bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Finite Samples and Uncertainty Estimates for Skill Measures for Seasonal Prediction
Authors: Kumar Arun 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The expected value for various measures of skill for seasonal climate predictions is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio. The expected value, however, is only realized for long verification time series. In practice, the verifications for specific seasons—for example, forecasts for the December–February seasonal mean—seldom exceed a sample size of 30. The estimates of skill measure based on small verification time series, because of sampling errors, can have large departures from their expected value. An analysis of spread in the estimates of skill measures with the length of verification time series and for different signal-to-noise ratios is made. The analysis is based on the Monte Carlo approach and skill measures for deterministic, categorical, and probabilistic forecasts are considered. It is shown that the behavior of spread for various skill measures can be very different and it is not always the largest for the small values of signal-to-noise ratios.
Examining the safety and efficacy of a chemotherapy dosing method in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant patients of extreme body size
Authors: Sriharsha Lakshmi , Lipton Jeffrey H , Pond Greg , Ma Clement , Raybardhan Sumit , Messner Hans A , Seki Jack T 
Published: March 2009

Background. There is no consensus on a universal dosing method for calculating high-dose chemotherapy in allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) patients. The Metropolitan Life (Met-Life) Insurance Company’s weight—height tables have been used to determine body weight for chemotherapy dosing for SCT, however no formal study has been done to determine if the Met-Life weight— height tables can be used for chemotherapy dosing in SCT. We retrospectively studied the use of Met-Life weight—height tables for chemotherapy dosing in SCT. Our goal is to determine if patients with extremes of body size who had undergone an SCT and were dosed according to the Met-Life weight— height tables had an increase of Treatment Related Morbidity (TRM) or mortality or relapse. Patients and Methods. Patients were grouped into three different treatment regimens, cyclophosphamide/TBI, busulphan/cyclophosphamide, and AraC/cyclophosphamide/TBI. Patients in each treatment regimen were further divided into five equal groups based on weight. Treatment related morbidity and mortality was evaluated by comparing the lowest and highest quintiles to the middle quintiles within each treatment regimen. Result. Data from 262 patients was evaluated in this study. Overall, there was not an increase in TRM or mortality or in relapse in patients with extremes of body size. Conclusion. The Met-Life weight—height tables could be used to dose patients undergoing allogeneic SCTs. Additional prospective studies would need to be done comparing other chemotherapy dosing methods with the Met-Life weight—height tables to further validate this conclusion.
Topological and organizational properties of the products of house-keeping and tissue-specific genes in protein-protein interaction networks
Authors: Lin Wen-hsien , Liu Wei-chung , Hwang Ming-jing 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Human cells of various tissue types differ greatly in morphology despite having the same set of genetic information. Some genes are expressed in all cell types to perform house-keeping functions, while some are selectively expressed to perform tissue-specific functions. In this study, we wished to elucidate how proteins encoded by human house-keeping genes and tissue-specific genes are organized in human protein-protein interaction networks. We constructed protein-protein interaction networks for different tissue types using two gene expression datasets and one protein-protein interaction database. We then calculated three network indices of topological importance, the degree, closeness, and betweenness centralities, to measure the network position of proteins encoded by house-keeping and tissue-specific genes, and quantified their local connectivity structure.

Results
Compared to a random selection of proteins, house-keeping gene-encoded proteins tended to have a greater number of directly interacting neighbors and occupy network positions in several shortest paths of interaction between protein pairs, whereas tissue-specific gene-encoded proteins did not. In addition, house-keeping gene-encoded proteins tended to connect with other house-keeping gene-encoded proteins in all tissue types, whereas tissue-specific gene-encoded proteins also tended to connect with other tissue-specific gene-encoded proteins, but only in approximately half of the tissue types examined.

Conclusion
Our analysis showed that house-keeping gene-encoded proteins tend to occupy important network positions, while those encoded by tissue-specific genes do not. The biological implications of our findings were discussed and we proposed a hypothesis regarding how cells organize their protein tools in protein-protein interaction networks. Our results led us to speculate that house-keeping gene-encoded proteins might form a core in human protein-protein interaction networks, while clusters of tissue-specific gene-encoded proteins are attached to the core at more peripheral positions of the networks.
Gemifloxacin-Associated Neurotoxicity Presenting as Encephalopathy
Authors: Barrett Matthew J , Login Ivan S 
Published: March 2009

