bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bite force and jaw biomechanics in the subterranean rodent Talas tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum) (Caviomorpha: Octodontoidea)
Authors: Becerra Federico , Echeverría Alejandra , Vassallo Aldo Iván , Casinos Adrià 
Published: April 2011

The Talas tuco-tuco ( Ctenomys talarum Thomas, 1898) is a South American subterranean rodent that digs using both forelimbs and incisors, the latter being used when animals face hard soils and fibrous roots. In this rodent, the incisors are also used during intermale competition for mates. Bite forces were measured on wild females (n = 21) and males (n = 21) (both adult and young individuals) using a force transducer. Bite force was significantly higher in adult males than in females (32 vs. 27 N, respectively). Bite forces calculated on the physiological cross-section of jaw adductor muscles in dissected specimens were slightly higher than in vivo measurements. Regressions against body mass showed that bite force scaled with positive allometry, with slopes of 0.89 (females) and 0.99 (males). No significant differences were observed, neither in the slope nor in the y intercept of both sexes’ equations; therefore intersexual differences in bite forces observed in adults should mainly be due to size dimorphism. Considering that soil hardness of C. talarum’s typical habitat averages 100 N/cm2, and taking into account incisor’s cross-section, it was assessed that the pressure exerted by jaw adductor muscles at the incisors level is three times higher than that required for soil penetration.
Actinomyces Associated With Persistent Vaginal Granulation Tissue
Authors: Wai Clifford Y. , Nihira Mikio A. , Drewes Peter G. , Chang Joe S. , Siddiqui Momin T. , Hemsell David L. 
Published: April 2011

Background: We report a case of symptomatic actinomycosis associated with vaginal suture erosion and granulation tissue refractory to conservative management, in an outpatient setting.Case: Three months after total vaginal hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament vaginal vault suspension, a woman complained of painless, intermittent vaginal discharge and spotting. Despite cauterization of granulation tissue, vaginal spotting persisted for another month. On re‐examination, braided polyester suture that was found underlying the granulation tissue was removed. Recurrent symptoms, together with a biopsy revealing actinomycetes, prompted a trial of oral penicillin VK. With persistent symptoms and discomfort during attempts in the outpatient clinic, the woman eventually required suture removal in the operating room. Her symptoms subsequently resolved without recurrence, and no further antibiotic treatment was required.Conclusions: Actinomyces may be associated with persistent granulation tissue and vault suspension suture material. In rare circumstances, when tissue debridement and suture removal in the clinic is unsatisfactory, surgical intervention in the operating room may be necessary. Ten days of antibiotic therapy alone did not eradicate the granulation tissue, and symptoms resolved only after complete removal of the underlying permanent suture.
Listeriosis Prevention Knowledge Among Pregnant Women in the USA
Authors: Ogunmodede Folashade , Jones Jeffery L. , Scheftel Joni , Kirkland Elizabeth , Schulkin Jay , Lynfield Ruth 
Published: April 2011

Background: Listeriosis is a food‐borne disease often associated with ready‐to‐eat foods. It usually causes mild febrile gastrointestinal illness in immunocompetent persons. In pregnant women, it may cause more severe infection and often crosses the placenta to infect the fetus, resulting in miscarriage, fetal death or neonatal morbidity. Simple precautions during pregnancy can prevent listeriosis. However, many women are unaware of these precautions and listeriosis education is often
omitted from prenatal care.Methods: Volunteer pregnant women were recruited to complete a questionnaire to assess their knowledge of listeriosis and its prevention, in two separate studies. One study was a national survey of 403 women from throughout the USA, and the
other survey was limited to 286 Minnesota residents.Results: In the multi‐state survey, 74 of 403 respondents (18%) had some knowledge of listeriosis, compared with 43 of 286 (15%) respondents to the Minnesota survey. The majority of respondents reported hearing about listeriosis from a medical professional. In the multi‐state survey, 33% of respondents knew listeriosis could be prevented by not eating delicatessen meats, compared with 17% in the Minnesota survey (p = 0.01). Similarly, 31% of respondents to the multi‐state survey compared with 19% of Minnesota survey respondents knew listeriosis could be prevented by avoiding unpasteurized dairy products (p = 0.05). As for preventive behaviors, 18% of US and 23% of Minnesota respondents reported avoiding delicatessen meats and ready‐to‐eat foods during pregnancy, whereas 86% and 88%, respectively, avoided unpasteurized dairy products.Conclusions: Most pregnant women have limited knowledge of listeriosis prevention. Even though most respondents avoided eating unpasteurized dairy products, they were unaware of the risk associated with ready‐to‐eat foods. Improved education of pregnant women regarding the risk and sources of listeriosis in pregnancy is needed.
Evaluation of Relative Yeast Cell Surface Hydrophobicity Measured by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Colling Lisa , Carter Richard N. , Essmann Michael , Larsen Bryan 
Published: April 2011

