bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cross validation of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in community dwelling older adults residing in the Southeastern US
Authors: Luis Cheryl A. , Keegan Andrew P. , Mullan Michael 
Published: October 2008

AbstractObjectiveCross validation study of the MoCA for the detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in a community‐based cohort residing in the Southeastern United States.MethodsOne hundred and eighteen English‐speaking older adults, who underwent diagnostic evaluation as part of an on‐going prospective study, were administered the MoCA and MMSE. Twenty were diagnosed with AD, 24 met criteria for amnestic MCI and 74 were considered cognitively normal. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated using the recommended cut‐off scores and ROC curve analyses were performed to determine optimal sensitivity and specificity. The influence of age, education and gender on MoCA score was also examined.ResultsUsing a cut‐off score of 24 or below, the MMSE was insensitive to cognitive impairment. Using the recommended cut‐off score of 26, the MoCA detected 97% of those with cognitive impairment but specificity was fair (35%). Using a lower cut‐off score of 23, the MoCA exhibited excellent sensitivity (96%) and specificity (95%).ConclusionThe MoCA appears to have utility as a cognitive screen for early detection of AD and for MCI and warrants further investigation regarding its applicability in primary care settings, varying ethnic groups, and younger at‐risk individuals. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Altered chromatin modifications in AML1/RUNX1 breakpoint regions involved in (8;21) translocation
Authors: Stuardo Marcela , Martinez Milka , Hidalgo Karla , Montecino Martin , Javed Amjad , Lian Jane B. , Stein Gary S. , Stein Janet L. , Gutiérrez Soraya E. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe RUNX1/AML1 gene is the most frequent target for chromosomal translocation, and often identified as a site for reciprocal rearrangement of chromosomes 8 and 21 in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. Virtually all chromosome translocations in leukemia show no consistent homologous sequences at the breakpoint regions. However, specific chromatin elements (DNase I and topoisomerase II cleavage) have been found at the breakpoints of some genes suggesting that structural motifs are determinant for the double strand DNA‐breaks. We analyzed the chromatin organization at intron 5 of the RUNX1 gene where all the sequenced breakpoints involved in t(8;21) have been mapped. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we show that chromatin organization at intron 5 of the RUNX1 gene is different in HL‐60 and HeLa cells. Two distinct features mark the intron 5 in cells expressing RUNX1: a complete lack or significantly reduced levels of Histone H1 and enrichment of hyperacetylated histone H3. Strikingly, induction of DNA damage resulted in formation of t(8;21) in HL‐60 but not in HeLa cells. Taken together, our results suggest that H1 depletion and/or histone H3 hyperacetylation may have a linkage with an increase susceptibility of specific chromosomal regions to undergo translocations. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 343–349, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Native ion current coupled to purinergic activation via basal and mechanically induced ATP release inxenopusfollicles
Authors: Saldaña Carlos , Garay Edith , Rangel Gisela Edith , Reyes Luis Manuel , Arellano Rogelio O. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractXenopusfollicle‐enclosed oocytes are endowed with purinergic receptors located in the follicular cell membrane; their stimulation by ATP elicits an electrical response that includes generation of a fast inward current (FCl) carried by Cl−. Here, it was found that mechanical stimulation of the follicle provoked a native electrical response namedImec. This was dependent on coupling between oocyte and follicular cells, becauseImecwas eliminated by enzymatic defolliculation or application of uncoupling drugs, such as heptanol or carbenoxolone. Moreover, the characteristics ofImecsuggested that it corresponded with opening of the Cl−channel involved inFCl. For example,Imecshowed cross‐talk with the membrane mechanism that activates theFClresponse and anionic selectivity similar to that displayed byFCl. Also likeFCl,Imecwas independent of extracellular or intracellular Ca2+. Furthermore,Imecwas inhibited by superfusion with a purinergic antagonist, suramin, or by an enzyme that rapidly hydrolyzes ATP, apyrase. The response to mechanical stimulation was reconstituted in defolliculated oocytes expressing P2X channels as an ATP sensor. Recently, it has been shown that ATP release from theXenopusoocyte is triggered by mechanical stimulation. Together, these observations seemed to indicate thatImecis activated through a mechanism that involves oocyte release of ATP that diffuses and activates purinergic receptors in follicular cells, with subsequent opening ofFClchannels. Thus,Imecgeneration disclosed a paracrine communication system via ATP between the oocyte and its companion follicular cells that might be of physiological importance during the growth and development of the gamete. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 355–365, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Affinity purification and characterization of an anti‐PEG IgM
Authors: Ehrlich George K. , Michel Hanspeter , Chokshi Hitesh P. , Malick A. Waseem 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAnti‐PEG IgM was purified by affinity chromatography using variable length PEG chains (5, 10, 20 and 30 kDa) as affinity ligands. Maximal binding of anti‐PEG IgM was observed using the 30 kDa PEG‐derivatized NuGel (single passage). Purified anti‐PEG IgM was characterized for binding to PEG functionalized proteins/peptides by surface plasmon resonance, western blotting and ELISA. Anti‐PEG IgM, in solution and adsorbed on 20 kDa PEG‐derivatized NuGel, was subjected to pepsin digestion followed by affinity chromatography. SDS–PAGE analysis of eluates in both preparations yielded one fragment that was similar in size. However, an additional lower molecular weight band was observed in solution‐digested affinity purified material that was not present in the eluate from the material subjected to pepsin digestion on the affinity matrix. The lower MW fragment could be eluted under milder conditions, suggesting loss of binding multiplicity. Analysis by mass spectrometry yielded molecular weights of 132 kDa (both) and 82 kDa (solution) for the respective fragments. N‐terminal sequencing of both fragments resulted in primary sequences (heavy and light chains) that were not only identical to each other but also to those of native IgM. The anti‐PEG IgM fragments were characterized for binding to pegylated interferon alfa‐2a by ELISA. The results from these studies suggest that affinity purified anti‐PEG IgM and fragments can be used as probes in detection assays for PEG functionalized biotherapeutics in pre‐clinical and clinical studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The coupled seasonal hindcasts of the South American monsoon
Authors: Misra Vasubandhu , Marx L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA small set of seasonal hindcasts of the South American monsoon (SAM) from the Center for Ocean‐Land‐Atmosphere Studies (COLA) climate model is compared with a multi‐decadal integration from the same model. It is shown that there are broad similarities in the December‐January‐February mean precipitation bias over continental South America, which comprise of the dry (wet) bias over central Amazon, northern South America (central Andes and south‐east Brazil) in the seasonal hindcasts and in the long‐term simulation. Furthermore, both types of model integrations underestimate (overestimate) the strong (weak) precipitation events over the core region of the SAM. In terms of interannual variability, seasonal hindcasts and the multi‐decadal simulation show reasonably similar results. However, the spin‐down of the moisture field in the seasonal hindcasts is evident in its distribution of the daily precipitation over the SAM core region. It is also found that in the multi‐decadal integration owing to model drift, the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) gradient in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator is so reduced that results in a weaker low‐level cross‐equatorial flow into the SAM region compared to either the seasonal hindcasts or the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis.We then repeated the coupled seasonal hindcasts separately with higher horizontal and vertical resolutions of the atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) to assess their impact on the SAM climate and its variations. It is shown that a higher horizontal resolution does not significantly improve the precipitation climatology and its interannual variability over continental South America. However, there are some marginal improvements in the frequency of occurrence of heavy precipitation events in the core region of the SAM at higher horizontal resolutions. The higher vertical resolution of the AGCM did not show a comparable benefit as the higher horizontal resolution on the SAM precipitation. However, some of the largest precipitation errors, especially over the north‐eastern part of continental South America, over the Atlantic inter‐tropical convergence zone and over the central Andes remain in all resolution experiments conducted in this study. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Tourism demand response by residents of Latin American countries
