bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modified Human Skulls from the Urban Sector of the Pyramids of Moche, Northern Peru
Authors: Verano John W. , Uceda Santiago , Chapdelaine Claude , Tello Ricardo , Paredes María Isabel , Pimentel Victor 
Published: April 2006

AbstractRecent excavations in the urban sector of the Pyramids at Moche in northern coastal Peru exposed two modified human skulls that were placed in an adobe niche within a domestic structure 100 m west of the Pyramid of the Moon ca. A. D. 400-650. A portion of the cranial vault is cut away from the top of each skull, and one shows drilled holes for attachment of the mandible. The skulls show a close resemblance to certain Moche ceramic skull jars that have a similar opening at the top of the vessel. Osteological analysis indicates that both skulls are of young adult males. Cut marks on the external surfaces of the cranial vault, face, and mandible indicate that they were prepared from fleshed heads and not from dry skulls. The finds at Moche are the first documented examples of this form of cranial modification, although an early Spanish account describes a similar trophy vessel that belonged to the Inka Atahualpa. Comparison of the Moche modified skulls with Nasca trophy heads reveals that the two were prepared and used differently.
Postoperative results of unilateral arytenoid lateralization for treatment of idiopathic laryngeal paralysis in dogs: 39 cases (1996–2002)
Authors: Hammel Scott P. , Hottinger Heidi A. , Novo Roberto E. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Objective—To evaluate postoperative results for dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis that underwent unilateral arytenoid lateralization (UAL).
Design—Retrospective case series.
Animals—39 dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis.
Procedure—Medical records were reviewed, and information on surgical technique, hospitalization time, postoperative treatment, and complications was obtained. Owners were contacted by telephone for additional information if necessary.
Results—In all dogs, UAL had been performed by a single surgeon who used a standard surgical technique. Long-term follow-up information was available for all 39 dogs; mean follow-up time was 29.6 months (range, 3 to 61 months). Seven (18%) dogs developed postoperative pneumonia, and 6 of the 7 recovered with treatment. Twenty-two of the 39 (56%) dogs had minor complications, including unresolved coughing or gagging, continued exercise intolerance, vomiting, and seroma formation. Owners of 35 of the 39 (90%) dogs reported an improvement in postoperative quality-oflife score. Median survival time was 12 months; only 1 dog was euthanized because of respiratory tract disease following surgery.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that UAL will improve quality of life in most dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis. However, the complication rate is high, with postoperative pneumonia being the most important major complication. Minor complications were common but did not adversely affect owner-assigned quality-of-life scores in most dogs.
Management of hydrops amnion in a mare resulting in birth of a live foal
Authors: Christensen Bruce W. , Troedsson Mats H. T. , Murchie Tracy A. , Pozor Margorzata A. , Macpherson Margo L. , Estrada Amara H. , Carrillo Natalie A. , Mackay Robert J. , Roberts Gregory D. , Langlois John 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Case Description—A 19-year-old Thoroughbred mare was evaluated at 265 days of gestation with a markedly distended abdomen and edema of the ventral portion of the abdomen.
Clinical Findings—The uterus was distended over the pelvic rim, making transrectal palpation of the fetus impossible. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed excessive amounts of fetal fluid. Results of analysis of fluid obtained via amnio- and allantocentesis confirmed that the amniotic cavity was large.
Treatment and Outcome—The mare was monitored for signs of weakness of the prepubic tendon and abdominal wall. The fetus and placenta were monitored for signs of stress and pending abortion. Flunixin meglumine and altrenogest were administered to the mare. Parturition was attended and occurred at 321 days' gestation. Postpartum complications in the mare included hypovolemic shock and cardiac arrhythmias. Both conditions were treated, and the mare recovered. The foal was considered small, had bilateral angular limb deformities, and was unable to nurse. The foal was given plasma for failure of passive transfer of immunity. Ten months later, the foal underwent procedures to correct limb deformities.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Hydrops conditions are rare in horses, with hydrops allantois occurring more frequently than hydrops amnion; reportedly result in fetal or neonatal death; and may result in death of or injury to the mare. Close monitoring of maternal and fetal health in combination with supportive treatment of the mare can result in the safe progression of a hydrops pregnancy and the birth of a live foal.
