bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Formation of interconnected macropores in apatitic calcium phosphate bone cement with the use of an effervescent additive
Authors: Hesaraki S. , Moztarzadeh F. , Sharifi D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCalcium phosphate cements (CPCs) can be considered as good candidate for bone tissue engineering because they can be resorbed and take part in the bone remodeling process. Several efforts have been made into improve the resorption rate of the calcium phosphate cement by introducing macropores to the cement matrix. In this investigation a simple and effective method has been presented based on the addition of various amounts of an effervescent agent to the calcium phosphate cement components. The effervescent agent was a mixture of sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3 (that was added to the powder phase), and citric acid monohydrate, C6H8O7·H2O (that was dissolved in the liquid phase). The obtained macroporous samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques at 4 h after setting and 3 days after soaking in a special simulated body fluid solution named Hank's balanced salt solution. Mercury intrusion porosimetry was also employed for characterizing the pore volume and pore size distribution in the cement structure. Results showed that the rate of conversion of staring reactant to the apatite phase and the apatite chemistry were significantly changed by using the additive in the cement components. Also both the pore volume and pore size were changed by varying both the amount of effervescent additive and the powder to liquid ratio. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Platelet responses to silicon‐alloyed pyrolytic carbons
Authors: Goodman Steven L. , Scranton Victoria L. , Brendzel Avrom M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPyrolytic carbon (PYC) containing ∼7 wt % silicon is used in most clinical mechanical heart valves where it has demonstrated a high level of blood compatibility. The Si, present as SiC, is included since it is believed to enhance durability. However, it has been suggested that SiC reduces PYC blood compatibility. In the present study, PYC valve leaflets were prepared with low, conventional, and high levels of Si. The in vitro responses of human platelets to these materials were then quantified. Platelet responses were consistent with previous reports: Adherent platelets were extremely well spread, closely followed submicron contours, and formed very few aggregates or microthrombi‐like structures. No significant differences with respect to the Si concentrations were observed for platelets adherent per unit area and the numbers of thrombi‐like structures. Some differences were observed with platelet morphologies and the material surface covered with platelets, although these did not vary consistently with respect to Si concentration. These results indicate that lowering (or raising) the Si alloy concentration in PYC over a reasonable range (0.54–13.5 wt % as examined here) is unlikely to improve or otherwise alter the in vivo blood compatibility of this important clinical material. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Why do we need lean accounting and how does it work?
Authors: Maskell Brian H. , Kennedy Frances A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAmerican manufacturers are increasingly looking to lean thinking to improve productivity, reduce costs, enhance flexibility, create better value for their customers, and raise profits, cash flow, and stock price. Since those companies choosing lean principles as their basic business model will want to do everything they can to succeed, this article offers six reasons why accounting methods need to change before companies can fully realize the benefits of their lean transformation. It also describes several primary lean accounting methods and tools that support three key aspects of a lean organization—visual management, value stream management, and continuous improvement. These methods have been successfully implemented in a wide range of companies at various stages on the journey to lean transformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In‐vivo observation of cells with a combined high‐resolution multiphoton–acoustic scanning microscope
Authors: Schenkl Selma , Weiss Eike C. , Stracke Frank , Sauer Daniel , Stark Martin , Riemann Iris , Lemor Robert M. , König Karsten 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe present a combined multiphoton–acoustic microscope giving collocated access to the local morphological as well as mechanical properties of living cells. Both methods relay on intrinsic contrast mechanisms and dispense with the need of staining. In the acoustic part of the microscope, a gigahertz ultrasound wave is generated by an acoustic lens and the reflected sound energy is detected by the identical lens in a confocal setup. The achieved lateral resolution is in the range of 1 μm. Contrast in the images arises mainly from the local absorption of sound in the cells related to viscose damping. Additionally, acoustic microscopy can access the sound speed as well as the acoustic impedance of the cell membrane and the cell shape, as it is an intrinsic volume scanning technique. The multiphoton image formation bases on the detection of autofluorescence due to endogenous fluorophores. The nonlinearity of two‐photon absorption provides submicron lateral and axial resolution without the need of confocal optical detection. In addition, in the near‐IR cell damages are drastically reduced in comparison with direct excitation in the visible or UV. The presented setup was aligned with a dedicated procedure to ensure identical image areas. Combined multiphoton/acoustic images of living myoblast cells are discussed focusing on the reliability of the method. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Precipitation in Nepal between 1987 and 1996
Authors: Ichiyanagi Kimpei , Yamanaka Manabu D. , Muraji Yoshitaka , Vaidya Bijaya Kumar 
Published: March 2007

AbstractRain gauge station data from 1987 to 1996 were used to investigate spatial and temporal variability in monthly precipitation and annual and seasonal precipitation patterns over Nepal. Maximum annual precipitation increased with altitude for elevations below 2000 m but decreased for elevations of 2000–3500 m. The data revealed a negative relationship between annual precipitation and elevation only in western Nepal. Annual precipitation averaged on a 0.25° grid exceeded 3000 mm/yr in central Nepal but was less than 1000 mm/yr over Nepal's northwestern mountains. Only winter precipitation over western Nepal was heavier than precipitation over central and eastern Nepal. A time series of standardized precipitation anomalies averaged over Nepal revealed no significant long‐term trends. Further, almost no stations exhibited significant long‐term trends by Kendall's rank correlation analysis. A correlation analysis between summer monsoon precipitation and the All Indian Rainfall (AIR) index revealed positive and negative correlations in western and eastern Nepal, respectively. This analysis also revealed a positive correlation, but no negative correlation, between summer monsoon precipitation and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) in western and eastern Nepal. Composite differences in temperature, 850‐hPa winds, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and precipitation rates between low and high AIR phases revealed that moist air from the Arabian Sea supported precipitation over western Nepal, whereas cold dry air from the Tibetan Plateau suppressed precipitation over eastern Nepal. However, composite differences in precipitation between low and high SOI phases revealed no anomalies for Nepal. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Trigger arrhythmia to confirm the position of totally implantable access ports (TIAP)
