bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insulin-like growth factor-I gene polymorphism and its association with growth and slaughter characteristics in broiler chickens
Authors: Kadlec Jaromír , Hosnedlová Božena , Řehout Václav , Čítek Jindřich , Večerek Libor , Hanusová Lenka 
Published: March 2012

Insulin-like growth factor-I gene polymorphism and its association with growth and slaughter characteristics in broiler chickensChicken insulin-like factor 1 gene (IGF1) is a biological candidate gene for the investigation of growth, body composition, and metabolic and skeletal traits, and is also a positional candidate gene for growth and fat deposition in chickens. Two broiler populations Ross 308 and Cobb 500 were used to study the relationship between IGF1 gene polymorphism and phenotypic traits. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified in 132 individuals using the PCR-RFLP technique. Genotypical frequencies were, for genotype AA: 0.83-0.86, and for AC: 0.14-0.17. Associations between IGF1 promotor polymorphism and liver weight (P≤0.05) and liver weight as a percentage of the weight of the poultry carcass with the giblets (P≤0.05), were found in the AC genotype in a comparison of broiler homozygous chickens AA in the Cobb 500 line. In these broilers, the breast muscle and leg muscle weight in the AC genotype were higher, and abdominal fat weight lower compared with AA genotype chickens, but these differences were not significant.
Vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of medically refractory epilepsy: a review of the current literature
Authors: Connor David E. , Nixon Menarvia , Nanda Anil , Guthikonda Bharat 
Published: March 2012

Object
The authors conducted a study to evaluate the published results of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) for medically refractory seizures according to evidence-based criteria.

Methods
The authors performed a review of available literature published between 1980 and 2010. Inclusion criteria for articles included more than 10 patients evaluated, average follow-up of 1 or more years, inclusion of medically refractory epilepsy, and consistent preoperative surgical evaluation. Articles were divided into 4 classes of evidence according to criteria established by the American Academy of Neurology.

Results
A total of 70 publications were reviewed, of which 20 were selected for review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were 2 articles that provided Class I evidence, 7 that met criteria for Class II evidence, and 11 that provided Class III evidence.
The majority of evidence supports VNS usage in partial epilepsy with a seizure reduction of 50% or more in the majority of cases and freedom from seizure in 6%–27% of patients who responded to stimulation. High stimulation with a gradual increase in VNS stimulation over the first 6 weeks to 3 months postoperatively is well supported by Class I and II data. Predictors of positive response included absence of bilateral interictal epileptiform activity and cortical malformations.

Conclusions
Vagal nerve stimulation is a safe and effective alternative for adult and pediatric populations with epilepsy refractory to medical and other surgical management.
Seizure outcomes and mesial resection volumes following selective amygdalohippocampectomy and temporal lobectomy
Authors: Sagher Oren , Thawani Jayesh P. , Etame Arnold B. , Gomez-Hassan Diana M. 
Published: March 2012

Object
Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) and selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SelAH) are the preferred surgical approaches for the treatment of medically refractory epilepsy involving the nondominant and dominant temporal lobes, respectively. Both techniques provide access to mesial structures—with the ATL providing a wider surgical corridor than SelAH. Because the extent of mesial temporal resection potentially impacts seizure outcome, the authors examined mesial resection volumes, seizure outcomes, and neuropsychiatric test scores in patients undergoing either ATL or transcortical SelAH at a single institution.

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted in 96 patients with medically refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Fifty-one patients who had nondominant temporal lobe epilepsy underwent standard ATL, and 45 patients with language-dominant temporal lobe epilepsy underwent transcortical SelAH. Volumetric MRI analysis was used to quantify the mesial resection in both groups. In addition, the authors examined seizure outcomes and the change in neuropsychiatric test scores.

Results
Seizure-free outcome in the entire patient cohort was 94% at a mean follow-up of 44 months. There was no significant difference in the seizure outcome between the 2 groups. The extent of resection of the mesial structures following ATL was slightly higher than for SelAH (98% vs 91%, p < 0.0001). The change in neuropsychiatric test scores largely reflected the side of surgery, but overall IQ and memory function did not change significantly in either group.

