bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Outcomes on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis versus Automated Peritoneal Dialysis: Results from a USA Database
Authors: Cnossen Trijntje T. , Usvyat Len , Kotanko Peter , van der Sande Frank M. , Kooman Jeroen P. , Carter Mary , Leunissen Karel M.L. , Levin Nathan W. 
Published: September 2010

Background and Objective Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) is being increasingly used as an alternative to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). However, there has been concern regarding reduced sodium removal leading to hypertension and resulting in a faster decline in residual renal function (RRF). The objective of the present study was to compare patient and technique survival and other relevant parameters between patients treated with APD and patients treated with CAPD. Methods Data for incident patients were retrieved from the database of the Renal Research Institute, New York. Treatment modality was defined 90 days after the start of dialysis treatment. In addition to technique and patient survival, RRF, blood pressure, and laboratory parameters were also compared. Results 179 CAPD and 441 APD patients were studied. Mean as-treated survival was 1407 days [95% confidence interval (CI) 1211 - 1601] in CAPD patients and 1616 days (95% CI 1478 - 1764) in APD patients. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.31 in CAPD compared to APD (95% CI 0.76 - 2.25, p = NS). Unadjusted as-treated technique survival was lower in CAPD compared to APD, with HR 2.84 (95% CI 1.65 - 4.88, p = 0.002); adjusted HR was 1.81 (95% CI 0.94 - 3.57, p = 0.08). Peritonitis rate was 0.3 episodes/ patient-year for CAPD and APD; exit-site/tunnel infection rate was 0.1 and 0.3 episodes/patient-year for CAPD and APD respectively (p = NS). Conclusions Patient survival was not significantly different between APD and CAPD patients, whereas technique survival appeared to be higher in APD patients and could not be explained by differences in infectious complications. No difference in blood pressure control or decline in RRF was observed between the 2 modalities. Based on these results, APD appears to be an acceptable alternative to CAPD, although technique prescription should always follow individual judgment.
von Willebrand Factor Antigen: A Novel On-Treatment Predictor of Response to Antiviral Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C Genotypes 1 and 4
Authors: Pramhas Sibylle , Homoncik Monika , Ferenci Peter , Ferlitsch Arnulf , Scherzer Thomas , Gangl Alfred , Peck-Radosavljevic Markus 
Published: September 2010

Background Levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) increase during combination antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The present study investigates the association between these changes in vWF-Ag levels and response to treatment. Methods Changes in levels of vWF-Ag on antiviral combination treatment in 184 patients with CHC genotype 1 or 4 infections were measured prospectively and effect on response was studied. Results High on-treatment levels of vWF-Ag were associated with relapse ( P<0.01) and low on-treatment levels with sustained virological response (SVR). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that vWF-Ag levels of <300% at week 12 of therapy have a positive predictive value (PPV) of 78% for SVR. In early virological response (EVR) patients, the PPV of vWF-Ag levels <300% at week 12 was 74%. An even higher PPV of 88% in complete EVRs (undetectable HCV RNA at week 12) was observed for the same cutoff value at week 12. Conclusions On-treatment levels of vWF-Ag can be utilized as an additional predictive marker for response to antiviral therapy. This is especially relevant in EVR patients because EVR alone only has a PPV of 58–72% on SVR, which increased to 74%, when factoring in vWF-Ag levels <300% at week 12, and to 88% in complete EVRs; therefore, measurement of vWF-Ag levels at week 12 is helpful. EVR patients that are above the cutoff values for vWF-Ag that make SVR very probable might profit from an extension of therapy to 72 weeks.
Retest Reliability of Force-Time Variables of Neck Muscles Under Isometric Conditions
Authors: Almosnino Sivan , Pelland Lucie , Stevenson Joan M. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Context:
Proper conditioning of the neck muscles may play a role in reducing the risk of neck injury and, possibly, concussions in contact sports. However, the ability to reliably measure the force-time–based variables that might be relevant for this purpose has not been addressed.

Objective:
To assess the between-days reliability of discrete force-time–based variables of neck muscles during maximal voluntary isometric contractions in 5 directions.

Design:
Cohort study.

Setting:
University research center.

