bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An investigator‐masked comparison of the efficacy and safety of twice daily applications of calcitriol 3 µg/g ointment vs. calcipotriol 50 µg/g ointment in subjects with mild to moderate chronic plaque‐type psoriasis
Authors: Zhu X , Wang B , Zhao G , Gu J , Chen Z , Briantais P , Andres P 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground  Calcitriol and calcipotriol, two vitamin D derivatives, are available for topical treatment of psoriasis and have been shown to be effective.Aim  To compare the efficacy and safety of calcitriol 3 µg/g and calcipotriol 50 µg/g.Methods  This was a multicentre, randomized, investigator‐masked, and parallel comparison in subjects with mild to moderate chronic plaque‐type psoriasis receiving either calcitriol or calcipotriol ointment twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy evaluations comprised global improvement (on a 4‐point scale from 0: no change or worse, to 3: clear or almost clear) assessed by the investigator and by the subject. Efficacy further included the ‘dermatological sum score’ at each study visit. Safety evaluations included adverse event reporting, cutaneous safety assessed by the investigator and cutaneous discomfort assessment by the subject (both on a 5‐point scale from 0: none, to 4: very severe).Results  A total of 250 subjects of both gender were recruited. At week 12, the LSmean score of global improvement rated by the investigator was 2.27 for calcitriol and 2.22 for calcipotriol. This difference was not statistically significant, with calcitriol demonstrating to be non‐inferior to calcipotriol for global improvement. This same parameter was scored by the subject, with a mean of 2.12 for calcitriol and 2.09 for calcipotriol. The percentage of patients with at least marked improvement tended to be in favour of calcitriol (95.7% vs. 85% for calcipotriol). However, differences were not statistically significant. The mean worst score for the cutaneous safety assessment was higher in the calcipotriol group (0.3 vs. 0.1 and 0.4 vs. 0.2, by the investigator and the patient, respectively). These differences were statistically significant in favour of a better safety profile for calcitriol (P = 0.0035). Fourteen dermatological and treatment‐related adverse events were reported with calcipotriol vs. only five with calcitriol for a total of 22 adverse events reported throughout the study.Conclusion  Calcitriol administered twice daily over a 12‐week treatment period demonstrated similar efficacy to calcipotriol, while showing a significantly better safety profile.
Non‐proteolytic neurotrophic effects of tissue plasminogen activator on cultured mouse cerebrocortical neurons
Authors: Lee Hee‐Young , Hwang Ih‐Yeon , Im Hana , Koh Jae‐Young , Kim Yang‐Hee 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMost biological effects of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), such as fibrinolysis, are mediated by its protease activity. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that tPA also has several protease‐independent effects such as: neuroprotection, microglial activation, and promoting LTP formation. In order to gain a better understanding of how tPA affects neurons, we examined neurite outgrowth and cell survival in low density cerebrocortical neuronal culture in the presence of tPA. tPA enhanced neurite elongation and neuronal survival. tPA protease inhibitors, PAI‐1 or PMSF, did not alter either effect. Consistent with neurotrophic effects, tPA activated Raf‐K/ERK, PKC and PI3‐K/Akt, 5–60 min after treatment. In addition, specific inhibitors of these kinases reduced tPA‐induced neurite outgrowth. Interestingly, survival‐promoting effect of tPA was attenuated only by PI3‐K inhibitors. Activation of signaling kinases suggests that tPA activates an upstream membrane receptor. Thus far, three membrane proteins, low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP), mannose receptor (MR), and annexin‐II (AII), have been identified to bind tPA. While inhibiting LRP or MR did not change tPA‐induced neurite outgrowth and cell survival, inhibiting AII blocked neurotrophic effects of tPA. Taken together, our results indicate that tPA has novel, non‐proteolytic neurotrophic effects on cultured cortical neurons, which are likely mediated by AII.
The cyclic GMP‐protein kinase G pathway regulates cytoskeleton dynamics and motility in astrocytes
Authors: Borán Mariela Susana , García Agustina 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that inflammatory compounds that increase nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression have a biphasic effect on the level of the NO messenger cGMP in astrocytes. In this work, we demonstrate that NO‐dependent cGMP formation is involved in the morphological change induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in cultured rat cerebellar astroglia. In agreement with this, dibutyryl‐cGMP, a permeable cGMP analogue, and atrial natriuretic peptide, a ligand for particulate guanylyl cyclase, are both able to induce process elongation and branching in astrocytes resulting from a rapid, reversible and concentration‐dependent redistribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and actin filaments without significant change in protein levels. These effects are also observed in astrocytes co‐cultured with neurons. The cytoskeleton rearrangement induced by cGMP is prevented by the specific protein kinase G inhibitor Rp‐8Br‐PET‐cGMPS and involves downstream inhibition of RhoA GTPase since is not observed in cells transfected with constitutively active RhoA. Furthermore, dibutyryl‐cGMP prevents RhoA‐membrane association, a step necessary for its interaction with effectors. Stimulation of the cGMP‐protein kinase G pathway also leads to increased astrocyte migration in anin vitroscratch‐wound assay resulting in accelerated wound closure, as seen in reactive gliosis following brain injury. These results indicate that cGMP‐mediated pathways may regulate physio‐pathologically relevant responses in astroglial cells.
