bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic influence of sub‐stages according to pTNM categories in patients with stage IV gastric cancer
Authors: Li Chen , Yan Min , Chen Jun , Xiang Min , Zhu Zheng Gang , Lin Yan Zheng 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe prognosis for patients with stage IV gastric cancer is still very poor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome and prognosis, and to determine the prognostic influence of sub‐stages of stage IV gastric cancer.MethodsFrom 1992 to 2002, 287 patients histologically diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer underwent gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, China. Regarding TNM categories, we separated them into T1‐3N3M0, T4N1‐2M0, T4N3M0, and TanyNanyM1 groups. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics as well as the survival in these groups.ResultsThere were largest proportions of patients who underwent extended lymphadenectomy and curative gastrectomy in T1‐3N3M0 group followed by T4N1‐2M0, T4N3M0, and TanyNanyM1 groups. The survival rate of patients with sub‐stage IVa (T1‐3N3M0 and T4N1‐2M0) tumors was significant higher than that of patients with sub‐stage IVb (T4N3M0 and TanyNanyM1) tumors (P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis showed that sub‐stage with the highest risk ratio (1.454), and the surgical curability were independent prognostic factors in patients with stage IV gastric cancer.ConclusionsSub‐stages IVa (T1‐3N3M0 and T4N1‐2M0) and IVb (T4N3M0 and TanyNanyM1) may predict patients' prognosis more accurately. Curative resection should be performed whenever possible in patients with stage IV gastric cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:324–328. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrospinning of Collagen Nanofiber Scaffolds from Benign Solvents
Authors: Dong Bin , Arnoult Olivier , Smith Meghan E. , Wnek Gary E. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNanofiber scaffolds of collagen have been fabricated via electrospinning using benign solvent systems as a replacement for 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro‐2‐propanol. Simple binary mixtures of phosphate‐buffered saline and ethanol have been found to be highly effective for electrospinning. FTIR spectra suggest that the triple helical structure of collagen was conserved after dissolution and electrospinning. Crosslinking of the electrospun collagen scaffolds was achieved with standard methods.magnified image
Comparative responsiveness of Parkinson's disease scales to change over time
Authors: Schrag Anette , Spottke Annika , Quinn Niall Patrick , Dodel Richard 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe objective of the study is to examine the comparative responsiveness of outcome measures to assess progression over time in Parkinson's disease (PD). One hundred twenty‐eight patients participating in a clinic‐based naturalistic study of PD were assessed with the Hoehn and Yahr, UPDRS, MMSE, PDQ‐39, PDQL, EQ‐5D, and BDI scales at baseline and at 1 year. In addition, 82 patients in a community‐based study of patients with PD who had completed self‐rated Schwab and England, PDQ‐39, EQ‐5D, and BDI scales at baseline, were sent the same questionnaires at 1 and 4 years. Responsiveness was assessed using t‐tests, standardised effect size, and standardised response mean. In both samples, the Hr‐QoL measures were less responsive to change over time than the impairment and disability scales (Hoehn and Yahr, UPDRS, Schwab and England scales). In addition, in the clinic‐based sample, Hoehn and Yahr and UPDRS ADL scale (“on”) were more responsive to progression over time than UPDRS motor part and ADL part (“off”). Hr‐QoL measures are less responsive to change over time than measures of impairment and disability. Although this suggests that these measures are less accurate in detecting subtle changes, it may also indicate that the multifactorial subjective assessment of Hr‐QoL adapts to changes over time. Global assessment of overall impairment and disability (which incorporates motor and nonmotor features of PD), however, appeared relatively responsive to change over time in patients in a naturalistic setting. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Weight loss, body fat mass, and leptin in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Lorefält Birgitta , Toss Göran , Granérus Ann‐Kathrine 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWeight loss is a common problem in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the causative mechanisms behind this weight loss are unclear. We compared 26 PD patients with sex and age matched healthy controls. Examinations were repeated at baseline, after one and after two years. Body fat mass was measured by Dual X‐ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Seventy three per cent of the PD patients lost body weight. Loss of body fat mass constituted a considerable part of the loss of body weight. In the patients who lost weight, serum leptin levels were lower than in those who did not lose weight. The relationship between low body fat mass and low leptin levels seems to be relevant, at least for female PD patients. It is reasonable to believe that low leptin levels in these patients could be secondary to the decreased body fat mass. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Bog blueberry anthocyanins alleviate photoaging in ultraviolet‐B irradiation‐induced human dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Bae Ji‐Young , Lim Soon Sung , Kim Sun Ju , Choi Jung‐Suk , Park Jinseu , Ju Sung Mi , Han Seoung Jun , Kang Il‐Jun , Kang Young‐Hee 