Authors: Vanegas Manuel 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA general‐to‐specific methodology was used to build international tourism demand models by residents from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela to Aruba. We seek to evaluate demand parameters, especially elasticity values, which were disaggregated on a country‐to‐country basis. We also aim to learn more about the structure and important variables and investigate the process of adjustment. The study has provided new and compelling evidence that, in the short run, residents in developing countries respond rationally and substantially to economic stimulus. The short‐run income elasticity ranges from the low of 1.52 for Venezuela to the high of 2.34 for Argentina. These results indicate that Aruba will benefit differently from income increases in these four Latin American countries. The coefficients of the price variable had the expected negative signs, inelastic in the short‐run for all countries but significant at the 5% level for Venezuela only. Any deliberate effort to expand tourist arrivals will require a much larger decline in prices than would be the case in the presence of short‐run elastic response. The adjustment elasticity, being less than one, suggests that a period of more than one year is required for Latin American residents to fully adjust their tourism decisions in response to demand shocks. This study would seem to provide some useful information about international tourism demand from developing to developing countries that could form a very good and solid basis for analyses and policy action. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Students' travel behaviour: a cross‐cultural comparison of UK and China
Authors: Xu Feifei , Morgan Michael , Song Ping 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper compares the travel behaviour and attitudes of two different nationalities of undergraduate students from the United Kingdom and China. The survey did find some similarities between the two. Both groups enjoyed beach holidays, and placed importance on having fun and relaxing after their studies. Both were motivated to discover somewhere new and both preferred to eat the local food of the destination. In other ways, the two groups showed significant differences. The Chinese students thought it more important to see the famous sights and learn about other cultures and history, while the British were more concerned to have fun, to socialise and enjoy the challenges of outdoor adventure. These differences were found to exist in both male and female groups. The paper discusses the extent to which these differences could be explained by cultural factors as opposed to market factors or the students' previous experience in their travel career. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of service performance and destination resources on consumer behaviour: a case study of mainland Chinese tourists to Kinmen
Authors: Chen Chien Min , Chen Sheu Hua , Lee Hong Tau 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper draws upon the responses of 603 mainland Chinese tourists in Kinmen and attempts to understand their consumer behavior on the aspects of intentions, preferences, decision‐making process, satisfaction, and willingness to revisit. Variables such as service performance and destination resources that affect visitor's satisfaction are also tested. The findings reflect a ‘myth of mysteriousness’ of mainland Chinese visitors to the destination and suggest that it is essential for the market segmentation to participate in the tourism planning of Kinmen to develop an integrated policy for promotion and marketing, in order to enhance consumers' interest. In addition, this research has implications for tourism planning in Kinmen and provides references for other destinations striving for tourists from mainland China. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond sustainability: optimising island tourism development
Authors: Lim Charles C. , Cooper Chris 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper aims to identify the current challenges facing the sustainable development of island tourism and to develop a new conceptual approach to sustainable development based upon optimisation. The optimisation process for island tourism will be discussed through the development of a new life cycle model — the multifunctional interactive process cycle that is calibrated using a set of 15 island tourism status indicators. The paper also seeks to explain how a complex and dynamic tourism system can be developed that takes a destination towards an optimal sustainable state to satisfy both visitors and the local community. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tourism product and service innovation to avoid ‘strategic drift’
