bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New advances in MR‐compatible bioartificial liver
Authors: Jeffries Rex E. , Macdonald Jeffrey M. 
Published: February 2011

SUMMARYMR‐compatible bioartificial liver (BAL) studies have been performed for 30 years and are reviewed. There are two types of study: (i) metabolism and drug studies using multinuclear MRS; primarily short‐term (< 8 h) studies; (ii) the use of multinuclear MRS and MRI to noninvasively define the features and functions of BAL systems for long‐term liver tissue engineering. In the latter, these systems often undergo not only modification of the perfusion system, but also the construction of MR radiofrequency probes around the bioreactor. We present novel MR‐compatible BALs and the use of multinuclear MRS (13C, 19F, 31P) for the noninvasive monitoring of their growth, metabolism and viability, as well as 1H MRI methods for the determination of flow profiles, diffusion, cell distribution, quality assurance and bioreactor integrity. Finally, a simple flexible coil design and circuit, and life support system, are described that can make almost any BAL MR‐compatible. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization in simulations of human movement planning
Authors: Eriksson Anders , Svanberg Krister 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis paper discusses optimization algorithms in movement simulations for models of humans, humanoid robots or other mechanisms. Targeted movements between two configurations define a dynamically redundant system, for which there is freedom in the choice of control force time variations. A previously developed formulation for the treatment of targeted dynamics for mechanisms was used as a basis. The paper describes the development of an algorithm related to the method of moving asymptotes for the necessary optimization. The algorithm is specifically adapted to problems which are large and non‐linear but sparse, and which include very high numbers of design variables as well as constraints. In particular, non‐linear equality constraints from dynamic equilibrium equations are important. The optimization algorithm was developed to include these, but also in order to allow successively increasing penalty factors for constraint violations. The resulting setting was shown to be able to handle the systems established, robustly giving convergence to at least a local minimum also for very distant start iterates. The existence of very closely situated local optima, representing very similar movements, was discovered for the problem formulation, calling for an ad hoc method for finding the best of these local optima. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matching structure and strategy: Towards a market orientation in health care
Authors: Laing Angus , Galbraith Archie 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe introduction of an ‘internal’ or ‘managed’ market mechanism into the National Health Service required fundamental structural reorganisation, involving the separation of purchaser and provider functions. While a degree of structural change has occurred among the emergent purchasing organisations subsequent to the initial reforms, there is a lack of corresponding evidence of ongoing structural change in acute provider units. Despite the existence of a direct relationship between organisational structure and strategy, the extent of change in the organisational structure of hospitals is questionable. Indeed at the macro level current acute hospital structures, that is NHS Trusts, are remarkably similar to ‘pre‐reform’ structures, despite the unsuitability of these structures for the market orientation required by the internal market. Such prevalence arguably reflects the marginal effect that current managerial structures have had on those delivering services and the predominance of the medical hierarchies. Specifically, those responsible for the marketing of hospital services in current structures are not directly linked to those who deliver the service, in spite of the introduction of clinical directorate structures. Part of a broader study of the market behaviour of acute NHS Trusts in Scotland, this paper explores the organisational avenues open to health care providers to overcome this separation in the pursuit of market‐led service delivery and concomitant market orientation.
Service quality: New horizons beyond SERVQUAL: An investigation of the portability of SERVQUAL into the voluntary and local government sectors
Authors: Shiu Edward , Vaughan Liz , Donnelly Mike 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis paper reports on the outcomes of an action research programme investigating the measurement of service quality in the voluntary and local government service environments. The paper begins with a brief background of the contexts within which the local government and voluntary sectors deliver their services and a description of the SERVQUAL method. It reports on the outcomes of three studies in different service environments in the local government sector and then focuses on a recent study within the Scottish voluntary sector. The voluntary sector study serves as a platform from which to examine the portability of SERVQUAL into this sector and to assess its limitations as an instrument for measuring the quality of voluntary sector service provision. The study concludes that the SERVQUAL approach, in terms of its methodology, is appropriate for the public and voluntary sectors, but that primary qualitative research is necessary to develop appropriate survey instruments that reflect the different customer perceptions of the underlying service quality dimensions in these nonprofit sectors.
