bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inspiratory muscle training in bronchiectasis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Liaw Mei-Yun , Wang Yi-Hsi , Tsai Yu-Chin , Huang Kuo-Tung , Chang Pei-Wen , Chen Yung-Che , Lin Meng-Chih 
Published: February 2011

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and feasibility of home-based inspiratory muscle training in patients with bronchiectasis. Design: A prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled study. Setting: Outpatient clinic of a tertiary care medical centre. Methods: Twenty-six patients with bronchiectasis were randomly divided into inspiratory muscle training and control groups. In the inspiratory muscle training group (n = 13), the training programme started with an intensity of 30% maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), which was increased by 2 cmH2O each week, for 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week for eight weeks. The control group (n = 13) did not receive inspiratory muscle training. Main outcome measures included spirometry, resting oxyhaemoglobin saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2), lowest SpO2 and Borg Scale during 6-minute walking tests, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), 6-minute walking work (6Mwork), MIP, maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire. Results: There were significant differences in change from baseline in 6MWD (411.9 (133.5) vs. 473.2 (117.2) m, P = 0.021), 6Mwork (21 051.0 (8286.7) vs. 23 915.5 (8343.0) kg-m, P = 0.022), MIP (60.8 (21.8) vs. 84.6 (29.0) cmH2O, P = 0.004), and MEP (72.3 (31.1) vs. 104.2 (35.7) cmH2O, P = 0.004) in the inspiratory muscle training group. Significant improvements in both MIP (23.8 (25.3) vs. 2.3 (16.4) cmH2O, adjusted P-value = 0.005) and MEP (31.9 (30.8) vs. 11.5 (20.8) cmH2O, adjusted P-value = 0.038) levels after adjusting for age by linear regression analysis were observed between groups. Conclusions: An eight-week home-based inspiratory muscle training is feasible and effective in improving both inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, but has no effect on respiratory function and quality of life in patients with bronchiectasis.
Prognostic impact of SNP array karyotyping in myelodysplastic syndromes and related myeloid malignancies
Authors: Tiu Ramon V. , Gondek Lukasz P. , O'Keefe Christine L. , Elson Paul , Huh Jungwon , Mohamedali Azim , Kulasekararaj Austin , Advani Anjali S. , Paquette Ronald , List Alan F. , Sekeres Mikkael A. , McDevitt Michael A. , Mufti Ghulam J. , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphism arrays (SNP-As) have emerged as an important tool in the identification of chromosomal defects undetected by metaphase cytogenetics (MC) in hematologic cancers, offering superior resolution of unbalanced chromosomal defects and acquired copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and related cancers share recurrent chromosomal defects and molecular lesions that predict outcomes. We hypothesized that combining SNP-A and MC could improve diagnosis/prognosis and further the molecular characterization of myeloid malignancies. We analyzed MC/SNP-A results from 430 patients (MDS = 250, MDS/myeloproliferative overlap neoplasm = 95, acute myeloid leukemia from MDS = 85). The frequency and clinical significance of genomic aberrations was compared between MC and MC plus SNP-A. Combined MC/SNP-A karyotyping lead to higher diagnostic yield of chromosomal defects (74% vs 44%, P < .0001), compared with MC alone, often through detection of novel lesions in patients with normal/noninformative (54%) and abnormal (62%) MC results. Newly detected SNP-A defects contributed to poorer prognosis for patients stratified by current morphologic and clinical risk schemes. The presence and number of new SNP-A detected lesions are independent predictors of overall and event-free survival. The significant diagnostic and prognostic contributions of SNP-A–detected defects in MDS and related diseases underscore the utility of SNP-A when combined with MC in hematologic malignancies.