Morphology and barrier mechanism of biaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) blends
Authors: Wu Wei , Wagner Manfred H. , Qian Qi , Pu Weiguang , Kheirandish Saeid 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTo improve the barrier properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), PET/poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) (PEN) blends with different concentrations of PEN were prepared and were then processed into biaxially oriented PET/PEN films. The air permeability of bioriented films of pure PET, pure PEN, and PET/PEN blends were tested by the differential pressure method. The morphology of the blends was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of the impact fracture surfaces of extruded PET/PEN samples, and the morphology of the films was also investigated by SEM. The results of the study indicated that PEN could effectively improve the barrier properties of PET, and the barrier properties of the PET/PEN blends improved with increasing PEN concentration. When the PEN concentration was equal to or less than 30%, as in this study, the PET/PEN blends were phase‐separated; that is, PET formed the continuous phase, whereas PEN formed a dispersed phase of particles, and the interface was firmly integrated because of transesterification. After the PET/PEN blends were bioriented, the PET matrix contained a PEN microstructure consisting of parallel and extended, separate layers. This multilayer microstructure was characterized by microcontinuity, which resulted in improved barrier properties because air permeation was delayed as the air had to detour around the PEN layer structure. At a constant PEN concentration, the more extended the PEN layers were, the better the barrier properties were of the PET/PEN blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1309–1316, 2006
Grafting of butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate on butyl rubber using electron beam radiation
Authors: Haldar S. K. , Singha Nikhil K. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBeing nonpolar in nature, butyl rubber (IIR) has poor compatibility toward polar polymers and fillers. It can be improved by grafting polar substrates on the butyl elastomer. Radiation‐induced polymer processing is getting increasing interest, as it leads to new and improved polymers with desirable and interesting properties. In this investigation, electron beam radiation has been used to graft methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) on IIR. This process has several advantages over conventional grafting processes such as cationic polymerization (which needs very low temperature and stringent reaction conditions) and solution radical polymerization (which often needs solvent removal and recycling). The grafted polymers were characterized by using 1H NMR, IR, TGA, and SEM analysis. The degree of grafting increases with a decrease in irradiation dose as well as with an increase in monomer concentration. It was observed that there was a decrease in intrinsic viscosity in irradiated IIR samples, indicating the chain scission. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1340–1346, 2006
Visual inspection as a cervical cancer screening method in a primary health care setting in Africa
Authors: Sangwa‐Lugoma Ghislain , Mahmud Salaheddin , Nasr Samih H. , Liaras Jean , Kayembe Patrick K. , Tozin Rahma R. , Drouin Pierre , Lorincz Attila , Ferenczy Alex , Franco Eduardo L. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe evaluated the feasibility and performance of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and Lugol's iodine (VILI) for cervical cancer screening in a primary health‐care setting in Kinshasa, Congo. Women (1,528) aged ≥30 years were screened independently by nurses and physicians by VIA and VILI and Pap cytology. Biopsy samples were obtained from women with abnormal colposcopies and from 290 randomly chosen women with normal colposcopy. Cytological and histological examinations were performed in Lyon and Montreal, respectively. The prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of grades 1, 2 and 3 was 4.5, 1.3 and 4%, respectively. Using biopsy as the reference, the sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) for ≥CIN 2 for VIA‐nurse were 55.5% (95% CI: 34.7–76.2), 64.6% (95% CI: 62.0–67.1) and 96.8% (95% CI: 93.5–98.7), respectively. The corresponding values for VILI‐nurse were 44.0% (95% CI: 24.2–63.8), 74.6% (95% CI: 72.3–76.9) and 96.7% (95% CI: 93.7–98.6). The equivalent parameters for physicians were 71.1% (95% CI: 46.7–95.5), 71.3% (95% CI: 68.9–73.6) and 98.6% (95% CI: 96.0–99.7) for VIA and 68.3% (95% CI: 42.5–94.0), 76.2% (95% CI: 74.0–78.4) and 97.2% (95% CI: 95.3–98.5) for VILI. The sensitivity of cytology ranged between 31 and 72%, depending on the abnormality threshold used to define positivity, with a corresponding specificity range of 94–99% and a NPV range of 97–99%. Our results show that VIA and VILI performed by nurses and physicians are slightly more sensitive but less specific than Pap cytology across multiple combinations of test and lesion thresholds. Given their lower cost and easy deployment, visual inspection methods merit further assessment as cervical cancer screening methods for low‐resource countries. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparison of bone formation in biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) implanted in muscle and bone of dogs at different time periods
