bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum Opacity Factor Enhances HDL‐Mediated Cholesterol Efflux, Esterification and Anti Inflammatory Effects
Authors: Tchoua Urbain , Rosales Corina , Tang Daming , Gillard Baiba K. , Vaughan Ashley , Lin Hu Yu , Courtney Harry S. , Pownall Henry J. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractSerum opacity factor (SOF) is a streptococcal protein that disrupts the structure of human high density lipoproteins (HDL) releasing lipid‐free apo A‐I while forming a large cholesteryl ester‐rich particle and a small neo HDL. Given its low cholesterol and high phospholipid contents, we tested the hypotheses that neo HDL is a better substrate for cholesterol esterification via lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), better than HDL as an acceptor of THP‐1 macrophage cholesterol efflux, and improves reduction of oxidized LDL‐induced production of inflammatory markers. We observed that both cholesterol efflux and esterification were improved by recombinant (r)SOF treatment of whole plasma and that the underlying cause of the improved cholesterol esterification in plasma and macrophage cholesterol efflux to rSOF‐treated plasma was due to the rSOF‐mediated conversion of HDL to neo HDL. Moreover, the reduction of secretion of TNF‐α and IL‐6 by THP‐1 cells by neo HDL was twice that of HDL. Studies in BHK cells overexpressing cholesterol transporters showed that efflux to neo HDL occurred primarily via ABCA1 not ABCG1. Thus, rSOF improves two steps in reverse cholesterol transport with a concomitant reduction in the release of macrophage markers of inflammation. We conclude that rSOF catalyzes a novel reaction that might be developed as a new therapy that prevents or reverses atherosclerosis via improved reverse cholesterol transport.
Development and Characterization of Water‐Blown Polyurethane Foams from Diethanolamides of Karanja Oil
Authors: Palanisamy Aruna , Karuna M. S. L. , Satyavani T. , Rohini Kumar D. B. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe present study focuses on the use of renewable resource, namely karanja oil for the development of polyurethane foams. The non‐edible oil was chemically modified into the diethanolamide by hydroxylation followed by transamidation. The structure of the diethanolamide was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and used as polyol to prepare water‐blown polyurethane foams. Polyurethane foams were produced with carbon dioxide as the blowing agent generated by the reaction between excess polymeric MDI with water. Foams were prepared by a hand mixing process which involved blending of the diethanolamide with polypropylene glycol, polymeric MDI, water, catalyst and surfactant. The hydroxyamide content, catalyst nature and molecular weight of polypropylene glycol were varied and the effect on the properties was studied. Foam rise time and other physical properties such as density, compression strength and flexural strength were evaluated. Optical microscopy was used to study the morphology to reveal the closed cell nature and other structure–property relationships.
Image perception and interpretation of abnormalities; can we believe our eyes? Can we do something about it?
Authors: Sabih Durr-e- , Sabih Ayan , Sabih Quratulain , Khan Ali N. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
The radiologist’s visual impression of images is transmitted, via non-visual means (the report), to the clinician. There are several complex steps from the perception of the images by the radiologist to the understanding of the impression by the clinician. With a process as complex as this, it is no wonder that errors in perception, cognition, interpretation, transmission and understanding are very common. This paper reviews the processes of perception and error generation and possible strategies for minimising them.
Adolescent substance use, sleep, and academic achievement: Evidence of harm due to caffeine
Authors: James Jack E. , Kristjánsson Álfgeir Logi , Sigfúsdóttir Inga Dóra 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTUsing academic achievement as the key outcome variable, 7377 Icelandic adolescents were surveyed for cigarette smoking, alcohol use, daytime sleepiness, caffeine use, and potential confounders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine direct and indirect effects of measured and latent variables in two models: the first with caffeine excluded and the second with caffeine included. A substantial proportion of variance in academic achievement, which might otherwise have been attributed to the harmful effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol use, was found to be attributable to caffeine. Evidence was obtained that daytime sleepiness, which was found to be independently associated with usage of licit substances (nicotine and alcohol) and caffeine, may be an important mediator of the negative impact of those substances on academic achievement. Findings suggest the importance of including measurements of caffeine consumption in future studies of adolescent substance use.
Public or Private Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What Do the Patients Think?
Authors: Cheng Gordon , Hopman Wilma M. , Islam Omar , Shortt Samuel 
Published: October 2010