Alternatively spliced variants of interleukin-4 promote inflammation differentially
Authors: Luzina Irina G , Lockatell Virginia , Todd Nevins W , Highsmith Kendrick , Keegan Achsah D , Hasday Jeffrey D , Atamas Sergei P 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTIL-4δ2 is a natural splice variant of IL-4 that lacks the region encoded by the second exon. Numerous reports have suggested that the expression levels of IL-4δ2 change in various diseases, especially those with pulmonary involvement, but the in vivo effects of this splice variant have never been studied. Replication-deficient, AdV-mediated gene delivery of mIL-4δ2 to mouse lungs in vivo was used, and the effects compared with similar adenoviral delivery of mIL-4 or with infection with a noncoding NULL viral construct. Overexpression of IL-4δ2 or IL-4 caused pulmonary infiltration by T and B lymphocytes, whereas in contrast to IL-4, IL-4δ2 did not induce eosinophilia or goblet cell hyperplasia. Microarray analysis of global gene expression revealed that IL-4δ2 and IL-4 had differential effects on gene expression. These splice variants also differentially regulated pulmonary levels of the cytokines TNF-α, eotaxin, IL-1α, IFN-γ, and MCP-1, whereas both tended to increase total lung collagen modestly. Pulmonary infiltration by lymphocytes in response to overexpression of IL-4δ2 was attenuated but not abrogated completely by germline deficiency of IL-4Rα or STAT6, whereas deficiency of endogenous IL-4 had no effect. Thus, IL-4δ2 promotes lymphocytic inflammation in vivo (although differentially from IL-4, in part), and the effects of IL-4δ2 are not mediated by endogenous IL-4. Differential targeting of IL-4δ2 and IL-4 may therefore be considered in developing future therapeutic agents.
Rapid Effects of Estrogen Receptor α and β Selective Agonists on Learning and Dendritic Spines in Female Mice
Authors: Phan Anna , Lancaster Karla E. , Armstrong John N. , MacLusky Neil J. , Choleris Elena 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) agonists rapidly affect neural plasticity within 1 h, suggesting they play a functional role in learning and memory. However, behavioral learning experiments on such a rapid time scale are lacking. Therefore we investigated whether the ERα agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) and ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) could affect social recognition, object recognition, or object placement learning within 40 min of drug administration. At the same time, we examined their effects on CA1 hippocampal dendritic spines. Ovariectomized female CD1 mice were administered a range of PPT or DPN doses (0, 30, 50, 75, or 150 μg/mouse). PPT at the middle doses improved social recognition, facilitated object recognition and placement at a dose of 75 μg, and increased dendritic spine density in the stratum radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare. In contrast, DPN impaired social recognition at higher doses, did not affect object recognition, but slightly facilitated object placement learning at the 75-μg dose. DPN did not affect spines in the stratum radiatum but decreased spine density and increased spine length in the lacunosum-moleculare. This suggests that rapid estrogen-mediated learning enhancements may predominantly be mediated through ERα, while the effects of DPN are weaker and may depend on the learning paradigm. The role of ERα and ERβ in learning and memory may vary depending on the timing of drug administration, as genomic studies often implicate ERβ in enhancing effects on learning and memory. To our knowledge, this is the first report of estrogens' effects on learning within such a short time frame.
The Adapter Protein APPL1 Links FSH Receptor to Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Production and Is Implicated in Intracellular Ca2+ Mobilization
Authors: Thomas Richard M. , Nechamen Cheryl A. , Mazurkiewicz Joseph E. , Ulloa-Aguirre Alfredo , Dias James A. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractFSH binds to its receptor (FSHR) on target cells in the ovary and testis, to regulate oogenesis and spermatogenesis, respectively. The signaling cascades activated after ligand binding are extremely complex and have been shown to include protein kinase A, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate–mediated calcium signaling pathways. The adapter protein APPL1 (Adapter protein containing Pleckstrin homology domain, Phosphotyrosine binding domain and Leucine zipper motif), which has been linked to an assortment of other signaling proteins, was previously identified as an interacting protein with FSHR. Thus, alanine substitution mutations in the first intracellular loop of FSHR were generated to determine which residues are essential for FSHR-APPL1 interaction. Three amino acids were essential; when any one of them was altered, APPL1 association with FSHR mutants was abrogated. Two of the mutants (L377A and F382A) that displayed poor cell-surface expression were not studied further. Substitution of FSHR-K376A did not affect FSH binding or agonist-stimulated cAMP production in either transiently transfected human embryonic kidney cells or virally transduced human granulosa cells (KGN). In the KGN line, as well as primary cultures of rat granulosa cells transduced with wild type or mutant receptor, FSH-mediated progesterone or estradiol production was not affected by the mutation. However, in human embryonic kidney cells inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production was curtailed and KGN cells transduced with FSHR-K376A evidenced reduced Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores after FSH treatment.