Authors: Yuan H. , van Blitterswijk C.A. , de Groot K. , de Bruijn J.D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPhysicochemical modification could implement synthetic materials into osteoinductive materials, which induce bone formation in nonosseous tissues. We hereby studied the relevance between the osteogenic capacities of osteoinductive materials in nonosseous tissues and in osseous sites. Biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic (BCP) and hydroxyapatite ceramic (HA) were implanted in femoral muscles and femoral cortical bone of dogs for 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 60, 90, 180, and 360 days, respectively. Two dogs were used in each time point. In each dog, four cylinders (ϕ5 × 6 mm) per material were implanted in femoral muscles and 2 cylinders (ϕ5 × 6 mm) per material in femoral cortical bone. The harvested samples were processed for both histological and histomorphometric analyses. Bone was observed in BCP implanted in femoral muscles since day 30, while in HA since day 45. Quantitatively, more bone was formed in BCP than in HA at each time point after day 30 (p<0.05). The earlier and more bone formed in BCP than in HA suggests BCP a higher osteoinductive potential than HA in muscle. In femoral cortical bone defects, a bridge of bone in the defect with BCP was observed at day 21, while with HA at day 30. At days 14, 21, and 30, significantly more bone was formed in BCP than in HA (p<0.05). The results herein show that osteogenic capacities of osteoinductive materials in nonosseous tissues and osseous sites are correlated: the higher the osteoinductive potential of the material, the faster the bone repair. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Mesenchymal stem cells as trophic mediators
Authors: Caplan Arnold I. , Dennis James E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAdult marrow‐derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are capable of dividing and their progeny are further capable of differentiating into one of several mesenchymal phenotypes such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, marrow stromal cells, tendon‐ligament fibroblasts, and adipocytes. In addition, these MSCs secrete a variety of cytokines and growth factors that have both paracrine and autocrine activities. These secreted bioactive factors suppress the local immune system, inhibit fibrosis (scar formation) and apoptosis, enhance angiogenesis, and stimulate mitosis and differentiation of tissue‐intrinsic reparative or stem cells. These effects, which are referred to as trophic effects, are distinct from the direct differentiation of MSCs into repair tissue. Several studies which tested the use of MSCs in models of infarct (injured heart), stroke (brain), or meniscus regeneration models are reviewed within the context of MSC‐mediated trophic effects in tissue repair. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 1076–1084, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Roles of COX‐2 and iNOS in the bony repair of the injured growth plate cartilage
Authors: Arasapam G. , Scherer M. , Cool J.C. , Foster B.K. , Xian C.J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractGrowth plate injuries often lead to bone growth defects, which primarily occur due to bony repair at injury sites. Bony repair is preceded by an injury‐induced inflammatory response, which could play a role in regulating the repair process. Here, roles of two inflammatory mediators, cyclo‐oxygenase 2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in the injury responses were analysed by examining their gene expression and effects of blocking their activities, respectively, with celecoxib and aminoguanidine during 2 days prior to and until 7 days after injury in a rat tibial growth plate injury model. Quantitative RT‐PCR assays revealed upregulated expression of COX‐2 on days 1 and 4 and iNOS on day 1. Histological analysis of injury sites revealed significant reductions in inflammatory infiltrate (particularly neutrophils) on day 1 in treated groups compared to saline control. While bony tissue proportions at injury sites were unaffected by either treatment, mesenchymal tissue proportions were larger but cartilaginous tissue proportions were smaller on day 8 (though statistically insignificant), and bone remodelling appeared delayed with a smaller bone marrow proportion on day 14 in both treatment groups. These findings suggest that COX‐2 and iNOS mediate injury‐induced inflammatory response, and may play a role in enhancing mesenchymal cell differentiation to cartilaginous cells and in promoting bone remodelling during bony repair of growth plate injury sites. Furthermore, increased expression of cartilage‐related (collagen‐2, collagen‐10, SOX‐9) and bone‐related molecules (osteocalcin, cbfα‐1) suggest involvement of both endochondral and direct bone formation mechanisms during bony repair. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 450–461, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of dHAND protein expression by all‐trans retinoic acid through ET‐1/ETAR signaling in H9c2 cells
