bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relativistic perturbation theory calculation of the hyperfine structure parameters for some heavy‐element isotopes
Authors: Khetselius O. Yu 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe energies and hyperfine structure constants for some Li‐like multicharged ions and atoms of 133Cs and 181Hg are calculated within the quantum electrodynamics (QED) perturbation theory formalism with correct taking into account the correlation, relativistic, nuclear, and radiative corrections. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Laparoscopic robot‐assisted completion cholecystectomy: a report of three cases
Authors: Kohn Geoffrey P. , Martinie John B. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundGangrenous cholecystitis remains a serious, life‐threatening, surgical emergency. Surgeons are occasionally forced to perform a subtotal cholecystectomy and forego formal dissection of the cystic duct and artery, in an attempt to avoid iatrogenic injury to the common bile duct. Not infrequently, a patient may develop a persistent biliary fistula or symptomatic gall bladder remnant, which may ultimately require operative intervention.MethodsThree patients were referred to the University of North Carolina Hospitals for evaluation and treatment. All patients initially presented with gangrenous cholecystitis and had undergone open cholecystectomies and placement of surgical drains at outside medical facilities. All three patients had subsequently developed persistent biliary leaks or had significant gall bladder remnants. Due to the anticipated difficulty and complexity of performing a laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy in this setting, the DaVinci® robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) was utilized for these three consecutive patients. Dissection was performed using two robotic instrument arms, as well as assistant ports for suction/irrigation devices, clips and endostaplers.ResultsAll three patients were found to have significant gall bladder and cystic duct remnants, some with sizeable retained stones in the infundibulum. All procedures were completed laparoscopically with robotic assistance, with no complications. At follow‐up, all patients were without biliary leaks or symptoms.ConclusionLaparoscopic robot‐assisted completion cholecystectomy is a feasible option in the setting of a reoperative, hostile abdomen following gangrenous cholecystitis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reliable cooperative and distributed management for wireless industrial monitoring and control
Authors: Manfredi S. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the analysis, design and validation of a reliable management strategy for industrial monitoring and control over wireless sensor network (WSN). First, we investigate the interactions between contention resolution and congestion control mechanisms in Wireless Industrial Sensor Network (briefly WISN). An extensive set of simulations are performed in order to quantify the impacts of several network parameters (i.e. buffer, sensors reporting rate) on the overall network performance (i.e. reliability, packet losses). This calls for cross‐layer mechanisms for efficient data delivery over WISN. Second, a reliable sink resource allocation strategy based on log‐utility fairness criteria is proposed. It is shown that the resource sink manager can plan strategies to better allocate the available resource among competing sensors. Finally, the analysis, design and validation of a reliable sinks cooperative control for WISN are introduced. A sufficient condition for wireless network stability in presence of multiple sinks and heterogeneous sensors with different time delays is given and it is used for network parameters design. The stability condition and the resulting cooperative control performance in terms of fairness, link utilization, packet losses, reliability and latency are validated by Matlab/Simulink‐based simulator TrueTime, which facilitates co‐simulation of controller task execution in real‐time kernels and in the wireless network environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coping with participant heterogeneity in dichotomous responses
Authors: Meilijson Isaac , Meilijson Sara 
Published: May 2009

AbstractParticipant heterogeneity induces spurious dependence that may obscure dependence patterns displayed by a covariance matrix. A parsimonious method is proposed for the reduction of this confounding effect. The method is applied to dichotomous behavioral response data of participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, as assessed by the Pragmatic Protocol (J. Speech Hear. Disord. 1987; 52:105–119). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement in clinical trials: A neglected issue for statisticians?
