bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vitro Culture of Bovine Embryos in Murine ES Cell Conditioned Media Negatively Affects Expression of Pluripotency‐Related Markers OCT4, SOX2 and SSEA1
Authors: Oliveira CS , de Souza MM , Saraiva NZ , Tetzner TAD , Lima MR , Lopes FL , Garcia JM 
Published: September 2011

ContentsDespite extensive efforts, establishment of bovine embryonic stem (ES) cell lines has not been successful. We hypothesized that culture conditions for in vitro‐produced (IVP) embryos, the most used source of inner cell mass (ICM) to obtain ES cells, might affect their undifferentiated state. Therefore, the aim of this work was to improve pluripotency of IVP blastocysts to produce suitable ICM for further culturing. We tested KSR and foetal calf serum (FCS) supplements in SOF medium and ES cell conditioned medium (CM) on IVC (groups: KSR, KSR CM, FCS and FCS CM). Cleavage and blastocyst rates were similar between all groups. Also, embryonic quality, assessed by apoptosis rates (TUNEL assay), total cell number and ICM percentage did not differ between experimental groups. However, expression of pluripotency‐related markers was affected. We detected down‐regulation of OCT3/4, SOX2 and SSEA1 in ICM of FCS CM blastocysts (p < 0.05). SOX2 gene expression revealed lower levels (p < 0.05) on KSR CM blastocysts and a remarkable variation in SOX2 mRNA levels on FCS‐supplemented blastocysts. In conclusion, pluripotency‐related markers tend to decrease after supplementation with ES cell CM, suggesting different mechanisms regulating mouse and bovine pluripotency. KSR supplementation did not differ from FCS, but FCS replacement by KSR may produce blastocysts with stable SOX2 gene expression levels.
Cost‐effectiveness of combination therapy for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a model based on the findings of the Combination of Avodart and Tamsulosin trial
Authors: Bjerklund Johansen Truls E. , Baker Timothy M. , Black Libby K. 
Published: September 2011

Study Type – Therapy (cost effective analysis with multi‐way sensitivity analysis)What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Little has been published on whether the benefits of combination therapy are worth the additional expense of a second prescription.This manuscript adds to the literature by exploring the cost effectiveness of the combination of dutasteride and tamsulosin compared to alpha blocker and 5ARI monotherapy.OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of combination therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) compared with alpha‐blocker (AB), 5‐alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) monotherapy or watchful waiting (WW) in male patients enrolled in the Combination of Avodart and Tamsulosin (CombAT) trial using a Norwegian economic model.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A decision analytic model was constructed to evaluate the BPH treatment regimens using point estimate base‐case analyses, one‐way sensitivity testing and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.
Symptom severity and acute urinary retention/transurethral resection of the prostate (AUR/TURP) event data came from the 4‐year evaluation of the CombAT trial with additional data from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS) trial. The model makes use of Norwegian practice pattern data and unit cost and utility estimates were taken from the published literature.
The model calculates treatment costs and utility outcomes at two time horizons: 4 years and lifetime. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated using WW as the basis of comparison. Costs and health state utilities were discounted after the first year.
RESULTS
At 4 years, ICER results for combination therapy are higher than AB monotherapy as a result of the higher drug cost, but the overall cost and quality‐adjusted life‐year (QALY) differences are small.
At the lifetime evaluation, the ICER results decrease from those at the 4‐year horizon, although AB monotherapy remains less expensive than combination therapy. However, the incremental QALYs gained for combination therapy are twice those of AB monotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS
The model is sensitive to variability in estimates of health state utility assigned on the basis of symptom severity, indicating that both monotherapy and combination therapy have an advantage in maintaining patients in less severe symptom states.
Overall, combination therapy for BPH is expected to provide the greatest net monetary benefit at willingness‐to‐pay thresholds at or above ≈€6000 (£5400).
A critique of the dragonfly delusion hypothesis: why sampling exuviae does not avoid bias
Authors: BRIED JASON T. , D’AMICO FRANK , SAMWAYS MICHAEL J. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract.  1. A recent study comparing adult and exuvial odonate richness concluded that adult surveys overestimate the number of species reproducing successfully. The authors called this phenomenon the “dragonfly delusion” and recommended that only exuviae be used for biomonitoring and habitat quality assessment. However, they drew this conclusion from limited surveys and detection‐naïve analysis and failed to acknowledge that exuvial richness is typically biased low.2. Here, we quantify the exuvial bias using two related metrics: (i) species detectability from concurrent adult and exuvial surveys and (ii) estimated exuvial species richness at a site based on imperfect detectability and the regional pool (cumulative total across study sites) of exuvial species observed.3. Using concurrent adult and exuvial data from lakes in south‐west France, we found that detectability was generally lower in 1‐h exuvial searches than in 20‐min adult searches and that exuvial surveys may lead to strong negative bias in richness estimation. This suggests the alleged delusion of adult surveys was exaggerated.4. Controlling for species detection probability is crucial in making unbiased inferences on how many odonate species occupy a site and, by extension, comparing adult and exuvial species richness. Exuviae sampling avoids positive bias, not bias in general, and requires either relatively intensive search effort, statistical accounting of false species absences, or acceptance of negatively biased richness.
Newtonian viscosity model could overestimate wall shear stress in intracranial aneurysm domes and underestimate rupture risk
Authors: Xiang Jianping , Tremmel Markus , Kolega John , Levy Elad I , Natarajan Sabareesh K , Meng Hui 
Published: September 2011

