bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trends of the potentially inappropriate medication consumption over 10 years in older adults in the East of France
Authors: Bongue Bienvenu , Naudin Florence , Laroche Marie‐Laure , Galteau Marie‐Madeleine , Guy Claire , Guéguen René , Convers Jean‐Pierre , Colvez Alain , Maarouf Nabil 
Published: September 2009

AbstractPurposeTo describe the trends of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older adults from 1995 to 2004 in the East of France, by using the 1997 Beers criteria and its French update, and to assess risk factors for this PIM use.MethodsWe carried out a repeated cross‐sectional study using data collected among people aged ≥65 years, examined in the Center for Preventive Medicine. Studied variables were socio‐demographic, clinical data, medication consumption and the self‐health status. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to estimate the temporal changes in PIM rate.Results30 683 participants were included. 51.2% were women. The mean age was 70.1 ± 4.3 years [65–99]. The annual overall rate of PIM use decreased significantly during the study period. These rates range from 14.9% in 1995 to 9.0% in 2004 according the Beers criteria (−3.4% per year) and from 33.5% in 1995 to 19.3% in 2004 according to the French update criteria (−3.6% per year). The annual rate of medication users increased during the same period (+0.75% per year). The risk of PIM consumption increased with age, number of drugs and frequency of the visits to the physician (OR = 1.26 [1.18–1.35]). This risk was also higher among women (OR = 1.29 [1.18–1.40]), elderly living alone (OR = 1.09 [1.02–1.17]) and with those with low education level (OR = 1.19 [1.02–1.38]).ConclusionThis study shows a decrease in PIM consumption. Despite an increase of drug use in the elderly, an improving of the quality of this consumption remains possible. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combustion Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of LaCoO3 for HMX Thermal Decomposition
Authors: Wei Zhi‐Xian , Chi Ying‐Nan , Hu Chang‐Wen , Liu Hai‐Yan 
Published: September 2009

AbstractPerovskite‐type LaCoO3 was prepared by stearic acid solution combustion method and characterized by XRD, DSC‐TG, and XPS techniques. The catalytic activities of LaCoO3 for HMX (octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine) thermal decomposition were investigated. The as‐prepared LaCoO3 shows higher activity than the calcined one. This could be due to higher concentration of surface‐adsorbed oxygen and hydroxyl species as well as higher BET surface area of the as‐prepared LaCoO3.
Steerable catheters in minimally invasive vascular surgery
Authors: Fu Yili , Liu Hao , Huang Wentai , Wang Shuguo , Liang Zhaoguang 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackgroundRemote‐controlled catheter navigation systems have recently been introduced into minimally invasive vascular surgery and some of them have already been applied in clinical practice. Steerable catheters with improved manoeuvrability play an important role in these innovations for conventional catheterization.MethodsThis review details the development of various steerable catheters, both in use clinically and under investigation. Comprehensive comparison and analysis in several key aspects are followed to reveal both the advantages and limitations of these catheters, as well as the requirements for relevant techniques.ResultsSteerable catheters are able to select direction in the distal end, and superior to conventional counterparts in many aspects. Differences between magnetic and active catheters mainly lie in function, safety, configuration of operating room and cost. They have similar requirements for miniaturization and slave insertion mechanisms.ConclusionsSteerable catheters are rapidly evolving and still require technological refinements to extend current capabilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring the health of large rivers with macroinvertebrates: Do dominant taxa help or hinder the assessment?