Authors: Senn Stephen , Julious Steven 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBiostatisticians have frequently uncritically accepted the measurements provided by their medical colleagues engaged in clinical research. Such measures often involve considerable loss of information. Particularly, unfortunate is the widespread use of the so‐called ‘responder analysis’, which may involve not only a loss of information through dichotomization, but also extravagant and unjustified causal inference regarding individual treatment effects at the patient level, and, increasingly, the use of the so‐called number needed to treat scale of measurement. Other problems involve inefficient use of baseline measurements, the use of covariates measured after the start of treatment, the interpretation of titrations and composite response measures. Many of these bad practices are becoming enshrined in the regulatory guidance to the pharmaceutical industry. We consider the losses involved in inappropriate measures and suggest that statisticians should pay more attention to this aspect of their work. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Power and sample size calculations for current status survival analysis
Authors: Williamson John M. , Lin Hung‐Mo , Kim Hae‐Young 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAlthough sample size calculations have become an important element in the design of research projects, such methods for studies involving current status data are scarce. Here, we propose a method for calculating power and sample size for studies using current status data. This method is based on a Weibull survival model for a two‐group comparison. The Weibull model allows the investigator to specify a group difference in terms of a hazards ratio or a failure time ratio. We consider exponential, Weibull and uniformly distributed censoring distributions. We base our power calculations on a parametric approach with the Wald test because it is easy for medical investigators to conceptualize and specify the required input variables. As expected, studies with current status data have substantially less power than studies with the usual right‐censored failure time data. Our simulation results demonstrate the merits of these proposed power calculations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stage‐specific cancer incidence: An artificially mixed multinomial logit model
Authors: Chefo Solomon , Tsodikov Alex 
Published: May 2009

AbstractEarly detection of prostate cancer using the prostate‐specific antigen test led to a sharp spike in the incidence of the disease accompanied by an equally sharp improvement in patient prognoses as evaluated at the point of advanced diagnosis. Observed outcomes represent age at diagnosis and stage, a categorical prognostic variable combining the actual stage and the grade of tumor. The picture is summarized by the stage‐specific cancer incidence that represents a joint survival‐multinomial response regressed on factors affecting the unobserved history of the disease before diagnosis (mixture). Fitting the complex joint mixed model to large population data is a challenge. We develop a stable and structured MLE approach to the problem allowing for the estimates to be obtained iteratively. Factorization of the likelihood achieved by our method allows us to work with only a fraction of the model dimension at a time. The approach is based on generalized self‐consistency and the quasi‐EM algorithm used to handle the mixed multinomial part of the response through Poisson likelihood. The model provides a causal link between the screening policy in the population and the stage‐specific incidence. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zinc in native tissues and cultured cell lines of human prostate studied by SR‐XRF and XANES
Authors: Podgórczyk M. , Kwiatek W. M. , Zaja̧c W. M. , Dulińska‐Litewka J. , Welter E. , Grolimund D. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractDuring longlasting attempts to understand the aetiology of prostate cancer (CaP) on molecular level, attention has been paid to a unique capability of prostate epithelial cells to accumulate zinc. The latter plays role in a wide range of cellular processes such as the function of immune system, angiogenesis or apoptosis. Zinc has a significant antioxidant function, and its presence in prostate cells is strongly connected with their metabolism. This paper reports on the analysis of zinc concentration and oxidation level in the samples of human CaP tissues and cultured human prostate cell lines such as DU‐145, LNCaP and PC‐3, aided by x‐ray bioimaging. The study was performed by means of synchrotron radiation (SR) techniques. Bioimaging on cellular level, available through the SR x‐ray fluorescence (SR‐XRF) methods, applied to the samples of native prostate tissue, revealed a complexity of structures, while cell culture samples provided areas of homogeneity required for reliable analysis. SR‐XRF enabled us to establish the dependence of zinc concentration upon histological status of tissue (healthy, hyperplastic or cancerous). In‐depth studies of local chemical environment of an x‐ray absorbing zinc atom, including determination of Zn K‐edge position, were possible through the use of x‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Mono‐Cobalt Substituted Wells–Dawson Phosphotungstate with an Antenna Ligand
Authors: Liu Hong‐Sheng , Peng Jun , Wang Li‐Xia 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA mono‐cobalt substituted Wells–Dawson polyoxometalate with an antenna ligand linked to the CoII atom, was prepared by reaction of the mono‐vacant Wells–Dawson precursor [P2W17O61]10– with a imidazole‐cobalt complex by using the bench method. It was isolated as the imidazole salt: (HIm)7H[P2W17O61Co(Im)]·4H2O (1) (Im = imidazole). Compound 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, TG analysis, cyclic voltammetry and single‐crystal/powder X‐ray diffraction. This is the first example of the 3d transition metal mono‐substituted Wells–Dawson polyoxometalate with an antenna ligand.
Systematic review: photodynamic therapy for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Gao Fei , Bai Yu , Ma Shu‐Ren , Liu Feng , Li Zhao‐Shen 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundPalliative therapies for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma such as stent, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have generally been disappointing. Therefore, it is necessary to find a new approach to fighting the disease. Several published clinical trials have reported the therapeutic effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.MethodsRelevant studies were retrieved from the Medline, Current Contents, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion of papers was determined by using a predetermined protocol; independent assessments and the final consensus decision were performed by two independent reviewers. Acceptable study designs included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), case studies, and case reports. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, and were tabulated and critically appraised in terms of characteristics, methods, outcomes, and complications.ResultsTwenty studies were included. The quality of the available evidence was low to moderate with the majority of studies being uncontrolled before and after design and thus limited by the retrospective nature of much of the available data. After PDT, it is reported that bilirubin serum levels declined, quality of life improved and survival time increased in most of the patients. At the same time, there were few complications.ConclusionsBased on currently available evidence, PDT was safe and effective for patients with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma.
Neuroimaging findings in children with paediatric neurotransmitter diseases
Authors: Lee Wang‐Tso , Weng Wen‐Chin , Peng Shinn‐Forng , Tzen Kai‐Yuan 
Published: May 2009

SummaryPaediatric neurotransmitter diseases consist of a group of inherited neurometabolic diseases in children, and include disorders related to γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) metabolism, monoamine biosynthesis, etc. The diagnosis of paediatric neurotransmitter diseases remain a great challenge for paediatricians and child neurologists. In addition to clinical manifestations and CSF neurotransmitter measurement, neuroimaging findings can also be very informative for the diagnosis and evaluation of the patients. For patients with monoamine biosynthesis disorders, the functional evaluation of dopaminergic transmission also plays an important role. Understanding of the possible neuroimaging changes in paediatric neurotransmitter diseases is therefore of great value for the investigation of these patients.
Chitotriosidase plasma activity in nephropathic cystinosis
Authors: Xaidara A. , Karavitakis E. M. , Kosma K. , Emma F. , Dimitriou E. , Michelakakis H. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryChitotriosidase is a fully active chitinase produced and secreted by activated phagocytes. Plasma chitotriosidase activity is a well‐established marker of total disease burden in Gaucher disease that has proved useful in monitoring the response to both enzyme replacement and substrate reduction therapies in patients with Gaucher disease. Increased chitrotriosidase plasma activity has also been observed in several other lysosomal and non lysosomal disorders. Cystinosis, a rare multisystemic lysosomal storage disease, is characterized by the intralysosomal accumulation of free cystine in many cell types including phagocytes. We here report on plasma chitotriosidase activity in a child with nephropathic cystinosis. Increased plasma chitotriosidase activity (481nmol/h per ml; normal range 0—150 units) was found on diagnosis and prior to the initiation of oral cysteamine (Cystagon) treatment. Serial estimations of plasma chitotriosidase activity showed that it correlated with leukocyte cystine content and decreased to 100nmol/h per ml following 14months’ treatment. This novel observation suggests that cystinosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of disorders associated with increased plasma chitotriosidase activity. Furthermore, it suggests that serial estimations of plasma chitotriosidase activity could be of value in monitoring the response to oral cysteamine treatment in cystinosis.
