bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gastric metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via a possible existing retrograde hematogenous pathway
Authors: Hu Ming‐Luen , Tai Wei‐Chen , Chuah Seng‐Kee , Chiu Yi‐Chun , Wu Keng‐Liang , Chou Yeh‐Pin , Kuo Chung‐Mou , Hu Tsung‐Hui , Chiu King‐Wah 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tends to metastasize to extrahepatic organs. Stomach involvement has been seldom reported and has always been considered as direct invasion. This study aims to propose a possible existing pathway for the hematogenous metastasis of HCC to the stomach.Methods:  Only seven cases with stomach involvement were found from 8267 HCC patients registered at our hospital between 2000 and 2007. Their laboratory data, the findings of computed tomography and upper endoscopy, therapeutic procedures, such as esophageal variceal banding ligation (EVL), and transhepatic arterial embolization (TAE) were further studied.Results:  All seven patients were male. Liver cirrhosis was found in six patients (6/7 = 85.7%), HCC with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in six patients (6/7 = 85.7%), splenomegaly in five patients (5/7 = 71.4%) and esophageal varices in five patients (5/7 = 71.4%). Six patients underwent TAE and one patient underwent EVL before the development of HCC in the stomach. Four patients had HCC at the cardia, one patient at the anterior wall of the high body and two patients at the greater curvature of the high body, far away from the original HCC. Six patients eventually developed distant metastasis. HCC with gastric metastasis developed 53–126 days after TAE in five patients and 74 days after EVL in one patient.Conclusions:  When cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension have HCC with PVT, a hematogenous pathway can exist for gastric metastasis of tumor thrombi involving hepatofugal flow to the stomach after TAE or EVL apart from the major pathway of direct invasion.
Effects of mechanical properties of concrete constituents including active mineral admixtures on fatigue behaviours of high performance concrete
Authors: GUO L.‐P. , CARPINTERI A. , SPAGNOLI A. , WEI S. 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTIn order to explore the links between the macroscopic and microstructural characteristics of concrete with admixtures of active mineral additions, four series of concrete prisms, of mortar matrix prisms and mortar‐aggregate Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) are prepared and tested under monotonic and cyclic loads. Five static mechanical parameters (compressive and bending strength, fracture energy, elastic modulus, Poisson ratio) and bending fatigue performance (fatigue life, critical maximum displacement and strain, fatigue damage) of such materials are experimentally evaluated. The results show that degradation laws of concrete properties under both monotonic and cyclic loads vary with the different cohesive strength ratio and elastic modulus ratio of ITZ and mortar matrix. The single or double additions of ground slag and fly ash with optimized mass fractions remarkably enhance the static and bending fatigue properties as well as change the failure mechanisms of concrete.
The strength of anticipatory spatial biasing predicts target discrimination at attended locations: a high‐density EEG study
Authors: Kelly Simon P. , Gomez‐Ramirez Manuel , Foxe John J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractCueing relevant spatial locations in advance of a visual target results in modulated processing of that target as a consequence of anticipatory attentional deployment, the neural signatures of which remain to be fully elucidated. A set of electrophysiological processes has been established as candidate markers of the invocation and maintenance of attentional bias in humans. These include spatially‐selective event‐related potential (ERP) components over the lateral parietal (around 200–300 ms post‐cue), frontal (300–500 ms) and ventral visual (> 500 ms) cortex, as well as oscillatory amplitude changes in the alpha band (8–14 Hz). Here, we interrogated the roles played by these anticipatory processes in attentional orienting by testing for links with subsequent behavioral performance. We found that both target discriminability (d’) and reaction times were significantly predicted on a trial‐by‐trial basis by lateralization of alpha‐band amplitude in the 500 ms preceding the target, with improved speed and accuracy resulting from a greater relative decrease in alpha over the contralateral visual cortex. Reaction time was also predicted by a late posterior contralateral positivity in the broad‐band ERP in the same time period, but this did not influence d’. In a further analysis we sought to identify the control signals involved in generating the anticipatory bias, by testing earlier broad‐band ERP amplitude for covariation with alpha lateralization. We found that stronger alpha biasing was associated with a greater bilateral frontal positivity at ∼390 ms but not with differential amplitude across hemispheres in any time period. Thus, during the establishment of an anticipatory spatial bias, while the expected target location is strongly encoded in lateralized activity in parietal and frontal areas, a distinct non‐spatial control process seems to regulate the strength of the bias.