Published: February 2009

AbstractFruits of bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) are rich in anthocyanins that contribute pigmentation. Anthocyanins have received much attention as agents with potentials preventing chronic diseases. This study investigated the capacity of anthocyanin‐rich extract from bog blueberry (ATH‐BBe) to inhibit photoaging in UV‐B‐irradiated human dermal fibroblasts. BBe anthocyanins were detected as cyanidin‐3‐glucoside, petunidin‐3‐glucoside, malvidin‐3‐glucoside, and delphinidin3‐glucoside. ATH‐BBe attenuated UV‐B‐induced toxicity accompanying reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the resultant DNA damage responsible for activation of p53 and Bad. Preincubation of ATH‐BBe markedly suppressed collagen degradation via blunting production of collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Additionally, ATH‐BBe enhanced UV‐B‐downregulated procollagen expression at transcriptional levels. We next attempted to explore whether ATH‐BBe mitigated the MMP‐promoted collagen degradation through blocking nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) activation and MAPK‐signaling cascades. UV‐B radiation enhanced nuclear translocation of NF‐κB, which was reversed by treatment with ATH‐BBe. The UV‐B irradiation rapidly activated apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase‐1 (ASK‐1)‐signaling cascades of JNK and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), whereas ATH‐BBe hampered phosphorylation of c‐Jun, p53, and signal transducers and activators of transcription‐1 (STAT‐1) linked to these MAPK signaling pathways. ATH‐BBe diminished UV‐B augmented‐release of inflammatory interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8. These results demonstrate that ATH‐BBe dampens UV‐B‐triggered collagen destruction and inflammatory responses through modulating NF‐κB‐responsive and MAPK‐dependent pathways. Therefore, anthocyanins from edible bog blueberry may be protective against UV‐induced skin photoaging.
GSM850/900/1800/1900/UMTS coupled‐fed planar λ/8‐PIFA for internal mobile phone antenna
Authors: Chang Chih‐Hua , Wong Kin‐Lu 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA coupled‐fed planar PIFA (planar inverted‐F antenna) operated in its one‐eighth wavelength (λ/8) mode, different from the traditional one‐quarter wavelength (λ/4) mode, as the fundamental mode for mobile phone application is presented. The proposed PIFA comprises two radiating strips, both of slightly different lengths and close to about λ/8 at 900 MHz. By incorporating the use of the coupling feed, a wide operating band formed by the two λ/8 modes is excited at about 900 MHz for the antenna to cover GSM850/900 operation. Two λ/4 modes are also generated at close frequencies to from a wide operating band centered at about 1950 MHz to cover GSM1800/1900/UMTS operation. The proposed antenna hence can cover GSM850/900/1800/1900/UMTS penta‐band operation for application in the mobile phone. In addition, the antenna has a simple structure and can be printed on a thin FR4 substrate of size 1.6 × 7 × 40 mm3 as a surface‐mountable chip antenna. Details of the proposed antenna are presented and discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1091–1096, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24214
Organizational influences on patient perceptions of symptom management
Authors: Bacon Cynthia Thornton , Hughes Linda C. , Mark Barbara A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe tested a theoretical model of the relationships of hospital context, nursing unit structure, and patient characteristics to patients' perceptions of the extent to which nurses met their expectations for management of troubling symptoms. In our sample of 2,720 patients randomly selected from 278 nursing units in 143 hospitals, we found that patient age was positively associated with patients' perceptions of symptom management. The proportion of registered nurses as caregivers on the unit was not a significant predictor of symptom management, but better work conditions on the unit (nurses' autonomy, participation in decision‐making, and collaboration with other disciplines [relational coordination]) significantly contributed to patients' perceptions of better symptom management. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:321–334, 2009