Authors: Li Weixin , Li Yong 
Published: April 2006

AbstractdHAND is thought to be a cardiac‐restricted transcription factor during embryonic development. Vertebrate heart development involves many transcription factors such as Nkx2.5, GATA, and tbx5. All‐trans retinoic acid (AtRA), the oxidative metabolite of vitamin A, can regulate the expression of these factors to affect embryonic heart development. However, the action of atRA on the expression of dHAND is rarely reported. To clarify whether atRA regulate the dHAND expression, we exposed cultured H9c2 cells (rat embryonic cardiomyocytes) to atRA and detected the protein expression of dHAND by Western blot analysis. We observed atRA can regulate the dHAND expression in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. AtRA also inhibited endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) expression in a time‐dependent manner. Further studies revealed that pretreatment with 10 µM BQ‐123, a selective endothelin‐1 receptor (ETAR) antagonist, for 2 h can significantly counteract the inhibition of 5 µM atRA treatment for 2 h of dHAND mRNA and protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that atRA regulates dHAND expression by ET‐1/ETAR signal transduction pathway in H9c2 cells. The mechanism of ET‐1/ETAR signaling in controlling the level of dHAND protein is to reduce the levels of dHAND mRNA. It is possible for atRA to exert its cardiac teratogenesis during vertebrate embryonic development in this way. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 478–484, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cisplatin‐induced hypomagnesemia and cardiac dysrhythmia
Authors: Bashir Hamid , Crom Debbie , Metzger Monika , Mulcahey Jean , Jones Debbie , Hudson Melissa M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe describe a case of a patient with cisplatin‐induced hypomagnesemia who suffered brief asystole during an episode of gastroenteritis. Structural heart disease was excluded. The patient achieved complete clinical recovery after short‐term administration of intravenous magnesium supplementation. Cisplatin should be considered a cause of hypomagnesemic‐related cardiac dysrhythmia. Magnesium deficit may increase myocardial electrical instability and thus, the risk of life‐threatening arrhythmias and sudden death. Long‐term serum electrolyte measurement and appropriate replacement of magnesium are recommended. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:867–869. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endohedral carbon chains in chiral single‐wall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Vadapalli Ravi K. , Mintmire J. W. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractUsing a first‐principles, local density functional approach, we report the bond length optimization of endohedral linear carbon chains. In these calculations, all‐carbon nanowire structures were constructed by inserting cumulenic linear carbon chains inside the semiconducting (7,3) and metallic (7,4) single‐wall carbon nanotubes with radii of ∼0.35 nm. Our calculations show that the total energy results for the endohedral chains inside both (7,3) and (7,4) nanotubes are well described with a common total energy curve having an equilibrium bond length of ∼0.129 nm. The electronic band structures of the carbon nanowires are described in terms of a rigid‐band model, with the Fermi level for the carbon nanowire effectively pinned near the top of bands originating from the valence band of the single‐wall nanotube. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Coriolis coupling on the rotational and vibrational energy transfer in H2O+ Ar collisions: Classical trajectories simulation
Authors: Borges E. , Ferreira G. G. , Braga J. P. , Belchior J. C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractClassical trajectories studies in Cartesian coordinates are applied to analyze Coriolis coupling for the energy transfer in H2O + Ar process. Vibrational energies equal to 50 kcal/mol and 100 kcal/mol for initial rotational temperatures in the range 298–30,000 K are used as initial conditions. Initial translational temperatures for the incoming atom are selected in the same way. Effects of rotational and translational temperatures at different initial conditions are also investigated in the molecular vibrational relaxation process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Latin America's colonial legacy: The law and its relationship to economic development