Authors: Jackson John K. , Battle Juliann M. , Sweeney Bernard W. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractMacroinvertebrate communities in the Mississippi River are often dominated by a few taxa (e.g. oligochaetes in the fine sediments and hydropsychid caddisflies on rocks) that exploit the natural abundance of fine organic particles. These taxa are moderately to highly tolerant of pollution, and the combination of high abundance and high pollution tolerance could result in the river being assessed as highly polluted. We examined how the presence or absence of dominant oligochaetes or hydropsychid caddisflies affected biometric values and responses used to monitor environmental stress in large rivers. Responsiveness was assessed across five simulated impairments created by removing different subsets of sensitive taxa from the original data for macroinvertebrates in the Upper Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, MO. For many metrics, removal of the dominant taxa changed values, and increased the difference between existing conditions and simulated impairments. For macroinvertebrate data from fine‐sediment habitat, 8–9 of 12 metrics responded to the two most severe impairments simulated with or without dominant oligochaetes, but none changed for less severe impairments. For rock habitat, more metrics responded to moderate or severe impairments simulated when dominant hydropsychids were excluded. Few metrics performed better with dominant taxa. Overall, removal of dominant macroinvertebrate taxa improved both the accuracy and interpretability of several metrics commonly used to monitor effects of water pollution on large‐river faunas dominated by a few taxa. Removing them also makes observed responses more comparable to those frequently quantified for wadeable streams and rivers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Once an outsider, always an outsider? CEO origin, strategic change, and firm performance
Authors: Zhang Yan , Rajagopalan Nandini 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn this study, we examine how the relationship between the level of strategic change in the pattern of resource allocation and firm performance differs between firms led by outside CEOs and those led by inside CEOs. Based on longitudinal data on the tenure histories of 193 CEOs who left office between 1993 and 1998, we find that the level of strategic change has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with firm performance. As the level of change increases from slight to moderate, performance increases; as the level of change increases from moderate to great, performance declines. Further, we find that this inverted U‐shaped relationship differs between firms led by outside CEOs and those led by inside CEOs. That is, both the positive effect of strategic change on firm performance when the level of change is relatively low and the negative effect of strategic change on firm performance when the level of change is relatively high are more pronounced for outside CEOs than for inside CEOs. Supplementary analyses also suggest that this difference between outside and inside CEOs exists in later years but not in the early years of CEO tenure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boron Nitride Nanotubes Selectively Permeable to Cations or Anions
Authors: Hilder Tamsyn A. , Gordon Daniel , Chung Shin‐Ho 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBiological ion channels in membranes are selectively permeable to specific ionic species. They maintain the resting membrane potential, generate propagated action potentials, and control a wide variety of cell functions. Here it is demonstrated theoretically that boron nitride nanotubes have the ability to carry out some of the important functions of biological ion channels. Boron nitride nanotubes with radii of 4.83 and 5.52 Å embedded in a silicon nitride membrane are selectively permeable to cations and anions, respectively. They broadly mimic some of the permeation characteristics of gramicidin and chloride channels. Using distributional molecular dynamics, which is a combination of molecular and stochastic dynamics simulations, the properties of these engineered nanotubes are characterized, such as the free energy encountered by charged particles, the water‐ion structure within the pore, and the current–voltage and current–concentration profiles. These engineered nanotubes have potential applications as sensitive biosensors, antibiotics, or filtration devices.
Circuitry of mRNA regulation
Authors: Kanitz Alexander , Gerber André P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSome of the classical paradigms of gene regulation have been challenged by global‐scale analysis of eukaryotic transcriptional and post‐transcriptional gene regulation (PTGR), made possible by the development of genomics and proteomics tools. Post‐transcriptional events in particular are increasingly being recognized as important sources of gene regulation. The hundreds of regulatory RNA‐binding proteins that exist in eukaryotes may regulate dozens to hundreds of functionally related RNA targets. Likewise, the expression of considerable fractions of many eukaryotic genomes is affected by hundreds of non‐coding RNAs, e.g., microRNAs. These findings suggest an enormous regulatory potential for PTGR that may affect virtually every message in a cell. All gene regulatory systems are composed of simple network circuits that coordinate the transfer of regulatory signals to a target gene/message. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.This article is categorized under:

Biological Mechanisms > Regulatory Biology
Rapid Concentration of Nanoparticles with DC Dielectrophoresis in Focused Electric Fields
Authors: Chen Dafeng , Du Hejun , Tay CheeYong 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
We report a microfluidic device for rapid and efficient concentration of micro/nanoparticles with direct current dielectrophoresis (DC DEP). The concentrator is composed of a series of microchannels constructed with PDMS-insulating microstructures for efficiently focusing the electric field in the flow direction to provide high field strength and gradient. The location of the trapped and concentrated particles depends on the strength of the electric field applied. Both ‘streaming DEP’ and ‘trapping DEP’ simultaneously take place within the concentrator at different regions. The former occurs upstream and is responsible for continuous transport of the particles, whereas the latter occurs downstream and rapidly traps the particles delivered from upstream. The performance of the device is demonstrated by successfully concentrating fluorescent nanoparticles. The described microfluidic concentrator can be implemented in applications where rapid concentration of targets is needed such as concentrating cells for sample preparation and concentrating molecular biomarkers for detection.