Conclusions
Transcortical SelAH provides adequate access to the mesial structures, and allows for a resection that is nearly as extensive as that achieved with standard ATL. Seizure outcomes and neuropsychiatric sequelae are similar in both procedures.
Increased rate of complications on a neurological surgery service after implementation of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education work-hour restriction
Authors: Dumont Travis M. , Rughani Anand I. , Penar Paul L. , Horgan Michael A. , Tranmer Bruce I. , Jewell Ryan P. 
Published: March 2012

Object
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education instituted mandatory 80-hour work-week limitations in July 2003. The work-hour restriction was met with skepticism among the academic neurosurgery community and is thought to represent a barrier to teaching, ultimately compromising patient care. The authors hypothesize that the introduction of the mandatory resident work-hour restriction corresponds with an overall increase in morbidity rate.

Methods
This study compares the morbidity and mortality rates on an academic neurological surgery service before and after institution of the work-hour restriction. Complications are individually assessed at a monthly divisional conference by neurosurgical faculty and residents. A prospective database was commenced in July 2000 recording all complications, complications that were deemed to be potentially avoidable (“possibly preventable”), and complications that were deemed unavoidable. The incidence of morbidity and mortality from July 2000 to June 2003 is compared with the incidence from July 2003 to June 2006.

Results
The overall rate of morbidity and mortality increased from 103 to 114 per 1000 patients treated after institution of the work-hour restriction, although this increase was not statistically significant (χ21, N = 8546 = 2.6, p = 0.106). The morbidity rate increased from 70 to 89 per 1000 patients treated after institution of the work-hour restriction (χ21, N = 8546 = 10, p = 0.001). The overall mortality rate was diminished from 32 to 27 per 1000 patients treated after institution of the work-hour restriction (χ21, N = 8546 = 3.2, p = 0.075). Morbidities considered avoidable or possibly preventable were seen to increase from 56 to 66 per 1000 patients treated (χ21, N = 8546 = 5.7, p = 0.017). Avoidable or possibly preventable mortalities numbered 3 per 1000 patients treated, and this rate did not change after introduction of the work-hour restriction (χ21, N = 8546 = 0.08, p = 0.777).

Conclusions
The morbidity rate on a neurological surgery service is increased after implementation of the work-hour restriction. Mortality rates remain unchanged.
The health care burden of patients with epilepsy in the United States: an analysis of a nationwide database over 15 years
Authors: Vivas Andrew C. , Baaj Ali A. , Benbadis Selim R. , Vale Fernando L. 
Published: March 2012

Object
The aim of this study was to analyze the national health care burden of patients diagnosed with epilepsy in the US and to analyze any changes in the length of stay, mean charges, in-hospital deaths (mortality), and disposition at discharge.

Methods
A retrospective review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for epilepsy admissions was completed for the years from 1993 to 2008. The NIS is maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and represents a 20% random stratified sample of all discharges from nonfederal hospitals within the US. Patients with epilepsy were identified using ICD-9 codes beginning with 345.XX. Approximately 1.1 million hospital admissions were identified over a span of 15 years.

Results
Over this 15-year period (between 1993 and 2008), the average hospital charge per admission for patients with epilepsy has increased significantly (p < 0.001) from $10,050 to $23,909, an increase of 137.9%. This is in spite of a 33% decrease in average length of stay from 5.9 days to 3.9 days. There has been a decrease in the percentage of in-hospital deaths by 57.9% and an increase in discharge to outside medical institutions.