Purpose We described the demographic, clinical, and attitudinal profiles of patients awaiting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a private and at a hospital-based facility, and hypothesized that they would not differ significantly. Methods A survey of patients attending a hospital facility and a privately owned venue in an Ontario city. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 314 patients provided data, with a higher response rate at the private clinic than at the hospital-based clinic (97% vs 60%). For the majority of patients (58%), the MRI was scheduled to follow up known disease; 55.8% waited more than 4 weeks; 6.4% waited more than 6 months. One-third of patients expressed a willingness to travel to the United States and pay for the MRI, 41% expressed a willingness to pay within Ontario, and 66% were willing to travel elsewhere in Ontario. They were more likely to be at the hospital-based MRI if they were being followed up for known disease and had a diagnosis of cancer, whereas those patients at the private MRI facility reported significantly more pain; 59% of the hospital-based sample and 72% of the private clinic sample reported significantly reduced quality of life because of their health problem. Discussion These data provide interesting insights into the characteristics of patients awaiting an MRI and the attitudes of patients towards public and private MRI clinics. There were significant attitudinal differences between those patients attending the 2 facilities. Pain, coupled with a long wait, may create an incentive for patients to conclude that private clinics should be permitted if the hospital environment is unable to improve access times.
Physical capacity, respiratory quotient and energy expenditure during exercise in male patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls
Authors: Nilsson B.M. , Olsson R.M. , Öman A. , Wiesel F.-A. , Ekselius L. , Forslund A.H. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundDespite massive research on weight gain and metabolic complications in schizophrenia there are few studies on energy expenditure and no current data on physical capacity.AimTo determine oxygen uptake capacity, respiratory quotient (RQ) and energy expenditure during a submaximal exercise test in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.MethodTen male patients and 10 controls were included. RQ and energy expenditure were investigated with indirect calorimetry during a cycle ergometer test. The submaximal work level was defined by heart rate and perceived exhaustion. Physical capacity was determined from predicted maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2-max).ResultsThe patients exhibited significantly higher RQ on submaximal workloads and lower physical capacity. A significant lower calculated VO2-max remained after correction for body weight and fat free mass (FFM). Energy expenditure did not differ on fixed workloads.ConclusionRQ was rapidly increasing in the patients during exercise indicating a faster transition to carbohydrate oxidation and anaerobic metabolism that also implies a performance closer to maximal oxygen uptake even at submaximal loads. This may restrict the capacity for everyday activity and exercise and thus contribute to the risk for weight gain. Physical capacity was consequently significantly lower in the patients.
When ethnic returnees arede factoguestworkers: What does the introduction of Latin American JapaneseNikkeijin(Japanese descendants) (LAN) suggest for Japan's definition of nationality, citizenship, and immigration policy?
Authors: Sharpe Michael Orlando 
Published: October 2010