Prevention of striae gravidarum with cocoa butter cream
Authors: Buchanan Keisha , Fletcher Horace M. , Reid Marvin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether cocoa butter cream is effective in preventing striae gravidarum.MethodsThis randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial enrolled 300 pregnant women: 150 women received cocoa butter cream and 150 women received a placebo cream. The women were followed‐up from 16 weeks of pregnancy to delivery to assess the development of striae gravidarum. Maternal height, weight, and abdominal girth were recorded at each visit. After delivery the placenta was weighed, and anthropometry and Apgar scores of the neonate were recorded.ResultsThe 2 groups had similar clinical parameters at booking. Striae gravidarum developed in 44% of patients using cocoa butter cream compared with 55% of those using placebo; the difference was not significant (χ2 = 2.8, df(1), P = 0.09). Striae gravidarum were more common among younger women and those with large neonates. However, no relationship was found between development of striae and body mass index.ConclusionCocoa butter cream does not prevent striae gravidarum. In Afro‐Caribbean women, development of striae is related to young age of the mother and large neonates.
Age of acquisition and the recognition of brand names: On the importance of being early
Authors: Ellis Andrew W. , Holmes Selina J. , Wright Richard L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractResearch in cognitive psychology has shown that words, objects and faces learned early in life are recognized more fluently than similar items learned later. Experiment 1 shows that early acquired brand names are recognized more quickly than later acquired brands. Experiment 2 shows that the age of acquisition effect extends to accessing semantic knowledge about brands. In Experiment 3, older participants were faster at recognizing early learned brands that are now extinct than more recent, active brand names. Early surviving brands were recognized quickest of all. The significance of these effects for manufacturers and marketing are discussed.
Convex dynamics with constant input
Authors: ADLER R. L. , NOWICKI T. , ŚWIRSZCZ G. , TRESSER C. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn Adler et al [Convex dynamics and applications. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.25 (2005), 321–352] certain piecewise linear maps were defined in terms of a convex polytope. When the convex polytope is a simplex, the resulting map has a dual nature. On one hand it is defined on ℝN and acts as a piecewise translation. On the other it can be viewed as a translation on the N-torus. What relates its two roles? A natural answer would be that there exists an invariant fundamental set into which all orbits under piecewise translation eventually enter. We prove this for N=1 and for acute and right triangles—i.e. non-obtuse triangles. We leave open the case of obtuse triangles and higher-dimensional simplices. Another question not treated is the connectivity of the invariant fundamental sets which arise.
Regression of Left Ventricular Dilation After Percutaneous Closure of a Large Intralobar Pulmonary Sequestration
Authors: Alvarez Alejandro , Borgia Francesco , Guccione Paolo 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe describe an infant of 8 months who presented with left ventricular dilation due to an extensive intralobar sequestration of the right lung. The pulmonary sequestration was associated with a patent arterial duct and a right aortic arch. Percutaneous closure of the anomalous aberrant artery feeding the sequestrated lung resulted in prompt regression of the left ventricular enlargement.
Reappraisal in the eighth life cycle stage: A theoretical psychoeducational intervention in elderly patients with cancer
Authors: Holland Jimmie , Poppito Shannon , Nelson Christian , Weiss Talia , Greenstein Mindy , Martin Anne , Thirakul Phoutthasone , Roth Andrew 
Published: September 2009

AbstractElderly patients with cancer face unique physical and psychiatric challenges in coping with their illness. Optimal psychosocial therapy for older cancer patients requires recognizing certain enhanced psychological capacities such as coping better with illness, which is associated with older age. This strength can be combined with the most appropriate cognitive coping strategies to develop a model intervention. This paper describes such a model, which integrates Erik Erikson's eighth and final psychosocial developmental life stage, in which the task is to achieve ego integrity (equanimity) or to experience despair (sadness, regrets), with Susan Folkman's cognitive coping paradigm, which utilizes reappraisal. This theoretical model addresses older cancer patients who are struggling with depression, isolation, and despair related to aging and illness, and utilizes cognitive reappraisal in a group setting to foster relatedness, acceptance of illness, and a sense of meaningful integration.
Adjusting to pancreatic cancer: Perspectives from first-degree relatives
Authors: Petrin Kerri , Bowen Deborah J. , Alfano Catherine M. , Bennett Robin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjective:The combination of a difficult early diagnosis, few treatment options, and high mortality rate could make the experience of pancreatic cancer different from the experience of other cancers, both for patients and families. To design effective interventions for families with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, there is need for a model of family members' adjustment to cancer that is specific to these unique aspects of pancreatic cancer.Method:Trained clinical interviewers and a genetic counselor conducted phone interviews with 22 first-degree relatives—parents, siblings, and offspring—from a pool of participating family members. The interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative coding methods.Results:Participants expressed both similar and different themes compared with other literature on adjustment to cancer. Relatives struggled through both the initial diagnosis and its aftermath, seeking to balance their own strong feelings with the needs of the ailing family member. Support systems were identified as very important, regardless of the source of the support, and those without them reported more intense difficulties. Many family members felt that everything was happening too fast to slow down and process what was going on.Significance of results:Pancreatic cancer families may be unable to cope by taking one day at a time and must find other ways of dealing with stress. Also, the compressed timeline between diagnosis and death may heighten certain coping behaviors, such as the reevaluation of one's priorities.