On the Use of SIFT‐MS and PTR‐MS Experiments to Explore Reaction Mechanisms in Plasmas of Volatile Organics: Siloxanes
Authors: Steele David A. , Short Robert D. , Brown Philip , Mayhew Chris A. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractSelected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS) are used to explore ion‐molecule reactions in low temperature and pressure plasmas of hexamethyldisiloxane. These techniques shed new light on possible reactions taking place within such plasma environments and validate many of the reaction pathways previously advocated based upon plasma‐phase MS. However, SIFT‐MS and PTR‐MS results draw attention to the possible importance of the H3O+ ion in initiating the formation of oligomeric ions, a point previously missed in plasma‐MS studies. magnified image
Regression models, scan statistics and reappearance probabilities to detect regions of association between gene expression and copy number
Authors: Asimit Jennifer L. , Andrulis Irene L. , Bull Shelley B. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractEarly studies of breast cancer microarray data used linear models to quantify the relationship between measures of gene expression (GE) and copy number (CN) obtained from tumour samples. Motivated by a study of women with axillary node‐negative breast cancer, we propose a regression‐based scan statistic to identify within‐chromosome clusters of genetic probes that exhibit association between GE and CN, while accounting for tumour characteristics known to be prognostic for clinical outcome. As a measure of the association between GE and CN, for each genetic probe available from a microarray we regress GE on CN, and include subject‐specific covariates. In the development of the scan statistic, the within‐chromosome spatial distribution of the subset of probes with a statistically significant association is approximated by a Poisson process. By incorporating the distance between the probe positions, the scan statistic accounts for the spatial nature of CN alterations. Regions identified as clusters of significant associations are hypothesized to harbour genes involved in breast cancer progression. Using simulations, we examine the sensitivity of the method to certain factors, and to address issues of repeatability, we consider reappearance probabilities for each probe within detected regions and assess the utility of a quantity estimated by bootstrap sample frequencies. Applications of the proposed method to joint analysis of GE and CN in breast tumours, with and without an informative covariate, and comparisons with alternative methods suggest that inclusion of covariates and the use of a regional test statistic can serve to refine regions for further investigation including the analysis of their association with outcome. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Equivalence of improvement in area under ROC curve and linear discriminant analysis coefficient under assumption of normality
Authors: Demler Olga V. , Pencina Michael J. , D'Agostino Ralph B. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractIn this paper we investigate the addition of new variables to an existing risk prediction model and the subsequent impact on discrimination quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC of ROC). Based on practical experience, concerns have emerged that the significance of association of the variable under study with the outcome in the risk model does not correspond to the significance of the change in AUC: that is, often the variable is significant, but the change in AUC is not. This paper demonstrates that under the assumption of multivariate normality and employing linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to construct the risk prediction tool, statistical significance of the new predictor(s) is equivalent to the statistical significance of the increase in AUC. Under these assumptions the result extends asymptotically to logistic regression. We further show that equality of variance–covariance matrices of predictors within cases and non‐cases is not necessary when LDA is used. However, our practical example from the Framingham Heart Study data suggests that the finding might be sensitive to the assumption of normality. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spontaneous and Deformation‐Induced Martensite in Austenitic Stainless Steels with Different Stability
Authors: Naraghi Reza , Hedström Peter , Borgenstam Annika 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe fraction and microstructure of spontaneous and deformation‐induced martensite in three austenitic stainless steels with different austenite stability have been investigated. Samples were quenched in brine followed by cooling in liquid nitrogen or plastically deformed by uniaxial tensile testing at different initial temperatures. In‐situ ferritescope measurements of the martensite fraction was conducted during tensile testing and complemented with ex‐situ X‐ray diffractometry. The microstructures of quenched and deformed samples were examined using light optical microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction. It was found that annealing twins in austenite are effective nucleation sites for spontaneous α'‐martensite, while deformation‐induced α'‐martensite mainly formed within parallel shear‐bands. The α'‐martensite formed has an orientation relationship near the Kurdjumov‐Sachs (K‐S) relation with the parent austenite phase even at high plastic strains, and adjacent α'‐martensite variants were mainly twin related (<111> 60° or Σ3).
Influence of Carbon on Mechanical Properties of Cu bearing Extra Low Carbon Steel Sheets
Authors: Kim Sungil , Hong Moon‐Hi , Chin Kwang‐Geun , Kwak Jai‐Hyun 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis paper examines the effect of carbon (C) on solid solution strengthening, bake hardening and anti‐strain aging property for copper (Cu) bearing extra low carbon (ELC) steel sheets. For this purpose, five ELC steels that contain different content of C were selected. We have investigated the effect of C on mechanical properties and microstructures for the continuous annealed ELC steel sheets. Mechanical properties and microstructures were analyzed as well using uni‐axial tensile test and electron back‐scattered diffraction (EBSD) technique following pilot rolling and continuous annealing. It has been found that the addition of C increases the solid solution strengthening as well as 19.9MPa per 0.0010wt%C in yield strength. What is more, the addition of C increases the bake hardenability (BH) as well as 18.7MPa per 0.0010wt%C. In addition, the addition of C delays the recrystallization during continuous annealing process. From an industrial standpoint, it is possible to control both a stable anti‐strain aging property and high bake hardenability for the ELC steel sheets without Ti and Nb addition.