Patients or Other Participants:
Twenty-six highly physically active men (age  =  21.6 ± 2.1 years, height  =  1.85 ± 0.09 m, mass  =  81.6 ± 9.9 kg, head circumference  =  0.58 ± 0.01 m, neck circumference  =  0.39 ± 0.02 m).

Intervention(s):
We used a custom-built testing apparatus to measure maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the neck muscles in 5 directions (extension, flexion, protraction, left lateral bending, and right lateral bending) on 2 separate occasions separated by 7 to 8 days.

Main Outcome Measure(s):
Variables measured were peak force (PF), rate of force development (RFD), and time to 50% of PF (T50PF). Reliability indices calculated for each variable comprised the difference in scores between the testing sessions, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, the coefficient of variation of the typical error of measurement (CVTE), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [3,3]).

Results:
No evidence of systematic bias was detected for the dependent measures across any movement direction; retest differences in measurements were between 1.8% and 2.7%, with corresponding 95% confidence interval ranges of less than 10% and overlapping zero. The CVTE was lowest for PF (range, 2.4%–6.3%) across all testing directions, followed by RFD (range, 4.8%–9.0%) and T50PF (range, 7.1%–9.3%). The ICC score range for all dependent measures was 0.90 to 0.99.

Conclusions:
Discrete variables representative of the force-generating capacity of neck muscles under isometric conditions can be measured with an acceptable degree of reliability. This finding has possible applications for investigating the role of neck muscle strength-training programs in reducing the risk of injuries in sport settings.
Ultrasound and Joint Mobilizations for Achieving Normal Wrist Range of Motion After Injury or Surgery: A Case Series
Authors: Draper David O. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Context:
Regaining full, active range of motion (AROM) after trauma to the wrist is difficult.

Objective:
To report the cases of 6 patients who lacked full range of motion (ROM) in the wrist due to trauma. The treatment regimen was thermal 3-MHz ultrasound and joint mobilizations.

Design:
Case series.

Setting:
University therapeutic modalities laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:
Six patients (2 women, 4 men) from the university population lacked a mean AROM of 21.7° of flexion and 26.8° of extension approximately 2.1 years after trauma or surgery.

Main Outcome Measure(s):
I assessed changes in flexion and extension AROM before and after each treatment. Treatment consisted of 6 minutes of 3-MHz continuous ultrasound at an average intensity of 1.4 W/cm2 on the dorsal and volar aspects of the wrist, immediately followed by approximately 10 minutes of joint mobilizations. After posttreatment ROM was recorded, ice was applied to the area for about 20 minutes. Once the patient achieved full AROM or did not improve on 2 consecutive visits, he or she was discharged from the study.

Results:
By the sixth treatment, 5 participants achieved normal flexion AROM, and 3 exceeded the norm. All 6 achieved normal extension AROM, and 4 exceeded the norm. All returned to normal activities and normal use of their hands. One month later, they had, on average, maintained 93% of their final measurements.

Conclusions:
A combination of thermal ultrasound and joint mobilizations was effective in restoring AROM to wrists lacking ROM after injury or surgery.
Predicting Peptide Retention Times for Proteomics
Authors: Krokhin Oleg V. , Spicer Vic 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe vast majority of modern bottom‐up proteomic protocols include chromatographic reversed‐phase (RP) fractionation of peptides prior to mass‐spectrometric analysis. Retention time information can be easily extracted from LC‐MS data and it can be used to improve protein identification/characterization procedures. The key to the success of this procedure is the correct retention time prediction based on compositional and structural properties of the separated species. Our Sequence Specific Retention Calculator (SSRCalc) is a Web‐based peptide retention prediction that covers the separation selectivity of the most popular RP‐HPLC conditions applied in proteomics. Procedures for the application of SSRCalc to proteomic analyses are described in this unit. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 31:13.14.1‐13.14.15. © 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oxygen and Water Plasma‐Immersion Ion Implantation of Copper into Titanium for Antibacterial Surfaces of Medical Implants
Authors: Polak Martin , Ohl Andreas , Quaas Marion , Lukowski Gerold , Lüthen Frank , Weltmann Klaus‐Dieter , Schröder Karsten 
Published: September 2010

