bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Snow‐induced thermal variations around a single conifer tree
Authors: Hardy Janet P. , Albert Mary R. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe influence of trees on the ground thermal regime is important to the overall winter energy exchange in a snow‐covered, forested watershed. In this work, spatial zones around a single conifer tree were defined and examined for their controls on the snow cover, snow‐ground interface temperatures and frozen ground extent. A large white spruce (Picea glauca), approximately 18 m tall with a crown diameter of 7.5 m and located in northern Vermont, was the subject of this study. The tree was instrumented with thermistors to measure the snow‐ground interface temperature between the tree trunk and 6 m from the tree into undisturbed snow. Four distinct zones around the conifer are defined that affect the snow distribution characteristics: adjacent to the trunk; the tree well; the tree crown perimeter; and the unaffected area away from the tree. At the time of peak snow accumulation and during the ablation season, snow depth and density profiles were measured. The area beneath the canopy accumulated 34% of the snow accumulated in the undisturbed zone. By the end of the ablation season, the depth of snow under the canopy had decreased to 18% of the undisturbed snow depth. The tree and branch characteristics of spruce in this temperate climate resulted in a different snow depth profile compared with previous empirical relationships around a single conifer. A new relationship is presented for snow distribution around conifer trees that has the ability to better fit data from a variety of conifer types than previously published relationships. Less snow beneath the canopy led to colder snow‐ground interface temperatures than measured in undisturbed snow. The depth of frozen ground in the different zones was modelled using a simple analytical solution that showed deeper frost penetration in the tree well than beneath the undisturbed snow.
Winter methane dynamics beneath ice and in snow in a temperate poor fen
Authors: Melloh Rae A. , Crill Patrick M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe influence of winter on methane (CH4) stored in pore water and emitted through snow was investigated in a temperate poor fen in New Hampshire over two winters. Methane accumulated beneath ice layers (1 cm) deposited by freezing rain, resulting in snow‐pore air mixing ratios as high as 140 ppmv during the first winter and 600 ppmv during the second. An early winter snow crust of 300 kg m−3 caused no discontinuity in a linear mixing ratio profile and therefore was not observed to retard snowpack emissions. Methane concentration‐depth profiles in pore water steepened and concentrations increased by as much as 400 μM at the 10 and 20 cm depths as the ice cover formed. This suggests that the peat‐ice cover plays an important part in CH4 build‐up in pore water by limiting the transport of gases between the peat and the atmosphere. Pore water concentrations gradually declined through late winter. The seasonality of dissolved CH4 in pore water over two winters and one summer showed an average annual amplitude of 1.3 gCH4m−2 (25–75cm depth range), with a winter maximum of 4.7gCH4m−2. Emissions during the winter with average snowfall accounted for a larger percentage (9.2% in 1993–1994) of total annual emission than the winter with below‐average snowfall and warmer air temperature (2% in 1994–1995). Emissions averaged 56 and 26mg m−2 day−1 during the first and second winter (December, January and February), respectively.