Consensus Statement on the Standardization and Evaluation of Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor Assays
Authors: Clemmons David R 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) measurements are widely used in the diagnosis of disorders of GH secretion, evaluation of children with short stature from multiple causes, management of disorders that lead to nutritional insufficiency or catabolism, and monitoring both GH and IGF-I replacement therapy. Therefore, there is an ongoing need for accurate and precise measurements of these 2 peptide hormones. Representatives of the Growth Hormone Research Society, the IGF Society, and the IFCC convened an international workshop to review assay standardization, requirements for improving assay comparability, variables that affect assay interpretation, technical factors affecting assay performance, assay validation criteria, and the development and use of normative data. Special attention was given to preanalytical conditions, the use of international commutable reference standards, antibody specificity, matrix requirements, QC analysis, and interference by binding proteins. Recommendations for each of these variables were made for measurements of each peptide. Additionally, specific criteria for IGF-I were recommended for age ranges of normative data, consideration of Tanner staging, and consideration of the effect of body mass index. The consensus statement concludes that major improvements are necessary in the areas of assay performance and comparability. This group recommends that a commutable standard for each assay be implemented for worldwide use and that its recommendations be applied to accomplish the task of providing reliable and clinically useful results.
Age and sex determination of gaur Bos gaurus (Bovidae)
Authors: Ahrestani Farshid S. , Prins Herbert H.T. 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
One reason why the gaur Bos gaurus is a poorly understood species is because there are no reliable data to age and sex individuals. We studied captive gaur for two years in Mysore Zoo, India and Omaha Zoo, USA, and determined age-specific differences in morphological features and physical growth, by measuring shoulder height, of male and female gaur. We fitted von Bertalanffy growth functions to the shoulder height data and found maximum shoulder heights of 175 cm and 147 cm for males and females, respectively. This study ascertained for the first time that the greater the amount of white on the horns of a gaur, the older it is, and that the sexes can be distinguished based on horn shape and size differences. We found that gaur aged 15 months and below can be classified into three age classes, but are difficult to sex. The sex of gaur aged 15–36 months is best determined by a study of their horns. Adult gaur, greater than three years, are easy to sex, but are difficult to classify into single-year age classes and are reliably classified only into two age classes for females and three for males.
Forced Convective Boiling of Ethylene Glycol/Water Mixtures Inside a Small Tube
Authors: Yu Wenhua , France David M. , Routbort Jules L. 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
Forced convective boiling heat transfer of water and ethylene glycol/water mixtures with volume concentration ratios of 40/60, 50/50, and 60/40 in a 2.98-mm inner-diameter circular tube has been investigated for both horizontal and vertical upward flows. Boiling heat transfer rates of the test fluids were determined experimentally over a range of mass flux, vapor mass quality, and inlet subcooling through a boiling data reduction procedure that allowed analytical calculation of the fluid boiling temperatures along the experimental test section by applying ideal mixture and equilibrium assumptions along with Raoult’s law. Based on the experimental findings that the heat flux in the nucleation-dominant-boiling region was dependent strongly on the wall superheat but almost independent of the mass flux and the inlet subcooling, prediction equations were developed for boiling heat transfer coefficients of water and ethylene glycol/water mixtures in small channels. The equations predict the experimental data well, and most of the predicted values are within ±30 % of the experimental data.