Successful second allogeneic stem cell transplantation in second remission induced by dasatinib in a child with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Millot Frédéric , Cividin Marie , Brizard Françoise , Chomel Jean Claude , Méchinaud Françoise , Guilhot François 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe report on the use of dasatinib, a second‐generation bcr‐abl kinase inhibitor, in a child in early relapse of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This patient benefited from the use of dasatinib obtaining of a complete molecular response which allowed a second successful transplant. Moreover, dasatinib was well tolerated in this heavily pretreated patient. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:891–892. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Play therapy in elementary schools
Authors: Landreth Garry L. , Ray Dee C. , Bratton Sue C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBecause the child's world is a world of action and activity, play therapy provides the psychologist in elementary‐school settings with an opportunity to enter the child's world. In the play therapy relationship, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. Therefore, children play out their problems, experiences, concerns, and feelings in a manner that is similar to the process of talk therapy. This article provides practical information for developing a play therapy program, a discussion of the skills needed by the psychologist, how to involve parents and teachers in the treatment process, and a review of impressive effect sizes found in play therapy research studies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characteristics of proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on chitosan acetate complexed with CH3COONH4
Authors: Du J. F. , Bai Y. , Pan D. A. , Chu W. Y. , Qiao L. J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe polymer electrolytes based on chitosan and ammonium acetate (CH3COONH4) were prepared by solution casting technique and the properties were studied. With the addition of CH3COONH4, the amorphous nature of the polymer electrolytes was promoted. The glass transition temperature, activation energy, and conductivity are closely related. Lower the glass transition temperature, lower the activation energy, higher the conductivity. The 40 wt % ammonium acetate doped polymer electrolyte has the lowest glass transition temperature of 369 K, the lowest activation energy of 0.19 eV, and the highest ionic conductivity of 2.87 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 549–554, 2009
A new method of stabilization and characterization of the interface in binary polymer blends by irradiation: A positron annihilation study
Authors: Raj J. M. , Ranganathaiah C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNew methods for stabilizing the interface of partially miscible and immiscible binary polymer blends and characterizing such an interface are described here. Interfacial modifications in four binary polymer blend systems namely PS/PMMA, PVC/EVA, PP/NBR, and PVC/SAN were induced by e‐beam and microwave irradiation. These changes have been characterized in terms of free volume measured by Positron lifetime technique and DSC as supplementary to free volume data. The changes observed in free volume parameters upon irradiation could not be connected to the changes at the interface and also not specific to composition of the blend. Owing to this limitation, we exploited the usefulness of hydrodynamic interaction parameter α derived from the very same free volume data to monitor the changes at the interface. The present results demonstrated that α is effective in revealing the changes at the interface and can be used to characterize the interfacial properties in partially miscible and immiscible polymer blends. Further, the results clearly show that microwave irradiation is a better route to stabilize the interface of a partially miscible or immiscible blend if its component polymers contain polar groups. E‐beam irradiation seems to be better route if the component polymers of the blend contain no polar groups. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 619–632, 2009
The Effect of Grinding Media Shape on the Specific Rate of Breakage
Authors: Cuhadaroglu Dilek , Samanli Selcuk , Kizgut Sait 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe effect of the shape of grinding media on the breakage parameters of colemanite has been investigated in kinetic studies. In this present research, three different monosize fractions, i.e., – 425 + 300 μm, – 300 + 212 μm and – 212 + 150 μm, were used. The grinding media used for the tests were 36.5 × 36.5, 30.1 × 30.1, 25.4 × 25.4, 19.05 × 19.05 and 12.7 × 12.7 mm diameter cylinders, and 36.5, 30.1, 25.4, 19.05 and 12.7 mm diameter balls made from cast iron. The specific rate of breakage (Si) and model parameters (aT, α) were evaluated for the same quantity of cylinders, balls and feed material. The values of Si and the model parameters indicated that a faster breakage rate can be obtained by using cylinders as the grinding media. The size distributions of the products showed that the use of cylinders for grinding offers advantages for relatively coarse feeds. At shorter grinding periods, the product fineness from cylinder grinding was greater than that from ball grinding. However, after progressive grinding, the product fineness of ball grinding eventually exceeded that of cylinder grinding. The overall results indicated that the shape of the grinding media plays a determining role in the overall process.