A wide difference in cancer survival between middle aged and elderly patients in Europe
Authors: Quaglia Alberto , Capocaccia Riccardo , Micheli Andrea , Carrani Eugenio , Vercelli Marina ,   the EUROCARE‐3 Working Group
Published: February 2007

AbstractNowadays the burden of cancer in elderly people has reached an alarming extent. The purpose of this study is comparing cumulative and conditional relative survival in elderly patients between 65 and 84 years and younger adults aged from 55 to 64. Fifty‐three cancer registries of 22 European countries, participating in the EUROCARE‐3 programme, collected information on the cases diagnosed over the period 1990–1994. We computed cumulative and conditional relative survival for 16 cancer sites. Middle aged patients experienced a better prognosis than the elderly for all cancer sites, in both sexes and the differences were more marked at 1 than 5 years since diagnosis. The very large differences noted in the first period after cancer detection declined in the subsequent years and, when 5‐years conditional survival was considered, for several cancers the elderly and younger adults had the same probabilities of surviving. The death relative excess risks (RERs) in the elderly with respect younger individuals were really very high and markedly larger at 1 than 5 years, and in women than men. Genitourinary and gynaecological cancers showed the highest RERs, around 2.0 and between 1.5 and 2.5 respectively. This very high early mortality could be due not only to clinical aspects: the barriers to health care access and a consequent late diagnosis might represent for elderly patients the main determinant of this very large prognostic disadvantage. In conclusion, clinical management of cancer in the elderly remains a major issue to be faced with complex social and health care policies. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of genomic aberrations associated with shorter overall survival in patients with oligodendroglial tumors
Authors: Trost Detlef , Ehrler Marion , Fimmers Rolf , Felsberg Jörg , Sabel Michael C. , Kirsch Lutz , Schramm Johannes , Wiestler Otmar D. , Reifenberger Guido , Weber Ruthild G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDeletions on chromosomes 1p and 19q are associated with favorable prognosis in patients with oligodendroglial tumors. The aim of our study was to identify additional genomic aberrations linked to patient survival. We performed a genome‐wide screen for genomic imbalances by comparative genomic hybridization on tumors from 70 patients, including 40 oligodendrogliomas, 30 oligoastrocytomas (21 WHO grade II tumors, 49 WHO grade III tumors). Data were correlated with overall patient survival (OS, median follow‐up: 5.8 years). The most frequent aberrations were losses on chromosome 19q (64%), 1p (59%), 9p (26%), 4q (21%), 10q (19%), 18q (17%); gains on 7q (24%), 19p (19%), 7p (17%). In univariate analyses, combined 1p/19q and 19q loss were significantly associated with longer OS, and gains on 7, 8q, 19q, 20, losses on 9p, 10, 18q, Xp with shorter OS. Multivariate analyses showed the most significant prognostic factors for OS of patients with any oligodendroglial tumor to be WHO grade [odds ratio (OR) 8], 7p gain (OR 6), 9p loss (OR 3); for OS of patients with anaplastic tumors to be 7p gain (OR 10), 8q gain (OR 5), 18q loss (OR 3). Patients with anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors containing one or more prognostically unfavorable genomic aberration had a poor outcome independent of the 1p/19q status. In summary, we identified several independent genomic markers of shorter survival in patients with oligodendroglial tumors. Thus, molecular diagnostic testing, which is usually restricted to 1p/19q deletion analysis, may need to be refined by additionally assessing the prognostically unfavorable genomic aberrations identified. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aberrant promoter methylation in pleural fluid DNA for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Katayama Hideki , Hiraki Akio , Aoe Keisuke , Fujiwara Keiichi , Matsuo Keitaro , Maeda Tadashi , Murakami Tomoyuki , Toyooka Shinichi , Sugi Kazuro , Ueoka Hiroshi , Tanimoto Mitsune 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAccumulating evidence implicates epigenetic changes such as hypermethylation in carcinogenesis. We investigated whether DNA methylation of 5 tumor suppressor genes in pleural fluid samples could aid in diagnosis of malignant effusion. In samples from 47 patients with malignant pleural effusions and 34 with nonmalignant effusions, we used a methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction to detect aberrant hypermethylation of the promoters of the DNA repair gene O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), p16INK4a, ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A), apoptosis‐related genes, death‐associated protein kinase (DAPK), and retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ). Promoter hypermethylation was associated with malignant effusion for MGMT (Odds ratio (OR) = ∞), p16INK4a (OR = ∞), RASSF1A (OR = 13.8; CI, 1.71–112), and RARβ (OR = 3.17; CI, 1.10–9.11), but not for DAPK. Instead, DAPK methylation was associated with the length of smoking (p < 0.05). Patients with hypermethylation of MGMT, p16INK4a, RASSF1A or RARβ were 5.68 times more likely to have malignant effusions than patients without methylation (p = 0.008). Methylations per patient were more numerous for lung cancer than nonmalignant pulmonary disease (0.915 vs. 0.206, p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of methylation in one or more genes for diagnosis of malignant effusion were 59.6%, 79.4%, and 80.0% respectively. In conclusion, aberrant promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes in pleural fluid DNA could be a valuable diagnostic marker for malignant pleural effusion. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cardiovascular changes after pulmonary embolism from injecting calcium phosphate cement
Authors: Krebs Jörg , Aebli Nikolaus , Goss Ben G. , Sugiyama Sadahiro , Bardyn Thibaut , Boecken Ilka , Leamy Patrick J. , Ferguson Stephen J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractConcerns have been raised that the use of calcium phosphate (CaP) cements for the augmentation of fractured, osteoporotic bones may aggravate cardiovascular deterioration in the event of pulmonary cement embolism by stimulating coagulation. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the cardiovascular changes after pulmonary embolism of CaP cement using an animal model. In 14 sheep, 2.0 mL CaP or polymethylmethacrylate cement were injected intravenously. Cardiovascular parameters and antithrombin levels were monitored until 60 min postinjection. Postmortem, lungs were subjected to CT scanning, and 3D reconstruction of the cement was performed. Intravenous injection of CaP cement resulted in a more severe increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and decrease in arterial blood pressure. Disintegration of the CaP cement seemed to be the reason for the more severe reaction. There was no evidence of thromboembolism. Disintegration of CaP cement in circulating blood does not only compromise the mechanical properties, but also represents a risk of cardiovascular complications. Reliable cohesion of CaP cements in an aqueous environment is essential for clinical applications such as osteoporotic bone augmentation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Carvable calcium phosphate bone substitute material
Authors: Hofmann M. P. , Gbureck U. , Duncan C. O. , Dover M. S. , Barralet J. E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study investigated the use of partially set hydroxyapatite forming calcium phosphate cement as a carvable and mechanically stable bone substitute material. Hydroxyapatite‐forming cements were made of either mechanically activated α‐tricalcium phosphate or a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous and setting was arrested up to 4 h post setting. The study showed that these partially set rigid samples of defined geometry could be carved into a desired shape when the degree of reaction was 30–40% and the relative porosity between 40 and 50%; samples are then expected to set completely after implantation in the presence of water or serum, having the same compressive strength as a continuously set calcium phosphate cement (up to 36 MPa). The development of compressive strength, phase composition, and crystallinity when varying production parameters of these partially “preset” bone substitute materials are presented for both cement systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Cytokine secretion from monocytes persists differentially after activator removal—One mechanism of long‐term biological response to implants
Authors: Messer R. L. W. , Lewis J. B. , Wataha J. C. , Adams Y. , Tseng W. Y. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBiomedical implants significantly improve the quality of life in an ever‐increasing number of patients. However, inflammation of tissues around implants remains a long‐term, post‐placement sequelae that may contribute to implant failure. Infection‐mediated failure is partly a consequence of inappropriate host response and chronic inflammation, and is mediated primarily by the secretory products of monocytes and macrophages. Although the secretion of inflammatory mediators from activated monocytes is well characterized, the resolution of mediator levels post‐activation is relatively unstudied. The current study defines the time course of cytokine secretion by activated human monocytes after the activator has been removed. THP1 human monocytes were activated by LPS, and cytokine secretion was monitored over time after LPS removal using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (TNFα or IL8) or a cytokine array. The release of cytokines was compared with conditions without LPS removal. As expected, secretion of nearly all cytokines was reduced when LPS was removed, but the amount of the reduction was highly cytokine‐dependent. Furthermore, levels of cytokines were stable in medium alone but not in cell‐culture, suggesting an active process to either degrade or internalize secreted cytokines. Our results are consistent with clinical experience that inflammation resolves rapidly after treatment to remove bacteria or inflamed tissue. However, the differential cytokine regulation indicates a sophisticated coordination of cytokine levels probably associated with management of the wound healing response after removal of the bacterial insult. This wound healing response is one critical component of the long‐term success of biomedical implants. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Biomedical applications of diamond‐like carbon coatings: A review