Authors: Dwyer Larry , Edwards Deborah 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDealing with change in the external environment creates substantial challenges for tourism managers. Given the complexity of strategy formulation it is difficult for managers to analyse all aspects of their environment or establish precise objectives, consequently business strategies tend to be characterised by small strategic adjustments or ‘incrementalism’. However, these marginal adjustments of strategy within an organisation's existing culture may lead to strategic drift reflecting strategies that are inconsistent with changes taking place in the external environment. The paper begins with a brief overview of the global trends that comprise the remote environment of tourism organisations. It argues that the standard response of tourism organisations to changes in the remote environment can be characterised as ‘strategic incrementalism’. The paper also addresses the concern that strategic incrementalism can give rise to ‘strategic drift’. In the face of changing global trends the paper explores some of the barriers that must be overcome, discussing seven areas of importance on which managers can focus to assist them to avoid strategic drift. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reversible Photocontrolled Swelling‐Shrinking Behavior of Micron Vesicles Self‐Assembled from Azopyridine‐Containing Diblock Copolymer
Authors: Han Kuo , Su Wei , Zhong Mincheng , Yan Qing , Luo Yanhua , Zhang Qijin , Li Yinmei 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPoly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly{6‐[4‐(4‐pyridyazo)phenoxy] hexylmethacrylate} (PNIPAM‐b‐PAzPy) was synthesized by successive reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. In a water/tetrahydrofuran (H2O/THF) mixture, amphiphilic PNIPAM‐b‐PAzPy self‐assembles into giant micro‐vesicles. Upon alternate ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation, obvious reversible swelling‐shrinking of the vesicles was observed directly under an optical microscope. The maximum percentage increase in volume, caused by the UV light, reached 17%. Moreover, the swelling could be adjusted using the UV light power density. The derivation of this effect is due to photoinduced reversible isomerization of azopyridine units in the vesicles.magnified image
De novo generation of axially vascularized tissue in a large animal model
Authors: Beier Justus P. , Horch Raymund E. , Arkudas Andreas , Polykandriotis Elias , Bleiziffer Oliver , Adamek Edith , Hess Andreas , Kneser Ulrich 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDe novo generation of axially vascularized tissue with clinically relevant dimensions in a large animal model and implementation of clinically established imaging modalities for in vivo evaluation of vascularization. To be used for reconstruction of tissue defects, engineered grafts need to be axially vascularized to enable transplantation without graft loss due to hypoxia. Limitations to dimensions in small animal models had not yet been overcome, which is necessary to yield clinical relevance. Anatomical studies of groin and axillary regions in eight merino sheep were followed by microsurgical creation of an arteriovenous loop (AV‐loop), embedded in an isolation chamber filled with fibrin matrix. Constructs were implanted in the groin of six sheep for up to 6 weeks. Course of vascularization in de novo forming tissue was assessed by sequential computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in vivo, as well as by postexplantational micro‐computed tomography and histology. A vascular axis was constantly found epifascially at the medial aspect of all sheep's thighs, which was used for AV‐loop creation. Patency of AV‐loop could be visualized by CTA and MRA scans during 1–6 weeks. Complex 3D‐vessel‐reconstruction revealed increasing axial vascularization of the fibrin matrix and growing connective tissue within the isolation chamber, which was confirmed by micro‐computed tomography and histology postexplantation. De novo formation of axially vascularized tissue was demonstrated for the first time ever in a large animal model, paving the way for the first application of tissue engineering vascularized grafts with clinically relevant dimensions. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2009.