Sedation with local versus general anesthesia for the tension‐free vaginal tape Secur hammock procedure
Authors: Araco Francesco , Gravante Gianpiero , Sorge Roberto , Overton John , Castrì Francesca , Primicerio Mario , Piccione Emilio 
Published: February 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the intraoperative and immediate postoperative results achieved with the tension‐free vaginal tape Secur (TVT‐S) hammock procedure performed under local anesthesia (LA) versus general anesthesia (GA).MethodsProspective randomized trial involving patients with symptomatic stress urinary incontinence grades 1 or 2 who underwent TVT‐S under either LA or GA. Postoperative pain intensity, duration of hospitalization, rate of complications, duration of operating and recovery times, and number of additional procedures required were recorded.ResultsEach group included 40 patients. The operative times were identical in the 2 groups, but the time spent in the recovery room was significantly longer in the GA group. Patients undergoing LA experienced less pain than did those undergoing GA. Most patients in the LA group had day surgery, whereas most patients in the GA group went home 1 day after the surgery. No significant differences were observed for the rates of complications.ConclusionPerforming the TVT‐S hammock technique under LA rather than GA reduces postoperative pain and shortens the duration of hospitalization.
The ‘check effect’ reconsidered
Authors: Rosen Marc I. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTAims  The ‘check effect’ refers to the use of disability payments to purchase illegal drugs or alcohol. This paper describes subsequent research concerning three interrelated issues: the check effect, whether receipt of disability payments is associated with more overall substance use, and potential policy responses to misuse of disability payments for substances.Methods  Review and synthesis of published papers.Results  Increased substance use at the beginning of the month has been described in a variety of settings. The tendency to purchase substances at the beginning of the month is impacted by household wealth, the tendency to discount future rewards and cyclical economic activity. However, in naturalistic observational cohort studies, beneficiaries who receive disability payments had no greater substance use than those without disability payments. Potential policy responses to mis‐spending of disability checks include financial counseling that discourages spending on drugs and the assignment of a representative payee to prevent misuse of benefits for substances. Assignment of a representative payee per se has not been associated with reduced substance use, but payeeship administered by agencies that integrate payee practice into treatment has been.Conclusion  Disability payments impact the timing of substance use, but receipt of disability payments is not associated with more overall substance use than unalleviated poverty. Money management‐based clinical interventions, which may involve assignment of a representative payee, can minimize the purchase of substances with disability payments.
Increased serum hepcidin levels during treatment with deferasirox in iron‐overloaded patients with myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Ghoti Hussam , Fibach Eitan , Westerman Mark , Gordana Olbina , Ganz Tomas , Rachmilewitz Eliezer A. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryHepcidin is a major regulator of iron metabolism. We evaluated changes in serum hepcidin during 3 months of therapy with the iron‐chelator deferasirox in patients with low‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome and iron overload. Serum hepcidin was found to be high in these patients, correlated with their iron and oxidative status, and further increased by treatment with deferasirox. These findings support the concept that the hepcidin level represents a balance between the stimulating effect of iron overload and the inhibitory effects of erythropoietic activity and oxidative stress. These preliminary findings favour the rationale for iron chelation therapy in such patients.
Review: a conceptual model of perceived burden of informal caregivers for older persons with a severe functional psychiatric syndrome and concomitant problematic behaviour
Authors: Zegwaard Marian I , Aartsen Marja J , Cuijpers Pim , Grypdonck Mieke HF 
Published: February 2011

Aims and objectives.  This literature review aims to delineate the determinants of perceived burden by informal caregivers and provide insight into the interrelatedness between these determinants.Background.  Despite the attention given to the various determinants of perceived burden, their interrelatedness has not been unravelled. Insight into this interrelatedness is mandatory for the development of successful, complex, multivariate interventions to reduce perceived burden of informal caregivers.Design.  Systematic review.Method.  Four electronic databases, CINAHL, Embase psychiatry, Medline, Psychinfo and reference lists of selected articles, were searched. Publications between January 1985–2008 were included if they concerned mental illness, burden and care giving. Articles were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results.  The results of mostly descriptive, cross‐sectional and univariate research and the more process‐oriented results coming from qualitative burden research are organised in a process orientated conceptual scheme or model adapted from the stress‐theoretical framework by Lazarus and Folkman. The model indicates that perceived burden must be understood through the individual appraisal of stressors and the availability and use of internal and external resources. Perceived burden is the outcome of multiple, clinically overlapping psychiatric problems, problematic behaviour and functional disabilities.Conclusions.  So far, intervention programs to reduce perceived burden of informal caregivers have not devoted much attention to the interrelatedness of the origins of burden. The conceptual model provides an overview of the various determinants of perceived burden and a clear picture of the possible interrelatedness appears. This overview of the most important sources of burden helps to develop a complex, multivariate intervention that is comprehensive, long‐term, individually tailored and has the flexibility to meet the dynamics of burden over time.Relevance to clinical practice.  Use of the conceptual model is crucial to professional nursing and the quality of support of informal caregivers.