ObjectiveComputational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of intracranial aneurysm hemodynamics usually adopt the simplification of the Newtonian blood rheology model. A study was undertaken to examine whether such a model affects the predicted hemodynamics in realistic intracranial aneurysm geometries.MethodsPulsatile CFD simulations were carried out using the Newtonian viscosity model and two non-Newtonian models (Casson and Herschel-Bulkley) in three typical internal carotid artery saccular aneurysms (A, sidewall, oblong-shaped with a daughter sac; B, sidewall, quasi-spherical; C, near-spherical bifurcation). For each aneurysm model the surface distributions of shear rate, blood viscosity and wall shear stress (WSS) predicted by the three rheology models were compared.ResultsAll three rheology models produced similar intra-aneurysmal flow patterns: aneurysm A had a slowly recirculating secondary vortex near the dome whereas aneurysms B and C contained only a large single vortex. All models predicted similar shear rate, blood viscosity and WSS in parent vessels of all aneurysms and in the sacs of B and C. However, large discrepancies in shear rate, viscosity and WSS among predictions by the various rheology models were found in the dome area of A where the flow was relatively stagnant. Here the Newtonian model predicted higher shear rate and WSS values and lower blood viscosity than the two non-Newtonian models.ConclusionsThe Newtonian fluid assumption can underestimate viscosity and overestimate shear rate and WSS in regions of stasis or slowly recirculating secondary vortices, typically found at the dome in elongated or complex-shaped saccular aneurysms as well as in aneurysms following endovascular treatment. Because low shear rates and low WSS in such flow conditions indicate a high propensity for thrombus formation and rupture, CFD based on the Newtonian assumption may underestimate the propensity of these events.
Blocking of Frizzled Signaling With a Homologous Peptide Fragment of Wnt3a/Wnt5a Reduces Infarct Expansion and Prevents the Development of Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Laeremans Hilde , Hackeng Tilman M. , van Zandvoort Marc A.M.J. , Thijssen Victor L.J.L. , Janssen Ben J.A. , Ottenheijm Harry C.J. , Smits Jos F.M. , Blankesteijn W. Matthijs 
Published: September 2011

Background—
The molecular pathways that control the wound healing after myocardial infarction (MI) are not completely elucidated. One of these pathways is the Wnt/Frizzled pathway. In this study, we evaluated Frizzled as a novel therapeutic target for MI. These Frizzled proteins act as receptors for Wnt proteins and were previously shown to be expressed in the healing infarct.

Methods and Results—
Wnt/Frizzled signaling has been studied for decades, but synthetic ligands that interfere with the interaction between Wnts and Frizzled have not been described to date. Here we report the selection of 3 peptides derived from regions of high homology between Wnt3a and Wnt5a that act as antagonists for Frizzled proteins. UM206, the peptide with the highest affinity, antagonized the effect of Wnt3a and Wnt5a in different in vitro assays. Administration of UM206 to mice for 5 weeks, starting immediately after the induction of MI, reduced infarct expansion and increased the numbers of capillaries and myofibroblasts in the infarct area. Moreover, heart failure development was inhibited by this therapy.

