 2000–2002. In general, children (aged 0–15 years) had the highest number of total asthma visits. Seasonal changes of PM10, NO2, O3and SO2were evident. However, SO2showed a positive correlation with the dew point (r = 0.17, p < 0.01) and temperature (r = 0.22, p < 0.01). Among the four pollutants studied, the elevation of NO2concentration had the highest impact on asthma outpatient visits on the day that a 10% increase of concentration caused the asthma outpatient visit rate to increase by 0.30% (95% CI: 0.16%~0.45%) in the four pollutant model. For emergency visits, the elevation of PM10concentration, which occurred two days before the visits, had the most significant influence on this type of patient visit with an increase of 0.14% (95% CI: 0.01%~0.28%) in the four pollutants model. The impact on the emergency visit rate was non-significant two days following exposure to the other three air pollutants.ConclusionThis preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility of an integrated spatial and temporal approach to assess the impact of air pollution on asthma patient visits. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the correlation of air pollution with asthma patient visits and demonstrate that NO2and PM10might have a positive impact on outpatient and emergency settings respectively. Future research is required to validate robust spatiotemporal patterns and trends.
Specific retention of the protostome-specific PsGEF may parallel with the evolution of mushroom bodies in insect and lophotrochozoan brains
Authors: Higuchi Nozomu , Kohno Keigo , Kadowaki Tatsuhiko 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundGene gain and subsequent retention or loss during evolution may be one of the underlying mechanisms involved in generating the diversity of metazoan nervous systems. However, the causal relationships acting therein have not been studied extensively.ResultsWe identified the genePsGEF(protostome-specific GEF), which is present in all the sequenced genomes of insects and limpet but absent in those of sea anemones, deuterostomes, and nematodes. InDrosophila melanogaster, PsGEFencodes a short version of a protein with the C2 and PDZ domains, as well as a long version with the C2, PDZ, and RhoGEF domains through alternative splicing. Intriguingly, the exons encoding the RhoGEF domain are specifically deleted in theDaphnia pulexgenome, suggesting thatDaphniaPsGEF contains only the C2 and PDZ domains. Thus, the distribution of PsGEF containing the C2, PDZ, and RhoGEF domains among metazoans appears to coincide with the presence of mushroom bodies. Mushroom bodies are prominent neuropils involved in the processing of multiple sensory inputs as well as associative learning in the insect, platyhelminth, and annelid brains. In the adultDrosophilabrain,PsGEFis expressed in mushroom bodies, antennal lobe, and optic lobe, where it is necessary for the correct axon branch formation of alpha/beta neurons in mushroom bodies.PsGEFgenetically interacts withRac1but not other Rho family members, and the RhoGEF domain of PsGEF induces actin polymerization in the membrane, thus resulting in the membrane ruffling that is observed in cultured cells with activated forms of Rac.ConclusionThe specific acquisition ofPsGEFby the last common ancestor of protostomes followed by its retention or loss in specific animal species during evolution demonstrates that there are some structural and/or functional features common between insect and lophotrochozoan nervous systems (for example, mushroom bodies), which are absent in all deuterostomes and cnidarians.PsGEFis therefore one of genes associated with the diversity of metazoan nervous systems.
A binary method for simple and accurate two-dimensional cursor control from EEG with minimal subject training
Authors: Kayagil Turan A , Bai Ou , Henriquez Craig S , Lin Peter , Furlani Stephen J , Vorbach Sherry , Hallett Mark 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) use electroencephalography (EEG) to interpret user intention and control an output device accordingly. We describe a novel BCI method to use a signal from five EEG channels (comprising one primary channel with four additional channels used to calculate its Laplacian derivation) to provide two-dimensional (2-D) control of a cursor on a computer screen, with simple threshold-based binary classification of band power readings taken over pre-defined time windows during subject hand movement.

Methods
We tested the paradigm with four healthy subjects, none of whom had prior BCI experience. Each subject played a game wherein he or she attempted to move a cursor to a target within a grid while avoiding a trap. We also present supplementary results including one healthy subject using motor imagery, one primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) patient, and one healthy subject using a single EEG channel without Laplacian derivation.