AbstractPlasma‐immersion ion implantation (PIII) is used for the insertion of copper into titanium and its alloys to impart antimicrobial properties. Physicochemical changes inside the subsurface of titanium are investigated after PIII with either oxygen or water vapor. O2‐Cu‐PIII produces copper oxides inside the surface of the titanium oxide; H2O‐Cu‐PIII produces metallic copper inside the created titanium oxide compound. The length of the PIII pulses can exert control over the ion flux and the substrate temperature. H2O‐Cu‐PIII produces rutile structures with copper inside the lattice. The antimicrobial activity is tested with bacteria and the cytocompatibility with osteoblasts is investigated.
High‐Pressure Torsion for Giant Magnetoresistance and Better Magnetic Properties
Authors: Nishihata Shingo , Suehiro Kenichiro , Arita Makoto , Masuda Masataka , Horita Zenji 
Published: September 2010

AbstractHigh‐pressure torsion (HPT) was conducted on Cu alloys containing ferromagnetic Co and Fe particles. Electron probe microanalysis, X‐ray diffraction analysis, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the particles were significantly refined through fragmentation and some fractions were dissolved into the Cu matrix with straining by HPT. Saturation magnetization decreases with straining and coercive force increases with straining but they level off after intense straining. Magnetoresistance with an isotropic feature corresponding to giant magnetoresistance (GMR) appears at room temperature by processing with HPT. It is demonstrated that HPT is a potential process for controlling magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization and coercive force and also for creating GMR in the alloys prepared by conventional ingot metallurgy.
The Effect of Stress Relaxation on the Microstructure and Hardness Evolution of Pure Amorphous‐Carbon and C/Ti Multilayer Films
Authors: Hong Chunfu , Tu Jiangping , Gu Changdong , Zheng Xiaohua , Liu Dongguang , Li Ruiling , Mao Scott X 
Published: September 2010

AbstractPure amorphous‐carbon (a‐C) and C/Ti multilayer films are prepared by pulsed‐laser deposition. For each fluence (7 or 10 J cm−2), a‐C films are deposited with two durations (35 and 120 min) to vary the thickness. The thin films have an sp3 bond ratio and hardness dependant on the fluence. The as‐deposited, thick a‐C films delaminate and provide a more‐nanosized graphitic microstructure, and a lower sp3 bond ratio and hardness compared to thin a‐C films, correlating with stress relaxation of the films. The C/Ti multilayer films can be deposited at large thicknesses due to the low internal stress, while the sp3 bond ratio and the hardness increase with decreasing thickness of the Ti bilayer.
Spark Plasma Sintering, Microstructures, and Mechanical Properties of Macroporous Titanium Foams
Authors: Zhang Faming , Otterstein Eileen , Burkel Eberhard 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMacroporous pure titanium (Ti) foams with porosity of 30–70% and pore size of 125–800 µm were fabricated by using spark plasma sintering (SPS) and NaCl dissolution methods. A mixture of Ti and sodium chloride (NaCl) powders were spark plasma sintered in a temperature range from 550 to 800 °C and the NaCl phase was then dissolved in water. High purity Ti foams were obtained at the SPS temperature of 700 °C for holding time of 8 min under pressure of 50 MPa. The resulting Ti foams consist of pure α‐Ti phase with interconnected macropores in square cross sections. The plateau stress and Young's modulus agree with the Gibson–Ashby models, and coarsely follow of linear decline with the increase of the pore sizes, and exponential decay with the increase of the porosity. The macroporous Ti foams with plateau stress 27.2–94.2 MPa and Young's modulus 6.2–36.1 GPa may have a potential to be used as bone implants.
Oxidation Limited Lifetime of Ni‐Base Metal Foams in the Temperature Range 700–900 °C
Authors: Chyrkin Anton , Schulze Sebastian Leif , Pirón‐Abellán Javier , Bleck Wolfgang , Singheiser Lorenz , Quadakkers Willem Joseph 
Published: September 2010