Objective: To develop an efficient method for evaluating cell surface hydrophobicity and to apply the method to demonstrate the effects of fungal growth conditions on cell surface properties.Methods: Yeast isolates were suspended in phosphate‐buffered saline and mixed with deep blue‐dyed polystyrene microspheres. Flow cytometry was used to detect the degree of microsphere binding to yeast cells. Different strains of yeast were compared for intrinsic microsphere binding activity and changes in growth conditions were invoked to modify the relative surface hydrophobicity.Results: Commercially available blue‐dyed polystyrene microspheres showed strong fluorescence in the FL3 channel, whereas yeast cells did not show appreciable FL3 fluorescence. Microspheres and yeast were generally distinguishable on the
basis of size revealed by forward light scatter. This method showed a wide variation in intrinsic cell surface hydrophobicity among Candida albicans strains. Likewise, variation in hydrophobicity of non‐albicans yeast species was observed. Growth on
solid media, incubation at 25°C, or 250 mg/dl glucose concentration increased hydrophobicity compared with growth in liquid media, incubation at 37°C, or 50 mg/dl glucose, respectively.
Growth in 1 × 10−9
M estradiol had no appreciable effect on hydrophobicity.Conclusions: Stained latex microspheres fluoresced in the FL3 channel of the flow cytometer and bound to yeast cells to an extent related to the surface hydrophobicity of the yeast. Binding detected by flow cytometry showed that clinical yeast
isolates varied in intrinsic binding capacity and this binding ability was altered by different growth conditions. The implications for virulence regulation among yeast isolates are discussed.
Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis From Self‐Obtained Vaginal Swabs
Authors: Strauss Robert A. , Eucker Barbara , Savitz David A. , Thorp John M. 
Published: April 2011