Lernen zum Anfassen: Ein Lernroboter in der Schule
Authors: Eimler Sabrina , von der Pütten Astrid , Krämer Nicole 
Published: February 2011

Zusammenfassung
Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt ein Vokabellernsystem vor, in dem die Körperlichkeit und die Attraktivität sowie die verbale und nonverbale Expressivität des Roboterhasen Nabaztag mit einer zusätzlichen Bildschirmapplikation kombiniert wurde, um Schüler zum Vokabeltraining zu motivieren. Ein integrierter Feedback-Mechanismus greift ergänzend die Idee des one-to-one Tutoring auf. Die Ergebnisse der in einer 5. Klasse durchgeführten Fallstudie zeigen, dass sowohl die pragmatische wie auch die hedonische Qualität der Anwendung von den Nutzern als sehr hoch bewertet wurden. Daneben sind auch die Nützlichkeit und Leichtigkeit im Umgang als sehr hoch eingeschätzt worden. Damit erfüllt die vorge-stellte Anwendung wichtige Grundvoraussetzungen für den erfolgreichen Einsatz eines Roboter-gestützten Lernsystems, das Kindern Spaß bereitet und sie zur erneuten Nutzung motiviert.
Elevated LH predicts ischaemic heart disease events in older men: the Health in Men Study
Authors: Hyde Zoë , Norman Paul E , Flicker Leon , Hankey Graeme J , McCaul Kieran A , Almeida Osvaldo P , Chubb S A Paul , Yeap Bu B 
Published: February 2011

ContextHypogonadism in men is associated with insulin resistance, elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrinogen, and an atherogenic lipid profile. However, it is uncertain whether the age-related decline in testosterone is associated with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) events.ObjectiveTo determine whether testosterone and its associated hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and LH, predict IHD events in older men.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsBetween 2001 and 2004, 3637 community-dwelling men aged 70–88 years underwent a clinical assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and biochemical assessment of testosterone, SHBG and LH. Free testosterone was calculated using mass action equations. Participants were followed until December 2008 using electronic record linkage to capture IHD events (hospital admission or death).ResultsMean follow-up was 5.1 years. During this period, 618 men (17.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.8, 18.3%) experienced an event, of which 160 were fatal. Men with higher baseline total or free testosterone levels experienced fewer IHD events (hazard ratio (HR)=0.89; 95% CI 0.82, 0.97 and HR=0.86; 95% CI 0.79, 0.94 for each one s.d. increase in total and free testosterone respectively). These associations were maintained after adjustment for age and waist:hip ratio but did not persist after adjustment for prevalent IHD or other cardiovascular risk factors. SHBG was not associated with IHD events. In contrast, higher LH levels were associated with reduced event-free survival in both univariate (HR=1.15; 95% CI 1.08, 1.22) and adjusted analyses (HR=1.08; 95% CI 1.01, 1.15).ConclusionsDysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis may be a risk factor for IHD. Further studies of men with either elevated LH or low testosterone are warranted.
Impaired glucose metabolism in Japanese patients with acromegaly is restored after successful pituitary surgery if pancreatic β-cell function is preserved
Authors: Kinoshita Yuka , Fujii Hiroko , Takeshita Akira , Taguchi Manabu , Miyakawa Megumi , Oyama Kenich , Yamada Shozo , Takeuchi Yasuhiro 
Published: February 2011

ObjectiveImpaired glucose metabolism is common in acromegaly, but it is not clear how glucose metabolism is impaired or what predicts its restoration after cure of the disease. To identify factors involved in the impairment of glucose metabolism in acromegaly, we evaluated clinical parameters before and immediately after surgical cure of the disease.Design and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 92 consecutive Japanese patients with acromegaly who underwent successful pituitary surgery. Patients who had received medical therapy for acromegaly or insulin treatment for diabetes were excluded. We evaluated insulin resistance (IR) and pancreatic β-cell function in addition to GH and IGF1 levels before and after surgery.ResultsIn this study of Japanese patients with acromegaly, average body mass index (BMI) was 23.4, and no patient had a BMI>30. IR was involved in the impairment of glucose metabolism, which was restored upon surgical cure of acromegaly if β-cell function was preserved. Insufficient β-cell function did not improve after normalization of GH/IGF1 and was associated with impaired glucose metabolism before and after surgery. Results of receiver operating characteristic analysis of preoperative clinical parameters suggest that insulinogenic index (IGI) >0.50 best predicts restoration of normal glucose metabolism upon cure of acromegaly in Japanese patients.ConclusionsIR impairs glucose metabolism in acromegaly. Once β-cell function is impaired, abnormal glucose metabolism persists even after cure of acromegaly. IGI>0.50 indicates that β-cell function is preserved in non-obese Japanese patients with acromegaly.