AbstractJapan officially bans unskilled foreign labor. A 1990 change in Japanese immigration law provides Nikkeijin (Japanese descendants) a renewable visa that allows them to live and work in Japan on the basis of their Japanese blood descent.1 Some argue this was a government initiated de facto guestworker program to satisfy demands for cheap labor under the guise of a policy to facilitate “ethnic return” migration. Since 1990, over 300,000 Latin American Japanese (LAN) descendants have emigrated to Japan. However, despite Japanese mythic notions of common ethnic ancestry and ethnic affinity, a spring 2009 program facilitates the paid voluntary repatriation of unemployed Latin American Nikkeijin workers. This article discusses these policies and programs what they imply for the realities of Japan's immigration policy and society. The findings suggest an emergent separation of the traditional notion of a simultaneous Japanese nationality and citizenship away from jus sanguinus with ethnicity less of a criteria for membership and point to a need for a more coordinated approach to Japanese immigration policy amidst the growing realities of an increasingly multicultural society.
Modelling the effect of structural QSAR parameters on skin penetration using genetic programming
Authors: Chung K K , Do D Q 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
In order to model relationships between chemical structures and biological effects in quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) data, an alternative technique of artificial intelligence computing—genetic programming (GP)—was investigated and compared to the traditional method—statistical. GP, with the primary advantage of generating mathematical equations, was employed to model QSAR data and to define the most important molecular descriptions in QSAR data. The models predicted by GP agreed with the statistical results, and the most predictive models of GP were significantly improved when compared to the statistical models using ANOVA. Recently, artificial intelligence techniques have been applied widely to analyse QSAR data. With the capability of generating mathematical equations, GP can be considered as an effective and efficient method for modelling QSAR data.
Glucose oxidase immobilization on different modified surfaces of platinum nanowire for application in glucose detection
Authors: Le Thi Thanh Tuyen , Tran Phu Duy , Pham Xuan Tung , Tong Duy Hien , Dang Mau Chien 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
In this work, the surface of platinum (Pt) nanowires was modified by using several chemicals, including a compound of gelatin gel with SiO
2, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with Prussian blue (PB) mediator and cysteamine self-assembled monolayers (SAM). Then, glucose oxidase (GOD) enzyme was immobilized on the modified surfaces of Pt nanowire electrodes by using techniques of electrochemical adsorption and chemical binding. The GOD immobilized Pt nanowires were used for application in glucose detection by performing a cyclic voltammetry measurement. The detection results showed that GOD was immobilized on all of the tested surfaces and the highest glucose detection sensitivity of 60 μM was obtained when the Pt nanowires were modified by PVA with PB mediator. Moreover, the sensors showed very high current response when the Pt nanowires were modified with the cysteamine SAM. The stability and catalyst activity of GOD are also reported here. For instance, the catalyst activity of GOD retained about 60% of its initial value after it was stored at 4 °C in a 100 mM PBS buffer solution with a pH of 7.2 for a period of 30 days.
Does Erythrocyte Blood Transfusion Prevent Acute Kidney Injury?
Authors: Engoren Milo 
Published: October 2010

Background
Acute kidney injury is a common occurrence in intensive care unit patients with a reported incidence of 11-67% and is associated with an increased risk of death. In other patient populations, erythrocyte transfusion has been associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes including sepsis, multisystem organ dysfunction, and death. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of erythrocyte transfusion on the development of acute kidney injury.

Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data that used propensity matched transfused and nontransfused patients. Propensity matching was done using semiparsimonious logistic regression. McNemar test for nonindependent data sets was used to compare groups.

Results
Four hundred two patients from a trial on fluid management in patients with acute lung injury were matched. 38% of transfused patients had a rise in creatinine the day after transfusion compared with 33% of their nontransfused matches (P = 0.315). By day 7, creatinine had increased in 51% of transfused patients compared with 52% in nontransfused patients (P = 0.832). The incidences of renal risk, injury, and failure were 39 (19%), 27 (13%), and 11 (5%) in the transfused group and 38 (19%), 24 (12%), and 11 (5%) in the nontransfused group, P = 1.00, 0.785, and 1.00, respectively.

Conclusions
Transfusion of erythrocytes to patients with acute lung injury had no effect on the development of acute kidney injury.
Femoral Nerve Block Improves Analgesia Outcomes after Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Paul James E. , Arya Aman , Hurlburt Lindsay , Cheng Ji , Thabane Lehana , Tidy Antonella , Murthy Yamini 
Published: October 2010

Background
Femoral nerve blockade (FNB) is a common method of analgesia for postoperative pain control after total knee arthroplasty. We conducted a systematic review to compare the analgesia outcomes in randomized controlled trials that compared FNB (with and without sciatic nerve block) with epidural and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

Methods
We identified 23 randomized controlled trials that compared FNB with PCA or epidural analgesia. These studies included 1,016 patients, 665 with FNB, 161 with epidural, and 190 with PCA alone.