AbstractINCONEL 625 metal foams produced from alloy powder by the slip‐reaction‐foam‐sinter‐process are tested in respect to cyclic oxidation behavior in air in the temperature range 700–900 °C. The structure of the oxide scales formed on the foam particles is characterized using optical microscopy and SEM/EDX analysis. Main emphasis is put on studying the oxidation limited lifetimes of the foams as function of temperature and foam microstructure. It is shown that mechanical disintegration during long term oxidation at the highest test temperatures is caused by a critical depletion of the Cr content in the alloy as a result of the growth of the initially formed surface chromia layer. This results in chemical breakaway due to accelerated oxide growth of voluminous Ni‐rich oxide on chromium exhausted alloy particles. Lifetime modeling based on calculation of Cr‐depletion in the alloy at the oxide/metal interface of each individual foam particle using the DICTRA software is in good agreement with the experimentally determined values of the time to breakaway.
Porous Structures: In situ Porous Structures: A Unique Polymer Erosion Mechanism in Biodegradable Dipeptide‐Based Polyphosphazene and Polyester Blends Producing Matrices for Regenerative Engineering (Adv. Funct. Mater. 17/2010)
Authors: Deng Meng , Nair Lakshmi S. , Nukavarapu Syam P. , Kumbar Sangamesh G. , Jiang Tao , Weikel Arlin L. , Krogman Nicholas R. , Allcock Harry R. , Laurencin Cato T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSynthetic biodegradable polymers serve as temporary substrates that accommodate cell infiltration and tissue in‐growth in regenerative medicine. To allow tissue in‐growth and nutrient transport, traditional three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds must be prefabricated with an interconnected porous structure. Here we demonstrated for the first time a unique polymer erosion process through which polymer matrices evolve from a solid coherent film to an assemblage of microspheres with an interconnected 3D porous structure. This polymer system was developed on the highly versatile platform of polyphosphazene‐polyester blends. Co‐substituting a polyphosphazene backbone with both hydrophilic glycylglycine dipeptide and hydrophobic 4‐phenylphenoxy group generated a polymer with strong hydrogen bonding capacity. Rapid hydrolysis of the polyester component permitted the formation of 3D void space filled with self‐assembled polyphosphazene spheres. Characterization of such self‐assembled porous structures revealed macropores (10–100 μm) between spheres as well as micro‐ and nanopores on the sphere surface. A similar degradation pattern was confirmed in vivo using a rat subcutaneous implantation model. 12 weeks of implantation resulted in an interconnected porous structure with 82–87% porosity. Cell infiltration and collagen tissue in‐growth between microspheres observed by histology confirmed the formation of an in situ 3D interconnected porous structure. It was determined that the in situ porous structure resulted from unique hydrogen bonding in the blend promoting a three‐stage degradation mechanism. The robust tissue in‐growth of this dynamic pore forming scaffold attests to the utility of this system as a new strategy in regenerative medicine for developing solid matrices that balance degradation with tissue formation.
Stabile cyclische Carbene und verwandte Spezies jenseits der Diaminocarbene
Authors: Melaimi Mohand , Soleilhavoup Michèle , Bertrand Guy 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDer Erfolg der homogenen Katalyse kann hauptsächlich der Entwicklung einer breiten Palette von Ligandengerüsten zugeschrieben werden, die vielfach genutzt wurden, um das Verhalten von Katalysatorsystemen gezielt abzustimmen. Spektakuläre Ergebnisse auf diesem Gebiet wurden mit cyclischen Diaminocarbenen, den so genannten N‐heterocyclischen Carbenen (NHCs), erzielt, die sich vor allem durch ihr starkes σ‐Donorverhalten auszeichnen. Obwohl sich die Strukturen der NHCs recht einfach modifizieren lassen, erreichen sie bei weitem nicht die Vielfalt etwa der Phosphorliganden. Auch eine große Zahl an stabilen acyclischen Carbenen ist bekannt, diese koordinieren aber entweder nur schlecht an Metalle oder führen zur Bildung sehr empfindlicher Metallkomplexe. In den letzten fünf Jahren wurden neue Arten stabiler Carbene und verwandter C‐Liganden entwickelt – bei denen es sich nicht um NHCs handelt –, die noch stärkere σ‐Donoreigenschaften aufweisen. In diesem Aufsatz beschreiben wir die Synthese, die Charakterisierung, die Stabilität, die elektronischen Eigenschaften, das Koordinationsverhalten und die katalytische Aktivität der daraus hergestellten Komplexe und stellen Vergleiche mit verwandten NHC‐Spezies an.
Stable Cyclic Carbenes and Related Species beyond Diaminocarbenes