Authors: Waldron Darryl G. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis study explores the extent to which Latin America's failure to embrace a system of laws and regulations generally viewed as conducive to capital formation and the broad creation of wealth may be an important factor impairing economic development. The argument here is that the region's adherence to a legal system based on civil law is a factor contributing to Latin America's ongoing lack of economic progress. A composite measure of economic freedom served as the basis for a two‐group discriminant analysis of the civil law countries of Latin America and common law countries. The objective was to test for and explain any statistically significant between‐group differences in levels of economic freedom. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Control of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Singh Nalini , Léger Marie-Michèle , Campbell Joyce , Short Billie , Campos Joseph M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Objective:Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), cause serious infections, especially among high-risk patients in NICUs. When VRE was introduced and transmitted in our NICU despite recommended infection control practices, we instituted active surveillance cultures to determine their efficacy in detecting and controlling spread of VRE among high-risk infants.Methods:Active surveillance cultures, other infection control measures, and a mandatory in-service education module on preventing MDRO transmission were implemented. Cultures were performed on NICU admission and then weekly during their stay. Molecular DNA fingerprinting of VRE isolates facilitated targeting efforts to eliminate clonal spread of VRE. Repetitive sequence PCR (rep-PCR)-based DNA fingerprinting was used to compare isolates recovered from patients with VRE infection or colonization. Environmental VRE cultures were performed around VRE-colonized or -infected patients. DNA fingerprints were prepared from the products of rep-PCR amplification and analyzed using software to determine strain genetic relatedness.Results:Active surveillance cultures identified 65 patients with VRE colonization or infection among 1,820 admitted to the NICU. Rep-PCR performed on 60 VRE isolates identified 3 clusters. Cluster 1 included isolates from 21 patients and 4 isolates from the environment of the index patient. Clusters 2 and 3 included isolates from 23 and 3 patients, respectively. Similarity coefficients among the members of each cluster were 95% or greater.Conclusions:Control of transmission of multi-clonal VRE strains was achieved. Active surveillance cultures, together with implementation of other infection control measures, combined with rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting were instrumental in controlling VRE transmission in our NICU. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:646-649)
Catheter-Related Vancomycin-ResistantEnterococcus FaeciumBacteremia: Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: Raad Issam I. , Hanna Hend A. , Boktour Maha , Jabbour Noel , Hachem Ray Y. , Darouiche Rabih O. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To study the clinical and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faeciumorganisms causing catheter-related bacteremia in patients with cancer.Design:Retrospective case-control study.Setting:University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, a tertiary-care hospital in Houston, Texas.Patients:Case-patients were patients with cancer who had catheter-related vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumbacteremia and control-patients were patients with cancer and vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumgastrointestinal colonization without infection.Results:Ten case-patients with catheter-related vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumbacteremia were compared with 30 control-patients with gastrointestinal colonization by vancomycin-resistantE. faecium. Patients with catheter-related vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumbacteremia were more likely to have required mechanical ventilation (P< .01), received total parenteral nutrition (P< .01), and had polyurethane catheters (P< .01) inserted in the femoral vein (P= .01). With the use of pulsed-fleld gel electrophoresis, 4 of the 10 catheter-related vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumbacteremia isolates were genetically indistinguishable, whereas only 2 of the 30 control vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumisolates displayed this same DNA pattern (P= .03).Conclusion:This study suggests that catheter-related vancomycin-resistantE. faeciumbacteremia occurs more frequently in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition, mechanical ventilation, and femoral catheters. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:658-661)