Conclusions—
Blocking of Frizzled signaling reduces infarct expansion and preserves cardiac function after MI. Our findings underscore the potential of Frizzled receptors as a target for pharmacotherapy of cardiac remodeling after MI.
Sense of coherence predicts post-myocardial infarction trajectory of leisure time physical activity: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Myers Vicki , Drory Yaacov , Gerber Yariv ,   the Israel Study Group on First Acute Myocardial Infarction
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
Physical activity confers a survival advantage after myocardial infarction (MI), yet the majority of post-MI patients are not regularly active. Since sense of coherence (SOC) has been associated with health outcomes and some health behaviours, we investigated whether it plays a role in post-MI physical activity.
We examined the predictive role of SOC in the long-term trajectory of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) after MI using a prospective cohort design.

Methods
A cohort of 643 patients aged ≤ 65 years admitted to hospital in central Israel with incident MI between February 1992 and February 1993 were followed up for 13 years. Socioeconomic, clinical and psychological factors, including SOC, were assessed at baseline, and LTPA was self-reported on 5 separate occasions during follow-up. The predictive role of SOC in long-term trajectory of LTPA was assessed using generalized estimating equations.

Results
SOC was consistently associated with engagement in LTPA throughout follow-up. Patients in the lowest SOC tertile had almost twice the odds (odds ratio,1.99; 95% confidence interval,1.52-2.60) of decreasing their engagement in LTPA as those in the highest tertile. A strong association remained after controlling for disease severity, depression, sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Conclusion
Our evidence suggests that SOC predicts LTPA trajectory post-MI. Assessment of SOC can help identify high-risk MI survivors, who may require additional help in following secondary prevention recommendations which can dramatically improve prognosis.
Oral mucosal lesions in skin diseased patients attending a dermatologic clinic: a cross-sectional study in Sudan
Authors: Suliman Nada M , Åstrøm Anne N , Ali Raouf W , Salman Hussein , Johannessen Anne C 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
So far there have been no studies focusing on the prevalence of a wide spectrum of oral mucosal lesions (OML) in patients with dermatologic diseases. This is noteworthy as skin lesions are strongly associated with oral lesions and could easily be neglected by dentists. This study aimed to estimate the frequency and socio-behavioural correlates of OML in skin diseased patients attending outpatient's facility of Khartoum Teaching Hospital - Dermatology Clinic, Sudan.

Methods
A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in Khartoum from October 2008 to January 2009. A total of 588 patients (mean age 37.2 ± 16 years, 50.3% females) completed an oral examination and a personal interview of which 544 patients (mean age 37.1 ± 15.9 years, 50% females) with confirmed skin disease diagnosis were included for further analyses. OML were recorded using the World Health Organization criteria (WHO). Biopsy and smear were used as adjuvant techniques for confirmation. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (Version 15.0.1). Cross tabulation and Chi-square with Fisher's exact test were used.

Results
A total of 438 OML were registered in 315 (57.9%, males: 54.6% versus females: 45.6%, p < 0.05) skin diseased patients. Thus, a certain number of patients had more than one type of OML. Tongue lesions were the most frequently diagnosed OML (23.3%), followed in descending order by white lesions (19.1%), red and blue lesions (11%) and vesiculobullous diseases (6%). OML in various skin diseases were; vesiculobullous reaction pattern (72.2%), lichenoid reaction pattern (60.5%), infectious lesions (56.5%), psoriasiform reaction pattern (56.7%), and spongiotic reaction pattern (46.8%). Presence of OML in skin diseased patients was most frequent in older age groups (62.4% older versus 52.7% younger, p < 0.05), in males (63.2% males versus 52.6% females, p < 0.05), patients with a systemic disease (65.2% with systemic versus 51.9% without systemic disease, p < 0.05) and among current users of smokeless tobacco (toombak) (77% current use versus 54.8% no use, p < 0.00).