Specificity determinants of acylaminoacyl‐peptide hydrolase
Authors: Krishna Radha G. , Wold Finn 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn an attempt to explore how specific features of the substrate's primary structure may affect the activity of rabbit muscle acylaminoacyl‐peptide hydrolase (EC 3.4.19.1), a number of acetylated peptides containing specific amino acid replacements in specific positions were prepared and compared as substrates for the hydrolase. The principal variants were d‐Ala, Pro, and positive charges (His, Arg, Lys); in addition, the effect of the length of the peptide was also investigated in a less systematic manner. The substrates were either prepared by direct acetylation of peptides, by extension of the N‐terminus with acetylamino acids or acetylpeptides, activated as N‐hydroxysuccinimide esters, or by isolation of the N‐terminal peptides from naturally occurring acetylated proteins. It was found that d‐Ala on either side of the bond to be cleaved (positions 1 and 2) completely inhibited the enzymatic activity, whereas acetylated peptides with d‐Ala in positions 3 or 4 were as good substrates as those containing l‐Ala. Peptides with Pro in positions 2 were also inactive, and most of the peptides with Pro in the third position were very poor substrates; only the peptide Ac‐AAP gave reasonably high activity (30% of Ac‐AAA), which was reduced to 1–2% if additional residues were present at the C‐terminus (Ac‐AAPA, Ac‐AAPAA). The presence of a positive charge in positions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 gave strong reduction in hydrolase activity varying with the charge's distance from the N‐terminus from 0 to 15–20% of the rates obtained with the reference peptides without positive charges. Deprotonation of His at high pH generated excellent substrates, and removal of the positive charges of Lys by acetylation or, even better, succinylation also gave improved substrate quality, demonstrating that the positive charges are responsible for the inhibition. Long peptides (10–29 residues) were generally found to be poor substrates, especially when they contained positive charges and Pro. The better long peptide substrates do not have these residues, but contain negative charges instead. A survey of the N‐terminal sequences of more than 100 acetylated proteins revealed that about 95% of them have Pro and/or positively charged amino acids among the first 10 residues, suggesting that these residues may be natural inhibitors of hydrolase action in vivo. In addition to the specific and large effect of the residues described above on substrate quality, it also appears that there is a general effect of the overall sequence of each peptide, and that the specific effects of individual residues are modulated significantly by the environment (context) in which they are expressed.
Purification of glutathionylspermidine and trypanothione synthetases from crithidia fasciculata
Authors: Smith K. , Fairlamb A.H. , Nadeau K. , Bradley M. , Walsh C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTwo enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the trypanosomatid‐specific dithiol trypanothione‐glutathionylspermidine (Gsp) synthetase and trypanothione (TSH) synthetase‐have been identified and purified individually from Crithidia fasciculata. The Gsp synthetase has been purified 93‐fold and the TSH synthetase 52‐fold to apparent homogeneity from a single DEAE fraction that contained both activities. This constitutes the first indication that the enzymatic conversion of two glutathione molecules and one spermidine to the N1, N8‐bis(glutathionyl)spermidine (TSH) occurs in two discrete enzymatic steps. Gsp synthetase, which has a kcat of 600/min, shows no detectable TSH synthetase activity, whereas TSH synthetase does not make any detectable Gsp and has a kcat of 75/min. The 90‐kDa Gsp synthetase and 82‐kDa TSH synthetase are separable on phenyl Superose and remain separated on gel filtration columns in high salt (0.8 M NaCl). Active complexes can be formed under low to moderate salt conditions (0.0–0.15 M NaCl), consistent with a functional complex in vivo.
