bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional impairment of dendritic cells in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 who failed peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy
Authors: Liang Cheng‐Chao , Liu Chen‐Hua , Lin Yu‐Li , Liu Chun‐Jen , Chiang Bor‐Luen , Kao Jia‐Horng 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAlthough chronic hepatitis C patients have a lower frequency and functions of dendritic cells (DCs) than healthy subjects, little is known about the serial changes in frequency and functions of DCs following anti‐viral treatment and the relationship with treatment outcomes. Twenty patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 receiving peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin for 24 weeks were enrolled. The frequency and functions of DCs were assayed at baseline and 24 weeks post‐treatment. Ten sex and age‐matched healthy adults served as controls. Nineteen of the 20 chronic hepatitis C patients completed 24 weeks of combination therapy. Fifteen patients achieved rapid virologic response and 12 achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The baseline frequency of peripheral blood myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs was significantly lower in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy controls. In patients who achieved SVR, the frequency of DCs subsets at the end of follow‐up increased to a level comparable to healthy controls. Although no functional defects of DCs was found in chronic hepatitis C patients in comparison with healthy controls, in patients without SVR had a lower CD83 expression and higher interleukin‐10 production of DCs than SVR patients. The results suggest that low CD83 expression and high IL‐10 production of DCs at the baseline may predict a poor virologic response to 24‐week PEG‐IFN plus ribavirin therapy in HCV genotype 1 patients. J. Med. Virol. 83:1212–1220, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interference of replication between hepatitis B and C viruses in patients infected with HIV
Authors: Yang Rong‐Rong , Gui Xien , Chen Xue‐yuan , Zhu Ying 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe clinical and cellular interactions between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in patients co‐infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One hundred ninety‐nine patients followed for 6 years were evaluated to compare the level of HBV DNA and HCV RNA in patients co‐infected with HIV and HBV, and patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. A full‐length HBV genome and HCV JFH1 RNA were co‐transfected into HuH‐7.5.1 cells in vitro to examine the impact of co‐infection and dependence on the HBV PreC mutant for replication interference. Before 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐3′‐thiacytidine (3TC)‐based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated, HBV DNA was found in 56/123 (45.4%) patients co‐infected with HIV and HBV, and in 19/76 (25.0%) patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. After 3TC‐based ART was initiated, detectable HBV DNA decreased to 7/76 (9.2%) in patients co‐infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV, but HCV RNA increased from 43/76 (56.6%) to 60/76 (78.9%) (P = 0.003). In vitro HBV and HCV co‐infection led to decreased replication of both viruses. The primary factors that influenced the decreased replication were the order of the HBV and HCV infection and the HBV PreC mutation. J. Med. Virol. 83:1159–1164, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Why are Some Engaged and Not Others? Explaining Environmental Engagement among Small Firms in Tourism
Authors: Sampaio Ana Rita , Thomas Rhodri , Font Xavier 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the reasons for different levels of environmental engagement among small firms in tourism. Drawing on theories of motivation, notably Social Cognitive Theory, Motivation Systems Theory and Goal Orientation Theory, as well as the literature on environmental sensitivity, it proposes a novel conceptual framework that is subsequently used to inform an empirical study. The findings of the research suggest that varying levels of environmental engagement may be explained by differences in worldviews, self‐efficacy beliefs, context beliefs and goal orientation. The paper concludes by considering the policy implications of the results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validation of the child posttraumatic symptom scale in a sample of treatment‐seeking Israeli youth
Authors: Rachamim Lilach , Helpman Liat , Foa Edna B. , Aderka Idan M. , Gilboa‐Schechtman Eva 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe evaluated the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (CPSS), a self‐report measure assessing the severity of posttraumatic distress in youth. Participants (N= 156, ages 8–18) were treatment‐seeking victims of diverse traumas. Internal consistency of the Hebrew version in these data was .91 for the total score, .77 for intrusion, .67 for avoidance, and .72 for arousal, similar to the original version. Test‐retest reliability over 1 week in a subsample of 45 was r = .81. The point biserial correlation with a clinician‐based diagnosis of PTSD was .54. Other convergent and divergent relationships expand the existing literature on the measure and support it as a valuable assessment tool for children exposed to traumatic events.