Variation in protein Cα‐related one‐bond J couplings
Authors: Schmidt Jürgen M. , Howard Mark J. , Maestre‐Martínez Mitcheell , Pérez Carlos S. , Löhr Frank 
Published: October 2008

AbstractFour types of polypeptide 1JCαX couplings are examined, involving the main‐chain carbon Cα and either of four possible substituents. A total 3105 values of 1JCαHα, 1JCαCβ, 1JCαC′, and 1JCαN′ were collected from six proteins, averaging 143.4 ± 3.3, 34.9 ± 2.5, 52.6 ± 0.9, and 10.7 ± 1.2 Hz, respectively. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) reveals a variety of factors impacting on 1J and ranks their relative statistical significance and importance to biomolecular NMR structure refinement. Accordingly, the spread in the 1J values is attributed, in equal proportions, to amino‐acid specific substituent patterns and to polypeptide‐chain geometry, specifically torsions ϕ, ψ, and χ1 circumjacent to Cα. The 1J coupling constants correlate with protein secondary structure. For α‐helical ϕ, ψ combinations, 1JCαHα is elevated by more than one standard deviation (147.8 Hz), while both 1JCαN′ and 1JCαCβ fall short of their grand means (9.5 and 33.7 Hz). Rare positive ϕ torsion angles in proteins exhibit concomitant small 1JCαHα and 1JCαN′ (138.4 and 9.6 Hz) and large 1JCαCβ (39.9 Hz) values. The 1JCαN′ coupling varies monotonously over the ϕ torsion range typical of β‐sheet secondary structure and is largest (13.3 Hz) for ϕ around − 160 . All four coupling types depend on ψ and thus help determine a torsion that is notoriously difficult to assess by traditional approaches using 3J. Influences on 1J stemming from protein secondary structure and other factors, such as amino‐acid composition, are largely independent. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Utility of somatosensory evoked potentials in chronic acquired demyelinating neuropathy
Authors: Yiannikas Con , Vucic Steve 
Published: October 2008

AbstractChronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy (CADP) is a heterogeneous syndrome that may be classified into a number of subtypes. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) assess proximal segments of sensory nerves, inadequately assessed by routine nerve conduction studies (NCSs). The aim of the present study was to determine the utility of SSEPs in diagnosing and classifying different CADP subtypes. Forty‐seven patients with CADP were studied and classified in five groups based on conventional NCSs and SSEPs. Some patients in Group 1 were initially misdiagnosed as having either motor neuron disease or multifocal motor neuropathy due to normal sensory NCSs, but they exhibited abnormal tibial and median nerve SSEPs, as evidenced by marked prolongation or absence of peripheral potentials (N9‐median nerve, and N20‐tibial nerve). These were reclassified as having chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP). In CIDP patients (Group 2), SSEPs were abnormal, thereby confirming the presence of demyelination in the proximal peripheral nerves. Patients with distal acquired demyelinating neuropathy (DADS) (Group 3), as defined by conventional NCS, exhibited abnormal SSEPs when anti‐MAG antibodies were present. Anti‐MAG‐negative DADS patients (Group 3) had normal SSEPs. In the pure sensory ataxic group (Group 4), SSEP studies disclosed poorly formed and delayed cortical potentials with absent lumbar (N20) potentials, thereby suggesting the presence of proximal demyelination. SSEPs were normal in the pure motor CIDP and multifocal motor neuropathy patients (MMN) (Group 5), thereby differentiating asymmetric forms of CIDP from MMN. These findings suggest that SSEPs may be an important complementary investigation to conventional NCSs in the diagnosis of CADP. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Effect of applied voltage on jet electric current and flow rate in electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile solutions
Authors: Fallahi Delaram , Rafizadeh Mehdi , Mohammadi Naser , Vahidi Behrooz 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: In the electrospinning process, through subjecting a pendent drop of a polymer solution to a high electric field, a fluid jet is ejected from the drop. To have a stable process, the rate at which the fluid is forced into the drop and the rate at which the fluid is carried away by the jet must be equal. A method is reported to find the point at which the flow into the drop is equal to the flow out of the drop.RESULTS: In the electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile solutions, by applying different voltages at a constant solution feed rate, two jet regimes were observed: stable jet and fluctuating jet regimes. The stable jet regime occurred at low voltages where the jet flow rate was lower than the feed rate, and the fluctuating jet regime occurred at higher voltages where the jet flow rate exceeded the feed rate. The highest voltage in the stable jet regime was the point where the jet flow rate was equal to the feed rate. This point was determined for different feed rates.CONCLUSION: By applying various voltages at different feed rates, and investigating the jet current, a curve showing stable processing points can be obtained. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry