bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Development Model: a case study in Bayesian clinical trial simulation
Authors: Nixon Richard M. , O'Hagan Anthony , Oakley Jeremy , Madan Jason , Stevens John W. , Bansback Nick , Brennan Alan 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe development of a new drug is a major undertaking and it is important to consider carefully the key decisions in the development process. Decisions are made in the presence of uncertainty and outcomes such as the probability of successful drug registration depend on the clinical development programmme.The Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Development Model was developed to support key decisions for drugs in development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is configured to simulate Phase 2b and 3 trials based on the efficacy of new drugs at the end of Phase 2a, evidence about the efficacy of existing treatments, and expert opinion regarding key safety criteria.The model evaluates the performance of different development programmes with respect to the duration of disease of the target population, Phase 2b and 3 sample sizes, the dose(s) of the experimental treatment, the choice of comparator, the duration of the Phase 2b clinical trial, the primary efficacy outcome and decision criteria for successfully passing Phases 2b and 3. It uses Bayesian clinical trial simulation to calculate the probability of successful drug registration based on the uncertainty about parameters of interest, thereby providing a more realistic assessment of the likely outcomes of individual trials and sequences of trials for the purpose of decision making.In this case study, the results show that, depending on the trial design, the new treatment has assurances of successful drug registration in the range 0.044–0.142 for an ACR20 outcome and 0.057–0.213 for an ACR50 outcome. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoelectron spectroscopic studies of the interfacial reaction between glass and commercial adhesive
Authors: Wang Y. Q. , Chen J. , Gao F. , Sherwood Peter M.A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe valence band and core‐level photoelectron spectroscopy [using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS)] were used to probe the interfacial reaction between glass and a commercial adhesive (Loctite). The interaction was investigated by comparing experimental valence band spectra with spectra calculated for various possible interaction schemes. The valence band spectrum for the interfacial region between the glass and the adhesive was obtained using difference spectra on a thin film of adhesive on glass. This film was sufficiently thin that the adhesion interphase could be directly probed. Chemical interaction occurs at the interface as evidenced by the fact that the spectrum for the interfacial region could not be represented by the addition of the spectrum of the glass alone and the adhesive alone. The XPS valence band spectrum and the UPS spectrum showed that the shallow top surface layer is very much enriched in acrylic acid, which is a minor component in the adhesive. When the Loctite adhesive was coated on glass, the C1s and O1s regions of the adhesion interface region showed evidences of new chemistry at the adhesive–glass interface. The possible reactions were evaluated by comparison of the experimental spectra with calculated ones based on different models using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The experimental spectra are well represented by models where the acrylic acid of the surface region of the adhesive reacts with the glass, suggesting chemical interaction occurred at the adhesion interphase. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interventions for critical incident stress in emergency medical services: a qualitative study
Authors: Halpern Janice , Gurevich Maria , Schwartz Brian , Brazeau Paulette 
Published: April 2009

AbstractControversy over the use of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing leaves Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations with little direction in preventing sequelae of Critical Incident Stress (CIS) in their employees. Objectives of the study were to explore and describe Emergency Medical Technicians' (EMTs) experiences of critical incidents and views about potential interventions, in order to facilitate development of interventions that take into account EMS culture. We interviewed 60 EMT practitioners and supervisors, and examined interview transcripts using ethnographic content analysis. EMT practitioners want emotional support in their workplace soon after a critical incident, and welcome interventions that would enhance this. They also experience a brief timeout as important in preventing sequelae of CIS. Exchanges with supervisors and peers that are experienced as supportive are illustrated. Barriers to support are described, as well as ways to address them. Educating supervisors and front‐line practitioners to recognize and respond supportively to critical incidents is acceptable to them. However, an organizational culture that stigmatizes vulnerability is the most insidious and challenging barrier to accessing support after a critical incident. Addressing the issue of stigma is critical to developing appropriate interventions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The mechanism of the cholesterol-lowering effect of water-insoluble fish protein in ovariectomised rats
Authors: Kato Masaki , Ogawa Hiroshi , Kishida Taro , Ebihara Kiyoshi 
Published: April 2009