Results
All 10 studies of single-shot FNB (SSFNB) used concurrent PCA opioids. SSFNB was found to reduce PCA morphine consumption at 24 h (-19.9 mg, 95% credible interval [CrI]: -35.2 to -4.6) and 48 h (-38.0 mg, 95% CrI: -56.0 to -19.7), pain scores with activity (but not at rest) at 24 and 48 h (-1.8 visual analog pain scale, 95% CrI: -3.3 to -0.02 at 24 h; -1.5 visual analog pain scale, 95% CrI: -2.9 to -0.02 at 48 h) and reduce the incidence of nausea (0.37 odds ratio, 95% CrI: 0.1 to 0.9) compared with PCA alone. SSFNB had similar morphine consumption and pain scores compared with SSFNB plus sciatic nerve block, and SSFNB plus continuous FNB.

Conclusions
SSFNB or continuous FNB (plus PCA) was found to be superior to PCA alone for postoperative analgesia for patients having total knee arthroplasty. The impact of adding a sciatic block or continuous FNB to a SSFNB needs to be studied further.
Short-term Memory Impairment after Isoflurane in Mice Is Prevented by the α5 γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Inverse Agonist L-655,708
Authors: Saab Bechara J. , MacLean Ashley J. B. , Kanisek Marijana , Zurek Agnieszka A. , Martin Loren J. , Roder John C. , Orser Beverley A. 
Published: October 2010

Background
Memory blockade is an essential component of the anesthetic state. However, postanesthesia memory deficits represent an undesirable and poorly understood adverse effect. Inhibitory α5 subunit-containing γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptors (α5GABAA) are known to play a critical role in memory processes and are highly sensitive to positive modulation by anesthetics. We postulated that inhibiting the activity of α5GABAA receptors during isoflurane anesthesia would prevent memory deficits in the early postanesthesia period.

Methods
Mice were pretreated with L-655,708, an α5GABAA receptor-selective inverse agonist, or vehicle. They were then exposed to isoflurane for 1 h (1.3%, or 1 minimum alveolar concentration, or air-oxygen control). Then, either 1 or 24 h later, mice were conditioned in fear-associated contextual and cued learning paradigms. In addition, the effect of L-655,708 on the immobilizing dose of isoflurane was studied. Motor coordination, sedation, anxiety, and the concentration of isoflurane in the brain at 5 min, 1 h, and 24 h after isoflurane were also examined.

Results
Motor and sensory function recovered within minutes after termination of isoflurane administration. In contrast, a robust deficit in contextual fear memory persisted for at least 24 h. The α5GABAA receptor inverse agonist, L-655,708, completely prevented memory deficits without changing the immobilizing dose of isoflurane. Trace concentrations of isoflurane were measured in the brain 24 h after treatment.

Conclusions
Memory deficits occurred long after the sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects of isoflurane subsided. L-655,708 prevented memory deficit, suggesting that an isoflurane interaction at α5GABAA receptors contributes to memory impairment during the early postanesthesia period.
Broadly Applicable Risk Stratification System for Predicting Duration of Hospitalization and Mortality
Authors: Sessler Daniel I. , Sigl Jeffrey C. , Manberg Paul J. , Kelley Scott D. , Schubert Armin , Chamoun Nassib G. 
Published: October 2010

Background
Hospitals are increasingly required to publicly report outcomes, yet performance is best interpreted in the context of population and procedural risk. We sought to develop a risk-adjustment method using administrative claims data to assess both national-level and hospital-specific performance.

Methods
A total of 35,179,507 patient stay records from 2001-2006 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) files were randomly divided into development and validation sets. Risk stratification indices (RSIs) for length of stay and mortality endpoints were derived from aggregate risk associated with individual diagnostic and procedure codes. Performance of RSIs were tested prospectively on the validation database, as well as a single institution registry of 103,324 adult surgical patients, and compared with the Charlson comorbidity index, which was designed to predict 1-yr mortality. The primary outcome was the C statistic indicating the discriminatory power of alternative risk-adjustment methods for prediction of outcome measures.