Objective: To report a case of acute encephalopathy associated with ingestion of gemifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone. Case Summary: A 67-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with an acute alteration in mental status. Twenty-four hours earlier she had taken one 320-mg tablet of her husband's gemifloxacirt prescription to treat symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection. During her initial evaluation at our institution, the woman was dysphasia, unable to follow commands, and agitated, suggesting encephalopathy. A thorough diagnostic investigation did not reveal any structural, metabolic, or infectious etiology. Her mental status returned to normal within 2 days without any definitive treatment. Discussion: Fluoroquinolone-associated neurotoxicity may manifest as encephalopathy, seizures, confusion, or toxic psychosis. To date, none of these adverse effects, specifically encephalopathy, has been reported with gemifloxacin. An objective causality assessment revealed that encephalopathy was probably associated with gemifloxacin use. Seizures, either convulsive or nonconvulsive, may have contributed to our patient's presentation, but she denied seizures prior to this event and did not suffer a seizure in the 18 months following her discharge, However, her second electroencephalograph revealed an underlying predisposition to seizures, which gemifioxacin may have unmasked. Conclusions: This report illustrates that severe central nervous system adverse effects associated with some fluoroquinolones may also occur with gemifloxacin. Gemifloxacin and other fluoroquinolones should be considered in the etiologic evaluation of patients with acute encephalopathy.
Novel bacteriocins produced by Geobacillus stearothermophilus
Authors: Pokusaeva Karina , Kuisiene Nomeda , Jasinskyte Dziuginta , Rutiene Kazimiera , Saleikiene Jordana , Chitavichius Donaldas 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Four novel heat-stable bacteriocin-like substances were found to be produced by Geobacillus stearothermophilus strains isolated from oil-wells in Lithuania. Geobacillus stearothermophilus 32A, 17, 30 and 31 strains were identified as producers of bacteriocins with bactericidal activity against closely related Geobacillus species and several pathogenic strains: Bacillus cereus DSM 12001 and Staphylococcus haemolyticus P903. The secretion of the analysed bacteriocins started during early logarithmic growth and dropped sharply after the culture entered the stationary phase of growth. The antimicrobial activity of the bacteriocins against sensitive indicator cells disappeared after treatment with proteolytic enzymes, indicating their proteinaceous nature. Bacteriocins were stable throughout the pH range between 4 and 10, and no loss in activity was noted following temperature exposures up to 100°C. Direct detection of antibacterial activity on SDS-PAGE suggests that the inhibitory peptides have a molecular weight of 6–7.5 kDa. Such bacteriocins with broad activity spectra, including antipathogenic action, are attractive to the biotechnology industry as they could be used as antimicrobial agents in medicine, agriculture and food products.
Degradation Studies of Polyurethanes Based on Vegetable Oils. Part 2. Thermal Degradation and Materials Properties
Authors: Mohd-Rus Anika Z. , Kemp Terence J. , Clark Andrew J. 
Published: March 2009

Polyurethanes (PUs), produced by cross-linking with a di-isocyanate hydroxylated vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower), have been examined from the viewpoints of their thermal degradation and their materials properties, and how both of these aspects are influenced both by the addition of TiO2 filler and by UV irradiation. The thermal decomposition of the PUs was investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and IR spectroscopy: the decomposition of a foam of the PU based on rapeseed oil showed complex kinetics, being apparently single-stage and of the first order at 973 K but with at least two separate stages at other temperatures. Thermolysis of PUs as films resulted in the production of carbonyl groups ( v 1793 cm−1) suggesting formation of an acid anhydride. Pyrolysis in vacuo produced volatiles which could be separated and examined by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Reaction mechanisms for the thermal decomposition of the PUs are proposed. The materials properties of the PUs, with and without TiO2 filler, have been examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), tensile testing and measurement of scratch resistance and Shore D hardness. Addition of TiO2 improves systematically the scratch resistance and hardness of the PUs, but the glass transition temperature Tg showed a more complicated dependence on the TiO2 loading, initially falling and then increasing. Prolonged UV irradiation of TiO2-loaded samples increased the value of Tg at all loadings, suggesting increased levels of cross-linking on irradiation. The most dramatic effect of adding TiO2 was on the shape of the stress-strain curves: at 10% loading clear ‘soft-but-tough’ behaviour is evident. The values of tan δ and the storage modulus are also strongly affected by addition of TiO2, with and without UV-irradiation. From the viewpoint of utilisation of these PUs, their thermal stability up to 350°C and the beneficial effects of adding TiO2 make them promising materials.
The Effectiveness of Continuing Education in Postoperative Pain Management: Results From a Follow-up Study
Authors: Guardini Ilario , Talamini Renato , Fiorillo Francesca , Lirutti Moreno , Palese Alvisa 
Published: March 2009

Background:
Studies still report high levels of postoperative pain. Inadequate treatment of patients experiencing pain is often due to lack of understanding of pain.

Methods:
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a course on “pain,” evaluated by a pretestposttest design, with a questionnaire mailed to the 168 participants in February 2005. The course consisted of seven sessions held from October 2002 to June 2003 in a public hospital in Udine, Italy. This hospital has 710 beds and more than 30,000 admissions a year. The course, included in the “pain-free hospital” national objective, consisted of lectures, discussions, and role playing.