Deployment stressors and outcomes among Air Force chaplains
Authors: Levy Hannah C. , Conoscenti Lauren M. , Tillery John F. , Dickstein Benjamin D. , Litz Brett T. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractMilitary chaplains are invaluable caregiver resources for service members. Little is known about how chaplains respond to the challenge of providing spiritual counsel in a warzone. In this exploratory study, 183 previously deployed Air Force chaplains completed an online survey assessing operational and counseling stress exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, compassion fatigue, and posttraumatic growth. Despite reporting exposure to stressful counseling experiences, Air Force chaplains did not endorse high compassion fatigue. Rather, chaplains experienced positive psychological growth following exposure to stressful counseling experiences. However, 7.7% of Air Force chaplains reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms, suggesting that they are not immune to deployment‐related mental health problems. Simultaneous regression analyses revealed that counseling stress exposure predicted compassion fatigue (β = .20) and posttraumatic growth (β = .24), suggesting that caretaking in theatre is stressful enough to spur positive psychological growth in chaplains. Consistent with findings from previous studies, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that operational stress exposure predicted PTSD symptom severity (β = .33) while controlling for demographic variables.
ASSESSING LAND DEGRADATION RISK THROUGH THE LONG‐TERM ANALYSIS OF EROSIVITY: A CASE STUDY IN SOUTHERN SPAIN
Authors: Taguas E. V. , Carpintero E. , Ayuso J. L. 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTDespite the high variability of the precipitation regime characterizing the Mediterranean area, the records of rainfall depth are usually not appropriate for long‐term calculations of erosivity and soil losses, because they do not reveal details of short lengths or long durations (daily, monthly). In this work, we present a simple approach to calculate annual erosivity through monthly precipitation records. The study area (olive groves on steep slopes) has a high erosion risk associated to the main soil land use, combined with an irregular and erosive rainfall regime. The relationships between rainfall data at intervals of 10 min for a period of 3 years, daily rainfall records over 10 years and a long‐term monthly dataset of 60 years were checked to calculate the annual erosivity values through daily data, Fourier's index and modified Fourier's index values. A good, adjusted linear relationship between modified Fourier's index and the erosivity was found, which allowed us to optimize the use of the 60‐year monthly data series and to carry out a long‐term analysis of the erosivity quantiles in the study area. The estimated mean erosivity showed a return period of between 2 and 5 years and a variation coefficient of over 50 per cent, which illustrate its high variability and frequency. This approach to calculate erosivity and the use of quantiles could be applied in other areas with month‐long data series in order to study and model the erosion risk using suitable temporal periods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Dithienyl Benzotriazole‐based Polyfluorene: Synthesis and Applications in Polymer Solar Cells and Red Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Liu Bo , Ye Shanghui , Zou Yingping , Peng Bo , He Yuehui , Zhou Kechao 
Published: May 2011

AbstractA new donor–acceptor type polyfluorene derivative, poly[9,9‐dioctyl‐2,7‐fluorene‐alt‐(4,7‐bis(2′‐thienyl)‐2‐octyl‐2,1,3‐benzotriazole)] (PFDTBTz), is synthesized by a Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization reaction. The optical, electrochemical, photovoltaic, and electroluminescence properties of PFDTBTz are investigated in detail. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs based on PFDTBTz/PC71BM (1:2 w/w) reaches 2.1% with a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 5.73 mA · cm−2, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.84 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.44 under AM 1.5G, 100 mW · cm−2 illumination. Polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) are fabricated in an ITO/PEDOT:PSS (30 nm)/PFDTBTz (60 nm)/BAlq (40 nm)/Cs2CO3:Ag configuration and light emission is observed at a voltage greater than 8.0 V. The EL device shows almost pure red and the efficiency is very stable when the current density is increased, making it useful for commercial applications. magnified image
Intertemporal choice in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Milenkova Maria , Mohammadi Bahram , Kollewe Katja , Schrader Christoph , Fellbrich Anja , Wittfoth Matthias , Dengler Reinhard , Münte Thomas F. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe administration of dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease has been associated with impulse control disorders, in particular, pathological gambling. In the present investigation, 17 patients with Parkinson's disease without impulse control disorders and 17 matched control participants were offered choices between monetary rewards (ranging between 11 and 80 euros) available immediately and larger rewards (between 25 and 85 euros) available after delays ranging from 7 to 186 days. Participants had a 1‐in‐6 chance of winning a reward that they chose on 1 randomly selected trial. Assuming a hyperbolic discounting model, k values were estimated from the pattern of participants' choices. Patients were tested twice, once on dopamine agonist medication and once after 12 hours without medication. Patients showed a considerably steeper discounting function than healthy controls independent of medication status, with k values more than 3 times larger than those of controls. This study shows that patients with Parkinson's disease without clinically apparent impulse control disorders nevertheless tend to make impulsive decisions in intertemporal monetary choice. The lack of difference between sessions could be a result either of the persistent effects of dopaminergic therapy or hint at a genuine medication‐independent change in intertemporal choice behavior in Parkinson's disease. This needs to be addressed in further studies. The paradigm used is easy to apply and should be used more extensively to describe decision behavior in Parkinson's disease. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Minimum important difference for validated instruments in women with urge incontinence