Conclusions
The total national charges associated with epilepsy in 2008 were in excess of $2.7 billion (US dollars, normalized). During the studied period, the cost per day for patients rose from $1703.39 to $6130.51. In spite of this drastic increase in health care cost to the patient, medical and surgical treatment for epilepsy has not changed significantly, and epilepsy remains a major source of morbidity.
Regularization for Generalized Additive Mixed Models by Likelihood-based Boosting
Authors: Tutz G. , Groll A. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryObjective: With the emergence of semi- and nonparametric regression the generalized linear mixed model has been extended to account for additive predictors. However, available fitting methods fail in high dimensional settings where many explanatory variables are present. We extend the concept of boosting to generalized additive mixed models and present an appropriate algorithm that uses two different approaches for the fitting procedure of the variance components of the random effects.Methods: The main tool developed is likelihood-based componentwise boosting that enforces variable selection in generalized additive mixed models. In contrast to common procedures they can be used in high-dimensional settings where many covariates are available and the form of the influence is unknown. The complexity of the resulting estimators is determined by information criteria. The performance of the methods is investigated in simulation studies for binary and Poisson responses with comparisons to alternative approaches and it is applied to clinical real world data.Results: Simulations show that the proposed methods are considerably more stable and more accurate in estimating the regression function than the conventional approach, especially when a large number of predictors is available. The methods also produce reasonable results in applications to real data sets, which is illustrated by the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.Conclusions: The boosting algorithm allows to extract relevant predictors in generalized additive mixed models. It works in high-dimensional settings and is very stable.
TGF-β–Mediated Downregulation of MicroRNA-196a Contributes to the Constitutive Upregulated Type I Collagen Expression in Scleroderma Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Honda Noritoshi , Jinnin Masatoshi , Kajihara Ikko , Makino Takamitsu , Makino Katsunari , Masuguchi Shinichi , Fukushima Satoshi , Okamoto Yoshinobu , Hasegawa Minoru , Fujimoto Manabu , Ihn Hironobu 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPrevious reports indicated the significance of the TGF-β signaling in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. We tried to evaluate the possibility that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a part in the type I collagen upregulation seen in normal fibroblasts stimulated with exogenous TGF-β and systemic sclerosis (SSc) fibroblasts. miRNA expression profile was evaluated by miRNA PCR array and real-time PCR. The protein expression of type I collagen was determined by immunoblotting. In vivo detection of miRNA in paraffin section was performed by in situ hybridization. Several miRNAs were found to be downregulated in both TGF-β–stimulated normal fibroblasts and SSc fibroblasts compared with normal fibroblasts by PCR array. Among them, miR-196a expression was decreased in SSc both in vivo and in vitro by real-time PCR or in situ hybridization. In SSc fibroblasts, miR-196a expression was normalized by TGF-β small interfering RNA. miR-196a inhibitor leads to the overexpression of type I collagen in normal fibroblasts, whereas overexpression of the miRNA resulted in the downregulation of type I collagen in SSc fibroblasts. In addition, miR-196a was detectable and quantitative in the serum of SSc patients. Patients with lower serum miR-196a levels had significantly higher ratio of diffuse cutaneous SSc:limited cutaneous SSc, higher modified Rodnan total skin thickness score, and higher prevalence of pitting scars than those without. miR-196a may play some roles in the pathogenesis of SSc. Investigation of the regulatory mechanisms of type I collagen expression by miR-196a may lead to new treatments using miRNA.
Intrapulmonary Administration of Leukotriene B4 Augments Neutrophil Accumulation and Responses in the Lung to Klebsiella Infection in CXCL1 Knockout Mice
Authors: Batra Sanjay , Cai Shanshan , Balamayooran Gayathriy , Jeyaseelan Samithamby 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
In prior studies, we demonstrated that 1) CXCL1/KC is essential for NF-κB and MAPK activation and expression of CXCL2/MIP-2 and CXCL5/LPS-induced CXC chemokine in Klebsiella-infected lungs, and 2) CXCL1 derived from hematopoietic and resident cells contributes to host immunity against Klebsiella. However, the role of CXCL1 in mediating neutrophil leukotriene B4 (LTB4), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production is unclear, as is the contribution of these factors to host immunity. In this study, we investigated 1) the role of CXCL1 in LTB4, NADPH oxidase, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in lungs and neutrophils, and 2) whether LTB4 postinfection reverses innate immune defects in CXCL1−/− mice via regulation of NADPH oxidase and iNOS. Our results demonstrate reduced neutrophil influx, attenuated LTB4 levels, and decreased ROS and iNOS production in the lungs of CXCL1−/− mice after Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. Using neutrophil depletion and repletion, we found that neutrophils are the predominant source of pulmonary LTB4 after infection. To treat immune defects in CXCL1−/− mice, we intrapulmonarily administered LTB4. Postinfection, LTB4 treatment reversed immune defects in CXCL1−/− mice and improved survival, neutrophil recruitment, cytokine/chemokine expression, NF-κB/MAPK activation, and ROS/RNS production. LTB4 also enhanced myeloperoxidase, H2O2, RNS production, and bacterial killing in K. pneumoniae-infected CXCL1−/− neutrophils. These novel results uncover important roles for CXCL1 in generating ROS and RNS in neutrophils and in regulating host immunity against K. pneumoniae infection. Our findings suggest that LTB4 could be used to correct defects in neutrophil recruitment and function in individuals lacking or expressing malfunctional CXCL1.
Evaluating Modulators of “Regulator of G‐protein Signaling” (RGS) Proteins
Authors: Bosch Dustin E. , Zielinski Thomas , Lowery Robert G. , Siderovski David P. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract“Regulator of G‐protein Signaling” (RGS) proteins constitute a class of intracellular signaling regulators that accelerate GTP hydrolysis by heterotrimeric Gα subunits. In recent years, RGS proteins have emerged as potential drug targets for modulation by small molecules. Described in this unit are high‐throughput screening procedures for identifying modulators of RGS protein‐mediated GTPase acceleration (GAP activity), for assessment of RGS domain/Gα interactions (most avid in vitro when Gα is bound by aluminum tetrafluoride), and for validation of candidate GAP‐modulatory molecules with the single‐turnover GTP hydrolysis assay. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 56:2.8.1‐2.8.15. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Models of Inflammation: Carrageenan‐ or Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)–Induced Edema and Hypersensitivity in the Rat
Authors: Fehrenbacher Jill C. , Vasko Michael R. , Duarte Djane B. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAnimal models of inflammation are used to assess the production of inflammatory mediators at sites of inflammation, the anti‐inflammatory properties of agents such as nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the efficacy of putative analgesic compounds in reversing cutaneous hypersensitivity. This unit details methods to elicit and measure carrageenan‐ and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)–induced cutaneous inflammation. Due to possible differences between the dorsal root sensory system and the trigeminal sensory system, injections of either the footpad or vibrissal pad are described. In this manner, cutaneous inflammation can be assessed in tissue innervated by the lumbar dorsal root ganglion neurons (footpad) and by the trigeminal ganglion neurons (vibrissal pad). Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 56:5.4.1‐5.4.7. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Models of Inflammation: Carrageenan Air Pouch
Authors: Duarte Djane B. , Vasko Michael R. , Fehrenbacher Jill C. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe subcutaneous air pouch is an in vivo model that can be used to study acute and chronic inflammation, the resolution of the inflammatory response, and the oxidative stress response. Injection of irritants into an air pouch in rats or mice induces an inflammatory response that can be quantified by the volume of exudate produced, the infiltration of cells, and the release of inflammatory mediators. The model presented in this unit has been extensively used to identify potential anti‐inflammatory drugs. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 56:5.6.1‐5.6.8. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Models of Neurological Disease (Substance Abuse): Self‐Administration in Monkeys