Results
For the four healthy subjects using real hand movement, the system provided accurate cursor control with little or no required user training. The average accuracy of the cursor movement was 86.1% (SD 9.8%), which is significantly better than chance (p = 0.0015). The best subject achieved a control accuracy of 96%, with only one incorrect bit classification out of 47. The supplementary results showed that control can be achieved under the respective experimental conditions, but with reduced accuracy.

Conclusion
The binary method provides naïve subjects with real-time control of a cursor in 2-D using dichotomous classification of synchronous EEG band power readings from a small number of channels during hand movement. The primary strengths of our method are simplicity of hardware and software, and high accuracy when used by untrained subjects.
Sternal plating for primary and secondary sternal closure; can it improve sternal stability?
Authors: Fawzy Hosam , Alhodaib Nasser , Mazer C. David , Harrington Alana , Latter David , Bonneau Daniel , Errett Lee , Mahoney James 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Sternal instability with mediastinitis is a very serious complication after median sternotomy. Biomechanical studies have suggested superiority of rigid plate fixation over wire cerclage for sternal fixation. This study tests the hypothesis that sternal closure stability can be improved by adding plate fixation in a human cadaver model.

Methods
Midline sternotomy was performed in 18 human cadavers. Four sternal closure techniques were tested: (1) approximation with six interrupted steel wires; (2) approximation with six interrupted cables; (3) closure 1 (wires) or 2 (cables) reinforced with a transverse sternal plate at the sixth rib; (4) Closure using 4 sternal plates alone. Intrathoracic pressure was increased in all techniques while sternal separation was measured by three pairs of sonomicrometry crystals fixed at the upper, middle and lower parts of the sternum until 2.0 mm separation was detected. Differences in displacement pressures were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Regression Coefficients.

Results
Intrathoracic pressure required to cause 2.0 mm separation increased significantly from 183.3 ± 123.9 to 301.4 ± 204.5 in wires/cables alone vs. wires/cables plus one plate respectively, and to 355.0 ± 210.4 in the 4 plates group (p < 0.05). Regression Coefficients (95% CI) were 120 (47–194) and 142 (66–219) respectively for the plate groups.

Conclusion
Transverse sternal plating with 1 or 4 plates significantly improves sternal stability closure in human cadaver model. Adding a single sternal plate to primary closure improves the strength of sternal closure with traditional wiring potentially reducing the risk of sternal dehiscence and could be considered in high risk patients.
Determination of normal values for navicular drop during walking: a new model correcting for foot length and gender
Authors: Nielsen Rasmus G , Rathleff Michael S , Simonsen Ole H , Langberg Henning 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundThe navicular drop test is a measure to evaluate the function of the medial longitudinal arch, which is important for examination of patients with overuse injuries. Conflicting results have been found with regard to differences in navicular drop between healthy and injured participants. Normal values have not yet been established as foot length, age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI) may influence the navicular drop. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of foot length, age, gender, and BMI on the navicular drop during walking.MethodsNavicular drop was measured with a novel technique (Video Sequence Analysis, VSA) using 2D video. Flat reflective markers were placed on the medial side of the calcaneus, the navicular tuberosity, and the head of the first metatarsal bone. The navicular drop was calculated as the perpendicular distance between the marker on the navicular tuberosity and the line between the markers on calcaneus and first metatarsal head. The distance between the floor and the line in standing position between the markers on calcaneus and first metatarsal were added afterwards.Results280 randomly selected participants without any foot problems were analysed during treadmill walking (144 men, 136 women). Foot length had a significant influence on the navicular drop in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p = 0.015), whereas no significant effect was found of age (p = 0.27) or BMI (p = 0.88). Per 10 mm increase in foot length, the navicular drop increased by 0.40 mm for males and 0.31 mm for females. Linear models were created to calculate the navicular drop relative to foot length.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that the dynamic navicular drop is influenced by foot length and gender. Lack of adjustment for these factors may explain, at least to some extent, the disagreement between previous studies on navicular drop. Future studies should account for differences in these parameters.
Methodology for draft schedule design of plate rolling process with peening effect considered
Authors: Moon C H , Lee Y 
Published: May 2009