Pincer nail: aesthetic concept in surgery
Authors: Fuchsbauer Martin , Özdemir C , Scharffetter‐Kochanek Karin 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAlthough pincer nail deformity (PND) treatment is time consuming independent of whether it is based on surgical or conservative procedures, long lasting beneficial results are found only after surgical intervention. Typically destruction of the lateral matrix horns either surgically or by phenol cauterization or even ablation of the matrix is performed. In the past these procedures mainly aimed at relief from pain; however, currently more patients ask for the preservation of the nail unit and a good cosmetic outcome. Today reconstructive results that meet the patient expectations are available. An adapted novel surgical method which will preserve the matrix horns while correcting the shape of the phalanx and preventing renewed adhesion of the nail bed to the phalanx is presented. Therefore the restoration of a normal width‐to‐length ratio of the nail plate with a cosmetically appealing result becomes possible.Surgical steps in an affected right toenail are presented.
Visitor patterns on southern heaths: a review of visitor access patterns to heathlands in the UK and the relevance to Annex I bird species
Authors: UNDERHILL‐DAY JOHN C. , LILEY DURWYN 
Published: March 2007

Many lowland heathlands have been designated as Special Protection Areas under the European Union Birds Directive as they support populations of bird species of European importance listed in Annex I of the Directive, including Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Woodlark Lullula arborea and Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata. Many lowland heaths are near to human settlements and are heavily used as open spaces by those living nearby. A number of past visitor surveys have established the range of uses to which urban heaths are subject, and the attitudes of those who use them. We have collated a number of these visitor surveys, many of which are unpublished reports relating to single sites, in order to provide a broad summary of access to heathlands. The majority of visitors to urban and suburban lowland heaths visit sites regularly and live nearby (within 5 km). A large proportion of visitors drive to sites and dog walking is the usual purpose for a visit. Visits are typically short, with the average dog walker travelling less than 2.5 km on the heath. Dog walkers typically stay on the paths, but most let their dog off the lead and consider it important to be able to do so. On large regionally or nationally known rural sites such as the New Forest, more visitors are day trippers and tourists, fewer are dog walkers, they stay for longer and their reasons for visiting differ from those of local residents. The information presented here is relevant in helping to inform decisions on the location of new housing development, and mitigating the impacts of existing and new settlements, as well as helping the heathland manager to make provision for visitors in ways that are most compatible with wildlife conservation.
Oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment can be separated from lipofuscin accumulation in aged human skeletal muscle
Authors: Hütter Eveline , Skovbro Mette , Lener Barbara , Prats Clara , Rabøl Rasmus , Dela Flemming , Jansen‐Dürr Pidder 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAccording to the free radical theory of aging, reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as a driving force of the aging process, and it is generally believed that mitochondrial dysfunction is a major source of increased oxidative stress in tissues with high content of mitochondria, such as muscle or brain. However, recent experiments in mouse models of premature aging have questioned the role of mitochondrial ROS production in premature aging. To address the role of mitochondrial impairment and ROS production for aging in human muscles, we have analyzed mitochondrial properties in muscle fibres isolated from the vastus lateralis of young and elderly donors. Mitochondrial respiratory functions were addressed by high‐resolution respirometry, and ROS production was analyzed by in situ staining with the redox‐sensitive dye dihydroethidium. We found that aged human skeletal muscles contain fully functional mitochondria and that the level of ROS production is higher in young compared to aged muscle. Accordingly, we could not find any increase in oxidative modification of proteins in muscle from elderly donors. However, the accumulation of lipofuscin was identified as a robust marker of human muscle aging. The data support a model, where ROS‐induced molecular damage is continuously removed, preventing the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria despite ongoing ROS production.