Authors: Platt Donna M. , Carey Galen , Spealman Roger D. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDrug self‐administration is a procedure in which a subject performs a specified response that results in the delivery of a drug injection. This procedure is viewed as a relevant model for the study of human drug‐taking behavior. Drug self‐administration in primates has several characteristics that resemble drug‐taking behavior in humans, and agents commonly abused by humans also generally maintain self‐administration behavior in monkeys. Self‐administration procedures allow for the study of a variety of drug properties. For instance, they can be used to investigate the abuse potential of new compounds and to study the effects of candidate medications for the treatment of drug addiction. These procedures can also be employed for examining drug reinforcement mechanisms. Described in this unit are procedures for studying intravenous drug self‐administration in large primates, such as rhesus macaques, and smaller primates, such as squirrel monkeys. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 56:10.5.1‐10.5.17. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Photoinduced Magnetization with a High Curie Temperature and a Large Coercive Field in a Co‐W Bimetallic Assembly
Authors: Ozaki Noriaki , Tokoro Hiroko , Hamada Yoshiho , Namai Asuka , Matsuda Tomoyuki , Kaneko Souhei , Ohkoshi Shin‐ichi 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe crystal structure, magnetic properties, and temperature‐ and photoinduced phase transition of [{CoII(4‐methylpyridine)(pyrimidine)}2{CoII(H2O)2}{WV(CN)8}2]·4H2O are described. In this compound, a temperature‐induced phase transition from the CoII(S= 3/2)‐NC‐WV(S= 1/2) [high‐temperature (HT)] phase to the CoIII(S= 0)‐NC‐WIV(S= 0) [low temperature (LT)] phase is observed due to a charge‐transfer‐induced spin transition. When the LT phase is irradiated with 785 nm light, ferromagnetism with a high Curie temperature (TC) of 48 K and a gigantic magnetic coercive field (Hc) of 27 000 Oe are observed. TheseTCandHcvalues are the highest in photoinduced magnetization systems. The LT phase is optically converted to the photoinduced phase, which has a similar valence state as the HT phase due to the optically induced charge‐transfer‐induced spin transition.
A study on the appearance of extended chain fibrils of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene at melt/solid interface
Authors: Masirek S. , Tracz A. , Talebi S. , Rastogi S. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPressing of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) melt on a flat substrate of HOPG, Si/SiO2, or mica resulted into molecular alignment at the polymer melt/solid interface. From the resultant morphology, as visualized from AFM, it appears that the extended chain crystals are formed at the interface. The chain alignment in the extended chain crystals could be preserved even after annealing well above the equilibrium melting temperature (20 h at 160°C). It is thus concluded that the atomically flat surface provides efficient constraint that refrains chain relaxation of the extended chains to random coil state. It is shown that at the melt/hydrophilic mica interface the extended chain fibrils are formed easier from the polymer obtained from the single‐site catalyst compared to the heterogeneous catalyst. The extended chain fibrils at the interface promote the oriented lamella growth. Isothermal crystallization at low supercooling (at 133°C) results in the formation of lamella thicker than 200 nm. The lamellae exhibit a characteristic tapered shape indicating the thickening growth mechanism via chain sliding diffusion. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Polymer blends spin‐cast into films with complementary elements for electronics and biotechnology
Authors: Budkowski Andrzej , Zemła Joanna , Moons Ellen , Awsiuk Kamil , Rysz Jakub , Bernasik Andrzej , Björström‐Svanström Cecilia M. , Lekka Małgorzata , Jaczewska Justyna 
Published: March 2012

AbstractVersatility of solution‐processing strategy based on the simultaneous rather than additive deposition of different functional molecules is discussed. It is shown that spin‐cast polymer blends result in films with domains that could form elements with complementary functions of (i) solar cells, (ii) electronic circuitries, and (iii) test plates for protein micro‐arrays: Alternating layers, rich in electron‐donating polyfluorene and electron‐accepting fullerene derivative, result in optimized solar power conversion. Surface patterns, made by soft lithography, align conductive paths of conjugated poly(3‐alkylthiophene) in dielectric polystyrene. Proteins, preserving their biologically activity, are adsorbed to hydrophobic domains of polystyrene in hydrophilic matrix of poly(ethylene oxide). The authors report the research progress on structure formation in three polymer blend families, resulting in films with complementary elements for electronics and biotechnology. Blend film structures are determined with secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. In addition, the authors present recent results on (i) structure formation in fullerene derivative/poly(3‐alkylthiophene) blends intended for solar cells, (ii) 3‐dimensional SIMS imaging of conductive paths of poly(3‐alkylthiophene) in dielectric polystyrene, (iii) test plates for multiprotein micro‐arrays fabricated with blend films of hydrophobic polystyrene and thermoresponsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012