Authors: Dyer Keisha Y. , Xu Yan , Brubaker Linda , Nygaard Ingrid , Markland Alayne , Rahn David , Chai Toby C. , Stoddard Ann , Lukacz Emily ,   for the Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network (UITN)
Published: May 2011

AbstractAimsMinimum important difference (MID) estimates the minimum degree of change in an instrument's score that correlates with subjective sense of improvement. The aim of this study was to estimate the MID for the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ) and Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB‐q) using anchor and distribution‐based approaches in patients with urge‐predominant incontinence and whether MID changes over time.MethodsThis was a sub‐analysis of a multi‐center trial of 307 women with pure urge (11) or urge‐predominant (296) incontinence who completed condition‐specific instruments 10 weeks and 8 months after randomization to anticholinergic medication with or without behavioral therapy. We applied anchor‐based methods only when the Kendall's rank correlations between the anchors (Global Perception of Improvement (GPI), Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), and incontinence episodes) and the incontinence instruments (UDI, UDI irritative subscale, IIQ, and OAB‐q subscales) were ≥0.3. We applied three distribution‐based methods to all instruments: effect sizes of ±0.2 SD (small) and ±0.5 SD (medium), and standard error of measurement of ±1. Analyses were performed at both time points.ResultsAnchor‐based MIDs for the UDI ranged from −35 to −45 and −15 to −25 for the irritative subscale distribution‐based methods MIDs for UDI and IIQ ranged between −10 to −25 and −19 to −49, respectively, reflective of a reduction in bother and symptom severity (SS). OAB‐q subscale MIDs ranged from +5 to +12, denoting improved quality of life (HRQL) and −13 to −25, consistent with a reduction in SS.ConclusionsThe MID in women with urge‐predominant UI for the UDI and UDI irritative are −35 and −15. Our findings are consistent with previously reported MIDs for the OAB‐q subscales. Distribution‐based method MIDs are lower values than anchor‐based values. The MID did not typically change over the time. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:1319–1324, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coronary heart disease outcomes among chronic opioid and cyclooxygenase‐2 users compared with a general population cohort
Authors: Carman Wendy J. , Su Shuhua , Cook Suzanne F. , Wurzelmann John I. , McAfee Andrew 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTBackgroundWe estimated the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary revascularization (CR) among users of chronic opioid therapy (COT) and compared risks across categories of morphine‐equivalent doses of COT and comparator cohorts.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective claims‐based study using de‐identified data from a commercially insured population. A cohort of 148 657 adult users of COT, a matched cohort of the general population, and three cohorts of users of chronic cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor therapy totaling 122 810 were identified. Incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of MI and MI/CR were estimated.ResultsAdjusted IRRs for MI ranged from 1.21 (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.02–1.45) among those receiving low COT doses to 1.89 (95%CI, 1.54–2.33) among those receiving high doses compared with those receiving very low doses, averaging <15 mg/day. Similar patterns were shown for MI/CR. IRRs standardized to the age–sex distribution of the general cohort and adjusted for coronary heart disease risk factors showed 2.7 times the rate of MI and 2.4 times the rate of MI/CR in the COT cohort compared with the general population. Using the same analysis, COX‐2 users had 1.7–1.9 times the rate of MI and MI/CR compared with the general cohort.ConclusionsChronic analgesic use with either COT or COX‐2 was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes. These findings suggest either a selection of high‐risk patients to chronic analgesic treatment, coupled with unmeasured or residual confounding, or a potential cardiovascular effect of these medications. Further research is warranted to evaluate causes for this association. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy of identifying neutropenia diagnoses in outpatient claims data