Results:
Of the 10 test questions participants answered, seven showed a significant difference between the posttest taken at the end of the course and the posttest taken after 18 months.

Conclusion:
It is believed that knowledge is progressively lost if refresher courses are not held on a regular basis.

J Contin Educ Nurs
2008;39(6):281–288.
Attitudes of Professional Jordanian Nurses Toward Continuing Education
Authors: Hayajneh Ferial 
Published: March 2009

Background:
Continuing education helps nurses maintain and improve practice and keep up-to-date with rapidly changing health care information.

Methods:
This descriptive study aimed to identify the attitudes of Jordanian nurses toward continuing education in nursing. A questionnaire was completed by 472 nurses.

Results:
Jordanian nurses have positive attitudes toward continuing education. There were no statistically significant differences in nurses' attitudes toward continuing education according to age or gender.

Conclusion:
Educators need to focus on continuing education content, not on convincing nurses that they need continuing education.

J Contin Educ Nurs
2009;40(1):43–48.
First report of pupal parasitoids of filth-breeding flies (Diptera) from bovine manure in northeastern Mexico
Authors: Loera-Gallardo Jesus , Luna-Salas Juan F. , Gibson G.A.P. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA total of 2702 individuals representing nine species of Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea) plus at least one species of Diapriidae, Trichopria haematobiae (Ashmead) (Diaprioidea), were reared as pupal parasitoids of filth-breeding flies in bovine manure during a 2-year study in northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Pteromalidae included two undescribed species of Spalangia Latreille plus Spalangia cameroni Perkins, S. drosophilae Ashmead, S. endius Walker, S. nigroaenea Curtis, Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, M. zaraptor Kogan and Legner, and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani). Spalangia nigroaenea accounted for 71% of all the pupal parasitoids and all six Spalangia species for 94% of the parasitoids over the 2 years. Based on its preponderance, S. nigroaenea is recommended as a candidate for inundative releases within integrated pest management programs to help control fly pests of cattle in northeastern Mexico.
Lymantria dispar sex pheromone is a behavioral antagonist to pheromonal attraction of male Lymantria mathura
Authors: Gries Regine , Schaefer Paul W. , Nakamura Katsunori , Gries Gerhard 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn a trapping study conducted in the experimental research forest of the Tohoku Research Center, Morioka, Honshu, Japan, we investigated the effect of heterospecific pheromone on pheromonal attraction of male Japanese gypsy moth, Lymantria disparjaponica (Motschulsky), and male pink gypsy moth, L. mathura Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Lymantriinae). Traps baited with synthetic pheromone of L. d. japonica ((7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane = (+)-disparlure (100 µg)) or L. mathura ((9R,10S,3Z,6Z)-cis-9,10-epoxynonadecadiene = (+)-mathuralure (20 µg) and (9S,10R,3Z,6Z)-cis-9,10-epoxynonadecadiene = (−)-mathuralure (80 µg)) attracted male L. d. japonica or L. mathura, respectively. Traps baited with synthetic pheromone of both species captured significantly fewer male L. mathura than traps baited solely with synthetic L. mathura pheromone. Numbers of male L. d. japonica captured in traps baited with (+)-disparlure were unaffected by the addition of L. mathura pheromone. (+)-Disparlure is a behavioral antagonist to pheromonal attraction of male L. mathura, whereas male L. d. japonica are indifferent to the presence of synthetic L. mathura pheromone.
The role of Bi3+‐complex ion as the stabilizer in electroless nickel plating process
Authors: Wang K. , Hong L. , Liu Z‐L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBi3+‐complex ion is presented here as a less toxic stabilizer for use in electroless nickel plating (ENP) to replace the existing Pb2+ ion stabilizer. The asymmetric derivatives of EDTA are identified to be a type of coordination ligands that can combine with Bi3+ ions to form soluble complexes in the acidic ENP solution. In the ENP system studied the Bi3+‐complex ion displays a critical stabilizer concentration of about 10−5 mol/L, that is, the percolation concentration over which the ENP rate drops sharply. Besides the experimental measurement, deposition rates of both Ni and P are also simulated by using a kinetic model that has been derived from the double electric layer theory. The Bi3+‐complex ion, behaving like conventional Pb2+ ion, stabilizes ENP bath through the chemical replacement reaction at the surface of Ni deposition layer and results in a passive plating surface. This investigation also verifies the properties of the EN deposit, which are insignificantly affected by the length of service time of the plating solution by employing Bi3+‐complex ion stabilizer. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Total Synthesis of Hopeahainol A and Hopeanol
Authors: Nicolaou K. C. , Wu T. Robert , Kang Qiang , Chen David Y.‐K. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractFast die gleichen, aber keine identischen Strukturen haben die beiden kürzlich entdeckten Naturstoffe Hopeahainol A (1) und Hopeanol (2), die wichtige unterschiedliche biologische Eigenschaften aufweisen (siehe Strukturen). Mithilfe einer Serie neuartiger Kaskadenreaktionen und Gerüstumlagerungen ist nun ihre erste Totalsynthese gelungen.magnified image
Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes as modulators of Hodgkin disease risk
Authors: El‐Zein Randa , Monroy Claudia M. , Etzel Carol J. , Cortes Andrea C. , Xing Yun , Collier Amanda L. , Strom Sara S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Although the pathogenesis of Hodgkin disease (HD) remains unknown, the results of epidemiologic studies suggest that heritable factors are important in terms of susceptibility. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may contribute to individual susceptibility for development of different cancers. However, to the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have investigated the role of such polymorphisms as risk factors for development of HD.METHODS:The authors evaluated the relation between polymorphisms in 3 nucleotide excision repair pathway genes (XPD [Lys751Gln], XPC [Lys939Gln], and XPG [Asp1104His]), the base excision repair XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), and double‐strand break repair XRCC3 (Thr241Met) in a population of 200 HD cases and 220 matched controls. Variants were investigated independently and in combination; odd ratios (OR) were calculated.RESULTS:A positive association was found for XRCC1 gene polymorphism Arg399Gln (OR, 1.77; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.16‐2.71) and risk of HD. The combined analysis demonstrated that XRCC1/XRCC3 and XRCC1/XPC polymorphisms were associated with a significant increase in HD risk. XRCC1 Arg/Arg and XRCC3 Thr/Met genotypes combined were associated with an OR of 2.38 (95% CI, 1.24‐4.55). The XRCC1 Arg/Gln and XRCC3 Thr/Thr, Thr/Met, and Met/Met genotypes had ORs of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.02‐4.10), 1.97 (95% CI, 1.05‐3.73), and 4.13 (95% CI, 1.50‐11.33), respectively. XRCC1 Gln/Gln and XRCC3 Thr/Thr variant led to a significant increase in risk, with ORs of 3.00 (95% CI, 1.15‐7.80). Similarly, XRCC1 Arg/Gln together with XPC Lys/Lys was found to significantly increase the risk of HD (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.09‐4.23).CONCLUSIONS:These data suggest that genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may modify the risk of HD, especially when interactions between the pathways are considered. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Negative Helicobacter pylori status is associated with poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Marrelli Daniele , Pedrazzani Corrado , Berardi Anna , Corso Giovanni , Neri Alessandro , Garosi Lorenzo , Vindigni Carla , Santucci Annalisa , Figura Natale , Roviello Franco 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Recent studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may be related to better prognosis in patients with gastric cancer, but to the authors' knowledge, this finding has not yet been validated. In the current study, the association between H. pylori status and clinical outcome was investigated in a large cohort of patients.METHODS:Frozen non‐neoplastic gastric mucosa and serum samples obtained from 297 patients who underwent surgery for primary gastric cancer between 1988 and 2004 were retrieved from the serum and tissue bank of the study department. H. pylori status was defined by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the vacA gene in gastric mucosa and by serologic assay of H. pylori and CagA antibodies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for the association between clinicopathologic variables and long‐term outcome.RESULTS:Positivity for H. pylori infection was observed in 256 of 297 patients (86%), whereas in 41 patients (14%), PCR for vacA and both serologic tests were negative. Negative H. pylori status was found to be significantly associated with cardia location, advanced pT classification, noncurative surgery, and a lower 5‐year survival rate after R0 resection (24% vs 57%; P < .001). Multivariate survival analysis confirmed H. pylori status as a significant prognostic factor (hazards ratio, 2.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.40‐4.35 [P = .002]). The influence of H. pylori status on long‐term survival was observed in patients with early as well as advanced pT classifications.CONCLUSIONS:Negative H. pylori status appears to be an indicator of poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer, and is independent of other well‒known clinical and pathologic prognostic variables. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Properties of Co‐doped ZnO films prepared by electrochemical deposition
Authors: Wang Y. X. , Ding X. , Cheng Y. , Zhang Y. J. , Yang L. L. , Liu H. L. , Fan H. G. , Liu Y. , Yang J. H. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe prepared Co‐doped ZnO films by the electrochemical deposition. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM), x‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), optical absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out on the samples. The results showed Co atoms substituted Zn atoms in the ZnO lattice without the formation of the impurity phase. VSM measurements showed the ferromagnetic properties for the Co‐doped ZnO samples. When the Co doping concentration increased, the band gaps were widened and the PL peak positions shifted towards the short wavelength direction. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)