Objective: To determine the concordance between vaginal fluid Gram stains and pH obtained at speculum exam with similar stains and pH prepared from self‐obtained vaginal swabs.Methods: Using vaginal fluid Gram stain, 129 pregnant women were screened for bacterial vaginosis at 24 to 29 weeks′ gestation. Two smears were collected from each woman during the same prenatal visit: the first was prepared from a selfobtained vaginal swab and the second from a physician‐obtained speculum examination. Vaginal pH was recorded for each swab. Kappa coefficient was used to quantify agreement between the two sets of results.Results: When compared with the physician‐obtained smear, the ability of the self‐obtained Gram stain to diagnose bacterial vaginosis had a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 71% and negative predictive value of 97%. There was substantial agreement (weighted kappa= 0.82) between the two techniques in the ability to determine the grade of vaginal flora.Conclusion: When compared with physician‐obtained vaginal smears, self‐obtained smears have substantial agreement in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.
HOXB7 as a Prognostic Factor and Mediator of Colorectal Cancer Progression
Authors: Liao Wen-Ting , Jiang Dan , Yuan Jian , Cui Yan-Mei , Shi Xi-Wen , Chen Cui-Min , Bian Xiu-Wu , Deng Yong-Jian , Ding Yan-Qing 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPurpose: This study was to investigate the clinicopathologic significance and potential role of HOXB7 in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC).Experimental Design: The relationship between HOXB7 expression and clinical characteristics of CRC was analyzed in 224 paraffin-embedded archived CRC specimens by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effects of HOXB7 on cell growth and proliferation, as well as on tumorigenesis, were examined both in vitro and in vivo, using MTT assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, soft agar assay, and tumorigenesis in nude mice. Western blotting and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR were performed to examine the impact of HOXB7 on the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.Results: HOXB7 protein level was significantly correlated with advanced Dukes stage (P &lt; 0.001), T stage (P = 0.012), distant metastasis (P = 0.042), higher proliferation index (P = 0.007) and poor survival of patients (P = 0.005). Enforced expression of HOXB7 in CRC cell lines significantly enhanced cell growth, proliferation and tumorigenesis. Conversely, knockdown of HOXB7 caused an inhibition of cell growth, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. We also showed that HOXB7 accelerated G0–G1 to S-phase transition concomitantly with upregulation of cyclin D1 and downregulation of p27Kip1. On the contrary, knockdown of HOXB7 caused G1–S-phase arrest, downregulation of cyclin D1 and upregulation of p27Kip1. Enforced expression of HOXB7 could enhance PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway activity.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HOXB7 protein, as a valuable marker of CRC prognosis, plays an important role in the development and progression of human CRC. Clin Cancer Res; 17(11); 3569–78. ©2011 AACR.
HDAC Inhibitors Potentiate the Activity of the BCR/ABL Kinase Inhibitor KW-2449 in Imatinib-Sensitive or -Resistant BCR/ABL+ Leukemia Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Nguyen Tri , Dai Yun , Attkisson Elisa , Kramer Lora , Jordan Nicholas , Nguyen Nguyen , Kolluri Nikhil , Muschen Markus , Grant Steven 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACI) such as vorinostat or entinostat (SNDX-275) could increase the lethality of the dual Bcr/Abl-Aurora kinase inhibitor KW-2449 in various Bcr/Abl+ human leukemia cells, including those resistant to imatinib mesylate (IM).
Experimental Design: Bcr/Abl+ chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, including those resistant to IM (T315I, E255K), were exposed to KW-2449 in the presence or absence of vorinostat or SNDX-275, after which apoptosis and effects on signaling pathways were examined. In vivo studies combining HDACIs and KW2449 were carried out by using a systemic IM-resistant ALL xenograft model.
Results: Coadministration of HDACIs synergistically increased KW-2449 lethality in vitro in multiple CML and Ph+ ALL cell types including human IM resistant cells (e.g., BV-173/E255K and Adult/T315I). Combined treatment resulted in inactivation of Bcr/Abl and downstream targets (e.g., STAT5 and CRKL), as well as increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA damage (γH2A.X). The latter events and cell death were significantly attenuated by free radical scavengers (TBAP). Increased lethality was also observed in primary CD34+ cells from patients with CML, but not in normal CD34+ cells. Finally, minimally active vorinostat or SNDX275 doses markedly increased KW2449 antitumor effects and significantly prolonged the survival of murine xenografts bearing IM-resistant ALL cells (BV173/E255K).
Conclusions: HDACIs increase KW-2449 lethality in Bcr/Abl+ cells in association with inhibition of Bcr/Abl, generation of ROS, and induction of DNA damage. This strategy preferentially targets primary Bcr/Abl+ hematopoietic cells and exhibits enhanced in vivo activity. Combining KW-2449 with HDACIs warrants attention in IM-resistant Bcr/Abl+ leukemias. Clin Cancer Res; 17(10); 3219–32. ©2011 AACR.
Association Between Obesity, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein ≥2 mg/L, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis
Authors: Blaha Michael J. , Rivera Juan J. , Budoff Matthew J. , Blankstein Ron , Agatston Arthur , O'Leary Daniel H. , Cushman Mary , Lakoski Susan , Criqui Michael H. , Szklo Moyses , Blumenthal Roger S. , Nasir Khurram 
Published: April 2011

Objective—
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are closely associated with abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) trial has encouraged using hsCRP ≥2 mg/L to guide statin therapy; however, the association of hsCRP and atherosclerosis, independent of obesity, remains unknown.