Authors: Hsieh Huan‐Fa , Yu Jyh‐Cherng , Chuang Chu‐Hsin , Wu Hurng‐Sheng , Tsai Yu‐Chen , Lin Chien‐Hua 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackgroundTotally implantable access ports (TIAP) with cutdown method has few complications, but needs assessment of fluoroscopic system.MethodsWe present a method to confirm the position of TIAP catheter without fluoroscopic assessment. We use the cutdown method and trigger arrhythmia while introducing the TIAP catheter.ResultsThis method was applied in 54 patients and no complications were found.ConclusionsChecking the position by triggering arrhythmia while performing TIAP with cephalic vein cutdown in case of C‐arm was not available is simple and safe. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:436–437. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimation of Miscibility and Interaction for Cellulose Acetate and Butyrate Blends with N‐Vinylpyrrolidone Copolymers
Authors: Ohno Takahiro , Nishio Yoshiyuki 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe miscibility of CA/P(VP‐co‐MMA) blends was examined as a function of DS of CA and the VP fraction in the copolymer composition, in an extension of the previous studies on cellulose ester blends using P(VP‐co‐VAc) as a counter component. It was observed by DSC thermal analysis that when CA of DS ≤ 2.5 and P(VP‐co‐MMA) of VP > 30 mol‐% were two blending components, most of the binary polymer systems were miscible, whereas the other combinations of DS and VP values led to an immiscible series of blends, a possible exception being the miscible pair of DS = 2.70 and VP = 100 mol‐%. Results of FT‐IR and solid‐state 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra measurements suggested the miscibility to be driven by the hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the residual hydroxyls of CA and the carbonyls of VP units in P(VP‐co‐MMA), as in the case of CA/P(VP‐co‐VAc) blends where the range of miscible pairing of acetyl DS and VP fraction was rather wide. From evaluations of proton spin‐lattice relaxation times in the NMR study, it was confirmed that the homogeneity of the miscible blends of CA/P(VP‐co‐MMA) was substantially on a scale within a few nanometers. To interpret the difference in the DS‐ and copolymer composition‐dependence of the miscibility behavior between three blend systems, CA/P(VP‐co‐MMA), CA/P(VP‐co‐VAc), and CB/P(VP‐co‐VAc), Krigbaum‐Wall intermolecular interaction parameters were estimated by solution viscometry for different polymer pairs pertinent to those blends. In particular, discussion took into consideration the effectiveness of an intramolecular repulsive action between the two units (VP and VAc, or VP and MMA) constituting the vinyl copolymers.magnified image
African Americans and diabetes: Spiritual role of the health care provider in self‐management
Authors: Polzer Rebecca L. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHow African Americans with type 2 diabetes perceive the spiritual role of health care providers (HCPs) and the effects of that role on self‐management was explored using a qualitative descriptive analysis. The sample consisted of 29 African American men and women ages 40–75 with type 2 diabetes and 5 ministers of African American churches. A spiritual relationship with their health provider was important in helping participants manage their diabetes. Three typologies from a parent study were expanded with a focus in this extended study on the meaning ascribed to spiritual relationships with providers and the impact of these relationships on self‐management. Care perceived as spiritual may be an important component of providing culturally sensitive health care to African Americans and may facilitate their self‐management. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 30: 164–174, 2007
Coping and psychosocial adaptation to Type 2 diabetes in older Blacks born in the Southern US and the Caribbean
Authors: Degazon Cynthia E. , Parker Veronica G. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractOlder Black men and women (n = 212) with Type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires. Spearman's rho correlation indicated that confrontive coping strategies supported effective psychosocial adaptation for persons originally from Haiti and Jamaica, while emotive coping strategies were related to ineffective psychosocial adaptation for persons originally from Barbados and to increased psychological distress for all participants. Women used more palliative coping; no gender differences were observed for psychosocial adaptation. Health care orientation, extended family relationships, and psychological distress domains distinguished Blacks born in Haiti from Blacks born in Barbados and Jamaica, the Southern US and Jamaica, and the Southern US, Barbados, and Jamaica. Findings from this study may aid in the development of interventions focused on improving diabetes self‐management for older Blacks. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 30: 151–163, 2007
Federal definitions of rurality and the impact on Nursing Research
Authors: Prouty Vanderboom Catherine , Madigan Elizabeth A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn rural health research, the measurement of rural residence is commonly dichotomized as urban or rural, even though researchers encourage the use of more descriptive categories to capture rural diversity. Federal categorization schemes for operationalizing rural locations include United States Census Bureau definitions, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) classifications, and categorizations developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—Rural‐Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC), Urban Influence Codes (UIC), and Rural‐Urban Commuting Areas. When categorizing states by rurality, the choice of the measure used influences which states are identified as most rural. We demonstrate this premise in a study of rural home healthcare. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 30: 175–184, 2007
Are counsellors' attitudes influencing pregnant women's attitudes and decisions on prenatal screening?