Authors: Kim Seo Young , Solomon Daniel H. , Liu Jun , Chang Chun‐Lan , Daniel Gregory W. , Schneeweiss Sebastian 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTPurposeDiagnosis codes have been valid tools to identify severe neutropenia leading to hospitalization in claims data, but no data exist on the accuracy of outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia. We examined the validity and accuracy of claims‐based algorithms to identify neutropenia from outpatient visits.MethodsAdults with outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia in the HealthCore Integrated Research Database TM were identified by several algorithms using a combination of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) codes and drug use data. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value of these algorithms using outpatient laboratory data within 3 months of the diagnosis as the gold standard to ascertain cases of mild (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1,500/μL) and severe (ANC <500/μL) neutropenia.ResultsAmong 95,742 eligible subjects, 867 patients were identified with any ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia. This algorithm had high specificity (99%), but low sensitivity (9%) and PPV (18%) for mild neutropenia. Among the subjects identified with the ICD‐9 288.0 (N = 203), sensitivity was 4% and PPV was 33%. Specificity and PPV of the algorithm that combined any ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia with dispensing of pegfilgrastim or filgrastim were 100 and 56% for mild neutropenia, respectively. Sensitivity was 1%. All algorithms had slightly higher sensitivity, but lower PPV for severe neutropenia.ConclusionsUse of ICD‐9 codes for neutropenia in combination with drug use data did not appear to accurately identify outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia without using laboratory results, but it may be useful in determining the absence of neutropenia in claims data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental and theoretical study of the reaction locus during the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent at low temperature
Authors: Emdadi Laleh , Luciani Carla Vanesa , Lee Sang Yool , Baick In Hak , Choi Kyu Yong 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been studied in a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent at low temperature using N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) and lauroyl peroxide (LPO) as redox initiation system. To explain the heterogeneous kinetic characteristics of the polymerization process, the reaction locus has been experimentally and theoretically investigated. The evolutions of monomer conversion, polymer molecular weight distribution (MWD), and particle morphology were measured throughout the polymerization. It was found that the significant preferences of LPO and DMA to accumulate in the polymer‐rich phase after the system phase separation are mainly responsible for both the uniformity of particle sizes and the broad polymer MWDs. It was observed that particle agglomeration and breakup mechanisms were enhanced under agitation, thus promoting the formation of broader particle size distributions. The observed kinetics and thermodynamics of the low‐temperature polymerization were also examined through a mathematical model where the distributions of initiators, solvent, and monomer between phases were considered. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results was observed and the model was used to estimate the conditions that promote bimodal MWDs. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Rheological and thermal behaviour of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/alginate smart polymeric networks
Authors: Dumitriu Raluca P , Mitchell Geoffrey R , Vasile Cornelia 
Published: May 2011

AbstractInterpenetrating polymeric networks based on sodium alginate and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) covalently crosslinked with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide have been investigated using rheology, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An improved elastic response of the samples with a higher PNIPAAm content and increased amount of crosslinking agent was found. The temperature‐responsive behaviour of the hydrogel samples was evidenced by viscoelastic measurements performed at various temperatures. It is shown that the properties of these gels can be tuned according to composition, amount of crosslinking agent and temperature changes. X‐ray scattering analysis revealed that the hydrophobic groups are locally segregated even in the swollen state whilst cryo‐SEM showed the highly heterogeneous nature of the gels. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Ab initio RAFT emulsion polymerization of butadiene using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid‐b‐styrene) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator
Authors: Wei Renzhong , Luo Yingwu , Xu Pinghong 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAb initio reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of butadiene was investigated by using the amphiphilic poly(acrylic acidn‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and mediator. The neutralization on acrylic acid (AA) units played significant influence on the gelation. When half of the AA units were neutralized, the gelation occurred in the early stage of the polymerization so that the highest accessible molecular weight of polybutadiene was as low as 5 kg mol−1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, the gelation was much retarded so that the highest accessible molecular weight was increased up to 23 kg mol−1. In the non‐neutralized conditions, potassium persulfate could not initiate the polymerization. When azobisisobutyronitrile was used as initiator, the polymerization mediated by poly(acrylic acid27‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate could proceed much faster than the solution polymerization did. The latex was stable. Before the gel point, molecular weight agreed well with the theoretical prediction while PDI was relatively high due to the branching reaction. The poly(butadiene‐b‐styrene) core/shell particles could obtained by extending polybutadiene. When the n value in poly (acrylic acidn‐b‐styrene5) trithiocarbonate was lower than 20, the coalescence would occur, leading to the formation of some coagulum. On the other hand, when n value was as high as 60, the molecular weight was out of control. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011