Chronic kidney disease affects the stone‐free rate after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for proximal ureteric stones
Authors: Hung Shun‐Fa , Chung Shiu‐Dong , Wang Shuo‐Meng , Yu Hong‐Jeng , Huang Ho‐Shiang 
Published: November 2009

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of renal function on the stone‐free rate (SFR) of proximal ureteric stones (PUS) after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), as urinary obstruction caused by PUS can impair renal function, and elevated serum creatinine levels are associated with decreased ureteric stone passage.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom January 2005 to December 2007, 1534 patients had ESWL for urolithiasis, 319 having ESWL in situ for PUS; they were reviewed retrospectively. Patients requiring simultaneous treatment of kidney stones, placement of a double pigtail stent, or percutaneous pigtail nephrostomy tube were excluded. We divided patients into groups by chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥60 and <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Stone‐free status was defined as no visible stone fragments on a plain abdominal film at 3 months after ESWL. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the possible significant factors that influenced the SFR of PUS after ESWL, and to develop a prediction model.RESULTSThe overall SFR of PUS (276/319 patients) was 86.5%; the SFR was 93% in patients with an eGFR of ≥60 and 50% in those with an eGFR of <60 (P < 0.001). After univariate and multivariate analysis, the three significant factors affecting SFR were an eGFR of ≥60, stone width, and gender, with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 19.54 (8.25–46.30) (P < 0.001), 0.67 (0.55–0.82) (P < 0.001) and 0.16 (0.05–0.50 (P = 0.002), respectively. A logistic regression model was developed to estimate the probability of SFR after ESWL, the equation being 1/(1 + exp [−(3.8137 − 0.3967 × (stone width) + 2.9724 × eGFR − 1.8120 × Male)]), where stone width is the observed value (mm), eGFR = 1 for eGFR ≥60 and 0 for <60, and male = 1 for male, 0 for female.CONCLUSIONSGender, eGFR ≥60 and a stone width of >7 mm were significant predictors affecting the SFR after one session of ESWL for PUS.
Automated uro‐oncology data collection: the Cancer Research Uro‐Oncology Database
Authors: Charlesworth Philip J.S. , Kilbey Neviana , Taylor Marian , Leek Russell , Cranston David , Turner Gareth , Crew Jeremy , Harris Adrian , Protheroe Andrew 
Published: November 2009

OBJECTIVETo develop a relational database (Cancer Research Uro‐Oncology Database, CRUD©) to enable automatic data collection on all urological malignancies within our region, as there is increasing emphasis on good data collection for surgical patients with cancer, and numerous overlapping systems that are amassing data on the same patients.METHODSLinks have been established between pathological databases, multidisciplinary team data‐collection systems and patient‐survival monitoring facilities, providing accurate pathology, treatment and survival data on all of uro‐oncology patients. We are also developing individual modules for the oncological surgeons within our unit that are compatible with the British Association of Urological Surgeons (Section of Oncology), and have plans to connect to the Medical and Clinical Oncology data systems in the future.RESULTSPre‐existing protocols for fresh tissue, plasma and urine collection have been incorporated within CRUD via a tissue‐tracking system, to comply with the Human Tissue Act 2004, and link these samples to accurate clinical, pathological and survival data. Many research and audit projects have already used these data, including the construction of a 274‐case tissue microarray for renal cell carcinoma, microRNA hybridization arrays and analysis of 900 nephrectomy cases from the past three decades.CONCLUSIONSOur work over the past 3 years in Oxford has established numerous links with organizations collecting data on our uro‐oncological patients, and we are now able to collect this excellent combined data on all of these patients, in an automated manner.