Methods and Results—

We studied 6760 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Participants were stratified into 4 groups: nonobese/low hsCRP, nonobese/high hsCRP, obese/low hsCRP, and obese/high hsCRP. Using multivariable logistic and robust linear regression, we described the association with subclinical atherosclerosis, using coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Mean body mass index was 28.3±5.5 kg/m
2
, and median hsCRP was 1.9 mg/L (0.84 to 4.26). High hsCRP, in the absence of obesity, was not associated with CAC and was mildly associated with cIMT. Obesity was strongly associated with CAC and cIMT independently of hsCRP. When obesity and high hsCRP were both present, there was no evidence of multiplicative interaction. Similar associations were seen among 2083 JUPITER-eligible individuals.

Conclusion—
High hsCRP, as defined by JUPITER, was not associated with CAC and was mildly associated with cIMT in the absence of obesity. In contrast, obesity was associated with both measures of subclinical atherosclerosis independently of hsCRP status.
Glial Cells Drive Preconditioning-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Protection
Authors: Gesuete Raffaella , Orsini Franca , Zanier Elisa R. , Albani Diego , Deli Maria A. , Bazzoni Gianfranco , De Simoni Maria-Grazia 
Published: April 2011

Background and Purpose—
The cerebrovascular contribution to ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been scarcely explored. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we investigated the involvement of the blood-brain barrier and the role of its cellular components.

Methods—

Seven-minute occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery, used as in vivo IPC stimulus 4 days before permanent occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery, significantly reduced brain infarct size (8.45±0.7 versus 13.61±0.08 mm
3
measured 7 days after injury) and preserved blood-brain barrier function (Evans blue leakage, 0.54±0.1 versus 0.89±0.1 ng/mg). Assessment of neuronal, endothelial, and glial gene expression revealed that IPC specifically increased glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA, thus showing selective astrocyte activation in IPC-protected mice.

Results—

The blood-brain barrier was modeled by coculturing murine primary brain microvessel endothelial and astroglial cells. One-hour oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), delivered 24 hours before a 5-hour OGD, acted as an IPC stimulus, significantly attenuating the reduction in transendothelial electric resistance (199.17±11.7 versus 97.72±3.4 Ωcm
2
) and the increase in permeability coefficients for sodium fluorescein (0.98±0.11×10
−3
versus 1.8±0.36×10
−3
cm/min) and albumin (0.12±0.01×10
−3
versus 0.29±0.07×10
−3
cm/min) induced by severe OGD. IPC also prevented the 5-hour OGD–induced disorganization of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and claudin-5. IPC on glial (but not endothelial) cells alone preserved transendothelial electric resistance, permeability coefficients, and ZO-1 localization after 5 hours of OGD. Astrocyte metabolic inhibition by fluorocitrate abolished IPC protection, confirming the critical role of astrocytes. IPC significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein, interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor-a, and ciliary neurotrophic factor gene expression after OGD in glial cells, indicating that multiple pathways mediate the glial contribution to IPC.