Authors: van den Berg Matthijs , Timmermans Danielle R. M. , Kleinveld Johanna H. , van Eijk Jacques Th. M. , Knol Dirk L. , van der Wal Gerrit , van Vugt John M. G. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjectivesIt is generally recognised that choices concerning treatment or screening should be people's own, autonomous decisions. However, in the context of genetic counselling, many studies found that counsellors deviate from nondirectiveness, or that subjective norm influences behaviour. The present study aimed to investigate whether prenatal counsellors (midwives, gynaecologists) influence pregnant women's decisions and their attitudes regarding prenatal screening. It was hypothesised that uptake rates and attitudes would be associated with the counsellor's attitude toward prenatal screening.MethodsPregnant women attending their midwifery or gynaecology practice were asked to fill out postal questionnaires before and after they were offered prenatal screening for Down syndrome. Their prenatal counsellors also filled in a questionnaire. These questionnaires assessed attitudes toward prenatal screening and background variables. The study sample consisted of 945 pregnant women, being guided by 97 prenatal counsellors.ResultsMultilevel regression analyses revealed that neither uptake rates, nor attitude toward prenatal screening were significantly predicted by counsellors' attitudes toward prenatal screening.ConclusionIt is suggested that the advice these pregnant women were reported to have received, should rather be interpreted as an indication of shared decision‐making and social support than of social pressure and undesired influence. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution structures, dynamics, and lipid‐binding of the sterile α‐motif domain of the deleted in liver cancer 2
Authors: Li Hongyan , Fung King‐Leung , Jin Dong‐Yan , Chung Stephen SM , Ching Yick‐Pang , Ng Irene Oi‐lin , Sze Kong‐Hung , Ko Ben C.B. , Sun Hongzhe 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe deleted in liver cancer 2 (DLC2) is a tumor suppressor gene, frequently found to be underexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. DLC2 is a multidomain protein containing a sterile α‐motif (SAM) domain, a GTPase‐activating protein (GAP) domain, and a lipid‐binding StAR‐related lipid‐transfer (START) domain. The SAM domain of DLC2, DLC2‐SAM, exhibits a low level of sequence homology (15–30%) with other SAM domains, and appears to be the prototype of a new subfamily of SAM domains found in DLC2‐related proteins. In the present study, we have determined the three‐dimensional solution structure of DLC2‐SAM using NMR methods together with molecular dynamics simulated annealing. In addition, we performed a backbone dynamics study. The DLC2‐SAM packed as a unique four α‐helical bundle stabilized by interhelix hydrophobic interactions. The arrangement of the four helices is distinct from all other known SAM domains. In contrast to some members of the SAM domain family which form either dimers or oligomers, both biochemical analyses and rotational correlation time (τc) measured by backbone 15N relaxation experiments indicated that DLC2‐SAM exists as a monomer in solution. The interaction of DLC2‐SAM domain with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycerol‐3‐phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) phospholipids was examined by CD and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The DLC2‐SAM exhibits membrane binding properties accompanied by minor loss of the secondary structure of the protein. Deletion studies showed that the self‐association of DLC2 in vivo does not require SAM domain, instead, a protein domain consisting of residues 120–672 mediates the self‐association of DLC2. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atmospheric mass‐transport inconsistencies in the ERA‐40 reanalysis
Authors: Graversen R. G. , Källén E. , Tjernström M. , Körnich H. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe ERA‐40 reanalysis from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an atmospheric data‐set based on a comprehensive collection of observations and a state‐of‐the‐art system for assimilating data. High‐quality data, encompassing more than four decades, have successfully been used in a wide range of applications, including climate change studies.However, even though the ERA‐40 data‐set benefits from improvements in the assimilation procedures since the release of earlier reanalyses, ERA‐40 exhibits unrealistic behaviour as regards some atmospheric quantities, including the water budget and the Brewer–Dobson Circulation. In addition, the results presented here show significant mass‐budget inconsistencies. Over inter‐annual timescales (greater than one year), the vertically‐averaged meridional mass transport is unrealistic and cannot be explained on the basis of naturally occurring physical processes. This mass inconsistency also yields spurious signals in meridional fluxes of other atmospheric quantities, such as energy. The total atmospheric mass content, on the other hand, shows a realistic evolution on daily timescales during the satellite era, from about 1979 onwards. Through this period, the variability of the total mass on