Authors: Roy Ritwik Kumar , Lee Kwang‐Ryeol 
Published: February 2007

AbstractOwing to its superior tribological and mechanical properties with corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and hemocompatibility, diamond‐like carbon (DLC) has emerged as a promising material for biomedical applications. DLC films with various atomic bond structures and compositions are finding places in orthopedic, cardiovascular, and dental applications. Cells grew on to DLC coating without any cytotoxity and inflammation. DLC coatings in orthopedic applications reduced wear, corrosion, and debris formation. DLC coating also reduced thrombogenicity by minimizing the platelet adhesion and activation. However, some contradictory results (Airoldi et al., Am J Cardiol 2004;93:474–477, Taeger et al., Mat‐wiss u Werkstofftech 2003;34:1094–1100) were also reported that no significant improvement was observed in the performance of DLC‐coated stainless stent or DLC‐coated femoral head. This controversy should be discussed based on the detailed information of the coating such as atomic bond structure, composition, and/or electronic structure. In addition, instability of the DLC coating caused by its high level of residual stress and poor adhesion in aqueous environment should be carefully considered. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are thus required to confirm its use for medical devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Successful repeat therapy with rituximab for relapsed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Patino Wilmar , Sarode Ravindra 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life‐threatening disease that is treated successfully with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and often with corticosteroids; however, almost one third of TTP patients have treatment failures that require either long‐term TPEs or other adjunct therapies. Recent insights into the autoimmune‐pathophysiology of this disease provide the rationale for immune‐based therapies. Cumulative evidence suggests that rituximab, an anti‐CD20 antibody that depletes B‐cells temporarily, is an effective therapy in patients with refractory or relapsing TTP. We report here two patients with chronic relapsing TTP who were treated successfully with rituximab. However, both experienced TTP relapse following sustained and prolonged remissions for 21 and 37 months, respectively. They responded favorably with repeat therapy with rituximab. The benefits of rituximab treatment for refractory or relapsing TTP as well as in the prevention of recurrences are discussed. J. Clin. Apheresis. 22:, 2007 © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Drug‐resistant bullous pemphigoid and inflammatory bowel disease in a pediatric case successfully treated by plasma exchange and extracorporeal photochemotherapy
Authors: Tripodi Gino , Risso Marco , Tenerini Loredana , Gandullia Paolo , Castellano Emanuela , Rivabella Lucia 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disease that occurs mainly in elderly patients; onset of BP is rare in childhood. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), by contrast, have a pediatric onset in 25% of presenting cases, requiring expert multidisciplinary management. Here we report a pediatric case of IBD (involving stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon‐rectum) associated with a disseminated form of drug‐resistant BP successfully treated by plasma exchange (PEX), extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), and corticosteroid therapy. The addition of PEX and ECP to standard treatment induced no severe side effects, prompted a rapidly achieved complete and long‐term remission, and allowed dose tapering of the immunosuppressive drugs over an 18‐month follow‐up. J. Clin. Apheresis. 22:, 2007 © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Therapeutic plasmapheresis as a bridge to liver transplantation in fulminant Wilson disease
Authors: Jhang Jeffrey S. , Schilsky Michael L. , Lefkowitch Jay H. , Schwartz Joseph 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWilson disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism that leads to the accumulation of copper mainly in the liver, cornea, brain, and kidney. Rarely, Wilson disease can present as fulminant hepatic failure with direct antiglobulin test–negative hemolytic anemia and renal failure. In the absence of liver transplantation, this disease is uniformly fatal because medical therapy is ineffective. This report describes the successful use of plasmapheresis for a patient with fulminant Wilson disease as a bridge to transplantation. Five daily therapeutic plasmapheresis procedures using fresh frozen plasma as a replacement fluid were performed over 6 days. Serum copper, urinary copper excretion, and hemolysis were significantly reduced and renal function improved. The patient's clinical status improved and she remained clinically stable until a liver transplant was possible. Plasmapheresis can be a successful medical treatment in fulminant Wilson disease and should be considered as a therapeutic measure to stabilize a patient by decreasing serum copper, reducing hemolysis, and helping to prevent renal tubular injury from copper and copper complexes until liver transplantation is possible. J. Clin. Apheresis. 22:, 2007 © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bargaining power and efficiency—rural households in Ethiopia
Authors: Seebens Holger , Sauer Johannes 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIt appears to be clear from literature that bargaining power associated with greater control over household resources affects the share of an individual's consumption, that is, higher bargaining power leads to higher levels of consumption. However, it has remained unexplored, if and in which way bargaining power has an impact on household production. By applying different stochastic efficiency models, we try to fill this gap by investigating the role of the distribution of productive resources among 558 couples of rural Ethiopian households in determining the outcome of household production. The results clearly confirm that the more equal the allocation of resources, the higher the household's productivity which could be predominantly due to the incentives to participate efficiently in the production process. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ diagnostics of the decomposition of silacyclobutane on a hot filament by vacuum ultraviolet laser ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Shi Y. J. , Lo B. , Tong L. , Li X. , Eustergerling B. D. , Sorensen T. S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe gas‐phase reaction products of silacyclobutane (SCB) and 1, 1‐dideuterio‐silacyclobutane (SCB‐d2) from a hot‐wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) chamber were diagnosed in situ using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser single‐photon ionization (SPI) coupled with time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The SCB molecule was found to decompose at a filament temperature as low as 900 °C. Both Si‐ (silylene, methylsilylene, and silene) and C‐containing (ethene and propene) species were produced from the SCB decomposition on the filament. Ethene and propene were detected by the mass spectrometer. It is demonstrated that the formation of ethene is favored over that of propene. The experimental study of hot‐wire decomposition of SCB‐d2 shows that propene is most likely produced by a process that is initiated by a 1,2‐H(D) migration to form n‐propylsilylene, followed by an equilibration with silacyclopropane, which then decomposes to propene. The detection of ethene in our experiment indicates that a competitive route of fragmentation exists for SCB decomposition on the filament. It has been shown that this competitive route occurs without H/D scrambling. The highly reactive silylene, silene, and methylsilylene species produced from SCB decomposition underwent either insertion reactions into the SiH bonds of the parent molecule or π‐type addition reaction across the double and triple CC bonds. The dimerization product of silene, 1,3‐disilacyclobutane, at m/z = 88 was also observed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activity of oxidative enzymes in fungal mycelia from grassland and forest soils
Authors: Gramss G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn the vegetation periods of 1994 and 1995, fungus‐colonized soil samples from around the base of fruit bodies of basidiomycete fungi were excised. They were collected from fairy rings on grass‐ and woodlands and from stands of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Control samples devoid of conspicuous mycelia originated from adjacent plots with a comparable vegetation and soil structure. Water extraction and spectrophotometric analysis of fungus‐colonized samples indicated the presence of several cellfree polyphenol oxidases, peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, hydroxylases, aromatic‐ring cleavage dioxygenases, and esterases as well as active oxygen species. Tests for ligninolytic activity were in part positive. The activities of enzymes involved in the catalysis of H2O2, the essential co‐substrate of ligninolytic peroxidases, were also detected. Unvegetated control soils contained occasional traces of free polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases. Vegetated control samples were dominated by the activity of guaiacol peroxidase, which is known to be linked with plant tissue. It is concluded that basidiomycetous mycelia grown in the field are associated with the activities of enzymes which directly catalyze the degradation of lignin, some humic material in soil, and aromatic xenobiotics by hydroxylation, oxidation, and cleavage of aromatic ring structures. Further enzymes detected by their activities may be indirectly involved in these degradation processes by forming highly reactive substrate radicals, active oxygen species, and higher‐valency metal ions with considerable oxidative capacity.