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Fall Prevention Programs and Quality of Life in Older Fallers
Authors: Lin Mau‐Roung , Wolf Steven L. , Hwang Hei‐Fen , Gong Sheng‐You , Chen Chih‐Yi 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of three fall‐prevention programs (education (ED), home safety assessment and modification (HSAM), and exercise training (ET)) on quality of life (QOL), functional balance and gait, activities of daily living (ADLs), fear of falling, and depression in adults aged 65 and older.DESIGN: A 4‐month randomized trial.SETTING: Randomized, controlled trial.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty participants who had experienced a recent fall.MEASUREMENTS: QOL was assessed according to the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL‐BREF), functional balance and gait according to functional reach and Tinetti balance and gait, ADLs according to the Older Americans Resources and Services questionnaire, fear of falling according to a visual analog scale, and depression level according to the Geriatric Depression Scale.RESULTS: The score changes for the ET group were 2.1 points greater on the physical domain (95% confidence interval (CI)=−1.2–5.3), 3.8 points greater on the psychological domain (95% CI=0.7–7.0), and for the WHOQOL‐BREF, 3.4 points greater on the social domain (95% CI=0.7–6.1) and 3.2 points greater on the environmental domain (95% CI=0.6–5.7) than for the ED group. The score change for each domain of the WHOQOL‐BREF for the HSAM group was greater than that for the ED group, although these results were not statistically significant. The ET group also had greater improvements in functional reach, Tinetti balance and gait, and fear of falling than the ED group.CONCLUSION: The QOL outcome supports the superiority of ET over the other two interventions in older people who have recently fallen. This finding also parallels those gathered from the functional measures.
Multitasking: Association Between Poorer Performance and a History of Recurrent Falls
Authors: Faulkner Kimberly A. , Redfern Mark S. , Cauley Jane A. , Landsittel Douglas P. , Studenski Stephanie A. , Rosano Caterina , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Harris Tamara B. , Shorr Ronald I. , Ayonayon Hilsa N. , Newman Anne B. ,   for the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between poorer performance on concurrent walking and reaction time and recurrent falls.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis.SETTING: Community.PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred seventy‐seven older community‐dwelling adults (mean age±standard deviation 78±3).MEASUREMENTS: Reaction times on push‐button and visual‐spatial decision tasks were assessed while seated and while walking a 20‐m course (straight walk) and a 20‐m course with a turn at 10 m (turn walk). Walking times were recorded while walking only and while performing a reaction‐time response. Dual‐task performance was calculated as the percentage change in task times when done in dual‐task versus single‐task conditions. A history of recurrent falls (≥2 vs ≤1 falls) in the prior 12 months was self‐reported. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict the standardized odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent falls history. The standardized unit for dual‐task performance ORs was interquartile range/2.RESULTS: On the push‐button task during the turn walk, poorer reaction time response (slower) was associated with 28% lower (P=.04) odds of recurrent fall history. On the visual‐spatial task, poorer walking‐time response (slower) was associated with 34% (P=.02) and 42% (P=.01) higher odds of recurrent falls history on the straight and turn walks, respectively.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that walking more slowly in response to a visual‐spatial decision task may identify individuals at risk for multiple falls. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of poor walking responses in a dual‐task setting for multiple falls.
What Theories of Truth Should be Like (but Cannot be)
Authors: Leitgeb Hannes 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis article outlines what a formal theory of truthshouldbe like, at least at first glance. As not all of the stated constraints can be satisfied at the same time, in view of notorious semantic paradoxes such as the Liar paradox, we consider the maximal consistent combinations of these desiderata and compare their relative advantages and disadvantages.
The impact of urological conditions on patients’ dignity
Authors: Baillie Lesley 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThere is increasing emphasis on patients’ rights to dignity. However, studies indicate that patients are vulnerable to a loss of dignity in hospital. There is a dearth of research focusing on the dignity of patients with urological conditions and this study aimed to explain how urological conditions affect patients’ dignity and how patients’ dignity can be promoted when threatened. The research design was a qualitative case study based in a urological ward in the United Kingdom. Four‐hour episodes of participant observation were conducted on 12 separate days, each focused on one patient’s care. Following observation, the 12 patients were interviewed in the ward. Interviews were conducted with a further 12 patients following discharge. Data were analysed using the framework approach. Patients’ urological conditions threatened dignity because of the intimate area of the body affected and accompanying bodily exposure. Urinary catheters and associated procedures were considered threats to dignity. Staff promoted dignity by providing privacy and using therapeutic interactions. Patients promoted their own dignity through rationalization and humour. Where they viewed loss of dignity was inevitable, adopting an attitude of acceptance made patients feel more comfortable. Patients could rationalize their situation better when with other patients with urological conditions who were ‘in the same boat’. In conclusion, patients with urological conditions are particularly vulnerable to a loss of dignity in hospital but staff behaviour and patients’ attitudes can promote dignity in these situations.
Where urology and obstetrics meet: the Campaign to End Fistula
Authors: Ramsey Kate , Pinel Arletty 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThat obstetric fistula, one of the most devastating childbirth morbidities, exists in the 21st century is unconscionable when the means to prevent and treat obstetric fistula are known. Where it persists, it is a startling reminder of the vast disparities in maternal health care. Inequities in access to skilled care at delivery and caesarean section and lack of available and affordable treatment care mean that tens of thousands of new cases occur and the backlog of cases grows each year. Nurses and midwives have a key role in preventing and treating obstetric fistula. A global Campaign to End Fistula is now bringing actors together to address the neglected condition of obstetric fistula. Nurses and midwives should be engaged in the fight to end this injustice.