intra‐annual timescales (less than one year) and annual timescales is consistent with differences between evaporation and precipitation.Here it is demonstrated that unrealistic mass fluxes are present in ERA‐40 because of inherent properties of the data assimilation process. In assimilating model forecasts, between analysis time‐steps, systematic and unrealistic changes of the local surface‐pressure field in the assimilating model are encountered. These local mass changes are associated with mass fluxes. During the assimilation procedure, observations reset the surface‐pressure field, whereas the mass fluxes are not adjusted properly. This is because surface‐pressure observations are plentiful and accurate, in contrast to wind observations. Consequently, the analysed mass fluxes show a spurious development, even though the mass field itself is well captured.A correction method can be applied in order to eliminate the spurious fluxes. For trend calculations it is demonstrated that this method yields more realistic results than those obtained from the original ERA‐40 data. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
New advancements for in situ treatment using electrical resistance heating
Authors: Powell Thomas , Smith Gregory , Sturza Joseph , Lynch Kira , Truex Mike 
Published: March 2007

AbstractElectrical resistance heating (ERH) is proving to be an effective technology to rapidly heat the subsurface and, in doing so, removing volatile organic compounds. Practitioners of this technology have observed that other processes (biodegradation, abiotic degradation, hydrolysis, and possibly others) occur to break down the chemicals of concern, and remediation is not solely accomplished through vaporization. Few sites treated using ERH have been monitored during and after treatment to identify and evaluate the processes occurring and assess the contribution of these other biological and chemical processes in the remediation effort so that they may be incorporated in the remediation design.At Fort Lewis, Washington, a landfill has been undergoing ERH treatment in three phases, where chlorinated volatile organic compounds represent the primary chemicals of concern in soil and groundwater. Other chemicals of concern include petroleum products, oils, and lubricants. The Fort Lewis remediation projects provided an opportunity to observe the reactions occurring in the subsurface during ERH and fine‐tune the study with each phase of operation. This study is still under way. However, the data gathered to date, which focuses on biodegradation, provides insights into the processes that have been observed. For the Fort Lewis site, biotic and abiotic degradation processes have been observed throughout the range of operating temperatures. At the lower temperature ranges (up to 70°C), biological processes appear to predominate. Above 70°C, abiotic processes become much more active. The goal of this work is to eventually optimize the use of these intrinsic processes in ERH remediation to reduce energy requirements and costs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of guidelines for assessing obesity in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Authors: Videan Elaine N. , Fritz Jo , Murphy James 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMany captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are subjectively considered to be overweight or obese. However, discussions of obesity in chimpanzees are rare in the literature, despite the acknowledged problem. No study to date has systematically examined obesity in captive chimpanzees. This project develops guidelines for defining obesity in captive chimpanzees through the examination of morphometric and physiologic characteristics in 37 adult female and 22 adult male chimpanzees. During each animal's biannual physical exam, morphometric data was collected including seven skinfolds (mm), body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), and total body weight (kg). The morphometric characteristics were correlated with triglycerides and serum glucose concentration, to test the utility of morphometrics in predicting relative obesity in captive chimpanzees. Abdominal skinfold (triglyceride: F=3.83, P=0.05; glucose: F=3.83, P=0.05) and BMI (triglyceride: F=10.42, p=0.003; glucose: F=6.20, P=0.02) were predictive of increased triglycerides and serum glucose in females; however no morphometric characteristics were predictive of relative obesity in males. Results suggest that no males in this population are overweight or obese. For females, there were additional significant differences in morphometric (skinfolds, BMI, WHR, total body weight) and physiologic measurements (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, red blood cells) between individuals classified overweight and those classified non‐overweight. Skinfold measurements, particularly abdominal, seem to be an accurate measure of obesity and thus potential cardiovascular risk in female chimpanzees, but not males. By establishing a baseline for estimated body fat composition in female captive chimpanzees, institutions can track individuals empirically determined to be obese, as well as obesity‐related health problems. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.