Science and Applications of Mixed Conductors for Lithium Batteries
Authors: Thackeray Michael M. , Thomas John O. , Whittingham M. Stanley 
Published: February 2011

IntroductionMixed conductors show significant mobility of both electronic and ionic species and were the subject of an earlier review in MRS Bulletin.1 The current review is restricted to those mixed conductors of interest for use in lithium batteries, with an emphasis on commercialization. The first lithium batteries were primary cells using pure lithium anodes and carbon monofluoride or manganese oxide as the cathode. Both were developed in Japan, the former for use in fishing floats and the latter for calculators and similar small devices. Such primary cells based mainly on MnO2 or FeS2 cathodes are still extensively used in watches, cameras, and so on. Lithium primary cells are also the main power source for many medical devices, such as pacemakers. In some of these applications, silver vanadate is the cathode.
Process Monitoring of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Degamber B. , Fernando G. F. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis article presents a review of optical-fiber-based process-monitoring techniques that can be used to track the chemical reactions that take place during the processing of materials, with specific reference to thermosetting resins. The techniques covered include quantitative process-monitoring methods based on near and mid-infrared, Raman, UV–visible, evanescent wave, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The basis for refractive-index-based process monitoring using optical fibers is also presented. The techniques described here can be readily applied to other classes of materials and other areas of interest such as aging and degradation. Recent advances in noncontact process monitoring are also presented.
Electroactive Organic Materials
Authors: Bao Zhenan , Bulovic Vladimir , Holmes Andrew B. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis brief article describes the content of the June 2002 issue of MRS Bulletin focusing on Electroactive Organic Materials. These materials are now being considered as the active components in displays, electronic circuits, solar cells, chemical and biological sensors, actuators, lasers, memory elements, and fuel cells. The flexibility of their molecular design and synthesis makes it possible to fine-tune the physical properties and material structure of organic solids to meet the requirements of technologically significant applications. In contrast to inorganic materials, active organic thin films can be deposited at much lower substrate temperatures (less than 120°C) in low-vacuum or atmospheric-pressure environments. It has been demonstrated that low-cost deposition techniques such as solution spin-coating, casting, and even printing can be used for the deposition of solution-soluble organic materials. These processing advantages, together with the natural abundance of organic solids, make electroactive organic materials attractive for large-area and low-cost applications.
Recent Developments in Light-Emitting Polymers
Authors: Rees Ian D. , Robinson Kay L. , Holmes Andrew B. , Towns Carl R. , O'Dell Richard 
Published: February 2011

AbstractConjugated light-emitting polymers (LEPs) have real potential to serve as the active layer in a new generation of emissive displays. Emerging as lead candidates for first-generation displays are poly(1,4-phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) and poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)s, as well as other polyaromatic materials. The poly(fluorene)s are at present the most commercially developed of these LEP materials for red–green–blue (RGB) applications. The low power consumption of LEP devices in general makes them particularly suited to mobile applications. Combining solution-processable emissive polymers with direct-patterning methods such as ink-jet printing will lead to the possibility of low-cost, high-resolution displays. The synthesis and properties of PPVs and poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)s are briefly reviewed in this article, with a major focus on recent developments.
Semiconducting Block Copolymers for Self-Assembled Photovoltaic Devices
Authors: Hadziioannou Georges 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis article focuses on self-assembled photovoltaic materials based on a new class of semiconducting block copolymers for application in photovoltaic devices. Topics discussed include the materials concept for efficient photovoltaic-device structures, their macromolecular design and synthesis, and their performance in relation to their molecular, mesoscopic, and interfacial structures. An ideal organic material for this application would have to compete with amorphous silicon in regard to energy-conversion efficiency and fabrication costs. The potential of the semiconducting block copolymers presented in this review lies in the promise of large-area, mechanically flexible, self-structured photovoltaic devices fabricated by inexpensive processing techniques.