High level protein expression in plants through the use of a novel autonomously replicating geminivirus shuttle vector
Authors: Regnard Guy L. , Halley‐Stott Richard P. , Tanzer Fiona L. , Hitzeroth Inga I. , Rybicki Edward P. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryWe constructed a novel autonomously replicating gene expression shuttle vector, with the aim of developing a system for transiently expressing proteins at levels useful for commercial production of vaccines and other proteins in plants. The vector, pRIC, is based on the mild strain of the geminivirus Bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV‐m) and is replicationally released into plant cells from a recombinant Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid. pRIC differs from most other geminivirus‐based vectors in that the BeYDV replication‐associated elements were included in cis rather than from a co‐transfected plasmid, while the BeYDV capsid protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes were replaced by an antigen encoding transgene expression cassette derived from the non‐replicating A. tumefaciens vector, pTRAc. We tested vector efficacy in Nicotiana benthamiana by comparing transient cytoplasmic expression between pRIC and pTRAc constructs encoding either enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or the subunit vaccine antigens, human papillomavirus subtype 16 (HPV‐16) major CP L1 and human immunodeficiency virus subtype C p24 antigen. The pRIC constructs were amplified in planta by up to two orders of magnitude by replication, while 50% more HPV‐16 L1 and three‐ to seven‐fold more EGFP and HIV‐1 p24 were expressed from pRIC than from pTRAc. Vector replication was shown to be correlated with increased protein expression. We anticipate that this new high‐yielding plant expression vector will contribute towards the development of a viable plant production platform for vaccine candidates and other pharmaceuticals.
DIASPORA AND SOVEREIGNTY: THREE CASES OF PUBLIC ALARM IN THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: DIJKINK GERTJAN , VAN DER WELLE INGE 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTStudies in transnationalism raise the expectation that new forms of ‘flexible citizenship’ will attune the frozen world of territorial sovereignties and citizenship to the reality of global migration and borderless business. In the Netherlands, however, the focus of the integration debate has recently shifted to an affirmation of sovereignty. Three cases in which ethnic minorities in the Netherlands were exposed to (possible) action from their homelands (Turkey and Morocco) elicited political discussion in which dual citizenship and transnational political influence were rejected. We conclude that a changed policy of homeland governments (diaspora engagement) is not the most likely explanation of the public excitement. The new sovereignty discourse fits into a neo‐nationalist trend but may also be explained as a way to contain the unpredictable effects of the sustained multiculturalism underlying Dutch policy toward migrant communities.
THE NETHERLANDS: A RELUCTANT COUNTRY OF IMMIGRATION
Authors: RATH JAN 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTThe Netherlands has de facto always been a country of immigration. Yet, it does not consider itself as such. One out of five inhabitants in the Netherland has an immigrant background or has been born in a family in which one of the parents is an immigrant. Yet, large numbers of indigenous Dutch find it hard to acknowledge this fact. Likewise, the reception of newcomers has been rather awkward and sometimes in contradiction with the widely celebrated image of the Netherlands as the heartland of tolerance and multiculturalism. Also, many complaints can be heard about the supposedly ‘tardy’ progress of immigrants' incorporation. This paper, providing an overview of immigration into the Netherlands, suggests that immigration is always a painful process, but also that immigrants eventually find their way into the mainstream.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF YOGA CHAKRA EXPRESSION
Authors: Maxwell Richard W. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract.Chakras are a basic concept of yoga but typically are ignored by scientific research on yoga, probably because descriptions of chakras can appear like a fanciful mythology. Chakras are commonly considered to be centers of concentrated metaphysical energy. Although clear physiological effects exist for yoga practices, no explanation of how chakras influence physiological function has been broadly accepted either in the scientific community or among yoga scholars. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that yoga is based on subjective experience, and practitioners often shun objective descriptions. This essay builds on earlier work hypothesizing that intercellular gap junction connections provide a physiological mechanism underlying subtle energy systems described in yoga as well as other disciplines such as acupuncture. Three physical aspects of chakras are distinguished that are integrated through gap junction mechanisms and are proposed to have arisen during embryological development. Furthermore, electrical conductance associated with a high concentration of gap junctions could generate phenomena that, when subjectively experienced, have the radiant qualities attributed to chakras. This theory provides a scientific rationale for previously unexplained details of chakra theory and offers a new orientation to conceptualizing and studying such subjective phenomena.