Conclusions
OML were frequently diagnosed in skin diseased patients and varied systematically with age, gender, systemic condition and use of toombak. The high prevalence of OML emphasizes the importance of routine examination of oral mucosa in a dermatology clinic.
Optimization of Cavity Length to Obtain Low Threshold Solid-state Dye Laser
Authors: Shi Lan-Ting , Jin Feng , Zheng Mei-Ling , Dong Xian-Zi , Chen Wei-Qiang , Zhao Zhen-Sheng , Duan Xuan-Ming 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTWe have demonstrated and studied polymeric solid-state dye lasers (SSDLs) fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) polystyrene colloidal crystals and tert-butyl roadamine B (t-Bu RhB) doped Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films with different film thickness. The sandwich-typed resonator cavities with different active layer thickness display single-mode lasing oscillations in the reflection bandgap of the colloidal crystals. The lasing thresholds could be optimized by changing the thickness of t-Bu RhB doped PMMA films, which is as low as 7.43 W/cm2. Adjusting active layer thickness would provide an opportunity to accelerate the development of fabricating polymeric SSDLs with low threshold.
ZnCdSeTe Semiconductor Compounds: Preparation and Properties
Authors: Valdna Vello , Grossberg Maarja , Hiie Jaan , Kallavus Urve , Mikli Valdek , Raadik Taavi , Traksmaa Rainer , Viljus Mart 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTGroup II-VI narrow band gap compounds CdTe ZnCdTe and CdSeTe are known as the most suitable semiconductor materials for the room temperature gamma- and X-ray radiation detectors. In this work we investigated electronic properties of a quaternary compound ZnCdSeTe. Cl Cu Pr Er and oxygen doped host materials were synthesized from the grinded mixture of 6N purity ZnTe CdTe and CdSe by the help of CdCl2 flux. Precautions were applied to achieve an uniform doping and high quality of the crystal surfaces. Residue phases after the thermal treatments were removed by the help of a vacuum annealing. It was found that Zn increases a substitutional solubility of dopants in ZnCdSeTe and thus promotes optoelectronic properties of the ZnCdSeTe alloy. Cl substitutes Te whereas Cu and rare earth elements substitute Zn in ZnCdSeTe. Fabricated polycrystalline samples showed a high performance from NIR via VIS and UV to X-ray band. High stability good linearity and performance of samples was measured under X-ray excitation of Cu Kα 1.54056 Å at 40 kV.
Semiconductor Detectors Fabricated from TlBr Crystals
Authors: Hitomi Keitaro , Tada Tsutomu , Kim Seong-Yun , Wu Yan , Yamazaki Hiromichi , Shoji Tadayoshi , Ishii Keizo 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTFrisch collar detectors were fabricated from TlBr crystals with the dimensions of 2 mm × 2 mm × 4.4 mm. Spectroscopic performance of the TlBr Frisch collar detectors was evaluated at room temperature. An energy resolution of 2.9% FWHM at 662 keV was obtained from the detector without the depth correction. The detector exhibited stable spectral performance for 12 hours. Direct measurements of electron mobility-lifetime products were performed with the detectors. The TlBr crystals exhibited the electron mobility-lifetime products of ∼10−3 cm2/V at room temperature.
Closed-loop control of a laser assisted carbon nanotube growth process for interconnects in flexible electronics
Authors: van de Burgt Yoeri , Bellouard Yves , Mandamparambil Rajesh , Dietzel Andreas 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTA feedback control mechanism based on infrared radiation monitoring coupled with reflectivity information was developed to control the temperature of a laser assisted chemical vapor deposition process for the growth of carbon nanotube forests. An infrared laser operating at 808 nm is focused on a silicon substrate containing a 20 nm-aluminum-oxide layer and a 1.5 nm-iron catalyst layer. The growth takes place in an argon/ hydrogen/ ethylene gaseous environment. SEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis show that good controllability and reproducibility is achieved over multiple experiments.
Low loss EELS and EFTEM study of Bi2Te3 based bulk and nanomaterials