Charge balance in the α‐hydroxyacid dehydrogenase vacuole: An acid test
Authors: Cortes Antonio , Emery David C. , Halsall David J. , Jackson Richard M. , Clarke Anthony R. , John Holbrook J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe proposal that the active site vacuole of NAD+‐S‐lactate dehydrogenase is unable to accommodate any imbalance in electrostatic charge was tested by genetically manipulating the cDNA coding for human muscle lactate dehydrogenase to make a protein with an aspartic acid introduced at position 140 instead of the wild‐type asparagine. The Asn 140–Asp mutant enzyme has the same kcat as the wild type (Asn 140) at low pH (4.5), and at higher pH the Km for pyruvate increases 10‐fold for each unit increase in pH up to pH 9. We conclude that the anion of Asp 140 is completely inactive and that it binds pyruvate with a Km that is over 1,000 times that of the Km of the neutral, protonated aspartic‐140. Experimental results and molecular modeling studies indicate the pKa of the active site histidine‐195 in the enzyme‐NADH complex is raised to greater than 10 by the presence of the anion at position 140. Energy minimization and molecular dynamics studies over 36 ps suggest that the anion at position 140 promotes the opening of and the entry of mobile solvent beneath the polypeptide loop (98–110), which normally seals off the internal active site vacuole from external bulk solvent.
Spectroscopic and chemical studies of the interaction between nerve growth factor (NGF) and the extracellular domain of the low affinity NGF receptor
Authors: Timm David E. , Vissavajjhala Prabhakar , Ross Alonzo H. , Neet Kenneth E. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNerve growth factor (NGF) interacts with a cell surface receptor on responsive neurons to initiate a series of cellular events leading to neuronal survival and/or differentiation. The first step in this process is the binding of NGF to a low affinity and/or a high affinity receptor. In the present report, we have studied the conformation and stability of recombinant receptor extracellular domain (RED) from the human low affinity receptor and the structural basis of its interaction with NGF. Circular dichroism (CD) studies indicate that the RED is primarily random coil in nature with little regular secondary structure. Thermal stability studies have shown that this irregular conformation is a specific structure that can undergo a reversible two‐state thermal denaturation with a concomitant fluorescent and CD change. During heating at 100 °C for 15 min, the structure of RED is sufficiently unfolded for a reducing agent, dithiothreitol, to inactivate the receptor toward NGF binding and cross‐linking. The complex formation between the RED and NGF has been examined by differential CD measurements, and we have shown that a small, reproducible change in conformation occurs in RED or NGF upon interaction. These results are interpreted in terms of the initiation of NGF cell surface binding and possible modes of signal transduction.
Zero effective electrong‐factor of QD realized by optically induced nuclear field
Authors: Sasakura H. , Adachi S. , Kaji R. , Yamada K. , Muto S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe investigated an optically created nuclear field in a single InAlAs quantum dot and demonstrated that the zero effective electrong‐factor could be achieved by the cancellation of the external magnetic field by the nuclear field at one edge of the nuclear polarization bistability. In addition, we discussed more practical way to realize the zerog‐factor using the unique maximum value of the nuclear field, which keeps steady value against the fluctuation of excitation power. The cancellation for the electron Zeeman splitting provides the accurate holeg‐factor. Since excitong‐factor is obtained by the Zeeman splitting without the nuclear field due to the linearly polarized excitation, we can evaluate the magnitudes and the signs of electron and holeg‐factors in the growth direction of the single quantum dot. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Surface electronic properties of Mg‐doped InAlN alloys
Authors: King P. D. C. , Veal T. D. , Schaff W. J. , McConville C. F. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractHigh resolution X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy is utilised to determine the variation in surface Fermi level pinning position for Mg‐doped c ‐plane Inx Al1–x N alloys with x ≥ 0.4. For In‐rich alloys, a transition from inversion to hole depletion was inferred at an alloy composition of x ∼ 0.7. For Al‐rich alloys, insulating samples resulted due to the difficulty of p‐type doping AlN and Al‐rich alloys, resulting in approximately flat‐band conditions, with little surface space‐charge. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)