Results
A single risk-stratification model predicted 30-day and 1-yr postdischarge mortality; separate risk-stratification models predicted length of stay and in-hospital mortality. The RSIs performed well on the national dataset (C statistics for median length of stay and 30-day mortality were 0.86 and 0.84). They performed significantly better than the Charlson comorbidity index on the Cleveland Clinic registry for all outcomes. The C statistics for the RSIs and Charlson comorbidity index were 0.89 versus 0.60 for median length of stay, 0.98 versus 0.65 for in-hospital mortality, 0.85 versus 0.76 for 30-day mortality, and 0.83 versus 0.77 for 1-yr mortality. Addition of demographic information only slightly improved performance of the RSI.

Conclusion
RSI is a broadly applicable and robust system for assessing hospital length of stay and mortality for groups of surgical patients based solely on administrative data.
Fine Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping of Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism Enzyme Activities and Seedling Biomass in the Maize IBM Mapping Population
Authors: Zhang Nengyi , Gibon Yves , Gur Amit , Chen Charles , Lepak Nicholas , Höhne Melanie , Zhang Zhiwu , Kroon Dallas , Tschoep Hendrik , Stitt Mark , Buckler Edward 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis of nitrogen and carbon metabolism will accelerate the development of plant varieties with high yield and improved nitrogen use efficiency. A robotized platform was used to measure the activities of 10 enzymes from carbon and nitrogen metabolism in the maize (Zea mays) intermated B73 × Mo17 mapping population, which provides almost a 4-fold increase in genetic map distance compared with conventional mapping populations. Seedling/juvenile biomass was included to identify its genetic factors and relationships with enzyme activities. All 10 enzymes showed heritable variation in activity. There were strong positive correlations between activities of different enzymes, indicating that they are coregulated. Negative correlations were detected between biomass and the activity of six enzymes. In total, 73 significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) were found that influence the activity of these 10 enzymes and eight QTL that influence biomass. While some QTL were shared by different enzymes or biomass, we critically evaluated the probability that this may be fortuitous. All enzyme activity QTL were in trans to the known genomic locations of structural genes, except for single cis-QTL for nitrate reductase, Glu dehydrogenase, and shikimate dehydrogenase; the low frequency and low additive magnitude compared with trans-QTL indicate that cis-regulation is relatively unimportant versus trans-regulation. Two-gene epistatic interactions were identified for eight enzymes and for biomass, with three epistatic QTL being shared by two other traits; however, epistasis explained on average only 2.8% of the genetic variance. Overall, this study identifies more QTL at a higher resolution than previous studies of genetic variation in metabolism.
TheMedicago truncatulaE3 Ubiquitin Ligase PUB1 Interacts with the LYK3 Symbiotic Receptor and Negatively Regulates Infection and Nodulation
Authors: Mbengue Malick , Camut Sylvie , de Carvalho-Niebel Fernanda , Deslandes Laurent , Froidure Solène , Klaus-Heisen Dörte , Moreau Sandra , Rivas Susana , Timmers Ton , Hervé Christine , Cullimore Julie , Lefebvre Benoit 
Published: October 2010

AbstractLYK3 is a lysin motif receptor-like kinase of Medicago truncatula, which is essential for the establishment of the nitrogen-fixing, root nodule symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti. LYK3 is a putative receptor of S. meliloti Nod factor signals, but little is known of how it is regulated and how it transduces these symbiotic signals. In a screen for LYK3-interacting proteins, we identified M. truncatula Plant U-box protein 1 (PUB1) as an interactor of the kinase domain. In planta, both proteins are localized and interact in the plasma membrane. In M. truncatula, PUB1 is expressed specifically in symbiotic conditions, is induced by Nod factors, and shows an overlapping expression pattern with LYK3 during nodulation. Biochemical studies show that PUB1 has a U-box–dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and is phosphorylated by the LYK3 kinase domain. Overexpression and RNA interference studies in M. truncatula show that PUB1 is a negative regulator of the LYK3 signaling pathway leading to infection and nodulation and is important for the discrimination of rhizobia strains producing variant Nod factors. The potential role of PUB E3 ubiquitin ligases in controlling plant–microbe interactions and development through interacting with receptor-like kinases is discussed.