We propose an approach for designing a draft schedule applicable to thick plate rolling. In the proposed approach, the peening effect, i.e. thick material is rolled with a small reduction ratio, is considered fully in computing roll force and torque. To determine an initial draft schedule, we calculate material thickness at each pass and total number of passes by taking the smallest of the critical reduction ratios (reduction ratio by maximum reduction increment, reduction ratio assigned in designing a plate mill, reduction ratios by allowable roll force and roll torque). To make a final draft schedule, we then propose two ways (thickness ratio correction (TRC) method and reduction ratio correction (RRC) method) that redistribute reduction ratios predetermined in the initial draft schedule. The proposed approach has been applied to POSCO No. 2 Plate Mill. Results reveal that the reduction ratios are determined by allowable roll torque if the material being rolled is relatively thick, but reduction ratios are decided by roll force as the material thickness being rolled decreases. It has been found that the thickness ratio correction method is useful when a heavy reduction ratio is necessary in the later part of the rough rolling sequence, and obtaining a uniform microstructure over material thickness during rolling is important. Meanwhile, the reduction ratio correction method is effective if surface defect generation on the material during rolling is a concern.
A Novel Biofuel Cell Based on Direct Electron Transfer Utilizing Enzymatic Activity of Hemoglobin at Indium–Tin–Oxide Electrodes in Cathodic Process
Authors: Ayato Yusuke , Matsuda Naoki 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
A novel direct electron-transfer (DET)-based biofuel cell was established using indium–tin–oxide (ITO) substrates and hemoglobin (Hb) as the electrocatalyst for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in cathodic reaction systems. The anodic reaction utilized the oxidation of hydrogen (H2) at platinum (Pt), and a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with pH 7.4 solution was employed as the electrolyte in this study. The observed open-circuit voltage (OCV) and the maximum power density in the assembled single cell at room temperature were 0.34 V and 0.15 μW cm−2, respectively.
ZnII Complexes Coordinated by Fluorescent Ligand 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline
Authors: Ama Tomoharu , Sakaguchi Takahiko , Yoshida Katsuhira , Yamaguchi Masanori 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
New ZnII complexes with fluorescent ligand [Zn(bpimp)3]X2 (bpimp: 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared. While the ligand does not exhibit fluorescence in the solid state, the new ZnII complexes exhibit fluorescence in solution and solid states. On the other hand, NiII– and CoII–bpimp complexes do not exhibit strong fluorescence in solution and in the solid states.
External Electric Field Effects on Emission of a Dendrimer-encapsulated Gold Nanocluster in a Polymer Film
Authors: Ohshima Ruriko , Nakabayashi Takakazu , Hamada Tatsuo , Ohta Nobuhiro 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
External electric field effects on emission spectrum of a dendrimer-encapsulated gold cluster in a PVA film have been examined with electric field modulation spectroscopy. Besides the Stark shift, a field-induced quenching of the emission is observed, indicating the field-induced enhancement of the rates of nonradiative processes from the emitting state.
Structure-based synthesis: From natural products to drug prototypes
Authors: Hanessian Stephen 
Published: May 2009

AbstractX-ray crystallographic data available from complexes of natural and synthetic molecules with the enzyme thrombin has led to the design and synthesis of truncated and hydrid molecules exhibiting excellent inhibition in vitro. The design element has also been extended to the synthesis and in vitro inhibition of a series of achiral molecules deploying aromatic and heterocyclic core motifs with appropriately functionalized appendages that provide excellent binding interactions at the S1, S2, and S3sites of thrombin. Excellent selectivity for thrombin over trypsin has also been observed. Thus, studies in total synthesis of highly active natural aeruginosins have inspired further work toward truncated and hybrid analogs with excellent inhibitory activities. Structure-based organic synthesis has guided our research from natural products toward unnatural drug-like prototypes.