Language in the American Courtroom
Authors: Shuy Roger W. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractOne of the most promising connections that linguistics can make to other fields is to the legal arena, primarily because much of the work in law is doneinlanguage and it is often largelyaboutlanguage, either spoken or written. For example, lawsuits, indictments, pleadings, briefs, legal opinions, and, of course, laws and statutes are all revealed and preserved in written language. Courtroom appearances and testimony, although presented orally, end up in written form and even oral evidence gets transformed into written transcripts. We begin with the observation that language and law are close bedfellows.
Iterative Algorithm for Approximating Solutions of Maximal Monotone Operators in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Yao Yonghong , Chen Rudong 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe first introduce and analyze an algorithm of approximating solutions of maximal monotone operators in Hilbert spaces. Using this result, we consider the convex minimization problem of finding a minimizer of a proper lower-semicontinuous convex function and the variational problem of finding a solution of a variational inequality.
Computational Exploration of the Biological Basis of Black-Scholes Expected Utility Function
Authors: Bhattacharya Sukanto , Kumar Kuldeep 
Published: March 2007

It has often been argued that there exists an underlying biological basis of utility
functions. Taking this line of argument a step further in this paper, we have aimed
to computationally demonstrate the biological basis of the Black-Scholes functional
form as applied to classical option pricing and hedging theory. The evolutionary
optimality of the classical Black-Scholes function has been computationally established
by means of a haploid genetic algorithm model. The objective was to minimize the dynamic
hedging error for a portfolio of assets that is built to replicate the payoff from a European
multi-asset option. The functional form that is seen to evolve over successive generations
which best attains this optimization objective is the classical Black-Scholes function
extended to a multiasset scenario.Computational Exploration of the Biological Basis of Black-Scholes Expected Utility Function
Lake-Breeze Fronts in the Salt Lake Valley
Authors: Zumpfe Daniel E. , Horel John D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWinds at the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) during the April–October period from 1948 to 2003 have been observed to shift to the north (up-valley direction) between late morning and afternoon on over 70% of the days without precipitation. Lake-breeze fronts that develop as a result of the differential heating between the air over the nearby Great Salt Lake and that over the lake’s surroundings are observed at SLC only a few times each month. Fewer lake-breeze fronts are observed during late July–early September than before or after that period. Interannual fluctuations in the areal extent of the shallow Great Salt Lake contribute to year-to-year variations in the number of lake-breeze frontal passages at SLC. Data collected during the Vertical Transport and Mixing Experiment (VTMX) of October 2000 are used to examine the structure and evolution of a lake-breeze front that moved through the Salt Lake Valley on 17 October. The onset of upslope and up-valley winds occurred within the valley prior to the passage of the lake-breeze front. The lake-breeze front moved at roughly 3 m s−1 up the valley and was characterized near the surface by an abrupt increase in wind speed and dewpoint temperature over a distance of 3–4 km. Rapid vertical mixing of aerosols at the top of the 600–800-m-deep boundary layer was evident as the front passed.
Diurnal Cycle of Water Vapor as Documented by a Dense GPS Network in a Coastal Area during ESCOMPTE IOP2
Authors: Bastin Sophie , Champollion Cédric , Bock Olivier , Drobinski Philippe , Masson Frédéric 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Global positioning system (GPS) data from a dense network have been used for the analysis of the diurnal cycle of water vapor over Marseille, France, during the second intensive observation period (IOP2; 21–26 June 2001) of the Expérience sur Sites pour Contraindre les Modèles de Pollution Atmosphérique et de Transport d’Emission (ESCOMPTE) field experiment. Both tomographic analyses and integrated water vapor (IWV) contents from GPS have been used, in addition to wind profiler data and surface observations. Tomographic analysis of data from the dense GPS network and radiosondes provided the continuous temporal evolution of the vertical distribution of water vapor over the city of Marseille. The city is located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in southeastern France and is often under the influence of sea-breeze effects. Two different layers of breeze circulation are identified: a shallow sea breeze, blowing perpendicular to the local coastline, and a deep sea breeze, induced by the regional temperature gradient between sea and land. The origin of water vapor is shown to be mainly due to the advection of marine moist air by these sea-breeze circulations. However, the diurnal cycle of water vapor over Marseille is strongly influenced by the synoptic situation, which changes during the IOP2 (between a northerly mistral in the early stage of the IOP and an easterly wind at the end). It is shown that vertical profiles from tomographic analyses (combined with wind profiler data) allow for a proper interpretation of the diurnal cycle observed in IWV. Two-dimensional maps of IWV are also shown to complement the description of the horizontal advection of moisture by the different circulation regimes.