Treatment of glabellar lines with botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit): a clinical overview
Authors: Rzany B , Ascher B , Monheit GD 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAzzalure (Galderma) is a newly approved European botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT‐A) specifically designed for aesthetic usages. It is sourced from Dysport (Ipsen Ltd.), which has a 20‐year product consistency and has been used widely for various therapeutic and aesthetic applications. Azzalure and Dysport are collectively referred to as BoNT‐A (Speywood Unit; s.U) (or abobotulinumtoxinA in the U.S.) after their biological activity unit, which is unique and not interchangeable with units of other commercial BoNT‐A preparations. Azzalure is approved for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe glabellar lines, with a total dose of 50 s.U distributed evenly among 5 injection points. To ensure optimal treatment outcomes with BoNT‐A (s.U), it is crucial for injectors to adopt proper methods of reconstitution and injection, which can be acquired through training. We review here the method of reconstitution for BoNT‐A (s.U), as well as the injection dose, points and techniques for glabellar line treatment. We also review the efficacy and safety results of BoNT‐A (s.U) demonstrated in 11 clinical studies, most of which were randomized, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled. The studies included assessments after single injections as well as after up to 6 repeated treatment sessions. We summarize the clinical efficacy results, which include the responder rate 1 month post‐injection, onset of response and duration of action, as well as safety results, which include incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events and specifically eyelid ptosis. The efficacy and safety profiles reported here are unique to BoNT‐A (s.U) and cannot be generalized to other BoNT‐A products.
The impact of obesity on skin disease and epidermal permeability barrier status
Authors: Guida B , Nino M , Perrino NR , Laccetti R , Trio R , Labella S , Balato N 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Obese subjects frequently show skin diseases. However, less attention has been paid to the impact of obesity on skin disorders until now.Objective  The purposes of this study are: to highlight the incidence of some dermatoses in obese subjects and to study the water barrier function of the obese skin using transepidermal water loss (TEWL).Methods  Sixty obese subjects and 20 normal weight volunteers were recruited. Obese group was further divided into three body mass index (BMI) classes: class I (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m2), class II (BMI 35–39.9 kg/m2) and class III (BMI 40 g/m2). All subjects attended dermatological examination for skin diseases. To assess barrier function, TEWL measurements were performed on the volar surface of the forearm using a tewameter.Results  The results of this study showed that: (i) obese subjects show a higher incidence of some dermatoses compared with normal‐weight controls; in addition the dermatoses are more, frequent as BMI increases; (ii) the rate of TEWL is lower in obese subjects, than in the normal‐weight subjects, particularly in patients with intra‐abdominal obesity.Conclusion  Specific dermatoses as skin tags, striae distensae and plantar hyperkeratosis, could be considered as a cutaneous stigma of severe obesity. The low permeability of the skin to evaporative water loss is observed in obese subjects compared with normal weight control. Although the physiological mechanisms are still unknown, this finding has not been previously described and we believe that this may constitute a new field in the research on obesity.
Skills for support: personal assistants and people with learning disabilities
Authors: Williams Val , Ponting Lisa , Ford Kerrie , Rudge Philippa ,   (Skills for Support Team)
Published: November 2009

Accessible summary

This paper is about how people get good support. This can happen when you have a direct payment, and you have your own personal assistant (PA). But you need to have a good PA, who knows how to communicate well.
Two people with learning disabilities worked in the research team on this project. The team made videos of people with learning disabilities working with their PAs.
It is important that the PA knows how to support you well. For instance, they should treat you with respect. This means that you can tell them what to do. They should talk to you like an adult, and listen to what you want. They should not rush you.