The effects of cryotherapy in relieving postarthroscopy pain
Authors: Fang Li , Hung Chich‐Hsiu , Wu Shang‐Liang , Fang Shu‐Hui , Stocker Joel 
Published: February 2011

Aim.  The aim of this study was to examine whether the application of cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag is effective in reducing the severity of wound pain after arthroscopy.Background.  In most studies, analgesic medication were administered prior to surgery; postoperative pain may be reduced by analgesics, but they are known to confound the effects of cryotherapy. Cryotherapy by Cryocuff system has commonly been used to manage post arthroscopy patients’ pain. Few studies have tested the effects of cryotherapy by simply applying ice in a plastic bag to relieve postarthroscopy pain.Design.  This was a prospective, double‐blinded, quasi‐experimental study with two groups, interrupted time‐series design and multiple treatment replications.Method.  Fifty‐nine patients who received arthroscopy between July–August 2007 were assigned to receive cryotherapy (the experimental group, 33 people) or no cryotherapy (the control group, 26 people). For the experimental group, three 10‐minute sessions of ice packing were conducted over a three‐hour period, with 50‐minute intervals between each session. The first session of ice packing was applied immediately after recovery from anaesthesia.Results.  Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag was shown to be effective in lessening the degree of pain in postarthroscopy patients. The pain score of the experimental group decreased from 5·12–1·82 after cryotherapy, representing a significant decrease, while the pain score in the control group decreased from 4·04–2·88 (p = 0·047, 0·012 and 0·005).Conclusions.  Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag can be applied in standard protocols for patients who have just undergone arthroscopic surgery.Relevance to clinical practice.  Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag is a simple, readily attainable and cost‐effective technique for relieving postarthroscopy pain. We recommend that it be included in standard treatment protocols. Techniques for cryotherapy should be incorporated into in‐service education.
A novel Hfq‐dependent sRNA that is under FNR control and is synthesized in oxygen limitation in Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Fantappiè Laura , Oriente Francesca , Muzzi Alessandro , Serruto Davide , Scarlato Vincenzo , Delany Isabel 
Published: February 2011

SummarySmall non‐coding RNAs (sRNA) are emerging as key elements of post‐transcriptional gene regulation in bacteria. The conserved Hfq protein is thought to function as an RNA chaperone and facilitate base‐pairing between sRNAs and mRNA targets. In this study we identify a novel sRNA of Neisseria meningitidis through global gene expression studies of regulated transcripts in the Hfq mutant. The synthesis of this sRNA, named AniS, is anaerobically induced through activation of its promoter by the FNR global regulator. Whole‐genome expression analyses led to the identification of putative mRNA targets, two of which are predicted to base pair with AniS. We show that Hfq binds the AniS transcript in vitro and is necessary for the downregulation of the identified target mRNAs in vivo. Contrary to many Hfq‐dependent sRNA of the Enterobacteriaceae, Hfq promotes decay of AniS in N. meningitidis. Our analysis shows that the AniS regulator is part of the FNR regulon and may be responsible for the downregulation of FNR‐repressed genes. Furthermore the presence of similar conserved regulatory sequences in all Neisseria spp. to date suggests that an analogous FNR‐regulated sRNA, with a variable 5′ sequence, may be ubiquitous to all commensals and pathogens of the Genus.
The alternative aerobic ribonucleotide reductase of Escherichia coli, NrdEF, is a manganese‐dependent enzyme that enables cell replication during periods of iron starvation
Authors: Martin Julia E. , Imlay James A. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryThe genome of Escherichia coli encodes two class I ribonucleotide reductases. The first, NrdAB, is a well‐studied iron‐dependent enzyme that is essential for aerobic growth. The second, NrdEF, is not functional under routine conditions, and its role is obscure. Recent studies demonstrated that NrdEF can be activated in vitro by manganese as well as iron. Since iron enzymes are potential targets for hydrogen peroxide, and since the nrdHIEF operon is induced during H2O2 stress, we hypothesized that H2O2 might inactivate NrdAB and that NrdEF might be induced to compensate. This idea was tested using E. coli mutants that are chronically stressed by H2O2. Contrary to expectation, NrdAB remained active. Its resistance to H2O2 depended upon YfaE, which helps to activate NrdB. The induction of NrdEF during H2O2 stress was mediated by the inactivation of Fur, an iron‐dependent repressor. This regulatory arrangement implied that NrdEF has a physiological role during periods of iron starvation. Indeed, NrdEF supported cell replication in iron‐depleted cells. Iron bound to NrdF when it was expressed in iron‐rich cells, but NrdEF was functional only in cells that were both iron‐depleted and manganese‐rich. Thus NrdEF supports DNA replication when iron is unavailable to activate the housekeeping NrdAB enzyme.