Authors: Melaimi Mohand , Soleilhavoup Michèle , Bertrand Guy 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe success of homogeneous catalysis can be attributed largely to the development of a diverse range of ligand frameworks that have been used to tune the behavior of various systems. Spectacular results in this area have been achieved using cyclic diaminocarbenes (NHCs) as a result of their strong σ‐donor properties. Although it is possible to cursorily tune the structure of NHCs, any diversity is still far from matching their phosphorus‐based counterparts, which is one of the great strengths of the latter. A variety of stable acyclic carbenes are known, but they are either reluctant to bind metals or they give rise to fragile metal complexes. During the last five years, new types of stable cyclic carbenes, as well as related carbon‐based ligands (which are not NHCs), and which feature even stronger σ‐donor properties have been developed. Their synthesis and characterization as well as the stability, electronic properties, coordination behavior, and catalytic activity of the ensuing complexes are discussed, and comparisons with their NHC cousins are made.
Release behavior from hydrogen‐bonded polymer gels prepared by pressurization
Authors: Mutsuo Shingo , Yamamoto Kazuya , Furuzono Tsutomu , Kimura Tsuyoshi , Ono Tsutomu , Kishida Akio 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOur previous research showed that a simple ultra‐high‐pressure process made poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution into a macrogel and nanoparticles. To investigate the release properties of PVA hydrogels prepared by the ultra‐high‐pressure treatment, we prepared hydrogels containing model drugs by pressurizing a PVA solution with Alfa‐G Hesperidin or Oil Blue N as a water‐soluble or an oil‐soluble model drug, respectively. In the case of the oil‐soluble drug, an oil‐in‐water emulsion, Oil Blue N containing dodecane in a PVA solution, was used by homogenization before pressurization. The average diameter and the diameter distribution of oil droplets before and after the ultra‐high‐pressure treatment were almost the same. However, the PVA hydrogel prepared at 10,000 atm for 10 min exhibited the slowest release rate of model drugs. Thus, we found that the release rates of the model drugs from the PVA hydrogels were controlled by the degree of crosslinking in the resulting gels, which was determined from the operation parameters of the ultra‐high‐pressure treatment, such as the pressure, time, and concentration of the PVA solution. Therefore, an ultra‐high‐pressure process is promising for drug‐carrier development because of the nonharmful simple preparation process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Morphological score assignment guidelines for the dechorionated zebrafish teratogenicity assay
Authors: Panzica‐Kelly Julieta M. , Zhang Cindy X. , Danberry Tracy L. , Flood Annette , DeLan Judiann W. , Brannen Kimberly C. , Augustine‐Rauch Karen A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: Recently we reported the development and optimization of a zebrafish teratogenicity assay using dechorionated AB strain embryos, a promising assay that was 87% concordant in correctly identifying in vivo teratogens and non‐teratogens from a set of 31 compounds (Brannen et al., 2010: Birth Defects Res 89:66–77). METHODS: This assay utilizes a zebrafish morphological score system to characterize adverse effects and identify the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL). RESULTS: This report describes in detail the morphological score system used in the dechorionated zebrafish embryo culture teratogenicity assay. The morphological assessment includes evaluation of most structures and organ systems and grades relative severity of abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: To this end, the morphological score system provides information of tissue‐specific teratogenicity that has been found to have good concordance with structures found affected in vivo and can also be used to rank compounds based on the severity of malformations. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 89:382–395, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rnd proteins: Multifunctional regulators of the cytoskeleton and cell cycle progression
Authors: Riou Philippe , Villalonga Priam , Ridley Anne J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractRnd3/RhoE has two distinct functions, regulating the actin cytoskeleton and cell proliferation. This might explain why its expression is often altered in cancer and by multiple stimuli during development and disease. Rnd3 together with its relatives Rnd1 and Rnd2 are atypical members of the Rho GTPase family in that they do not hydrolyse GTP. Rnd3 and Rnd1 both antagonise RhoA/ROCK‐mediated actomyosin contractility, thereby regulating cell migration, smooth muscle contractility and neurite extension. In addition, Rnd3 has been shown to have a separate role in inhibiting cell cycle progression by reducing translation of cell cycle regulators, including cyclin D1 and Myc. We propose that Rnd3 could act as a tumour suppressor to limit proliferation, but when mutations bypass this activity of Rnd3, it can promote cancer invasion through its effects in the actin cytoskeleton.