A good PA will remind you that you’ve got a choice. They will help you be in control of your choices, but they won’t force you to make a choice.
PAs sometimes have to give you advice. But that should be on your terms. It’s good to have a friendly relationship with your PA. It’s a bit like team work.
People with learning disabilities can help to train their own PAs. This project made a training pack, with a DVD.

SummaryFor people with learning disabilities to have control over their lives, the quality of their support staff matters. This paper reports on an inclusive research study, which used video analysis to study the communication skills of personal assistants (PAs) who worked with people with learning disabilities. The findings reveal some of the fine detail in the strategies these PAs used, to show respect, support choices, and give advice. They were able to step back, to listen and observe the person with learning disabilities, and to use good, open body language. They also gave people time, built up a close relationship based on shared interests and activities, and they talked with people in a friendly, adult way. It is difficult to support people to manage their lives, and team work is important. People with learning disabilities also have to play their role in the relationship. This research produced training materials that will help people with learning disabilities to train and support their own PAs.
The gene balance hypothesis: implications for gene regulation, quantitative traits and evolution
Authors: Birchler James A. , Veitia Reiner A. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe gene balance hypothesis states that the stoichiometry of members of multisubunit complexes affects the function of the whole because of the kinetics and mode of assembly. Gene regulatory mechanisms also would be governed by these principles. Here, we review the impact of this concept with regard to the effects on the genetics of quantitative traits, the fate of duplication of genes following polyploidization events or segmental duplication, the basis of aneuploid syndromes, the constraints on cis and trans variation in gene regulation and the potential involvement in hybrid incompatibilities.
Some Bioelectrical Properties of Amoeba proteus
Authors: Josefsson J.‐O. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe membrane potential, resistance and capacitance of Amoeba proteus was measured with intracellular microelectrodes. Specific membrane resistance was 3 700 ohmcm2 and membrane ca pacitance 1.9 μ/cm2. Resting membrane potential during culture conditions was 65 pL 1.3 mV inside negative. Potassium and sodium ions decreased the membrane potential 40 and 35 mV per tenfold increase of external concentration. Substitution of chloride for ethanesulphonate did not affect the membrane potential. A transient biphasic shift of membrane potential and decrease of membrane resistance simultaneous with the spontaneous emptying of the contractile vacuole was recorded. The hyperpolarizing component of this potential was evaluated in the light of a positive potential recorded during the impalement of the vacuolar membrane and the subsequent emptying of the vacuole. All agents with ability to induce pinocytosis which were tested caused a transient “burst” of depolarizing potentials before a steady depolarized state was established. Anionic compounds did not depolarize the membrane. It is suggested that the permeability of the cell membrane is largely governed by negatively charged groups of the mucopolysaccharide layer of the membrane.
Storage and in vitro Release Rate of Catecholamines from Granules Isolated from Preaortal Paraganglia and Adrenals of Newborn Rabbits
Authors: Brundin Tomas 
Published: November 2009

AbstractCatecholamine containing granules from paraganglia and adrenals were isolated by homogenization and high speed centrifugation. On incubation at 37d̀ C in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, the rate of spontaneous release from paraganglionic granules was similar to that of adrenomedullary granules with a half‐time of 30 min. These similarities between granules from the two organs are discussed in view of the different hormone contents in paraganglia (noradrenaline) and adrenals (adrenaline).
Histidine Induced Secretion in the Pyloric Ligated Rat Stomach
Authors: Räsänen Toimi 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe amount and the pH of the gastric juice in the 1 hr pyloric ligated rat stomach were measured. The amount and the hydrogen ion concentration of the gastric juice were greater when the rats were injected with histidine than with histamine. The pretreatment with 5 times 1 mg of dexamethasone at 12‐hr intervals degranulated the mast cells of the gastric mucosa and increased the pH in the gastric juice. The difference of the secretory activity in histidine or histamine injected rats disappeared after the dexamethasone treatment. The results suggest that the gastric parenchyma is stimulated immediately with histamine formed from histidine and stored in the gastric mucosal mast cell organ.