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether water-insoluble fish protein (IFP) from Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) prevents hypercholesterolaemia induced by ovarian hormone deficiency. Wistar female rats, aged 6 months, were subjected to sham-operation or ovariectomy, and fed a cholesterol-free diet containing casein or IPF as a protein source for 28 d. Body-weight gain and food intake increased in the ovariectomised rats as compared with the sham-operated rats. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was decreased and faecal bile acid excretion was increased by IFP in the ovariectomised rats, but not in the sham-operated rats. Plasma homocysteine concentration was decreased by IFP in the ovariectomised rats, but not in the sham-operated rats. Liver lipids and liver cholesterol concentrations were increased and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) activity was decreased by ovariectomy, but not by diet. Bile acid content and the ratio of cholic acid groups to chenodeoxycholic acid groups in bile were increased by ovariectomy, but decreased by IFP. Bile acid content in the small intestine was increased by IFP in the ovariectomised rats, but not in the sham-operated rats. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and microsomal TAG transfer protein mRNA levels were decreased by ovariectomy and IFP, whereas LDL-receptor mRNA level was decreased by ovariectomy but unaffected by diet. Thus, the preventive effect of IFP on the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated increase in plasma cholesterol concentration seems to be mediated by accelerated faecal excretion of bile acids, coupled with an increase in the intestinal pool of bile acids.
Vitamin A status is associated with T-cell responses in Bangladeshi men
Authors: Ahmad Shaikh M. , Haskell Marjorie J. , Raqib Rubhana , Stephensen Charles B. 
Published: April 2009

Recommendations for vitamin A intake are based on maintaining liver stores of ≥ 0·070 μmol/g, which is sufficient to maintain normal vision. We propose that higher levels may be required to maintain normal immune function. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an 8-week residential study among thirty-six healthy Bangladeshi men with low vitamin A stores. Subjects were randomised to receive vitamin A (240 mg in four doses) or placebo during study weeks 2 and 3. Vitamin A stores were estimated by isotopic dilution at week 8. Total T-cells, the naive T-cells:memory T-cells ratio and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation were positively and significantly correlated with vitamin A stores (P < 0·05). Mitogen-stimulated IL-2, IL-4 and TNFα increased significantly (P < 0·05) in the vitamin A but not placebo group after supplementation, while IL-10 production was significantly and negatively correlated with vitamin A stores (P < 0·05). Segmented linear regression analysis revealed that naive T-cell counts and T-cell blastogenesis were positively associated with vitamin A stores above but not below 0·070 μmol/g liver. These data show that increasing vitamin A stores above the level that maintains normal vision enhances some measures of T-cell-mediated immunity, suggesting a difference in requirements for maintaining vision and immune function.
The effect of exposure to sea water on germination and vegetative growth of an epiphytic bromeliad
Authors: Zotz Gerhard , Reuter Norman 
Published: April 2009

Abstract:Vascular epiphytes can be quite abundant in vegetation close to the ocean surf, where they are exposed to a more or less continuous input of salt spray. The ecophysiological basis of their occurrence, i.e. salt tolerance or avoidance, is unresolved, because all previous studies were observational and conclusions thus circumstantial. Here, the effect of varying concentrations of salt water on germination, and growth and survival of seedlings and established plants was investigated in a growth cabinet study under controlled conditions. Seeds (1500), seedlings (750) and small tank plants (336) were from four populations of Werauhia sanguinolenta that were growing either close to the sea or inland in Panama. Changes of Na+ and K+ concentrations in plant tissue were also determined. No differences in the sensitivity to salt were found among populations, nor among life stages. External concentrations (Cext) of up to 15% sea water (c. 0.5% Na+) allowed complete germination as well as positive growth and survival in both seedlings and established plants over short periods (8–10 wk). After longer exposure (12 wk) of established plants visible damage and increased mortality were observed at lower Cext, but critical tissue Na+ levels were similar: c. 50 mg gDW−1. It is concluded that this common epiphyte does not meet the definition of a halophyte, but still possesses a rather high tolerance to sodium.
Loneliness as a partial mediator of the relation between low social preference in childhood and anxious/depressed symptoms in adolescence
Authors: Fontaine Reid Griffith , Yang Chongming , Burks Virginia Salzer , Dodge Kenneth A. , Price Joseph M. , Pettit Gregory S. , Bates John E. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study examined the mediating role of loneliness (assessed by self-report at Time 2; Grade 6) in the relation between early social preference (assessed by peer report at Time 1; kindergarten through Grade 3) and adolescent anxious/depressed symptoms (assessed by mother, teacher, and self-reports at Time 3; Grades 7–9). Five hundred eighty-five boys and girls (48% female; 16% African American) from three geographic sites of the Child Development Project were followed from kindergarten through Grade 9. Loneliness partially mediated and uniquely incremented the significant effect of low social preference in childhood on anxious/depressed symptoms in adolescence, controlling for early anxious/depressed symptoms at Time 1. Findings are critical to understanding the psychological functioning through which early social experiences affect youths' maladjusted development. Directions for basic and intervention research are discussed, and implications for treatment are addressed.
The longitudinal effects of stressful life events on adolescent depression are buffered by parent–child closeness
Authors: Ge Xiaojia , Natsuaki Misaki N. , Neiderhiser Jenae M. , Reiss David 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study investigated the prospective links of negative life events and parent–child closeness with depressive symptoms among siblings using a multilevel modeling approach with a genetically informative design. The sample consisted of 756 adolescents (378 sibling pairs) who participated in two waves of the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development Project. Sibling pairs with varying degree of genetic relatedness (i.e., monozygotic, dizygotic, full siblings, half siblings, and genetically unrelated siblings) were included. The results showed that negative life events, both personal and family life events, and parent–child closeness at Time 1 were significantly associated with depressive symptoms at Time 2 after accounting for the intrapair correlations between siblings. The effects remained significant after controlling for the levels of preexisting depressive symptoms. More importantly, closeness with mothers, but not with fathers, moderated the effects of both personal and family negative life events on subsequent depressive symptoms.
The impact of parenthood on alcohol consumption trajectories: Variations as a function of timing of parenthood, familial alcoholism, and gender
Authors: Little Michelle , Handley Elizabeth , Leuthe Eileen , Chassin Laurie 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe current study tested the impact of the transition to parenthood on growth in alcohol consumption from early adolescence through emerging adulthood. We measured age-related discontinuity in trajectories of alcohol consumption associated with timing of the parenthood transition, above and beyond the effects of accrued educational status, gender, and time-varying marital status. We also examined the impact of a familial selection factor for the transmission of alcohol use problems, family history density of alcoholism (FHD), on both risk for adolescent parenthood and risk for adolescent parents' continuity in alcohol consumption after the parent transition within a mediation structural equation model. Premature timing of parenthood had a distinct effect on emerging adult alcohol trajectories. Although participants who became parents as emerging adults showed role-relateddeclinein alcohol consumption, those who became parents during adolescence showed a role-relatedrisein emerging adult alcohol consumption. Gender moderated adolescent parents' role-related growth in emerging adult alcohol consumption. Adolescent fathers showed an adverse rise in alcohol consumption after becoming parents, whereas adolescent mothers' alcohol consumption did not change significantly. FHD was related to high adolescent alcohol consumption, which mediated risk for the incidence of early parenthood. Finally, the adverse effect of FHD on trajectories of emerging adult alcohol use was mediated by a dual pathway: (a) developmental continuity of conduct problems and (b) early transition to parenthood.
Prenatal maternal stress from a natural disaster predicts dermatoglyphic asymmetry in humans
Authors: King Suzanne , Mancini-Marïe Adham , Brunet Alain , Walker Elaine , Meaney Michael J. , Laplante David P. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractDermatoglyphic asymmetry of fingertip ridge counts is more frequent in schizophrenia patients than normal controls, and may reflect disruptions in fetal development during Weeks 14–22 when fingerprints develop. However, there are no data in humans linking specific adverse events at specific times to dermatoglyphic asymmetries. Our objective was to determine whether prenatal exposure to a natural disaster (1998 Quebec ice storm) during Weeks 14–22 would result in increased dermatoglyphic asymmetry in children, and to determine the roles of maternal objective stress exposure, subjective stress reaction, and postdisaster cortisol. Ridge counts for homologous fingers were scored for 77 children (20 target exposed [Weeks 14–22] and 57 nontarget exposed [exposed during other gestation weeks]). Children in the target group had more than 0.50SDgreater asymmetry than the nontarget group. Within the target group, children whose mothers had high subjective ice storm stress had significantly greater asymmetry than those with lower stress mothers, and maternal postdisaster cortisol had a significant negative correlation with the children's dermatoglyphic asymmetry (r= −.56). Prenatal maternal stress during the period of fingerprint development results in greater dermatoglyphic asymmetry in their children, especially in the face of greater maternal distress.
ELEMENTARY INVARIANTS FOR CENTRALIZERS OF NILPOTENT MATRICES
Authors: BROWN JONATHAN , BRUNDAN JONATHAN 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe construct an explicit set of algebraically independent generators for the center of the universal enveloping algebra of the centralizer of a nilpotent matrix in the general linear Lie algebra over a field of characteristic zero. In particular, this gives a new proof of the freeness of the center, a result first proved by Panyushev, Premet and Yakimova.
CONSTRUCTING HERMAN RINGS BY TWISTING ANNULUS HOMEOMORPHISMS
Authors: WANG XIUMEI , ZHANG GAOFEI 
Published: April 2009

AbstractLet F(z) be a rational map with degree at least three. Suppose that there exists an annulus $H \subset \widehat {\mathbb {C}}$ such that (1) H separates two critical points of F, and (2) F:H→F(H) is a homeomorphism. Our goal in this paper is to show how to construct a rational map G by twisting F on H such that G has the same degree as F and, moreover, G has a Herman ring with any given Diophantine type rotation number.
A new eye-safe lidar design for studying atmospheric aerosol distributions
Authors: Cao Nianwen , Zhou Xiaobing , Li Shusun , Chen Zhongrong 
Published: April 2009

This paper presents the design, eye-safe characteristics, and performance of a new eye-safe infrared lidar system for studying city fog. It includes a compact infrared (1574 nm) transmitter, a telescope receiver, and a computer to acquire, store, and process and analyze the measurement data. The development of such a system makes it possible for routine aerosol monitoring in a populated area using lidar technology. A simulation study and a field test show that the system was capable of aerosol monitoring in cities. This lidar system will be used to study the distribution of aerosol over an urban area of 100–200 km2 and will be useful for routine multidimensional aerosol measurements with high resolution in an urban environment.
At the request of the authors and editor, this article is being retracted effective 16 February 2010.
Adult psychosocial outcomes of children with specific language impairment, pragmatic language impairment and autism
Authors: Whitehouse Andrew J. O. , Watt Helen J. , Line E. A. , Bishop Dorothy V. M. 
Published: April 2009

Background: The few studies that have tracked children with developmental language disorder to adulthood have found that these individuals experience considerable difficulties with psychosocial adjustment (for example, academic, vocational and social aptitude). Evidence that some children also develop autistic symptomatology over time has raised suggestions that developmental language disorder may be a high‐functioning form of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is not yet clear whether these outcomes vary between individuals with different subtypes of language impairment.Aims: To compare the adult psychosocial outcomes of children with specific language impairment (SLI), pragmatic language impairment (PLI) and ASD.Methods & Procedures: All participants took part in research as children. In total, there were 19 young adults with a childhood history of Specific Language Impairment (M age = 24;8), seven with PLI (M age = 22;3), 11 with high functioning ASD (M age = 21;9) and 12 adults with no history of developmental disorder (Typical; n = 12; M age = 21;6). At follow‐up, participants and their parents were interviewed to elicit information about psychosocial outcomes.Outcomes & Results: Participants in the SLI group were most likely to pursue vocational training and work in jobs not requiring a high level of language/literacy ability. The PLI group tended to obtain higher levels of education and work in ‘skilled’ professions. The ASD participants had lower levels of independence and more difficulty obtaining employment than the PLI and SLI participants. All groups had problems establishing social relationships, but these difficulties were most prominent in the PLI and ASD groups. A small number of participants in each group were found to experience affective disturbances. The PLI and SLI groups showed lower levels of autistic symptomatology than the ASD group.Conclusions & Implications: The between‐group differences in autistic symptomatology provide further evidence that SLI, PLI, and ASD are related disorders that vary along qualitative dimensions of language structure, language use and circumscribed interests. Childhood diagnosis showed some relation to adult psychosocial outcome. However, within‐group variation highlights the importance of evaluating children on a case‐by‐case basis.
Network-based multiple locus linkage analysis of expression traits
Authors: Pan Wei 
Published: April 2009

AbstractMotivation: We consider the problem of multiple locus linkage analysis for expression traits of genes in a pathway or a network. To capitalize on co-expression of functionally related genes, we propose a penalized regression method that maps multiple expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for all related genes simultaneously while accounting for their shared functions as specified a priori by a gene pathway or network.Results: An analysis of a mouse dataset and simulation studies clearly demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method over a standard approach that ignores biological knowledge of gene networks.Contact: weip@biostat.umn.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Proust's Emotional Cavities: Vision and Affect in
A la recherche du temps perdu
Authors: Haustein Katja 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Against the background of the ‘waning of affect’ in modern times

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and the (post-)Freudian consignment of feelings to theories of drives, the ineluctable question emerges of where we can satisfactorily place emotionality at all nowadays. What role do feelings play in works of art? This article reflects on these questions by examining the relationship between vision (both bodily and photographic) and affect in Proust's
A la recherche du temps perdu
. Reading Proust's work as part of a growing tendency to hollow out the Romantic idea of emotion, the article explores the advancing displacement of ‘holistic emotionality’ by the rapid increase in ‘emotional cavities’. These are zones devoid of any emotional contact or correspondence between the narrator and the world he perceives. In close readings of the scenes connected with the death of the grandmother and of Albertine sleeping, this article argues that Proust introduces a new understanding of affect that neither theorizes it as essential and all-pervading nor simply disqualifies it in a modernist gesture of denial. Instead, Proust's work proposes a conception of affect that eventually appears as privatized, contingent and in peril.
Optimization and Troubleshooting in PCR
Authors: Roux Kenneth H. 
Published: April 2009

INTRODUCTIONThe use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate large amounts of a desired product can be a double-edged sword. Failure to amplify under optimum conditions can lead to the generation of multiple undefined and unwanted products, even to the exclusion of the desired product. At the other extreme, no product may be produced. A typical response at this point is to vary one or more of the many parameters that are known to contribute to primer-template fidelity and primer extension. High on the list of optimization variables are Mg++ concentrations, buffer pH, and cycling conditions. With regard to the last, the annealing temperature is most important. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some of the variables are quite interdependent. For example, because dNTPs directly chelate a proportional number of Mg++ ions, an increase in the concentration of dNTPs decreases the concentration of free Mg++ available to influence polymerase function. This article discusses various optimization strategies, including touchdown PCR and hot-start PCR.