Correlation Weights in Multiple Regression
Authors: Waller Niels G. , Jones Jeff A. 
Published: May 2009

A general theory on the use of correlation weights in linear prediction has yet to be proposed. In this paper we take initial steps in developing such a theory by describing the conditions under which correlation weights perform well in population regression models. Using OLS weights as a comparison, we define cases in which the two weighting systems yield maximally correlated composites and when they yield minimally similar weights. We then derive the least squares weights (for any set of predictors) that yield the largest drop in R2 (the coefficient of determination) when switching to correlation weights. Our findings suggest that two characteristics of a model/data combination are especially important in determining the effectiveness of correlation weights: (1) the condition number of the predictor correlation matrix, Rxx, and (2) the orientation of the correlation weights to the latent vectors of Rxx.
Lung inflammation and endothelial cell damage are decreased after treatment with phototherapy (PhT) in a model of acute lung injury induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide in the rat
Authors: de Lima Mafra F. , Naves K.T. , Machado A.H. , Albertini R. , Villaverde A.B. , Aimbire F. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractLipopolysaccharide (LPS) mimics the symptoms of acute lung injury (ALI), which is characterized by the accumulation in the lungs of neutrophils producing inflammatory mediators. Because of the lack of information about phototherapy (PhT) effects on ALI, we investigated whether PhT (685 nm InGaAlP) attenuates LPS‐induced ALI. PhT reduced lung edema, the accumulation of TNF‐α in the lung, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. However, PhT was not efficient in reducing of TNF‐α concentration in both serum and neutrophils of blood after LPS. In another series of experiments, in vitro assays of the effects of PhT effect on mouse pulmonary arterial endothelium cells (MPAECs) after TNF‐α showed that the laser restores the MPAECs damage induced at 6 or 24 h after TNF‐α. These results suggest the PhT effect on ALI is partly due to inhibition of TNF‐α release from neutrophils and lung cells.
Apparent bioavailability of isoflavones after intake of liquid and solid soya foods
Authors: Franke Adrian A. , Ashburn Leslie A. , Kakazu Kerry , Suzuki Shana , Wilkens Lynne R. , Halm Brunhild M. 
Published: May 2009

Isoflavone (IFL) intake may provide numerous health benefits, but IFL bioavailability differences among soya foods remains uncertain. Urinary IFL excretion (UIE) was shown to provide a reliable surrogate for systemic IFL exposure and therefore can be used as a measure of ‘apparent bioavailability’ (AB). We investigated the AB of IFL in fourteen healthy adults, consuming two liquid and two solid soya foods in a crossover designed study. Volunteers consumed the foods with a self-selected breakfast, which was kept identical for all four soya items (soya nuts, soya milk, soya protein bar and soya protein powder drink in water; average 23·7 mg IFL, 88–96 % glycosides, by HPLC analysis) and collected all urine up to 26 h. Liquid foods showed initially higher UIE values than solid foods, but this difference was considerably reduced or disappeared entirely after 24–26 h. Conclusive AB results were obtained only after 24–26 h; earlier collections were not reliable. At 26 h, adjusted UIE values for daidzein (DE) were 20 μmol in the milk and bar and 17 μmol for the nut and powder; urinary genistein excretion was the highest in the milk group (10 μmol) followed by the nut, bar (both 6 μmol) and powder groups (5 μmol); the UIE for glycitein was the highest for bars (4 μmol), followed by powder and nuts (3 μmol), and milk (2 μmol). DE makes the largest contribution to urinary total IFL. The AB of IFL was found to be variable depending on the analyte and soya food consumed.