Authors: Peranio N. , Aabdin Z. , Töllner W. , Winkler M. , König J. , Eibl O. , Nielsch K. , Böttner H. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTEnergy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) yields new possibilities for the investigation of Bi2Te3 based nanomaterials. Combined low-loss electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDS) and energy-filtered TEM were applied on a Zeiss 912Ω TEM to investigate nanowires, thin films, and bulk materials. Multilayered Bi-Sb-Te nanowires with a diameter of 65 nm and a period of 200 nm and stoichiometric Bi2Te3 nanowires were grown by potential-pulsed electrochemical deposition. Tellurium elemental maps of the multilayered nanowires were obtained by two-window edge-jump ratio images (EJI). EDS chemical analysis showed that small Te fluctuations of 3 at.% yielded significant contrast in EJI. Energy-filtered TEM applied on nano-alloyed Bi2Te3 thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) revealed 10-20 nm thick Bi-rich blocking layers at grain boundaries. Plasmon spectroscopy by EELS was applied on Bi2(Te0.91Se0.09)3 bulk and yielded a plasmon energy of 16.9 eV. Finally, plasmon dispersion was measured for Bi2(Te0.91Se0.09)3 bulk by angle-resolved EELS, which yields a fingerprint of the anisotropy and the dimensionality of the electronic structure of the materials.
Proton formation and diffusion in amorphous SiNx:H
Authors: Dekkers H.F.W. , Prajapati V. , Van Elshocht S. , Vancoille E. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTIn this work the release of atomic hydrogen from SiNx:H films is investigated. Thermal treatment as well as UV-illumination induces the formation of H2, increasing the tensile stress in the film. N-rich SiNx:H films release hydrogen only by UV-illumination, indicating involvement of charge trapping. Ab initio calculations show a possible reaction path for the release and diffusion of protons that also explain the diffusion of hydrogen into Si substrates.
Frequency-Dependent Thermal Conductivity in Time Domain Thermoreflectance Analysis of Thin Films
Authors: Pernot Gilles , Michel Hélène , Vermeersch Bjorn , Burke Peter , Lu H. , Rampnoux Jean-Michel , Dilhaire Stefan , Ezzahri Younès , Gossard Arthur , Shakouri Ali 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTOver the past three decades, ultrashort laser pulses have been demonstrated to be a very powerful tool to investigate materials properties at the nanoscale. A key driving force is the high-time resolution required to study heat transfer across interfaces and in thin films. The Time-Domain Thermoreflectance (TDTR) is now widely used. This optical technique offers an interesting alternative to electrical approaches such as the 3ω method. We present a complete study of the TDTR signals. We investigate the influence of the modulation frequency on the measured signals and we show how this experimental parameter could be set to enhance or reduce the sensitivity to a specific thermal parameter. The dependence of the measured “apparent” thermal conductivity of the thin film as a function of the modulation frequency is discussed. Results are applied to investigate thermal properties of a series of InGaAs samples with embedded ErAs nanoparticles.
Ab-Initio Fully Periodic Characterization of MOF-74-M (M = Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn): Structures and Enthalpies of Adsorption
Authors: Valenzano Loredana , Civalleri Bartolomeo , Perger Warren F. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAs a part of a systematic study on cation-exchanged MOF-74-M, we report a partial snapshot of our recent work achieved via a fully periodic first principle approach. Structures are reported for bulk MOF-74-Mg, Mn, Ni, and Zn as computed at DFT-B3LYP level of theory; enthalpies of adsorption for CO and CO2 in interaction with MOF-74-Ni, and Zn are also investigated as obtained at B3LYP+D* level, which is able to take into account the long-range dispersion interaction between adsorbate and adsorbant, through an a-posteriori scheme. Results are discussed and compared with available experimental data. To the authors’ knowledge this represents the first description of MOF-74-Mn structure and of the interaction of the mentioned molecules with MOF-74-Zn.
Proton and Mixed Conductors for Dual Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Viviani Massimo , Presto Sabrina , Barbucci Antonio , Carpanese Maria P. , Amendola Roberta , Thorel Alain S. , Chesnaud Anthony , Abreu Joao , Costa Remi , Ilhan Zeynep , Ansar Sayed-Asif , Vladikova Daria E. , Stoynov Zdravko B. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper presents results for the conductivity of BaCe0.85Y0.15O2-δ (BCY15) measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in wet hydrogen and in Air, as well as test results from the application of the material in a new dual membrane fuel cell configuration (“IDEAL Cell”), in which the water is produced and evacuated through a separate chamber. The conductivity of dense BCY15 in wet hydrogen atmosphere at 700 °C is 2.0 10-2 S/cm. The measured values in air are of the same order. Preliminary tests of the material in the new cell design, where the three types of conductivity (protonic, oxide ion and mixed) are used in different cell compartments, are successfully performed.