Associations with worry about dying and hopelessness in ambulatory ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Shinn Eileen Huh , Taylor Cindy L. Carmack , Kilgore Kelly , Valentine Alan , Bodurka Diane C. , Kavanagh John , Sood Anil , Li Yisheng , Basen-Engquist Karen 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjective: Women with ovarian cancer face a poor prognosis, with prolonged periods of treatment but relatively high levels of physical functioning. Their thoughts and feelings regarding the prospect of dying are complex and have not been adequately studied. Various demographic, medical and psychosocial factors were examined to determine their independent associations with fear of dying and hopelessness in a cross-sectional design.Method: Two hundred fifty-four ovarian cancer patients were assessed at the beginning of a new chemotherapy regimen. Separate logistic regressions were performed for worry about dying and loss of hope. For each analysis, psychosocial variables were entered after the demographic and medical variables to determine whether the psychosocial variables had an independent association with the respective outcome.Results: Fifty-five percent of the sample acknowledged fear of dying, and 31.6% acknowledged loss of hope in the fight against their illness. Being younger (p = .001), being of non-Hispanic White ethnicity (p = .026), and having poorer physical well-being (p = .000) were significantly associated with worry about dying after controlling for all other variables in the model. Regarding loss of hope, depressive symptoms (p = .002), lack of social support/well-being (p = .001), and number of treatments (p = .04) were significant.Significance of results: This is one of the largest studies to examine end-of-life concerns in a sample of advanced cancer patients. Our results underscore the importance of demographic and psychosocial variables in the examination of ovarian cancer patients' end-of-life concerns. Their fears and concerns should be openly acknowledged, even when the clinical focus is still on curative treatment.
Development and validation of the Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Nolan Marie T. , Hughes Mark T. , Kub Joan , Terry Peter B. , Astrow Alan , Thompson Richard E. , Clawson Lora , Texeira Kenneth , Sulmasy Daniel P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjective:Several studies have reported high levels of distress in family members who have made health care decisions for loved ones at the end of life. A method is needed to assess the readiness of family members to take on this important role. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a scale to measure family member confidence in making decisions with (conscious patient scenario) and for (unconscious patient scenario) a terminally ill loved one.Methods:On the basis of a survey of family members of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) enriched by in-depth interviews guided by Self-Efficacy Theory, we developed six themes within family decision making self-efficacy. We then created items reflecting these themes that were refined by a panel of end-of-life research experts. With 30 family members of patients in an outpatient ALS and a pancreatic cancer clinic, we tested the tool for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and for consistency from one administration to another using the test–retest reliability assessment in a subset of 10 family members. Items with item to total scale score correlations of less than .40 were eliminated.Results:A 26-item scale with two 13-item scenarios resulted, measuring family self-efficacy in decision making for a conscious or unconscious patient with a Cronbach's alphas of .91 and .95, respectively. Test–retest reliability was r = .96, p = .002 in the conscious senario and r = .92, p = .009 in the unconscious scenario.Significance of results:The Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale is valid, reliable, and easily completed in the clinic setting. It may be used in research and clinical care to assess the confidence of family members in their ability to make decisions with or for a terminally ill loved one.
Perspectives on palliative care in Lebanon: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and nursing specialties
Authors: Huijer Huda Abu-Saad , Dimassi Hani , Abboud Sarah 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjective:Our objective was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians and nurses on Palliative Care (PC) in Lebanon, across specialties.Method:We performed a cross-sectional descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire; the total number of completed and returned questionnaires was 868, giving a 23% response rate, including 74.31% nurses (645) and 25.69% physicians (223).Results:Significant differences were found between medical and surgical nurses and physicians concerning their perceptions of patients' and families' outbursts, concerns, and questions. Knowledge scores were statistically associated with practice scores and degree. Practice scores were positively associated with continuing education in PC, exposure to terminally ill patients, and knowledge and attitude scores. Acute critical care and oncology were found to have lower practice scores than other specialties.Significance of results:Formal education in palliative care and development of palliative care services are very much needed in Lebanon to provide holistic care to terminally ill patients.