The effect of menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) supplementation on osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy prepubertal children
Authors: van Summeren Marieke J. H. , Braam Lavienja A. J. L. M. , Lilien Marc R. , Schurgers Leon J. , Kuis Wietse , Vermeer Cees 
Published: May 2009

Vitamin K contributes to bone health, probably through its role as cofactor in the carboxylation of osteocalcin. Intervention studies in adults have demonstrated that markedly higher osteocalcin carboxylation is obtained by intakes of vitamin K well above the current recommended dietary intake. However, the relationship between increased vitamin K2intake and enhanced osteocalcin carboxylation has never been shown in healthy children. The objective was to study the effect of 45 μg menaquinone-7 (MK-7; one of the vitamin K2species) on the circulating levels of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) and carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC) in healthy prepubertal children. We hypothesised that MK-7 supplementation will reduce the ucOC:cOC ratio (UCR), indicating an improved vitamin K status. The present study is a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial examining the effect of 8 weeks MK-7 supplementation on the carboxylation of osteocalcin in healthy children (n55). Serum levels of ucOC, cOC and MK-7 were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks, together with bone markers and coagulation parameters. The UCR was used as an indicator of vitamin K status. In the MK-7-supplemented group (n28), the circulating concentration of inactive ucOC reduced and the UCR improved whereas the concentration of MK-7 increased. Within the placebo group, ucOC, cOC, UCR and MK-7 did not significantly change over time. In both groups, bone markers and coagulation parameters remained constant over time. These findings demonstrate that in healthy, prepubertal children, modest supplementation with MK-7 increases circulating concentrations of MK-7 and increases osteocalcin carboxylation.
Rapid mapping of schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases in the context of integrated control programmes in Africa
Authors: BROOKER S. , KABATEREINE N. B. , GYAPONG J. O. , STOTHARD J. R. , UTZINGER J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThere is growing interest and commitment to the control of schistosomiasis and other so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Resources for control are inevitably limited, necessitating assessment methods that can rapidly and accurately identify and map high-risk communities so that interventions can be targeted in a spatially-explicit and cost-effective manner. Here, we review progress made with (1) mapping schistosomiasis across Africa using available epidemiological data and, more recently, climate-based risk prediction; (2) the development and use of morbidity questionnaires for rapid identification of high-risk communities of urinary schistosomiasis; and (3) innovative sampling-based approaches for intestinal schistosomiasis, using the lot quality assurance sampling technique. Experiences are also presented for the rapid mapping of other NTDs, including onchocerciasis, loiasis and lymphatic filariasis. Future directions for an integrated rapid mapping approach targeting multiple NTDs simultaneously are outlined, including potential challenges in developing an integrated survey tool. The lessons from the mapping of human helminth infections may also be relevant for the rapid mapping of malaria as its control efforts are intensified.
Heligmosomoides bakeri: a model for exploring the biology and genetics of resistance to chronic gastrointestinal nematode infections
Authors: BEHNKE J. M. , MENGE D. M. , NOYES H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe intestinal nematodeHeligmosomoides bakerihas undergone 2 name changes during the last 4 decades. Originally, the name conferred on the organism in the early 20th century wasNematospiroides dubius, but this was dropped in favour ofHeligmosomoides polygyrus, and then more recentlyH. bakeri, to distinguish it from a closely related parasite commonly found in wood mice in Europe.H. bakeritypically causes long-lasting infections in mice and in this respect it has been an invaluable laboratory model of chronic intestinal nematode infections. Resistance toH. bakeriis a dominant trait and is controlled by genes both within and outside the MHC. More recently, a significant QTL has been identified on chromosome 1, although the identity of the underlying genes is not yet known. Other QTL for resistance traits and for the accompanying immune responses were also defined, indicating that resistance toH. bakeriis a highly polygenic phenomenon. Hence marker-assisted breeding programmes aiming to improve resistance to GI nematodes in breeds of domestic livestock will need to be highly selective, focussing on genes that confer the greatest proportion of overall genetic resistance, whilst leaving livestock well-equipped genetically to cope with other types of pathogens and preserving important production traits.