Conclusions—
Our data show that the blood-brain barrier can be directly preconditioned and that astrocytes are major mediators of IPC protection.
Theoretical Concepts from Self Psychology Applied to Animal Hoarding1
Authors: Brown Sue-Ellen 
Published: April 2011

AbstractSelf psychology provides a theoretical framework for understanding the psychology of the animal hoarder. The following ideas from self psychology can be applied to animal hoarders and their animals to gain insight into the nature of the bond between them: 1) animals can serve a crucial selfobject function, such as cohesion, for hoarders, regardless of the actual, objective reality of the state of the animals; 2) the concept of archaic vs. mature selfobject functioning elucidates how hoarders are stuck in self-centered, archaic forms of relating with little empathic capacity; 3) the merger selfobject relationship allows hoarders to see animals as being one with them; and 4) disavowal and the vertical split explain how hoarders can live with animal suffering and be apparently oblivious to it. Similarities between self psychology and attachment theory are discussed.
News and Views Introduction of a National Electronic Patient Record in The Netherlands: Some Legal Issues
Authors: Gevers Sjef , Ploem Corrette 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe electronic patient record (EPR) is a major technological development within the healthcare sector. Many hospitals across Europe already use institution-based electronic patient records, which allow not only for electronic exchange of patient data within the hospital, but potentially also for sharing medical data with external healthcare providers, involved in the patient’s care, such as general practitioners or pharmacists. In this article, we discuss the attempt made by the Dutch government to introduce a nationwide electronic patient record (n-EPR). Describing and analyzing the new legislation that is currently being developed to establish the infrastructure for the n-EPR and the related legal issues, we conclude that the introduction of a n-EPR give rise to some substantial concerns. These vary from technical and quality issues such as the reliability of patient data and sufficient standardization and interoperability of the systems used, to issues in the field of data security and confidentiality. For a successful introduction of the n-EPR within the healthcare sector, a condicio sine qua non is that the related legislation provides sufficient safeguards and clarity with respect to the responsibilities and liabilities of its main users: the healthcare professionals.
Marginalized Particle Filtering Framework for Tuning of Ensemble Filters
Authors: Šmídl Václav , Hofman Radek 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Marginalized particle filtering (MPF), also known as Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering, has been recently developed as a hybrid method combining analytical filters with particle filters. This paper investigates the prospects of this approach in environmental modeling where the key concerns are nonlinearity, high-dimensionality, and computational cost. In the formulation herein, exact marginalization in the MPF is replaced by approximate marginalization, yielding a framework for creation of new hybrid filters. In particular, the authors propose to use the MPF framework for online tuning of nuisance parameters of ensemble filters. Conditional independence–based simplification of the MPF algorithm is proposed for computational reasons and its close relation to previously published methods is discussed. The strength of the framework is demonstrated on the joint estimation of the inflation factor, the measurement error variance, and the length scale parameter of covariance localization. It is shown that accurate estimation can be achieved with a moderate number of particles. Moreover, this result was achieved with naively chosen proposal densities, leaving space for further improvements.
Total quality management versus business process re-engineering: A question of degree
Authors: Williams A , Davidson J , Waterworth S , Partington R 
Published: April 2011

An increasing number of manufacturing organizations are placing direct emphasis on operations improvement as a means of achieving competitive success. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), however, generally lack the resources in capital, time and expertise to implement business process re-engineering (BPR), as has been advocated by a number of authors. This paper presents a comparative analysis of continuous improvement (CI) versus BPR approaches to operational change. Change implies risk, and SMEs naturally require a means for establishing levels of uncertainty and net return. Equally, the performance measures adopted by these two (respectively, bottom-up and top-down) approaches differ significantly and normally defy direct comparison. A dynamic systems simulation is developed from a case study within the plastics industry and is used to evaluate the implementation of either varying levels of improvement or natural processes in the case of BPR. Although it is an industry-specific model, the approach raises several implications. Of specific interest is the trade-off between performance improvement and cost, time frame and risk. Attention is also focused on evaluation of the threshold at which the two philosophies overlap and the point at which companies may make the transition between the two philosophies. The paper goes on to evaluate the decrease in the return of investment (ROI), as improvements impinge on other stages within the process, creating up- and downstream bottlenecks. It also evaluates the level of a single ‘natural process’, as a means of costing BPR implementation. The paper concludes with the definition of ROI curves, which are intended to inform SMEs in the selection of appropriate improvement strategies.